1、Taking responsibilityExtended readingRead the transcript of a speech given at the students coming-ofage ceremony by their pricipal.Honoured guests, teachers and students, it is my pleasure and privilege to welcome you here today and present my thoughts on this special occasion.Students, the time has
2、 arrived for you to fully accept your passage into adulthood. I have seen you grow from nervous Senior 1 students into confident young adults, who sit before me today, ready to embrace the next phase of your lives. You must be both excited and anxious about the new experiences that are in store for
3、you. Dont worry, for you are all responsible young people, well prepared and well equipped to successfully manage the challenges of the years ahead.At school, you have gradually understood the importance of a well-developed sense of responsibility. You accept that you are responsible for your succes
4、ses and your failures. Hopefully, you have learnt to treat responsibility not as a weight that burdens you, but rather as a foundation which will support your future development. A ship without an anchor is at the mercy of the waves and winds; likewise, a person who has no sense of responsibility is
5、 at the mercy of their own careless and thoughtless behaviour.As students, you must take your studies seriously and accept responsibility for your own learning. This means meeting deadlines for your schoolwork, following your teachers guidance, and of course, always aiming for academic excellence. H
6、owever, your responsibilities go far beyond your studies. As you go through your daily life,you will encounter many difficult situations where things may go wrong. Instead of being quick to blame others, analyse the problem, and if it is indeed your own fault, be ready to admit your mistake and then
7、 correct it. This way, you practise the virtue of courage. Always give your best in whatever you set out to do, however difficult that might be. This way, you practise the virtue of determination. Be Honesty and responsibility honest by saying what you mean and by meaning what you say. This way, you
8、 practise the virtue of integrity. Taking responsibility in all aspects of your everyday life, therefore, will help build a strong character.Apart from personal development, assuming responsibility for your actions is also important for the betterment of society. Society is an organic whole, and as
9、social beings, we have a responsibility to make a contribution. You may have heard the story of a small boy who tried to save starfish left on the beach after a storm, by throwing them back into the sea. Passers-by told him that he was wasting his time, for he could not possibly save them all. Howev
10、er, the boy was not discouraged, believing that he could make a difference to the ones that he saved.As a result, the passers-by felt inspired and joined him in saving the starfish. Similarly, the little things you do can make a difference! For example, picking up garbage around your neighbourhood c
11、ontributes to a cleaner environment. Reporting a speeding car helps ensure road safety. Being energy-efficient leads to savings of our precious natural resources. Doing volunteer work at a local nursing home brings love and warmth to the elderly. Just like the “starfish boy”, you may even inspire pe
12、ople around you to do the same, which is an added bonus. Working together, we have the power to gradually but continuously advance our society.So, dear students, take your first step into the adult world by accepting your responsibilities, so that adulthood will be an enjoyable and rewarding experie
13、nce for both you and those around you. Sometimes, responsibilities may weigh heavily on you. However, just as the Chinese saying goes, “Jade is good-for-nothing if not carved.” A man cannot be perfected without trials. Sow the seeds of success today and your harvest will be great tomorrow. I wish yo
14、u every success in your adult life!A Write a summary of the speech transcript. Use the following ideas to help you. The importance of taking responsibility Taking responsibility for yourself and its rewards Taking responsibility for society and its rewardsB What is the relationship between taking re
15、sponsibility for yourself and takingresponsibility for society?C What are the consequences of not taking responsibility? Support your ideas withexamples.Honoured guests.尊敬的各位来privilegeprivlid3n荣幸；特殊利益vt.给予特权，特别优待*It is my pleasure and privilege to. 我很高兴也很荣幸地.on this special occasion 在这个特 殊的时刻accept.
16、into.接受进入.confident adj.自信的；确信的be confident ofabout 对有信心 be confident that.对坚信；embraceImbreis vt.vi.欣然 接受；包含；拥抱phasefeizn.阶段，时期*embrace the next phase of your lives 拥抱你们人生的下一个阶段in store 贮藏着；准备着；将要发生lanuage pointbe equipped to do sth.有能力做某事manage the challenges of 应 对的挑战1gradually adv逐渐地the importanc
17、e of.的重要性 a sense of responsibility责任感， 责任心be responsible for对.负责； 是的原因treat.as.把看作.not.but.不是而是.anchornk（r）n.锚；给以安全感的人（或物）vi.vt.抛锚；使固定at the mercy of 任处置，对无能为力mercym3：sin仁慈，宽恕likewiselaikwaizadv.同样地； 也，而且have no sense of responsibility 没有责任感21thoughtless adj轻率的；欠考虑的；考虑不周的22takeseriously 重视；认真对23acc
18、ept responsibility for 为 承担责任24deadlinededlamn最后期限，截止日期meet deadlines for 如期完成.25guidancegaidnsn指导；导航follow ones guidance 遵循某人的指导26aim for 瞄准；以为目标27 go far beyond 远远超过28 go through 经受；经历；经过29encounter v遭遇；邂逅；遇到*encounter the situations where. 遇到.的情况30 go wrong 出毛病；弄错；发生故障31 be quick to do sth立刻做某事32
19、faultfo：ltn过错，责任；弱点，缺点33virtuev3：tfu：n美德；正直的品性；优点the virtue of.的美德34 give ones best 拼尽全力35set out to do sth着手做某事，开始做某事36 integritymtegrtin诚实正直；完整，完好37 in all aspects of在的所有方面38 build a strong character 塑造坚强 的性格39 apart from除之外，还40assume vt承担（责任）assume responsibility for 为 承担责任41the betterment of的改善4
20、2organic o：gnikadj有机的，统一的；绿色的，不使用化肥的；生物的43 have a responsibility to do sth有 责任做某事44starfishsta：fifn海星，星鱼45 discourageddiskarid3dadj灰 心的discouraging adj.使人沮丧的；令人气馁的46make a difference to对有影 响作用make a difference 有影响，有关系47 as a result 因此；结果48 feel inspired 受到鼓舞inspire sb. to do sth.激励某人做某事49join sb in
21、doing sth加入某人做某事；和某人一起做某事50similarly adv类似地，差不多地；同样地，也51garbagega：bid3n垃圾；废话pick up garbage 捡垃圾52 contribute to 有助于；带来，促成53report vt举报54savingservinn节省物，节省；储蓄金55bonusbunsn意外收获；奖金，红利56 have the power to do sth有能力 做某事57take ones first step 迈出某人的第一步58rewarding adj值得做的；有益的a rewarding experience 一次有益 的经历
22、59 weigh on sbsth使焦虑不安，加重的思想负担60jaded3eidn玉，碧玉61 perfect vt 使完善；使完美；使完备62sow/su/vt.&vi.(sowed,sown) 播种，种63harvestha：vistn收成，收获量；收获季节，收割vt.vi.收割，捕猎grammarI have seen you grow from.into confident young adults, who sit before me today,ready to embrace the next phase of your lives.本句是一个复杂句式。who sit 至句末是
23、关系代词who引导的定语从句，对adults加以补充和说明；其中 ready to embrace.是形容词短语作状语，表示伴随。who引导的定语从句 Hopefully,you have learnt to treat responsibility not as a weight that burdens you, but rather as a foundation （which 引导定语从句）该句结构较为复杂，treat responsibility 后面接了两个介词as引出的短语，由并列结构not.but.连接。每个as短语里又各含有一个定语从句，that burdens you 修饰
24、 weight，which will support your future development 修饰 foundation.that 引导定语从句A ship without an anchor is at the mercy of the waves and winds; likewise,likewise, a person who has no sense of responsibility is at the mercy of their own careless and thoughtless behaviour.该句运用了类比的修饰手法。类比是通过比较两个事物之间的相似特征来
25、论证其中较复杂的事物，这样可以把抽象的事物变得具体，把深奥的道理变得浅显。句中将没有锚的船的遭遇与没有责任感的人的处境进行人请得担负责任的重要性。As you go through your daily life, you will encounter many difficult situations where things may go wrong.as引导时间状语从句where 引导定语从句，修饰situations主从复合句：时间状语从句+主句主句这是一个复杂句，属于主从复合句。由一个时间状语和一个主句构成。该主句本省也是一个主从复合句，其中包含着关系副词where引导的定语从句，对
26、situations加以修饰和限制。situation, case,point 可以表示抽象地点。 Always give your best in whatever you set out to do, however difficult that might be.这是一个复杂句，属于主从复合句。由主句和however 引导的让步状语从句构成。该主句本身也是一个复合句，它包含了whatever 引导的宾语从句，充当介词in的宾语。whatever 意为“无论什么”，在宾语从句中作do的宾语。whatever 引导的从句作介词in的宾语主句however引导让步状语从句主从复合句：主句+让步
27、状语从句You may have heard the story of a small boy who tried to save starfish ,by throwing them back into the sea. 过去分词短语作定语，修饰 starfish 方式状语关系代词who 引导定语从句，修饰 the small boyHowever, the boy was not discouraged,believing that he could make a difference to the ones that he saved.(that 引导定语从句，修饰 the ones) 现在分词短语作伴随状语先行词是 the ones,对其修饰和限制的定语从句用关系代词that 引导，不用which引导。that引导宾语从句thank you
