It’s Tough at the Top Unit Unit 5 It’s Tough at the Top

I. Unit Objectives:  Be aware of the meaning of human being’s exploration and adventures  Learning about News Story  Learning about Metaphor

II. Procedures i. Reading skill ii. Fast reading iii. Text iv. Translation skills v. Exercise

IV. Reading Skill Reading the News Story In most news stories the most important facts will be found near the beginning---usually within the first two or three paras. The remainder of the story will give details explaining and clarifying the main points, or introducing new, but less important information.

The formula for a typical news story:  Para. one: The story’s subject and most important facts.  Para. Two: Important facts that the writer was unable to include in the lead; Information to clarify the facts in the lead; A particularly important quote  The rest of the story Specific details to answer readers’ questions; Statements and opinions by people involved in the story or by outside observers; Background information; New, but less important facts

Accordingly, when you read a news story, you are to:  Read the beginning of the story very carefully because it contains the most important fact.  Try to look for more facts than those given in the lead.  If you don’t understand something at the beginning of a story, keep reading for a second (and perhaps a third) chance to understand.

III. Text Study Preview Questions:  Why did human being take adventures and explore the nature? Because the accomplishment of such an activities will elevate the human spirit and will give man a feeling that we are acquiring a true mastery of our surroundings.

 What’s the text mainly about?  Mountain Everest has long been a great attraction to millions of people and many people risk their lives in the expedition. Modern explorers are become fascinated by the ultimate fate of the earlier doomed explorers.

Background knowledge:  Mount Everest: Peak on the crest of the Himalayas, in Asia. The highest point on earth, with a summit at 8,848m,it lies on the border between Nepal and Tibet, China. Numerous attempts to climb Everest were made from 1921;the summit was finally reached by E.Hillary of New Zealand and Jenzing Norgay of Nepal in 1953.In dispute is whether the English explorer George Mallory had actually reached the peak earlier, in 1924.

 Words dealing with the meaning of “search and finding” in this text:  Explore  Expedition  Discover  Scour  investigate

 put forward---(in the text) to propose  Other usages:  ① They have put forward Mr. Green as a candidate for the position of accountant.  (=propose sb as a candidate/recommend )  ② The attack has been put forward an hour.  (=advance ，提前 )

The accomplishment of such a feat will elevate the human spirit and will give man, especially us geographers, a feeling that we are acquiring a true mastery of our surroundings. 这次壮举的完成将振奋人类精神，也让人类，尤其 是我们地理学家感到，我们正在成为我们这个环境 真正的主人。

set out-----(in the text) to start (a journey) Other usages: ① It took them half an hour to set out the room ready for the reception of the foreign guests. (=arrange) ② He set out his ideas in simple English. (=state)

 In simple carefully stitched letters was written: G Mallory. Stitched letters were the letters written on cloth.  reconnaissance expedition: refers to a pioneer expedition.

As a climber, to know what Mallory did was phenomenal. phenomenal: very unusual. 作为一名登山者，了解马洛里所做的事情意义重大。

dry up ---(in the text) to become completely dry. e.g. The long drought dried up all the wells. Other usages: ① The writer’s long separation from social life dried up his imagination. （ =Exhaust ） ② He was so angry that he just dried up. （ =be at a loss for words, 说不出话来 ）

 “To refuse the adventure is to run the risk of drying up like a pea in its shell.” (Paragraph 7) 拒绝这次冒险机会等于让自己庸庸碌碌地度过一生。  …his early enthusiasm began to wane. began to wane: became less strong.

It (climbing the summit of Mount. Everest) would be more of war than an adventure. 与其说是一场冒险不如说是一场战争。 He threw his lot in with Irvine and the pair set off on their fatal summit bid. Their fatal summit bid: their final strife for the summit which caused their death.

confide in –to share secrets and intimate matters with Other usage: Do you confide in our ability to do this work? （ =have confidence in ）

set off—to begin a journey Other usages: ① The children gathered in the garden to set the fireworks off. （ =Light ） ② The bomb could be set off by the slightest touch. （ =cause to explode ） ③ Careless handling of international relations can set off a war. （ =cause a sudden action ）

④ A red flower needs to be set off by green leaves. （ =intensify or improve by contrast ） ⑤ Her great wealth, as he thought, set off her plain face. （ =counterbalance ）

give away—to reveal Other usages: ① In those days he used to give away part of his income to help his needy friends. （ =donate ） ② He has given away a good chance of winning the match. （ =fail to take or use a chance, 失去，错过） ③ Nobody knows I’ve done this, so please don’t give me away. （ =betray ）

In the face of such danger the expedition’s fascination with the man, must be almost as great as the man’s own fascination with the mountain. 在如此危险的情况下，探险队员们在寻找这个人时表 现出来的执着，一定与这个人对珠峰的执着一样强 烈。

Translation Skills: 暗喻 (metaphor)  暗喻是用来表示两种不同事物间的相似关系，把一 个事物的名称用在另一个事物名称上。其主要特点 是两种事物不用 like 或 as 连接。暗喻的作用与明喻 一样，往往是用生动、具体、浅显、简单的、人们 所熟悉的东西来比喻干涩、抽象、深奥、复杂的陌 生事物，从而更形象、更深刻地说明事理，力求达 到贴切、新颖、创新的表达效果。

 例：  Time is money.  All the world is a stage, and all the men and women merely players. (William Shakespeare)  整个世界是一座舞台，所有的男人和女人只不过是 演员而已。  Money is a bottomless sea, in which honor, conscience and truth may be drowned.  金钱是无底的海洋，荣誉、良心和真理都可以淹没 在其中。

Assignment: 1. Questions for discussion: Do you like exploring? Why? 2. Find a piece of news story wherever you can and analyze its formula according to the main points learned in reading skill.