Text 1 My Stroke of Luck.doc

Text 1 My Stroke of LuckI. Pre-reading questions 1. Think of a person you know who suffers misfortunes but still does whatever he/she does to help others. Describe him/her to your classmates.2. Do you believe in luck? Please explain with your personal experience.II. Text analysis and language pointsParagraphs 1-2 AnalysisThe author uses his recent accident -an air crash- as an introduction to the whole story. The first paragraph tells the readers what happens to the author, while the second paragraph describes how his wife reacts to the accident.Question: What does the author mean by “Another helicopter ride. Just what I needed!”Answer: He means that the prompt transport to their neighborhood hospital by helicopter.Language points1. stroke n.(1) A sudden loss of brain function caused by a blockage or rupture of a blood vessel to the brain, characterized by loss of muscular control, diminution or loss of sensation or consciousness, dizziness, slurred speech, or other symptoms that vary with the extent and severity of the damage to the brain. 中风(2) stroke of sth: single successful or effective action or occurrence (of the specified kind) 一次成功或有效的行动或事情e.g. a stroke of luck / a stroke of misfortune. 一次走运 / 一次不幸e.g. a stroke of genius 天才的一着2. give sb a ride：give a free journey to sbe.g. I can give you ride since we live in the neighborhood.3. collide v.hit or strike violently against sth or each othere.g. In running round the corner, he collided with another man.在跑过拐角时， 他撞上另一个人。e.g. the ships collided in the fog.Collision. n.4. wreckage n.(U) The debris of something wrecked. 残骸, 碎片e.g. the wreckage of the cars 汽车残骸e.g. the wreckage of the plane after the crash was scattered over a large area.飞机坠落后的残骸散布范围很大。Wreck v. destroy or ruin sth5. gurney n. A metal stretcher with wheeled legs, used for transporting patients.盖尼式床, 一种装有轮子的金属担架，用于搬运病人6. insist on demand sth firmly, refusing to accept an alternative 坚决主张，一定要e.g. she always insists on getting up early and playing her radio loud.insistent adj. insistence n.Paragraphs 3-4AnalysisThese two paragraphs are the first flashback in the story which describes Annes good judgment on previous occasions and her experiences during the Second World War.Question: How did Anne manage to survive during the Second World War?Answer: To escape fascism, she fled to Belgium, and then to Paris. With her linguistic ability, she supported herself by writing German subtitles for French films. Language points7. intuition n. (U) (Power of) knowing or sensing without the use of rational processes; immediate cognition. 直觉，直觉力e.g. know sth by intuitione.g. Nobody told me your were here. It was sheer intuition.8. fatal adj.(1) Causing or capable of causing death. 致命的引起死亡的，能够引起死亡的e.g. a fatal accident; 致命的事故；a fatal illness. 致命的病症，(2) Causing ruin or destruction; disastrous: 毁灭性的引起毁灭或破坏的；灾难的：e.g. The loss of all my money was fatal to my plan.钱都亏损了, 把我的计划也毁灭了。9. depressed (1) Low in spirits, sad or without enthusiasm 情绪低落的；沮丧的e.g. he is depressed by the loss of his job;(2) Suffering from social and economic hardship, Sluggish in growth or activity:萧条的，不景气的遇到社会或经济困难的：e.g. a depressed region.Depressing adj. Depression n.10. suicidal adj. Causing, intending, or relating to suicide:自杀的引起自杀的、想自杀的或与自杀有关的：e.g. a suicidal act; suicidal impulses.自杀行为；自杀的冲动11. fascism n.(1) A system of government marked by centralization of authority under a dictator, stringent socioeconomic controls, suppression of the opposition through terror and censorship, and typically a policy of belligerent nationalism and racism. 法西斯政权(2) A political philosophy or movement based on or advocating such a system of government. 法西斯主义Fascist. n. Paragraphs 5-7AnalysisThese paragraphs tell us how the author met Anne, fell in love with her and eventuallymarried her. This is the second flashback.Question: Why did the author feel miffed in his interview with Anne?Answer: He expected Anne to accept the job with eagerness, as most girls would do, because he was a famous American movie star. But Anne declined the offer.Language points12. star v. To play the leading role in a theatrical or film production.主演在戏剧或电影作品中担任主角e.g. The film in which he stars is not released yet.13. striking adj. very attractive or impressive 突出的, 鲜明的, 显著的; 引人注目的e.g. a striking contrast 鲜明的对照e.g. with her mass of black hair and pale skin she looked very striking.14. miff v.To cause to become offended or annoyed.使生气，使发脾气使变得生气或恼火Miffed adj: annoyed e.g. she was a bit miffed that he had forgotten her name.be miffed with at 生.的气15. temporary adj.Lasting, used, serving, or enjoyed for a limited time.temporary punishment 有期徒刑temporary workers 临时工permanent adj.16. on a basis on . basis (=on the basis of)以.为根据, 在.基础上e.g. Dont evaluate a person on the basis of appearance.不要以相貌取人。e.g. They charge customers on an hourly basis.他们向顾客按钟点收费。17. poignant adj.(1) Physically painful: 肉体上痛苦的：e.g. keen, poignant agonies强烈而痛苦的疼痛(2) Keenly distressing to the mind or feelings:强烈的，痛苦的令精神或感情极为痛苦的：e.g. poignant anxiety. 深深的焦虑18. film v.To make or shoot scenes for a movie.e.g. they are filming a new comedy.e.g. she filmed her children playing in the garden.19. meet up with：meet sb, esp. by chancee.g. I met up with him in the bookstore.20. keep sb apart：cause to remain separatee.g. he is a strange boy, who keeps apart from all the activities in the university.e.g. I dont want to see these dogs fighting. Please keep them aprt.21. at a time：一次; 同时; 一下子; 每次e.g. take two pills at a time.22. slip v.go somewhere quietly or quickly, eg in order not to be noticed, or without being noticed 悄悄或匆匆到某处e.g. we slipped away to Paris for the weekend. 23. tie the knot v.get married Paragraph 8AnalysisAfter two flashbacks, the author turns back to his recovery from the crash with his wifes meticulous care.Question: what is survivors anguish?Answer: Survivors anguish is a kind of depression in which the survivor suffers an aftermath fear of a disaster and uncertainty about what would happen to him/her in the future. Language points24. given (that) prep. taking sth into accounte.g. given the governments record on unemployment, their chances of winning the election look poor.25. be wrapped up in：be totally absorbed in, be deeply involved ine.g. she was so wrapped up in her work that she did not realize how late it was.e.g. the couple are completely wrapped up in their children. 26. ego(1) The self, especially as distinct from the world and other selves.自我，自己自我，尤指不同于世界和其他个体(2) An exaggerated sense of self-importance; conceit.过度的自我重要感；自负27. station wagonAn automobile having an extended interior with a third seat or luggage platform and a tailgate.旅行车, 加长汽车, 内部加长的汽车，带有第三个座位或行李台和后门estate car 客货两用轿车；旅行轿车28. console v.give comfort or sympathy to sb who is unhappy, disappointed, etce.g. We tried to console her when her mother died but it was very difficult.她母亲去世时我们设法安慰她,但很难奏效。 Consolation. n.Consolatory. adj.29. anguish n.agonizing physical or mental pain; torment.剧痛，身体上或精神上的剧痛；极度痛苦e.g. be in anguish 极度痛苦vTo cause to feel or suffer anguish. 使感到剧痛，使忍受剧痛e.g. The loss of her husband anguished her deeply.Paragraphs 9-10AnalysisThese two paragraphs are also flashback. The author recalls how his wife handled her crisis: she never gave in and always tried to help others.Question: how did Anne offer help to others?Answer: she shared her experience with others, raised a fund for research facilities in a hospital and initiated a program to rebuild some school playgrounds.Language points30. undergo v.To pass through; experience: 经过；经历：e.g. a house that is undergoing renovations. 经过翻修的房子31. diagnostic adj.Of, relating to, or used in a diagnosis.诊断的，与诊断有关的，或在诊断中使用的e.g. those symptoms are of little diagnostic value. 这些症状对诊断是何疾病无任何参考价值。diagnosis n.diagnose v.32. surgery n.A surgical operation or procedure, especially one involving the removal or replacement of a diseased organ or tissue.e.g. clinical surgery 临床外科e.g. Cancer usually requires surgery. 癌症通常需要外科手术。33. tumor n. An abnormal growth of tissue resulting from uncontrolled, progressive multiplication of cells and serving no physiological function; 肿瘤e.g. a lung tumore.g. benign / malignant tumor34. malignant adj.(1) Threatening to life; 致命的；恶性的：e.g. a malignant tumor(2) Showing great malevolence; disposed to do evil. 恶毒的；怀恶意的e.g. malignant glances 恶意的眼光benign adj.35. authorize v. (1) To grant authority or power to. 授权，委托向授予职权或权力e.g. she has authorized her partner to negotiate in her behalf; 她授权其同伴为她的利益谈判； (2) To give permission for; sanction: 许可给予同意；批准：e.g. the city agency that authorizes construction projects.批准工程建设项目的城市机构36. assure v。To inform positively, as to remove doubt: To cause to feel sure:e.g. assured us that the train would be on time. 向我们保证火车将会准时到达e.g. assured her of his devotion. 使她确信他的挚爱37. finance v. To supply funds to: 给提供资金：e.g. The government will finance the building of the new roads with the taxes it collects.e.g. the scheme is partly financed by a government grant.Finance n.Financial adj.38. facility n. (1) (pl) 设施，设备e.g. There are facilities for cooking in the kitchen. e.g. Are there washing facilities in the school? (2) 灵巧，熟练e.g. He has great facility in learning languages. 他有学语言的天赋。e.g. Her facility with / in languages is surprising.39. deplorable adj.Lamentable; wretched; bad: 可怜的；糟糕的：e.g. deplorable housing conditions in some big cities.Paragraphs 11-13AnalysisThese three paragraphs are closely related with the previous two, because they present a picture of how Anne saved her husband, helped rebuild his confidence and kept him moving on in her own way. Question: What does the author mean by “tough love”?Answer: “Tough love” refers to Annes belief that you should be a bit tough with your loved ones in order to get them back to normal life as quickly as possible. Needlessly to say, under this “tough” surface there lies profound love, hence the phrase “tough love” is a case of oxymoron (矛盾修辞法)， which is a rhetorical device in which contradictory terms are combined. The following are similar examples: a deafening silence / her careful kindness / a mournful optimist Language points40. beneficiary n. One that receives a benefit:e.g. I am the beneficiary of your generosity. 我是你慷慨大方的受益人41. slur nounce unclearlye.g. When a man is drunk his speech is slurred.当一个人喝醉时, 他说话就口齿不清。42. therapist n.One who specializes in the provision of a particular therapy.治疗学家专门提供某一治疗的人therapy n.43. endure v. (1) tolerate, beare.g. I cant endure her endless complaint noise a moment longer(2) suffer or undergo patiently 忍受，忍耐e.g. endure toothachee.g. he endured three years in prison for his religious belief.Endurance n. Endurable. adj. Enduring adj. Paragraph 14AnalysisThis paragraph provides an end to the event - the air crash. However, the authorgoes beyond that by offering his general comments on Annes character, thus mak