Unit 1 Face to Face with Hurricane Camille(3)

* They decided not to ~ the factory.

destroy, demolish, raze, annihilate, exterminate, extinguish

antonyms--- build, create, establish, repair, device

These words refer to the complete and usually forcible breaking up or damaging of something so that it is no longer recognizable or effective.

destroy

--- a general word with few overtones beyond its emphasis on force and

thoroughness.

the fire that destroyed several houses on the road

demolish / raze

generally applied to big or substantial things, such as buildings or other edifices

- A building is demolished if smashed to pieces.

- A building is razed if levelled to the ground.

Demolish is often used figuratively of the reduction of any complex whole to ruins.

to demolish a theory with a few incisive comments.

annihilate

--- the most extreme word in this list

literally means to reduce to nothing

It denotes a severe degree of damage to a thing or person

to destroy completely 歼灭， 绝灭

exterminate / extinguish

extinguish --- destroy purposefully

exterminate --- wipe out or kill in great numbers

~ insects by spraying with DDT

extinguish --- put out as a fire, the word is also used metaphorically as a synonym for die, thus implying a comparison between life and a spark or flame

His life was finally extinguished by the onset of pneumonia.

rot, decay, moulder, decompose, putrefy,

antonyms--- bloom, flourish, grow

--- refer to the breakdown of dead organic tissues by natural bacterial processes

rot

-- the least formal, the most effective , forceful of these words , suggesting an advanced point in this process of breakdown

损坏过程中最深的一种状态

The tissues at this point might or might not be foul-smelling but they would in any case be almost unrecognizable.

The snail has completely rotted away inside its shell.

decay

--- a more matter-of-fact word than rot 更为实用 applied generally to the whole process of breakdown, but particularly to the end point of total destruction

The corpse had already decayed, leaving only the skeleton intact.

molder

-- decay gradually and turn into dust

his remains moldering in the tomb

decompose

--- more formal substitute for decay

clinical word临床学词汇

change chemically and begin to rot

分解，腐败

putrefy

--- stressing particularly the presence of foul or poisonous gases and noxious 有害的odours

Salmon 鲑鱼that had spawned 产卵and died and now lay putrefying in the shallows of the stream.

spoil --- food (informal)

disintegrate -- break into small pieces

Organizational pattern

Sect I. para 1-6 introduction – the setting of the story

background information

time

place

characters

reasons

actions

Sect II para 7-27

-How the family was brought face to face with the hurricane.

-How the family was fighting against it and survived.

-How many onslaughts did the hurricane make on the Koshaks?

4 onslaughts

1. (p7) on the first floor

the house was leaking. They used all kinds of utensils to fight against the water.

2. (p 8-13 ) on the staircase

When the sea water reached the house, they retreated to the staircase

3. (p 14-21) in the bedroom

When the stirs were broken, they retreated to the bedroom.

(p 19-20) interposition

- giving additional information about the devastating force of the hurricane, implying if anyone could survive, it must be a miracle.

-creating suspense

4. (p22-26) in the TV room

When the bedroom walls collapsed, they had to retreat to the TV room.

Sect. III para 27~39

conclusion (a bit too long)

the scene after the storm

the relief work done by the state

the relief work done by the Koshaks

The most important part is the last para. "I realize we lost nothing important".

--- What 's the purpose behind the story by giving us a reflection from grandmother?

Human beings are more important than anything else in the world. ( the material things)

Language features

1. the effective use of verbs

The effective use of verbs is the only way to focus on action, esp. one syllable verbs, because one syllable verbs save time.

lash, lap, skim, scud, yell, dump, shot, snap, hit, whip

2. short elliptical sentences

a) increase the tempo of action

b) create the atmosphere of tension, danger and urgency

3. successful achievement of chronological development

Chronological development is achieved by :

connectors --- so, then, but.

transitional phrases -- seconds later, after that , for an instant, by this time, etc

4. the words with [æ] which vividly describe the violence of the hurricane.

[æ] --- quick, unpleasant effect

lash, crack, snap, slashing, smash, shatter, rampage, collapse, lap

Exercises

Exercise II:

1. There are two reasons. One is John Koshak is a self-employed businessman and his business is right at home. If he abandoned his home, his business would be ruined. The other reason is that his house is in a better condition than his former one, which is 250 yards away from the sea.

2. ―Magna Products‖ is the name of his company.

3. Because salty water was sea water. It showed that the sea water had reached the house. they were in real trouble for they might be washed into the sea by the tidal wave.

4. She feared death would soon come, and she wanted to remind her husband of her undying love. This would help to encourage each other and make them fee …… 此处隐藏：5222字，全部文档内容请下载后查看。喜欢就下载吧 ……