Under the Volcano

When nature gets angry, what disaster does nature give us?

drought

sandstorm

typhoon

tornado 龙卷风

earthquake

tsunami 海啸

Volcano erupts! 火山喷发

Peaceful Vesuvius volcano

Vesuvius Pompei Where is Vesuvius located? On the eastern shore of the Bay of Napoli 那不勒斯 ( 意大利 西南部港市 ).

About 2,000 years ago, a volcano in Mount Vesuvius in southern Italy erupted and buried （埋葬） two small towns, Pompei(and Herculaneum(under meters of hot ash and mud. About 2,000 years ago, a volcano in Mount Vesuvius in southern Italy erupted and buried （埋葬） two small towns, Pompei( 庞贝 )and Herculaneum( 赫库兰尼姆 ) under meters of hot ash and mud.

Pompeii 庞贝

If you want to know more about what happened during this natural disaster, you can find the fact from this letter.

Listening ＆ Reading

When? Where? The end? Who? What? A eruption of a volcano. It happened near the Mount Vesuvius. It happened near the Mount Vesuvius in southern Italy. It happened on the 24th of August in 79 AD. Tacitus, Pliny the Elder, my mother, Rectina, captain, Pompy, two slaves, I (Pliny the younger) Pliny’s uncle died after the eruption.

The purpose of writing the letter. When and where the disaster happened? What Pliny’s uncle did when the volcano erupted? Part 1 Part 2 Part 3 Conclusion of the letter. (Para.2) : (Para.1) : (Para.3-6) : (Para.7): Part 4 Main idea

Careful Reading

1.Why does the writer write this letter? Because he writes it to tell the death of his uncle to Tacitus who is writing a history book. Para.1 Para.1

2. From the text, we can learn that Tacitus____. A. was a history writer B. worked for the local police C. was a close friend of Pliny D. did research into volcanoes and earthquakes Para1. I hope you can use it for the history book that you are writing.( 推断题 )

1. Who first paid attention to a cloud of unusual size and shape? A. Tacitus. B. Young Pliny’s mother. C. Young Pliny. D. Uncle Pliny. Para.2 Para.2 The sight of it awoke the scientist in my uncle to go and see it from closer at hand. 2.Explain what the word underline refer to: a cloud of unusual size and shape Scientific spirits

No, they didn’t. 3. In the beginning, did they know it n was Mount Vesuvius? Why? Because the writer wrote, “we couldn’t tell which one, but we later learnt that it was Mount Vesuvius.”

Para.3 Para.3 By boat. 1. How did his uncle decide to go to see n the sight? From his friend’s wife Rectina. 3. Where was Rectina’s house? At the foot of Vesuvius. 2. From whom was the letter which the N author’s uncle brought?

4.The writer didn’t think his uncle was afraid on the trip to Vesuvius because______. A. he had to rescue his friend’s wife Rectina B. he hurried to a place from which others were b fleeing C. He had a good knowledge of how to survive a n volcano eruption D.he was calm enough to write a report about = = what he observed Para. 3 last sentence

1. Why did he pause for a moment? Because he wondered whether to turn back as the captain urged him. Yes, he did, and then he wanted to rescue his friend Pompy. 2. Did he successfully rescue his friend’s n wife Rectina? What did he do then? Para.4 Para.4

He had to wait for a good wind, blowing the other way than the one that carried… the good wind Pompy flames uncle, Pompy and their friends In order to help the other calm down, he… Their light scared people but my uncle… They discussed what to do:… Para.5 Para.5 1. Explain what the words underline refer to:

2. Pompy didn’t get away because_____. A.He had to wait for a good wind B.there was no way out except by boat C.he was too scared to take any action D.he wanted to join Pliny in observing the eruption Para5. He had to wait for a good wind, blowing the other way than the one that carried my uncle right in.( 细节题 )

3. How did Uncle Pliny do to make Pompy calm down? A. He gave Pompy hug and courage. B. He bathed and had dinner. C. After dinner, he wanted to sleep. D. After he hugged Pompy, he stayed there and bathed, had dinner and even wanted to sleep there.

To protect against the shower of rocks. 2.When was his uncle found dead?_____. A. On August 24 th B. On August 25 th C. On August 26 th D. On August 27 th Para.6 Para.6 1.Why did they tie pillows on top of their n heads?

Para.7 Para.7 1.What does the writer mean at the end of this letter? A. It is no easy task to be a history writer B. He reminds Tacitus of his uncle’s bravery C. He is sorry that he can’t tell Tacitus more n about the eruption D. He leaves it for Tacitus to decide which n b b parts are important for his history book

Practice

1.He decided to rescue his friend Pompy. 2.Some people watched an unusual cloud rising from a mountain. 3. Rectina begged him to save her. 4. He ordered a boat made ready. 5. Two slaves helped him stand up and immediately he fell down dead. 6. He bathed and had dinner. 7. A rain of rocks was coming down Read the passage carefully, put the following sentences in a proper order:

Retell the story according to the action of Young Pliny’s uncle. What happened The eruption of the volcano called Mount Vesuvius. On the 24th of August in 79 AD in southern Italy. Pliny’s mother drew their attention to a strange cloud rising from a mountain.He decided to go and see it from closer at hand. Pliny’s uncle sailed to rescue his friend’s wife. Pliny’s uncle went to help his friend Pompy. Pliny’s uncle died in the disaster. Then Next First Date Finally

What can we learn from Pliny? Give facts in the letter. a. Bravery In face of volcano eruption, Pliny decided to see it from closer at hand. b. Kindness He changed his mind to save Rectina b who was in danger.

A lofty heart should face disaster but not escape it, for the former shows the lofty will, while the latter the timid heart. 一颗高尚的心应当承受而不是逃 避灾难，因为承受灾难显示了意志的 高尚，而逃避显示了内心的怯懦。 — 阿雷蒂诺

3.Refer to the following websites to know more about volcano Go over the “Reading” and find out the useful expressions in it. Homework 2. Find out some sentences you enjoy most, & try to recite them as possible as you can.

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