Signed, sealed, delivered, I'm yours! Victorious Obama celebrates four more years and promises America 'the best is yet to come'

Americans hand Obama a second term, challenges await (Reuters) - President Barack Obama won a second term in the White House on Tuesday, overcoming deep doubts among voters about his handling of the U.S. economy to score a clear victory over Republican challenger Mitt Romney. Obama told thousands of supporters in Chicago who cheered his every word that "we have picked ourselves up, we have fought our way back" and that for America, the best is yet to come. He vowed to (make a serious promise) listen to both sides of the political divide in the weeks ahead

and said he would return to the White House more determined than ever to confront (=to deal with) America's challenges. "Whether I earned your vote or not, I have listened to you, I have learned from you. And you have made me a better president," Obama said. Prior to (=before) the president‘s speech, Mitt Romney conceded ( 承认落败 ) gracefully in Boston. "I so wish that I had been able to fulfill your hopes....but the nation chose another leader," Romney told heart broken supporters at his Boston headquarters.

"This is a time of great challenge for our nation," Romney told the crowd. “I pray that the president will be successful in guiding our nation.” Celebrations erupted in Obama's home town of Chicago, in New York's Time Square and outside the White House, while Romney's Boston headquarters went mournfully(=very sadly) quiet. “We‘re all in this together. That’s how we campaigned ( 竞选 ), and that's who we are. Thank you," Obama tweeted even before formally announcing his victory.

by Jack London

Jack London ( ) was an American author who wrote The Call of the Wild 《荒野的 呼唤》, White Fang 《白牙》 and The Sea Wolf 《海狼》, along with many other popular books. London was born in San Francisco. The house in which London was born burned down in the fire after the 1906 San Francisco earthquake.

Para Find powerful but negative words used by the writer to describe the result of the earthquake. (Para. 1) 2. Find the word repeated many times to describe the result of the earthquake. (Para. 1)

Powerful but negative words are: never and nothing 1. Never before in history has a city been so completely destroyed. A city has never been so completely destroyed before in history. 2. Nothing is left of it but memories and some houses far from the centre of the city.

The word repeated many times is: gone 1. San Francisco is gone. 2. Its businesses are gone. 3. The factories, hotels and palaces are gone too. 4. All of the ways man had made to keep the city safe were gone in the thirty seconds the earth moved.

Para Find parallel sentences( 排比句 ) in paragraph 2 and try to explain the sentences using your own words. 2. How does the writer use contrast ( 对 比 ) to describe the scenes in the earthquake?

1. A list of buildings undestroyed was now only a few addresses. 2. A list of the brave men and women would fill a library. 3. A list of all those killed will never be made. The names of brave people would be recorded in the history of the city. The number of the dead and their names will never be known. Only a few buildings were not destroyed.

How does the writer use contrast ( 对比 ) to describe the scenes in the earthquake? The writer used the following contrast: Out at sea_________. Yet from every direction- east, west, north, and south strong winds blew upon the unlucky city. 2. Amazing as it may seem, _______________________________. it is calm Wednesday night was a quiet night

3. The policemen said nothing; even their horse were quiet. There were no shouts or people doing crazy things. In all those terrible hours I saw not one woman who cried, not one man who was excited. People were too shocked to say anything. 4. Never in all San Francisco’s history were her people so kind as on that terrible night. In all San Francisco’ history her people were never so kind as on that terrible night. “Hard times bring out the best in people.”

1.Write an adjective to describe how the author feels about the earth quake and what it did. _________ Why did you choose this word? shocked Because Jack London was both greatly surprised and frightened by what he saw. Discussion:

2.Write an adjective to describe how the author feels about the people during the earthquake. ___________ Why did you choose this word? sad Because he knew that many families lost their loved ones and all their possessions. Discussion:

Ever since the San Francisco earthquake, all children in California have been taught what to do during an earthquake. Listen and write down the key words mentioned. listening

drop: drop to the floor and cover our heads and necks with our arms cover: cover ourselves by hiding under some furniture hold: hold onto the furniture so it doesn’t move away from us during the earthquake drop ;cover ;hold

If you are outside, you should If you are in the living room, you should If you are in the house alone, you should go to an open space away from buildings, trees or power lines. tie the television to a table and the bookcases to the wall. ring a family friend to tell them where you are and collect your personal earthquake bag.

Refer to more safe tips during an earthquake on P64.

San Francisco’s new look