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1. Listening Comprehension

2. Background Information

Civil Defense

The Conelrad

3. Warm-up Questions

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Before Reading Global Reading Detailed Reading After Reading

Missiles


Listening ComprehensionDirections: Listen to the interview and fill in the chart with what you’ve heard.

A Minute of the Madrid Conference

Place of the conference Madrid

Topic of the conference 1)

RepresentativesHeads of state and government from several countries

Organizer The Club of Madrid

Discussion Areas

The 2) of terrorismThe 3) to the threatHow terrorism 4) democracy.How civil society can be 5) to face it.

AimTo promote international cooperation against terrorism in 6) ways

SolutionPeople believe the only way to solve the problem is by 7)

Global terrorism______________

causes______response________

challenges__________strengthened__________

practical_______

international cooperation______________________.

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Woman:

Man:

Woman:

Man:

Woman:Man:

(A female journalist is interviewing a representative at the Madrid conference on global terrorism.)

We know that heads of state and government from several countries have joined the conference in Madrid. What is the topic of the meeting? This conference is on global terrorism and security. It tries to find out the causes of violence and explore ways to reduce the threat.This conference has been organized by the Club of Madrid, a non-governmental organization of former presidents and prime ministers.Yes, the conference is to commemorate the first anniversary of last year’s train bombings in the Spanish capital. The attack killed 191 people, which has been the worst terrorist attacks in Western Europe’s modern history.What are the specific things they are discussing? Four main areas, in fact: the causes of terrorism; the response to the threat; how terrorism challenges democracy; and how civil society can be strengthened to face it.

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Woman:

Man:

Woman:

Man:

It is said that the aim of the discussion is also to promote international cooperation against terrorism in practical ways.Yes, the conference organizer Christer Elverson says that terrorism is a global phenomenon. So people believe the only way to solve the problem is by international cooperation. That is to say all countries that have been hit to work together.It is said that a plan of action on how to fight terrorism in the years ahead is going to be released on Friday. Yes, the conclusions are likely to reflect a European way based on prevention rather than the American way of reaction.


Background Information

1. Civil Defense


Civil defense is the national program of the U. S. to safeguard civilian life and property. With the coming of the age of missiles and rockets, civil defense has become a program for national survival.

With the menace of missiles, people may be doomed by fallout (放射性尘埃 ) – the dangerous radioactive particles or dust that is left in the air after a nuclear explosion. There is no practical way to protect people in the immediate range of a nuclear explosion. Civil defense, therefore, must be based primarily on a system of fallout shelters.

In 1961, the federal government of the U. S. began to survey to find shelter spaces in factories, office buildings, and other places. These shelters were to be stocked with essential supplies, marked for identification, and made available to the public in an emergency.


2. The Conelrad

Standing for Control of Electromagnetic Radiation, Conelrad was a system formerly used for broadcasting instructions over radio stations by shifting frequencies or going on and off the air irregularly in order to keep enemy aircraft or guide missiles from utilizing the beams of the station for navigation. Under the Conelrad system, all stations were to broadcast at 640 or 1240 kHz (Kilohertz), each station transmitting for only a few seconds and then transferring the broadcast to another station. The Conelrad system was abandoned and replaced by the Emergency Broadcast System (EBS) in August 1963 when it was decided that modern navigational aids would allow an enemy to find his target even without the use of a radio system.

Directions: Read the following paragraph and answer the questions.


1. What does “Conelrad” stand for?

It stands for Control of Electromagnetic Radiation.

2. Is Conelrad system still in use?

No, it has been abandoned.

3. What took the place of Conelrad system?

The Emergency Broadcast System.


Air-to-air and air-to-surface guided missiles are generally short-range, light, rocket-powered projectiles with sophisticated internal guidance systems. Both types were tested in wartime Germany, and the German radio-controlled glide bombs were responsible for sinking numerous Allied ships. Although these early missile weapons relied on optical tracking and control from parent aircraft, most current air-to-ground guided missiles depend on their own target-sensing mechanism once launched.

Missiles


Warm-up Questions

1. What is going on at Dr. Stockton’s one summer evening?

A birthday party.

2. Why does Stockton refuse to share his bomb shelter with his neighbors?

Because it can house three people only, that is, his own family members.

3. What is Stockton’s reason for refusing his neighbors to come into the shelter?

He says he doesn’t have any room or supplies and it’s designed for three people only.

4. What do the neighbors intend to do when they gather before the Stockton house with a giant log?

They intend to smash the door and go into it.

5. How do the Stocktons put resistance against their neighbors’ intrusion?

They put stuff up against the door.

Scan the text quickly and then answer the following questions.


6. What do the neighbors think of their own behavior once the crisis is over?

They regret for what they have done and want to pay for the damage.

7. What conclusions does Stockton draw from the events of the evening?

People sometimes are not destroyed by the bomb, but by their own selfishness, or they may be destroyed morally.

1. Part Division of the Text

2. Rhetorical & Stylistic Analysis

For Part 1 & 2 Questions and Answers

For Part 3 Role Play

For Part 4 Multiple Choice


3. Further Understanding

Part Division of the Text

Main IdeasParagraphsPart

1 1~2

2 3 (Act Two → A chorus of voices greet this with assent.)

The story began at Dr. Stockton’s house, where a birthday party was held one summer evening. It was suddenly broken up by an unexpected emergent radio announcement of suspected enemy missiles approaching. The guests hurried home but came back soon.

The neighbors wanted to share Dr. Stockton’s bomb shelter for their own security, but were refused because there was no more room.


Main IdeasParagraphsPart

3 4~9 (A chorus of voices greet this with assent. → Then from the portable radio in the corner comes. )

The crowd argued, quarreled and even fought for a chance to go into the shelter but still failed. So they smashed the door open.


4 9 (Then from the portable radio in the corner comes. → the end.)

In the end, the suspected missiles proved to be only a satellite. The Stocktons, their friends and neighbors were all spared from a bomb, but there would be no more friendship and neighborhood harmony among them.


Rhetorical & Stylistic Analysis

Directions: This text is an abridged version of Act Two of the television play “The Shelter”, which first appeared on the CBS Television Networks in 1961. Read the present play quickly and grasp the following elements of the drama.

Time One summer evening

Characters Dr. Stockton, his wife Grace Stockton and his son Paul Stockton Henderson, Mrs. Henderson Marty Weiss, Mrs. Weiss Jerry Harlowe, Mrs. HarloweMan # 1

Key Elements The Drama of The Shelter

Scene Dr. Stockton’s house


Key Elements

Conflicts At the surface level: people vs. people (e.g. Stockton vs. the others; Weiss vs. the Hendersons; Harlowe vs. the others)At the deep level: man vs. himself (his own selfishness because everyone in the play is selfish although in varying degrees)

Climax The shelter door was smashed down.

The Drama of The Shelter


Key Elements

Outcome The “enemy missiles” turned out to be satellites. All the characters were in an awkward situation because something valuable was destroyed.

Theme In some cases, human’s selfishness, which is usually hidden underneath, is more dangerous to human society than nuclear missiles.

The Drama of The Shelter


Questions and Answers

1. Why does the party break up in confusion?

Because the President of the United States declares the state of emergency for suspected enemy missiles approaching.

2. Why do the neighbors come back to the Stockton house soon after they leave in a hurry?

They want to share with the Stocktons the bomb shelter that is the only one on their street.


Role Play

Directions: The students are required to do a role play based on this part. The main roles are Dr. Stockton, his wife Grace Stockton and his son Paul Stockton; Henderson, Mrs. Henderson; Marty Weiss, Mrs. Weiss; Jerry Harlowe, Mrs. Harlowe. The role play should cover the main points in the story.

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