Unit 3

My Stroke of Luck

About the Author

Kirk Douglas: (1916- ) American film actor and producer

Spouse: Anne Buydens

Sons: Michael Douglas, Eric Douglas, Joel Douglas and Peter Douglas

About the Author

Pre-reading Activities

What is Kirk Douglas’s main point in this article?

Can you list some phrases including “luck” or “lucky”?

What do you think the title “a stroke of luck” really refers to?

Have luck Good luck! / Best of luck! good / bad / hard / tough luck be in / out of luck Try / chance your luck Lucky you / me! a lucky dog Thank your lucky star! Some people have all the luck! Stroke of luck

The Title

My Stroke of Luck stroke:

1) a sudden occurrence or result 　突然的事 　 a stroke of luck / fortune 一桩意外的幸事 / 运气 　 a stroke of misfortune

　 a stroke of lightening 一道闪电 　 a stroke of genius / inspiration 聪明之举 / 绝妙的主

意　 2) an occasion when a blood tube in your brain sud

denly bursts or is blocked 中风　 have / suffer a stroke

Pun : a figure of speech; a play on words, sometimes on different senses of the same word and sometimes on the similar sense or sound of different words.

双关：一种文字游戏，有时利用同一个词的不同意思 , 而有时利用不同词的相近意思或发音

　

Pun 1. We must all hang together or we shall all han

g separately. ( 意义双关 )

2. Seven days without water make one weak.( 谐音双关 )

3. I’m a Ford, not a Lincoln. ---- President Gerald, R. Ford

puny adj.

一语双关的 ; 带双关谐语的

More examples of pun:

杨柳青青江水平，闻郎江上唱歌声。东边日出西边雨，道是无晴却有晴。

空对着，山中高士晶莹雪；终不忘，世外仙姝寂寞林。

杰拉尔德 ·R· 福特（ 1913 年出生）是美国第 38 任总统，他说话喜欢用双关语。

有一次，他回答记者提问时说：“我是一辆福待，不是林肯。 众所周知，林肯既是美国很伟大的总统，又是一种最高级的名牌小汽

车；福特则是当时普通、廉价而大众化的汽车。福特说这句话，一是表示谦虚，一是为了标榜自己是大众喜欢的总统。

Structural analysis: Part 1( Para 1-2) Introduction

Part 2 (Para 3-4) His wife’s intuition and good judgments

Part 3(Para 5-7) Romance and marriage

Part 4(Para 8) Back to his recovery from the crash.

Part 5( Para 9-13) How his wife handled her crisis and helped rebuild his confidence.

Part 6(Para 14) Conclusion

offer: to express willingness (to do something)

e.g. It was very nice of her to offer, but I couldn’t let her pay for the meal.

offer sb. a drink give sb. a ride: give a free journey to sb.

Para. 1Para. 1

collide v. to hit each other accidentally 互撞；碰撞

e.g. The two planes collided with each other in mid-air （半空中） .

Many people were hurt when the two buses collided on the corner.

collision n. the act of colliding 碰撞；互撞 e.g. So many unfortunate cases have risen fr

om the collision of different cultures.

survive vi. & vt.: to not die in an accident or war or from an illness 幸存

survive in sth. survive sth.

e.g. Seven people survived (in) the accident.

There are concerns that the refugees cannot survive the winter.

2. instantly adv. immediately, at once 立即，马上

e.g. I recognized her instantly I caught a glimpse of her.

He pressed the button and instantly there was a strange sound.

instant: adj. instant noodle, instant coffee instance: n. (moment; example) e.g. You get back here this instance! I will not

say that again!

There are many animals in sight, the kangaroo, for instance.

Question for Discussion

What does the author mean by “ Another helicopter ride. Just what I needed?

He means that he needed the prompt transport to their neighborhood hospital by helicopter.

Para. 2

wreckage: n. something wrecked or the debris of something wrecked 残骸

wreck: v.& n. 船只飞机等失事，破坏 e.g. The explosion shattered nearby windows

and wrecked two cars.He has been warned that his behavior might wreck his chances of promotion 晋升 .

L.A. ---Los Angeles

Para. 3 psychiatrist: 精神病学家（医生） survivor’s guilt: p. 33 intuition: the power of sensing or knowing wi

thout the use of rational processes 直觉 The old hunter knew by intuition that the deer

was nearby. depressed adj. sad or gloomy 忧伤的；抑郁

的；消沉的 e.g. I need something to occupy my mind. I g

et depressed if I have nothing to do.

depressing: adj.

It was such a depressing moment that no one could strive for a smile.

depression n. a feeling of sadness and hopelessness 沮丧；愁苦；抑郁；失望情绪

the Great Depression 大萧条时期 (1929-1933)

suicidal: with a tendency to commit suicide

Para. 4

flee: to run away, as from trouble or danger

flee, fled, fled occupation: career; vocation subtitles: 字幕

Para. 5 star v. to appear as a main performer in a fil

m 主演；担任主要角色；由…担任主演 e.g. He has starred in many pictures. show up: appear

e.g. He didn’t show up until the last moment. delicate: exquisitely fine or dainty: 精细的，

雅致的： e.g. delicate china. 精美的瓷器 striking: very attractive

miff: to cause to become offended or annoyed.

be miffed with/at 生 ... 的气 get/have/take a miff 生气 , 发脾气 in a miff 生着气

Para. 6 temporary a. lasting only for a limited period

of time 暂时的；临时的；短暂的 e.g. We apologize for the temporary inconve

nience caused by the building work. on a …basis: 在…基础 ( 原则 ) 上 e.g. I expect you to have a complete physical

check-up on a weekly basis. first thought

DIFFICULT SENTENCE

But that took some doing on my part too.

But I also made some efforts to adjust myself.

take some doing: 大费周折；不容易 on someone’s part — on the part of somebo

dy 就…而言；关于某人的 e.g. It was a mistake on the part of Jones to s

ign the agreement without reading it.

Para. 7

poignant adj. keen or strong in mental appeal 深刻的；强烈的

meet up with: to encounter; run into 偶遇 We slipped away to Las Vegas to tie the knot.

We went to Las Vegas secretly to get married. slip: to escape tie the knot ( 俚语 ): to get married

…given that I’m sometimes as an actor wrapped up in his ego.

…because I am sometimes too proud of myself as an actor.

given that: considering…;if 在…情况下 ; 如果

　 e.g. “I’d come and see you in New York, given the chance.”

　 Given more time, our team would have won the championship.

provided that…: if providing that…:if

be wrapped up in — to be totally absorbed in 被 .... 迷住；全神贯注在

e.g. He doesn’t have much time for a social life, because he’s too wrapped up in his work.

ego: n. 自我；自负 I should have apologized to him, but my ego

would not allow me to. After the crash, I couldn’t sit without extreme

pain. After the crash, I suffered from extreme pain i

f I did not lie down.

Para. 9 console v. to give comfort to someone in tim

es of sadness 安慰；抚慰；慰问 consolation: n. consolation match; consolati

on prize feel sorry for oneself 情绪低落 ,垂头丧气 undergo v. to experience or suffer 经受 ; 遭受

e.g. He was frightened when he realized he would have to undergo a dangerous heart operation.

diagnostic adj. of or relating to diagnosing 诊断的

diagnostic surgery: 诊断性手术 diagnose v. to discover the nature of a disea

se 诊断疾病 malignant adj. (of a disease) serious enough

to cause death if not prevented 恶性的（肿瘤）

benign adj. (of a disease) not dangerous to life; not malignant 良性的

authorize v. to give permission or power to 授权

e.g. I authorized the man to act for me while I was away.

authorization n. right or official power to do something 授权 , 认可

Para. 10

finance: to provide money for; to fund deplorable: very bad

Para. 11 beneficiary n. the receiver of a benefit 受惠

者；受益人 e.g. Her husband was the chief beneficiary of

her will. benefit: v. & n. beneficial: adj. be beneficial to sb. manicure: n. & v. 修手指甲

Para. 12

treat n.

(1) something that gives pleasure, joy, or delight, esp. when unexpected 使人愉快的事；乐事

(2) (one’s ~) one’s act of buying or giving something special or paying for the food, drink, amusement, etc. 某人作东；某人请客

e.g. Now remember this is to be my treat, so I’ll pay for everything.

Para. 14 epiphany: n. 对真谛的领悟 inspire v.

　 1) to give a feeling of power, usu. to do good 使生灵感

e.g. The novel is obviously inspired by her childhood experience.

2) to encourage in (someone) the ability to act 鼓励；激励

e.g. I was inspired to work harder. inspiration n. an urge to produce good and

beautiful things, such as works of art 灵感

Questions for discussion

(1) What are your criteria or expectations for the personality of your better half?

(2) What is your idea of a successful marriage? Can you name some of the well-known couples that you consider have been blessed with a successful marriage?