Harry's Injury 1
Harry Beecham works for a hi-tech German company based in Munich (慕尼黑).
Last month he was in an automobile accident.
He was on his way to attend an important meeting in New York City.
He had just arrived on a flight from London and was taking a taxi into the city.
Question:
— What was the purpose of his trip?
— to attend an important meeting
Repeat & Read Sentences:
1. Last month he was in an automobile accident.
2. The purpose of his trip was to attend a meeting.
3. Harry Beecham works for a hi-tech German company based in Munich.
The weather was terrible and the road was icy.
He was in a hurry, so he asked the taxi driver to get him into the city as soon as possible.
The taxi driver agreed and sped up, but just as they left the airport, the car went out of control.
It spun around and skidded into the path of an oncoming truck.
Fortunately, the truck wasn't going too fast, so nobody was killed.
But the taxi was severely damaged and both passengers were injured.
Questions:
1. — What can contribute to the accident?
— The bad weather
2. — What might have happened if the car had been going faster?
— Somebody might have been killed
Repeat Sentences:
1. Fortunately, the truck wasn't going too fast, so nobody was killed.
2. If the weather had been better, the accident wouldn't have happened.
3. But the taxi was severely damaged and both passengers were injured.
The taxi driver survived with only a few injuries because he was wearing a seatbelt.
The taxi's airbag had also deployed, absorbing much of the impact.
However, Harry, who was in the back seat, hadn't put on his seatbelt.
As a result, he was severely injured and had to be rushed to a hospital.
Question:
— Why wasn't the taxi driver injured more severely?
— He was wearing a seatbelt.
Repeat Sentences:
1. Had he put on his seatbelt., he might not have been injured so badly.
2. The taxi driver survived with only a few injuries because he was wearing a seatbelt.
3. However, Harry, who was in the back seat, hadn't put on his seatbelt.
Harry’s Injury 2
Now, a month later, Harry still can't remember much of what happened.
When he first woke up in the hospital, it was several hours after the accident, and he wasn't sure where he was.
The bad news was that he couldn't move his legs.
This was because his back had been broken in the accident.
The doctors later told him that he might never regain the use of his legs.
Some of the nerves in his spine and legs had been damaged, but everything else was okay.
Question:
— Why might he never regain the use of his legs?
— Some of the nerves in his spine and legs had been damaged.
Repeat Sentences:
1. The bad news was that he couldn't move his legs.
2. This was because his back had been broken in the accident.
3. Some of the nerves in his spine and legs had been damaged, but everything else was okay.
Now, Harry is trying to figure out what to do.
If he works hard and exercises everyday, there is still a chance that his legs will recover on their own.
There are also some new treatments that might help his nerves regenerate.
Still, he should be prepared for a long recovery and the possibility that he might never walk again.
Without the use of his legs, he wouldn't be able to continue working in the same way.
It wouldn't be possible to travel, so he would have to find another way to attend meetings.
Either that or he would have to look for another way to make a living.
Questions:
1. — What should he be prepared for?
— He might never be able to walk again.
2. — What will happen if he regains the use of his legs?
— In this case, he'll be able to continue working in the same way.
Fill in the blanks:
Without the use of his legs, he wouldn't be able to continue working in the same way.
It wouldn't be possible to travel, so he would have to find another way to attend meetings.
Either that or he would have to look for another way to make a living.
Repeat Sentences:
1. It wouldn't be possible to travel, so he would have to find another way to attend meetings.
2. Now, Harry is trying to figure out what to do.
3. Either that or he would have to look for another way to make a living.
4. If he regains the use of his legs, he’ll be ableto continue working in the same way.
Harry has good disability insurance, so money won't be a problem for a while.
But sooner or later, he wants to be able to earn a living again.
Of course he isn't planning to give up on his legs.
If he works hard, he might still be able to regain their use and learn to walk again.
Some of his nerves had been damaged, but there is a chance that they will heal.
The new drugs being developed might make it possible for the nerves to grow back.
Still, he has to face the possibility that nothing will work.
Question:
— What does he need to do if wants to regain the use of his legs?
— He'll have to work hard.
Repeat Sentences:
1. Still, he has to face the possibility that nothing will work.
2. But sooner or later, he wants to be able to earn a living again.
3. Some of his nerves had been damaged, but there is a chance that they will heal.
Whatever happens, Harry is determined to think positively.
Even if he can't walk, he can still attend meetings all over the world.
With new technology he could be anywhere, and there is much that he can still do.
Luckily, he still has the use of his arms and hands, and his brain is still functioning.
With the right attitude, he can find a way forward.
There is no reason for despair or feeling sorry for oneself.
That kind of thinking won't solve anything.
He just hopes that his company, or another company, will give him the chance to prove himself.
He can still be a valuable asset for them, come what may.
Question:
— What kind of thinking won't solve anything?
— Negative thinking
Repeat Sentences:
1. There is no reason for despair or feeling sorry for oneself.
2. He has a positive attitude toward life and is determined to prove himself.
3. He should be prepared for the possibility that he will never walk again.
4. When he first woke up in the hospital, it was several hours after the accident, and he wasn't sure where he was.
5. The new drugs being developed might make it possible for the nerves to grow back.