Unit 10
Section III
Maintaining a Sharp Eye
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Passage II : Read the Text
The Loving Heart Will Go On
Carmen's mother Maria had just survived a serious heart attack. But her life was in constant danger without a heart transplant.
Both mother and daughter knew that the chances were very small: finding a donor heart that matched Maria's blood type and body size could take years. However, Carmen was determined to save her mother's life. The young woman kept contacting hospitals all over the country. She also stuck a card to her car. It read, "If I'm in an accident, please make sure my heart is donated to my mother who is on the third floor of Central Hospital".
Days stretched into weeks. Weeks stretched into months. By Christmas, Maria had trouble walking from one end of the room to the other. Carmen was in despair. She fell into a corner of the hospital and began to cry.
"Are you okay?" a man asked.
"No," she said, looking up. "My mother is dying."
Carmen sobbed as she told the stranger her story. This middle-aged man with a gentle manner was named Frank. His wife, Cheryl, a tender and devoted mother of four lovely children, had been in hospital with a brain disease. Doctors expected her to return home within a week.
However, things didn't turn out as expected. Cheryl went into a deep coma. Frank was told that there was only a million-to-one chance. Two days later, it became clear that Cheryl would not make it through the night. This time, Carmen found Frank standing against a wall, crying. "She's leaving us. She'll never wake up again."
Suddenly, an idea came to his mind. He knew that Cheryl had always wanted to donate something from herself. She had been very open about it and had checked "yes" on her driver's license. Could her heart go to Carmen's mother?
After reviewing the data, doctors informed Frank that his wife's heart was by some miracle a perfect fit for Carmen's mother. They were able to carry out the transplant.
That night, when Cheryl was declared dead, Frank knocked at Maria's door. She was sitting on the bed praying for Frank's family as she had been doing every day recently. Though Maria had never met Frank before, they both felt a strange bond as they hugged and cried. Carmen stood by crying in a low voice, "I can never pay you back. " Her voice was choked with tears.
On New Year's Eve, Carmen stood by Frank's family at Cheryl's funeral, who were singing one of their favorite songs, "My heart will go on." " One day later, on New Year's Day, Maria woke up with Cheryl's heart. Yes, Cheryl's loving heart would go on, for it was alive in another loving mother's chest.
Difficult Sentences
1.But her life was in constant danger without a heart transplant. (para. 1)
Analysis:The prepositional phrase in…danger refers to a state. The antonym is “out of danger.”similar pairs are…
但由于没进行心脏移植，她的生命还随时处在危险之中。
e.g. Their company is often in big trouble without a smart manager.
2.His wife, Cheryl, a tender and devoted mother of four lovely children, had been in hospital with a brain disease. (para. 4)
Analysis:Both Cheryl and a tender and devoted mother of four lovely children are appositions of his wife. Appositions are often separated by commas.
他的妻子绮瑞尔，一位四个可爱孩子的温柔尽心的母亲，因大脑病变已住院治疗。
e.g. My sister, Cindy, a lively and trusted friend of all our neighbors, is the organizer of the community party.
3.However, things didn’t turn out as expected. (para. 5)
Analysis:As expected can be understood as an adverbial clause of manner, meaning “in the way in which things are expected to turn out to be”. The words omitted after as could be “they were”.
然而，事情的发展并不像预期的一样。
e.g. However, the case didn’t come out as guessed.
4.Frank was told that there was only a million-to-one chance. (para. 5)
Analysis:The conjunction that introduces an object clause. Million-to-one is a compound word, meaning “ one millionth, very small in this case.
弗兰克被告知她康复的可能已微乎其微了。
e.g. The players ere informed that there was a half-and-half chance to win the game.
5.She had been very open about it and had checked “Yes” on her driver’s license. (para.6)
Analysis:It refers to the donation matter mentioned above. The fact that Cheryl checked “yes”…illustrates her openness and tells people that she was willing o donate her organs.
她对此事坦言无忌，并且在驾驶执照的这一栏里选取了“愿意”一项。
e.g. As for the necessity of reform, he has shown great concern about it and has ticked “totally agree” on the questionnaire.
6..On New Year’s Eve, Carmen stood by Frank’s family at Cheryl’s funeral, who were singing one of their favorite songs, “ My heart will go on.” (para.9)
Analysis:Who introduces an unrestricted clause, modifying Frank’s family. My Heart Will Go On is the title of the song they were singing at Cheryl’s funeral
除夕夜，在绮瑞尔葬礼上， 卡门与弗兰克一家人站在一起唱起他们最喜爱的一首歌：“我心永恒”。
e.g. On her birthday, Cindy was invited to Mary’s family, who received her as their own daughter.
Difficult Words
1.constant: going on all the time frequently occurring
FOR EXAMPLE
*The computer center is kept at a constant temperature.
*Her constant headache is a result of her habit of overwork.
2.stretch:extend become longer or wider when pulled
FOR EXAMPLE
*The forest used to stretch for hundreds of miles.
*The children stretch their neck to see what was happening in the teacher’s test tube.
3.despair
FOR EXAMPLE
*In despair, she tore the check into small pieces.
*Your silly words drove her to despair.
4.devoted: very loving or loyal
*The Queen believes that all her subjects are devoted.
*I used to believe that he was a devoted friend.
5.miracle:sth good and welcome does not follow the known laws of nature
FOR EXAMPLE
*The child’s life was saved by a miracle
*The doctor said that his recovery was a pure miracle.
6.hug
FOR EXAMPLE
*My mother always gives me a hug and a kiss before I go to sleep.
*The little girl hugged her doll lovingly.
7.choke unable to breathe because of emotion
FOR EXAMPLE
*She stared at him, choked with anger.
*The winner of the prize was almost choked with excitement.
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