An Integrated English Course

An Integrated English Course Book 2 Unit Three

Learning Objectives • By the end of this unit, you are supposed to • understand the main idea, structure of the text and the author’s writing style • master the key language points and grammatical structures in the text • appreciate and learn from the author’s wife’s unyielding character and willingness to help others

Teaching Procedure Pre-reading Questions Text I. My Stroke of Luck ● Passage ● Structure analysis ● Main idea of the passage ● Language points ● sentence studies ● vocabulary studies Text II. A New Attitude to Gratitude

Pre-reading 1. Think of a person you know who suffers misfortunes but still does whatever he/she can to help others. Describe him/her to your classmates. Grandma Zhang is my neighbor. Three years ago, she lost her husband who had suffered from lung cancer for ten years. Last year, misfortune hit her again. Her only son died in a car accident. However, she recovered from all this very soon. She donated all the compensation money for her son’s death to a kindergarten. She said, “I have no grandchildren, but at least I can do something for those little kids.”

2. Do you believe in luck? Please explain with your personal experience. Yes, I believe in luck. I have not only heard of but also experienced some strange things. On a rainy afternoon, for instance, I was walking past a huge tree on my way to the classroom when suddenly a big branch snapped and stuck my umbrella with a thump. My umbrella was broken at once. Obviously my neck would have got broken if I had not carried the umbrella.

Text I. My Stroke of Luck She keeps saving my life. Better still, she keeps giving me reasons to live. It happened on the way home from a meeting in Filmore, 40 miles north of Los Angeles. My friend Noel Blanc, a helicopter pilot, offered to give me a ride back to the city. We were 50 feet in the air when we collided with a small plane flown by a flight instructor and his young student. Noel and I survived, but the men in the plane died instantly.

I don’t remember being pulled from the wreckage or the ambulance trip to a nearby hospital. But I do remember my wife, Anne, staring down at me on my gurney. After hearing of the accident, Anne took a helicopter to reach me. She insisted on moving me to our neighborhood hospital in L.A., Cedars-Sinai Medical Center. Another helicopter ride. Just what I needed! But Anne was right. In L.A. I could get the best care for my spinal injury and start seeing psychiatrists for my very real “survivor’s guilt”. Anne has such good judgment and intuition, she rarely makes a wrong decision. After all, she first saved my life in 1958, when she refused to let me join film producer Mike Todd on his fatal flight. She saved me again after my stroke in 1995, when I became depressed and suicidal.

Anne’s secret is that she learns from life, then moves on. Born in Hanover, Germany, she fled to Belgium to escape fascism as a teenager. She then moved to Paris, surviving the occupation by putting her linguistic ability to work. Fluent in French， English， Italian and her native German. She supported herself by placing German subtitles on French films. We met in 1953 when I was in Paris to star in Act of Love. I was looking for an assistant, and Anne Bydens showed up at my dressing room for an interview. She wore a blue suit with a white collar, and had very delicate wrists and ankles. Quite striking. I explained the position and she politely said, “I don’t think this job’s right for me.” I wasmiffed. Here I was, an American movie star. I expected her to be eager for the job.

She did accept the position, but only on a temporary basis. And she eventually agreed to go out with me, which had been my first thought anyhow. But that took some doing on my part too. After our first meeting, I called to invite her to supper at Tour d’Argent, one of Paris’s best restaurants, with fantastic views of the Seine. “No,” she said, “I’m tired. I think I’ll just make myself some eggs and go to bed.” My thought then was, to hell with her. But it was just that poignant style that made me fall in love. During the following months, while I was filming Ulysses in Italy, Anne often met up with me. In 1954, when our next jobs threatened to keep us apart for months at a time, I realized I didn’t want to lose her and asked her to marry me. We slipped away to LasVegas to tie the knot.

Forty-seven years of marriage is quite a journey. Anne has kept me going through some of the hardest times, which hasn’t always been easy, given that I’m sometimes an actor wrapped up in his ego. After the crash, I couldn’t sit without extreme pain, when we went out, Anne would put me in the rear of the station wagon, where I could stretch out. At dinner with friends, she’d set a place for me as if it were the most natural thing in the world to eat lying on the couch. She consoled me during my survivor’s anguish, but what she wouldn’t tolerate---and here’s the important thing---was me feeling sorry for myself.

Then again, I’ve never seen her feel sorry for herself either. Thirty years ago Anne underwent diagnostic surgery after finding a lump in her breast. Her doctor reported the tumor was malignant, and it was spreading. He encouraged me to authorize him to remove Anne’s breast then and there. I did. After, I felt guilty having made that choice while she lay unconscious. Anne assured me that I’d done the right thing. She dealt with the cancer, from which she has fully recovered, by helping others---talking to groups about her experiences, and establishing Research for Women’s Cancers with six fellow survivors. Over the years they’ve raised $9 million to help finance a research facility at Cedars-Sinai. Anne recently read an article about the deplorable state of school playgrounds in L.A., and started a program to rebuild and beautify them.

That’s my wife’s method, finding ways her life can help others. I’ve been the beneficiary of that practice many times. The afternoon I had my stroke, Anne was playing bridge with Barbara Sonata, and I was home getting a manicure. When my speech started to slur, the manicurist, a former nurse, immediately phone Anne. My wife was home within ten minutes and had me at the hospital within an hour. Although she was my rescuer, Anne, who believes in tough love, wasn’t about to let me just lie around. During my recovery, she kicked me out of bed each morning to get me working with my speech therapist. She taught me exercises that helped her when she was learning to speak English, like putting a /d/ before a /j/ to say “just”. My therapist was impressed. One day, feeling proud of my progress, I said, “I think as a treat, tomorrow I’d like to have breakfast in bed”.

Anne looked at me and said, “You’d like breakfast in bed? I think you’d better sleep in the kitchen!” The most difficult consequence of my stoke was the depression I suffered. While I was going through it, Anne endured my moods but didn’t allow me to complain. In the midst of writing my latest book, My Stroke of Luck, I had an epiphany, inspired by my wife. How to handle a stroke is how to handle life. The world is filled with people who have suffered one misfortune or another. What sets the survivors apart from the others is the willingness to move on, and to help others move on too. Anne has been doing that for as long as I’ve know her.

Structural analysis The story is basically a piece of narrative writing, in which the account of the latest event is interrupted by a number of flashbacks (some earlier events and experiences). It begins with the air crash. Then it goes back to what had happened before. After this the author resumes the narration of the air crash and subsequent events. Part One:(Paragraphs 1-2) The 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. The description of her reaction naturally leads to the discussion of her good judgment in the following paragraphs.

Part Two: (Paras. 3-4) • These two paragraphs function as the first flashback in the story which describes Anne’s good judgment on previous occasions and her experiences during the Second World War. 1) “She saved me again after my stroke in 1995, when I became depressed and suicidal.” Note that the word “save” here means “to help me out of depression”, because severe depression sometimes could lead to one’s suicide. 2) “occupation” refers to German fascists’ occupation of France during the Second World War.

(Paras. 5-7): These paragraphs tell us how the author met Anne, fell in love with her and eventually married her. This is the second flashback. (Para. 8) After two flashbacks, the author turns back to his recovery from the crash with his wife’s meticulous care.

(Paras. 9-10): • These two paragraphs are also a flashback. The author recalls how his wife handled her crisis: she never gave in and always tried to help others. • Part three: (Paras. 11-13): • These 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. • In paragraph 11, Anne’s “good judgment” is reaffirmed by her swift reaction to her husband’s stroke (“was home within ten minutes and had me at the hospital within an hour”)

Part four (Para. 14): • As is the case with most narrative writings, the concluding paragraph provides an end to the event (the air crash). However, the author goes beyond that by offering his general comments on Anne’s character, thus making the conclusion somewhat philosophical.

Main Idea of the passage The text tells the author’s wife’s unyielding character and willingness to help others.

Language points Paraphrases: 1. She saved me again after my stroke in 1995, when I became depressed and suicidal. In 1995, I had a stroke and my wife helped me out of depression, which sometimes could lead to one’s suicide. 2. I was in Paris to star in Act of Love. I was in Paris to play a leading role in Act of Love. Act of Love is a film produced in 1953, in which Kirk Douglas and Dany Robin played the roles of hero and heroine. 3. I was miffed. Here I was, an American movie star. I expected her to be eager for the job. I got angry, because I was a famous American movie star, and expected Anne to accept the job with eagerness.

4. But that took some doing on my part too. But I also made some efforts to adjust myself. 5. My thought then was, to hell with her. “to hell with sb.” is a curse. Here the author is cursing “her” under his breath. 6. We slipped away to Las Vegas to tie the knot. We went quietly to Las Vegas to get married. 7. … which hasn’t always been easy, given that I’m sometimes an actor wrapped up in his ego. … which hasn’t always been easy, because I am sometimes too proud of myself as an actor.

8. She consoled me during my survivor’s anguish. When I suffered an aftermath fear of the disaster and was in times of sadness, my wife gave me comfort. Survivor’s anguish is a kind of depression in which the survivor suffers a aftermath fear of disaster and uncertainty about what would happen to him/ her in the future. 9. Anne, who believes in tough love ... Anne believes that you should be a bit tough with your loved ones in order to get them back to normal life as quickly as possible. 安妮相信，越是你所爱的人，越应该严加要求，这样才有助于他们尽快过上正常的生活。

Offer v. 1) willing to give someone something, or to hold something out to them so that they can take it They offered him a very good job but he turned it down 2) willing to pay a particular amount of money They’ve offered us $750,000 for the house. 3) willing to do something I don’t need any help, but it was nice of you to offer. 4) to provide something that people need or want He offered no explanation for his actions. Collocation: offer sth. to sb. offer (sb.) sth. for offer to do sth. have sth. to offer (to sb.)

collide v. to hit each other accidentally E.g. The two planes collided with each other in midair. Fill in the blanks with proper forms of collide. 1) Environmentalists and loggers are on a course, with no compromise in sight. 2) Donna swerved to avoid with a taxi. 3) The school bus was involved in a with a truck. Survive v. 1) to continue to live after an accident, a war or an illness Only 12 of the 140 passengers survived. 2) to continue to exist in spite of many difficulties and dangers A few pages of the original manuscript still survive. 3) to continue to live or exist after the death or cessation of someone else Harry survived his wife by three months.

Derivation: survivor Collocation: survive sth ; survive on Fill in the blanks with proper forms of survive. 1) There are concerns that the refugees may not the winter. 2) I don’t know how you all manage to on Jeremy’s salary. 3) Major Hawkins was the lone of the crash. instantly adv. immediately, at once E.g. He pressed the button and instantly there was a strange sound.

wreckage n. 1) the remains of something that is destroyed search the wreckage for survivors 2) the destruction of someone’s relationships, hopes, plans etc. the wreckage of a once-promising career Derivation: wreck v.; wrecked adj.; wrecker n. Fill in the blanks with proper forms of wreckage. 1) the seabed where the lies 2) The train at the crossing. 3) a boy growing up in the of a broken marriage 4) sailors/goods 5) a home

stare v. to look at sth. for a long time without moving one’s eyes Stop staring out of the window and do some work! What are you staring at? Collocation: stare out; stare at; stare after; stare sb. down Fill in the blanks with after, at, down, and out. 1) The time and place were unsuitable for an argument, but at least I could express my opposition to the woman by staring her . 2) Children enjoy a silly competition in which they try to stare each other . 3) When the country boy visited the big city for the first time, all he could do was to stare the tall buildings in wonder. 4) She stared him as he left her, tears blinding her eyes.

Insist on 1) to lay emphasis in assertion Throughout the trial, the prisoner insisted on his innocence. 2) to urge; to strongly demand (something or doing something) I must insist on paying for my share of the meal. intuition n. the power of knowing something without reasoning E.g. How did you know that, Jane? Women’s intuition! depressed adj. sad or gloomy E.g. I need something to occupy my mind. I get depressed if I have nothing to do. depression n. E.g. perfectly stable people are often plunged into depression by divorce, unemployment, or failure in their work. suicidal adj. with a tendency to commit suicide E.g. He suffered periods of deep depression, when his mood became suicidal.

fatal adj. 1) very dangerous; causing death Meningitis is a serious illness, fatal in some cases. 2) having a very bad effect, especially making someone fail or stop what they are doing It’s always fatal to stay up late before an exam. Antonym: nonfatal Derivation: fatality, fatally Collocation 1) fatal accident/illness/injury etc.: a fatal climbing accident 2) prove fatal(=be fatal) If it is not treated correctly, the condition can prove fatal. 3) it is fatal to do sth 4) fatal mistake/error Graf made a fatal mistake halfway through the match.

show up 1) (informal) to arrive Only thirty members showed up for the yearly general meeting. 2) to (cause to ) be easily seen The lines on her face show up in the pale spring light. 3) (of a fault) to (cause to ) be uncovered or made clear The faults in the recording will show up on this expensive record-player. 4) to make clear the truth, usu. unfavorable about (someone) Performing by herself showed her up as a rather poor singer. delicate adj. 1) made skillfully and with attention to the smallest details a delicate pattern of butterflies and leaves 2) easily damaged or broken a delicate bubble of Venetian glass (to be continued)

3) needing to be dealt with carefully or sensitively in order to avoid problems or failure The negotiations are at a delicate stage. 4) used to modify a part of the body that is attractive and graceful: He looked down at his long white delicate fingers. 5) used to modify a taste, smell, or color that is pleasant and not strong: a delicate shade of blue Antonyms: strong; clumsy; crude; harsh; robust; healthy; straightforward; tactless Derivation: 1) delicacy n. Snails are considered a delicacy in France. 2) delicately adv. 3) indelicate adj. He made an indelicate remark at the dinner table.

Fill in the blanks with proper forms of the word. 1) You will have to be very in your handling of the situation. 2) the of the china 3) porcelain 4) The plate had a designed pattern of leaves. Striking a. very attractive or impressive E.g. With her mass of black hair and pale skin she looked very striking. temporary adj. lasting only for a limited period of time E.g. We apologize for the temporary inconvenience caused by the building work. Antonym: permanent Derivation: temporariness n; temporarily adv. The library is _________ closed for repairs. This is only a _________ solution to the problem.

poignant adj. keen or strong in mental appeal 1) It was a poignant moment. They held hands and looked into each other’s eyes for the last time. 2)The sight of the elders embracing with tears in their eyes was particularly poignant. Derivation: poignantly adv.; poignancy n. poigance His remarkable life and tragic death poignantly express the hopes and disappointments of a whole generation. Translate the following sentences into English: 1) 切肤之痛 poignant agonies 2) 辛酸的回忆 poignant memories 3) 绝顶的美丽 poignant beauty 4) 辛辣的讽刺 poignant satire

go through: to experience; to suffer I admire the way she’s still so cheerful after all that she’s gone through. be wrapped up in: to be totally absorbed in He doesn’t have much time for a social life, because he’s too wrapped up in his work. console v. to give comfort to someone in times o f sadness 1) Susanna did her best to console her daughter b promising to buy her another doll. 2) William consoled himself what the thought that at least no one else had been involved in the accident. Collocation: console sb. with Derivation: consolation n; consolatory adj. Fill in the blanks with proper forms of the word console. 1) She could not the weeping child. 2) You are a to me at such a sad time. 3) a gesture to the injured pride

stretch out 1) to lie down, usually in order to sleep or rest I’m just going to stretch out on the couch for ten minutes. 2) to put out your hand, foot etc. in order to reach something Jimmy stretched out his hand for the candy. 3) to (cause to ) lengthen in time The years ahead seemed to stretch out for ever. Comparison: put out: Put your hand out, I have a surprise for you. spread out: The whole valley was spread out before his eyes. space out: We should space out our visits sensibly, so that she doesn’t miss us for too long at a time.

undergo v. to experience • E.g. He was frightened when he realized he would have to undergo a dangerous heart operation. authorize v. (authorize sb. to do sth.): to give permission for • E.g. Only the Congress can authorize the President to declare war. feel guilty: to have a feeling of guilt or shame • Many working mothers feel guilty about leaving their children at home and going out to work. • When my grandmother died I felt guilty that I had not visited her more while she was alive. finance v. to provide money for; to fund • E.g.State pensions are financed by the contributions of those still at work.

Deal with: 1) to take action about (something or someone, usu. troublesome) The Head Office deals with all complaints. 2) to be concerned with; to treat (a subject) Tom’s latest book deals with police methods. 3) to have a relationship with (someone); to have talks with Why is she refusing to deal with our new neighbour? 4) to punish (sb): I’ll deal with the boy when he comes home! Comparison: treat of: to deal with a subject in speech or writing; discourse This article treats of the dangers facing certain groups of wild animals.

Fill in the blanks with proper words. 1) I’ve always dealt Mrs. Brown the dressmaker. 2) I’ve been dealing Brown’s for twenty years. 3) Mr. Sharp has always been dealt fairly me. 4) This shop deals woolen goods. 5) The children felt that the teacher had been unfair in dealing the punishment to the whole class. Key: with at by in out Deplorable a. very regrettable Conditions in the prison were deplorable. a deplorable waste of tax-payers’ money Derivation: deplore v.; deplorably adv.; deplorableness n. The UN deplored the invasion as a “violation of international law”.

beneficiary n.the receiver of a benefit E.g. People on high incomes will be the main beneficiaries of these changes in the tax laws. Derivation: beneficial adj.; benefit v.; beneficially adv. Fill in the blanks with proper forms of the word beneficiary. 1) an agreement that will be to both parties 2) an aid program that has brought lasting to the region 3) Those children are of the new kindergarten. 4) I can see the advantages of this for you, but how will I ? Key: beneficial, benefits, beneficiaries, benefit Slur v. to pronounce unclearly He was obviously drunk and slurring his words. Collocation: slur over slur over one’s duties回避责任

Treat n. 1) something special that you give someone or do for them because you know they will enjoy it Steven took his son to the zoo as a birthday treat. 2) an unexpected event that gives sb. a lot of pleasure I really miss everyone, and getting a letter from home is a big treat Collocation 1) my treat: Let’s go out for dinner— my treat this time. 2) go down a treat : Brightly colored building blocks always go down a treat with toddlers. 3) look/work a treat: The sports ground looked a treat, with all the flags flying.

endure v.: to bear 1)The report describes how political prisoners have to endure. 2) She had to endure countless attacks on her reputation from popular newspapers. 3)They endured months of despair as their daughter’s illness grew progressively worse. Derivation: endurance n. endurable adj. endurability n. endurably adv. Fill in the blanks with the proper forms of the word endure. 1) The marathon really tested his . 2) Bosnians have now several years of war. 3) Do you think it is for another three months to have nothing to eat ? Key: endurance, endured, endurable

inspire v.to influence, to give a sudden good idea 1) The novel is obviously inspired by her experience of Christianity in her childhood. 2) These designs are inspired by the colors of Italian peasant pottery. Collocation 1) inspire sb. to sth I hope this success will inspire you to greater efforts. 2) not inspire confidence His driving hardly inspires confidence. Fill in the blanks with the proper forms of the word inspire. 1) The seascapes of Cape Cod were her . 2) The book was by his travels in the Far East. 3) King, 27 years old, was a great orator and an leader. Key: inspiration, inspired, inspiring

handle v. to treat, to deal with 1) Francis is a natural leader. He’s very good at handling people. 2) I’m sure Sandra will give us the money if we handle her properly. set apart to make (something or someone) different, to distinguish 1) What set the play apart was the way it dealt with the murder scene. 2) His dedication really set him apart from previous party leaders

Text II. A New Attitude to Gratitude Faith Andrews Bedford One of the nice things about having grown children is that I no longer have to bug them about writing thank-you notes. When they were little, all three would dictate thank-yous that I would include with drawings they’d made of their presents. By the time Eleanor, Sarah and Drew were old enough to write their own thank-you notes, however, they would do so only with much prodding. “Have you written to Grandy for the book yet?” I’d ask. “What did you say to Aunt Dorothy about that toy?” I’d be met with mumbles and shrugs.

One year, in the days following Christmas, I’d grown weary of nagging. The children had become mother-deaf. Frustrated, I declared that no one would be allowed to play with anew toy or wear a new outfit until the appropriate thank-you notes had been mailed. Still they procrastinated and grumbled. Something snapped. “Everyone into the car,” I said. “Where are we going?” Sarah asked, bewildered. “To buy a Christmas present.” “But it’s after Christmas,” she protested. “No arguing,” I said in a tone that mean exactly that. The kids piled into the car. “You’re going to see just how much time those who care about you spend when they give you a present,” I told them. Handing Drew a pad of paper and a pencil, I said, “please mark down the time we left home.”

When we reached town, Drew noted our arrival time. The children helped me select presents for my sisters at a local shop then we turned round and drove home. Bursting free the confines of the car, the children headed for their yard toys. “Not so fast,” I said, “We’ve got to wrap the presents.” The kids slouched inside. “Drew,” I asked, “did you note the time we got home?” He nodded. “OK, please time the girls while they wrap the presents.” When they’d tied the last bow, they looked up expectantly. “How long did this all take?” I asked Drew. Glancing at his notes, he said, “It took us 28 minutes to get to town and 15 minutes to buy the presents. Then it was 38 minutes to get home because we had to buy petrol.”

“And how long did it take us to wrap the boxes?” Eleanor asked. “Each of you did one present in two minutes, ”Drew said. “And how many minutes will it take to mail these presents?” I asked. “Fifty-six minutes, round trip,” Drew reckoned. “But you forgot standing-in-line time,” said Sarah. “OK,” Drew said, “We need to add about 15 minutes for mailing.” “So, what’s the total time we’d spend to give someone a present?” Drew worked out the arithmetic. “Two hours and 34 minutes,” he said. I laid some stationery, a pen ad an envelope beside each child. “Now please write a thank-you note. Be sure to mention the present by name and tell what fun you’ll have using it.”

Silence reigned as the children gathered their thoughts; soft pen scratchings followed. “Done,” said Eleanor, pressing her envelope closed. “Me too,” echoed Sarah. “That took us three minutes,” Drew said, sealing his letter. “Is three minutes too much to thank someone for a thoughtful gift that may have taken two and a half hours to choose and send to you?” I asked. The children looked down at the table and shook their heads. “It’s a good idea to get into the habit now. In time you’ll want to write thank-you notes for many things.” Drew groaned. “Like what?” “Like dinners or lunches. Or weekends at someone’s home or the time someone takes to give you advice on university applications or careers.” “Did you have to write thank-yous when you were a kid?”

“Absolutely.” “What did you say?” he asked. I could tell he was formulating the rest of his thank-you notes. “It was a long time ago,” I said. Then I remembered Uncle Arthur, my great-grandfather’s youngest brother. I’d never met him, yet every Christmas he sent me a gift. Eh was blind and lived far away. His niece Becca, who lived next door, sat down with him and wrote out $5 cheques to his great-and-great-great-grand- nieces and nephews. I always wrote, telling him what I’d spent his cheque on. Years later, I had the chance to visit Uncle Arthur. As we chatted, he told me he’d always enjoyed my notes. “You remember them?” I asked. “Yes,” he replied. “I’ve saved some of my favorites.” He waved towards a stand by the window. “Would you get the packet of letters out of the top drawer? It’s wrapped in ribbon.”

I found an old letter with my handwriting and read aloud: “Dear Uncle Arthur, I am writing this to you as I sit under the hair dryer at the beauty salon. Tonight is the Holiday Ball at the high school and I am spending your Christmas cheque having my hair done for the party. Thank you so much. I know I’ll have a wonderful time, in part because of your thoughtful gift. Love, Faith.” “And did you?” he asked. I thought back to that wonderful evening so many years ago. “Definitely,” I answered with a smile that I wished Uncle Arthur could see. Sarah’s tug at my sleeve pulled me back to the present. “What are you smiling at?” she asked. I told the children about uncle Arthur’s gifts and how glad I was that I’d written a note each year. They obviously meant a lot to him. “And did you look beautiful?” asked Sarah. “My date thought I did.”

An Integrated English Course