高级英语 第一课

A Detailed Study of the Text
• the title: face to face • Confronting one another • The confrontation is generally with something dangerous, difficult or hard to resolve.
• The story focuses mainly on action, but the writer also clearly and sympathetically delineate(描绘）the characters in the story.
How did the author present the event?
Pummel: to beat or hit with repeated blows, esp. with the fist.
The thief was pushed and pummeled by an angry crowd. He trapped the man in a corner and pummeled him ferociously for thirty seconds.
5) What was John Koshak Jr. ’s job? He is a self-employed businessman Magna product -- the name of his company
6) Why did the writer choose this family? implication:
《高级英语》 精品课程 第一册 绍兴文理学院元培学院
Face to Face with Hurricane Lesson 1 Face Camille to Face with Hurricane Camille
Background Information
• Hurricane (the North Atlantic Ocean): • An extremely violent tropical storm, attaining speed greater than 75 miles per hour. • Use girls’ names to identify hurricanes in the Atlantic, Caribbean, and Gulf of Mexico since 1953. • The names were given in alphabetical order. • In 1980 a hurricane was given a man’s name (Hurricane David) • Hurricane season begins June 1 and ends Nov. 30.
• The event is presented in order of their occurrence, following the natural time sequence of the happenings. • chronological order
• • • • • •
General pattern of narration: introduction (time, place, characters, background); development (suspense, tension) climax conclusion (denouement)
• The news brings him face to face with the truth about his daughter’s disappearance. • This was the first time I’d ever come face to face with poverty.
• Where is the climax of the event? • Para. 27 • • Why do you think so? Because from there on the story moves rapidly to its conclusion.
What’s the theme (the idea / purpose behind the story) of the story?
What do you think of the title?
• It is succinct and presents the article as vividly and forcefully as possible to attract the attention of readers. The phrase ―face to face‖ connotes a sense of urgency and danger. The would-be readers would not control themselves to finish reading it s the story about?
• It describes the heroic struggle of the Koshaks and their friends against the forces of a devastating hurricane Camille.
• What does the writer focus chiefly on---developing character, action (plot), or idea (theme)?
conflict/struggle: • people --- people people --- nature people --- society people --- themselves protagonist (hero) --- antagonist (enemy) John Koshak, Jr.--- the hurricane
Organization of the text
• Part I(para.1-6): preparation for the hurricane • (introductory paragraphs: the time, place and background of the conflict---man versus hurricanes) • Part II(para.7-27): details of their struggle against the hurricane • Part III(para.28-35): getting help and rebuilding community • Part IV(para.36-39): revealing the theme
―We lost practically all our possessions, but the family came through it. When I think of that, I realize we lost nothing important.‖
The most important thing is the spirit fighting against the difficulties which could never be taken away. Family safety is more important than material possessions.
E.C. S. Gulf of Mexic o S.C.S
Hurricane Camille
Hurricane Camille (August 17, 1969 ) is said to be the worst storm ever to hit mainland United States. With winds in excess of 200 mph and tides over 20 feet, Hurricane Camille smashed into the Mississippi Gulf Coast on Sunday night, the 17th of August and continued its devastating path until the early hours of Monday, the 18th. The combination of winds, surges, and rainfalls caused 256 deaths and $1.421 billion in damage.
• 4) Find out vivid words describing the hurricane. Lash: (wind, rain, or water) to strike with great force; dash against.
The waves lashed the smooth cliffs. The worst winter storms of the century lashed the east coast of China. Suddenly rain lashed against the windows.
• apartment building in Mississippi before and after Camille
What’s the type of the text?
• narration (the telling of a story)
• characters (people): --Pop Koshak --Grandma Koshak --John Koshak --Janis Koshak --Seven children --Charles, a friend --neighbors --pets
Detailed Study of Section One (1-6) Before the hurricane
1) Does the first paragraph have a topic sentence? (First sentence) 2) How is the paragraph developed? (facts and reasons) (to show how he knew that the hurricane would be bad.) 3) What is the function of the last sentence? (introduction of some other characters and transition to the most important point---why he decided not to abandon his home)
similar terms
• typhoon: a very violent tropical storm which occurs over the West Pacific Ocean and China seas. Typhoons are given serial numbers. （台风） • cyclone: a violent tropical storm in which the air goes round and round , which occurs over the Indian Ocean. （龙卷风） • tornado: a violent wind storm consisting of tall column of air (funnel cloud) which spins round very fast and causes a lot of damage （陆龙卷）