The Man in the Water As disasters goAs disasters go, this one was terrible, but not unique, certainly not among the worst of the roster of U.S. air crashes

The Man in the WaterAs disasters go, this one was terrible, but not unique, certainly not among the worst of

the roster of U.S. air crashes. There was the unusual element of the bridge, of course, and the fact that the plane hit it at a moment of high traffic. Then, too, there was the location of the event. Washington, the city of form and rules, turned chaotic by a blast of real winter and a single slap of metal on metal. The jets from Washington National Airport that normally fly around the presidential monuments like hungry gulls are, for the moment, represented by the one that fell. And there was the aesthetic clash as well—blue-and-green Air Florida, the name a flying garden, sunk down among gray chunks of ice in a black river. All that was worth noticing, to be sure. Still, there was nothing very special in any of it, except death, which, while always special, does not necessarily bring millions to tears or to attention. Why, then, the shock here?

Perhaps because the nation saw in this disaster something more than a mechanical failure. Perhaps because people saw in it no failure at all, but rather something successful about themselves. Here, after all, were two forms of nature in collision: the elements and human character. 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.

Of the four acknowledged heroes of the event, three are able to account for their behavior. Donald Usher and Eugene Windsor, a park police helicopter team, risked their lives every time they dipped the skids into the water to pick up survivors. On television, side by side, they described their courage as all in the line of duty. Lenny Skutnik, a 28-year-old employee of the Congressional Budget Office, said: “It’s something I never thought I would do”—referring to his jumping into the water to drag an injured woman to shore. Skutnik added that “somebody had to go in the water,” delivering every hero’s line that is no less admirable for being repeated. In fact, nobody had to go into the water. That somebody actually did so is part of the reason this particular tragedy sticks in the mind.

But the person most responsible for the emotional impact of the disaster is the one known at first simply as “the man in the water.” Balding, probably in his 50s, a huge mustache. He was seen clinging with five other survivors to the tail section of the airplane. This man was described by Usher and Windsor as appearing alert and in control. Every time they lowered a lifeline and flotation ring to him, he passed it on to another of the passengers. “In a mass casualty, you’ll find people like him.” said Windsor. “But I’ve never seen one with that commitment.” When the helicopter came back for him, the man had gone under. His selflessness was one reason the story held national attention; his anonymity another. The fact that he went unidentified gave him with a universal character. For a while he was Everyman, and thus proof (as if one needed it) that no man is ordinary.

Still, he could never have imagined such a capacity in himself. Only minutes before his character was tested, he was sitting in the ordinary plane among the ordinary passengers, dutifully listening to the stewardess telling him to fasten his seat belt and saying something about the “no smoking sign.” So our man relaxed with the others, some of whom would owe their lives to him. Perhaps he started to read, or to doze, or to regret some harsh remark made in the office that morning. Then suddenly he knew that the trip would not be ordinary. Like every other person on that flight, he was desperate to live, which makes his final act so stunning.

For at some moment in the water he must have realized that he would not live if he continued to hand over the rope and ring to others. He had to know it, no matter how gradual the effect of the cold. He felt he had no choice. When the helicopter took off with what was to be the last survivor, he watched everything in the world move away from him, and he let it happen.

Yet there was something else about our man that kept our thoughts on him, and which keeps our thoughts on him still. He was there, in the essential, classic circumstance. Man in nature. The man in the water. For its part, nature cared nothing about the five passengers. Our man, on the other hand, cared totally. So age-old battle began again in the Potomac. For as long as that man could last, they went at each other, nature and man; the one making no distinctions of good and evil, acting on no principles, offering no lifelines; the other acting wholly on distinctions, principles and, perhaps, on faith.

Since it was he who lost the fight, we ought to come again to the conclusion that people are powerless in the world. In reality, we believe the opposite, and it takes the act of the man in the water to remind us of our true feelings in this matter. It is not to say that everyone would have acted as he did, or as Usher, Windsor and Skutnik. Yet whatever moved these men to challenge death on behalf of their fellows is not peculiar to them. Everyone feels the possibility in himself. That is the enduring wonder of the story. That is why we would not let go of it. If the man in the water gave a lifeline to the people gasping for survival, he was likewise giving a lifeline to those who watched him.

The odd thing is that we do not even really believe that the man in the water lost his fight. “Everything in Nature contains all the powers of Nature.” said Emerson. Exactly. The man In the water had his own natural powers. He could not make ice storms, or freeze the water until it froze the blood. But he could hand life over to a stranger, and that is a power of nature too. The man in the water set himself against an immovable, impersonal enemy; he fought it with kindness and he held it to a standoff. He was the best we can do.

ExamplesExamples

• As businessmen goAs businessmen go, he is considered pretty honest. , he is considered pretty honest.

• As writers goAs writers go, Oscar Wilde was not the most talented. But he was , Oscar Wilde was not the most talented. But he was among the most popular. among the most popular.

as something goesas something goes

—— compared with sth. average compared with sth. average 就一般情况而定就一般情况而定 ,, 与一般情况相比与一般情况相比

More to learnMore to learn

as disasters goas disasters go

—— compared with the average disaster of this type.compared with the average disaster of this type.

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一双鞋卖二十英镑，就目前情况而论还算可以。一双鞋卖二十英镑，就目前情况而论还算可以。

KeyKey

Twenty pounds for a pair of shoes isn’t bad as things go nowaday.

As disasters go, this one was terrible, but not unique ， certainly not among the w

orst U.S. air crashes on record.

ParaphraseParaphrase

Air crashes usually involve a heavy loss of lives. Compared with other air crashes, this one was not the worst. This air crash was remembered for a different reason.

officially measured and noted

There was the unusual element of the bridge, of course, and the fact that

the plane hit at a moment of high traffic.

factor

heavy traffic; heavy flow of vehicles along the road


One thing that was unusual about this disaster was that the plane hit the bridge at a time of heavy traffic.

ExamplesExamples

• Ever since our secretary walked out, the office has been in a Ever since our secretary walked out, the office has been in a state of utter state of utter chaoschaos. .

• He is a He is a chaoticchaotic person - always trying to do twenty things at once. person - always trying to do twenty things at once.

chaos chaos n. n.

—— complete disorder or confusion complete disorder or confusion （（ in chaos)in chaos)

chaotic chaotic a.a.

—— in a state of chaos, completely disorganizedin a state of chaos, completely disorganized

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因无人维持秩序，教室里一片混乱。因无人维持秩序，教室里一片混乱。

KeyKey

With no one to keep order the situation in the classroom was chaotic.

Guess the meaning Guess the meaning

• A tunnel was to be A tunnel was to be blasted through the mountains.through the mountains.

• Their latest record Their latest record blasted (its way) up the charts. (its way) up the charts.

• The government was The government was blasted by the opposition for failing to by the opposition for failing to reduce inflation.reduce inflation.

• Three people were injured in the Three people were injured in the blast..

• AA blast of cold air hit him as he opened the window. of cold air hit him as he opened the window.

• a a blast of real winter of real winter

blastblast

—— v. (1)to explode or destroy sth. or sb. with explosive, or to break v. (1)to explode or destroy sth. or sb. with explosive, or to break through or hit something with a similar, very strong force. (2) to through or hit something with a similar, very strong force. (2) to criticize sb. or sth. severely.criticize sb. or sth. severely.

n. (1) an explosion; (2) sudden strong blow of air.n. (1) an explosion; (2) sudden strong blow of air.

to be exploded

to move quickly

criticize severely

explosion

a gust of wind

a strong gust of cold wind in winter

slapslap

—— n. a quick hit with the flat of the hand or other flat object. 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.v. to hit someone with the flat part of the hand or other flat object.

• a slap in the face

an action that insults or upsets someone

• a slap on the back• a slap on the wrist

an action that shows praise for sth. you have donea gentle warning or punishment 略予申斥

GuessGuess

• It was a real It was a real slapslap in the face for him when she refused to go out to dinner in the face for him when she refused to go out to dinner with him.with him.

• The judge gave Minna a The judge gave Minna a slapslap on the wrist for not wearing her seat belt. on the wrist for not wearing her seat belt.

• Her husband has been Her husband has been slappingslapping her around, but she's afraid to go to the her around, but she's afraid to go to the police.police.

• When her ideas were rejected, she When her ideas were rejected, she slappedslapped her report (down) on the her report (down) on the table and stormed out of the meeting.table and stormed out of the meeting.

an action that insults or upsets someone 耻辱

a gentle warning or punishment

hitting sb. repeatedly

put sth. somewhere with a slapping noiseMore to learnMore to learn

Washington, the city of form and rules, turned chaotic by a blast of real win

ter and a single slap of metal on metal. neat and beautiful, carefully design

used figuratively here, indicating the strike between the bridge and jet.


Washington, which is famous for its beauty and careful design, was thrown into terrible confusion in a sudden explosion when the airplane stroke the bridge violently.

Lesson 6—The Man in the Water

B T L EW

Washington, D.C. Washington, D.C.

To be continued on the next page.


B T L EW

Presidential MonumentPresidential Monument

In recognition of his leadership in the cause

of American independence, Washington

earned the title “Father of His Country”.

With this monument, the citizens of the

United States show their enduring gratitude

and respect for the first President of the

United States.

Washington Monument



B T L EW

Jefferson Memorial

Thomas Jefferson—political philosopher, architect, musician, book collector, scientist, horticulturist ( 园艺学家 ), diplomat, inventor, and third President of the United States, also author of the Declaration of American Independence, and Father of the University of Virginia




B T L EW The end of Presidential Monument.

Lincoln Memorial

The Lincoln Memorial is a tribute to President

Abraham Lincoln and the nation he fought to

preserve during the Civil War (1861-1865).

The Lincoln Memorial was built to resemble a

Greek temple. It has 36 Doric columns, one

for each state at the time of Lincoln’s death. A

sculpture by Daniel Chester French of a

seated Lincoln is in the center of the memorial

chamber.



B T L EW The end of Washington, D.C.

Washington, D.C. Washington, D.C.

clash clash v. & n. v. & n.

clash with sb. (on / over sth.) clash with sb. (on / over sth.) — (1) come together and fight; (2) — (1) come together and fight; (2) disagree seriously about sth. (clash between A and B)disagree seriously about sth. (clash between A and B)

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政府与反对党在失业问题上有重大分歧。政府与反对党在失业问题上有重大分歧。KeyKey

Government clashed with the Opposition on the question of unemployment. /Government and the Opposition clashed on …

clash with sth. clash with sth. — (1) happen inconveniently at the same time; (2) (of — (1) happen inconveniently at the same time; (2) (of colors, design, etc) not match or harmonize. colors, design, etc) not match or harmonize. (clash between A and B)(clash between A and B)

TranslateTranslate

你们的聚会和我要去参加的婚礼时间上有冲突。你们的聚会和我要去参加的婚礼时间上有冲突。KeyKey

Your party clashes with a wedding I’m going to.


And there was the aesthetic clash as well—blue and green Air Florida, th

e name of a flying garden, sunk down among gray chunks of ice in a bl

ack river.

the combination of different colors which look very bad

thick, solid piece or lump


When the air crash occurred, it was not just a clash of metal against the bridge, but also a clash between colors: the blue-green color of the plane and the gray and black color of the ice and river.

TranslationTranslation

这其中还有视觉美学冲击——蓝绿相间的“佛罗里达号”（这一名字象征着空中花园）伴随着巨大的灰色断石坠入幽暗的河水中。

ExamplesExamples

• This is not his best book, This is not his best book, to be sureto be sure, but it is still worth reading. , but it is still worth reading.

to be sureto be sure

—— indeed, certainlyindeed, certainly

TranslateTranslate

必须承认，绝大部分的人是遵纪守法的，但违法活动依然是个问题。

KeyKey

To be sureTo be sure, most people are law abiding, but crime remains a , most people are law abiding, but crime remains a problem.problem.

Still, there was nothing very special in any of it, except death, which, whil

e always special, does not necessarily bring millions to tears or to atten

tion.

Verbless structure, “although (it is) always special

possibly but not certainly

make millions cry or attract millions of people’s attention

Verbless StructureVerbless Structure


This air crash has only one element —— death, which was special in any

disastrous accidents. However, death may not be the only factor for sure making millions cry or attracted millions of people’s attention.

Verbless structure with subordinate conjunction Verbless structure with subordinate conjunction （带连词的无（带连词的无动词句）动词句）• 从属连词 + 名词词组

• 从属连词 + 形容词词组

• 从属连词 + 介词词组

• 从属连词 + 副词词组

Whatever the reason, his cordiality to her has won him a friend.

Although always helpful, he was not much liked by people.

When in Rome, do as the Romans do.

He spoke ungraciously, if not rudely.

PracticePractice

1. Although he was a lawyer by training, he became a great soldier.

2. We shall continue our policy, whatever your objections may be.

3. He arrived too late to help us whether he did it by accident or by design.

Why, then, the shock here?

“Why was there such a shock here?” the structure of this kind of elliptical sentence

ExampleExample

Five o’clock? Why so early?

To go to Afghanistan? Why me?

If so many businesses can’t compete with other countries, why WTO then?

Perhaps because the nation saw in this disaster something more than a

mechanical failuremachines or their parts stop working properly.

more ……than & more than more ……than & more than • more than + n. 不仅仅是Modern science is more than a large amount of

information. We need more than material wealth to build our country.

• more than + number 以上，不止I have known David for more than 20 years.

More than one person has made this suggestion.

• more than + adjective 很，非常I assure you I am more than glad to help you.

In doing scientific experiments, one must be more than careful with the instruments.

continuedcontinued


mechanical failure

more ……than & more than more ……than & more than • more than + that clause超过，“简直不，远非”That is more than I can understand .

The heat there was more than he could stand. • more…… than

比……更，比……多He has more books than me.

continuedcontinued

He is more lucky than clever. 与其说后者，不如说前者

该句型主要用于同一个人或物在两个不同性质或特征等方面的比较，其中的比较级必须用加 more 的形式，不能用加词尾 -er 的形式。


mechanical failure

more ……than & more than more ……than & more than

TranslateTranslate

1. It’s more than likely that there’s oil here under the ground.

2. John is more daring than quick-witted.

3. The concert was more enjoyable than the lecture.

4. The present crisis is much more a political than an economic crisis.

5. We will be more than glad to help you in any way we can.



mechanical failure


Perhaps because the people didn’t just view this air crash as an accident due to a mechanical or a human error, there was something else more significant.

Here, after all, were two forms of nature in collision: the elements and hu

man character. the bad weather and the human character.

Both are forms of natural power.

the forces of nature 自然力；风，雨等的力量

collisioncollision


After all, there were two forms of natural power involved in this

clash: the bad weather and the human character.

ExamplesExamples

• Two drivers were killed in a head-on Two drivers were killed in a head-on collisioncollision between a car and between a car and a taxi last night. a taxi last night.

collisioncollision n. (collide) n. (collide)

—— (1) an accident that happens when two vehicles his each other (1) an accident that happens when two vehicles his each other with force. (2) a strong disagreement. with force. (2) a strong disagreement.

TranslateTranslate

她的政治活动触犯了法律。

KeyKey

Her political activities brought her into Her political activities brought her into collision collision with the law. with the law.

Last Wednesday. the elements, indifferent as ever, brought down Flight 9

0.

the bad weather

unconcerned about the consequences as always

bring downbring down

bring sb. down bring sb. down — (1) cause sb to fall over; (2) cause the defeat of sb. — (1) cause sb to fall over; (2) cause the defeat of sb. overthrow sb. overthrow sb.

ExampleExample

When are they going to When are they going to bring downbring down the price of DVD players? the price of DVD players?

bring sth. down bring sth. down — (1) cause an aircraft to fall out of the sky; (2) — (1) cause an aircraft to fall out of the sky; (2) lower or reducelower or reduce

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这一丑闻可能导致政府垮台。这一丑闻可能导致政府垮台。

KeyKey

The scandal may bring down the government.


Last Wednesday. the elements, indifferent as ever, brought down Flight 90.


Last Wednesday, as always, the weather was so

bad (it wasn’t concerned about what might

happen) that it made Flight 90 strike the bridge

and sink into the river.

ExamplesExamples

• a tricky question which left him a tricky question which left him groping groping for an answerfor an answer

• scientists scientists gropinggroping blindly after the secrets of the atom blindly after the secrets of the atom

gropegrope v. (about / for / after sth.) v. (about / for / after sth.)

—— feel or search about for sth. as one does in the dark.feel or search about for sth. as one does in the dark.

TranslateTranslate

她在床头柜上摸索着找眼镜。

KeyKey

She groped for her glasses on the bedside table. She groped for her glasses on the bedside table.

ExamplesExamples

• In the exam she In the exam she rose to the occasionrose to the occasion and wrote a brilliant essay. and wrote a brilliant essay.

rise to the occasion / challenge / task, etcrise to the occasion / challenge / task, etc

—— to show oneself able to deal with an unexpected situation, problemto show oneself able to deal with an unexpected situation, problem有随机应变、克服困难、完成任务等的能力有随机应变、克服困难、完成任务等的能力


TranslateTranslate

如果可能，你可依靠他来应付这个局面。

KeyKey

You can depend on him to rise to the occasion, if possible. You can depend on him to rise to the occasion, if possible.

And on that same afternoon, human nature—groping and struggling in

mysteries of its own—rose to the occasion.


On that same afternoon, human nature,

searching for the flotation rings and struggling

in the icy water, came to prove its greatness

displayed in an unexpected tragedy.

Of the four acknowledged heroes of the event, three are able to account for

their behavior.adj. commonly accepted or

recognized

give an explanation or reason for

acknowledgeacknowledge

ExamplesExamples

• The art world has begun to The art world has begun to acknowledge acknowledge his genius.his genius.

• He's generally He's generally acknowledgedacknowledged to be the game's finest coach. to be the game's finest coach.

acknowledgeacknowledge v. (acknowledged, adj. / acknowledgement, n.) v. (acknowledged, adj. / acknowledgement, n.)

—— to admit the existence, reality, or truth of, recognizeto admit the existence, reality, or truth of, recognize

account foraccount for

ExamplesExamples

• Social security Social security accounts foraccounts for about a third of total about a third of total public spending.public spending.

• Everyone was Everyone was accounted foraccounted for after the floods. after the floods.

• He was asked to He was asked to account foraccount for his behavior. his behavior.

account foraccount for

—— (1) provide or serve as a satisfactory explanation or reason for;(1) provide or serve as a satisfactory explanation or reason for;

(2) know the fate or whereabouts of sb. / sth. especially after an (2) know the fate or whereabouts of sb. / sth. especially after an accident;accident;

(3) supply or make up (a specified amount or proportion)(3) supply or make up (a specified amount or proportion)

paraphraseparaphrase

Of the four acknowledged heroes of the event, three are able to account for

their behavior.


Only three out of these four heroes lived to tell

people what they actually had done and how

they had rescued the five survivors.

ExamplesExamples

• They are paid by the people to provide these services. It’s all They are paid by the people to provide these services. It’s all in in the line of dutythe line of duty..

in the line of duty in the line of duty

—— sth. which happens to you in the line of duty means sth. happens sth. which happens to you in the line of duty means sth. happens when you are doing your job. / as part of one’s dutywhen you are doing your job. / as part of one’s duty

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光今年就有八名警察在执行任务时遇害。

KeyKey

This year alone eight police officers have been killed This year alone eight police officers have been killed in the line in the line of dutyof duty. .

refer to sb. / sth. refer to sb. / sth.

— — (1) mention or speak of sb./ sth. ; (1) mention or speak of sb./ sth. ;

(2) be relevant to sb. / sth. concern sb. / sth. (2) be relevant to sb. / sth. concern sb. / sth.

(3) turn to sth. / sb. for information(3) turn to sth. / sb. for information

PracticePractice

• The new salary scale only The new salary scale only refers torefers to company managers and company managers and directors. directors.

• In her autobiography she occasionally In her autobiography she occasionally refers torefers to her unhappy her unhappy schooldays. schooldays.

• I I referred toreferred to my watch for the exact time. my watch for the exact time.

• When I said some people are stupid, I wasn’t When I said some people are stupid, I wasn’t referring toreferring to you. you.

delivering every hero’s line that is no less admirable for being repeated.

to make a remark. e.g., to deliver a speech, to deliver a lecture.


Skutnik gave a remark that has been said before by many people in similar

situations, but it is still admirable.

much, to a large amount

That somebody actually did so is part of the reason this particular tragedy

sticks in the mind.

Noun clauses introduced by “that” are used as subjects only in formal English. In informal English, we usually turn them into appositive clauses by adding the word “fact”.

to be remembered

But the person most responsible for the emotional impact of the disaster is

the one known at first simply as “the man in the water”

to be the reason/cause for

how this disaster has moved people

to be called


The man who is known as “the man in the water’

is the main reason for the great impact of the

disaster. / The people of the nation were greatly

moved by this disaster mainly because of the

man who is at first just known as “the man in

the water.”

bald bald a.a.

— — (1) (of people) having little or no hair; (2) without elaboration, (1) (of people) having little or no hair; (2) without elaboration, plain or dullplain or dull

ExampleExample

He was plump and He was plump and baldingbalding but somehow very attractive to women. but somehow very attractive to women.

balding balding — a. becoming bald — a. becoming bald

TranslateTranslate

He was just this bald statement of resignation – no explanation or He was just this bald statement of resignation – no explanation or anything. anything.

KeyKey

他只有一个直截了当的辞职，没有任何解释或别的说明。

cling (on) to cling (on) to

— — (1) hold on tightly to sb. / sth. ; (1) hold on tightly to sb. / sth. ;

(2) be unwillingly to abandon sth, refuse to give sth. up. (2) be unwillingly to abandon sth, refuse to give sth. up.

(3) become attached to sth. stick to sth. (3) become attached to sth. stick to sth.

ExampleExample

They They clungclung to each other as they said goodbye. to each other as they said goodbye.

She She clungclung to the hope that he was still alive. to the hope that he was still alive.

TranslateTranslate

烟味长久附着在我的衣服上不散。烟味长久附着在我的衣服上不散。

KeyKey

The smell of smoke clings to my clothes for a long time.

be alert to sth. be alert to sth. — attentive and quick to think or act. — attentive and quick to think or act.

ExampleExample

Parents should be Parents should be alertalert to sudden changes in children’s behavior. to sudden changes in children’s behavior.

An anonymous letter An anonymous letter alertedalerted police to the possibility of a terrorist police to the possibility of a terrorist attack at the airport. attack at the airport.

on the alert against / for sth. on the alert against / for sth. — watchful and prepared— watchful and prepared

TranslateTranslate

警方警告群众警惕涉嫌的恐怖分子。警方警告群众警惕涉嫌的恐怖分子。KeyKey

Police warned the public to be on the alert for suspected terrorists.


alert sb. to sth. alert sb. to sth. — make sb. aware of sth. — make sb. aware of sth.

This man was described by Usher and Windsor as appearing alert and in

control. Every time they lowered a lifeline and flotation ring to him, he passed it

on to another of the passengers.

the ability to think and act calmly and efficiently, especially in an emergency

to give sb. sth. that another person has given you.

lifeline: a rope used to rescue people at sea

flotation ring: some kind of life-belt or life-preserver ( 救生工具）


The man appeared to be able to think quickly and clearly, to be

calm and with perfect presence of mind. Every time the rescue

team lowered him a lifeline and flotation ring, he never kept it

for himself, he handed it to another passenger.

casualty casualty n. n.

— — (1) a person injured or killed in a serious accident or war;(1) a person injured or killed in a serious accident or war;

(2) a person or thing that suffers as a result of sth. else happening. (2) a person or thing that suffers as a result of sth. else happening.

(3) casualty hospital / ward: (US Emergency) (3) casualty hospital / ward: (US Emergency) 急诊室急诊室

PracticePractice

She lost her job in 1989, a She lost her job in 1989, a casualtycasualty of the recession. of the recession.

The first The first casualtycasualty of the reorganization will be the bus service, which of the reorganization will be the bus service, which will be stopped altogether. will be stopped altogether.

The train was derailed but there were no The train was derailed but there were no casualtiescasualties, police said., police said.

She had to be rushed to She had to be rushed to casualtycasualty..

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角落里的杂货店是日益扩大的超级市场的受害者角落里的杂货店是日益扩大的超级市场的受害者。

KeyKey

The corner grocery was a The corner grocery was a casualtycasualty of the expanding supermarkets. of the expanding supermarkets.

commitment to commitment to n. n.

— — (1) thing one has promised to do, pledge, undertaking;(1) thing one has promised to do, pledge, undertaking;

(2) state of being dedicated or devoted to sth. (2) state of being dedicated or devoted to sth.

ExampleExample

She is known chiefly for her She is known chiefly for her commitmentcommitment to nuclear disarmament. to nuclear disarmament.

Try the product out in the comfort of your own home with absolutely Try the product out in the comfort of your own home with absolutely no no commitmentcommitment to buy! to buy!

I’m overworked at the moment. I’ve taken on too many I’m overworked at the moment. I’ve taken on too many commitments. commitments.

TranslateTranslate

我们在寻找对此工作真正能尽职尽责的人。我们在寻找对此工作真正能尽职尽责的人。KeyKey

We’re looking for someone with a real sense of commitment to the job.


“In a mass casualty, you’ll find people like him,” said Windsor.” But I’ve

never seen one with that commitment.”


We can always find heroic people like him when a large number of

people were hurt in an accident because although not everyone is a hero,

there’s bound to be a fair representation of heroes in a big crowd. But

I’ve never seen anyone with such a strong sense of responsibility.

a strong sense of responsibility or loyalty

large number of people hurt or killed in an accident

When the helicopter came back for him the man had gone under.


When the helicopter came back for rescuing him, the man had sunk

down under the water, and drowned.

to sink, to be drowned

anonymous anonymous a.a.

— — made or done by someone whose name is not known or not made made or done by someone whose name is not known or not made public. public.

ExampleExample

He received an anonymous letter threatening to disclose details of his affair if he didn't pay the money.

For reasons of personal safety, the informant wishes to remain anonymous.

anonymity anonymity — n. state of being anonymous— n. state of being anonymous

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The police have reassured witnesses who may be afraid to come The police have reassured witnesses who may be afraid to come forward that they will be guarantee forward that they will be guarantee anonymityanonymity. .

KeyKey

对于那些害怕出庭作证的证人，警方让他们放心确保决不透露姓名。


His selflessness was one reason the story held national attention; his anonym

ity another.


The fact that the man in the water who had displayed such heroism did

not leave his name and no one was ever able to find it out was another

reason why the whole nation felt so touched by this story. It showed that

the man was a very ordinary citizen. It also proved that he did all these

not for fame or anything.

attracted the whole nation’s attention

The fact that he went unidentified gave him a universal character.

remain in an unknown state


The fact that nobody could find out the identity of this person really made

him a representative man, like everyone of us could do. We may feel that

it might have been anyone.

gave him a universal quality; made him a representative man, like everyone of us could be; made people feel that it could have been anyone

For a while he was Everyman, and thus proof (as if one needed it) that no one

is ordinary.


Notice that the word “Everyone” is capitalized. It conveys the idea that

this anonymous man really represents the best of human nature. What

he did was not the act of a supernatural being, but the act of an ordinary

person. Yet, the author says here that “no man is ordinary”, because

every person is an individual moral entity and is capable of rising to the

occasion and making history.

Still he could never have imagined such a capacity in himself.


Nevertheless/However, it was impossible for him to know that he would

be capable of such heroism. What the man did was the natural response

to the critical situation.

capacitycapacity

PracticePractice

He has the __________ to swim like a fish.

He has the ____________ of solving practical problems.

The theater has a seating _____________ of 300 people.

ability:ability: 做某种具体事情的能力，特别是经过学习的实际本领做某种具体事情的能力，特别是经过学习的实际本领 (to)(to)

capability:capability:做某事的才干或本领，可与做某事的才干或本领，可与 abilityability通用，但更强调潜在通用，但更强调潜在的能力的能力 (of)(of)

capacity: capacity: 主要指接受，吸收或容纳的能力主要指接受，吸收或容纳的能力

ability

capability

capacity

So our man relaxed with the others, some of whom would owe their lives to

him.our hero-the man in the water

Practice “owe to”Practice “owe to”

I owe a debt of gratitude to all my family.

Thanks for sticking up for me- I owe you a favor.

Japan owes us an apology, and that’s one of the main reasons why we

disapprove of its being granted the status as a permanent member of

the United Nations Security Council.

Champagne houses owe their success to brand image.

owe sth to sb = owe sb sth: have to pay sb for sth (esp. money) or do sth for sb ； have something because of (someone or something)

应当给予感激

应当给予感激

应当给予道歉

归功于

Like every other person on that flight, he was desperate to live, which

makes his final act so stunning.on board that plane


His last act was so impressive because like everyone else, he also

valued his life and was desperate to live.

shocking; very impressive

stunstun

stunstun

— — (1) astonish or shock (someone) so that they are temporarily (1) astonish or shock (someone) so that they are temporarily unable to reactunable to react

(2) (of a sound) deafen temporarily(2) (of a sound) deafen temporarily

ExampleExample

The community was The community was ______________________ by the tragedy. by the tragedy.

Anyone inside the room that was bombed would be temporarily Anyone inside the room that was bombed would be temporarily blinded and blinded and ______________________..

The audience was awed into silence by her The audience was awed into silence by her ______________________ performance. performance.

stunning stunning

— — adj. extremely impressive or attractiveadj. extremely impressive or attractive

stunned

stunned

stunning

For at some moment in the water he must have realized that he would no

t live if he continued to hand over the rope and ring to others. He had to

know it , now matter how slow the effect of the cold.

UnderstandingUnderstanding

Obviously it requires much courage to face sure death knowing that you

have a choice (keep one of the rings for yourself). The man in the story

did not act on impulse. He did not pass on his rings to others with a total

unawareness of the consequence. At some point he must have known that

he was freezing to death and would go under any moment. But he still

gave the chance for survival to the next person.

Yet there was something else about our man that kept our thoughts on him,

and which keeps our thoughts on him still.

that held our attention to him; that made us think of him all the time; Attention to the different tense of “keep”.

TranslationTranslation

不过，在我们的这个人身上还有一点让我们对他难以忘怀，并至今仍对他念念不忘。

He was there, in the essential, classic circumstance.

Understanding Understanding

What happened that day was a typical situation in which nature and man

fought each other. And when nature begins to show its power, you

always find man fight back. He is always there. We can always expect to

find such a hero.

For its part, nature cared nothing about the five passengers.


As far as nature was concerned, it did not care about the consequences of

the accident.

as far as it is concerned

go at sth. go at sth.

— — to start doing sth. with a lot of energy and enthusiasm. to start doing sth. with a lot of energy and enthusiasm.

ExampleExample

He He went atwent at his dinner as if he hadn’t had anything to eat for weeks. his dinner as if he hadn’t had anything to eat for weeks.

Suddenly, he Suddenly, he went atwent at me with a knife. me with a knife.

go at sb. go at sb.

— — to attack someone. to attack someone.


… the one making no distinctions of good and evil, acting on no principle

s, offering no lifelines; the other acting wholly on distinctions, principles

and , perhaps, on faith.


Nature is indifferent. It does not have any idea what is good or what is

bad for human beings, and it does not care. It has no moral principles.

Human beings, on the other hand, are different. They have moral

standards. They have feelings. They care and they love. Therefore they

are able to choose between right and wrong.

In reality, we believe the opposite, and it takes the act of the man in the w

ater to remind us of our true feelings in this matter.


Actually, the death of the man did not mean that human beings had lost

the battle. In a moral sense, man had won because man’s courage to defy

death was also a tremendous power. Therefore, what happened to this

man in the water should fill us with pride rather than sadness.

move +object +to infinitivemove +object +to infinitive

— — to cause someone to take actionto cause someone to take action

ExampleExample

I can’t imagine what could have I can’t imagine what could have movedmoved him to say such a thing. him to say such a thing.

The government hasThe government has moved moved to dispel the rumors. to dispel the rumors.

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雇主如果不尽快采取措施，就要引起一场罢工了。雇主如果不尽快采取措施，就要引起一场罢工了。

KeyKey

Unless the employers move quickly, there will be a strike.

on behalf of sb / on sb’s behalf on behalf of sb / on sb’s behalf

— — as the representative of spokesman for sb; in the interest of sb. as the representative of spokesman for sb; in the interest of sb.

ExampleExample

Ken is not present, so I shall accept the prize Ken is not present, so I shall accept the prize on his behalfon his behalf. .

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法定监护人应该维护这个孩子的利益。法定监护人应该维护这个孩子的利益。

KeyKey

The legal guardian must act on behalf of the child.


Yet whatever moved these men to challenge death on behalf of their fellow is

not peculiar to them. Everyone feels the possibility in himself.

Paraphrase Paraphrase

Yet whatever enabled or made these men or gave these men the power to

challenge death is not unique. Indeed, every one of us has the potentiality

to be a hero.

let go of sth. / let sth go /let sth pastlet go of sth. / let sth go /let sth past

— — (1) to stop holding sth. (2) to not correct or argue with sth. that a (1) to stop holding sth. (2) to not correct or argue with sth. that a person says or does that is wrong. person says or does that is wrong.

ExampleExample

Let go of my hand, you’re hurting me!

I know what he said wasn’t strictly accurate but I let it pass anyway.

It’s a party – let yourself go!

let oneself go let oneself go — no longer restrain one’s feeling, desire; (2) stop — no longer restrain one’s feeling, desire; (2) stop being careful, tidy, conscientious. being careful, tidy, conscientious.

TranslateTranslate

他们会释放人质吗？他们会释放人质吗？

KeyKey

Will they let the hostages go?


That is the enduring wonder of the story. That is why we would not l

et go of it.

Paraphrase Paraphrase

That is the lasting wonder of the story, and that is why we would not

forget it.

lasting

gaspgasp

— — to take a short quick breath through the mouth, especially because to take a short quick breath through the mouth, especially because of surprise, pain or shock. of surprise, pain or shock.

ExampleExample

When she saw the money hidden in the box she gasped in surprise.

“Help me!” he gasped.

I’m absolutely gasping for a cigarette / drink.

be gasping for sth be gasping for sth — to want or need sth. very much— to want or need sth. very much


If the man in the water gave a lifeline to the people gasping for survival, he

was likewise giving a lifeline to those who watched him.


( In this article, the author is giving the man’s action a symbolic

meaning.) When the man was giving a lifeline to the people gasping for

survival, we might say that he was also giving the chance to live to

everyone of us. He was showing by his own example the meaning of life,

the dignity of human existence, the power of noble human character.

in the same way

“ Everything in Nature contains all the powers of nature," said Emerson.

What is Power of nature?What is Power of nature?

By “ the power of nature”, Emerson did not just mean such powers as

coming from coal, oil, water, wind, etc. (He could have included nuclear

power if he had been able to see that far into the future.) He probably

also meant the power unique to human beings: the power to love, the

power to change, and the power to create.

set…against…set…against…

GuessGuess

I set the basket against the door, hoping that the housekeeper would find it.


Red flag stand out brightly, set against the blue sky. Setting the results against those of the last election, we can see a clear improvement.

Diamonds look best when they are set against black cloth.You must set the initial cost of a new car against the saving you’ll make on repair.

Set against her virtues, her faults don’t seem nearly so bad.

靠……门边放着映衬

与……相比映衬

可抵消或抵偿

考虑到，同……相比

The man in the water set himself against an immovable, impersonal enemy; he

fought it with kindness; and he held it to a standoff. He was the best we can do.

a situation in which neither side in a fight or battle can give an advantage

refers to nature, which is indifferent and cannot be persuaded to change its attitude towards us humans. “Immovable” here means “impossible to be changed or persuaded”.

make sb start to fight or quarrel with another person, esp. a person with whom they had friendly relations

Documents

The Man in the Water As disasters goAs disasters go, this one was terrible, but not unique, certainly not among the worst of the roster of U.S. air crashes