The human spirit 10Unit 10 The human spiritTeaching suggestions and answer keys Starting pointWork in pairs. Read the information and discuss the questions.1 What are the risks involved with each of these expeditions?For the two seafarers: shipwreck, typhoons, running out of food and water, hostile natives and simply getting lost. Earhart ran a risk of bad weather, engine failure and running out of fuel over water. The mountaineers risked falls, hypothermia, snow storms, and breathing problems. Armstrong was totally dependent on his equipment. Even small failures could rapidly lead to death.2 What kind of people are motivated to undertake these expeditions? What do you think their motivationsare?The people must be brave, ambitious and determined. Maybe they need to be a little mad, obsessed with a dream. This may be less true of the first two who had economic and political motives as well. Earhart and Hillary wanted fame. Tenzing was earning his living. Armstrong as a military person also felt it was his duty to his country.3 What, if any, are the benefits to humanity in general that come from these expeditions? What, if any, arethe harms?The first three were about communicating across distance and opening up new trade and travel routes.The modern world arises from such ventures which have brought prosperity to many, but at a great cost in violence, exploitation and disease. The final three opened up new frontiers. The conquest of the mountain has led to some pollution but no serous problems. The effects of space science seem so far to have been benign but it is far too early to tell what will follow.4 What personal characteristics are necessary for such expeditions? Which of those characteristics do youpossess?Bravery, determination, stubbornness, ambition, perseverance, arrogance. They are not all good qualities. I think I have a great deal of determination but probably not enough to undertake such dramatic feats. These are exceptional people.The human spirit Unit 10Active reading (1)1 Look at the lines marked on the globe. What purpose do they serve?They are the lines of longitude and latitude which are used for measuring distance and time around the world,and locating places on the globe.2 Look at the title of the passage and answer the questions.1 What determines where lines of longitude are placed?One may say lines of longitude are determined by the law of nature, but the passage tells that the placement of the longitude lines is political decision.2 What determines where lines of latitude are placed?The law of nature.3 The invention of what machine was necessary before longitude could be accurately measured?Accurate clocks.LongitudeBackground informationLongitude is a best-selling book by Dava Sobel on the life of the great British instrument / clock maker John Harrison (1693–1776).Culture pointsCanary Islands and Madeira Islands: The former are Spanish and the latter Portuguese. They lie off the west coast of Africa and are popular holiday destinations owing to their lovely climates.Azores is another group of islands North West of the previous two.Cape Verde Islands are a group islands south of the Canaries, an independent state.Vasco Nunez be Balboa (1474–1519), Spanish explorer, noted as the first European to cross the isthmus of Panama and see the Pacific from that shore.Ferdinand Magellan (1480–1521), Portuguese explorer, led first circumnavigation of the globe.Sir Francis Drake (1540–1596), English naval hero in Elizabeth I’s wars with Spain, first Englishman to circumnavigate the Earth.Language points1 ... and national boundaries repeatedly redrawn by war and peace. (Para 4)The borders of countries are changed by war and peace treaties.2 Ptolemy himself has only an armchair appreciation of the wider world. (Para 6)Ptolemy had never travelled, his information came from books.Unit 10 The human spirit3 … assume their positions at the sun’s command. (Para 7)They have been fixed according to the sun’s motion as seen from Earth. They are fixed, not human choices.4 The zero-degree parallel of latitude is fixed by the laws of nature, while the zero-degree meridian oflongitude shifts like the sands of time. (Para 9)The Equator is an objectively calculated line; the prime meridian is a human convention and it has been moved about – at present by international agreement it goes through London, but it can be changed whenever nations wish. The sands of time means the passing of time, a metaphor based on the old timing devices one turned upside down to measure a length of time.5 … and turns the determination of longitude, especially at sea into an adult dilemma – one thatstumped the wisest minds of the world for the better part of human history. (Para 9)… and makes it hard to determine the longitude, especially when people are taking navigation at sea.Stumped the wisest minds of the world means no one could solve it even though some clever people tried.If a problem stumps someone, they cannot think of a solution. For the better part of human history means for most of human history – indeed until it was solved in the late 18th century.6 The measurement of longitude meridians, in comparison, is tempered by time. (Para 11)Tempered by time means reliant on knowing the time.Reading and understanding3 Choose the best summary of the passage.3 Longitude, a great aid to ocean navigators, is more difficult to calculate than latitude because the linescan be arbitrarily placed. In addition, calculating degrees of longitude depends on having an accurate clock both on land and at sea.4 Choose the best answer to the questions.1 What is true about lines of longitude?(a) They are still changing positions today.(b) They are parallel to one another.(c) They are all the same length.(d) They are no longer used for navigation.2 What was the importance of Ptolemy to navigation?(a) He put together the most advanced maps of his time.(b) He sponsored some important ocean explorations.(c) He made more accurate maps through his own observations.(d) He was the first person to draw lines of longitude and latitude.3 What is the function of the prime meridian?(a) To mark the movement of the sun and planets.(b) To set a zero point for the lines of longitude.(c) To divide the globe into east and west.(d) To trace a line from the North Pole to the South Pole.The human spirit Unit 104 Which of the following CANNOT help a sailor determine latitude?(a) The length of daytime.(b) The position of the sun.(c) The position of the guide stars.(d) The position of the lines of longitude.5 What did Christopher Columbus use for navigation?(a) Lines of latitude.(b) Lines of longitude.(c) Both lines of latitude and lines of longitude.(d) Neither lines of latitude nor lines of longitude.6 What does one need to accurately determine the longitude while at sea?(a) The time on board the ship and the latitude.(b) The time both on board the ship and at a fixed location of known longitude.(c) The difference between the time the ship left land and the current time at sea.(d) The distance that the ship sailed in exactly one hour.7 How many miles does a ship sail to cover 15 degrees of longitude?(a) 15 miles.(b) 1,000 miles.(c) It depends on the speed the ship is sailing.(d) It depends on the ship’s distance from the Equator.8 Why did the great captains of the Age of Exploration get lost at sea?(a) The maps they were using were not correctly drawn.(b) They didn’t have an efficient way to determine longitude.(c) The clocks at that time were not accurate so they couldn’t find the correct latitude.(d) The ships at that time were not easy to navigate.Dealing with unfamiliar words5 Match the words in the box with their definitions.1 a difference between things that should be the same (discrepancy)2 not obvious, and therefore difficult to notice (subtle)3 causing a lot of damage or harm (disastrous)4 in or from the hottest parts of the world (tropical)5 important and likely to influence future actions or decisions (landmark)6 to make a judgment or guess about a situation, action, or person based on the information that you have(gauge)6 Complete the paragraph with the correct form of the words in Activity 5.Because there are no written records, not much is known about who first discovered the Hawaiian Islands. Most historians assume that the Islands were reached by explorers from another (1) tropical island such as Tahiti. However, the voyage would have been dangerous in those days before compasses and accurate maps were invented. Early ocean explorers would (2) gauge their position by the stars andUnit 10 The human spirit(3) landmark discoveries they had made such as islands. They were also skilled at reading (4) subtlesigns from the wind and waves. However, in a rough ocean far from land, even a slight (5) discrepancy in navigation could be (6) disastrous. We know that the Hawaiian Islands were eventually discovered and populated, but we will never know how many previous voyages failed.7 Replace the underlined words with the correct form of the words in the box.1 Early sailors used tree logs that were empty in the middle as boats. (hollow)2 Most explorers didn’t believe the Earth was a ball until Magellan first sailed all round the Earth in theearly 1500s. (sphere)3 Ship hulls need to be strong and waterproof both on the sides and on the bottom. (underneath)4 An interest in exploration has to come together with advances in technology to advance the science ofnavigation. (converge)5 We tend to credit one person with a major invention or discovery, although in fact that person washelped by many people who lived and worked in the same areas before. (predecessors)6 The Spanish Armada attempted to invade England in 1588, but they were stopped when the Englishfleet commanded by Sir Francis Drake came and disrupted their plans. (intervened)8 Answer the questions about the words and expressions.1 If two lines intersect, do they (a) cross each other, or (b) lie parallel to each other?2 I f someone moves haphazardly, do they move (a) without any planning or direction, or (b)dangerously?3 If a boat is adrift in the water, is it (a) sinking, or (b) floating with no fixed direction?4 I s a misconception (a) an incorrect direction that results in someone getting lost, or (b) a mistaken idea?5 D oes a deformity refer to (a) a change of original plans, or (b) a physical or structural change fromwhat is normal?6 If someone acts arbitrarily, do they act (a) without plans, or (b) angrily and fearfully?7 I f your question stumps someone, are they (a) irritated or annoyed, or (b) confused or unable toanswer?8 If a mapmaker is worth his salt, is he (a) being paid as much as he asked, or (b) doing his job well?9 I f one course is a prerequisite for a second one, is it one that (a) you must take in advance of the secondone, or (b) is essentially the same as the second one?10 I f some travellers are en route to China, are they (a) lost or off course from their original plans, or(b) on their way to their destination in China?Reading and interpreting9 Work in pairs and check (¸) the tone of the passage.√light, friendly, and humorous√serious and informative, but not too formalacademic and somewhat technicalpersuasive, with a clear point of viewThe passage certainly opens in a light and friendly way with childhood memories, and there are touches of humour (the classical geographer in his armchair), but there are also some rather technical paragraphs (seeThe human spirit Unit 10 Paragraphs 5, 7, 11, 12). These are serious and informative, but the tone we have mentioned stops it from being very formal or academic. The passage is informing us, not trying to persuade us. It is in fact a good example of popular science writing, presenting something technical in a manner suited to ordinary readers.10 Answer the questions.1 Why does the writer describe the toy she had as a child?It eases us gently into the topic and gives us a clear visual image.2 Why does the writer mention the statue of Atlas?The writer is American and the reference would be helpful to many readers who know the statue ofAtlas. The parallel between the girl on her father’s shoulders and the world on Atlas’ is amusing.3 Why does the writer discuss Ptolemy and his prime meridian?She wishes to tell us some of the history of the concepts of longitude and latitude. This builds up to thelife of her hero in her book and shows how great his achievement was.4 What is the voyage of Christopher Columbus an example of?Sailing with knowledge only of one’s latitude.5 What does the writer refer to with “15 degrees”?The apparent motion of the sun across the sky in one hour.6 Why does the writer mention da Gama, de Balboa, Magellan, and Drake?These are famous explorers whose names are familiar in a general way among Western readers. Theseearly voyagers had to manage without being able to determine their longitude.Developing critical thinking11 Work in pairs and discuss the questions.1 What are some dangers for navigators in not being able to accurately judge longitude?Without a way of measuring longitude, sailors do not know where they are in the ocean and they mightbe sailing into dangerous waters far from where they actually want to be.2 What are some results of the explorers of the Age of Exploration sailing around the Earth?The decline of the land routes [such as the Silk Road] between East and West. The rise of the EasternAtlantic states. The building of colonial empires in South East Asia.3 Do you think many people today can work out directions without a map? For those who can, how dothey do it?Some people do orienteering courses and use compasses. Of course, there are now GPS systems. Somepeople seem to have an in-built sense of direction.4 What other changes came about when people were able to make accurate, portable time pieces such aswatches and small clocks?Time could be scheduled so appointments and fixed work hours became possible. Transport systemscould become far more efficient too.Unit 10 The human spiritTalking point1 Work in pairs. Discuss what the following inventions have made possible.•paper – books, letters, easy note-taking, money•the telescope – violence at greater distances, observation of the skies around, astronomy•the bicycle– faster travel for individuals, greater range of movement•the automobile – leisure driving, movement of goods, suburbs and commuting, better communications •the radio – coordination of activities, ability to communicate over distance, growth of music industry with increased leisure time listening, public education•the airplane – the tourist industry, ease of long distance movement and communication, movement of perishable cargo, bombing•the mobile phone – ability to be in touch all the time, greater safety, ease of arranging events and meetings and adjusting to problems and delays•the personal computer – access to huge quantities of information, e-communication, e-trade, instant access to news, leisure activities and games2 Work in pairs and discuss the questions.1 Which of the inventions in Activity 1 do you use the most in your daily life?I use my bicycle to get around, but I certainly spend more time on my phone than on my bicycle. I checkmessages and call friends whenever I have a spare moment. Then in the evening I use my computer for hours when I am studying and preparing assignments. As for paper, I guess life would be unthinkable without it. After all, I need money and we are not a cashless society yet!2 Are there any inventions in Activity 1 that you could live without?I have never actually used a telescope. I am sure they have many uses but for me personally atelescope is completely unnecessary. And since I bought my first car, my bicycle has become pretty useless too!3 What other inventions are important in your daily life?Let’s think our way through the day. Air-conditioners, fans and heaters are all great. All the kitchen equipment too – kettles, stoves, rice cookers, refrigerators, microwaves and so on. Then I travel to college by train so add all the different types of rail transport to the list. While travelling I listen to my ipod. Next, I use the escalator and lift. For some classes we use LCD projectors, televisions or VCD / DVD players. Later on in the day I need a water heater for my shower. The list gets longer and longer!4 What do you think might be invented in the next ten years? What would you like to see invented?I expect us to be able to have amazing virtual reality experiences. It will be just like entering afilm or walking down a street thousand of miles away. That will be great. But most of all I hope we can find a source of clean energy. If we could find a way to fuel all the things we want to do without polluting the air and land or causing climate change, that would be the greatest invention ever.The human spirit Unit 10Active reading (2)1 Work in pairs and look at the photo. What are the water conditions like? How safe would you feel in a boat in those conditions?Those waves are enormous. I would be scared stiff. I don’t think many ships could survive seas like that. I would be getting ready to drown.2 Read the title of the passage. Check (¸) the dangers that you think the writer describes.√strong windsan unsafe boatraindangerous companionshis own lack of skillanother boat√ a sudden calm√wild wavessharks√physical exhaustionThe stormLanguage points1 As a result, the Petite Jeanne rode bow on to the wind and to what sea there was. (Para 5)As a result, the boat is in an unnatural position pointing into the wind and as a result the waves which move in the same direction.2 … and made a raffle of our running gear, but still we would have come through nicely had we notbeen square in front of the advancing storm center. (Para 6)The wind destroyed our running gear, but if we had not been hit directly by the storm center, we would have avoided our ship being smashed into pieces. In the story the narrator advises the captain to run with the wind and hope to be blown through and beyond the storm, but instead he chooses to stay where he is with the result the storm hits them directly from in front and smashes the ship to tiny pieces.3 That was what fixed us. (Para 6)That was what settled our fate.4 In the absence of the wind and pressure the sea rose. (Para 8)As was described in Paragraph 4, the wind held the sea down by blowing across it with such force, soUnit 10 The human spirit10when the eye of the storm passes over them suddenly the pressure and wind which had been keeping the sea almost smooth is removed and the water leaps up in great fountains around them.5 But there I was, with nothing to do but make the best of it, and in that best there was little promise.(Para 10)To make the best of a situation is to try to save something from a bad state of affairs. The narrator is in the water with a typhoon around him, so he does not expect even the best he can do will be of much use. Reading and understanding3 Choose the best way to complete the sentences.1 The writer says that the wind (b).(a) was not as strong as the waves(b) was unbelievably strong(c) killed one of his companions(d) contained sand and mud2 The writer believes they would have sailed well except that (d).(a) they were on the most dangerous side of the hurricane(b) the Petite Jeanne had an unreliable anchor(c) the wind was too strong and cold(d) they were directly in front of the hurricane’s center3 When they reached the centre of the hurricane, the winds (b).(a) became stronger(b) stopped completely(c) changed direction(d) became weaker4 Passing through the centre of the hurricane caused (a).(a) enormously large and dangerous waves(b) fierce wind and rain(c) a large number of smaller waves(d) the Petite Jeanne to turn the wrong way5 The writer says that (c).(a) he doesn’t know where the Petite Jeanne is(b) he doesn’t know how the Petite Jeanne survived(c) the Petite Jeanne was broken into pieces(d) he fell off the Petite Jeanne4 Look at the sentences from the passage. Decide what the underlined pronouns refer to.1 Wind? Out of all my experience I could not have believed it possible for the wind to blow as it did.There is no describing it. How can one describe a nightmare?(a) The wind.(b) A nightmare.(c) All of the writer’s experience.2 It was the same way with that wind. It tore the clothes off our bodies. I say tore them off, and I mean it.(a) The clothes.(b) Our bodies.(c) The wind.3 Language may be adequate to express the ordinary conditions of life, but it cannot possibly express anyof the conditions of so enormous a blast of wind.(a) Language.(b) Life.(c) A blast of wind.4 It was a conical canvas bag, the mouth of which was kept open by a huge loop of iron.(a) The bag.(b) The mouth.(c) A loop.5 The blow we received was an absolute lull. There was not a breath of air. The effect on one wassickening.(a) The blow.(b) A breath of air.(c) A person on the ship.6 In the absence of the wind and pressure the sea rose. It jumped, it leaped, it soared straight toward theclouds.(a) The wind.(b) Pressure.(c) The sea.7 The result was that the seas sprang up from every point of the compass. There was no wind to checkthem.(a) The seas.(b) Every point of the compass.(c) Corks.8 The Petite Jeanne? I don’t know. The heathen told me afterwards that he did not know. She was literallytorn apart, ripped wide open, beaten into a pulp, smashed into kindling wood, annihilated.(a) The Petite Jeanne. (Ships are commonly referred as feminine. Here the name also is a woman’s.)(b) The heathen.(c) The seas.Dealing with unfamiliar words5 Match the words in the box with their definitions.1 relating to muscles (muscular)2 the sound of liquid hitting something, or the sound of something falling into a liquid (splash)113 a violent storm with extremely strong winds and heavy rain (hurricane)4 the border along the side of a road (verge)5 to break something noisily into many pieces by dropping or hitting it with a lot of force (smash)6 used to emphasize that something is very strong or especially large (terrific)7 to pull something suddenly using a lot of force (jerk)6 Complete the paragraph with the correct form of the words in Activity 5.The word tsunami, from Japanese, means “harbour wave”, and refers to a large wave or series of waves that hit the shore with a (1) terrific force. Most people have seen the (2) splash of high waves during bad weather, but tsunamis are strong enough to (3) smash houses and other buildings along the shore, and can (4) jerk people and animals off their feet and carry them out to sea. Even a (5) muscular person is probably not strong enough to resist the force of a tsunami by holding onto a tree or other support. People sometimes mistakenly think that tsunamis are caused by (6) hurricanes or other storms, but that is actually not true. Instead, tsunamis are usually caused by earthquakes, usually at sea. If you ever suspect you are in an area that is on the (7) verge of being hit by a tsunami, you should move to higher land as quickly as possible.7 Replace the underlined words with the correct form of the following words.1 One of the pleasures of deep-sea diving is swimming through schools of countless colourful fish.(multitudinous)2 The drinking fountain shot up a stream of water that splashed my face. (spout)3 Flying a kite takes practice. For a beginner, it is not easy to control it. (bridle)4 The ladder was set at a right angle to the side of the ship. (perpendicular)5 When the airplane descended too quickly, the effect was stomach-turning and made me feel ill.(sickening)6 Cautiously, the explorers passed through the mouth of the enormous cave. (maw)8 Answer the questions about the words and expressions.1 I f something is impalpable, does that mean that it (a) cannot be felt, or (b) is impossible tounderstand?2 I f you have an inkling of a situation, do you have (a) a small, partial understanding of it, or (b) amysterious bad feeling about it?3 If you are numbed, are you (a) very confused, or (b) unable to feel anything?4 If someone is paralyzed, are they (a) extremely ill, or (b) completely unable to move?5 I f there is a lull in a storm, is there (a) a period of calm and stillness, or (b) a sudden change in winddirection?6 I f someone demonstrates maniacal behaviour, do they act like (a) an arrogant or conceited person, or(b) a crazy, irrational person?7 I f you accidentally jostle someone, do you (a) insult them, or (b) physically bump or push againstthem?8 If a situation confounds you, does it (a) completely confuse you, or (b) totally bore you?9 If you annihilate something, do you (a) destroy it, or (b) protect it?10 If you have a poor recollection of events, do you have a bad (a) understanding, or (b) memory of them? 1Reading and interpreting9 Work in pairs. Identify the real items in the passage which the writer compares with the objects below.• a nightmare – the confusion and horror of the wind• a kite – wind•sand – wind•corks – the arrangement and action of the sea anchor•mud – the waves / spouts of water and their motion•explosions – splashes of water / waves10 Check (¸) the type of book you think the passage is taken from. Give reasons for your choice.√ a travel magazine√ a short storyan autobiographya book about learning to saila history bookA short story. It is possible it is from an exciting autobiography though the focus is less on the writer than onthe storm itself. It could also be from a travel magazine but their focus is more on pleasurable experiences than deadly storms. The descriptive style creates excitement, suspense and even fear in the reader – thesort of effects adventure stories seek to induce. Extreme experiences would fit badly into a book of sailing instruction. History is not normally written in the first person.Developing critical thinking11 Work in pairs and discuss the questions.1 Why does the writer spend three paragraphs describing the wind, and then say that the wind isimpossible to describe?The less something can be described adequately, the more different ways we need to use to try. Perhapsby amassing words and comparisons we can go some way towards achieving a description.2 How can sailors avoid such experiences as this one?The passage comes from a century ago. Ships can now receive constant weather updates and should beable to avoid tropical storms.3 What types of extreme weather make unsafe travelling conditions?Almost all – too much rain leads to slippery surfaces and the risk of landslips and flooding. Duststorms reduce visibility. Snow and ice make road surfaces dangerous with cars skidding out of control.High winds endanger large vehicles. And extreme weather at sea may be dangerous to ships.4 What types of extreme weather have you experienced?• I live near a major river which some summers turns into a frightening torrent.• My part of the country has deep snow and intense cold. Travel has to be planned very carefully.•I n Fujian we experience super typhoons with winds like those described in the passage, and rainwhich is more like a waterfalls from the sky than normal rain.1。
