Unit 3 Courage

Unit 3 Courage Part A Pre-listening Task Questions for Discussion 1. What is courage? Can you give an example of a courageous act by someone you admire? 2. What are some qualities that courageous people have? 3. Does courage always involve risk-taking? Are you willing to take risks for the safety of others? 4. Do you think courage is a virtue mostly found in strong and powerful people? Why or why not? Demo: 1. What is courage? Can you give an example of a courageous act by someone you admire? In my opinion, courage is a quality of bravery and it takes many forms. It takes courage to risk one’s life in a dangerous situation to save others, and it takes courage to stand up for what is right. For example, Abraham Lincoln was born in an ordinary family and knew the hard life and inhuman treatment for the black slaves. So later on when he became the President of the United States, he was determined with courage to change the laws during the American Civil War and brought about the emancipation of the slaves. That’s why he was considered to be one of the most distinguished heroes in American history and the Lincoln Memorial in Washington, D.C. was dedicated to him. Additional Question for Discussion Can courage be taught? What can we do to cultivate in children the virtue of courage? Demo: Yes, courage can be taught and can be learned. To cultivate in children the virtue of courage, we can tell them stories and show them movies about courageous people and courageous acts; we can encourage them to be confident, bold and daring; and we can set examples of courage through what we do ourselves. For instance, a lot of courageous movies are produced annually in the United States and these movies have a positive effect on children. Language Focus Here are some sentences and structures that you may find useful in discussing the above questions. , Courage is the mental strength / quality of mind that enables one to face danger, difficulty or pain without showing fear. , Courage is the quality of being brave when you are in danger, pain or a difficult situation. , Courage takes many forms. It takes courage to risk your life in a dangerous situation to save others, and it takes courage to stand up for what is right. , Courage also shows itself in the actions of people who have the will power to keep on trying when there seems to be no hope at all. 1 , We admire people who show / display great courage in the face of adversity / danger / fear / opposition / life’s challenges / a life-and-death situation. , We worship those who give up their lives / put their lives on the line / place their personal interests aside for the sake of justice / a noble cause / their beliefs / other people. , I think one of the qualities that set courageous people apart / distinguish courageous people is their willingness to take on challenges / take risks / sacrifice themselves for the sake of others. , People who are courageous have the will power to overcome fear in the face of danger / persevere in doing what they believe is right / are not afraid of taking risks / dare to try new things / have an adventurous spirit. , It takes courage to stand up and speak in front of the class / disagree with others / say “no” when it is easier to say “yes” / speak out when you see injustice / admit having done something wrong. , Courage always involves taking risks. , Courage is not foolish bravery / different from rashness. , When we act courageously we may run the risk of suffering from bodily pain / financial loss / losing friendship. , Courageous behavior may render us misunderstood / criticized / made fun of by others / at odds with commonly accepted ideas. , Courageous behavior arises out of a sense of duty / care for others / willingness to put oneself in harm’s way for a greater good. , Examples of selfless courage stir our hearts and souls / inspire and uplift us / provide inspiration and hope. , There are many ways to be courageous / demonstrate courage. , Courage is not confined to gender or age. Both men and women, old and young, are capable of performing courageous acts. Part B Listening Tasks Passage 1 Krimali (Part One) Word Bank devastating a. causing serious damages 破坏性极强的 tower v. to be much taller than things around 高耸 detached a. separated 分离的，不连接的 slab n. a broad, flat, rather thick piece (of stone, metal, etc.) 厚板，平板 debris n. broken or torn pieces of sth. large (e.g. a building) 瓦砾;碎片 concrete n. a hard building material made by mixing together sand, cement, small stones and water 混凝土 spike n. a sharp projecting point; a pointed piece of metal (尤指金属制的)尖 状物 crouch n. a squatting position 蹲伏姿势 embolden v. to make brave 使有胆量，使勇敢 2 cling to to hold on tightly to 紧紧抓住 be up to sb. to do sth. to be sb.’s duty to do sth. 该由某人做某事 Krimali (女子名) Script: On the morning of the devastating earthquake that struck India in 2001, Krimali, a girl of 17, had just left home to go to an interview for a position of a sales clerk. She was pleased with her green and yellow flowered dress, but felt something wasn’t quite right about her hair. She returned home, removing her shoes and leaving them at the door. Moments later, the earthquake struck. Ceilings and walls in the building shook in the deafening noise. Then everything began crashing down. Krimali and her immediate family escaped serious injury but were unable to make their way out. The ceiling of an entire room towered above the only possible escape route. Completely detached on three sides, the huge slab clung to an outside wall on its fourth side. To an observer, it could drop at any moment. People were screaming and didn’t know what to do. Krimali decided to act. Carefully she climbed barefoot up and down the debris until she reached a point just beneath the swaying ceiling. About four meters below were uneven pieces of concrete, broken glass and smashed furniture, all mixed with sharp spikes of iron. She knew if she could manage to get down to the ground level, she could make her way to safety. She paused to figure out the best way down. As there wasn’t any good place to jump, she just jumped. Luckily, she landed in a crouch, her feet missing any sharp edges. Emboldened by her good fortune, Krimali knew it was up to her to persuade others to follow. Language and Culture Notes 1. Background information On the morning of January 26, 2001, a powerful earthquake measuring 7.7 on the Richter scale struck Gujarat, a state in western India. It was the most deadly earthquake in India’s recorded history, killing an estimated 20,000 people and leaving many more injured. Countless numbers of houses and buildings were destroyed and in some places entire towns and villages were reduced to rubble. The Gujarat earthquake is yet another reminder of the frailty of humankind at the hands of nature. The two listening texts in this unit report an incident that occurred during the earthquake. It is, however, not an account on human helplessness, but one on human courage in the face of disaster and danger. 2. immediate family Somebody’s immediate family is his/her direct family members, such as his/her spouse, parents and children. 3. Completely detached on three sides, the huge slab … The huge ceiling was hanging loose on only one side. 4. To an observer ... To someone who looked at (the ceiling) ... 5. As there wasn’t any good place to jump, she just jumped. She couldn’t find any place that was not covered with debris. So she simply jumped down, relying on pure luck. 3 Exercise 1 Listen to the passage and choose the right answers to the questions you hear. 1. What does the passage mainly tell us? a. A serious earthquake struck India and many people were trapped in a building. b. A young girl behaved courageously during an earthquake and tried her best to save people trapped in a building. c. Krimali was very brave and managed to make her way out of a building damaged by a serious earthquake. d. Krimali remained calm when the earthquake struck while others panicked and did not know what to do. 2. What can be said about Krimali? a. She was confident and clever. b. She was brave but not very careful. c. She was willing to take risks. d. She was stronger than most girls of her age. Exercise 2 Listen again and decide whether the statements you hear are true (T) or false (F). 1. Krimali wanted to make a good impression at the job interview. (T) 2. Krimali returned home because her interview was cancelled. (F) 3. Krimali came home only to find it destroyed by a powerful earthquake. (F) 4. Fortunately, no one was seriously injured when the building collapsed. (F) 5. The entire ceiling of a room fell down and blocked the only escape route. (F) 6. It was especially risky for Krimali to jump because she was not wearing shoes. (T) 7. It was by mere luck that Krimali landed onto the ground level without hitting any sharp edges. (T) 8. Krimali knew if she could make a safe escape, others would be only too willing to follow her. (F) Passage 2 Krimali (Part Two) Word Bank toss v. to throw lightly 扔，抛，掷 intently ad. with all one’s attention fixed on sth. 专注地 trap v. to cause to be in a dangerous or unpleasant situation from which it is difficult or impossible to escape 使陷入困境 part with to give sth. to sb. else, esp. unwillingly 放弃 light up to brighten (使)发光;(使)面露喜色 sliding board a board for sb. to move down smoothly 滑梯 rescue mission an act to save sb. from a dangerous or difficult situation 救援行动 Script: Krimali planned to rescue her family first, but just then she heard a woman from two storeys 4 above screaming for someone to save her two-month-old baby. “Throw the baby to me,” Krimali shouted. “I can catch her!” The woman refused. Krimali told the woman to wrap the baby in bed sheets and then toss her down. Crying uncontrollably, the mother wrapped the little girl but still would not part with her baby. As the mother tried to decide what to do, Krimali intently watched the concrete ceiling hanging above her. Finally the mother tossed the baby. Krimali made a clean catch. A bright smile lit up the woman’s face. “I’ll be back!” Krimali called out, hugging the child to her as she hurriedly picked her way out to where survivors had gathered. She gave up the baby, then asked if any of the men there would come back with her to help others trapped in the building. No one came forward, for they were all afraid of that swaying ceiling. But for Krimali, a small girl of 154 centimeters in height and weighing about 50 kilos, her fears had been lifted by what she had accomplished. On her way back into the ruins, she saw part of a large door. It was extremely heavy but she managed to drag it to the spot just below the hanging ceiling. By placing it on the ruins, she created something like a sliding board. With Krimali coaching her, the baby’s mother partly jumped and partly rolled down the board to the ground level. Krimali led her through the debris to her baby. In the hours that followed Krimali made countless rescue missions into the building, each time in the shadow of the huge ceiling. Thanks to her courage, about two dozen men, women and children were saved. Language and Culture Notes 1. Krimali intently watched the concrete ceiling hanging above her Krimali focused her attention on the ceiling to see if it was going to crash or not. 2. made a clean catch made a smooth catch 干净利落地接住 3. picked her way out walked very carefully out of the building because the ground was littered with debris 4. She gave up the baby … She gave the baby to the care of someone else … 5. in the shadow of the huge ceiling under the threat of the huge ceiling which might fall at any minute Exercise 1 Listen to the passage and choose the right answers to the questions you hear. 1. Which of the following can be a proper title for the passage? a. A Lonely Rescuer. b. Mission Impossible. c. Mother and Baby Saved. d. Krimali’s Rescue Missions. 2. How would you describe the speaker’s attitude toward Krimali? a. Neutral. b. Admiring. c. Approving. d. Worshipping. Exercise 2 Listen to the passage again and answer the following questions. 5 1. Why did the woman refuse to throw the baby girl to Krimali at first? Because she was afraid Krimali might not be able to catch the baby. 2. Why did Krimali ask the woman to wrap the baby in bed sheets? Because she thought the bed sheets could somehow protect the baby from being hurt if she failed to catch her. 3. Why did the men standing outside the building refuse to help? Because they were afraid of the swaying ceiling. 4. Why did Krimali make a sliding board? To make it easier and safer for the baby’s mother to get down. 5. How many lives were saved by Krimali? About two dozen. Speaking Tasks Pair Work Reflections on the texts You have just heard a story about how Krimali, a girl of 17, showed unusual courage and single-handedly saved about two dozen people trapped in an earthquake-devastated building. Discuss the following questions with your partner and then give an oral presentation of your reflections on the story. You may organize your presentation by linking up your answers to the questions. Guiding Questions About Krimali and her courage 1. Do you think Krimali is a hero? 2. What quality did she show immediately after the earthquake struck? 3. What did she decide to do while others screamed and did not know what to do? 4. What were the dangers that Krimali faced in order to make her way to safety? 5. Did the dangers intimidate her? 6. What quality did Krimali show in her decision to help others trapped in the building? 7. Do you think Krimali had the responsibility to go back to the ruins and rescue the others? 8. How many lives were saved thanks to her courage? 9. Do you admire her? Why? About the men who refused to help with Krimali’s rescue effort 1. How did the men outside respond to Krimali’s call for help? 2. Do you think they were cowards? 3. Did the courage of a 17-year-old motivate them to help? 4. What can be said about them judging from their actions? 5. What quality did they lack that Krimali had? 6. Do you think their behavior was justifiable? 7. Do you think their behavior should be encouraged? Possible Answers (for the teacher’s reference) 6 1. I think Krimali is a hero. She did not panic but maintained her presence of mind in the face of great danger. While others screamed and did not know what to do, she decided to take action. The swaying ceiling above and the sharp spikes of iron beneath did not intimidate her. And her courage made it possible for her to escape from the damaged building. Krimali was also willing to risk her own safety for the sake of others. She was not a trained rescue worker. Her own narrow escape from the devastated building was already a triumph of life over death. Nobody would have blamed her had she not come back to rescue the others. Also, when she asked for help, none of the men was willing to come with her as they feared that the huge ceiling could drop at any moment. However, she disregarded the danger and bravely went ahead with her rescue missions, looking upon it as her duty to do so. Thanks to her selflessness and courage, about two dozen lives were saved. Krimali’s bravery and selfless concern for others exemplify true courage. She is a hero and is worthy of our deepest respect. 2. I don’t think the men who refused to help with Krimali’s rescue effort were cowards, but neither were they heroes. When called upon to help their fellow citizens, none of them dared to come forward. The courage of a 17-year-old did not seem to motivate them. They were too afraid and too concerned about their own safety to take risks for the good of others. They lacked what Krimali had: courage and selflessness. However, although they failed the tests of courage and selflessness, their behavior was in a way understandable. Not many people are as noble as Krimali, who put other people’s lives before her own. These bystanders were merely ordinary people, not heroes. Of course their behavior, though not without a reason, should not be encouraged. Part C Test Your Listening A Passage Listen to the passage and choose the right answers to the questions you hear. 1. Where was the speaker’s office? a. The 88th floor, north tower. b. The 78th floor, north tower. c. The 88th floor, south tower. d. The 78th floor, south tower. 2. Why did the speaker and others escape into a corner office? a. The corridors were full of flames and everything was on fire. b. They heard that the stairwells were gone. c. They didn’t want to make their way down on foot. d. The corner offices were safe as the carpets there were fire-proof. 3. What happened to the speaker and others when they reached the 40th floor? a. The firemen came up and stopped them. b. They were told to stop to make way for the firefighters. c. They stopped to help the firemen carry the heavy equipment. d. They came to a complete stop as a great many people were there. 7 4. What can be inferred from the passage? a. The speaker was the last to escape from the building because he had an artificial leg. b. The building collapsed immediately after the speaker got out. c. Many people died because they got trapped in elevators. d. During the journey down, many people showed care and concern for others. Script: When the first plane slammed into the World Trade Center’s north tower, I was already at my desk on the 88th floor. Then I felt the whole building bouncing, shaking. My instinct told me that there was an explosion above us and that we should try to get out, but the corridors were full of flames. Knowing that the furniture and the carpets were fire-resistant, I figured that everything wasn’t going to burn. Then I heard someone yell that the stairwells (楼梯井) were gone. So about 40 of us escaped into a corner office. We put papers and rags under the door to keep out the smoke as best we could. We stayed calmly in the office for about 10 minutes, thinking we were safe and secure. Then someone came in to tell us that he had found a stairwell open but we had to move fast. We all filed out orderly and headed for the stairwell. Going down the stairs was not easy for me for I had lost a leg to cancer when I was 16 and wore an artificial limb. More or less, I used my arms to get down. When we reached the 40th floor, we came to a complete stop. There was a jam of people. The firemen were coming up the stairs, carrying their equipment. Some 100 firefighters must have walked past us. Some of them looked so young that they seemed hardly out of high school. But they were great, assuring us that they would take care of everything. Eventually we kept moving and got out. The journey down took about 40 minutes. Part D Time to Talk Look at these pictures and describe them one by one. If possible, try also to find something relevant to talk about. 8 Hints: 1. scenes of the damage, the 9/11 terrorist attacks, recall the work of firemen, at that time, the World Trade Center, was still burning, bits of the building were falling down and the dust filled the air, firemen showed great courage and risked their own lives, in their rescue work 2. a man diving from the top of a cliff, the blue water of the sea, cliff diving, one of the extreme sports, dive from such high cliffs, a boat and some people waiting for 3. Martin Luther King Jr., wave to a big crowd, the Washington Monument in the background, a famous civil rights leader in the 1960s, non-violence, the key to stopping racial discrimination, good at public speaking, his most famous speech, “I Have a Dream”, was assassinated in 1969, by a white extremist (极端主义者) Demo: 1. In this picture we see several scenes of the damage caused by the 9/11 terrorist attacks against the United States. We can recall the work of firemen. At that time the World Trade Center was still burning, and bits of the building were falling down and the dust filled the air. These firemen showed great courage and risked their own lives in their rescue work. In fact, quite a number of firemen lost their lives while saving the lives of others. 9 2. This picture shows a man diving from the top of a cliff to the blue water of the sea. This sport is called cliff diving, one of the extreme sports. It’s very exciting and dangerous for people to dive from such high cliffs. We also see a boat and some people waiting for the diver. 3. We see Martin Luther King Jr. waving to a big crowd. We can also see the Washington Monument in the background. Martin Luther King was a famous civil rights leader in the 1960s. He believed that non-violence was the key to stopping racial discrimination. King was good at public speaking. His most famous speech was “I Have a Dream”. Sadly, King was assassinated in 1969 by a white extremist. Movie Time Word Bank engine n. 发动机 rudder n. 舵 visibility n. 可见度 log n. 日志 exclusive a. 专用的 helmet n. 头盔 goggle n. 护目镜 rip v. 撕 paradise n. 天堂 blimp n. 小型飞船 Cross your heart! 你发誓～ Script: - All engines ahead, let’s take her up to 26000 feet! Rudder 18 degrees towards South! It’s a beautiful day. The wind blows from the east at 10 knots. Visibility ... unlimited. Enter the weather in the log book! Oh, there is something down there. I will bring it back for science! Oh ... It’s a puppy! What are you doing? Don’t you know this is an exclusive club? Only explorers get in here, not just any kid off the street with a helmet and a pair of goggles! You think you got what it takes? Do you? - I ... - All right, you’re in! Welcome aboard! What’s wrong? Can’t you talk? Hey, I don’t bite. You and me, we are in a club now! I saw where your balloon went. Come on, let’s go get it! My name is Ellie. There it is! Well ... go ahead. Go on. Hey, kid! I thought you might need a little cheering up. I got something to show you! I am about to let you see something I have never shown to another human being. Ever ... in my life! You have to swear you will not tell anyone! Cross your heart! Do it! My adventure book! You know him. Charles Muntz, explorer. When I get big, I’m going where he’s going. South America. It’s like America, but South. Wonder where I’m gonna live? Paradise Falls. A land lost in time. I ripped this right out of a library book! I’m gonna move my club house there! And park up right next to the falls. Who knows what lives up there! And once I get there ... Well, I’m saving all these pages for all the adventures I’m gonna have. Only ... I just don’t know 10 how I’m gonna get to Paradise Falls. That’s it! You can take us there in a blimp! Swear you’ll take us there! Cross your heart! Cross it! Cross your heart! Good, you promised. No backing out! Well, see you tomorrow, kid. Bye! Adventure is out there! You know, you don’t talk very much. I like you. Exercise 1. What was the girl fond of? a. The girl was obsessed with adventure. b. The girl liked to make fun of others. c. The girl was fond of leadership. d. The girl’s hobby was to read books. 2. What did the girl show to the boy? a. Her diary. b. An adventure book. c. An autobiography. d. Her paintings. 3. What can be inferred from the clip? a. The girl dreamed of visiting Paradise Falls. b. The girl turned to the boy for help. c. The boy didn’t like the girl. d. The boy had been to Paradise Falls. 11