LESSON TWEIVE The kindness of Strangers

Mike Mclntyre

制作人：王雪玲

Teaching steps

 Introduction to the text  Detailed study of the text word study/reading comprehension and language activities  In-class discussion  After-class activities



Introduction 1.

Americans are known as a generous people. “Love thy neighbor” and “Be your brother’s keeper” used to be their national mottoes. In recent decades, however, things have changed. People seem to have become more and more indifferent to other people’s needs. Crime rates have increased seriously. More and more people are worried about the general moral decay. But the author of this article tries to tell people that based on his personal experience,things are not as bad as people believe. In fact, one can still depend on the kindness of strangers in this country.



2.

The text is adapted from the original article by the author which appeared in Reader’s Digest,May 1997. The Reader’s Digest is an 80-year-old popular American magazine, second only to TV guide in circulation. It is published in 18 languages and more than 24 million copies are sold world-wide monthly. The large circulation indicates that it is designed to appeal to average people. Therefore, most articles from this magazine reflect traditional American values and tend to paint a generally positive picture of the land and people of the United States.

3.

 Today, people generally agree that competition is good for economic growth because it makes people work harder and better. But they also find that it might turn the society into a battlefield or a jungle where everybody is guided by the law of “

the survival of the fittest

” and that it might do harm to human relationship. This has happened in the United States. It is also happening in our own country. Our students should be aware of these problems and try to understand and learn to deal with them .

Detailed study of the text

Word study 1.

2.

3.

addict n. a drug addict: a person who cannot stop taking drugs almighty power adj. having unlimited power; ~dollar: taking money as the main goal in life or basis of to come upon : (literary) to meet, find , or discover by chance or by accident the other day, I came upon a very interesting book that deals with this issue.

compare: “to come upon” and “to come across” 4. chamber of commerce purpose of trade an organization or group of people in a particular town or area for the 5.

Compassionate adj. : feeling sympathy for sb. Who is suffering “compassionate” and “sympathetic” are synonyms. But in the following sentences, the word “sympathetic” is used, not “ compassionate”: They are very sympathetic to our plan.

I like to talk to her about my problems.she has a very sympathetic ear. 6.

7.

8.

gamble succeed.

n. : a risky action or decision; take a ~: to take an action that is risky hoping that it may The author wanted to take a gamble in his life. That is, he decided to travel from the Pacific to the Atlantic without a penny.

gang n. a group of persons who stick together, esp. for criminal or other antisocial purposes intrigue v. to arouse the interest or curiosity 9.

in spite of : regardless of ;despite More examples: In spite of the bad weather conditions we still had a good harvest.

He did not succeed in spite of his poverty. He succeeded because of it.

10. to pitch a tent : to set up a tent This is a typical collocation.

More examples of collocations: to solve a problem / to park a car/ to mow the lawn /to make sense / to dial the phone/ to give permission 11. to run s b. over : to hit s b. with a car or other vehicles,e.g. He was run over by a bus.

12. to be scheduled to do sth . : to be planned that sb.will do sth. Or sth.will happen More examples: He is scheduled to go to the Great Wall during his visit.

The railway is scheduled to go into operation in 2005.

13. to leave sb./sth. done : to make sb./sth. stay in a certain state More examples: They left the food untouched .

Never leave the door unlocked .

We are not going to leave anything untried .

Reading comprehension and language activities 1.

Choose the statement that best explains your understanding of the text.

1) The author did not stop to offer the young man a rid because _________.

a) he was in a hurry b) he did not5 see him c) he was a jerk d) he was cautious 2) The author traveled across the States alone at the age of 37 to ______.

a) visit all the interesting places he had in mind b) realize his life-long dream c) find out if people were willing to help strangers d) test his will to endure all the hardships involved in a trip 3) The trip led the author to ______.

a) see that it was natural for people not to stop for hitchhikers b) believe that most people were willing to help those in need c) feel very worried about the people in his country d) realize that he had been very lucky to live through the journey 4) He managed to cover 14 states without any trouble because________.

a) he was well-known and his plan was well-publicized b) he had every detail of his trip well planned c) there were always people who were willing to help strangers d) he was extremely lucky 5) People helped the author during the trip mostly because ________.

a) they couldn’t leave people in need without doing anything b) they knew he was testing them and wanted him to write favorably about them c) they were unaware of the risks involved d) they were well-to-do and had plenty to offer 6) The author found a patriotic tone in his talks because _________.

a) he knew he was talking to a group of pupils b) he had found the answer to the questions he had in mind before setting off c) he believed that Carol would expect him to use that kind of tone d) he was deeply touched by the interest of the children

Answers: d c b c a b

2. Notes to the text

1) He had his thumb out and held a gas can in his other hand.(para.1)

This is the usual gesture of hitchhikers when they ask for a free ride. The gas can obviously is meant to explain why they need this favor. (They have run out of gas.)

2) There was a time …when you’d be considered a jerk if … (para.1)

Here, more attributive clauses are introduced by “when” in the following pattern: __Has he always been in such poor health?

__ No, there was a time when he was as strong as a horse.

Substitutes:

Has he always been so fond of western music? …… Has the water in that river always been so dirty? …… Has corruption always been such a serious problem? …… Has the weather always been so dry here in spring?…

jerk:

(informal) a stupid person who does not care about the effects of his actions

3) With gangs, drug addicts, … lurking everywhere, …(para.1)

This is a prepositional phrase (“with” +its complex object) used as an adverbial of reason, It could be turned into an adverbial clause introduced by “as” : As gangs, drug addicts, … are lurking everywhere, …

to lurk;

to wait silently and secretly, ready to do wrong

4) I never even lifted my foot off the accelerator. (para. 2)

The author was really shocked –how he could have been so indifferent, so unfeeling and so unsympathetic.

5) …relying solely on the good will of his fellow Americans. (para.3)

“To rely on” and “to depend on” are sometimes synonyms. But in the following context, “to depend on” is the right choice: __Are you going?

__That depends. It depends on whether I’m free.

fellow Americans: other Americans like oneself

Also: fellow students , fellow teachers , fellow workers

6)The week I turned 37, I realized that I had never taken a gamble inn my life.( para.5) The week I turned 37… :

The week ( when ) I turned 37 … Here “when” is often omitted. Similarly, we say “the day I was born…” , “the year he got married…”, “the night the fire broke out…” , etc.

to take a gamble:

We can also say “to take a rest”, “to take a risk”, etc. Pay attention to this kind of

7)

collocations.

…through the land of the almighty dollar. (para.5) the land of the almighty dollars:

the country in which money has as much power as God (“it”

8)

here refers to the United States.)

… and headed for the Golden Gate Bridge with a 50-pound pack on my back and a sign displaying my destination to passing vehicles: “America”.(para.6) 9)

The author was holding a sign showing people where he was going. The fact that he put down “America” as his destination may have been the reason why he had been so well treated. It must have caught the attention of the media and roused people’s patriotic feeling.

…when it seemed to run contrary to their own best interests.(para.7)

when it seemed to be in a way that is opposite to their best interests. / … when it seemed to be exactly what they should not have done for their own safety.

to run contrary to :

to run against; to run counter to “Contrary” is an adverbial here.

10) …a car pulled to the road shoulder. (para.8)

The word “pull” is often used to describe the movement of a car. e. g.

He had to pull up his car at the red light. (to make the car come to a halt) The policeman ordered him to pull over. (to stop his car at the side of the road) She pulled in to let the truck pass. (to move to the side of the road and stop) Shoulder: AmE an area of ground beside a road where drivers can stop their cars if they have some trouble; roadside

11) I saw two little old ladies dressed in their Sunday finest. (para.)

I saw two old ladies who were wearing their best clothes

.

It could be that these ladies were indeed on their way to the church or on their way back home from the church.

“In” is often used to mean “wearing sth.”.

More examples:

He looked very handsome in his army uniform.

I saw a woman in black hurrying to that hotel.

The boy was in rags. And he was hungry.

12) I didn’t know whether to kiss them or scold them for stopping. (para.8)

I didn’t know whether I should thank them for their kindness or criticize them for running this risk.

The author was obviously deeply touched. He said this to emphasize the kindness and courage of the two old ladies, not to suggest that it was wrong or stupid.

“Whether “ can not be replaced by “if” in this pattern. “If” is usually followed by a clause and without “or”.

13) …she’d rather risk her life than feel bad about…(para.8)

…she preferred to risk her life rather than feel guilty about… More examples of the use of “

would rather …than…” :

I’d rather stay home than go out tomorrow.

I’d rather marry someone I can trust than someone who has lots of money but no heart.

14) …robbed at knifepoint (para.9): …

robbed while the robber pointed a knife at him;

Also: at gunpoint

15) People don’t have no heart anymore. (para.9)

This sentence has two negatives: “don’t” and “no”. It is typical of what is known as “double negative”, which should be read as negative. The sentence therefore means “People don’t have any heart anymore.” double negative is generally considered nonstandard English.

16) But what I found most touching was the fact that they all did it as a matter of course. (para.11) As a matter of course:

as a most natural way to act Complete the following sentences i9nvolving the use of “fact” followed by an appositive clause( 同位语从句 ): I was very much impressed by the fact that _____________.

The fact that _____________shows that agriculture is still our greatest problem.

We cannot ignore the fact that _______________________.

17) Now we are talking. (para.12)

This is used when you think someone’s suggestion is a very good idea.

More examples:

a) a) __I suggest we first get a hamburger and then a big ice-cream.

__ Now we (you) are talking! Let’s go.

__ Let’s call it a day. We can’t work all day.

__ Now

we (you) are talking.

18) Tell you what. (para.12)

“

(I”ll tell you what” is used when you are suggesting or offering sth.

More examples:

a) – I’d like to go very much. But it’s too far away.

--

tell you

what. You take my car. I’m not going anywhere today.

b) -- I won’t be able to come back

home until 7.

But I have to pick up my son at 5:30.

19)

-- tell you what . I’ll pick up your son and bring him to my place.

His wife, …a seventh-grade science teacher, was cooking a pot roast…(para.13)

In the U.S., education begins in elementary school, which is for children between the ages of 5 and 11, then goes on to middle school, which is for children between 11 and 14, then to high school, which is for children of 14 or 15 or 18 years old. After that there will be the college or university.

20) … “mountain stay-at-home people” who rarely entertained in their house. (para.13) Stay-at-home people:

people who stay at home all the time and do not like to do exciting things Pay attention to the way this compound word is formed.

Other examples: the next-to-last step / a wait-and-see policy / a take-it-or-leave-it attitude / a get-rich-quick dream

In-class discussion

1. Why did the author decide to start on this journey?

2. What was the author’s plan for the trip?

3. How was he treated everywhere he went?What did the author learn about people in general during the trip?

4. What was the author’s experience at the Wilson’s?

5. Many people in the United States say that it would be foolish to trust strangers.But the author’s experience seems to suggest that you can still depend on their kindness. Which do you think is a truer picture of today’s reality in the United States?

6. Do you often “depend on the kindness of strangers”? Do you think we should?

1.

After-class activities

Complete the sentences, using the proper forms of the expressions listed below.

in need to be scheduled to do sth. to come upon to depend on to feel (bad, happy …) about to have in mind to head for to rely on to watch out

1) 2) 3) 4) 5) 6) 7) 8) He is known for his generosity. Every year he spends millions helping people______________.

Lisa _______forgetting to tell Linda about the interview. Scientists long ago_______ the idea of growing plants in the ocean.

Our radar has picked up some signal that an unidentified object is ________ our city.

-- Do you like rock music?

-- It _______my mood .

We _______a discussion with the professors from Harvard University next Tuesday.

No country can completely_________foreign aid to develop its economy.

You need to _______ here. It’s dark and this staircase is steep.

9) It’s up to you where we go. You’re our guest. Do you ____any place ___________?

10) We were surprised to hear Mr.Chen say that he was ______retirement. He really doesn’t look that old.

11) As they were walking along the beach, they________a plastic bag half buried in the sand.

12) Anyone who __________the future of our country _______will understand the importance of protecting our water resources.

13) In a sense, the success of this experiment will _________the financial support from the city government.

14) ____________! The milk is spilling over.

2.

Complete the sentences, using the proper forms of the phrasal verbs of “run” listed below .

to run across to run away to run contrary to run into to run out to run out of to run over to run through

1) 2) 3) 4) 5) I ________a beautiful silver box in a second-hand shop. I bought it for only $10.

Tom and his friends decided to _________ the school because they wanted to play Robin Hood.

That police officer was nearly __________ by a car when he was trying to catch the murder suspect across the street.

Walking in the jungle one morning, I ___________ a bird I had never seen for years.

We all felt a tone of deep concern for the unemployed workers______her talk.

6) Time is ____________ . This dam must be completed before the rainy season comes.

7) They told us that they were ______________ cash and so they had to raise a loan.

8) Soon, we found what they did _____________our agreement, so we decided to take legal action.

3 Complete the sentences with a what-clause based on the Chinese.

1) 2) 3) 4) 5) 6) You’d better not do ____________________________ （伤害朋友的事）。 I think __________ （你说的） was perfectly true.

It’s hard for me to describe _______________( 我的感受 ) at that moment.

Once he makes up his mind, he doesn’t care ____________ （别人怎么想）。 I felt so embarrassed because I couldn’t recall __________ （她的名字叫什么）。 The manager couldn’t imagine ______________ （公司会是什么样子） after he retired.

7) Every one of us believed that was ______________ （实际发生的情况）。 8) Yes, I have witnesses , ___________ （现在我需要的） is a lawyer.

9 ） Smoking in the corridor is acceptable. __________ （不可行的事情） is smoking in 10 ） the office.

She had expected to see modern apartment buildings, but ________ （映入眼帘的） 11 ） were old, ugly-looking dormitories.

___________ （他有生之年想要做的） is to tell people what happened during the 12 ） so-called “Cultural Revolution”.

She brought her air ticket. ___________ （她忘记带来的） was her ID card.

4.

Written work

In no more than 100words, write down in your diary your thoughts after reading the text.

Answers to the exercises

1.

2.

1) in need 2) felt bad about 3) came upon 4) heading for 5) depends on 6) are scheduled to have 7) rely on 8) watch out 9) have, in mind 10) heading for 11) came upon 12) has, in mind 13) depend on 14) Watch out 1) ran across 2) run away from 3) run over 4) ran into 3.

5) running through 6) running out 7) running out of 8) ran contrary to 1) what will be harmful to your friend 2) what you said 3) how I felt 4) what others think 5) what her name was 6) what the company would be like 7) what really happened 8) What I need now 9) What is unacceptable 10) what met her eyes 11) what he would like to do in his remaining years 12) What she forgot to bring 4. (omit).