Unit 5 True HeightGlobal ReadingⅠ. Questions about the Text1.What does the text title True Height mean?(=It has more than one meaning. They are:1) the new bar heights that Michael cleared one after another.2) the tremendous obstacles Michael had overcome in attaining his goal.)2.As the text consists of the main story and a flashback, can you figure out the flashback(=The flashback is from line 11 to line 35)Ⅱ. Scanning1. Scan the text again to find out all the instances where “work” is used as a verb and explain in English the different meaning of “ work”.(=work: v. 1) (cause to) be active or use effort or power* “… want something, work for it.” (LL. 24~25) (L. 35) (L. 84)2) be active in the proper way, without failing* “It wasn’t working.” (L. 5)3) exercise* “He worked out every other day…” (L. 27) )2. Scan the whole text to find out all the words and phrases that are related to sports or stadium. And think about their Chinese equivalents.National Junior Olympics 全国少年奥林匹克运动会personal best 个人最高记录stand(s) 看台final race 赛跑决赛pole vault event 撑竿跳高项目track and field competition 田径比赛gymnast 体操运动员body builder 健美运动员weightlifting 举重bar 横杆inflated landing mat 充气垫vaulter 撑竿跳高运动员finger-tipped push-up 俯卧撑runway 跑道National record 全国记录pole 撑竿take-off 起跳set a new world record 刷新一项世界纪录Ⅲ. Part Division of the TextParts Lines Main Ideas1 1~11 Michael faced the most challenging competition in his pole-vaultingcareer.2 12~35 Michael’s childhood was marked with dreams and tough training.3 36~90 Michael topped his personal best, won the championship and set a newworld record.4 91~95 What was most unusual about Michael’s victory was that he was blind.Ⅳ. Further UnderstandingFor Part 1Descriptione your own words to draw a picture of the stadium on that day, including the weather,Michael’s appearance and inner feeling, the audience’s response, etc.e your own words to describe what kind of event the pole vault is.For Part 2Questions and Answers1.From the descript ion of Michael’ parents, what can you learn about his parents? (=Michael’smother is romantic and passionate, while his father is a hard-core realist.)2．Brainstorm the various obstacles Michael might face during the hard training.(Open-ended.)3. What personality traits are attributed to Michael’s success?(=He is diligent, perseverant, optimistic, ambitious, etc.)For Part 3Chart CompletionHeight of the pole Michael’s reaction before/after clearing the bar Importance Before After17 feet His palm weresweating. Heneeded a towel todry his grip. (L. 1) 1.If Michael Stone wassurprised, excited orvain…(LL. 37~38)2.He seemed unawareof …(LL. 40~41)3 inches higher thanhis personal best17 feet 2, 17 feet 4 …, again he showed no emotion. (LL. 43~44)17 feet 6 1. It startled him...(L. 53)2. The intensity …anxiety. (L. 56)3. He became moretense. (L. 57)4. Afraid would be … 1.It was … that broughtMichael back to earth.(LL. 79~80)2.On his back with thatwonderful hot sun…(LL.81~81)9 inches higher thanhis personal best(LL. 58~59)17 feet 216 He later went on that day to clear 17 feet 216 A National andInternational Junior Olympics recordFor Part 4Discussion1. Why does the author keep the secret about Michael’s blindness until the last sentence?2. Who would you admire better, a Michael Stone with a sound body or a blind Michael Stone?Ⅴ. Writing SkillsAs the text consists of the main story and a flashback, the narration has to switch from the ongoing competition to earlier events and then return to the ongoing competition. How does the author manage to make these parts in the text flow smoothly?1. One way is to repeat a key word in the last sentence of a paragraph in the first sentence ofthe next paragraph, e.g.It also has the element of flying , and the thought of flying as high as a two-story building is a mere fantasy to anyone watching such an event.As long as Michael could remember he had always dreamed of flying .2. Another way is to pick up a key idea from a previous paragraph and repeat it in the sentenceintroducing the next paragraph, e.g.All of Michael’s vaults today seemed to b e the reward for his hard work .Detailed ReadingⅠ. Difficult Sentences1. (LL. 8~9) It combines the grace of a gymnast with the strength of a body builder.Translate the sentence into Chinese.(=它融合了体操运动员的优雅与健美运动员的力量。

)2. (LL. 16~20) He would be running sown a country road. As he raced between golden wheatfields, he would…Why is Michael’s dream of flying described in details?(=Because Michael has a very deep impression about the dream. There are two evidence for that: 1) His mother read him numerous stories about flying when he was growing up. 2) He always dreamed of flying.)3. (L. 21) Where he flew would always coincide with his mother’s stories.Paraphrase the sentence.(=In his dreams, he would always fly over those places described in his mother’s stories.)4.(L. 23) His dad, on the other hand, was not a dreamer.1. What is function of the phrase “on the other hand”?(=The phrase is used for comparing different things or ideas.)2. What can you infer from the phrase?(=Michael’ s parents are tota lly different types of people and they play the different roles in Michael’s success.)5.(LL. 47~48) Nothing to be ashamed of, but Michael would not allow himself the thought ofnot winning first place.1. Paraphrase the first part of the sentence.(=He wou ld not be ashamed of getting himself the second place, but…)2. What can you learn from the sentence?(=Michael holds a very attitude toward the competition. On the one hand, he wouldn’t think it is a shame of winning the second place, on the other hand, he would try his best to win the first place.)6.(LL. 54) Then it all hit him like a wet bale of hay.1. Paraphrase the sentence.(=If something strikes you like a wet bale of hay, it comes as a sudden, forceful and unpleasant surprise.)2. Use some adjectives to describe how Michael felt at that time.(=He felt anxious, tense, nervous, etc.)7.(LL. 68~69) The silence was deafening.Is this sentence contradictory with “silence” and “deafening”?(=No. “Deafening” here is used to modify “the silence”. It is not an ordinary silence, but a deafening one. This shows both Michael and the crowd are very tense at that moment.)8.(L. 76) Only this time he knew he wasn’t dreaming.What does “only” mean here?(=“Only” here means “but”.)Ⅱ. Words and Expressions1.(L. 1) sweat:1.v. produce sweat*The white shirts were sweated through.*He was sweating after working so hard.2. n. liquid which comes out from the body through the skin to cool it(=I was covered in sweat after running to catch the bus.)2.(L. 8) grace: n.1) quality of being smooth and elegant, esp. in movement or structure*We admired the grace with which the fashion models walked across the room.*She danced with a grace that surprised us.2) kindness; willingness to do what is right*She had the grace to say that he was right.*他勉强地承认他错了。