Lesson 79    By air

Why did the plane turn back?

I used to travel by air a great deal when I was a boy. My parents used to live in South America and I used to fly there from Europe in the holidays. A flight attendant would take charge of me and I never had an unpleasant experience. I am used to travelling by air and only on one occasion have( 这是一句倒装句，即have 放在主语前。如果only加上一个状语放在句首，那么就要用倒装语序。)I ever felt frightened. After taking off, we were flying low over the city and slowly gaining height增加高度爬高, when the plane suddenly turned round and flew back to the airport. While we were waiting to land, a flight attendant told us to keep calm and to get off the plane quietly as soon as it had touched down. Everybody on board was worried and we were curious to find out what had happened. Later we learnt that there was a very important person on board. The police had been told that a bomb had been panted on the plane. After we had landed, the plane was searched thoroughly. Fortunately, nothing was found and five hours later we were able to take off agai

Summary writing

In not more than 80 words describe what happened from the moment the plane took off. Write two different paragraphs using the points and connections given below.

  The plane took off and flew low over the city. When it was slowly gaining height, it suddenly had to return to the airport. Meanwhile the passengers were told to keep calm. After they had disembarked登陆, they learnt that there was a very important person on board. Someone had told the police that a bomb had been planted on the plane, but though it was searched, nothing was found. Five hours later, it took off again. (76 words)

  After having taken off, the plane flew low over the city. Although it was slowly gaining height, it had to return to the airport. During this time, the passengers were told to keep calm until they had disembarked. Later they learnt that there was a very important person on board. Because the police had been told that a bomb had been planted on the plane, it was searched. However, nothing was found, so five hours later it took off again. (80 words)

Composition

Write two paragraphs in about 150 words using the ideas given below:

1 Plane took off---a passenger threw a lighted cigarette into an air vent出口通风口---he thought it was an ash灰，垃圾箱 tray浅碟.

2 Smoke---panic恐慌---the plane returned to the airport---fire engines消防车救护车---no one was hurt---the fire was put out ---the pane took off again.

  I am used to travelling by air, because it is both comfortable and fast. But only on one occasion did I feel uncomfortable and frightened as well.

After the plane took off, we were flying smoothly over the city and slowly gaining height. Just at that point, a passenger, who had never took a plane before, accidentally threw a lighted cigarette into an air vent. He thought it was an ash tray.

  Soon afterwards, the plane was filled with smoke, and the passengers began to panic. As a result, the plane turned round and flew back. Meanwhile a flight attendant told us to keep calm. The plane returned to the airport at last, and we were told to get off the plane as fast as possible. Some fire engines and ambulances were waiting there. Fortunately, no one was hurt, and the fire was put out soon. Two hours later, we were able to take off again. (156 words0

Letter writing

Write a sultable Purpose of about 50 words to follow this introductory介绍开场白 paragraph:

  You will be surprised to hear that your uncle Peter has unexpectedly returned from South America. He is staying with us at present and I know that he would very much like to see you.

  You will be surprised to hear that your uncle Peter has unexpectedly returned from South America. He is staying with us at present and would like to see you very much. So I hope you will come back home during his stay here, since you have not seen many years. (50 words)

Exercises

C Explain the difference in meaning between these two sentences:

1 I used to fly there from Europe in the holidays.

2 I am used to travelling by air.

used to(do sth.) 过去经常发生

be used to(sth.) 习惯于，对……适应

Special difficulties

The verb take has a different meaning in each of these sentences. Study them carefully:

After taking off, we were flying over the city…

He took his coat off.

He is always taking his teacher off. (He is madding fun of him by imitating模仿 him.)

Young Tom takes after his father. (He resembles类似像 his father.)

That wardrobe takes up a lot of space. (It occupies a lot of space.)

He has taken up French. (He has begun to learn French.)

When his wife died, he took to drinking. (he started drinking and it became a habit嗜好.)

He was so persuasive有说服力 that I was taken in. (I was deceived欺骗)

The reporter took down everything I said. (The reporter wrote…)

That business was doing very badly until Jones took over. (He became in charge掌管 of it.)

Exercise

Supply the missing words in the following sentences:

1 Who will take___ when the present director leaves?

2 As soon as he got into the lift举起电梯 he took his hat___.

3 You shouldn’t be taken___ by stories like that.

4 Last year he took___ Russian; now he’s taking ___Chinese.

5 None of my children takes ___me.

6 The new rocket火箭飞船 will take___ from cape海角 Canaveral.

7 ‘Please take ___this letter for me, Pamela,’ the manager said.

8 He takes people___ so well he ought to go on the stage舞台.

1 over

2 off

3 in

4 up

5 after

6 off

7 down

8 off

Multiple choice questions

Comprehension

1 The aeroplane had to return___.

A a long time after it had taken off

B shortly after it had taken off

C just before landing

D the next day

B

2 The plane had to return because___.

A there was a very important person on board

B everyone was worried

C the flight attendant said so

D there was fear of an explosion爆炸

D

Structure

3 I used to travel a great deal when I was a boy. I still___ a great deal today.

A use to travel

B used to travel

C travel

D am used to travelling

C note: a 不合语法 b 不合语境today d 和前一句无逻辑关系。

4 I used to travel a great deal. I used to travel ___.

A very many

B a great number

C a lot

D lots

C note: a or b 不修饰名词， lots 经常和of 连用，修饰可数名词。

5 ___have you been travelling?  Since I was a boy.

A Since when

B When

C For when

D How much

A note: a 比b 具体。

6 I used to fly to South America___ the holidays.

A on

B to

C at

D during

D note: 可以 on (one’s) holiday 在休假中，在度假。

7 I felt frightened. It was ___experience.

A frightening

B a frightening

C the frightening

D one frightening

B note: a中 frightening 前没有定冠词，不合语法；c中的the 不正确， 因为它修饰的名词后面没从句或其他限定成分，没必要用定冠词；d 中的one 强调的是一个而不是几个; b中的a ,一个，与特指相对。

Vocabulary

8 I used to travel by air. I always went on a long___.

A trip

B travel

C way

D distance

A note：go on trip, 去旅行，固定短语。

9 She would take charge of me. She was ___.

A dutiful

B commanding 指挥的，有控制力的

C charging

D responsible

D

10 I am used to travelling by air. I am ___ to it.

A accustomed

B habitual

C customary

D inhabited

A

11 She told us to keep calm. She told us not to be___.

A nervous

B angry

C irritated

D annoyed

A

12 We were curious to find out. We ___.

A were strange

B were odd

C wanted to know

D were peculiar

B

Sentence structure

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

I have only ever felt frightened on one occasion.

Only on one occasion have I ever felt frightened.