Lesson 67  Volcanoes

Why does Tazieff risk his life like this?

Harroun Tazieff, the Polish scientist, has spent his lifetime studying active volcanoes and deep caves in all parts of the world. I 1948, he went to Lake Kivu in the Congo to observe a new volcano which he later named Kituro. Tazieff was able to set up his camp very close to the volcano while it was erupting violently. Though he managed to take a number of brilliant photographs, he could not stay near the volcano for very long. He noticed that a river of liquid rock was coming towards him, It threatened to surround him completely, but Tazieff managed to escape just in time. He waited until the volcano became quiet and he was able to return two days later. This time, he managed to climb into the mouth of Kituro so that he could take photographs and measure temperatures. Tazieff has often risked his life in this way. He has been able to tell us more about active volcanoes than any man alive.

Summary writing

Answer these questions in not more than 80 words.

1 Where did Tazieff, the Polish scientist, go in 1948? Why did he go there? What did he call it? (to…which)

2 Did he take photographs or not? Did he have to leave almost at once or not? Did a river of liquid rock threaten to surround him or not? (After taking…because)

3 Did he escape just in time or not? When did he return? Had the volcano become quiet, or was it still active? ( but…when)

4 Where did he climb this time? Why did he do so? (   in order to)

  Tazieff, the Polish scientist, went to Lake Kivu in the Congo in 1948 to observe a new volcano which he called Kituro. After taking photographs, he had to leave almost at once because a river of liquid rock threatened to surround him. He escaped just in time but he returned two days later when the volcano had become quiet. This time he climbed into the mouth of Kituro in order to take photographs and measure temperatures.

Letter writing

Write six sentences beginning with each of the following:

Thank you…; What a…; Forgive…; I have not…; I am sorry…; It was very… .

1 Thank you for sending me your catalogue大学一览表目录.

2 What a delightful surprise to hear from you!

3 Forgive me for not answering your letter earlier.

4 I have not written before as I had lost your address.

5 I am sorry you’ve been ill and hope you’re feeling better now.

6 It was very nice to hear from you.

Key structures

Can, Be able to and Manage to

a Do you remember these sentences?

I couldn’t understand him.

I wasn’t able to understand him.

He was able to leave Europe before the war began.

b Managed to can be used like was able to to show that an action has been completed successfully.

Instead of saying:

He didn’t agree with me at first but I was able to persuade him.

He was able to leave Europe befpre the war began.

We can say:

He didn’t agree with me at first but I managed to persuade him.

He managed to leave Europe before the war began.

Exercises

c Rewrite these sentences using managed to in place of could not.

1 I could not get into town this morning.

2 They could not find the buy who had run away.

3 He could not find a new job.

4 I could not translate the passage into English.

5 They could not swim to the other side of the river.

Special difficulties

Phrases whit say and tell

Study these sentences:

a Say.

say+直接宾语sth.+间接宾语sb.,或者+一个宾语sth.

Did he say anything to you about it? No, he said noting

If you want some more cake, please say so.

He said goodbye and left.

Please say no more about it.

b Tell.

tell +间接宾语sb.+直接宾语 sth.

He has been able to tell us more about volcanoes…

Can you tell me anything about it?

Please tell us a story.

Can you tell the time in English?

I want you to tell me the truth.

He often tells lies.

If you promise not to tell anyone, I’ll tell you a secret.

Can’t you tell the difference between an Austin and a morris?

Exercise

Supply the correct from of say or tell in the following sentence:

1 He is only five but he can already tell the time.

2 They asked the prisoner犯人 several questions, but he said/would say

  nothing.

3 If you say so, I suppose It’s true. I don’t think you would tell me a lie.

4 They are so alike相同, I can’t tell the difference between them.

5 He told me about his experiences in the Navy海军.

6 If you could say a good word for him, he might get the job.

Multiple choice questions

Comprehension

1 Tazieff went to the Congo ___.

a to observe Lake Kivu

b to take photographs

c to name a new volcano

d to investigate调查研究 a new volcano

a

2 Kituro erupted violently___

a and Tazieff had to leave but he returned later

b so Tazieff had to leave and couldn’t return

c so Tazieff couldn’t take photographs

d so Tazieff couldn’t measure temperatures

Structure

3 He managed to take a number of photographs. This means he ___ them.

a might have taken

b could have taken

c should have taken

d succeeded in taking

d note: a b c 均为本该做但没做。

4 He escaped just in time. He___ escaped.

a just only

b only

c soon

d only just

d note: only just 只是勉强的

5 He waited until the volcano became quiet. He waited ___ quiet.

a to the volcano to become

b the volcano to become

c the volcano became

d for the volcano to become

d note: wait是不及物动词，后面只能跟for引导的短语。

6 He was able to return. 他设法成功的返回了。This means he ___.

a could if he wanted to

b might可能

c could have 本应该

d did做成了

d

7 He has been able to tell us a lot ___ volcanoes.

a considering考虑到

b on the subject 关于论及

c in relation关系亲属

d referring提及咨询

b

Vocabulary

8 Tazieff is a Polish scientist. He comes from ___.

a Pole波兰人

b Poland

c Polish波兰的

d the Pole波兰人

b

9 He named it Kituro. That’s what he ___it.

a called

b shouted

c cried

d screamed尖叫大笑

a

10 The rock was in a liquid state情形. It wasn’t ___.

a firm坚定的

b stable稳定不变

c whole

d solid

d

11 He wanted to measure temperatures. He wanted to ___ them.

a count

b make

c do

d take

d

12 He has told us more than any ___person.

a alive常做表语,做定语只放在n后。

b lively

c live adj.活的，有生命的，+person是精力充沛的人

d living 活着的

d

Sentence structure

Make two sentences of the following, then check your answer against the text.

Tazieff noticed that a river of liquid rock, which threatened to surround him completely was coming towards him, but he managed to escape just in time.

Tazieff noticed that a river of liquid rock was coming towards him.

It threatened to surround him completely, but he managed to escape just in time.