B2U2 Key & Transcript

Part I Pre-Reading Task

Name Profession Obstacle(s)

dismissed from his high school
Michael Jordan basketballer
basketball team
Albert Einstein scientist late in speech development
demoted from her job as a news
Oprah Winfrey talk show host
anchor
Walt Disney film and TV producer dismissed from a newspaper job
dismissed from his football team
Lionel Messi footballer
for his small stature
removed from the company he
Steve Jobs businessman
started
struggles with drugs and poverty
Eminem musician
leading to a suicide attempt
Thomas Edison inventor deemed too stupid by his teacher
The Beatles musician rejected by a recording studio
Dr. Seuss writer rejected by 27 publishers
family misfortune, business
Abraham Lincoln statesman failure and repeated setbacks in
politics
What they all share is the obstacles lying in their path of advance, their refusal to give up and
their final success.

Transcript:
Famous Failures
After being cut from his high school basketball team, he went home, locked himself in his
room and cried. (Michael Jordan, 6 time NBA champion, 5 time NBA MVP, 4 time NBA All-Star)
He wasn’t able to speak until he was almost four years old and his teachers said he would
never amount to much. (Albert Einstein, theoretical physicist & Nobel Prize winner)
Was demoted from her job as a news anchor because she “wasn’t fit for television.”
(Oprah Winfrey, host of a multi-award-winning talk show & the most influential woman in the
world)
Fired from a newspaper for “lacking imagination” and “having no original ideas.” (Walt
Disney, creator of Mickey Mouse & winner of 22 Academy Awards)
At age 11 he was cut from his team after being diagnosed with a growth hormone
deficiency which made him smaller in stature than most kids his age. (Lionel Messi, 3 time FIFA
World Player of the Year)
At 30 years old he was left devastated and depressed after being unceremoniously
removed from the company he started. (Steve Jobs, co-founder of Apple Inc. & co-founder of
Pixar Animation Studios)

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 A high school dropout whose personal struggles with drugs and poverty culminated in an
unsuccessful suicide attempt. (Eminem, 13 time Grammy Award winner, sold over 90 million
albums worldwide)
The teacher told him he was “too stupid to learn anything” and that he should go into a
field where he “might succeed by virtue of his pleasant personality.” (Thomas Edison, inventor
of the incandescent light bulb)
Rejected by Decca Recording Studios, who said “we don’t like their sound … They have no
future in show business.” (The Beatles, the most commercially successful and critically
acclaimed band in history)
His first book was rejected by 27 publishers. (Dr. Seuss, bestselling children’s author in
history)
His fiancée died, failed in business, had a nervous breakdown and was defeated in 8
elections. (Abraham Lincoln, 16th President of the United States)
If you’ve never failed, you’ve never tried anything new.

Part II Text A

Comprehension
Text Organization
1.
Parts Paragraphs Main Ideas
Michael faced the most challenging competition in
Part One Paras. 1–2
his pole-vaulting career.
Michael’s childhood was marked by dreams and
Part Two Paras. 3–5
tough training.
Michael topped his personal best, won the
Part Three Paras. 6–12
championship and set a new world record.
What was most unusual about Michael’s victory was
Part Four Para. 13
that he was blind.

2.
1) It also has the element of flying, and the thought of flying as high as a two-story building is a
mere fantasy to anyone watching such an event.
As long as Michael could remember he had always dreamed of flying.
2) All of Michael’s vaults today seemed to be the reward for his hard work.

Recounting the Story

Note: Answers may vary. The following is one possibility.
As I heard the crowd groan, I knew my competitor had failed to clear it. It was time for my
final jump. However, the intensity of the moment filled my mind with anxiety. I was tense and my
palms began to sweat. I tried to shake off the tension, but was unsuccessful. At the critical
moment, I remembered my mother’s advice to breathe deeply and, breathing deeply, brought
myself under control. Then I was off, up and away, soaring like an eagle, just as I did in my

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recurring dreams. The thump of my landing brought me back to earth. I had done it! All the
sweat and hard work had paid off.

Interpreting Difficult Sentences

1. A 2. B 3. A 4. B 5. B

Language Sense Enhancement

1.
He began a very careful training program. He 1) worked out every other day with
weightlifting, with some kind of running work on 2) alternate days. The program was carefully 3)
monitored by Michael’s coach, trainer and father. Michael’s 4) dedication, determination and
discipline was a 5) coach’s dream. Besides being an 6) honor student and only child, Michael
Stone continued to help his parents with their farm chores. Mildred Stone, Michael’s mother,
wished he could 7) relax a bit more and be that “free dreaming” little boy. 8) On one occasion she
attempted to talk to him and his father about this, but his dad quickly 9) interrupted, smiled and
said, “You want something, 10) work for it!”

Language Focus
Vocabulary
I. Basic Practice
1.
1) She was so startled/scared by the sound of the back door opening in the dead of night that
she grabbed her mom’s hand and ran.
2) The company has to make great changes if it is to stay ahead of the competition.
3) The highlight of our trip to Shanghai was going to the Jinmao Tower to have a bird’s-eye
view of the city.
4) Tense and hot, we were really sweating as we waited for the announcement of the results.
5) He sat leaning against the back of the seat with his legs stretched out straight in front of
him.
6) She’s one of those habitually vain people who keep glancing at themselves in the mirror
when they think no one’s looking.
7) Mike is an extremely careless man. On one occasion, it was not until he got to an ATM that
it occurred to him he had left his bank card at home.
8) Traditional banks are confronting/are confronted with fierce competition from Internet-
based finance companies.
9) Salespeople who are willing to work longer hours will receive significant rewards.
10) Our classes were often interrupted by the rumble of coal cars and the moans of steam
locomotives passing by.
11) In my/his/their mind’s eye, she remains a little girl of six although she’s actually a grown
woman now.
12) He had tried to put the unpleasant scene out of his mind, but it kept on recurring to him,
especially in dreams.
13) They stood by a lake surrounded by tall brown mountains on one side and thick trees on the
other.
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 14) I’m really torn. On the one hand, I’d be starting a high-paying job doing what I’ve always
wanted for a living. But on the other hand, I’d have to move halfway across the world from
all my friends and family to do it.
15) I work out in the mornings now before work, and I find that it really gives me more energy
during the day.
16) I guess I have to be the one to bring you back to earth. This plan of yours will place too
heavy a burden on our finances.
2.
1) Mrs. White’s birthday coincides with her husband’s.
2) I can still remember the excitement of going to see my first football match.
3) It has been a week of alternate sunshine and rain.
4) Her strong determination to be a professional dancer made her parents give up their plan
for her future.
5) The expression on her face showed the growing tension she felt as she waited for her first
TV interview.
3.
6) Jessica’s victory over her competitors on the balance beam has caught a lot of media
attention. Her passion for and dedication to gymnastics have brought her career to a new
height. It is a real delight to watch her performing various moves with grace.
7) When George defeated his competitors in the 1,500-metre race and won the gold medal,
his friends shouted out in excitement. They came forward to hug him and to congratulate
him on the victory.
8) Historically the expression of intense emotions has been seen as a sign of weakness rather
than a rich inner life. However, numerous studies have shown that it is emotional intensity
that fuels joy in life, passion for learning, and the longing for achievement.

II. Words with Multiple Meanings

1) My parents urged me to work out in the gym for one hour every morning.
2) Florence has worked as a cleaner at the factory for a decade.
3) The service is still not satisfactory, but the company say they’re working on it.
4) To my disappointment, the manager’s plan of promoting the new products doesn’t work at
all.
5) The teacher has a lot of experience of working with children who don’t know how to learn.
6) The medicine was like magic, working instantly after she took it.

III. Collocation
1) Mike, a Green activist, made the suggestion that a large park be built near the community.
2) In a letter to his daughter, Mr. Smith expressed his wish that she (should) continue her
education to acquire still another degree.
3) There is no reason to hold the belief that plastic found in the depths of sea will not impact
human life.
4) Children need to feel safe about the world they grow up in, and it is unwise to give them the
idea that everything they come into contact with might be a threat.
5) Nobody believed his claim that he was innocent.
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Comprehensive Exercises
I. Cloze
In 1883, John Roebling, a creative engineer, got an inspiration to build a bridge across the
East River between Manhattan and Brooklyn in New York City. However, bridge building experts
thought it was only a(n) 1) fantasy and told him to forget about it. Roebling, nevertheless,
convinced his son, Washington, an up-and-coming engineer, that the bridge could be built. The
two of them discussed in detail how it could be accomplished and how to overcome the
obstacles 2) confronting them. Somehow they convinced bankers to finance the project and work
started on their dream bridge.
The project was only a few months under way when an on-site accident killed John Roebling
and left his son Washington seriously injured. Everyone was 3) scared and believed that the
project would have to be stopped, since the Roeblings were the only ones who understood how
the bridge could be built.
Washington Roebling was unable to move or talk. But 4) on the other hand, his mind was as
sharp as ever. One day as he lay in his hospital bed, an idea flashed across his mind that he could
use a code to communicate with his wife. All he could move was one finger, so he tapped out the
code on the arm of his wife. His wife would then pass on his instructions to the engineers
working on the bridge. For 13 years, Washington tapped out his orders with one finger,
overcoming 5) numerous obstacles. Because of his 6) determination/dedication and 7)
dedication/determination, the spectacular Brooklyn Bridge was finally completed. To this day the
Brooklyn Bridge has remained one of the 8) highlights of New York City.

II. Translation
Liu Min, a postgraduate of Nanjing University, has caught a lot of media attention recently.
She had conferred on her the title of Model College Student in 2019, which was a reward for her
hard work, determination, and dedication. Her friends and family members congratulated her on
her great accomplishment.
During the destructive earthquakes that hit Wenchuan, China in 2008, Liu Min was buried
for as long as 30 hours under debris before she was rescued. She was seriously injured and lost
her right leg, which was really a heavy blow to a 15-year-old girl. However, she was not scared by
her physical disability. On the contrary, she bravely confronted numerous obstacles and
continued to pursue her studies. In the end, she got through the tough time and was admitted
into Sichuan University as she had wished. Four years later, she was recommended for admission
into Nanjing University for postgraduate studies on account of her outstanding academic
performance.
Liu Min is also active in public service and tries her best to help those who are in need.

Part III Text B

Comprehension Check
1. b 2. c 3. b 4. b 5. c 6. a

Language Practice
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 1. Recent studies have shown that public awareness of environmental issues has been
dramatically increased.
2. Janet is popular with her colleagues, because she is more inclined than most people to help
them out when they are in need.
3. Little did I expect that Uncle Sam would die so soon. I found him in excellent health when I
called on him only a couple of weeks ago.
4. It was a horrible experience for us because we were stuck in traffic for about three hours.
5. People stamped their feet as the cold from the frozen pavement penetrated their shoes.
6. Just dismiss those ideas from your mind, for they are not worth thinking about.
7. Scientists tested the different materials at regular intervals to see how they were breaking
down.
8. In the past decades, many blue-collar workers have experienced a(n) progressive decline in
their standard of living.
9. Very often recovery from a disease will be more rapid when the patient has an optimistic
outlook on life.
10. Air quality is affected by a complex mix of factors, both natural and man-made.
11. You should hold on to those pictures. They may be worth a lot of money in the future.
12. My boss is making my life thoroughly miserable with her constant demands and criticism.
13. I agree with you to a degree, but I have serious doubts about your conclusions.
14. The student’s indifference to learning frustrated/frustrates the teacher.
15. In spite of all the warnings, the hikers decided to climb the hill without a local guide, and
ended up having to be rescued.

Part IV Comprehensive Language Practice

Viewing & Comprehension Practice

1.
Ladies and gentlemen, this is the Thousand-hand Bodhisattva Dance. Pretty cool, huh? One
would think that a performance this 1) difficult and precise would require all five senses. Well,
think again, because all these dancers 2) can’t hear the music, making this performance even
cooler. 3) Founded in 1987, the China Disabled People’s Performing Art Troupe performs eloquent
4) dances, plays and operas. The music is performed by the 5) visually impaired and the dance
numbers are performed by those 6) hard of hearing. The Thousand-hand Bodhisattva Dance is
the troupe’s 7) most popular performance. It was also one of the most difficult dances for them
to 8) learn. And that’s where Xiangtian comes in. She and other instructors use 9) sign language
to help conduct the dancers.
2.
Bin: We have our own little tricks of the trade. For example, we listen to each other’s 1)
breathing patterns during difficult transitions, keeping 2) pace in ways that the audience wouldn’t
be able to 3) notice. Each year we perform in the US, Germany, France and many other countries.
This year we visited our 4) 100th country. I hope that through our music and performances we 5)
inspire others, whether disabled or not, to 6) gain confidence and pursue what makes them 7)
happy and fulfilled.

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Transcript:
Ladies and gentlemen, this is the Thousand-hand Bodhisattva Dance. Pretty cool, huh?
One would think that a performance this difficult and precise would require all five
senses. Well, think again, because all these dancers can’t hear the music, making this
performance even cooler.
Founded in 1987, the China Disabled People’s Performing Art Troupe performs eloquent
dances, plays and operas. The music is performed by the visually impaired and the dance
numbers are performed by those hard of hearing. The Thousand-hand Bodhisattva Dance is
the troupe’s most popular performance. It was also one of the most difficult dances for them
to learn. And that’s where Xiangtian comes in. She and other instructors use sign language to
help conduct the dancers.
(speaking in Chinese: “If I clap my hands, they aren’t able to hear those sounds. But
through the beat of the drum, their feet can feel and pick up the sound vibrations that come
through the floor, helping to interpret the beat. Through that method, they learn the dance.
This was not accomplished within one or two days. At first they would just stare at me, and
that affected the learning process. We wanted the dancers to rely less on our directions. By
incorporating the rhythm into their movements, they learned to dance fluently.”)
They also realized that spending time together offstage would not only enhance their
friendship, but their performance onstage as well.
(sign language: “We eat together, sleep together, practice together and live together.
There is no spoken language to describe our relationship. We grew this connection during the
long time we’ve spent together. And it’s the same on stage.”)
In Bin’s case, he and other musicians develop their own technique for playing without
being able to see.
(speaking in Chinese: “We have our own little tricks of the trade. For example, we listen to
each other’s breathing patterns during difficult transitions, keeping pace in ways that the
audience wouldn’t be able to notice. Each year we perform in the US, Germany, France and
many other countries. This year we visited our 100th country. I hope that through our music
and performances we inspire others, whether disabled or not, to gain confidence and pursue
what makes them happy and fulfilled.”)

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