Lesson 88     Trapped in a mine

Way is the rescue taking so long?

Six men have been trap in a mine for seventeen hours. If they are not brought on surface soon, they may lose lives. However, rescue operations are proving difficult. If explosives are used, vibrations will cause the roof of the mine to collapse. Rescue workers are therefore drilling a hole on the north side of the mine. They intend to bring the men up in a special capsule. If there had not been a layer of hard rock beneath the soil, they have would have completed the job in a few hours. As it is, they have been drilling for sixteen hours and they sill have a long way to go. Meanwhile, a microphone, which was lowered into the mine two hours ago, has enabled the men to keep in touch with their closest relatives. Though they are running food and drink, the men are cheerful and confident that they will get out soon. They have been told that rescue operations are progressing smoothly. If they knew how difficult it is to drill through the hard rock, they would lose heart.

Summary writing

Make a summary of the passage in not more than 80 words. Write two different paragraphs using the points and connections given below.

Six men who have been trapped in strapped in a mine for seventeen

hours may lose their lives because rescue operations are proving difficult. Since explosives might cause the roof of the mine to collapse, rescue workers are drilling a hole through hard rock, but progress is slow. Two hours ago, a microphone was lowered into the mine and the men have been in touch with their relatives. They are running short of food and drink but they are in good spirits态度精力.           80 words

     Six men have been trapped in a mine for seventeen hours and may lose their lives. Rescue operations are proving difficult as explosives might cause the roof of the mine to collapse. Because of this, rescue workers are drilling a hole trough hard rock, yet progress is slow. Now that a microphone

has been into the mine, the men are in touch with their relatives. Though they are running short of food and drink, they are in good spirits.

Composition

Continue the above passage. Write two paragraphs in about 150 words using the ideas given below;

1 During the rescue operations there was a loud noise---collapse of mine---microphone silent---the men’s voices were heard an hour later---they were all right.

2 Drilling began again---the collapse had made things easier

---the men were brought to the surface---the scene 场面情景事件 on their return.

      Several men had already been trapped in a mine for nearly twenty-four hours. And the rescue was still going on. The rescue workers had been drilling holes for over twenty hours but they still had a long way to go. During the rescue operation there was a loud explosive noise and vibration as well, which caused the roof of the mine to collapse. Meanwhile, a microphone, which had been lowered into the mine to keep in touch with the men inside, became silent owing欠，归功于 to the collapse. An hour later, the men’s vices were heard again through the microphone. This proved that they were all right恢复平静.

     The workers began drilling again. The collapse, however, had made the things easier, and the rescue operation was progressing more smoothly. Finally, the men were brought to the surface one by one. At this moment, all the people outside became excited, and the men’s relatives were moved感动 to tears.                       155 words

Letter writing

The postscript附言又及. If you wish to add something to your letter after you have finished it, you may do so under your signature签名. Whatever不管怎样 you write must be preceded? by the letters ‘P.S.’ which stand for ‘Postscript’. Study this example;

                  Best regards,

                      Tom

P.S. I’ll send you a copy of the book by separate单独的分开的 post.

Exercise

Write two letter-endings followed by postscripts.

1                  Yours sincerely,

                       Tom

P.S. Do you have an E-mail now? If you have, would you please let me knew your address?

2                  Best wishes, 祝福

                        Linda

P.S. I’ll send you the photos we took together as soon as they have been developed.显影

Key structures

If 条件句

（1）真实条件句  主将从现

（2）非真实条件  与现在事实相反或不可能假设  主 would do

                                              从 一般过去

                 与过去事实相反           主 would have done

                                          从 had done   

 

       

Exercises

C Give the correct from of the verbs in parentheses;

1 If he had fitted配有 safety belts安全带 to his car, he (would not have been injure伤害).

2 The man would have been saved if a helicopter直升机(had been) available有效的.

3 If you come home late, you (will find) the key under the mat席子.

4 I would have found the house easily if he (had given) me the correct address.

5 If smoking (is forbidden), illnesses will be reduced减少.

Special difficulties

The verb run has a different meaning in each of these sentences. Study them carefully;

They are running out of food.快吃完了 (They have nearly used up all their supplies.)

A crowd of boys ran after the beggar. (They chased the beggar.)

That boy was nearly run over by a car. (The car nearly hit him.)

Don’t drive so fast. This car hasn’t been run in yet. (The car must be driven slowly so as not to damage the new engine.)

I ran into Helga while I was in Sweden. 偶遇

Exercise

Supply the missing words in the following sentences;

1 I ran (into) an old friend of mine in a restaurant yesterday.

2 While driving to work yesterday, I ran (out of) petrol and had to walk to garage. 加油站

3 This car will have to be serviced as soon as it has been run (in).试转新车 试开机器

4．She’s been taken to hospital. She was run(over) by a car.

5 I ran (after) him, but I could not catch him.

Multiple choice questions

Comprehension

1 They are drilling through the hard rock. This is the () way to rescue the men.

a easiest

b quickest

c safest

d most dangerous

c

2 Rescue operations are proving difficult ().

a but it is certain the men will be saved.

b so it is not certain that the men will be saved.

c so it is certain the men will not be saved.

d so it is certain the men will die.

b

Structure

3 They have been trapped for seventeen hours. They tried to come up seventeen hours ().

a since

b ago

c for

d since then

b note; 过去式

4 () they are brought to surface soon they may lose their lives.

a Except

b without

c Unless

d Whether

c note：except without 后面不跟从句

5 It’s proving difficult () the men.

a for rescuing

b to rescuing

c to rescue

d in rescuing

c   note; 这个句子的真正主语往往是后面的动词不定式、动名词或名词从句。c是动词不定式，a b d 都是介词短语.

6 Vibrations will cause the roof to collapse. They will () collapse.

a make it

b make it to

c do it to

d do it

a note; make 后面要求用不带to的动词不定式

7 They would have completed the job in a few hours() the hard layer of rock.

a except

b but for 若无，要不是

c if not

d unless

Vocabulary

8 The roof might collapse. It might ().

a explode

b fall down   倒下，倒塌

c fall over  从……落下 翻倒

d blow up 使爆炸，破坏

9 The microphone enabled them to keep in touch. It made it() for them to keep in touch.

a able

b capable能干的胜任的

c possible

d probable很可能发生的的有希望的

c  note; make it possible for sb. to do sth. 使某人做某事成为可能

 able 常用于 be able to do sth. 主语可是人、动物，不是事物

capable 常用于短语be capable of+动词或动名词， 主语是人

10 They are running out of food. They ().

a have none

b have a lot

c haven’t much

d can’t eat it

c note; 没有太多

11 The men are cheerful. They are in good().

a temper

b mood情绪

c spirits态度精力

d disposition处置性情

c

12 They may lose heart. They may () in despair.

a give

b give up 放弃丧失信心                        

c give off 发出散发

d give over 交给移交停止

b

Sentence structure

Rewrite this sentence, then check your answer against the text.

They didn’t know how difficult it was to drill through the hard rock, otherwise另外否则 they would lose heart.

If they knew how difficult it was to drill through the hard rock, they would lose heart.