Part IV: Para. 7-9
• Reflections on man’s role in the “classic situation”. “The man in the water” represents human nature at its best.
Air crashes usually involve _a__h_ea_v_y__lo_s_s_o_f_l_iv_e_s_. _C_o_m__p_a_re_d__w_i_th__other air crashes, this one was not the_w__o_rs_t_. This air crash was remembered for__a_d_i_ff_e_re_n_t_r_e_a_s_o_n_.
(2) to criticize sb. or sth. severely. n. (1) an explosion; (2) sudden strong blow of air.
Guess the meaning
• A tunnel was to be blasted through the mountains.
• a slap in the face • a slap on the back • a slap on the wrist
an action that insults or upsets someone 耳光;公然受辱;突然的责备 an action that shows praise for sth. you have done[口],称赞
– Turn chaotic: become chaotic; be thrown into terrible confusion.
– A blast of real winter: a sudden strong really cold wind.
– Slap: quick blow with something flat.
Sentence as disasters go, this one was terrible …; why, Pattern then, the shock here? Grammar appositive clauses
blast
— v. (1)to explode or destroy sth. or sb. with explosive, or to break through or hit something with a similar, very strong force.
• The judge gave Minna a earing her seat belt.
a gentle warning or punishment
• Her husband has been slapping her around, but she's afraid to go to the police.
unconcern about the consequences as always made the plane fall down
was able to deal with an unexpected problem, a difficult task
Last Wednesday,_t_h_e_b_a_d_w__e_a_th_e_r_, unconcerned about the consequences it might bring about as always,_m__ad_e__F_li_g_h_t_9_0_f_a_ll_d_o_w__n_.
to be exploded
• The rocket is due to blast off at three o'clock.
to launch
• The government was blasted by the opposition for failing to reduce
inflation.
And there was the aesthetic clash as well—blue and green Air Florida, the name of a flying garden, sunk down among gray chunks of ice in a black river. (Para. 1)
Last Wednesday the elements, indifferent as ever, brought down Flight 90. And on that same afternoon human nature—groping and struggling— rose to the occasion. (Para. 2)
Part II: Para. 3-4
• The account given by the living heroes about what happened and about “the man in the water”.
Part III: Para. 5-6
• The imagined thoughts and feelings of the man on the plane and in the water
It’s not an easy task, but I’m sure John will rise to the challenge. 如果可能，你可依靠他来应付这个局面。
You can depend on him to rise to the occasion, if possible.
Phrases and Expressions
在严冬里突如其来的一阵强风中，钢铁的机身猛烈撞击到钢铁的桥面，把 这个布局合理、尽然有序的城市搞得一片混乱。
Washington D.C. , the city of form and rules: Metro Map
Washington D.C. , the city of form and rules: Sightseeing Map
a strong gust of cold wind in winter
slap
— n. a quick hit with the flat of the hand or other flat object.
v. to hit someone with the flat part of the hand or other flat object.
• Usual
-hit a bridge at …high traffic -location -aesthetic clash -two forms in nature in collision
Text Analysis Detailed Analysis
• Washington, the city of form and rules, turned chaotic by a blast of real winter and a single slap of metal on metal. (para.1)
Strong wind brought down the power lines across the region. to cause to fall or collapse
Our principal responsibility is to bring down the level of unemployment. to reduce the rate, level, or amount
Text Analysis Structure
Part I: Para. 1-2
• A brief account of the air crash that leads to the thesis – in the air crash, human nature rose to the occasion.
Text Analysis Detailed Analysis
Part I: Words & Expressions
Words chaotic; blast; slap; aesthetic; elements
Words
Phrases
Phrases
on record; bring … to tears; in collision; as ever; bring down; rise to the occasion
As … go(es), …
compared with the average. 就······来说
– As writers go, Oscar Wilde was not the most talented, but he was among the most popular.
– $40 a ticket isn’t bad as football tickets go.
a gentle warning or punishment 轻微的处罚；略予申斥
Guess
• It was a real slap in the face for him when she refused to go out to dinner with him.
an action that insults or upsets someone 耻辱
Rise to the occasion / challenge
to deal successfully with a difficult situation or problem, especially by working harder or performing better than usual
On that same afternoon, human nature, groping for the _f_lo_t_a_ti_o_n_r_in_g_s_and struggling in the__ic_y_w__a_te_r__, came to prove its _g_r_e_a_t_n_es_s__displayed in an unexpected tragedy.