1. Unit 3 Text I When Lightening struckLightening

2. Disasters: Natural disasters: typhoon,tornado,hurricane,earthquake, tsunami, volcanic outbreaks(eruption), snow avalanche,flood, drought,sand- storm… Man-made disasters:air crash, car accident, war…

3. Read Para.1-4, answer the following questions: 1. What do you know about the girl who was seating beside the author? 2. Why did the young businessman look worried? 3. What did the pilot decide to do? Referenced answer

4. Para.1 I was in the tiny bathroom in the back of the plane when I felt the slamming jolt, and then the horrible swerve that threw me against the door. Oh, Lord, I thought, this is it! Somehow I managed to unbolt the door and scramble our. The flight attendants, already strapped in, waved wildly for me to sit down. As I lunged toward my seat, passengers looked up at me with the stricken expressions of creatures who know they are about to die.the slamming jolt swerveOh, Lord, I thought, this is it! unboltscramble strapped in As I lunged toward my seat stricken expression: an expression as if affected by sth. overwhelming, such as disease, trouble, or painful emotions

5. Para. 2 “I think we got hit by lightening,” the girl in the seat next to mine said. She was from a small town in east Texas, and this was only her second time on an airplane. She had won a trip to England by competing in a high school geography bee and was supposed to make a connecting flight when we landed in Newark.in a high school geography bee was supposed to make a connecting flight Newark “I think we got hit by lightening.” = “I think we were struck by lightning.” Actually, it was their airplane that was supposed to have been struck by lightning.

6. Para. 3 In the next seat, at the window, sat a young businessman who had been confidently working. Now he looked worried. And that really worries me － when confident-looking businessmen look worried. The laptop was put away. “Something’s not right, ” he said.The laptop was put away.

7. Para.4 The pilot’s voice came over the speaker. I heard vaguely through my fear, “Engine number two… emergency landing… New Orleans.” When he was done, the voice of a flight attendant came on, reminding us of the emergency procedures she had reviewed before takeoff. Of course I never paid attention to this drill, always figuring that if we ever got to the point where we need to use life jackets, I would have already died for terror. vaguelyNew OrleansWhen he was doneemergency procedures reviewedalways figuring that life jackets Question: “Engine number two… emergency landing… New Orleans.” Why there are some dots in this sentence?Why

8. Read Para.5-9, and answering the following questions: 1. How did the writer reassure the high school girl? 2. How did the glamorous young woman comfort the writer? 3. Why did the writer feel proud of her fellow passengers? Referenced answer

9. Para. 5 Now we began a roller-coaster ride through the thunderclouds. I was ready to faint, but when I saw the face of the girl next to me, I pulled myself together. I reached for her hand and reassured her that we were going to make it. “What a story you’re going to tell when you get home!” I said. “After this, London’s going to seem like small potatoes.”roller-coaster ride pulled myself together reached for her After thissmall potatoes I was ready to faint. = I was likely to lose consciousness unexpectedly. It was most likely that I would lose self-consciousness.

10. Para.6 I wondered where I was getting my strength. Then I saw that my other hand was tightly held by a ringed hand. Someone was comforting me － a glamorous young woman across the aisle, the female equivalent of the confident businessman. She must have seen how scared I was and reached over.a ringed handglamorousthe female equivalent She … reached over: she stretched out her hand to me from across the aisle.

11. Para. 7 “I tell you,” she confided, “the problems I brought up on this plane with me sure don’t seem real big right now.” I loved her Southern drawl, her indiscriminate use of perfume, and her soulful squeezes. I was sure that even if I survived the plane crash, I’d have a couple of broken fingers from all the TLC. “Are you okay?” she kept asking me.confidedthe problems indiscriminatesoulful squeezesI was sure that A Southern drawl: a manner of speaking with lengthened or drawn-out vowels, typically used by the southerners in the U.S. What does TLC stand for?stand for

12. Para.8 Among the many feelings going through my head during those excruciating 20 minutes was pride － pride in how well everybody on board was behaving. No one panicked. No one screamed. As we jolted and screeched our way downward, I could hear small pockets of soothing conversation everywhere. during those excruciating 20 minutes No one panicked. As we

13. Para.9 I thought of something I had heard a friend say about the wonderful gift his dying father had given the family: he had died peacefully, as if not to alarm any of them about an experience they would all have to go through someday.

14. Read Para.10-12, answer the following questions: 1. How did the passengers react to their safe landing? 2. what acts of kindness were done after the safe landing? 3. What had the writer’s husband been complaining about? Referenced answer

15. Para.10 And then － yes! － we landed safely. Outside on the ground, attendants and officials were waiting to transfer us to alternative flights. But we passengers clung together. We chatted about the lives we now felt blessed to be living, as difficult or rocky as they might be. The young businessman lamented that he had not a chance to buy his two little girls a present. An older woman offered him her box of expensive Lindt chocolates, still untouched, tied with a lovely bow. “I shouldn’t be eating them anyhow,” she said. My glamorous aisle mate took out her cell phone and passed it around to anyone who wanted to make a call to hear the reassuring voice of a loved one.And then － yes! － we landed safely. transferBut we passengers clung together. We chatted about lamentedtied with cell phone

16. Para.11 There was someoen I wanted to call. Back in Vermont, my husband, Bill, was anticipating my arrival late that night. He had been complaining that he wasn’t getting to see very much of me because of my book tour. I had planned to surprise him by getting in a few hours early. Now I just wanted him to know I was okay and on my way. my husband, Bill, was anticipating my arrival late that nightHe had been complaining that he wasn’t getting to see very much of me because of my book tourgetting in Vermont: a state in the northeast U.S.A., in New England, with Montpelier as its capital

17. Para.12 When my name was finally called to board my new flight, I felt almost tearful to be parting from the people whose lives had so intensely, if briefly, touched mine.parting board: enter or get on (a vehicle or ship) The ship set off as soon as I boarded it. The hijackers boarded the plane with the help of a crew member.

18. Read Para.13-14, answer the following questions: 1. Why does the writer sometimes look up at an airplane? 2. For what is the writer indebted to her fellow passengers? 3. What is the most important thing the writer thinks she ought to do? Referenced answer

19. Para.13 Even now, back on terra firma, walking down a Vermont road, I sometimes hear an airplane and look up at that small, glinting piece of metal. I remember the passengers on that fateful, lucky flight and wish I could thank them for the many acts of kindness I witnessed and received. I am indebted to my fellow passengers and wish I could pay them back.terra firmalook up at that small, glinting piece of metalfatefulI am indebted to …for the many acts of kindness I witnessed and received. = … for the many good deeds/kind favors they had done to me and to others.

20. Para.14 But then, remembering my aisle mate’s hand clutching mine while I clutched the hand of the high school student, I feel struck by lightning all over again: the point is not to pay back kindness but to pass it on. clutchingI feel struck the point

21. lightening: an abrupt, discontinuous natural electric discharge in the atmosphere; a powerful flash of light in the sky caused by electricity passing from one cloud to another or to the earth, usu. followed by thunder He runs as fast as lightning. The tower has been struck by lightning.

22. I felt the slamming jolt, and then the horrible swerve that threw me against the door: I felt the sudden, forceful, and loud shaking of our plane, and then its terrible turning aside that pushed me against the door. slamming jolt: a sudden jarring or jerking with great force and sometimes Noise, as from a heavy blow or an abrupt movement swerve: 1)n. The act of turning aside or being turned aside from a straight course; The car made a sudden swerve to avoid the dog. 2) vi. Suddenly turn to one side while moving along The minibus swerved to the right, bumped a tree, and fell into a ditch.

23. Oh Lord, this is it! This short sentence is italicized in the text, showing what the writer was thinking about at the moment. Lord: an expression of surprise, fear, worry, etc. in such collocations as “Oh Lord!” and “Good Lord!” Good Lord, how amazing! (showing surprise) Oh Lord, I forget it! (showing annoyance and worry) …this is it! = This is the critical juncture( 时机，关头 )! This is the most important moment at which I have to make up my mind! This is the most decisive moment that I must take prompt action!

24. Somehow I managed to unbolt the door and scramble out.= By some means, I succeeded in releasing the bolt of the door and getting out of the bathroom. unbolt: unlock; release the bolts of (a door, for example) The chimpanzee has learnt how to unbolt the door and go out of the cage. The shopkeeper unbolted the door and let the customers in. scramble: 1)Climb esp. over a rough or steep surface quickly, or crawl over usu. rough ground with difficulty The boy scrambled over the wall. 2) Struggle or compete with others, esp. to get sth. or a share of sth. The children scrambled for the coins. It was raining cats and dogs, and many people were scrambling madly for shelter.

25. Strapped in: fastened with a seat belt strap: fasten in place with one or more straps He strapped the bag onto his bicycle. Make sure that you are firmly strapped in before the plane takes off.

26. As I lunged toward my seat … = As I suddenly rushed forward in the direction of my seat …/ As I dashed or ran quickly toward my seat …/ As I threw myself headlong toward my seat … lunge: make sudden forceful forward movements of the body, often to make an attack She lunged at me with a knife.

27. In a high school geography bee = in a geography competition at a high school; in a geography contest at a high school bee: 1)A stinging insect that makes sweet honey, lives in large social groups and is supposed to be very busy I have been as busy as a bee these days, fully occupied with teaching and writing. 2) (AmE., Infml) a social gathering where people meet for work, competition, and amusement All the housewives in the neighborhood held a sewing bee. 3) (old-fashioned) friendly competition All the pupils got excellent grades in the spelling bee.

28. … and (she) was supposed to make a connecting flight …= …(she) had to transfer to another flight that would take her back home when we landed in Newark. Make a connecting flight = change or transfer to another flight that carries one to one’s destination. If one cannot reach one’s destination by direct flight, one has to change or transfer to another flight that flies between the place where one stops and the place that one plans to reach. Newark 纽瓦克市 ( 美国新泽西州港市 ) : a city located in the northeast of New Jersey. As a satellite city of New York, Newark is a center of trade, finance and industry.

29. The laptop was put away. = The laptop was put in the place where it was usually kept. / The laptop was placed where it belonged. laptop: a personal computer small enough to be held on one’s lap for use Nowadays, some people have two computers: one a desktop and the other a laptop. put away: 1)put sth. in the place where it is usually kept He is in the habit of putting the books away after he reads them. 2) Put by (money); save (money) for later use As an economical wife, she puts away some money each month.

30. vaguely: 1)indistinctly; in a shape or form which is not clearly seen On the misty hillside, we could see vaguely some sheep coming through the mist. 2) Described or expressed in a way or manner which is not clear These clauses in the contract are rather vaguely worded.

31. New Orleans : the chief city of Louisiana, U.S.A. and the country’s second largest port for foreign trade, on the Mississippi River 160 miles from its mouth. Before the American Civil War, New Orleans was well known for its slave trade and for its exports of cotton.

32. “Engine number two … emergency landing … New Orleans.” : These phrases are what the writer heard from the loudspeaker. The Three dots after each phrase represent what she (the writer) failed to hear. Being seized with fear, she did not catch some words and phrases. When he was done…: when he finished saying the emergency instructions… Here the word “done” is used as an adjective, meaning “finished.” “Are you done?” said the waitress to the guest.

33. … the emergency procedures she had reviewed before takeoff. Before the plane took off, the flight attendant had carefully instructed the whole set of actions or steps that the passengers must take in the fact of an emergency, an unexpected and dangerous happening which must be dealt with at once. procedure: 1)The method and order of directing business at an official meeting, in a law case, etc. So much time was spent establishing the procedure at our first meeting that we did not start any actual business until our second. 2) A set of actions necessary for doing sth. What is the correct procedure for renewing your car tax? Writing a check is quite a simple procedure. review: consider and judge carefully (an event or situation) The Organizing Committee is reviewing its decision. The airport authorities have reviewed their security arrangements.

34. … always figuring that if we ever got to the point where we needed to use Life jackets, I would have already died of terror. = … always thinking that If we ever came to the critical juncture where we had to put on life jackets, I would have already died of fear. This sentence is in the subjunctive mood, which suggests that the situation That existed in the writer’s mind was not likely to happen. figure : consider; believe I figured that you would want to see me about it. life jackets: a life preserver in the form of a sleeveless jacket or vest Whenever you go swimming, you should wear life jackets. He was drowned to death because he was not wearing a life jacket.

35. Now we began a roller-coaster ride through the thunderclouds.= Now we startd a pretty rough flight through the thunderclouds as our plane began to roll deeply and swerve sharply. Here, a roller-coaster ride is used metaphorically. The author’s pretty rough ride through the thunderclouds in the plane which was rolling and swerving dramatically is compared vividly to a roller-coaster ride. roller-coaster: a small railway with open cars, steep slopes and sharp curves, usu. found in fun fairs, amusement parks, etc. There’s a roller coaster in each of the largest amusement parks here. Many children find it great fun to take a ride on a roller-coaster.

36. I pulled myself together.= I controlled myself./ I controlled my feelings. pull oneself together: control oneself; to become calm after being excited or disturbed; to recover self-command He was able to pull himself together in the face of danger and hardship. I reached for her hand and reassured her that we were going to make it = I held out my hand to take hers, comforted her and restored her confidence by saying that we would manage to have a safe and sound journey home.

37. “After this, London’s going to seem like small potatoes.” = “After this remarkable or extraordinary ride, your trip to London is going to seem like something insignificant.”/ “When you have experienced this unusual journey, you will find your visit to London less interesting and less exciting.” This sentence implies that the journey they were going on by plane was much more unusual and exciting than a trip to London. The writer was being optimistic, attempting to comfort and reassure the girl next to her. It is to be noted that London in the above sentence is used instead of the girl’s trip to London, which is an unusual event in her life. small potatoes: insignificant or unimportant persons or things He was only a small potato in the play. They are not small potatoes; instead they are bigwigs. This city seems like a small potato if compared with the large cities.

38. a ringed hand: a hand with a ring on one of its fingers. A pretty girl with a ringed hand and a ringed ears look much prettier. glamorous: full of or characterized by charm Her smile is so glamorous that no one can resist her charm. That glamorous woman has been an airhostess for almost 20 years, so foreign travel has lost its glamour for her.

39. The female equivalent of the confident businessman: a confident businesswoman equivalent: 1)a. equal; of the same amount, position, value, etc. He changed his pounds for the equivalent amount in dollars. Changing his job like that is equivalent to giving him the sack. 2) n. sth. equivalent ; sth. equal Change this money for gold or its equivalent in dollars. A company car is equivalent of an extra $3500 a year on your salary. Some American words have no British equivalents.

40. confide: disclose private matters in confidence Jane felt she could only confide in her mother. He came and confided to me that he had spent five years in prison. “the problems I brought up on this plane with me sure don’t seem real big right now.” = “the problems I brought to attention on this plane with me surely don’t seem really serious right now’” sure: (adv. American colloquial word) surely, certainly, undoubtedly The boy sure is tall. cf. real (adv. American colloquial word) very I’m real sorry.

41. indiscriminate: 1)Not making or based on careful distinctions; unselective; not showing the ability to make judgments or to see a difference My wife has an indiscriminate taste in music. We do not like her indiscriminate application for cosmetics. 2) Unrestrained or wanton; without careful thought or planning Though she is not rich, she is fond of indiscriminate spending. Her indiscriminate use of money is in sharp contrast to her husband’s economical use of his income.

42. her soulful squeezes: The glamorous young woman squeezed the writer’s other hand in a profoundly emotional manner. Obviously, the young woman was making much effort to comfort the writer. soulful: full of or expressing deep feelings; profoundly emotional He comforted me by giving me a soulful hug. At a concert, a young singer sang a soulful song, which moved us to tears. squeeze: 1)an affectionate hug or clasp She gave my hand a gentle squeeze. 2) difficulty or hardship caused by shortage of money or time, etc. He’s just lost her job, so the family is really feeling the squeeze. 3) an act of pressing on (sth.) from opposite sides or all sides She gave the tube of toothpaste a squeeze.

43. I was sure that even if I survived the plane crash, I’d have a couple of broken fingers from all the TLC. = I was certain/ I firmly believed that even though I lived through the air crash, I would have a couple of broken fingers from all the tender loving care/ as a result of her soulful squeezes. The author implies that the glamorous young woman squeezed her other hand so tightly that her fingers ached/hurt sharply and seemed to break. TLC: an acronym coined by the writer, standing for tender loving care

44. During those excruciating 20 minutes: during those 20 minutes which caused intense pain or agony to the passengers; during those 20 minutes when the passengers felt intensely painful or agonized excruciating: 1)intensely painful; agonizing Jack got a “dear John” letter from his girlfriend, which is really excruciating to him. 2) very intense or extreme The statue was carved with excruciating precision.

45. No one panicked. = No one was very much affected with panic./ No one was overwhelmed or overpowered by panic. panic(panicked; panicking) affect or be affected with panic, a sudden, overpowering terror, usu. affecting many people at once Seeing the hijacker, everyone was panicking. The crowd panicked at the sound of the explosion.

46. As we jolted and screeched our way downward, I could hear small pockets of soothing conversation everywhere.= As our plane was shaking forcefully downward, making a high-pitched, strident noise, we could hear small groups of people talking to, comforting and soothing each other here and there in the plane. jolt :(cause to) shake forcefully The cart jolted along over the rough road. The fall jolted every bone in his body. His father’s angry words jolted him out of his daydream. screech: 1)shriek; make an unpleasant high sharp sound, esp. because of terror or pain When a man was peering in at her, she screeched in fright and drew the curtains. “Leave me alone!” she screeched. 2) (of a machine, esp. of tires or brakes) make a high sharp noise The lorry came to a screeching halt.

47. pocket: a small group or area that exists separated from others Pockets of opposition to the new regime still remained. The invaders met pockets of resistance in some cities. soothe: 1)Make less angry, excited, or anxious; comfort or calm He had got very annoyed about the loss of his watch, and it took all her tact to soothe him down. 2) Make less painful; make sb. feel less distressed This medicine should soothe your sore throat. These soothing lotions will certainly soothe your toothache.

48. And then — Yes! — We landed safely. = And then — Sure enough! — We were brought down safely from the air onto the Earth./ And then — Just as expected, our plane came down onto the ground safe and sound. The word “Yes” followed by an exclamation mark suggests the writer’s great joy or happiness as well as relief at the moment and emphasizes the fact that the outcome accorded with what had been eagerly expected.

49. … to transfer us to alternative flights. = … to get us moved to other flights that would take us to our respective destinations. transfer: 1)(cause to) move or change from one vehicle to another in the course of a journey At London we transferred from the train to a bus. I transferred from a bus to an underground train, from which I transferred to another bus, before I reached my destination. 2) Move from one place, job, position, etc. to another The head office has been transferred from London to Cardiff. He has got himself transferred from a rural school to an urban one.

50. But we passengers clung together. = But we passengers remained close together./ But we passengers stayed very near to one another. cling: 1)hold tightly; refuse to go or let go; stick firmly His we shirt clung to his body. They clung to one another for comfort. 2) stay very near; remain too close, esp. due to lack of confidence The little child is clinging to his mother. The whole family clung together to support each other.

51. We chatted about the lives we now felt blessed to be living, as difficult or rocky as they might be. = In our talk now, we expressed our gratitude to God for the good luck in our lives, which might be very hard and uncertain. lament: 1)Grieve audibly; wail We lamented for a friend’s death. 2) Express sorrow or regret (for) The royal members lamented the passing of the aristocratic society. 3) complain(about sth.) She is always lamenting the lack of sports facilities in town.

52. tied with a lovely bow: fastened and decorated with a pretty bow tie cell phone: mobile phone; cellular phone

53. My husband was anticipating my arrival late that night. = My husband was expecting that I would be getting home late that night. anticipate 1)Feel or realize beforehand; foresee We never anticipated this severe acute infectious syndrome. 2) Look forward to, especially with pleasure; expect We anticipate great pleasure from our visit to London. We anticipate hearing from you again. 3) Act in advance so as to prevent; forestall We anticipated our competitors by getting our products onto the market first.

54. He had been complaining that he wasn’t getting to see very much of me because of my book tour. = He had been voicing dissatisfaction or unhappiness, saying that he was not able to see me quite often because I had been on my book tour./ He had been complaining that I had not been keeping him company on account of my book tour. see very much of sb. : see somebody quite often or frequently They have seen very much of each other recently. book tour: a tour made by an author for the promotion of his or her book recently published

55. I had planned to surprise him by getting in a few hours early. = I had intended to give him a pleasant surprise by arriving home a few hours early. get in: 1)(of a train, etc. or a passenger) arrive at its destination The plane get in three hours late. 2) be elected to a political position The Tory candidate stands a good chance of getting in. 3) collect or gather In autumn, the farmers are busy getting in the crops.

56. I felt almost tearful to be parting from the people whose lives had so intensely, If briefly, touched mine. = I felt that I was on the point of shedding tears when I was saying goodbye to the people whose lives had so strongly influenced mine even thought for a short time./ When I had to say goodbye to those people, I felt that my eyes were almost filled with tears, for though we spent only a short time being together on the plane, they had so profoundly and strongly influenced my feelings through what they said and did to me. part: 1)go away or separate from somebody The children were parted from their father. 2) (cause sb./sth. to) divide or form separate parts Her lips parted in a beautiful smile. 3) separate (the hair of the head) along a line and comb the hair away from it He parts his hair in the middle.

57. Terra firma: (Latin) dry land After such a rough voyage, we were glad to reach terra firma again. We were safely brought down from the air onto terra firma after experiencing such a horrible flight. … look up at that small glinting piece of metal. = … look upward at that small, gleaming plane. Here “that small glinting piece of metal” stands for the plane because a plane is made of metal(aluminum). The plane appears small when it is flying high in the sky. glinting: gleaming or flashing briefly Her glinting gold ring attracts all our attention. A glinting airplane flashed through the air swiftly.

58. fateful: 1)Vitally affecting subsequent events; being of great consequence The commander made a fateful decision to counter-attack. 2) Controlled by or as if by fate; predetermined His death seemed quite fateful. I am indebted to my fellow passengers and wish I could pay them back. = I am very grateful/ thankful to my fellow passengers for their kindness and friendship and wish I could return kindness for their kindness./ I owe much gratitude to to them and wish I could do favors or fine deeds to them in return for their kindness to me.

59. clutch: 1)seize (sth./ sb.) eagerly He clutched the rope we threw to him. 2) hold (sth./ sb.) tightly in the hand(s) Mary was clutching her doll to her chest. … I feel struck by lightning all over again. =… I feel as if I were shocked by lightning all over again/… all of a sudden, I come to realize I have become enlightened. … the point is not to pay back kindness but to pass it on. = … the most important point is not to return kindness for kindness, but to spread it and make it well known to people who are younger or come later./ … what counts most is not to reciprocate their kindness, but to pass it down to future generations/ from generation to generation

60. Referenced answer: 1. She is from a small town in east Texas, and this was only her second time on an airplane. She had won a trip to England by competing in a high school geography bee and was supposed to make a connecting flight when the plane landed in Newark. 2. Because he knew that there was something wrong with the plane, which was showing sighs of a terrible tragedy. 3. The pilot decided to make an emergency landing in New Orleans.

61. Referenced answer: 1. The writer reassured her that they were going to make it. “What a story you’re going to tell when you get home!” she said. “After this, London’s going to seem like small potatoes.” 2. The glamorous young woman across the aisle reached over when she saw how scared the writer was. Holding tightly the writer’s hand with her ringed hand, the young woman confided in her Southern drawl, “I tell you, the problems I brought up on this plane with me sure don’t’ seem real big right now.” “Are you okay?”she kept asking the writer. 3. During those excruciating 20 minutes everybody on board was behaving admirably well. No one panicked. No one screamed. As they jolted and screeched their way downward, the writer could hear small pockets of soothing conversation everywhere. That was why she felt so proud of her fellow passengers.

62. Referenced answer: 1.After they landed safely, the passengers felt greatly relieved, thinking that they were fortunate enough. They clung together. They chatted about the lives they now felt blessed t be living, as difficult or rocky as they might be. 2. After the safe landing, the young businessman lamented that he did not have a chance to buy his two little girls a present. An older woman offered him her box of expensive chocolates, still untouched, tied with a lovely bow. The writer’s glamorous aisle mate took out her cell phone and passed it around to anyone who wanted to make a call to hear the reassuring voice of a loved one. 3. the writer’s husband had been complaining that he wasn’t getting to see very much of his wife because of her book tour.

63. Referenced answer: 1. Because an airplane flying in the sky reminds the writer of her unusual and unforgettable experience which she experienced on that fateful, lucky flight. 2. The writer is indebted to her fellow passengers for the many acts of kindness that she witnessed and received. 3. The writer thinks what is most important is to make known such nice fellow passengers and their fine deeds and to pass on their kindness from generation to generation. This is also the writer’s purpose of writing this story.