2. BTLEW Lesson 9 - Against All Odds Part Three ENTER

3. BTLEW Text Appreciation Lesson 9 - Against All Odds I.Text Analysis 1. ThemeTheme 2. StructureStructure 3. Further discussionFurther discussion II. Writing Devices Metaphor III. Sentence ParaphraseSentence Paraphrase

4. BTLEW Lesson 9 - Against All Odds I.Text Analysis The text sings highly of Hawking’s invincible spirit in struggling against the fatal disease of ALS. Theme of the text The theme is summed up at the very end. The end of Theme.

5. BTLEW Part 1 (paras. 1— ) about: Part 2 (paras. 4— ) about: Lesson 9 - Against All Odds I.Text Analysis Structure of the text 3 10 Hawking was diagnosed with ALS. It was very hard for him to accept the fact that he was wasting away. The turning point in Hawking’s life, esp. with the appearance of his wife. Hawking began to make miraculous achievements with the support of his wife. The end of Structure.

6. BTLEW Lesson 9 - Against All Odds I.Text Analysis Question 1: In the first paragraph, against what background did Hawking realize there was something wrong with his body? It was a Christmas season. Everything in the world was enveloped in joyfulness. Every house was filled with festivity. Nevertheless, nothing could stop the deterioration of the disease. It seemed to be a cruel thing to let disease befall on people. The fatal disease turned out to be a serious blow to the young ambitious Hawking in this season of celebrations. And it took him a long time to adjust himself to ALS. To be continued on the next page.

7. BTLEW Lesson 9 - Against All Odds I.Text Analysis Question 2: How did Hawking first accept the fact that he had two years to live in this world? After hearing the news, he just wanted to gave himself up. He only wanted to live to the end and died. To be continued on the next page.

8. BTLEW Lesson 9 - Against All Odds I.Text Analysis Question 3: What caused Hawking to drag himself out of depression? First the boy who died of leukaemia in the bed opposite to Hawking’s made him aware of the fact there were people who were worse off than him. The recurring dreams made Hawking realize he could do some good. What finally made him get rid of his depression was the appearance of Hawking wife—Jane Wilde. To be continued on the next page.

9. BTLEW Lesson 9 - Against All Odds I.Text Analysis Question 4: In para. 9, Jane said “I wanted to find some purpose to my existence, and I suppose I found it in the idea of looking after him. But we were in love.” How do you understand the sentence? The sentence also points out another theme of the text—the power of love. Love made Jane look after Hawking whole- heartedly and it was Jane’s love that made Hawking stand up spiritually. To be continued on the next page.

10. BTLEW Lesson 9 - Against All Odds I.Text Analysis Question 5: What is the implication of “it was still touch and go, but a wonderful chance was just around the corner”? Physically speaking, Hawking is in an uncertain and dangerous situation. Nevertheless, academically speaking, Hawking’s science career is on the way to becoming glorious. To be continued on the next page.

11. BTLEW Lesson 9 - Against All Odds How did Stephen Hawking first discover that he had this disease? What happened to him at the party he gave on New Year’s Eve in 1962? What did he decide to do when the party was over? Is ALS a common disease? What does it do to a person’s body and brain? Is there any cure? What did it mean to Hawking? I.Text Analysis Further discussion about the story To be continued on the next page.

12. BTLEW Lesson 9 - Against All Odds Do you think Hawking’s first reaction was natural after he knew that he had had ALS? Where did he first meet Jane? When did they start to see each other more? How did their relationship develop? What was his life like in the first two years at Cambridge? How did the disease affect him? I.Text Analysis Further discussion about the story To be continued on the next page.

13. BTLEW Lesson 9 - Against All Odds Do you find it difficult to understand why a healthy young woman would marry an incurable patient? Was it a hasty decision on Jane’s part? Did she agree to marry Hawking out of pity? How did this marriage change Hawking’s life? Retell the story in your own words. I.Text Analysis Further discussion about the story The end of Further Discussion.

14. BTLEW Lesson 9 - Against All Odds II.Writing Devices Metaphor … the whole of southern England was covered in a thick blanket of snow. (1) A metaphor, like a simile, also makes a comparison between two unlike elements, but unlike a simile, this comparison is implied rather than stated. To be continued on the next page.

15. BTLEW Lesson 9 - Against All Odds II.Writing Devices Metaphor … the whole of southern England was covered in a thick blanket of snow. (1) Here the author wanted to say that the snow covering the ground was just like a blanket covering the ground. To be continued on the next page.

16. BTLEW Lesson 9 - Against All Odds II.Writing Devices Metaphor: more examples Please revise the following sentences by using metaphor. 1. The news is as a dagger to his heart. The news is a dagger to his heart. 2. Joe fought like a lion. Joe was a lion in the battle. To be continued on the next page.

17. BTLEW Lesson 9 - Against All Odds II.Writing Devices Metaphor: more examples 3. Learning may be likened to climbing up a mountain. Learning is climbing up a mountain. 4. The gossip was like a net that strangled him. He was strangled in the net of gossip. To be continued on the next page.

18. BTLEW Lesson 9 - Against All Odds II.Writing Devices Metaphor: more examples Please study the following metaphors. 1. Applications for jobs flooded the Employment Agency. 2. Money is a lens in a camera. 3. He is a wolf in sheep’s clothing. 4. Every man has a fool in his sleeve. 5. The parks are the lungs of our city. To be continued on the next page.

19. BTLEW Lesson 9 - Against All Odds II.Writing Devices Metaphor: more examples 6. The well of creativity never runs dry as long as you go to it. 7. Disappointment is the nurse of wisdom. 8. The Emperor Yuan did not move. Instead he looked at the Great Wall of China now taking shape out of the farthest mist in the green hills, that splendid snake of stones which writhed with majesty across the entire land. The end of Writing Devices.

20. BTLEW Lesson 9 - Against All Odds III.Sentence Paraphrase 1 In his own mind, he must have known that something was wrong. (1) Pay attention to the difference between “in one’s mind” and “on one’s mind”. “On one’s mind” means troubling or annoying somebody. go to 2 “Must have done” is used when you are guessing that sth. is true or sth. has happened because there seems to be no other possibility. In a negative sentence, “can’t have done” should be used to replace “must have done”.

21. BTLEW Lesson 9 - Against All Odds III.Sentence Paraphrase 2 The strange clumsiness he had been experiencing had occurred more frequently. (1) being difficult and awkward in moving about, often knocking things over an attributive clause used to modify the noun phrase “the strange clumsiness” go to 3 The strange clumsiness he had felt or had been going through had happened more often.

22. BTLEW Lesson 9 - Against All Odds III.Sentence Paraphrase 3 At the party he threw on New Year’s Eve, he had difficulties pouring a glass of wine, and most of the liquid ended up on the tablecloth. (1) to have difficulties in doing sth.: “in” here is often omitted an attributive clause used to modify “the party” go to 4 At the party he gave on New Year’s Eve, he found it difficult to pour a glass of wine, most of which was poured outside the glass.

23. BTLEW Lesson 9 - Against All Odds III.Sentence Paraphrase 4 The disease affects the patient’s nerves in the spinal cord and the parts of the brain which control motor functions. (2) The word “motor” is an adjective here, meaning “relating to muscles that produce movement or the nerves that control these muscles”. go to 5 an attributive clause used to modify “the parts of the brain”

24. BTLEW Lesson 9 - Against All Odds III.Sentence Paraphrase 5 The body gradually wastes away, but the mind remains unaffected. (2) Pay attention to the structure “to remain (link verb)+un(past participle of verb)”. Although the body gradually becomes thinner and weaker because of illness, the mind is not affected by the illness. To be continued on the next page.

25. BTLEW Lesson 9 - Against All Odds III.Sentence Paraphrase 5 More examples: to remain (link verb)+un(past participle of verb)” The food remained untouched. The article remained unpublished. The letter remains unanswered. The door remained unlocked. go to 6

26. BTLEW Lesson 9 - Against All Odds III.Sentence Paraphrase 6 Hawking just happened to be studying theoretical physics, one of the very few jobs for which the mind is the only real tool needed. (2) The infinitive phrase is used in the continuous tense to express an action happening simultaneously with the predicate in the sentence. go to 7 an attributive clause. The relative pronoun is used as the object of the preposition “for”.

27. BTLEW Lesson 9 - Against All Odds III.Sentence Paraphrase 7 Why should I be cut off like this? (3) Why should I be removed like this? Why should my life be cut short like this? go to 8 to separate, to disconnect

28. BTLEW Lesson 9 - Against All Odds III.Sentence Paraphrase 8 There seemed very little point in continuing his research… For a while he quite naturally believed that there was nothing to live for. (3) There seemed to be no reason for continuing his research. /It didn’t seem to make any sense or serve any useful purpose. For a period of time, he took it for granted that his life was purposeless or aimless. go to 9

29. BTLEW Lesson 9 - Against All Odds III.Sentence Paraphrase 9 He would live out his time span and then die. (3) the length of time over which one’s life, attention, etc. continues go to 10 He would spend the rest to his life—two years left, and then die.

30. BTLEW Lesson 9 - Against All Odds III.Sentence Paraphrase 10 It was not long, however, before he dragged himself out of his depression and back to work. (4) go to 11 Soon afterwards, he got himself out of his depression and returned to work. It is/was not long before: soon

31. BTLEW Lesson 9 - Against All Odds III.Sentence Paraphrase 11 Whenever he felt like pitying himself, he remembered that boy. (4) to want to do sth. go to 12 Conjunction “whenever” is used to introduce adverbial clause of time, meaning “every time”.

32. BTLEW Lesson 9 - Against All Odds III.Sentence Paraphrase 12 He dreamt that he was going to be put to death, which made him realise that there were a lot of worthwhile things he could do if he were to be set free. (5) to be killed, especially after an official decision “Which” is a relative pronoun used to introduce a nonrestrictive attributive clause used to modify part of the main clause “he was going to be put to death”; “which” can be used in this way to modify part of the main clause or even the whole clause. To be continued on the next page.

33. BTLEW Lesson 9 - Against All Odds III.Sentence Paraphrase 12 He dreamt that he was going to be put to death, which made him realise that there were a lot of worthwhile things he could do if he were to be set free. (5) to be allowed to go free “If” is used to introduce an unreal condition. And pay attention to the subjunctive mood in the clause: it’s opposite to the future by using “were to do”, and the main clause is in the past tense. go to 13

34. BTLEW Lesson 8 - My Personal Manager III.Sentence Paraphrase 13 There is little doubt that the appearance on the scene of a young woman was a major turning point in Hawking’s life. (6) present; getting involved in the situation Almost undoubtedly, a young woman’s appearance changed Hawking’s life dramatically. go to 14 used to introduce appositive clause; the clause is used to explain what the doubt was.

35. BTLEW Lesson 8 - My Personal Manager III.Sentence Paraphrase 14 It was finding Jane that enabled him to break out of his depression. (7) Finding Jane made him able to become no longer depressed. “It is/was… that/who/whom” is an emphatic sentence structure for emphasis. It can be used to emphasize any part of a sentence except for the predicate. go to 15

36. BTLEW Lesson 8 - My Personal Manager III.Sentence Paraphrase 15 As predicted, during his first two years at Cambridge, the effects of the disease rapidly worsened. (7) to become worse or more serious as predicted: as it was predicted Similarly: as expected: as it was expected as planned: as it was planned as arranged: as it was arranged go to 16

37. BTLEW Lesson 8 - My Personal Manager III.Sentence Paraphrase 16 … in order to cover just a few feet. With the support of walls and objects, as well as sticks, he would manage,... (7) to travel a particular distance in addition to sth. else go to 17 using something for support

38. BTLEW Lesson 8 - My Personal Manager III.Sentence Paraphrase 17 There were many times when these supports were not adequate, and he would turn up in the office with a bandage around his head, having fallen heavily and received a nasty bump. (7) to appear in an unexpected way “When” is a relative adverb used to introduce the attributive clause to replace the phrase “many times” as the adverbial of time in the attributive clause. Other relative adverbs include where, why and how. To be continued on the next page.

39. BTLEW Lesson 8 - My Personal Manager III.Sentence Paraphrase 17 There were many times when these supports were not adequate, and he would turn up in the office with a bandage around his head, having fallen heavily and received a nasty bump. (7) severe and painful an nominative absolute with “a bandage” as the object and “around his head” as the object complement. Besides prepositional phrases, participle phrases, adjectives and adverbs and nouns can also be used as the object complement in the nominative absolute. To be continued on the next page.

40. BTLEW Lesson 8 - My Personal Manager III.Sentence Paraphrase 17 There were many times when these supports were not adequate, and he would turn up in the office with a bandage around his head, having fallen heavily and received a nasty bump. (7) Present participle phrase is used as adverbial of reason to explain why Hawking turned up injured. Pay attention to the perfect tense of the present participle phrase used to express the action of “falling” preceding “turning up”. go to 18

41. BTLEW Lesson 8 - My Personal Manager III.Sentence Paraphrase 18 Nothing slowed him down, however; in fact, he was just getting into his stride. (8) Nothing stopped him from making progress, however; in fact, he was just becoming more comfortable with his work so he could do it continuously and well. go to 19 to hit one’s stride (AmE)/to get into one’s stride (BrE): to become familiar with sth. and begin to do it at a fast and confident pace

42. BTLEW Lesson 8 - My Personal Manager III.Sentence Paraphrase 19 Of course, he has had to suffer the humiliations and obstructions facing all those in society who are not able-bodied, and naturally... (8) a feeling of shame and embarrassment because you have been made to look stupid or weak “Facing…” is a present participle phrase used as the attributive of “the humiliations and obstructions”, but in the phrase there is also an attributive clause “who are not able-bodied” used to modify “all those”. go to 20

43. BTLEW Lesson 8 - My Personal Manager III.Sentence Paraphrase 20 Hawking himself would wish to downplay his disability and to give his full attention to science, for that is what is really important to him. (8) to make sth. seem less important than it really is “For” is used to introduce adverbial clause of reason. “What” is used to introduce nominal clause. To be continued on the next page.

44. BTLEW Lesson 8 - My Personal Manager III.Sentence Paraphrase 20 Hawking himself would wish to downplay his disability and to give his full attention to science, for that is what is really important to him. (8) able unable disable disabled ability inability disability 能够的 不能的 使残废 残废的 go to 21

45. BTLEW Lesson 8 - My Personal Manager III.Sentence Paraphrase 21 Having come to terms with ALS and found someone in Jane with whom he could share his life on a purely personal level, he began to blossom. (9) to accept an unpleasant situation or event and no longer feel upset or angry about it A present participle phrase used as adverbial of time. The participle phrase is used in perfect tense to express an action which precedes “he began to blossom”. to become happier, healthier and more successful To be continued on the next page.

46. BTLEW Lesson 8 - My Personal Manager III.Sentence Paraphrase 21 Having come to terms with ALS and found someone in Jane with whom he could share his life on a purely personal level, he began to blossom. (9) “Whom” is a relative pronoun to introduce attributive clause that is the object of preposition “with”. After he had already accepted the fact he had had ALS and found that Jane was someone whom he could share his private life with, he began to become happier, healthier and more successful. go to 22

47. BTLEW Lesson 8 - My Personal Manager III.Sentence Paraphrase 22 … it changed his life and gave him something to live for. (9) It changed his life and made life meaningful for him/gave him a purpose in life. go to 23

48. BTLEW Lesson 8 - My Personal Manager III.Sentence Paraphrase 23 From this point on, his work went from strength to strength, … (10) From this moment on, his work began to have one success after another. go to 24

49. BTLEW Lesson 8 - My Personal Manager III.Sentence Paraphrase 24 … his supervisor, began to believe that Hawking might, after all, manage to pull together the different threads of his PhD research. (10) The end of Sentence Paraphrase. Here it refers to the different parts of the research requirements. to improve sth. by organizing it more effectively … his supervisor began to believe that Hawking might succeed in completing his PhD research.

50. BTLEW Lesson 9 - Against All Odds Part Three This is the end of Part Three. Please click HOME to visit other parts. HOME