36 Triumph over Tragedy
请根据两个提示句进行故事续写,150词左右。
“Get in the car, there’s been a bad accident!” my husband, Patrick, shouted at me. After a phone call from my ex-husband to tell me he would be bringing our children home but another one 30 minutes later, he still didn’t appear, so Patrick set out to find them.
When he returned for me, his urgency told something. We rushed to the hospital, and ran through the sliding doors that lead to the emergency room, only to be told my little boy Shane was in there and his dad Jay in the next room. And my daughters Katie, Miranda, and Jodi, aged eight, seven, and five, had died at the scene of the accident. Shane turned out to have a broken leg and a concussion (脑震荡), and Jay’s injuries were so serious that he lost his life a few hours later.
A drunk driver stole what I thought was forever mine. I would never look at the world the same way again. I never thought something so awful, so tragic, so heartbreaking could happen to me. Thankfully, Shane survived. His broken leg was soon healed, and after a time we found a new normal.
One year went by, and my thoughts had turned to how I could use this tragedy to encourage others and prevent more drunk driving deaths. I was contacted by Victims’ Impact Panel of Oklahoma, Inc. They were conducting an informational meeting in my town. As I was completing the form to participate, I was told that they needed a speaker the next day at a small school not far from where I live. I agreed.
I spent that evening preparing what I would say on the note cards. Next day, the other speakers and I sat on the chair in the school gym facing students . There was a huge screen behind us for the video that would be shown. I was terribly nervous; I tried every technique I could remember to reduce my anxiety. I would be the last of the three speakers. First, the video, faces of the victims of drunk driving appeared one by one on the screen, along with birth dates and death dates, music was played in the background, tears stung (刺痛) my eyes as I realized I was not alone.
Before I knew it, it was my turn. _________________________________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________________________________ After it was over and I sat down, an amazing feeling washed over me. _________________________________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________________________________
二、原作品读
Triumph over Tragedy
“Get in the car, there’s been a bad accident!” my husband, Patrick, shouted at me. After a phone call from my ex-husband to tell me he would be bringing our children home and another one 30 minutes later, from his fiancée asking me if he arrived, Patrick set out to find them.
When he returned for me, his urgency was ominous. We rushed to the hospital, and ran through the sliding doors that lead to the emergency room and up to the first doctor we saw. “Where are the kids from thewreck ” I asked. He pointed in the direction of two closed doors, and as he gestured he said, “There’s a little boy in there and his dad is in the next room.”
“Where are the girls ” I pleaded, almost too loud, the anxiety growing in my voice. “WHERE ARE THE GIRLS FROM THE CAR WRECK ” I was greeted with a blank stare. He stammeredand we were ushered to a small, private waiting room.
It was probably a few minutes later, but felt like a lifetime before the doctor showed up again. He said words that will ring in my ears forever. “I don’t know how to tell you this, but your daughters died at the scene of the accident.” Katie, Miranda, and Jodi, ages eight, seven, and five, were gone. Jodi’s twin, Shane, and their dad, Jay, were clinging to life in separate rooms in the ER. Jay’s injuries were more serious and he lost his fight for life a few hours later, the day after his 28th birthday. Shane had a broken leg and a concussion. Thankfully, Shane survived. His broken leg was soon healed, and after a time we found a new normal.
A drunk driver stole what I thought was forever mine. I would never look at the world the same way again. Of course I knew that children could die—I read the obituarysection in the newspaper. What I didn’t know was that something soawful, so tragic, so heartbreaking could happen to me. Thankfully, Shane survived. His broken leg was soon healed, and after a time we found a new normal.
One year went by and my thoughts had turned to how I could use this tragedy to encourage others. I was contacted by Victims’ Impact Panel of Oklahoma, Inc. They wereconducting an informational meeting in my town and asked me to attend. I did not need much persuasion, I knew from the start that I wanted to share my story to prevent more drunk driving deaths. As I was completing the form to participate, she told me that they needed a speaker the next day at a small school not far from where I live. I agreed.
I spent that evening preparing what I would say . Next day, the other speakers and I sat on the chair in the school gym facing students . There was a huge screen behind us for the video that would be shown. I was terribly nervous; I tried every technique I could remember to reduce my anxiety. I would be the last of the three speakers. First, the video, faces of the victims of drunk driving appeared one by one on the screen, along with birth dates and death dates, music was played in the background, tears stung my eyes as I realized I was not alone.
Before I knew it, it was my turn. I rose from my chair and walked to the microphone. After I introduced myself, I told them about the day that changed my life. I also told them about the personalitiesof each of my girls, I wanted the students to know them as real people, not just as names. As I spoke I held a picture of Katie, Miranda, and Jodi that was taken six months before they died. After it was over and I sat down, an amazing feeling washed over me. It felt as if the burden I had been carrying around was lifted and replaced with a feeling of accomplishment. I knew that something I had said changed a life that day. The best part was that I could talk about my children, say their names, and share a memory and no one changed the subject. I could not wait to do it again.
Every time someone from Victims’ Impact Panel called I was a willing speaker. I traveled throughout northwest Oklahoma sharing my story at schools and offender programs. Speaking was like an inoculation againstbitterness and despair. Anyone who has experienced the death of a child will say it is not something you get over, but something you go through. The hurt never goes away completely, but with the help of the Victims’ Impact Panel the wounds in my heart began to heal.
Words for understanding (加粗的单词为熟记单词,其它认识即可):
单词 音标 词性释义 单词 音标 词性释义
fiancée [fi nse ] n. 未婚妻 urgency [ :d nsi] n. 紧急
rush [r ] v. 冲 slide [sla d] v.移动
gesture [ d est r] v. 用动作示意 wreck [rek] n. 交通事故
plead [pli:d] v. 恳求 stammer [ st m ] vi.结巴地说
usher [ ] vt.引;领 cling [kl ] vi. 紧紧抓着
concussion [k n k n] n. 脑震荡 survive [s va v] vi.存活
heal [hi:l] v. 痊愈 awful [ f l] adj. 糟糕的
conduct [ k nd kt] v.开展 personality [ p s n l t ] n. 个性
ominous [ m n s] adj. 不祥的 obituary [ b t r ] n. 讣告
burden [ b dn] n. 重担 replace [r ple s] v. 替代.
victim [ v kt m] n. 受害者 sting [st ] vt.感到灼痛
accomplishment [ k mpl m nt] n. 成就 throughout [θru a t] prep.遍布
bitterness [ b t n s] n.痛苦 inoculation [ n kj le n] n. 疫苗接种
despair [d sper] n. 绝望 completely [k m pli tli] adv. 彻底地
offender [ fend ] n.罪犯 persuasion [p swe n] n. 说服
短语 释义 短语 释义
set out 出发 get over 客服
a blank stare 面无表情地盯着 go through 经历,经受
Read to appreciate: Fill in the blanks according to Chinese translations.
1. 我们冲进医院,穿过滑动门,来到急诊室,冲向我们看到的第一位医生面前。
We _________ tothe hospital, and __________throughthe sliding doors that lead to the emergency room and up to the first doctor we saw. (Action)
2. “女孩们在哪儿?”我大声地恳求道,焦虑在我的声音里滋长。
“Where are the girls ” I ________, almost too loud, the anxiety ________ in my voice.(Action+Emotion)
3. 结束后,我坐下来。一种奇妙的感觉涌上心头。仿佛我一直背负的重担被卸下,取而代之的是一种成就感。
After it was over and I sat down, an amazing feeling _____________________me. It felt as if the burden I had been carrying around was lifted and replaced with a feeling of _________________.(Action+Emotion)
4. 演讲就像打了一剂预防痛苦和绝望的预防针。
Speaking was like an inoculation against _________and _________.(Metaphor)
5. 伤痛永远不会完全消失,但在该组织的的帮助下,我心中的伤开始愈合。
The hurt never goes away completely, but with the help of the organization the wounds in my heart began to _________.(Thinking)
Language use
Application of the key words: Fill in the blanks according to the Chinese sentences.
1. 我冲出去打了一辆出租车。I __________ outside and hailed a taxi.
2. 他跪在地上,乞求宽恕。He was on his knees, __________ for forgiveness.
3. 我迅速地、悄悄地坐到大厅后排座位上。I quickly_______into a seat at the back of the hall.
4. 妮娜尴尬得满脸通红,开始结结巴巴地说出事实。
Nina, blushing with embarrassment, began to______ out the truth.
5. 尖叫声越来越大,他们惊慌地紧紧抱在一起。They _______together in terror as the screams grew louder.
6. 他那番严厉无情的话让他伤心得大哭起来。She burst into tears, ______by the harshness of his words.
7. 伤口过了很长时间才愈合。It took a long time for the wounds to ________.
8. Ian的微笑被皱眉所代替。Ian’s smile was ___________ by a frown.
Imitation of the scenes:
We rushed to the hospital, and ran through the sliding doors that lead to the emergency room and up to the first doctor we saw.“Where are the girls ” I pleaded, almost too loud, the anxiety growing in my voice.
模仿:描写我最爱的狗狗奄奄一息,我回家看望的焦急心情。
___________________________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________________
Before I knew it, it was my turn. I rose from my chair and walked to the microphone. After I introduced myself, I told them about the day that changed my life. I also told them about the personalities of each of my girls, I wanted the students to know them as real people, not just as names. As I spoke I held a picture of Katie, Miranda, and Jodi that was taken six months before they died. After it was over and I sat down, an amazing feeling washed over me. It felt as if the burden I had been carrying around was lifted and replaced with a feeling of accomplishment. I knew that something I had said changed a life that day. The best part was that I could talk about my children, say their names, and share a memory and no one changed the subject.
模仿:描写我在班里和同学们讲述陪伴我多年的狗狗用自己的性命救了我,并呼吁同学们将狗视为有感情的生灵,而不仅仅是我们的宠物或附属品。讲完之后觉得终于自己也为狗狗做了点什么。
___________________________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________________
Key:
读后续写
Before I knew it, it was my turn. I rose from my chair and walked to the microphone. Laying my note cards out before me, I wet my lips and began to speak. After introducing myself, I told them about the day that changed my life. I also told them about the personalities of each of my girls, holding a picture of them that was taken six months before they died. I wanted the students to know them as real people, not just as names.
After it was over and I sat down, an amazing feeling washed over me.It felt as if the burden I had been carrying around was lifted and replaced with a feeling of accomplishment. I knew that something I had said changed a life that day. The best part was that I could talk about my children, say their names and share a memory. Later I traveled many places sharing my story. The hurt never goes away completely, but the wounds in my heart began to heal. (150 words)
原作品读
Read to appreciate
rushed to; ran through 2. pleaded; growing 3.washed over; a feeling of accomplishment 4. bitterness; despair
began to heal
Language use
1. rushed 2.pleading 3.slid 4. stammer 5. clung 6. stung 7. heal 8.was replaced
I rushed home out of breath, shot past the garden and went to where the Puppy lives. “What’s wrong with him ” I pleaded in a shaking voice, greeted with the wounded and dying puppy.
Before I knew it, it was my turn. I rose from my seat and inched to the front of the classroom. After I introduced my topic, I shared with the classmates how my dog saved my life with his own. I also showed them the common expressions of dogs. I wanted them to know dogs as emotional creatures, not just as their pets or belongings. After it was over and I seated myself, an amazing feeling washed over me. It felt as if the bitterness and regret were relieved and replaced with a feeling of accomplishment. I knew that something I had said changed a life that day. The best part was that I could talk about my beloved friend and share a memory and no one changed the subject.