Wu Juping (the most beautiful mother), Zhang Lili (the most beautiful teacher)…(civilian heroes who risked their own lives to save others in modern times) 2. What makes a hero in your eyes? A good heart
The readiness to lend a hand to people in trouble The courage to risk one’s own life to help others in danger The determination to fight for his own country and people II. Pre-reading Activity Listening and talking
Listen to a news report about a man named Wesley Austrey and discuss the questions. 1. Do you regard Wesley Austrey as a hero? Why or why not? No.
behave irresponsibly
his two kids were watching him
2. What would you do if you were at the scene? doubt if I would be courageous enough shout at the man
tell him to stay between the tracks
lower his body and keep his head down III. Cultural background Questions previewing
1. Who is Nelson Mandela? Why was he so famous? be arrested and sentenced to life in prison serve 27 years in prison
lead his party to end apartheid after his release
bring about a peaceful transition to nonracial democracy in South Africa receive the 1993 Nobel Peace Prize
2. What is Greg’s Law? Why is it named after a person? be passed in 2009 as part of a larger Road Safety Bill
target motorists who drive while suspended, unlicensed and uninsured
introduce stricter sentencing, including a seven-day vehicle impoundment (扣押). in memory of police officer Greg Stobbart, who was tragically killed while riding his bike
IV. New words 1.subsequent a.
(fml.) happening or coming after sth. else 随后的；继…之后的
Fires and floods subsequent to an earthquake often cause greater damage. 地震后继发的火灾和洪水往往会造成更大的破坏。
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These skills were passed on to subsequent generations. 这些技能被一代代传了下去。 2. associate n. [C] sb. who you work or do business with 同事；（生意）伙伴
He is not a friend but an associate; we work in the same department. 他不是朋友，只是同事，我们在同一部门工作。
vt. make a connection in your mind between one thing or person and another 联想；联系 Nowadays, most people associate this brand with good quality. 如今，大多数人将这一品牌与高品质联系起来。
3. commitment n. 1) [U] the hard work and loyalty that sb. gives to an organization, activity, etc. 投入；忠诚；奉献
My commitment to study has made me the most successful person in my small town. 我在学习上的投入使我成为我们小镇上最成功的人。
She is known for her commitment to nuclear disarmament. 她以致力于核减军而闻名。 2) [C] a promise to do sth. or to behave in a particular way 承诺 We made a commitment to keep working together. 我们承诺继续合作。 They made a commitment to peace. 他们承诺要保持和平。
4. distinct a. 1) (usu. before noun) definite and obvious 确实的；显著的
After the principal talked with her, there was a distinct change in her attitude. 校长和她谈过话后，她的态度有了明显的转变。
2) separate and different in a way that is clear 有区别的；不同的；单独的
The region’s linguistic and cultural identity is quite distinct from that of the rest of the country. 该地区的语言和文化特征与该国的其他地区大不相同。 3) able to be clearly seen, heard, smelt, or tasted 清晰的；清楚的；明显的 The outline of the ship became more distinct. 船的轮廓变得更加清晰了。
5 . confine vt.1) keep sb. in a place that they cannot leave, such as a prison 监禁；禁闭 The criminal was caught and confined to prison for two years. 那名罪犯被捕了，并在监狱里关了两年。
2) if sth. is confined to one area or group of people, it happens only in that area or affect only that group of people 使局限于
The risk of infection is confined to relatively small groups. 感染的危险只局限于较小的人群。
6. reconcile vt. find a way to make ideas, beliefs, needs, etc. that are opposed to each other capable of existing together 调和；调解
We suggest that it is possible to reconcile these apparently opposing perspectives. 我们认为这些看似对立的观点是可以相互统一的。
v. if you reconcile two people or groups or they reconcile, they become friendly again after a disagreement （使）和解；（使）恢复友好关系 The little boy does not readily reconcile with his elder sister. 那个小男孩还不愿意和他姐姐讲和。
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My elder brother and I were finally reconciled with each other after not speaking for over five years. 我和我哥有五年多不说话，最后我们和好了。 7. involve vt. 1 include or affect sb. or sth. 涉及；影响
The accident last night involved five cars, causing the death of six people. 昨晚那场事故涉及5辆汽车，造成6人死亡。
2 include sth. as a necessary part of an activity, event, or situation 包含；需要
Administrative positions often involve doing a lot of paperwork, such as budget reports and staff evaluations. 管理岗位常常需要做许多文书工作，例如做预算报告和进行员工评估。 3 encourage or allow sb. to take part in sth. 鼓励…参与；允许…参加
Our aim is to involve more parents in their children’s education through online education programs. 我们的目的是通过网上教育节目让更多的家长参与孩子的教育。
At our meeting, we should not involve ourselves in arguments; instead we should try to solve our problems. 我们在会上不应该陷入争论，而应该试着解决问题。
8 .fulfill vt. (BrE fulfil) 1 do or provide what is necessary or needed 履行；执行；符合 The public did not have confidence that the company would fulfill its promise. 公众不相信这家公司会履行其诺言。
2 achieve sth. that you wanted to do, or get sth. you hoped for 实现；达到
After 10 years of hard work, Joey fulfilled his dream as a movie director. 经过10年的奋斗，乔伊终于实现了自己的梦想，成为了一名电影导演。 Fulfillment n. [U] (BrE fulfilment)
1 the act of doing or achieving sth. that is promised or expected 履行；实现；达到 The new employee got a pay raise for the fulfillment of a difficult task. 新来的雇员因为完成了一项艰巨的任务而获得加薪。
2 a feeling of happiness and satisfaction, esp. because you are doing sth. important or using your abilities 满足感；成就感
Being a teacher gives me a deep sense of fulfillment. 当老师带给我一种深深的满足感。 Phrases and expressions 1. give one’s life
die in order to save other people or because of a strong belief 捐躯；牺牲
Many people are willing to give their lives for the great cause of their country. 很多人愿意为自己祖国的伟大事业献出自己的生命。 2. ring out
produce a loud clear sound 发出响亮的声音
\A gunshot rang out, shocking everyone in the square. ―啪！‖响起一声响亮的枪声，把广场上的人都惊呆了。 3. shield sb./sth. from sb./sth.
protect sb. or sth. from being harmed or damaged by sb. or sth. 使…免受
He tries his best to shield his children from the press. 他尽力保护自己的孩子避开媒体的
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关注。
4. with (good/a good) grace
in a pleasant and willing way 有风度地；情愿地
John failed in the competition, but he accepted he failure with grace. 约翰在比赛中输了，但是他心平气和地接受了失败。 5. be/get caught up in sth.
become involved in sth., esp. when you do not want to be 被卷入；陷入 Innocent passersby got caught up in the riot. 无辜的路人被卷入了那场暴乱。 6. in the words of sb./in sb.’s words as sb. says or writes 用某人的话来说
Michael and his sister went to the concert, and in the words of his sister, it was a night to remember. 迈克尔和他姐姐一起去了音乐会，用他姐姐的话来说，那是难忘的一夜。 7.reserve sth. for sb./sth.
keep sth. so that it can be used by a particular person or for a particular purpose 保留；预留 If you get there early, please reserve a seat for me. 如果你到得早，请帮我留个位子。 You cannot park here; these parking places are reserved for the disabled. 你不能在这里停车。这些停车位是专门留给残疾人士的。 8. relate to sth./sb.
be able to understand a situation or the way sb. feels and thinks 理解；认同
Sam gave up his profession as a doctor. I found it really hard to relate to him. 山姆放弃了他的医生职业。我觉得很难理解他。
I know he was very disappointed when his application was rejected. I can relate to that. 我知道他的申请被拒绝后他很失望。我能理解他的感受。 9. make sense of sth.
understand sth., esp. sth. difficult or complicated 理解，弄懂某事（尤指困难或复杂的事） The teacher had such a strong accent that none of us could make sense of what he was saying. 那位老师的口音很重，所以我们谁都不明白他在说些什么。 10. sum up
give the main information in a report, speech, etc. in a short statement at the end 概括；总结；概述
I can’ t sum up his whole philosophy in one sentence. 我无法用一句话概括他的全部哲理。 11.count on
depend on sb. or sth., esp. in a difficult situation 依靠；指望
Martin is a capable person whom you can always count on in a crisis. 马丁是个能干的人，在遇到危机时你总能依靠他。 V. Text Study
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1. Main Idea
Text A is an essay on peoples view about what makes a hero. It is pointed out that in the past the word ―hero‖ was reserved for those who performed acts of courage beyond the call of duty or for great leaders, while today heroes can be ordinary people like us. Besides, first responders, whose duty is to rush toward danger, are also heroes, even when their efforts failed to bring about desirable effects. Hopefully, we will also act heroically when circumstances call on us.
2. Text Structure Question-Example-Conclusion Pattern
Part I (1) Today the word ―hero‖ becomes more common and is used to refer to both victim and survivors of all kinds of difficulties and tragedies.
Part II (2-4) Both Daniel and Dory are civilian heroes as they acted instinctively with courage and grace when situations call for.
Part III(5-12) First responders are heroes no matter they succeed in their effort to save people or get injured or killed in their efforts.
Part IV (13) The stories of heroes help remind us that ordinary people can do extraordinary things and, being inspired by them, we can also be heroes when circumstances call on us to act heroically. VI. Language Points
1. In an era of heightened heroism, the word hero has become more common. (Para. 1) Meaning: In a time when there is an increasing number of impressive actions of great courage, the word hero has been used more frequently.
heighten: v. if sth. heightens a feeling, effect, etc., or if a feeling, etc. heightens, it becomes stronger or increases （使）加强；（使）增加
Smoking may heighten the risk of cancer. 吸烟会增加患癌的风险。
2. In the days subsequent to a mass shooting in Tucson, Arizona, many described 20-year-old political associate Daniel Hernandez as a hero. (Para. 2)
Meaning: In the days after a mass shooting in Tucson, Arizona, many people regarded 20-year-old Daniel Hernandez, who worked in politics, as a hero. Usage note:
1) 在表示先后次序时，常用的形容词有next, following, last, subsequent, previous及preceding等。这些形容词通常置于被修饰的名词之前，例如：the next morning, the following class, the last week, the subsequent events, the previous meeting, the preceding page。
2) subsequent to（在…之后）和previous to（在…之前）作定语时，通常置于被修饰的名词之后。例如：
On the day subsequent to his visit, she disappeared. 在他去看她后的第二天，她失踪了。 On the night previous to the robbery, he had been seen wandering outside the huge building. 在抢劫案发生的前一晚，有人看到他在那座大楼外面徘徊。
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