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Contemporary College EnglishContemporary College EnglishBook OneBook One

Unit 12Unit 12

The Kindness of The Kindness of StrangersStrangers

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UNIT TWELVEUNIT TWELVE

The Kindness of StrangersThe Kindness of Strangers

Mike MclntyreMike Mclntyre

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The AuthorThe Author

► When Mike McIntyre quit his job andWhen Mike McIntyre quit his job andwent looking for the real America,went looking for the real America,something amazing happened. He found it.something amazing happened. He found it.

► Mike Mcintyre,Mike Mcintyre, a 37-year-old journalist with a 37-year-old journalist with a beautiful girlfriend and a decent newspapea beautiful girlfriend and a decent newspaper job in San Francisco, was living the easy life r job in San Francisco, was living the easy life when he had a sudden revelation: His life wawhen he had a sudden revelation: His life was utterly devoid of meaning. "I was empty of s utterly devoid of meaning. "I was empty of passion. I was numb. I was halfway to nowhepassion. I was numb. I was halfway to nowhere. I was dead," McIntyre writes in "The Kindre. I was dead," McIntyre writes in "The Kindness ofness of

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Strangers," attempting to hitchhike cross-country without money, credit cards, with nothing more than a backpack and a passion to discover himself and America.

For his final destination, McIntyre picked Cape Fear, North Carolina, "as a symbol for all the fears I know I'll have to conquer if I'm to go the distance." McIntyre claims that he was "born scared. I grew up afraid of the baby-sitter, the mailman, the birds in the trees, the next-door neighbor's cat. I'm afraid of the dark. I'm afraid of the ocean ... the city, the wilderness. I'm afraid of crowds and I'm afraid to be alone.

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I'm afraid of failure and I'm afraid of success ... But what really scares me is living."

In the fall of 1994 McIntyre decided to make a final stand against his fears by walking over the Golden Gate Bridge. He set out, not sure what awaited him in a land where only serial killers and teen runaways hitchhike, a land with images of guns, greed.

Miraculously a man

gave him a lift north.

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Through his travels, he found varying degrees of kindness in strangers from all walks of life - and discovered more about people and values and life on the road in America than he'd ever thought possible.

The gifts of food and shelter he received along the way were outweighed only by the touching gifts of the heart - the willingness of many he met to welcome a lonely stranger into their homes...and the discovery that sometimes those who give the most are the ones with the least to spare. In the process he learns that this country is full of good-hearted strangers willing to take the risk of kindness.

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Other people’s opinionOther people’s opinionMIKE MCINTYREMIKE MCINTYRE

► He is a disillusioned journalist abandons his He is a disillusioned journalist abandons his job, his girlfriend and his bank account to job, his girlfriend and his bank account to backpack penniless from San Francisco to backpack penniless from San Francisco to Cape Fear, N.C. Refusing to accept money, Cape Fear, N.C. Refusing to accept money, he places himself totally at the mercy of he places himself totally at the mercy of strangers. With only a few harrowing strangers. With only a few harrowing encounters, he is given rides, fed and encounters, he is given rides, fed and sheltered almost consistently throughout his sheltered almost consistently throughout his journey. journey.

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Other people’s opinionOther people’s opinion►Mclntyre takes you on an adventure.Mclntyre takes you on an adventure.This book is great. I couldn't set it down. This book is great. I couldn't set it down. McIntyre has an amazing ability to capture McIntyre has an amazing ability to capture the humor, irony and sadness in the lives the humor, irony and sadness in the lives of every day people. He meets the of every day people. He meets the amazing characters, as well as ordinary amazing characters, as well as ordinary people, and writes with beautiful people, and writes with beautiful simplicity. This is an adventure for the simplicity. This is an adventure for the 90's, when most Americans fear 90's, when most Americans fear adventuring into their own countryadventuring into their own country

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Other people’s opinionOther people’s opinion ►Refreshing glimpse of American spiritRefreshing glimpse of American spirit This book shed a ray of light on the dimming This book shed a ray of light on the dimming

light of humanity in our world. A man leaves light of humanity in our world. A man leaves home with only identification and hitch hikes home with only identification and hitch hikes across the country relying only on the "kindness across the country relying only on the "kindness of strangers." Although he clearly points out that of strangers." Although he clearly points out that were he not male the outcome could have been were he not male the outcome could have been much different, the story is still heart warming. I much different, the story is still heart warming. I have recommended this to so many friends and have recommended this to so many friends and all have thanked me for helping them search all have thanked me for helping them search their hearts and souls.their hearts and souls.

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Text OrganizationText Organization

Part 1(Part 1(11- ) the reason of his - ) the reason of his travelstravels

Part 2 ( - ) the description of his travelsPart 2 ( - ) the description of his travels

two old ladiestwo old ladies

the driverthe driver

a house paintera house painter

a lumber-mill workera lumber-mill worker

the executive director the executive director

Gave him a lift

Gave him a lift

Lent him a jacketOffered him a tent

Invited him to his home

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ParaphraseParaphrase

1.1. This is the usual gesture of hitchhikers This is the usual gesture of hitchhikers when they ask for help. Why did they need when they ask for help. Why did they need this favor?this favor?

2.2. The author was really shocked---how he The author was really shocked---how he could have been so indifferent, so could have been so indifferent, so unfeeling and so unsympathetic.unfeeling and so unsympathetic.

3.3. ……the country in which money has much the country in which money has much power as God.power as God.

4.4. The author was holding a sign showing The author was holding a sign showing people where he was going. Why did he people where he was going. Why did he put down “America” as his destination?put down “America” as his destination?

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ParaphraseParaphrase

5. …when it seemed to be in a way that is 5. …when it seemed to be in a way that is opposite to their best interests. /… when it opposite to their best interests. /… when it seemed to be exactly what they should not seemed to be exactly what they should not have done for their own safety.have done for their own safety.

6. I didn’t know whether I should thank them 6. I didn’t know whether I should thank them for their kindness or criticize them for for their kindness or criticize them for running this risk. Why did he say this?running this risk. Why did he say this?

7. …she preferred to risk her life rather than 7. …she preferred to risk her life rather than feel guilty about…feel guilty about…

8. …he was robbed while the robber pointed a 8. …he was robbed while the robber pointed a knife at him.knife at him.

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Word StudyWord Study

addict addict ► film addict film addict 电影迷电影迷 (( 喻喻 )) 孩子们对计算机游戏上了瘾。 孩子们对计算机游戏上了瘾。 ► The children are addicted to computer gamThe children are addicted to computer gam

es.es. 有一可疑的人躲在阴暗中。有一可疑的人躲在阴暗中。► There is a suspicious man lurking in the shaThere is a suspicious man lurking in the sha

dows.dows. 村民们报告说那只逃出动物园的狮子还躲藏在村民们报告说那只逃出动物园的狮子还躲藏在

附近一带。附近一带。► The villagers reported that the lion from the The villagers reported that the lion from the

zoo was still lurking close to.zoo was still lurking close to.

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Word StudyWord Study

strandstrand 我困在那陌生的城市我困在那陌生的城市 , , 既没有钱既没有钱 , , 又没有朋友。又没有朋友。► I was stranded in the strange town without moI was stranded in the strange town without mo

ney or friends.ney or friends. 他走开了他走开了 , , 留下家人毫无办法。留下家人毫无办法。► He went away leaving his family stranded.He went away leaving his family stranded. warnwarn 她提醒我这条马路很危险，因此我过马路小心翼翼。她提醒我这条马路很危险，因此我过马路小心翼翼。

► She warned me about the dangerous road, so I She warned me about the dangerous road, so I

crossed it carefully. crossed it carefully.

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Word StudyWord Studypush,draw,drag,haulpush,draw,drag,haul 你接电话时小孩把桌布扯了下来你接电话时小孩把桌布扯了下来► While you are on the phone, the baby _______While you are on the phone, the baby _______

the table-cloth off the table.the table-cloth off the table. 如果火车开进这条隧道，它会抽进新鲜冷空气。如果火车开进这条隧道，它会抽进新鲜冷空气。► If a train entered this tunnel, it would ______in If a train entered this tunnel, it would ______in

fresh air behind it.fresh air behind it. 他们把醉汗拖到了安全的地方。他们把醉汗拖到了安全的地方。► They quickly _________the drunk to safety.They quickly _________the drunk to safety. 把它拖出水面却是个严重的问题。把它拖出水面却是个严重的问题。► ________it out of the water proved to be a seri________it out of the water proved to be a seri

ous problem.ous problem.

pulls

draw

dragged

Hauling

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Word StudyWord Studyshouldershoulder 如果你想把你的烦恼告诉我如果你想把你的烦恼告诉我 , , 我乐意听。 我乐意听。 ► If you want to tell me your trouble, I have broad sIf you want to tell me your trouble, I have broad s

houlders.houlders. 不要沿路边开车。不要沿路边开车。► Don't drive on the shoulder of the road.Don't drive on the shoulder of the road. skidskid 这辆小汽车在油洼里打滑，撞在围栏上。 这辆小汽车在油洼里打滑，撞在围栏上。 ► The car skidded on a pool of oil and ran into the feThe car skidded on a pool of oil and ran into the fe

nce. nce. 新型产品的销路已经下降六成。新型产品的销路已经下降六成。► Sales of new models have skidded 60 percent.Sales of new models have skidded 60 percent.

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Word StudyWord Study

lightlight► a light frosta light frost► 薄雾薄雾► light clothinglight clothing► 轻装轻装 ; ; 单薄的衣服单薄的衣服► a light attack of illnessa light attack of illness► 不严重的疾病不严重的疾病► light foodlight food► 易于消化的食物易于消化的食物

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Word StudyWord Studychamberchamber► chamber of commercechamber of commerce► 商会商会► chamber of commerce and industrychamber of commerce and industry► 工商业联合会工商业联合会► chamber of shippingchamber of shipping► 航运协会航运协会

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Word StudyWord Study

directordirector► executive directorexecutive director► 执行理事执行理事 , , 常务董事常务董事► faculty directorfaculty director► 大学院长大学院长 ; ; 系主任系主任► finance directorfinance director► 财务经理财务经理 ; ; 财务处长财务处长

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Word StudyWord Studytelltell► I('ll) tell you what.I('ll) tell you what.► [[ 口口 ]] 你听着你听着 , , 让我告诉你让我告诉你 ; ; 我告诉你一个好主意我告诉你一个好主意 [[ 办办

法法 ]]► I'm telling you.I'm telling you.► [[ 口口 ]] 我说的是真的我说的是真的 [[ 没错没错 ]; ]; 你放心你放心scheduleschedule► The meeting is scheduled on Friday.The meeting is scheduled on Friday.► 会议安排在星期五。会议安排在星期五。► The plane is scheduled to take off at 4.The plane is scheduled to take off at 4.►飞机定于四时起飞。飞机定于四时起飞。

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Word StudyWord Study

renewrenew► renew a stock of goodsrenew a stock of goods►更新库存货物。更新库存货物。► renew the heart and mindrenew the heart and mind►使精神面貌焕然一新使精神面貌焕然一新► renew one's youthrenew one's youth►恢复青春恢复青春

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The Atlantic Ocean is the second largest of the world's five oceans

The Pacific Ocean is the largest of the world's five oceans (followed by the Atlantic Ocean, Indian Ocean, Southern Ocean, and Arctic Ocean).

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MontanaOregon

Iowa

North Carolina

California

Wyoming

Nebraska

Louisiana

Virginia

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Golden Gate Bridge

Cape Fear

Tahoe

New Orleans

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