全新版大学英语二册UNIT5.pptVIP

UNIT 5 Overcoming Obstacles    Part I Pre-Reading Task  Listen to the recording two or three times and then think over the following questions:  1. What happened to the singer?  2. What helped her pull through all the hardships she suffered?  3. What is the tone of the song?  4. Is the song related to the theme of the unit — overcoming obstacles?  * * Part II Text A Look at the following two sayings and then see if the story of Michael Stone bears out the points they make. The greater the obstacle, the more glory in overcoming it. —— Moliere When it is dark enough, you can see the stars. —— Charles A, Beard TRUE HEIGHT David Naster  His palms were sweating. He needed a towel to dry his grip. The sun was as hot as the competition he faced today at the National Junior Olympics. The pole was set at 17 feet. That was three inches higher than his personal best. Michael Stone confronted the most challenging day of his pole-vaulting career. The stands were still filled with about 20,000 people, even though the final race had ended an hour earlier. The pole vault is truly the highlight of any track and field competition. It combines the grace of a gymnast with the strength of a body builder. It also has the element of flying, and the thought of flying as high as a two-story building is a mere fantasy to anyone watching such an event. As long as Michael could remember he had always dreamed of flying. Michaels mother read him numerous stories about flying when he was growing up. Her stories were always ones that described the land from a birdseye view. Her excitement and passion for details made Michaels dreams full of color and beauty. Michael had this one recurring dream. He would be running down a country road. As he raced between golden wheat fields, he would always outrun the locomotives passing by. It was at the exact moment he took a deep breath that he began to lift off the ground. He would begin soaring like an eagle. Where he