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Unit 11
Heroes
After-Class Reading
PASSAGE I Mr Lee's Side of the Street
When Hattie Robinson moved from a lonely farm outside Tallahassee to West Perrine, Fla., this suburb of Miami was a friendly neighborhood of small frame houses. Neighbors visited one another in the evenings, and the children played tag in the shadows of the street lights. People went to sleep with their screen doors[1] unlatched. It was a good place to raise her grandson, Lee Arthur Lawrence, whose mother and father had split up.
Lee loved West Perrine, but Hattie's income as a domestic was small and her frail health often kept her from working at all. When it looked as if they'd have to return to the farm, Lee quit school for a dollar-an-hour job at a sewing-machine company. Though Hattie remained sickly, Lee's paycheck got them by through the years.
When he was 24, Lee met Sarah Hagins at a church choir concert. Two years later they were married and in time had two children, Nita and Junior.
Lee and Sarah saved enough for a down payment[2] on a house. Two years later a building became available for rent on 104th Avenue. Lee told Sarah he wanted his own store. They withdrew all their remaining savings, two thousand dollars, and opened "Lee's Grocery."
Lee's business prospered, but his beloved West Perrine was changing. Men and women were hanging out on street corners. There were craps games[3], fights. Drugs were being sold. People no longer felt safe visiting their neighbors after dark.
Yet in Lee's mind, the neighborhood of his youth was still here; it just needed a little tidying up. "This is our home," he told Sarah. "If I had a million dollars, I wouldn't live anywhere else."
Lee joined civic groups: Optimists, parent-teacher associations and the Community Crime Prevention Advisory Board. And he got involved with the kids[4] who came to his store.
"Getting in trouble in school, eh?[5]" Lee looked across the counter at a 12-year-old named Derrick, who waited to pay for his potato chips. Derrick's father had been lost in a mission over Hanoi in 1972, and the boy had only his mother to raise him. "Can't get along with the teacher?[5]"
"Hate her![5]"
"Well, what are you going to do for a job if you get kicked out of school?"
"When I get old enough, I'll go with the pros," Derrick answered confidently.
"I quit school." Lee gave him a solemn look. "That was the end of my football career. If I had stayed in school, gone on to college, I'd be playing for the Dolphins today — quarterback!"
Derrick's mouth dropped open. He looked at Lee with wide eyes, believing every word. "Ooooh, Mr Lee!" he said pityingly. Then he walked slowly to the door. From the corner of his eye, Lee watched Derrick head toward school with the other kids.
During the 1980s, a new drug called crack began to flood the streets. It seemed to take possession of those who smoked it, with a nasty, hungry addiction.[6]
Lee's store became a drug-free island in a sea of crack and cocaine, a haven for the neighborhood kids who came to the store to get their before- and after-school snacks.
"Look here, y'all[7]," Lee would tell them, "I don't care how big you are getting. Y'all stay on this side of the street." "Yes, sir, Mr Lee," they would chorus, and when they left they walked on Mr Lee's side of the street — because they knew he was watching.
When a family opened a restaurant next door to Lee's store, the drug trade moved in. Lee kept an eye on the dealers frequenting the place. He called the cops whenever there was a disturbance. The dealers knew that they had an enemy. But Lee never gave that a thought.[8] He was working for a better community.
West Perrine continued to deteriorate. More and more businesses closed, their owners tired of working behind metal wire, intimidated by holdups and shootings.[9] But Lee refused to give up. He continued to work with kids. He continued calling the cops and fingering pushers.[10]
A few days before Christmas in 1986, Lee pulled into his driveway and got out of the car. Suddenly, a popping sound drew his attention to the lot across the street. A man stood there, arm extended, firing a pistol at him.[11] By the time Lee understood what was going on, the gunman had fled. Another night, just as he entered the house, there was the sharp blasting noise of a burglar alarm from around the corner. The store!
The family found the front window shattered. Lying on the counter, they saw a container of gasoline stuffed with a rag. Gasoline was dripping onto the floor.
These attacks only made Lee more determined. He went into the schools and told the kids about the dangers lurking on the streets. He told them how easy it was to get into trouble and how hard it was to get out.
Soon, the press began to hear about this tireless community worker who couldn't be intimidated. I don't claim to be important or anything like that, Lee told one interviewer. "If more people would stand up to the dealers, we wouldn't have these problems."
One March evening last year, Lee went out to pick up trash in the parking lot. Suddenly, four young men with masks stepped around the corner. They pulled out hand guns and began shooting Lee. When the firing was over, the man everyone called "Mr Lee" lay motionless in the parking lot. He was dead, 12 days from his 52nd birthday[12].
More than a thousand people tried to crowd into the funeral services at Mt. Sinai Baptist Church, a building that was meant to hold hundreds. Expressions of sympathy came from all over the nation, from servicemen abroad, from kids who had grown up in West Perrine. Miami developer Jeb Bush read a letter from his father, the President. "It takes a special man to stand up for what he believes," Bush read. "He will be remembered with great respect."
Derrick Thomas, voted the nation's outstanding college linebacker, drove 12 straight[13] hours from the University of Alabama through a rain of tears. "I know Mr Lee is up there with my dad, looking down," he said. "If I could say one thing to him now, I'd say, 'Look, Mr Lee, I'm walking on your side of the street.'"
Police charged the four men with murder. Sweeps of the neighborhood led to hundreds of drug arrests. Newspaper and television reporters flocked to West Perrine. They called Lee a martyr in the war against drugs. But the question remains: why did Lee do it? He did it because West Perrine was his home, his neighborhood. "As the saying goes, it's better to light one candle than to curse the darkness[14]," says Sarah. "He wanted to light a candle."
Church bells decorated the air of West Perrine the Sunday after Lee's funeral. Sarah, Nita and Junior gathered at the park near Lee's store and began to walk through the neighborhood. They linked arms and marched up Homestead Avenue, their voices ringing out in every corner of the neighborhood, "We shall overcome; drugs and crime must go!"
From behind torn curtains and broken doors, drug dealers and drug addicts looked out in amazement at Lee's family... and the 3,000 men, women and children behind them — who had come to clap and sing and make Lee's dream come true. (1278 words)
Proper Names
Community Crime Prevention Board
社区防止犯罪咨询委员会
Derrick Thomas
（男子名）德里克·托马斯
Fla. = Florida
佛罗里达州（美国州名）
Hattie Robinson
（女子名）海蒂·鲁宾逊
Homestead Avenue
家园大道
Hanoi
（地名）河内（越南首都）
Jeb Bush
（男子名）杰布·布什（美国总统乔治·布什的儿子）
Junior
（男子名）朱尼尔
Lee Arthur Lawrence
（男子名）李·阿瑟·劳伦斯
Miami
（地名）迈阿密（佛罗里达州一城市）
Mt. Sinai Baptist Church
西奈山浸礼会教堂
Nita
（女子名）尼特
Sarah Hagins
（女子名）萨拉·黑金斯
Tallahassee
（地名）塔拉哈西（佛罗里达州一城市）
The Dolphins
海豚队（足球队名）
West Perrine
（地名）西毗兰（佛罗里达州一城市）
University of Alabama
阿拉巴马大学（美国）
New Words
advisory *
adj. giving suggestions and help, especially about a particular subject or area of activity 咨询的，劝告的，忠告的
avenue
n. a wide street in a town, sometimes having trees on each side （城市的）大街，林荫道
e.g. I ) On the way back, he left us as we moved into the Hillside Avenue.
II) The palm-lined avenue leading to Seppeltsfield has become a special landmark in South Australia.
Baptist
adj. belonging or relating to a Protestant Church that believes in baptism by immersion in water at an age when a person is old enough to understand what the ceremony means 浸礼会教派的，浸礼会教友的
burglar
n. a person who breaks into a building in order to steal 窃贼，破门盗窃者
choir
n. an organized group of singers, especially one that performs in church services 唱诗班，合唱队
chorus
v. sing or say something all together 合唱，异口同声地说，齐声背诵
e.g. The papers all chorused the praises of the president.
civic
adj. of or relating to citizens or citizenship 公民的，市民的
cop
n. (slang) a policeman or policewoman 警察
crack
1) n. an extremely pure form of the drug cocaine, which is illegally taken for pleasure 强效可卡因（毒品）
2) v. break or make something break 裂开，龟裂
e.g. Don't put that delicate china in the dishwasher-it may crack.
developer *
n. a person or company that buys land or buildings and hopes to make a profit by building new houses, roads, etc. （房地产）开发商，开发者
disturbance
n. an act that bothers people or interrupts other events 扰乱，骚动
e.g. Further disturbance has been reported in the capital.
domestic
1) n. a household servant 家仆，佣人
2) adj. of or relating to the household or family 家庭的，家里的
e.g. The only domestic task that husbands are any good at is sharpening knives.
3) adj. of or within a particular country; not foreign or international 国内的，本国的
e.g. Both speakers agreed with each other about an important aspect of domestic policy.
driveway *
n. a road leading from a street to a building or house （通往住宅的）车道
frame
n. the main supports of which something is built or over and around which something is stretched 构架
e.g. In some parts of the world small boats are made of skins stretched over a wooden frame.
frame house a house with a wooden frame covered with boards 木板房
gasoline
n. (AmE) petrol 汽油
e.g. My lawn mower is powered by gasoline.
gunman *
n. a man armed with a gun, especially a criminal 持枪歹徒
haven
n. a place of safety or rest; refuge 安全地，难避所
holdup *
n. a robbery carried out at gunpoint 持枪抢劫
homestead
n. a house and its surrounding land 家园，家宅
interviewer *
n. a person who asks questions in an interview 接见者，采访者
intimidate
v. frighten somebody (in order to make him do something) 恐吓，威胁
e.g. I ) There's very little in the game of golf that can intimidate you.
II) The voters were intimidated into staying away from the polls.
linebacker
n. a defensive player in American football （橄榄球的）中后位
martyr
n. a person who is killed or made to suffer greatly because of his beliefs 烈士
optimist *
n. a person who is always hopeful and expects the best in all things 乐观主义者
paycheck *
n. (AmE) a check in payment of wages or salary 支付工资的支票
pistol
n. a type of small gun, held and fired with one hand 手枪
e.g. John was fined for carrying a pistol without a permit.
pityingly *
adv. in a state of expressing pity or sympathy 同情地
pro
n. (informal) professional 专门职业者
e.g. That actor's a real pro, and always gives a good performance .
quarterback
n. a center player in American football （橄榄球比赛中的）四分卫
rent
n. regular payment made for the use of land, telephone, machinery, etc. 租金
e.g. You could get your rent paid for one whole term.
shooting *
n. a usual criminal act of wounding by firing a gun 开枪，射杀
sickly *
adj. often ill, weak and unhealthy 多病的，病弱的，不健康的
e.g. He was what his parents would have described as a sickly child.
solemn
adj. grave; serious 严肃的，不苟言笑的
e.g. I ) The solemn preacher never smiled.
II) His face was solemn and his eyes dark.
suburb
n. an outer area of a town or city, where people live 市郊，郊区
e.g. Urban problems often stretch beyond city limits into the suburbs.
tag
n.
1) a children's game in which one player chases the others in an effort to touch one of them, who then becomes the one to chase the others 捉人游戏
2) a label attached to someone or something for the purpose of identification or to give other information 标签，标牌
e.g. I ) Whose coat is this? Look at the name tag.
II) This shirt hasn't got a price tag. How much is it?
tireless *
adj. never becoming tired 不知疲倦的
e.g. The tireless doctor worked a 24-hour shift.
trash
n. things that are thrown away; rubbish 垃圾，废物
e.g. There was a pile of trash in the corner of the garage.
unlatched
adj. unlocked, unfastened 未锁的
Phrases and Expressions
draw one's attention to
(deliberately) make someone notice something 使人注意
e.g. Your remark has drawn my attention to that matter.
for rent
available to be rented 供租用的
e.g. The company suggested a range of villas and apartments available for rent.
get by
(cause to) manage to live on （勉强）过活，（使）过得去
e.g. I) We don't have very much money, but we'll get by.
II) Melville managed to get by on a small amount of money.
III) Four computers can get us by at the moment, but a couple more will be needed when the new staff arrive.
hang out (slang)
waste time idly 闲荡
e.g. I hope Bob isn't hanging out with wrong people.
keep an eye on
look after 照料
e.g. Please keep an eye on my flowers in my absence.
ring out
sound loudly and clearly 发出响亮的声音
e.g. The celebrations were suddenly interrupted when the voice of the chairman rang out, "Hear me!"
split up
end relationship or marriage 断绝关系，离婚
e.g. I ) My parents split up when I was six.
II) I hear she's split up with her boyfriend.
stand up for
defend, fight for 支持，维护，保卫
e.g. I ) Don't be afraid to stand up for your rights.
II) Don't be bullied, learn to stand up for yourself and what you believe in.
stand up to
face boldly 勇敢地面对
e.g. I ) Why don't you stand up to your boss if you know you are right?
II) Women are now aware of their rights and are prepared to stand up to their employers.
PASSAGE II Rescue at Dotson Creek
"Where's that turn-off?" Sandy Swank thought as she crept along on the pitch-black roads of rural Hillsboro, Ohio, in torrential rain. She'd had a lovely time at the party she'd attended at a friend's house.
But now I'm lost, she sighed. Her eyes were searching along the road — until headlights glared in her rear-view mirror and the 49-year-old grandmother couldn't help but glance up.
It was only for an instant — but it was long enough that she didn't see the stop sign until she was upon it! "No," she screamed, slam-ming on the brakes as her car skidded and spun, then plunged down an embankment into a rain-swollen creek.
"I've got to get out!" Sandy realized in horror as cold water came up above her ankles. She unsnapped her seatbelt and reached the door. But the electronic locks and window switches were not functioning. And her sudden realization was even colder than the dirty creek water that now reached to her waist: I'm trapped — and I'm going to die! She panicked.
"Please, God, send someone to help," she screamed.
Help would come — help from someone hoping to erase the memories of another horrifying car crash. And in the next few minutes, Sandy and the stranger would fight a terrifying battle against nature for the life of one, and the soul of the other.
Behind Sandy, two men in a truck had already called 911 from their cell phone[1]. Now the radio in police officer Jonda Hampton's patrol car squealed, "Car trapped in Dotson Creek!"
When Jonda and her partner, volunteer officer Matt Holmes, arrived two minutes later, she shone the police car's spotlight on the car. It was pinned against a fallen tree[2] in the rough water eight feet from the shore. Two men were shouting, "Someone's trapped!"
"Dear Lord!" Jonda gulped as she ran. "Not again!" This is too much, too familiar, Jonda thought, seeing the outline of a woman trapped in the car, hearing the muffled screams as she waded into the torrent.
As memories of another incident years in the past flashed through her mind, the current pushed Jonda off her feet. She grabbed at the tree.
"It's too dangerous!" her partner yelled as the three men dragged her from the water. But Jonda only saw the rising water, minutes away from swallowing the car[3]. Her heart pounded out a prayer: God, don't let it happen again!
Three years before, Jonda, divorced and the sole support of her babies — Joshua, two, and Morgan, one[4] — had been working with a road construction crew when she waved a Ford to a stop. The pretty teenage driver smiled.
Suddenly, a speeding truck crashed into the Ford from behind, and it burst into a ball of fire. Jonda raced to the Ford thinking, I've got to get that girl out of there! But the flames made it impossible for Jonda and the others to reach the trapped driver — 17-year-old Mandy Dotson — who died as Jonda screamed in horror.
Afterwards, her friends consoled her, "There was nothing you could do." But doubts gnawed at Jonda, and she had nightmares of her own children burning up in her car while she stood paralyzed.
Recoiling from these images, Jonda channeled her regrets into protecting people like Mandy and enrolled in the police academy. When she took her job as the first female officer in her county, Jonda pledged, You'll help people through me, Mandy Dotson. Now her chance had come...here incredibly — in Dotson Creek.
But can I do it? Jonda agonized, eyeing the wild creek. I have to, she decided.
"Take off your belt," she ordered a passerby as she slipped off her own belt and tied the two together to make a crude lifeline.
"It's not strong enough!" he warned as she waded back into the water, holding the belt while three men linked arms to anchor her. Holding on to the belts with one hand, she made her way to the car, raised her heavy metal flashlight in the other hand and brought it crashing down[5].
"Hurry!" Sandy screamed as she heard the crashing sounds on the back window. When Jonda's spotlight had lit up the sinking car, Sandy had felt tremendous relief. Someone's here! She had breathed. "Hurry!" she'd screamed as the water rose to her armpits. Now she pressed her face toward the dwindling air pocket[6] just inches from the roof. She thought of her husband, Gene, her three grown sons and her eight grandchildren. The oldest was eight, the youngest, just 10 months. I'll never see them again! She wept.
"Don't give up," Jonda yelled. I'm running out of time! She panicked to herself.
"Give me a tire iron[7]!" she called to her partner, who ran to the car, then returned with the heavy tool. But by now, the water had closed over Sandy.
That's it. I'm dead, she thought hopelessly. Goodbye, everyone. I love you!
But Jonda wasn't ready to let Sandy say goodbye. Locking her grip on the belt that held her above the fierce water, she clenched the tire iron and then swung it against the glass window. The window cracked. Jonda punched out a hole with the tire iron and reached inside. She felt a swirl of wet hair and caught hold of it. With all her strength, she pulled — and Sandy shot through the hole onto Jonda's shoulder!
Sputtering water, Sandy sobbed, "Thank you!" The others pulled them to shore and wrapped them in blankets. Paramedics arrived, and as they checked Sandy for injury, Jonda rubbed Sandy's chilled arms.
"Why did you do this?" Sandy stuttered through chattering teeth, noticing her rescuer's exhausted face and soaked uniform. Jonda just smiled, "Because this time, I could do it."
After a night in the hospital Sandy was warmed up, and she recovered completely and called Jonda to thank her again for her life. Since then, the two women have become close friends.
"She's a fantastic woman," Sandy says now. "She just refused to let me die. I'm forever grateful to her." But Jonda feels she has much to be grateful for too. Because finally, she is free of her nightmares. Finally she has made peace with the past and a haunting memory. And she knows she didn't do it alone.
"I had help," Jonda says softly. "God and Mandy gave me a gift that night. It set both of us free." (1070 words)
Proper Names
Barbara Mackey
（女子名）巴巴拉·麦基
Dotson
多森小溪
Gene
（男子名）吉恩（Eugene的昵称）
Hillsboro
（地名）希尔斯伯勒（美国俄亥俄州）
Jonda Hampton
（女子名）娇达·汉普顿
Joshua
（男子名）乔舒亚
Mandy Dotson
（女子名）曼蒂·多森
Morgan
（男子名）摩根
Sandy Swank
（女子名）桑迪·斯旺克
New Words
academy
n.
1) a school or college for special instruction or training （中等以上的）专门学校
e.g. The doors of their military academies are open to young officers from overseas.
2) an association for the advancement of art, literature, or science 研究院，学会
e.g. In 1988 he submitted two works to the Royal Scottish Academy of Art; both were accepted and quickly sold.
anchor
v.
1) keep from moving, fix firmly in position 使稳固，固定
e.g. The panel was firmly anchored by two large bolts.
2) stop sailing and lower the anchor 抛锚停船
e.g. A plan to anchor boats on the reef was abandoned because they would damage coral.
ankle
n. joint connecting the foot with the leg 踝，踝关节
e.g. John stepped in a hole and twisted his ankle.
armpit
n. the hollow place under your arm where it joins your body 腋窝
chatter
v. (of the teeth) strike together with a clicking sound because of cold or fear （指牙齿）打颤
clench
v. grasp or hold firmly 紧抓
console
v. give comfort or sympathy to 安慰，慰问
e.g. The physician consoled the parents of the accident victim.
county
n. a subdivision of a state 县，郡
e.g. I work in a county adjacent to the one I live in.
creek
n. a small river; a stream 小溪
crude
adj.
1) not skillfully made or properly finished 简陋的，粗糙的
e.g. The archeologist unearthed some crude tools.
2) in a raw or natural state, untreated 天然的，未加工的
e.g. Product prices have risen faster than crude oil prices, encouraging refiners to process more oil.
drag
v. (dragged, dragging)
1) pull along with effort and difficulty 拉，拽，迫使
e.g. I ) He watched the little girl drag a chair across the room to join them.
II) The summer holidays are traditionally the time when parents drag their children along to visit the dentist.
2) (of time, events, or activities) pass slowly and tediously 慢吞吞地进行，拖延
e.g. I ) The day dragged-eventually it was time for bed.
II) Sometimes a complaint can drag on and on, even though all that is needed is a little common sense to sort it out.
dwindle
v. become gradually less or smaller 逐渐变小（或减少）
e.g. I ) The number of people going to the cinema seems to dwindle steadily.
II) Domestic support for military action would dwindle rapidly.
embankment
n. a wall or ridge of earth, stone, etc. made to keep water back or to carry a railway or road over low ground 防水堤；堤岸
flashlight *
n. (AmE) a small hand-held electric lamp powered by a battery 手电筒
glare
v.
1) shine with a dazzling and unpleasant light 发射强光，发出刺眼的光线
e.g. The sun glared through the car windscreen.
2) stare angrily or fiercely 怒目而视
e.g. He didn't shout or swear, but just glare silently at me.
gnaw
v.
1) trouble or torment by constant annoyance 使苦恼，折磨
e.g. For years the doubts continued to gnaw at me.
2) bite or chew on, especially persistently 不断地啃、咬
e.g. She enjoyed watching her puppy gnaw a bone.
gulp
v. breathe in air deeply through the mouth 深呼吸
haunt
v. disturb or distress, cause to have anxiety 使苦恼，使担忧
e.g. I ) The car accident haunted Sue for many months.
II) The pain and the terror continue to haunt her to this day.
horrifying
adj. making someone feel very shocked and upset or afraid 令人震惊的，使人毛骨悚然的
injury
n. physical harm to a living being 伤害，损害
e.g. Anne suffered serious head injuries in the car crash.
lifeline *
n. line or rope for saving a life 救生索
muffled
adj. (of sounds) heard indistinctly, because an obstacle is in the way （指声音）听不清的（因有物体相隔）
outline
n.
1) line (s) showing the shape or outer edge of somebody or something 轮廓，外形
e.g. She could see only the outlines of the trees in the dim light.
2) a statement of the main facts or points 要点，大纲
e.g. John wrote a detailed outline before writing his paper.
panic
v. (panicked, panicking) cause someone or some creature to experience uncontrollable fear or panic （使）恐慌，（使）惊慌失措
e.g. I ) The gun panicked the horse.
II) Parents often start to panic if their 12-year-old sons are not under pressure at school.
paramedic
n. someone trained to assist a doctor or to give immediate aid in an emergency 护理人员
pitch-black
adj. completely dark or black 漆黑的，极黑的
pledge
v. vow to do something 发誓
e.g. Bob pledged to stop smoking again.
plunge
v. fall into something suddenly and with force 一头进入，纵身投入
e.g. I undress, check carefully for crocodiles, and plunge into the clear cold water.
realization *
n. an understanding that something exists or has happened 意识到，领悟
e.g. The realization that he would never see her again broke his heart.
recoil
v. draw back physically or mentally 畏怯，退缩
rescue
1) n. the act of saving or being saved from danger or distress 营救，救援
e.g. I ) The child's rescue by the fireman was extraordinary.
II) The animal, with a bolt right through its body, made a full recovery after rescue.
2) v. save from a dangerous or distressing situation 解救，营救
e.g. I ) Firemen were called out to rescue a man trapped in the building.
II) It is a huge job to rescue the country from economic decay.
rescuer *
n. someone who rescues 救援者
seatbelt
n. a strap worn as a belt, attached to a seat in an aircraft, car, etc. to prevent a passenger being thrown forward if an accident happens 安全带
skid
v. (skidded, skidding) (of a car, etc.) move or slip sideways （指汽车等）打滑
slam
v. (slammed, slamming)
1) hit something with great force in a particular direction 猛然抨击
e.g. He slammed the brakes on when a child ran in front of his car.
2) shut (a door, window or lid) forcefully and loudly 砰地关上
e.g. He slammed the door behind him as he left.
soak
v. make or allow to become thoroughly wet by being in liquid or by absorbing liquid 湿透
e.g. I ) The rain poured down, soaking their hair and clothes.
II) The sun dried the sweat that had soaked their clothes.
sob
v. (sobbed, sobbing) say while crying noisily 呜咽着说
e.g. The child sobbed that he wanted to go home.
spotlight
n. a light with a very bright beam which can be directed at someone or something 聚光灯
sputter
v. emit with a spitting sound 喷溅
e.g. The goose is in the oven, sputtering fat.
stutter
v. speak with sudden pauses and a tendency to repeat rapidly the same sound or syllable 结巴着说话
swing
v. (swung, swung)
1) bring down (something held) with a curving movement typically in order to hit an object 挥动手中的东西打击
e.g. I swung the club and missed the ball.
2) move to and fro while hanging or supported 摆，摇摆
e.g. I ) He sat there swinging his legs.
II) Jane walked ahead, swinging the shopping bag.
switch
n. a device for completing or breaking an electric circuit （电路的）开关；电闸
e.g. I ) Jane turned the computer switch off.
II) The guard hit the switch and the gate swung open.
swollen *
adj. (of a river) having more water in it than usual （河）水上涨的
torrent
n. a strong and fast-moving stream of water or other liquid 奔流，急流，洪流
e.g. After the winter rains, the stream becomes a raging torrent.
torrential
adj. relating to or having the character of a torrent 似湍流的
turn-off
n. a smaller road branching off from a main road 支路，岔路
unsnap *
v. unfasten or open with a brisk movement and a sharp sound 松开......的按扣
wade
v. walk with an effort (through water, mud or anything that makes walking difficult) 费力地走或涉（水、泥地等）
waist
n. the narrow part of the body between the ribs and the hips 腰，腰部
e.g. He feels nothing at all below his waist. He tries to pull himself forward with his hands.
Phrases and Expressions
catch hold of
seize 抓住
e.g. I threw the rope and he caught hold of it.
for an instant
for a second 片刻
e.g. I ) I hesitated for an instant.
II) For an instant the plane was bathed in unnatural light.
hold on to
keep grasping something, not let it go 紧紧抓住，抓住不放
e.g. I ) Tom rescued a drowning child holding on to a plank （木板）.
II) I had to hold on to the two support bars for dear life, but the water was so cold.
make peace with
re-establish friendly relations 与......讲和，言归于好
e.g. Ann wanted to make peace with her father before his death.
set...free
give someone or an animal freedom 释放
e.g. Do as I tell you and you will be set free.
slip off
take clothes off quickly 很快地把衣服脱掉
e.g. Slip your shirt off and I'll take your blood pressure.
PASSAGE III In Memory of the Challenger Astronauts[1]
We come together today to mourn the loss of seven brave Americans, to share the grief that we all feel, and perhaps in that sharing, to find the strength to bear our sorrow and the courage to look for the seeds of hope.
Our nation's loss is first a profound personal loss to the family and the friends and the loved ones of our shuttle astronauts. To those they left behind — the mothers, the fathers, the husbands and wives, brothers and sisters, yes, and especially the children — all of America stands beside you in your time of sorrow.
What we say today is only an inadequate expression of what we carry in our hearts. Words pale in the shadow of grief[2]; they seem insufficient even to measure the brave sacrifice of those you loved and we so admired. Their truest testimony will not be in the words we speak, but in the way they led their lives and in the way they lost their lives — with dedication, honor, and an unquenchable desire to explore this mysterious and beautiful universe.
The best we can do is remember our seven astronauts, our Challenger Seven, remember them as they lived, bringing life and love and joy to those who knew them and pride to a nation.
They came from all parts of this great country — from South Carolina to Washington State; Ohio to Mohawk, New York; Hawaii to North Carolina to Concord, New Hampshire. They were so different; yet in their mission, their quest, they held so much in common.
We remember Dick Scobee, the commander, who spoke the last words we heard from the space shuttle Challenger. He served as a fighter pilot, earned many medals for bravery and later as a test pilot of advanced aircraft before joining the space program. Danger was a familiar companion to Commander Scobee.
We remember Michael Smith, who earned enough medals as a combat pilot[3] to cover his chest, including the Navy Distinguished Flying Cross[4], and three Air Medals[5], and the Vietnamese Cross of Gallantry with Silver Star[6] in gratitude from a nation he fought to keep free.
We remember Judith Resnik, known as J.R. to her friends, always smiling, always eager to make a contribution, finding beauty in the music she played on her piano in her off-hours[7].
We remember Ellison Onizuka, who as a child running barefoot through the coffee fields and macadamia groves of Hawaii dreamed of someday traveling to the Moon . Being an Eagle Scout[8], he said, had helped him soar to the impressive achievements of his career.
We remember Ronald McNair, who said that he learned perseverance in the cotton-fields of South Carolina. His dream was to live aboard the space station, performing experiments and playing his saxophone in the weightlessness of space. Well, Ron, we will miss your saxophone; and we will build your space station.
We remember Gregory Jarvis. On that ill-fated flight he was carrying with him a flag of his university in Buffalo, New York — a small token, he said, to the people who unlocked his future.
We remember Christa McAuliffe, who captured the imagination of the entire nation; inspiring us with her pluck, her restless spirit of discovery; a teacher, not just to her students, but to an entire people, instilling us all with the excitement of this journey as we ride into the future.
We will always remember them, these skilled professionals, scientists and adventurers, these artists and teachers and family men and women; and we will cherish each of their stories, stories of triumph and bravery, stories of true American heroes.
On the day of the disaster, our nation held a vigil by our television sets. In one cruel moment our exhilaration turned to horror; we waited and watched and tried to make sense of what we had seen. That night I listened to a call-in program[9] on the radio; people of every age spoke of their sadness and the pride they felt in our astronauts. Across America we are reaching out, holding hands, and finding comfort in one another .
The sacrifice of your loved ones has stirred the soul of our nation and through the pain our hearts have been opened to a profound truth: The future is not free; the story of all human progress is one of a struggle against all odds. We learned again that this America, which Abraham Lincoln called the last, best hope of man on Earth, was built on heroism and noble sacrifice. It was built by men and women like our seven star voyagers, who answered a call beyond duty, who gave more than was expected or required, and who gave it little thought of worldly reward.
We think back to the pioneers of an earlier century, the sturdy souls who took their families and their belongings and set out into the frontier of the American West. Often they met with terrible hardship. Along the Oregon Trail[10], you could still see the grave markers of those who fell on the way. But grief only steeled them to the journey ahead.[11]
Today the frontier is space and the boundaries of human knowledge. Sometimes when we reach for the stars, we fall short. But we must pick ourselves up again and press on despite the pain. Our nation is indeed fortunate that we can still draw on immense reservoirs of courage, character, and fortitude — that we're still blessed with heroes like those of the space shuttle Challenger.
Dick Scobee knew that every launching of a space shuttle is a technological miracle. And he said, "If something ever does go wrong, I hope that doesn't mean the end to the space shuttle program." Every family member I talked to asked specifically that we continue the program, that that is what their departed loved one would want above all else.[12] We will not disappoint them.
Today we promise Dick Scobee and his crew that their dream lives on, that the future they worked so hard to build will become reality. The dedicated men and women of NASA have lost seven members of their family. Still, they, too, must forge ahead with a space program that is effective, safe, and efficient, but bold and committed.
Man will continue his conquest of space. To reach out for new goals and ever greater achievements — that is the way we shall commemorate our seven Challenger heroes.
Dick, Mike, Judy, El, Ron, Greg, and Christa — your families and your country mourn your passing. We bid you goodbye; we will never forget you. For those who knew you well and loved you, the pain will be deep and enduring. A nation, too, will long feel the loss of her seven sons and daughters, her seven good friends. We can find consolation only in faith, for we know in our hearts that you who flew so high and so proud now make your home beyond the stars, safe in God's promise of eternal life.
May God bless you all and give you comfort in this difficult time. (1172 words)
Proper Names
Buffalo
（地名）布法罗（纽约州一城市）
Christa McAuliffe
（女子名）克里斯塔·麦考利夫
Concord
（地名）康科德（新罕布什尔州一城市）
Dick Scobee
（男子名）迪克·斯科比
El
（男子名）艾尔（Ellison的昵称）
Ellison Onizuka
（男子名）埃利森·奥尼祖克
Greg
（男子名）格雷格（Gregory的昵称）
Gregory Jarvis
（男子名）格雷戈里·贾维斯
Judith Resnik
（女子名）朱迪思·雷斯尼克
Judy
（女子名）朱迪（Judith的昵称）
Mike
（男子名）麦克（Michael的昵称）
Mohawk
（地名）莫霍克（纽约州一城市）
New Hampshire
（地名）新罕布什尔州（美国）
North Carolina
（地名）北卡罗来纳州（美国）
Ron
（男子名）罗恩（Ronald的昵称）
Ronald McNair
（男子名）罗纳德·麦克奈尔
Ronald Reagan
（男子名）罗纳德·里根（1911-，美国第四十任总统[1981-1988]）
South Carolina
（地名）南卡罗来纳州（美国）
Washington State
（地名）华盛顿州（美国）
New Words
aboard
prep. & adv. on board, on or into (a ship, aircraft, train or other vehicle) 在（船、飞机、火车等）上，上（船、飞机、火车等）
1) prep.
e.g. I ) They were aboard the plane for London.
II) Twenty-four sailors were hurt in an explosion aboard a nuclear submarine yesterday.
2) adv.
e.g. I ) The flight attendant welcomed us aboard.
II) The plane crashed, killing all 200 people aboard.
adventurer *
n. a person who enjoys adventures 冒险家
belongings
n. (plural) those things which belong to someone 私人物品、私人财物
bid
v.
1) (bade , bidden) (formal or dated) say or wish (a greeting or farewell to someone) 祝，表示
e.g. He bade us good-day and got up to leave.
2) (bid, bidden) offer to pay (a price) for goods or to charge (a price) for one's work or services 出价，投标
e.g. I ) I can't afford to bid more than $50 for the table.
II) They bid $ 50,000 for the project and got the contract.
III) Nineteen companies are bidding for the contract to build the bridge.
commemorate
v. do something to show that you recall and respect
somebody important or an important event in the past 纪念，庆祝
e.g. I ) The celebration commemorated the founding of the town.
II) His 80th birthday was commemorated by several exhibitions of his work.
conquest
n. conquering; defeat 攻克，征服
e.g. I ) The conquest of England in 1066 is called the Norman Conquest.
II) It looks as if the European tennis cup will be the champion's next conquest.
consolation *
n. the comfort received by someone after a loss or disappointment 安慰
departed *
adj. (euphemism) dead （委婉的说法）已死的
disaster
n.
1) a sudden event such as a flood, storm, or accident which causes great, damage or suffering 灾难，大祸
e.g. The month-long period of rain was a disaster for the farmer.
2) (informal) complete failure 彻底的失败
e.g. The party was a disaster-the guests all got drunk and started fighting with each other.
eagle
n. a very large bird 鹰
e.g. The bald eagle is the national bird of the United States.
eternal
adj. lasting forever 永恒的，永久的
e.g. The bride and groom pledged their eternal love to each other.
exhilaration
n. great excitement or happiness 高兴，兴奋
fortitude
n. courage, endurance and self-control in facing pain, danger or difficulty 坚韧，刚毅
gallantry
n. bravery 勇敢；英勇
grave
1) n. the place in the ground where a dead person is buried 坟墓
e.g. I always visit my mother's grave on the anniversary of her death.
2) adj. very serious, giving cause for worry and/or needing urgent attention 严重的，严肃的，重大的
e.g. I ) The grave situation demanded my immediate attention.
II) The situation poses a grave threat to peace.
grove
n. a small wood, orchard, or group of tree 小树林，果园
hardship
n. difficult conditions of life 艰难，困苦
e.g. I experienced many hardships when I was lost in the forest.
heroism *
n. great bravery 英雄主义
ill-fated *
adj. destined to fail or have bad luck 注定要倒霉的，苦命的，不幸的
e.g. One of the group members was killed on the ill-fated expedition.
immense
adj. extremely large or great, especially in scale or degree 巨大的
e.g. I ) A healthy diet during pregnancy is of immense importance.
II) They spent an immense amount of time getting the engine into perfect condition.
impressive
adj. causing admiration, making a strong or good impression 令人钦佩的，给人印象深刻的
e.g. I ) The general was an impressive war hero and had been awarded many medals.
II) I saw him act for the first time last night-he was quite impressive.
instil(l)
v. put (ideas, feelings, etc.) gradually but firmly into someone's mind by a continuous effort 逐渐灌输
e.g. We instilled the need for discipline and obedience into the new soldiers.
insufficient *
adj. not sufficient 不够，不充分
macadamia
n. an Australian evergreen tree of the protea family that is cultivated extensively in Hawaii 澳洲坚果树
marker *
n. an object used to indicate a position, place, or route 标记
e.g. I ) The post served as a boundary marker.
II) They erected a granite (花岗石) marker at the crash site.
medal
n. a flat piece of metal, usually shaped like a coin and stamped with words and a design, which commemorates an event, or is awarded to somebody for bravery, sporting achievement, etc. 奖章，奖牌，勋章
e.g. The brave soldier was awarded several medals after the war.
mourn
v. feel sorrow and sadness about the death or loss of someone or something 哀悼，感到痛心
e.g. The widow mourned the loss of her husband.
perseverance
n. continual steady effort made to fulfil some aim 坚持不懈，不屈不挠
pluck
n. (informal) courage and determination 勇气，胆量
reservoir
n.
1) a large supply or collection of something 储藏，汇集
e.g. I ) Industry must have a reservoir of cheap labor.
II) She found he had reservoirs of unexpected strength.
2) a place where liquid is stored 水库，蓄水池
e.g. During the drought, the water level in the reservoir was very low.
sadness *
n. unhappiness, sorrow 伤心，悲伤
e.g. The mayor's death caused great sadness throughout the city.
saxophone
n. a metal musical instrument with a single reed, used mostly in jazz and dance music 萨克斯管
scout
n.
1) a member of an association for training boys in character and various useful skills 童子军
e.g. Many boy scout camps concentrate on activities like campcraft (野营技能), hiking or canoeing.
2) a soldier sent out to search the land ahead of an army, especially for information about the enemy 侦察员，侦察兵
soar
v. rise high or ascend to a height 升腾，高涨
e.g. I ) The temperature soared to 90 degrees Fahrenheit （华氏）.
II) When she heard his voice, her spirits soared.
someday
adv. at an uncertain time in the future 将来总有一天，他日
sturdy
adj. determined, firm, sound 坚强的，坚定的
e.g. They kept up a sturdy opposition to the plan.
testimony
n. evidence in support of something 见证，证明
e.g. The pyramids are (a) testimony to the Ancient Egyptians' engineering skills.
token
n. something that represents a feeling, fact, event, etc. 标志，象征
e.g. These flowers are a small token of my gratitude.
trail
n. a path across rough country 小路，小径
e.g. I biked on the trail to the pond.
unlock *
v.
1) make open, disclose 启示，揭示
e.g. Marie Curie's research unlocked the mystery of the atom.
2) undo the lock of 开......的锁
e.g. Mary unlocked the door and went into the room.
unquenchable
adj. not able to be put out or suppressed 永不熄灭的，不能遏制的
vigil
n. a period of keeping awake during the time usually spent asleep, especially to keep watch or pray 祈祷，守夜
voyager *
n. someone who makes long and often dangerous journeys involving travel by sea or in space 航行者
Phrases and Expressions
against all odds
in spite of the great difficulties that would usually make something impossible 尽管有着极难克服的困难
e.g. Against all odds, racing driver Lauda recovered from his terrible injuries.
fall short
1) fail to reach a goal or standard 未达到目标或标准
e.g. I ) We were so close to getting the job done, but we finally fell short.
II) Facilities for competitors at international events fall short of the standards found elsewhere.
2) be less than or not good enough 短缺，不足
e.g. The power supply in that area falls a bit short.
forge ahead
continue or make progress with a course or undertaking 继续进行，取得进展
e.g. The government is forging ahead with reforms.
leave behind
have or remain after one's death 遗留，留下，把......撇在后面
e.g. I ) He worried a great deal about the debts he would leave behind if he died.
II) Making a will is something many people neglect until it's too late, often at the expense of those you leave behind.
pick oneself up
stand up again after a fall （跌倒后）爬起来
e.g. She slipped, but soon picked herself up.
press on
continue with determination or without delay 坚定地继续进行
e.g. I ) The army pressed on in spite of the heavy rain.
II) They courageously pressed on with their vital repair work.
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