Vocabulary Idioms & Phrases Reading~ Paragraphs 5-7 Post-reading

Listen to paragraphs 5-7. Skip

What did the girl’s family feel when they heard her name announced over a loudspeaker? They felt shock.

What reward did the girl win after the diving meet? Her parents’ proud faces.

Reading

“See?” Brian said afterward. “You’re a natural.” That was the right thing to say, then, because I needed praise. But this “natural” never worked so hard in her life.

Eventually, I was not just graceful but good enough for the center’s team. eventually = finally; at last; in the end 最後 enough 作副詞時，應置於所修飾的形容詞 之後. The parking lot is large enough for thirty cars. Next

Eventually, I was not just graceful but good enough for the center’s team. 原句 = → However, in the end, I not only dived gracefully but also was good enough to join the center’s team.

Meanwhile, my parents thought I was playing at the pool. 原句 = → During the time while I was practicing my dives, my parents thought I was just playing at the pool.

My mother still likes to tell the next part of this story. One Saturday, she and Dad and my brother and sister were eating lunch at the center’s picnic area when they heard my name announced over a loudspeaker. were eating 用過去進行式, 是屬於較長時 間的動作，而 heard 用過去式, 是較短暫瞬 間的動作. 感官動詞 + O + V-en (OC) 的句型，受詞與 補語是被動關係，故補語用過去分詞。 Next

One Saturday, she and Dad and my brother and sister were eating lunch at the center’s picnic area when they heard my name announced over a loudspeaker. over 表「透過（電話、收音機等）」 Some news has just come over the wire. Tom heard the sad news over the radio. My mother still likes to tell the next part of this story.

Here Mother always says, “We thought you had drowned! “ But by the time they ran to the pool, the announcements were about a diving and swimming meet. here 表「講到這，在這點上」 Here the author is wrong. Here the story ends. 原句 = → However, when they rushed to the pool, something about a diving and swimming contest was announced.

However, their shock wasn’t over: There was their younger daughter, standing on the board and waiting to make her first competition dive. 原句 = → Their younger daughter was standing there on the diving board, and was waiting to make her first dive in her first competition.

I didn’t win any medals in that meet, but I did get my picture in the newspaper (a clean swan dive from the high board) and had the reward of my parents’ proud faces. And what a dive it was! what a dive it was! →what a wonderful dive it was! → how wonderful the dive was! clean : skillful and accurate 在運動方面，是指「動作乾淨俐落，不拖 泥帶水」. 例： a clean hit/leap/blow 。 Next

I didn’t win any medals in that meet, but I did get my picture in the newspaper (a clean swan dive from the high board) and had the reward of my parents’ proud faces. And what a dive it was! swan dive = swallow dive 「燕式跳水」指的是「伸開雙臂，兩腿併攏， 挺胸向前躍下」的跳水動作。 had the reward of my parents’ proud faces → there were looks of pride on my parents’ faces and that’s a reward to me

Looking back, I realize now that my parents didn’t need any “proof” to think I was worth something. worth + N/V-ing 值得 … This suit is worth double the price. San Francisco is a city worth visiting. I was worth something → I was of some value or importance

I needed an accomplishment of my own, and diving was it. I did. From then on, I felt like a person, not a shadow. did : 代替前面出現過的過去式動詞. from then on = from that time on; starting then 從那時起 They met in 1942 and from then on they became good friends. Back

Post-reading

Reading for the Main Idea _____ 1. Diving was the girl’s favorite activity. _____ 2. Everybody needs praise and accomplishments. _____ 3. The girl found her self- respect through the diving lesson. _____ 4. The girl’s parents were proud of her because she was good at diving.

Topics for Discussion

Discussion 1: Do your parents often compare you with your brothers or sisters? If so, how do you feel about it?

Reference answer: Yes, my parents often compare me with my sister. They say my sister behaves well both at home and at school. She helps with the housework and gets good grades in school. My parents feel proud of her. On the contrary, I’m not as good as my sister. I would rather

Reference answer: play computer games than study or help with the housework. I’m only an average student at school. In fact, I don’t like to be compared with my sister. I don’t want to live in her shadow and I hope my parents don’t expect too much of me.

Discussion 2: Have you ever accomplished anything that makes you feel proud of yourself?

Reference answer: Yes. I remember one time when I was in junior high school. My teacher wanted me to enter the English speech contest. At that time, I was afraid of speaking in front of a large crowd of people. I couldn’t help thinking that if I forgot my speech, how embarrassing it would be!

Reference answer: But my English teacher said what I needed was a lot of practice because “practice makes perfect.” Although I didn’t win the contest, I still felt proud of myself because I had taken up the challenge instead of trying to escape. From then on, I felt more confident of myself. Back