Unit 9Unit 9

Text IText IWho Killed Benny Paret?Who Killed Benny Paret?

Objectives:Objectives:

1. Parallelism1. Parallelism 2. Development of 2. Development of

argumentative essayargumentative essay 3. Vocabulary and sentence 3. Vocabulary and sentence

structuresstructures

Teaching Tasks and Teaching Tasks and ProcessProcess

Pre-reading questionsPre-reading questions

What is your first reaction to the title of What is your first reaction to the title of the text? Most probably you want to knthe text? Most probably you want to know who Benny Paret was. Now you are tow who Benny Paret was. Now you are told that he was a prizefrighter . What do old that he was a prizefrighter . What do you think the article is about?you think the article is about?

What are the possible causes of What are the possible causes of the death of a prizefighter during the death of a prizefighter during a boxing match? His own health? a boxing match? His own health? His opponent? His assistant? His His opponent? His assistant? His lack of skill? The referee?lack of skill? The referee?

Have you ever seen a boxing Have you ever seen a boxing match in a film or on TV? If so, match in a film or on TV? If so, what do you think of this form of what do you think of this form of sport?sport?

What do you think the boxing What do you think the boxing fans like to see?fans like to see?

Background informationBackground information

This piece of writing is a magazine This piece of writing is a magazine editorial. It first appeared in Saturday editorial. It first appeared in Saturday Review (a weekly magazine published Review (a weekly magazine published in the U.S.A.) on 5th May, 1962. the in the U.S.A.) on 5th May, 1962. the writer gives us a serious account of a writer gives us a serious account of a single incident --- the tragic death of a single incident --- the tragic death of a prizefighter as a result of the society’s prizefighter as a result of the society’s questionable mores that regard questionable mores that regard prizefighting as a means of making prizefighting as a means of making money and giving entertainment.money and giving entertainment.

The Main IdeasThe Main Ideas

Paras. 1-2 --- the prize fight promoterParas. 1-2 --- the prize fight promoter Paras. 3-5 --- to please the crowd, the knockouParas. 3-5 --- to please the crowd, the knockou

tt Paras. 6-8 --- the ring, a massive hemorrhage iParas. 6-8 --- the ring, a massive hemorrhage i

n the brainn the brain Para. 9 --- the people who pay to see a man huPara. 9 --- the people who pay to see a man hu

rtrt Para.10 --- the prevailing mores that regard priPara.10 --- the prevailing mores that regard pri

zefighting as a perfectly proper enterprise and zefighting as a perfectly proper enterprise and vehicle of entertainmentvehicle of entertainment

Language pointsLanguage points

The explanation of the boxing The explanation of the boxing terms in English:terms in English:

areaarea: a building in which boxing : a building in which boxing matches are held and which matches are held and which provides accommodation for provides accommodation for the spectators and facilities the spectators and facilities (such as dressing and shower (such as dressing and shower rooms) for the participantsrooms) for the participants

boutbout: a contest between two boxers : a contest between two boxers which consists of a specified number which consists of a specified number of rounds and which usually ends in a of rounds and which usually ends in a decision by the judges in a knockoutdecision by the judges in a knockout

canvascanvas: the canvas-covered mat : the canvas-covered mat which forms the floor of the ringwhich forms the floor of the ring

clean hitclean hit: a fair and honest hit; a blow : a fair and honest hit; a blow that is dealt by conforming to the rulethat is dealt by conforming to the rule

count outcount out (a boxer): (a referee) (a boxer): (a referee) counts to ten before the boxer can counts to ten before the boxer can get up, so that the boxer loses the get up, so that the boxer loses the matchmatch

dancedance: move with one’s feet or body to : move with one’s feet or body to dodge the blows of the opponent but dodge the blows of the opponent but seldom attackseldom attack

dodgedodge: avoid (the opponent) by moving : avoid (the opponent) by moving suddenly asidesuddenly aside

feintfeint: deceive the opponent by making a : deceive the opponent by making a feint, that is, by making a quick feint, that is, by making a quick movement of the hand as if to punch, movement of the hand as if to punch, thus causing the opponent to move thus causing the opponent to move away or try to block, and thus leave an away or try to block, and thus leave an opening for a real punchopening for a real punch

fightfight: prizefight: prizefight fight managerfight manager: person who manages the : person who manages the

training and other activities of a training and other activities of a prizefighter prizefighter

jabjab: make a quick straight punch usually : make a quick straight punch usually on the headon the head

knockoutknockout: the termination of a match : the termination of a match when one boxer has been knocked when one boxer has been knocked unconscious or has been knocked down unconscious or has been knocked down and is unable to rise and resume boxing and is unable to rise and resume boxing within 10 secondswithin 10 seconds

maulermauler: the boxer who handles his : the boxer who handles his opponent roughlyopponent roughly

mouthpiecemouthpiece: a rubber guard held in the : a rubber guard held in the mouth by a boxer to prevent chipped mouth by a boxer to prevent chipped teeth or cut lips resulting from hard blows, teeth or cut lips resulting from hard blows, or a plate or strip of soft waxy substance or a plate or strip of soft waxy substance used by boxers to protect the teeth and used by boxers to protect the teeth and gumsgums

parryparry: block a thrust or blow by an : block a thrust or blow by an opponent in boxingopponent in boxing

prizefightprizefight: a public boxing match for a : a public boxing match for a money prizemoney prize

prizefighterprizefighter: boxer: boxer prizefight promoterprizefight promoter: an individual or : an individual or

organization that organizes a boxing organization that organizes a boxing match, and that guarantees the purse match, and that guarantees the purse (sum of money offered as a prize) for (sum of money offered as a prize) for professional boxersprofessional boxers

refereereferee: judge in charge of a : judge in charge of a prizefightprizefight

ringring: the small square space closed in : the small square space closed in with ropes in which a boxing match is with ropes in which a boxing match is conducted conducted

roundround: one of the periods of actual boxing : one of the periods of actual boxing into which a match is divided. A round geinto which a match is divided. A round generally lasts for three minutes with a one-nerally lasts for three minutes with a one-minute rest between roundsminute rest between rounds

(boxer’s) second: the person who helps (boxer’s) second: the person who helps a boxera boxer

slugger:slugger: a boxer who depends mostly on t a boxer who depends mostly on the strength of his punch and little on defehe strength of his punch and little on defence and boxing skill; also called a punchence and boxing skill; also called a puncherr

weaveweave: move from side to side to present : move from side to side to present a moving target to one’s opponenta moving target to one’s opponent

… … my my beatbeat was was education…education…

Beat is also called Beat is also called news beatnews beat or or runrun..

The local authorities decided to remThe local authorities decided to remove the reporter from the White Houove the reporter from the White Housese beat beat..

This fledgling newspaper reporter is This fledgling newspaper reporter is on the social security on the social security beat.beat.

There was nothing There was nothing spectacularspectacular in Mr. in Mr. Jacobs’ manner or appearance: but Jacobs’ manner or appearance: but when he spoke about prizefights, he was when he spoke about prizefights, he was no longer no longer a bland mana bland man but a but a colossuscolossus……

There was nothing in Mr. Jacobs’ There was nothing in Mr. Jacobs’ appearance and manner that would appearance and manner that would attract public attention, but when he attract public attention, but when he talked about prizefights, he was not talked about prizefights, he was not ordinary any more, he looked like a ordinary any more, he looked like a giant…giant…

spectacular: very impressive: a spectacular: very impressive: a spectacular achievement in sciencespectacular achievement in science

a bland little man --- a pleasantly a bland little man --- a pleasantly gentle or agreeable ordinary person. gentle or agreeable ordinary person. Little here suggests “of no Little here suggests “of no importance”; it is used in contrast to importance”; it is used in contrast to the word colossus, which means “a the word colossus, which means “a person of great importance”.person of great importance”.

4)4) colossus: a person or thing of colossus: a person or thing of very great size, importance or abilityvery great size, importance or ability

you you wind upwind up counting your counting your empty seatsempty seats

you end up with few people coming you end up with few people coming to watch the prizefight. To to watch the prizefight. To wind upwind up here means “to bring to an end”.here means “to bring to an end”.

The chairperson wound up the discThe chairperson wound up the discussion with a summary of the imporussion with a summary of the important points.tant points.

It’s getting late. We’d better wind It’s getting late. We’d better wind up the meeting.up the meeting.

.… .… appointed appointed a committee a committee to assess the responsibilityto assess the responsibility

Appoint meaning “choose someonAppoint meaning “choose someone to a post or to do a certain job” is e to a post or to do a certain job” is a formal word. Its Chinese equivalea formal word. Its Chinese equivalent is nt is 委任、任命委任、任命 . .

A committee was A committee was appointedappointed to inve to investigate the scandal.stigate the scandal.

… … certifiedcertified the physical the physical fitness of the fightersfitness of the fighters

declared that it was true that the bodeclared that it was true that the boxers were physically fit. xers were physically fit. CertifyCertify is a is a word used on formal occasions.word used on formal occasions.

The witness The witness certifiedcertified Jack’s prese Jack’s presence at the scene of the accident.nce at the scene of the accident.

I am writing to I am writing to certifycertify that Mr. C. Zh that Mr. C. Zhang graduated from our college.ang graduated from our college.

QuestionsQuestions

1. Why does the writer call himself 1. Why does the writer call himself a “fledgling newspaper reporter”?a “fledgling newspaper reporter”?

““A fledgling newspaper reporter” A fledgling newspaper reporter” means “a young inexperienced means “a young inexperienced newspaper reporter”. The writer newspaper reporter”. The writer was born in 1915, so in 1935 or was born in 1915, so in 1935 or 1936 he was only about twenty 1936 he was only about twenty years old.years old.

2. Explain the sentence: I found 2. Explain the sentence: I found myself on varied assignments, all myself on varied assignments, all the way from ship news to the way from ship news to reporting.reporting.

I found I was given different I found I was given different kinds of assignments, ranging in kinds of assignments, ranging in variety from ship news to sports variety from ship news to sports reporting.reporting.

3. What feeling does the clause “fel3. What feeling does the clause “fellow who could hit with the force of a low who could hit with the force of a baseball bat” give you?baseball bat” give you?

4. Explain the sentence: The Paret fi4. Explain the sentence: The Paret fight produced a flurry of investigatioght produced a flurry of investigations.ns.

5. Explain the sentence: No 5. Explain the sentence: No crowd ever brought to its feet crowd ever brought to its feet screaming and cheering at the screaming and cheering at the sight of two men beautifully sight of two men beautifully dodging and weaving out of each dodging and weaving out of each other’s jabs.other’s jabs.

6. Why does the writer go into 6. Why does the writer go into elaborate details to describe elaborate details to describe the human brain?the human brain?

7. Do you think that 7. Do you think that prizefighting should be declared prizefighting should be declared illegal? Give reasons to illegal? Give reasons to illustrate your point of view.illustrate your point of view.

Comments on the TextComments on the Text

1. The use of an intriguing title1. The use of an intriguing title

2. The telling use of authoritative 2. The telling use of authoritative “inside” information from the world “inside” information from the world of boxing. of boxing.

3. The subtle use of medical evidence in the 3. The subtle use of medical evidence in the description of what happens when the human description of what happens when the human fist delivers a strong blow to the head to give fist delivers a strong blow to the head to give strong support to his argument.strong support to his argument.

4. The skillfully dismissive way in which he 4. The skillfully dismissive way in which he suggests that the “investigators” looked into suggests that the “investigators” looked into every possible cause except “the real one”.every possible cause except “the real one”.

5. The persuasive argument that the primary 5. The persuasive argument that the primary responsibility for the boxer’s death lies with responsibility for the boxer’s death lies with “the people who pay to see a man hurt.” “the people who pay to see a man hurt.” (Paras.7,8,9,10)(Paras.7,8,9,10)

6. An attempt to create in the 6. An attempt to create in the reader a sense of guilt at Jacobs’ reader a sense of guilt at Jacobs’ portrayal of those who watch portrayal of those who watch boxing and a sharing with the writer boxing and a sharing with the writer of a sense of disgust when he of a sense of disgust when he describes in sickening detail the describes in sickening detail the crowd’s excitement at the brutality crowd’s excitement at the brutality acted out in the ring for their acted out in the ring for their entertainment.entertainment.

7. The clever way to issue an 7. The clever way to issue an implicit challenge to the reader implicit challenge to the reader towards the end of the editorial. towards the end of the editorial.

TEXT IITEXT II

A Piece of SteakA Piece of Steak

The author—Jack LondonThe author—Jack London

Jack London (1876-1916)Jack London (1876-1916) American novelist and short-American novelist and short-

story writer.story writer. His books were filled with:His books were filled with: AdventuresAdventures Exotic backgroundsExotic backgrounds Scenes of savage brutalityScenes of savage brutality

Novels by Jack LondonNovels by Jack London

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/f/f0/Sea-wolf_cover.jpg

QuestionsQuestions

1. Where did the story take place? (in 1. Where did the story take place? (in Australia)Australia)

2. What feature or features of Tom 2. What feature or features of Tom King tell people that he was a King tell people that he was a prizefighter?prizefighter?

3. Describe Tom King’s personality.3. Describe Tom King’s personality. 4. Why did tradesmen no longer agree 4. Why did tradesmen no longer agree

to let Tom King buy anything on credit?to let Tom King buy anything on credit? 5. What did Tom King do to support his 5. What did Tom King do to support his

family between fights?family between fights? 6. What do you think were the causes 6. What do you think were the causes

of Tom King’s defeat?of Tom King’s defeat?

Discussion/ExercisesDiscussion/Exercises

ORAL WORK ORAL WORK Role-play Role-play What Do People Come Out to What Do People Come Out to

See in a Boxing Match?See in a Boxing Match?

Assignments Assignments

Exercises on the Work BookExercises on the Work Book