Unit 5 Overcoming Obstacles. Interpret the following quotations Although the world is full of suffering, it is full also of the overcoming of it. -- Helen.

Unit 5

Overcoming Obstacles

Interpret the following quotations

• Although the world is full of suffering, it is full also of the overcoming of it.

-- Helen Keller

• No pain, no palm; no thorns, no throne; no gall, no glory; no cross, no crown.

-- William Penn

• All rising to great place is by a winding stair.

-- Francis Bacon

• If we face our tasks with the resolution to solve them, who shall say that anything is impossible.

-- Wilfred Grenfell

Text A

True Height

About the author• David Naster David Naster’s philosophy is simple, “You Just H

ave To Laugh.” He has been a professional comedian for 24 years. He began cultivating his craft at an early age and majored in theatre and psychology at the University of Kansas. After graduating, David decided to start taking the business of making people laugh more seriously, and launched his performing career.

(to be continued)

(continued)

Before long, he was also teaching workshopsin clowning and comedy on the national and international scene. David began conducting hundreds of interviews with people who had gotten through life’s toughest challenges by using the gift of laughter. He learned how humor can heal, motivate and inspire. Not only is he a gifted comedian, he is an authority on the enormous psychological benefits of laughter. David will make you laugh harder than you ever have before while proving that, no matte what life throws your way, “You just Have To Laugh.”

Cultural Notes

• Olympics (the Olympic Games)

The Olympic Games are the most important international sports event in the world held every four year and have been held in various cities of the world at regular 4-year intervals. (to be continued)

(continued) The International Olympic Committee was founded on 23 June 1894 by the French educator Baron Pierre de Coubertin. The IOC is an international nongovernmental non-profit organization and the creator of the Olympic Movement. The IOC exists to serve as an umbrella organization of the Olympic Movement. It owns all rights to the Olympic symbols, flag, motto, anthem and Olympic Games. Its primary responsibility is to supervise the organization of the summer and winter Olympic Games. The current Olympic Games program includes 35 sports and nearly 400 events.

Olympic Rings

The Olympic rings are the official symbol of the Olympic Movement. Baron Pierre de Coubertin designed the Olympic emblem in 1913. In his words, "These five rings represent the five parts of the world won over to Olympism... This is a real international emblem." The Olympic rings represent the union of the five continents and the meeting of athletes throughout the world at the Olympic Games. (to be continued)

(Continued)

The colors were chosen because at least one of these colors is found in the flag of every nation. The original Olympic flag was made at the "Bon March?" store in Paris. The flag is three meters long and two meters wide. It first flew over an Olympic stadium at the 1920 Antwerp Games. The original flag also carried the Olympic motto, "Citius, Altius, Fortius," meaning "Faster, Higher, Stronger." 

Olympic Flame

The most revered and visible symbol of the Olympic Games competition is the Olympic Flame. During the ancient Games, in Olympia, a sacred flame burned continually on the altar of the goddess, Hera.The tradition of the Olympic Torch Relay, which culminates in the lighting of the Olympic cauldron at the Opening Ceremony of each Games, dates to the 1936 Berlin Games. (to be continued)

(Continued)Carl Diem, the noted Olympic historian and head of the organizing committee, created the first torch relay to symbolize the link between the ancient and modern Olympic Games. The flame was lit in a ceremony at Olympia, Greece. From there, 3,000 runners carried the torch through seven countries to Berlin. The relay was timed so that the flame arrived at the stadium at the precise moment required. Ever since, the lighting of the Olympic cauldron has become the most sacred moment of the Olympic Games.

Olympic MedalsOlympic medals are awarded to those individuals or teams placing first, second, and third in each event. The first place winner is bestowed a gold-plated medal of silver, which is commonly referred to as the "gold medal." Second and third places receive medals of silver and bronze. The silver used in the first and second place medals must be at least 92.5% pure. The "gold" medals must be gilded with at least six grams of pure gold. Medals also carry the name of the sport contested. All competitors receive a diploma and commemorative medals for their participation in the Olympic Games.

Text Organization

• Part One (Paras 1-2)

Michael faced the most challenging competition in his pole-vaulting career.

• Part Two (Paras 3-5)

Michael’s childhood was marked with dreams and tough training.

• Part Three (Paras 6-12)

Michael topped his personal best, won the championship and set a new world record.

• Part Four (Para 13)

What was most unusual about Michael’s victory was that he was blind.

Text Analysis Those who have read this story will

probably agree that its most striking feature is the closing line. As we read on, our admiration for Michael is building up until we believe that, when Michael broke both national and international records, we have reached the climax. However, the real climax is in the last sentence. When we find that out, what a great impact it has on us!

The text plays on words on more than one occasion. The text title, True Height, itself has more than one meaning. We may understand it as the new bar heights that Michael cleared one after another, or we may view it as the tremendous obstacles Michael had overcome in attaining his goal. The word “hot” in the first paragraph also plays on two different meanings, one literal, the other figurative.

We could also notice how the author uses details skillfully. How do we know that Michael’s success at pole-vaulting is especially significant? We know it by inferring, because even “Bert ‘If You Want It, Work For It’ Stone was crying like a baby in his wife’s arms. He was crying harder than Mildred had ever seen before”. How do we conclude that Michael is a highly motivated person with a passion for detail? Because the author told us in detail how he had followed a rigid training program, as well as how he appeared unmoved by his own success and going on doggedly to scale a new height, not once forgetting “his routine of three finger-tipped push-ups”.

Language Study

• bear out: prove that (sth.) is true

The witnesses will bear you out in court.

Your claims are not borne out by the evidence.

Research bore out his theory.

The evidence that the US Central Intelligence Agency has obtained bears out their claims that Bin Laden is closely related to the September 11 terrorist attacks in the USA.

• fantasy: imagination, esp. when it has no connection at all with reality

I still have the fantasy that one day I will win the National Lottery.

Having watched so many animated cartoons, some children can’t tell fantasy from reality.

• numerous: very many (ant. few)

During the Depression, numerous people wandered from town to town looking for work.

Numerous scholars before Copernicus had suggested that the earth went round the sun, but he was the first person to bear it out mathematically.

• passion: strong feeling, esp. of love

He loved her still, with the same passion as he always had.

She had never before loved anyone with such passion.

have a passion for: have a strong interest in sth. and like it very much

She had a passion for dancing which interfered with her schoolwork.

• recur: come or happen again

The theme of love recurred in many of his books.

The school authorities warned the student that he will be expelled if this cheating recurs.

• outrun: run faster or better than; go beyond

His expenditure outran his income.

Man's ingenuity has outrun his intelligence.

人类的独创性已超出了自身的理解力。

• out-: in a way that surpasses, exceeds, or goes beyond:

eg: outnumber; outperform; outdistance.

• coincide: 1) happen at the same time (followed by with)

His arrival in Tokyo coincided with the beginning of the war.

2) be in agreement (with)

This story coincides with the facts.

The members of the committee do not coincide in opinion.

• work out: go through a physical exercise session

He worked out daily with sparring partner.

workout: (n.) a session of exercise or practice to improve fitness

This afternoon we went to the gym for a workout.

• vain: too pleased with one’s own abilities or looks

She was vain of/about her appearance.

Too much praise can make a person vain.

• stretch out: hold a part of your body straight out in front of you

She stretched out a hand and lifted the glass to her lips.

There were beggars everywhere, pathetically stretching their hands out to passersby.

• bring (sb.) back to earth: cause (sb.) to stop day-dreaming ; cause (sb.) to return to reality

Emily’s voice brought him back to earth.

Jack had been spending all his time chatting on line with his key-pals until his parents had a word with him and brought him back to earth.

• in one’s mind’s eye: in one’s imagination; in one’s memory

In his mind’s eye, she is still a shy girl.

In my mind’s eye, I can still see the house where I was born.