unit 10 Frightening nature
step 3 while reading
task 1 skim the text and answer the following questions.
q1: what is described in the following passage?
the eruption of the volcano called mount vesuvius.
q2: when and where did it happen?
on the 24th of august in 79 ad in southern italy.
q3: who is the writer of the letter?
pliny, the younger.
task 2 decide whether the following sentences are true or false.
1. a volcano erupted on the 24th of august in 79 bc in southern italy. f
2. my uncle planned to save his friend’s wife rectina. f
3. my uncle went to rescue pompy after saving rectina. t
4. the flames came from the homes of farmers who had left in a panic with the kitchen fires still on. f
5. they decided to try the open air instead of staying in the house. t
6. it was night when the volcano erupted. f
task 4 scan the text & fill in the following form.
date on the 24th of august in 79 ad in southern italy. what happened: the eruption of the volcano called mount vesuvius.
first a cloud of unusual size & shape rising from a mountain drew my uncle’s attention and he wanted to see it from closer at hand.
next after receiving a letter from his friend’s wife rectina, he changed his mind to save her.
then in spite of the danger, he turned back to rescue his friend pompy and help calm down the other people.
finally my uncle wanted to get out of the danger but failed. he was dead.
task 5 arrange the following statements according to the right order.
1. he decided to rescue his friend pompy.
2. some people watched an unusual cloud rising from a mountain.
3. rectina begged him to save her.
4. he ordered a boat made ready.
5. two slaves helped him stand up and immediately he fell down dead.
6. he bathed and had dinner.
7. a rain of rocks was coming down.
2-4-3-1-6-7-5
task 6 read the text again and explain what the words in bold refer to.
it: a cloud of unusual size and shape rising from a mountain
the one: the wind
the other: my uncle’s friend pompy
their: flames
they: scared people
language points:
1. draw one’s attention to sth. 吸引某人的注意力
eg. she drew my attention to a mistake in the report.
catch one’s attention; focus one’s attention on; pay attention to; give one’s attention to
2. ash and bits of rock that were burnt black were falling onto the ship now, darker and more, the closer they went.
3. urge 催促, 極力主張; 強烈要求
eg. the u.s.a urged iraq to give up.
4. upon arrival: as soon as he arrived 當(dāng)…的時候; 一… 就…