Text comprehension

I.                    C

II.                 1. F; 2. F; 3. F; 4. T; 5. F.

III.                

1.       Powerful with its height and steadiness.

2.       Their survival depends on their location at that moment.

3.       On the 78^th floor, he helped the panicked workers into a stairwell; on the 53^rd floor, he helped Victor, a heavyset man, down one more flight to an elevator; on the 44^th floor, he helped Victor towards the broken/disabled elevator and downward; on the 36^th floor, he stayed with victor.

4.       17 floors down from 53^rd floor to 36^th floor.

5.       No survivor told her the rest journey after 36^th floor and she is too sorrowful to imagine it.

 

IV.                

1.       Thousands of people died of the terrorist attack, while Mayblum survived it by a narrow escape.

2.       The tremendous sound of the collapse frightened the heavyset man and took away his remaining courage and strength.

 

Structural analysis of the text

1. The third part is mainly about how the three men (Mayblum, Ramos and Hong) endeavored to save Victor, a heavyset man.

2. The last part describes the gathering of the survivors. It seems to reflect and suggest the answer to the ultimate dilemma: “Save yourself, or save another.”

 

Section Four Consolidation Activities

One. Vocabulary

I. Phrase

1. in flames: burning  着火，失火

e.g. That factory was in flames. 那家工厂失火了。

   The opera house was soon enveloped in flames. 歌剧院很快就被一片火海所包围。

 

2. a matter of geography: a problem or situation that depends on one’s location. 事关……的问题

e.g. For me, it was just a matter of money. 对我来说那只是一个钱的问题。

 

3. off and on: in an intermittent manner  不时地，断断续续地

e.g. It has rained off and on for two months. 雨断断续续地下了两个月。

   He just received junior education off and on when he was a child.  他只是小时候断断续续地读过小学。

 

4. give you a hand: help you. 帮助 

e.g. I would be glad to give you a hand with this box if you like. 如果你愿意，我很高兴为你拿这个箱子。

5. So far, so good: Things are satisfactory up to this point.

 

II.

1.       scoffed; 2. dilemma; 3. collapsed; 4. pandemonium; 5. reassuring; 6. rumble; 7. glancing at; 8. meet up with.

 

III. Fill in the blanks with the appropriate forms of the given words.

1. Chris became more and more panicky (panic), as the day of the examination drew near. 

2. The spacecraft descends / descended (descent) through the atmosphere at a speed of 17,000 mph.

3. Good teachers try to make their lessons more enjoyable (enjoy) by using varied activities.  

4. For years they were living with their suitcases packed in constant expectation (expect) of being given permission to leave the country. 

5. There was a lot of public debate about the morality (moral) of the invasion. 

6. I managed to get him to lend me the money, but I had to use all my powers of persuasion (persuade).

7. His desire to make his son a pianist was so strong (strength) that he spent nearly all his savings to buy him a piano. 

8. After a break you should feel energetic (energy) and confident enough to tackle another assignment.

 

1. panic n. & v. 恐慌

  panicky a. 恐慌的

panicked a. 惊恐的，受惊吓的

  panicking a. 惊慌的

e.g. 当我意识到那条项链不见了，我十分惊慌。

    When I realized that the necklace was lost, I felt very panicky.

一只受到惊吓的野兔跑进了农户的家里。

A panicked rabbit ran into a peasant’s house.

 

2. descent n. 下降，家世

  descend v. 降；降临

  descendible a. 可遗传的

e.g. 雪后气温下降了。

There was a descent of temperature after snow.

太阳下山了。

The sun descended behind the hills.

 

3. enjoy v. 享受，喜欢

  enjoyable a. 有趣的，愉快的

  enjoyment n. 享受

  enjoyably ad. 愉快地；有趣地；可享乐地

 

e.g. 我喜欢唱歌。

I enjoy singing.

昨天晚上是我过的最愉快的一个夜晚。

Last night was the most enjoyable time I’ve had.

我并没有从那部电影里得到多少乐趣。

I didn’t get much enjoyment out of that movie.

 

4. expect v. 预期，盼望，期待

  expected a. 预期的，预料的

  expectancy n. 期待

  expectant a. 期待的；怀孕的

  expectation n. 期待，期望

e.g. 我预计会在周一离开。

I expect to leave on Monday.

女人比男人的预期寿命长。

Women have a higher life expectancy than men.

学生眼巴巴地等候电影开始。

With expectant faces, students are waiting for the movie to start.

 

5. moral a. 道德的；精神上的

  morale n. 道德准则；士气，斗志

  moralist n. 道德学家，卫道士

  morality n. 道德，美德；品行，道德观

e.g. 孩子并非生来就有是非感。

A baby isn’t born with a moral sense.

从道德上讲汤姆缺点不少。

Morally Tom leaves much to be desired.

我对道德问题不感兴趣。

I have no interest in the questions of morality.

 

6. persuade v. 说服，劝说

  persuasion n. 说服，劝说

  persuasive a. 有说服力的，令人信服的

e.g. 我能劝汤姆放弃他那些愚蠢的计划。

I can persuade Tom out of his foolish plans.

尽管家长努力劝说，孩子还是不想去上学。

In spite of parents’ efforts at persuasion, the kid is not willing to go to school.

这是一场有说服力的演讲。

This is a persuasive speech.

 

7. strength n. 力量，力气；长处；强度

  strong a. 强壮的；强烈的；坚强的

  strengthen v. 加强，变坚固

e.g. 我连移动双脚的力气都几乎没有了。.

I have hardly enough strength left to move my feet.

    他是个健壮的人。

He is a strong man.

星期一风刮得更猛了。

The wind strengthened on Monday.

 

8. energy n. 活力，精力；能源

  energetic a. 精力旺盛的，有力的；能量的

  energize v. 产生能量

e.g. 太阳能电池能把阳光的能量转化为电能。

The solar cell can convert the energy of sunlight into electric energy.

汤姆似乎是一个精力充沛的人。

Tom seems an energetic person.

假期过后，我感到全身又充满了活力。

I felt very energized after my holiday.

 

IV.

1.       A

2.       D

3.       C

4.       B

5.       D

6.       C

7.       A

8.       D

 

V. Give a synonym or an antonym of the word underlined in each sentence in the sense it is used.

1. Others faced the ultimate moral dilemma: Save yourself, or save another.

Antonym: amoral, nonmoral   immoral

 

2. But as hard as she tried, as many questions as she asked, the picture began to fade on the 36th floor.

Synonym: disappear

 

3. The drawstrings on his window shades would appear to sway slightly, but it was an illusion.

Antonym: wildly

 

4. He ripped his T-shirt into pieces, soaked the pieces in water and gave them to colleagues to cover their faces.

Antonym: uncover, disclose, reveal

 

5. Hong and Ramos tried to persuade him to continue.

Antonym: dissuade

 

6. “I left,” Hong says sorrowfully.

Antonym: happily, joyfully, joyously

 

7. Mayblum would be one of thousands cast into extraordinary purgatory that morning.

Antonym: ordinary, common

 

8. On the 53rd floor, he came across a heavyset man whose legs just wouldn’t move any more.

Antonym: small, thin, slender

 

VI. Suffix 

Write in each space the adjective form of each given word.

1. help                       helpful / helpless            

2. child                        childish / childlike / childless 

3. act                active                     

4. persistence         persistent                  

5. revolution          revolutionary                

6. success            successful                   

7. woman            womanly                  

8. lady               ladylike                   

 

1. Explanation:

     -ful: full of; having the quality of

        e.g. beautiful, hopeful, skillful

-less: without

   e.g. hopeless, meaningless

  

2. Explanation:

-ish: having the nature of

   e.g. foolish, rubbish, cubbish, womanish, girlish

-like: similar to; typical of

    e.g. catlike, godlike, warlike

 

3. Explanation:

-ive: having the nature of

   e.g. descriptive, attractive, conducive 

 

4. Explanation:

-ent: having the nature of

   e.g. consistent, different, innocent

 

5. Explanation:

-ary: connected with; contributing to; for the purpose of

    e.g. elementary, complimentary

 

6. Explanation:

-ful: having the quality of

   e.g. hopeful, sorrowful, forgetful

 

7. Explanation:

     -ly: having the quality of

       e.g. friendly, scholarly, cowardly

 

8. Explanation:

     -like: similar to; typical of

        e.g. manlike, pea-like, lamblike

 

 

II Grammar Exercises

1. would v.s. used to; used to v.s. be used to

    “Would do” refers to past actions and habits as well. Remember that “would” is also used in a conditional sense. It’s a good idea not to use “would” in questions and negative sentences, as its meaning can easily be misunderstood in a conditional sense.

  e. g. We’d spend a lot of money on projects that didn’t help the company.

      They would ask a lot of crazy questions that didn’t seem to make any sense.

“Used to do” expresses something that we often did in the past, but don’t do anymore. It is often used in the positive form to speak about repeated actions — something that was a habit, or a way of life — in the past. Generally, we use the form to contrast past habits with present situations.

  e. g. I used to go jogging three times a week when I lived in Italy. Now, I’m too busy and can only jog once a week.

Janice used to live in New York, but moved to Seattle last year.

“Be used to (doing) sth.” means someone has experienced something so that it no longer seems surprising, difficult or strange. It is always followed by a noun or gerund.

  e. g. Sally is used to spending hours in front of the computer every day.

They’ve always lived in hot countries so they aren’t used to the cold weather here.

 

I. Complete the following sentences with would when appropriate. Use used to whenever would is not suitable.

1. would

2. In those days whenever I had difficulties, I __________ go to Mr. Blake for help. would

3. used to / would

4. Rita ___________ work in a law office for many years. But now she doesn’t. used to

5. used to

6. used to

7. would

8. would

9. People _____________ believe that the earth was flat. used to

10. would / would / would

 

II. Fill in the blanks with used to (do) or be used to (doing).

1. used to travel

2. was not used to accepting

3. This time, although she _______________ (not, receive) presents, she accepted his offer gratefully. was not used to receiving  

4. I ______________ (think) that tea was bad for you. used to think 

5. He seems _______________ (live) in hot countries. used to living

6. used to say

7. didn’t use to eat

8. am not used to driving

 

III．

1. insistence

2. habitual action

3. probability

4. willingness

5. probability

6. polite request

7. improbability

8. capability

 

2. would, should, might, could

Would can be used in some forms that are viewed as more formal or polite. It can also be used to express willingness.

e. g. Would you get me a glass of water?

 I told him not to go, but he would not listen.

Should is used to indicate that an action is considered by the speaker to be obligatory. It is used to form the future tense of the subjunctive mood, usually in the first person.

e. g. You should brush your teeth every day.

 If I should be late, go without me.

Might can be used to express a present time possibility or uncertainty. It can be used in the first person to express that future actions are being considered. It can be used in a question to ask for permission.

  e. g. John is not in the office today, and he might be sick.

      I might go to the mall later.

      Might I use your phone?

Like could and would, might can also be used in polite requests and suggestions. The auxiliaries could, would and might can be used to express differing degrees of politeness. Thus, might expresses the highest degree of politeness.

Could is used to express ability. It is also used to express beliefs about         situations. Could can be used to make requests.

  e. g. I could speak English.

  He couldn’t have left already; why would he want to get there so early?

  Could you pass me the cheese?

 

IV. Complete the following sentences using would, should, could or might.

1.       could / would / might / might / should / might

2.       could/would; should; could; might; could; would

3.       should; should; would; would; could

 

 

3. didn’t need to do / needn’t have done

Both these patterns are used to talk about past events. “Needn’t have done something” means that something was not necessary under circumstances where it was done.

e. g. I needn’t have prepared all that food. They phoned to say they wouldn’t be coming.

    When I got home from the bakery, I found we still had plenty of bread, so I needn’t have bought a loaf.

      “Didn’t need to do something” means that there was no necessity to do something. And the thing was not done.

  e.g. We had plenty of petrol in the tank, so I didn’t need to fill up.

     We didn’t need to wait for long for them. They arrived just after us.

 

V．Complete the following sentences with needn’t have done or didn’t need to do.

1. You _________________ (carry) it home. If you had asked, the shop would have delivered it for you. needn’t have carried

2. needn’t have bought

3. didn’t need to tell

4. needn’t have had

5. needn’t have stand

6. We _________________ (hurry). There was plenty of time. didn’t need to hurry

7. didn’t need to open

8. didn’t need to take

9. You _________________ (wash) the dishes. I would’ve put them in the dishwasher. needn’t have washed

10. didn’t need to work

 

VI．

1. I didn’t go to the cinema with him. Instead, I stayed at home alone and read.

2. Xiao Li is good at English. So is Xiao Wang.

 

Part Three. Translation

I.

1. 对有些人来说，生死攸关的是此时此刻他们所在的位置——不仅是哪幢楼，哪一层，更重要的是大楼的哪个角落。

2．周围噪声震耳，烟雾弥漫，火星四溅，梅布勒姆没有意识到，他的朋友朱虹始终就在他身后的楼梯井里。

3．她一点一点拼出了哈里逃生的场景：飞机撞击时，他正在87层楼。

4．但是，尽管他绞尽了脑汁，问了无数问题，她想象的场景还是在第36层上逐渐模糊了。

 

II.

1. Thanks to advanced technology, the film about the ancient battle gives the audience the illusion of being on the battlefield themselves.

Practice:

如果有人认为，领导人经验越多，就会变得越成熟，那只是幻想。

It is an illusion to believe that leaders gain profundity while they gain experience.

他仍抱着幻觉：农村生活就是优越于城市生活。

He still lives under the illusion that country life is somehow superior to town life.

 

2. 在那场大火中，整个古城毁于一旦，但是这块石碑却幸运地保存了下来。（devastate）

Translation:

That ancient city was devastated by the fire, but fortunately the stone tablet survived.

Practice:

母亲得癌早逝，艾米受到了严重打击。

Her mother’s early death from cancer devastated Amy.

石油泄漏破坏自然环境，危害公众健康，污染饮用水且扰乱经济。

Oil spills devastate the natural environment, endanger public health, imperil drinking water and disrupt the economy.

 

3. The videotape and the story by the woman filled them with sympathy for the child who had become an orphan in the earthquake.

 

4．那场大地震中，我们听到过太多太多教师的事迹，他们拒绝离开学生自己逃生，献出了自己的生命。（leave behind）

Translation:

    In that earthquake, we heard many stories of teachers who had refused to leave their students behind and laid down their lives.

Practice:

另外，我不仅仅留下了装修一新的办公室，还留下了一支受过良好训练、努力工作、勤恳工作的强大团队。

Moreover, I leave behind not only a well-furnished office, but also a strong team of well-trained, hard-working and fully devoted people.

我们在身后留下什么并不重要，重要的是，我们是怎么活过来的。

What we leave behind is not as important as how we have lived.

 

5. The construction of the Yu Yuan Garden began in 1558, but it was not completed until 1578 because building went off and on for lack of money.

 

6. 1980年我遇到她时，她刚从国外读完硕士回来。（meet up with）

Translation:

   In 1980, when I met up with her, she had just returned from abroad with a master’s degree.

Practice:

我与另一位作家会合，两人慢悠悠地穿过市中心。

I meet up with another writer and we wend our way through downtown.

“哈，”爸爸对我们说，“既然上帝领她来见我，我期望与她相会。”

“Well,” Dad told us, “since the Lord showed her to me, I expected I’d meet up with her.”

 

7. It was my first visit to New York, but I managed to find my way to the little firm.

 

8. It is hard to make it to the top in the movie industry, but as a director Xie Jin did it.

 

IV Exercises for integrated skills

1. Dictation

With hope of finding more survivors / of Turkey’s devastating earthquake / now all but gone, / the Turkish authorities are turning their attention / to caring for those who have survived.

A full-scale relief effort / in the area hit by the earthquake / is finally beginning after days of confusion. / Turkish and foreign volunteers / have been joined by soldiers and the police, / and heavy equipment /sent by nearby cities and by private companies / has been moved to   almost every victimized town.

The Minister of Housing estimated that / 60,000 buildings had been either destroyed / or seriously damaged in the quake. / It is hoped that / within a few days, / many of the homeless / will be moved / out of the fields and tents / where they were now living. / 42 countries and 38 international organizations / have sent aid to Turkey. / The World Bank had sent $200 million / for housing construction.

 

2. Cloze

Life in Darwin (in the far north of Australia) had always been free and easy. From May to October, the weather was the best. Tourists arrived in large numbers from the south to (1) escape the winter cold.

However, on 24 December 1974, the local television and radio stations warned (2) of / about a cyclone, which the weathermen had (3) named / called Tracy, moving rapidly nearer Darwin. At two minutes before midnight, the radio gave out a short message. There seemed (4) little / no doubt that Cyclone Tracy was moving towards Darwin. Within minutes people     were running screaming into the dark streets. Tall office buildings and hotels (5) fell to the ground. Cars parked in the streets were blown (6) over and over until every bit of metal was bent. At Darwin’s railway (7) station, trains were thrown into the air (8) as if they were toys. The rails were torn up from the (9) ground and bent into different shapes. All the (10) time   the cyclone was moaning and roaring.

When Cyclone Tracy finally (11) left Darwin, there was a strange silence throughout the city. Everyone waited, (12) expecting the storm to turn round and come back to make (13) sure that all the buildings were knocked to the ground.

The city was so badly hit that it was decided to bring in bulldozers to knock (14) down whatever was left standing. The only thing to do was start from the beginning and (15) rebuild the whole city.

 

    Hints: (不是所有的空都有提示，全稿均如此)

       1) What will you do if there is something dangerous?

       2) Here a preposition is needed to collocate with “warn”.

       4) A negative word is needed here.

       10) A word which collocates with “all the” is needed here.

       15) When your old house was knocked to the ground in a disaster, what will you do?

 

 

V. Oral activities

1.       Giving a talk

The incident in the text is related from the third-person point of view. Now recount part of the story from the first-person point of view.

First, imagine yourself to be Adam Mayblum and recall your escape on that morning from your office from the 87th floor in the World Trade Center to the 53rd floor. You could begin your narration with “As usual, I was watching the drawstrings of the window shades swaying slightly on that bright, sunny September morning, thinking what a powerful and steady building this was, when all of a sudden I heard a rumble and the drawstrings were not swaying but careening wildly. I knew immediately that something unusual was happening.”

Then ask one of your classmates to play the role of Hong Zhu and narrate his experience from the 53rd floor to the sorrowful moment when he left Ramos and the heavyset man on the 36th floor. He could begin his narration with “When I got to the 53rd floor, I came across Harry Ramos, who was offering to help a heavyset man. I joined him in his rescue.”

 

For reference:

1)      You may want to use the following words or expressions in your description:

attack, hit, lash, drawstring, rumble, careen, cast into, find one’s way to, dilemma, descent, elevator, flight, noise, smoke, spark, in a mass, scared, hopeless, run, escape, hurry down, help

2)      You may find the following outline helpful for your recounting as you act as Adam Mayblum:

— Sparks bit at my ankles as I raced for the stairs … I couldn’t find Hong Zhu …

— I hurried down again and made it to the 78th floor. There I saw Ramos …

— I continued my descent. On the 53rd floor, I came across a heavyset man whose legs just wouldn’t move anymore … I shouted at him …

3)      You may find the following outline helpful for your recounting as you act as Hong Zhu:

— When we were been hit, I couldn’t catch up with Mayblum. I hurried down to the 53rd floor and there I met Harry Ramos who was helping a heavyset man. I joined him.

— For the sake of safety, I tested the elevator … Ramos and I helped the man get to the 44th floor …

— The elevator couldn’t move any more. We had to take the stairs …

— When we arrived at the 36th floor, a fireman ran up to us and persuaded us to run without the heavyset man … I left finally, but Ramos insisted on staying with the man …

 

2. Having a discussion

The text tells us a moving story about the heroic deeds of some people who tried to save other people’s lives at the risk of their own in the September 11 terrorist attacks. Similar deeds that have occurred in China have also been reported by the mass media, notably in such natural disasters as the Wenchuan earthquake that happened on May 12, 2008. Talk with your partner about some heroic deeds you have heard of or read about. Critical moments in our lives are touchstones of our morality. Some people at such moments would act very differently from Mayblum, Hong and Ramos. Some would go even so far as to try to make a profit from others’ adversities. You could also comment on the behavior of these people in your discussion.

 

Viewpoints for reference:

— I think millions of people will remember one heroic teacher in Wenchuan earthquake forever and have likened him to majestic eagle: Tan Qianqiu, who was found under rubble with both arms extended, shielding four students from being crushed under a desk. The four children were saved, but Tan, 51, left his wife and two daughters forever. I am deeply moved by Tan’s deed. This was his ultimate sacrifice. His heroism was characteristic of the man. We shall forever remember the eternal moment. His extending arms carry the full meaning of his profession and great love.

— I am very angry at those who at such critical moments tried to make a profit from others’ adversities. It was reported in the disaster of Wenchuan earthquake that some people took advantage of others’ misfortune and stole their neighbors’ property. It was also reported that some who didn’t live in quake-stricken areas were assembled to take relief goods for the victims of the earthquake. At such critical moments, they totally forgot their countrymen who were in extreme misery and they were so selfish! What a shame!

 

VI Writing Practice

Paragraph development — Grouping details

Brainstorming is an effort to make a list of everything you can think of about your topic, including facts, ideas, examples, questions, or feelings. Concentrate on generating key words or phrases, not sentences. Once you stop brainstorming, go through the list, looking for related ideas, patterns or one central idea that might interest you.

 

Practice: Write three paragraphs that respectively focus on Chandler’s looks, character, and interests. Feel free to add details about this imaginary student.

1. Chandler’s looks

Ideas for reference:

• dark hair, combed back but fairly short and not too wavy

• His eyes have a sort of half-twinkling, half-questioning look

• likes to wear dark shirts

• tall for his age

• tends to walk with his shoulders back and chin stuck out in front

Sample:

Chandler’s unusual appearance helps me to recognize him from a hundred yards away. He tends to walk with his shoulders back and chin stuck out in front, and he is quite tall for his age, which makes him stand out among his classmates. His dark hair is always combed back but is fairly short and not too wavy, and his eyes have a sort of half-twinkling, half-questioning look. He likes to wear dark shirts.

 

2. Chandler’s character

Ideas for reference:

• is friendly to newcomers but does not go out of his way to make new friends

• lets other people start the conversation

• likes to hum or whistle as he walks

• likes to laugh at other peoples’ jokes but seldom tells any himself

• looks politely bored in class

Sample:

Chandler is not very outgoing. He is friendly to newcomers but does not go out of his way to make new friends. When with people, he lets others start the conversation, and will laugh at their jokes but seldom tells any himself. He seldom sings songs in public, only humming or whistling alone as he walks. Even when he feels bored in class, he will show it with politeness.

 

3. Chandler’s interests

Ideas for reference:

• collects stamps

• does not go in much for sports

• hates math

• is good at making posters

• plays trumpet in the band

• spends hours at home playing records

Sample:

Chandler is the artistic rather than athletic or intellectual type. He likes collecting stamps and enjoys making posters. Favoring music, he often spends hours at home playing records. He also plays trumpet in the band. In contrast, he hates math very much and does not go in much for sports either.

 

 

VII Listening Exercises

You are going to hear three young Americans talking about their feelings about the Sept. 11 attacks.

A.     Listen for the first time. Note down the key adjectives that are used to describe the situation and the speaker’s feelings.

1st speaker: addicted; heart-wrenching; desperate; unspeakable

2nd speaker: important; terrible; overwhelming; overbearing; speechless

3rd speaker: saddened; numb; scared; devastated; unreal; unbelievable; crushed; anxious; shocked; grieving; powerless

 

B.      Listen again. Complete the following passages with the words you hear on the recording.

1st speaker:

… walking across   the bridge   in the beautiful glow of   the sunset  , seeing the boats cut waves   through the East River, and the mighty   subway trains   run on their rivers of

steel, well, I managed to   find some inspiration  . Maybe that’s what I need, just the idea that   life will go on  , albeit much different than   we could ever imagine  .

 

2nd speaker:

When I was watching it happen on TV, I kept thinking about   how this was history  . Nothing this important has happened   to my generation  . No matter what this may   lead to  , we will have   gone through   this terrible ordeal严酷的考验、折磨. For the first time in my life I felt overwhelming love   for my country,   the desire   to protect it … I’ll always remember this. This will be a part of me.   History in the making  .

 

3rd speaker:

My art teacher decided that we are starting a new art project called the “art of healing”. You use your   personal feelings   in your art, although most art is like that. I have an idea. And I think my picture will   make the impact   I want it to make. I am anxious to start. I want to see   the people’s expressions  . I want to see   emotion  . Pictures will say   what words cannot  ...

Script

1st speaker:

I’m still addicted to沉浸在 the news coverage, even though it’s filled with absolutely heart-wrenching痛心的 coverage of desperate拼死的、绝望的 people trying to find their missing loved ones, doing anything possible trying to find them. The unspeakable horror lies only seven miles away from where I’m sitting.

I thought that getting out of the house might help, maybe meeting up with a few friends. I wanted to walk over the Brooklyn Bridge, but the police had it cordoned off用警戒线隔离. So, instead, I found my way to the Manhattan Bridge, with its pedestrian walkway人行道. I expected to be filled with more grief upon the clearer sight of the lack of the Twin Towers. I don’t know, though, walking across the bridge in the beautiful glow of the sunset, seeing the boats cut waves through the East River, and the mighty subway trains run on their rivers of steel, well, I managed to find some inspiration. Maybe that’s what I need, just the idea that life will go on, albeit much different than we could ever imagine. And when the No. 6 train roared into the Canal Street Station, well, I felt that much better. The terrorists couldn’t stop New York, nobody can. And for that matter, nobody will stop the United States.

 

2nd speaker:

When I was watching it happen on TV, I kept thinking about how this was history. Nothing this important has happened to my generation. No matter what this may lead to, we will have gone through this terrible ordeal. For the first time in my life I felt overwhelming love for my country, the desire to protect it. I thought about my parents, and grandparents, and each generation before that. Everyone remembers where they were, exactly what they did and felt, when we went to war with Vietnam, or Pearl Harbor was bombed. I’ll always remember this. This will be a part of me. History in the making.

For now I have my TV turned off. I have heard all I can stand to hear. I have seen all I can take. This digs at my soul. This makes my heart ache, and I still cry. So much violence, so many dead. So many questions. It’s overbearing. I’m speechless.

 

3rd speaker:

I am saddened. I am numb. I am scared. I am devastated. It all seems unreal, totally unbelievable. My heart just gets crushed whenever I think of what it must have been like for those people who died. The ones in the hijacked planes, or the ones who jumped out of the Trade Center buildings before they crashed to the ground. It hurts to imagine it, to try to fathom透彻了解 what happened.

My art teacher decided that we are starting a new art project called the “art of healing.” You use your personal feelings in your art, although most art is like that. I have an idea. And I think my picture will make the impact I want it to make. I am anxious to start. I want to see the people’s expressions. I want to see emotion. Pictures will say what words cannot ...

I refuse to live in fear, but I’m shocked and grieving and feeling so powerless