Unit6TheManintheWater

.,Unit6TheManintheWater,.,TheContent,BackgroundKnowledgeThemeoftheTextIn-classactivities.LanguagePointsDifficultSentencesExercise,.,I.AbouttheAuthor,RogerRosenblattisajournalist,author,playwrightandprofessor.AsanessayistforTimemagazine,hehaswontwoGeorgePolkAwards,andawardsfromtheOverseasPressClubandtheAmericanBarAssociation,amongothers.Histelevisionessaysforthe“MacNeil/LehrerNewsHour”havewonhimaGeorgeFosterPeabodyAwardandanEmmy.Heisalsotheauthorofsixbooks.,RogerRosenblattProfessorofEnglishProfessorofWritingAB,NewYorkUniversityPh.D,HarvardUniversity,.,II.AbouttheAirCrash,.,OneoftheworstsnowstormsinthehistoryofWashington,D.C.hitthecity20yearsagoonJan.13,1982.Justabouteverythingcloseddownthegovernment,businesses,schools,theairports.Byaboutnoon,theskiesclearedandWashingtonsNationalAirportreopenedforbusiness.ThecrewofAirFloridaFlight90beganpreparingforanonstoptriptosunnyFortLauderdale,Florida.At3:59p.m.,thetwin-engineBoeing737wasclearedfortakeoffandbeganrumblingdowntherunwayonitsfinalflight.,.,Pictures,.,.,Minuteslater,theplanesmashedintothe14thStreetBridge,only1,200yardsfromthePentagon,destroyingfourautomobilesandkillingfivepeople.Thejetthenfellintotheice-coveredPotomacRiver,bringingallthepassengerstotheirinstantdeathexceptfivefourpassengersandoneflightattendantfromthetailsection,whofoundthemselvesgaspingandstrugglingintheicywater.,.,Thesefivepeoplehoweversurvivedandtheywereabletosurvivebecauseoffourheroes.Theauthorwrotethisessayinpraiseoftheseheroes,threeofwhomhadriskedtheirlivestorescuethesurvivorsandwereabletolivetotellthestory,butthemanthatreallyheldthewholenationsattentionwasthefourthonewhohadkeptpushinghislifelineandflotationringstoothersuntilhewentunder.,.,Pictures,.,MomentsAftertheCrash,At3:59theplaneshudderedasittookoffandtriedtogainaltitude.ItclearedtwoofthebridgesonthePotomicRiver,butwaslosingaltitude.Thecrewandpassengersknewtheywereintroublebeforeitstruckthe14thStreetBridgeandittoreinhalfasitslammedthroughcarsandrailing(栏杆）thenplungedintothecold,icy,darkwaters.,.,Momentslateronlythetailsectionremainedafloat,79peoplewereaboardFlight90,sixweretosurvivethecrash,butonlyfivewouldlive.Huddledtogetherinthecoldicywaters，thesurvivorswaitedfortherescuehelicoptertoarrive.Treading（踩，踏）water,thesurvivorsheldon,somewithbrokenarmsandlegs,twowithcollapsedlungscausedfromtheimpact.Wereallgoingtodie,someonesaid.,.,AboardFlight90wasArlandK.WilliamsJr.,whoalwayssatinthetailsectionoftheplane,“thesafestpartoftheplane,hesaid.”Notlongbefore,Williamshadjustdiscussedhismarriagewiththewomanheloved,“Ithinkweregoingtomarrysoon.”,.,Itwas4:20beforethehelicopterarrivedatthescene,droppingthefirstlifelinedeliveringBertHamilton100yardstoshore.Itwouldbetenminutesbeforethehelicopterreturned,droppingthelinetoWilliams.Hecaughtit,butinsteadofwrappingitaroundhimself,hepassedthelinetoflightattendantKellyDuncan,theonlycrewmembertosurvive.Shetooktheline,wrappeditunderherarmsandheldtightasshewascarriedtoshore,.,Withroomforonlyonehelicopteratatimebetweenbridges,itreturnedwithtwolifelines,andagainWilliamscaughtitandhandeditofftoyetanothersurvivor,JoeStiley,themostseriouslyinjuredpassenger.Tirado,whoalsoclungtoStileyandherlifeline,however,exhausted,inpainandshock,soonlosthergripandplungedbackintothecoldicywatersofthePotomac.Rescuersagaintossedheralifelinebutshewasunabletograspittosaveherownlife.,.,Pictures,.,UponseeingthisandasTiradowasabouttogounder,anonlooker,LennySkutnik,plungedfromthebanksoftheriverintothefreezingwaterandbroughthersafelytoshore.By4:30p.m,Williamshadbeeninthefreezingwaterfor29minutes,andhisturnhadfinallycome.Thehelicopterturnedoncemoretowardthesinkingtail,itstwo-mancreweagertomeetthemaninthewater,totellhimtheyhadneverseensuchselflesscourage.,.,Theystrained(竭尽全力）forsignsoftheheroofFlight90.Butthebaldingmanwasgone.Hecouldhavegoneonthefirsttrip,pilotUsherwept,“butheputeveryoneelseaheadofhimself.Everyone.”,.,CommentsontheEvent,ThefollowingareafewwordshismotherVirginiaWilliamsusedtodescribeherson.Hewasaverage,shesaid.Justaverage.Otherscomment:“Itspeoplelikethesethatareheroes.Thosepeoplewhostepoutofhenorm（规范,准则）andputtheirlifesecondinconsiderationofothersinacrisis.”“Forisntit,intimesofdanger,theaveragemanwhosavesusall?”.,.,ThemeoftheText,HeroismHeroismofcoursehasbeenadmired.Butthismansheroismwasunusual.Peopleusuallyexpectrevolutionariestodiemartyrs;truebelieverstobewillingtodiefortheirfaith;peoplereadytolaydowntheirlivesinperformingtheirduty;evenpeopletoshowcourageintheirattempttowinpower,influence,moneyortosavetheirlovedones.Butthemaninthewaterdidnotfitanyofthesedescriptions.,.,Themaninthewaterdidnothavetogivehisringstoothers;hedidnotevenknowthesepeople.Hewasextraordinarypreciselybecausehewasordinary.Heshowedwhateveryoneofuscoulddo.Thedisplayofhisheroismwasasongtothebeautifulhumancharacter.Thisistrueheroism.,.,III.RelatedInformation,PresidentialMonuments:WashingtonMonument,.,InrecognitionofhisleadershipinthecauseofAmericanindependence,WashingtonearnedthetitleFatherofhisCountry.Withthismonument,thecitizensoftheUnitedStatesshowtheirenduringgratitudeandrespectforthefirstpresidentintheUnitedStates.,.,PresidentialMonuments:JeffersonMemorial,.,ThomasJeffersonpoliticalphilosopher,architect,musician,bookcollector,horticulturist（园艺学家）,scientist,diplomat,inventor,andthirdPresidentoftheUnitedStates,alsoauthoroftheDeclarationofAmericanIndependence,andFatheroftheUniversityofVirginia.,.,PresidentialMonuments:LincolnMemorial,.,TheLincolnMemorialisatributetoPresidentAbrahamLincolnandthenationhefoughttopreserveduringtheCivilWar(1861-1865).TheLincolnMemorialwasbuilttoresembleaGreektemple.Ithas36Doriccolumns,oneforeachstateatthetimeofLincolnsdeath.AsculpturebyDanielChesterFrenchofaseatedLincolnisinthecenterofthememorialchamber.,.,ThePotomacRiver,.,ThePotomacRiverisoftenreferredtoastheNationsRiver,becauseitflowsthroughthenationscapital,wherethemagnificentmonumentsoftheWashington,Jefferson,andLincolnmemorialsarereflectedinitswaters.ItisoneofthemostbeautifulandbountifulriversontheEastCoastandisknownforitshistoric,scenicandrecreationalsignificance.ItbeginsasasmallspringattheFairfaxStoneinWestVirginia,andwindsitswaythroughthemountainsandvalleysofAppalachia,pastbattlefieldsandoldmanufacturingtowns.Theriverflowsmorethan380milesandgrowstomorethan11mileswideasitreachestheChesapeakeBayatPointLookout,Maryland.,.,IV.In-classactivities.,Describewhathappenedduringthewholeaircrash,andtrytousethewordsandphrasesyouvejustmet!Discussion:Why?Whydidtheherointhestorydothis?Whatdidhedothisfor?,.,LanguagePoints,1.Asdisastersgo,thisonewasterrible,butnotuniqueasgoes:comparedwithsth.averagelAswritersgo,OscarWildewasnotthemosttalented.Buthewasamongthemostpopular.和一般商人相比，人们认为他是非常诚实的。lAsbusinessmengo,heisconsideredprettyhonest.,.,2.Washington,thecityofformandrules,turnedchaoticbyablastofrealwinterandasingleslapofmetalonmetal.(para1)chaotic:adj.inastateofdisorderandconfusionchaos:n.lTheroomwasinachaos.blast:strong,suddenmovementofwindorairlWhenthewindowwasopened,anicyblastcameintotheroom.slap:strikewiththepalmofthehand,usedfigurativelyhere.,.,3.Andtherewastheaestheticclashaswell-blueandgreenAirFlorida,thenameofaflyinggarden,sunkdownamonggraychunksoficeinablackriver.(para1)aesthetic:审美的；有审美能力的aesthetics:审美学；美学anaesthetic/anesthetic:麻木的；麻醉的；麻醉剂chunk:thick,solidpieceorlump一厚块，一大块achunkofmeat/ice,.,clash:V.1.makealoud,broken,confusednoise(as/whenmetalobjectsstriketogether)Theirswordsclashed.2.meetinconflictoThetwoarmiesclashedoutsidethetown.3.(ofevents)inteferewitheachotherbecausetheyaretobeatthesametimeonthesamedateoItspitythatthetwoconcertsclashed.Iwanttogotoboth.4.beindisagreementwithoIclashedwithhimatthemeeting.oThecolorofthecurtainclasheswiththeofthecarpet.n.theclashofweapons/views/opinions,.,4.LastWednesdaytheelements,indifferentasever,broughtdownFlight90.Andonthatsameafternoonhumannaturegropingandstrugglingrosetotheoccasion.(para2)theelements:theforcesofnature自然力；风，雨等的力量obeexposedtothefuryoftheelementsgrope:feelorsearchinthedarkogropeforthedoor-handle/lightswitchoWegropedourwayinthedarkcorridor.,.,indifferentto:havingnointerestin;notcaringforoHowcanyoubesoindifferenttothesufferingsofthosepeople?risetotheoccasion/challenge/task:proveoneselfabletodealwithanunexpectedproblem,adifficulttask,etc.oImsurehewillrisetotheoccasionwhenherealizeswhatisatstake.(处于危险境地）,.,5.Ofthefouracknowledgedheroesoftheevent,threeateabletoaccountfortheirbehavior.(para.3)acknowledge:1.admitlHerefusedtothathewasdefeated.Hehavingbeencheated.2.expressthanksforlWeshouldgiftspromptly.3.indicatethatonerecognizessb.bygreetinglIpassedherinthestreet,butshedidntevenmewhenIsmiled.4.acknowledgementn.lWearesendingyouasmallsumofmoneyinacknowledgementofyourhelp.,.,accountfor:1.giveanexplanationorreasonforoHecanaccountforeverypennyinhispocket.oSciencecannowaccountformanythingsthatancientpeoplecouldnotunderstand.2.answerforlYouwillhavetoaccountforthemisprintsinthearticle.3.amounttolInthatcountrytheproductionofrawmaterialsaccountforaconsiderableproportionofthenationaleconomy.那个国家原材料的生产在国民经济中占相当大的比重。,.,6.Ontelevision,sidebyside,theydescribedtheircourageaswellinthelineofduty.line:rangeofactivityHislineisbanking.他从事银行业。Thatsnotmyline.那不是我的本行。inlinewith:inagreementwithoOurforeignpolicyisinlinewiththeinterestsofallthepeopleoftheworld.(be)inlinewith(be)outoflinewith,.,7.Skutnikaddedthat“somebodyhadtogointothewater,deliveringeveryheroslinethatisnolessadmirableforbeingrepeated.(para3)deliveronesline:givearemarkdeliveraspeechdeliveralecture,.,8.“Inamasscasualty,youllfindpeoplelikehim,”saidWindsor.”ButIveneverseenonewiththatcommitment.(para4)masscasualty:largenumberofpeoplehurtorkilledinanaccidentorbattle,.,9.Hisselfishnesswasonereasonthestoryheldnationalattention;hisanonymityanother.(para4)anonymityn.anonymousadj.anletterangift,.,10.Stillhecouldneverhaveimaginedsuchacapacityinhimself.(para.5)abilitycapabilitycapability：做某事的才干或本领，可与ability通用，但更强潜在的能力；capacity：主要指接受，吸收或容纳的能力.Hehastheabilitytoswimlikeafish.Hehasthecapabilityofsolvingpracticalproblems.Thetheaterhasaseatingcapacityof300people.Thebookiswithinthereadingcapacityofyoungreaders.,.,11.Hewasthere,intheessential,classicalcircumstance.(para7)essential:basictypical,mostimportantclassic:traditionalorlongestablished12.Sotheage-oldbattlebeganagaininthePotomac.Foraslongasmancouldlast,theywentateachother,natureandman.(para7)goat:attack;fight,.,13.Themaninthewatersethimselfagainstanimmovable,impersonalenemy;hefoughtitwithkindness;andheheldittoastandoff.Hewasthebestwecando.(para.9)setsb.against:makesb.starttofightorquarrelwithanimmovable,impersonalenemy:referstonature,whichisindifferentandcannotbepersuadedtochangeitsattitudetowardsushumansstandoff:asituationinwhichneithersideinafightorbattlecangiveanadvantage,.,DifficultSentences,1Andtherewastheaestheticclashaswell-blueandgreenAirFlorida,thenameofaflyinggarden,sunkdownamonggraychunksoficeinablackriver.(para1)Whentheaircrashoccurred,itwasnotjustaclashofmetalagainstthebridge,butalsoaclashbetweencolors:theblue-greencoloroftheplaneandthegrayandblackcoloroftheiceandriver.,.,2LastWednesdaytheelements,indifferentasever,broughtdownFlight90.Andonthatsameafternoonhumannaturegropingandstrugglingrosetotheoccasion.(para.2)LastWednesday,thebadweather,unconcernedabouttheconsequencesitmightbringaboutasalways,madeFlight90falldown.Onthatsameafternoon,humannature,gropingfortheflotationringsandstrugglingintheicywater,cametoproveitsgreatnessdisplayedinanunexpectedtragedy.,.,3.Ofthefouracknowledgedheroesoftheevent,threeateabletoaccountfortheirbehavior.(para.3)Onlythreeoutofthesefourheroeslivedtotellpeoplewhattheyactuallyhaddoneandhowtheyrescuedthefivesurvivors.4.Skutnikaddedthat“somebodyhadtogointothewater,deliveringeveryheroslinethatisnolessadmirableforbeingrepeated.(para3)Skutnikgavearemarkthathasbeensaidbeforebymanypeopleinsimilarsituations,butitisstilladmirable.,.,5“Inamasscasualty,youllfindpeoplelikehim,”saidWindsor.”ButIveneverseenonewiththatcommitment.(para4)Wecanalwaysfindheroicpeoplelikehiminamasscasualtybecausealthoughnoteveryoneisahero,theresboundtobeafairrepresentationofheroesinabigcrowd.ButIveneverseenanyonewithsuchastrongsenseofresponsibility.,.,6.Hisselflessnesswasonereasonthestoryheldnationalattention;hisanonymityanother.(para4)Thefactthatthemaninthewaterwhohaddisplayedsuchheroismdidnotleavehisnameandnoonewaseverabletofinditoutwasanotherreasonwhythewholenationfeltsotouchedbythisstory.,.,7.Thefactthathewentunidentifiedgavehimauniversalcharacter.(para4)Thefactthathewentunidentifiedmadehimarepresentativeman,likeeveryoneofuscoulddo.Wemayfeelthatitmighthavebeenanyone.,.,8.ForawhilehewasEveryman,andthusproof(asifoneneededit)thatnooneisordinary.(para4)“Everyone”echoesthetitleofamedievalplayaboutatypicalhumanbeing.Itconveystheideathatthisanonymousmanreallyrepresentsthebestofhumannature.Whathedidwasnottheactofasupernaturalbeing,buttheactofanordinaryperson.,.,9.Hewasthere,intheessential,classiccircumstance.(para7)Whathappenedthatdaywasatypicalsituationinwhichnatureandmanfoughteachother.Andwhennaturebeginstoshowitspower,youalwaysfindmanfightback.Heisalwaysthere.Wecanalwaysexpecttofindsuchahero.,.,10.theonemakingnodistinctionsofgoodandevil,actingonnoprinciples,offeringnolifelines;theotheractingwhollyondistinctions,principlesand,perhaps,onfaith.(para.7)Natureisindifferent.Itdoesnothaveanyideawhatisgoodorwhatisbadforhumanbeings,anditdoesnotcare.Ithasnomoralprinciples.Humanbeings,ontheotherhand,are