STEP ONE Sample

Physical Risks Financial Risks Emotional Risks

nurse, psychiatrist, policeman, coal miner, secretary,

fighter pilot, fireman, singer, football player, writer, cleaner, teacher, tourist guide, model, journalist, chemical engineer,

The ranking of activity riskiness (from high to low):

rock climbing → skydiving → driving a motorcycle → skiing → flying in an airplane → driving a car → working on a farm

1 • I prefer to do rock climbing. I know it’s a very risky sport, but I really want to challenge myself and see how I can use my muscles and brain to do a tough job. You may ask why I like this risky sport while there are so many safer ones to test my strength and determination.

83 Risks

I was born in a mountain area and I’ve been enjoying mountain climbing since my childhood. I always feel excited while climbing a mountain, and rock climbing is even more exciting. It’s true rock climbing is dangerous, but life itself is full of dangers, too. With modern equipment and our brains, we can avoid fatal accidents.

• I don’t think I would like any of the activities listed. My poor health didn’t allow me to play outdoors most of the time, and I don’t like sports, either. In addition to my physical weakness, I’m cautious by nature. I don’t like to take any risks in my life. I like board games, and I’m an excellent chess player. So chess is something I enjoy most.

2 Everyone has different definitions of risk. The things one believes to be risky might not be considered so by other people. From my perspective, to do something that you have never done before and that might have unexpected difficulties is risky. I am a very conservative and rational girl and do not want to take risks. The biggest risk I’ve ever taken is the long journey to Western Europe two years ago. At that time, I was studying in England and was eager to travel to other European countries. I did my visa application and planned the itinerary (^旅行 计划)—everything done by myself! I didn’t even know whether I could find a partner to travel with me, but I was quite willing to take a risk to accomplish my travel plan. Luckily, I made acquaintance with another Chinese girl who showed great interest in my plan. We started our two-week journey before Christmas when the chilliest year hit Europe. Two girls, two weeks, four countries, eight cities, everything made the journey like an adventurous exploration. We were confronted with many difficulties and challenges: language barriers, fatigue, bad weather, no help. I felt this self-reliance journey was a way of training myself. Strong weariness and upset haunted me all the time. Finally, when we climbed to the top of the Eiffel Tower and had a panoramic view of Paris on a day at -20^℃, I felt the risk was worth taking.

3 Why Would People Like to Take Risks?

Sample

• I am really impressed by these quotes. They try to tell us that life is full of risks, and no risk, no gain. As Ali put it, “He who is not courageous enough to take risks will accomplish nothing in life.” So taking risks is an essential part of growth and progress. If we look at some famous people we know, they are all risk-takers.

In addition to making achievements, some people take risks to enjoy a new experience and to challenge themselves. Taking risks will make them feel more confident and competent. They also want to enjoy the excitement in risk-taking because their lives are otherwise too routine and boring.

• I think many people love taking risks because they have the nerve and skills. They are confident they can do that even though the activity may involve initial failure or injury. They know they can reach the height by training or preparing themselves for that. They can foresee their success on the way. On the other hand, many others are really interested in those risky activities. They can draw great pleasure from them no matter whether they are successful or not. And many of them can succeed because interest is the mother of success. There are many stories about successful people in risky sports. They enjoy risk-taking.

84 Unit 6

PART 2 Reading-Centered Activities

In-Class Reading

Pre-Reading

Sample

1 • I think I’m a risk-taker. My parents encouraged me to do things I liked in my childhood. They praised any of my brave doings except those destructive actions. I was encouraged to climb trees, swim in the river near my home when I was very young, and go traveling with my friends in high school. I think another reason for my love of risk-taking is that I’ve been very healthy and strong. I’m confident to do sports, travel to distant places and learn anything new. I often tell myself I can do that because I’m tough and skillful enough. My parents are both in good health and enjoy outdoor activities. I probably inherited these traits from them.

• I’m not a risk-taker. Since my parents have been very busy I lived with my grandparents most of my childhood and teenage years. I should say my grandparents loved me very much and took goodcareofme.Buttheyneverencouragedmetorunanyrisks.Theytriedhardtoprevent

me from hurting myself, not to say take any risks. I was well-protected under their wings. So I’m not outstanding in sports or good at outdoor activities. I’m a good storyteller because my grandparents told me a lot of stories when I lived with them. In addition, I read a lot. I’m also an excellent calligrapher. I practiced calligraphy for many years under the supervision of my grandfather. So you see, what I love to do or I’m good at has nothing to do with risks.

2 Those risks which contribute to personal growth and development are worth taking. To be willing to take risks means that we are willing to challenge ourselves. Solving problems, inventing newproducts,andexperimentingonyourownideasallinvolverisk-taking.Bytakingsuch

risks our personal growth, integrity and accomplishments are enhanced. No risk, no reward.

Bycontinuouslychallengingourselves,we’llbeabletobroadenourhorizonsandourliveswill

become meaningful.

Passage Reading

Words, Phrases and Grammatical Points

1 risk

^与risk^{相关的常见词组包括：}

1 at risk: in a situation where you may be harmed

e.g. I) The disease is spreading, and all children under five are at risk.

II) Heart disease can be avoided if people at risk take medical advice.

2 at the risk of doing sth.: used when you think that what you are going to say or do may have a bad result, may offend or annoy people, etc.

e.g. I) He saved my life at the risk of losing his own.

II) At the risk of offending you, I must tell you that I disapprove of your behavior.

85 Risks 3 run the risk of doing sth.: be in a situation where there is a possibility that sth. bad could

happen to you

e.g. I) I don’t want to run the risk of meeting George.

II) I was afraid to run the risk of betting on the game.

4 take a risk / risks: decide to do sth. even though you know it may have bad results

e.g. I) I knew we were taking a risk when we lent him the money.

II) Buthemustbecautious;hemusttakenounnecessaryrisks.

2 And from these threats come questions that we must pose to ourselves… (Lines 11-12, Para. 1) This sentence means that these threats give rise to questions that we must ask ourselves.

当句首状语为表示地点的介词词组，谓语动词为go^、come等表示位置转移的动作动词时，句子通常全

部倒装。

e.g. I) From the room came the sound of children singing.

II) From the fountain bubbled a stream of cool water.

The word “pose” means “create a difficult or dangerous situation”.

Some phrases with “pose”: pose a problem / risk / threat / challenge / question.

e.g. I) Officials claim the chemical poses no real threat.

II) Rising unemployment is posing serious problems for the administration.

III) They had been expected to pose a serious challenge to the main parties.

3 rather (Line 2, Para. 3) Some phrases with “rather”:

1 rather than: instead of

e.g. I) It would be better to make a decision now, rather than leave it until later.

II) It was what he meant rather than what he said that annoyed me.

2 would rather: prefer to do or have sth.

e.g. I would rather you didn’t mention this matter to anyone else.

3 or rather: used before correcting sth. that you have said, or giving more specific information e.g. We all went in Vic’s car, or rather his father’s.

4 not... but rather...: used to say that one thing is not true, but a different thing is true e.g. The problem is not their lack of funding, but rather their lack of planning.

4 accidentally (Line 10, Para. 3)

Compare: “accidentally” and “incidentally”

The word “accidentally” means “happening by chance, not by plan or intention”.

e.g. This morning I accidentally met a friend with whom I have never kept in touch for a long

time.

The word “incidentally” has the following meanings:

1 in a way that was not planned, but as a result of sth. else

e.g. Quite incidentally, I got some useful information at the party.

2 used for adding sth. to what was said before, either on the same or another subject e.g. I must go now. Incidentally if you want that book I’ll bring it next time.

86 Unit 6

5 reduce (Line 8, Para. 4) Some phrases with “reduce”:

1 reduce… to order: ^{使恢复秩序}

e.g. The teacher soon reduced the noisy class to order.

2 reduce… to silence: ^{使安静下来}

e.g. The dignity of his appeal reduced the loudest of critics to silence.

3 reduce… to tears: ^{使哭了起来}

e.g. His emotional language reduced many of the audience to tears.

4 be in reduced circumstances: ^{更贫穷，更潦倒}

e.g. They are the descendants of emperors and kings and are now in reduced circumstances.

参考译文