Picture a life without arms or legs. You cant hug anyone， or pick anything up with your fingers. You cant dance or travel anywhere by foot. How would you last a day like that？ Would you smile at yourself in the mirror？

Born in Melbourne， Australia in 1982 without any medical explanation or warning， Nicholas James Vujicic came into the world with neither arms nor legs. He may not look the same as other people， but he accepts that. Whats more， he has a hugely optimistic attitude which makes him stand head and shoulders above others.

Vujicic is one of the most popular inspirational speakers in the world. He travels the globe to deliver his story of how he overcomes disability and difficulty. He gives speeches to inspire and inform people about the true meaning of life. In a program， he asked the audience to look inside themselves and think about what they really want. He encouraged people to discover true values and purposes in life. “If you put your happiness in temporary things， then your happiness is temporary，” he said.

Despite his current success， Vujicic has struggled to come to terms with his differences. He was born with no arms and one small foot with two toes. As a teenager， he had to deal with challenges from the outside world and his inner self. At school， bigger boys insulted （侮辱） and bullied him. In the meantime， he struggled with loneliness， fear and frustration about looking different from everyone else. But he adapted to the situation. He learnt to type and write with two toes at the age of 6. He also managed to clean his teeth， brush his hair and swim， and learnt to surf and play golf. In college， he gained a double bachelors degree， majoring in accounting and financial planning. After that， he chased his dream by sharing his story and inspiring others.

So far， Vujicic has toured about 24 countries. He says that he likes using humor to cheer people up. He has discovered that motivating others to strive for their dreams is his purpose in life. “I tell people to keep on getting up when they fall and to always love themselves，” he told MailOnline. “If I can encourage just one person， then my job in this life is done.” Vujicic demonstrates （表達） that， with the right attitude， obstacles can become opportunities.

Activity A Reading for understanding

Ⅰ. Text⁃centered chunks

smile at 对……微笑

inspirational speaker 鼓舞人心的演讲者

overcome disability and difficulty 克服残疾和困难

think about 考虑

in the meantime 与此同时

a double bachelors degree 双学士学位

major in 主修

Ⅱ. Text⁃centered sentences

1. what引导的名词性从句

In a program， he asked the audience to look inside themselves and think about what they really want. 在一个节目中，他要求观众审视自己，思考自己真正想要的是什么。

【点石成金】what they really want是名词性从句，在主句中作宾语。

【运用迁移】人们已经听到了总统所说的，他们正等着看总统会做什么。

2. 现在分词作状语

In college， he gained a double bachelors degree， majoring in accounting and financial planning. 在大学期间，他获得了会计和财务规划双学士学位。

【点石成金】majoring in accounting and financial planning为现在分词作状语，与主句的主语是主动关系。

【运用迁移】听到这个消息时，他们都高兴得跳了起来。

3. so far充当现在完成时的标志词

So far， Vujicic has toured about 24 countries. 到目前为止，胡哲已经在大约24个国家做了巡回演讲。

【点石成金】so far为常见的现在完成时的标志词，意为“到目前为止”。其他常用的现在完成时的标志词还有recently、still、lately、up to present、up to now、till now等。

【運用迁移】到目前为止，你发现了什么？

Activity B Reading for writing

每年12月3日是国际残疾人日。假定你是李华，你校学生观看了尼克·胡哲的线上演讲。请你给他写一封邮件表达感谢，内容包括：

1. 表达感谢之情；

2. 感谢的原因；

3. 美好的祝愿。

注意：

1. 词数80左右；

2. 可以适当增加细节，以使行文连贯；

3. 至少需要使用一个本文中解析过的句式；

4. 注意段落内的逻辑关系。

写作导引

本次的写作任务是写一篇感谢信，要求学生表达对胡哲的感谢，具体写明感谢的原因并向他表达美好的祝愿，此外，至少需要使用what引导的名词性从句、现在分词作状语或so far充当现在完成时的时间状语中的一个。这些写作要求和所给语篇的主题语境、语言内容，如“胡哲虽有残疾，却仍保持乐观向上”“帮助他人实现梦想”是紧密相关的。我们可以通过整合同主题阅读材料的内容和语言，梳理写作思路和积累素材。

一、语篇解码

（一）主题归纳

What is the text mainly about？

（二）结构梳理与内容分析

Fill in each blank with only one word according to the text.

二、素材积累

（一）介绍积极人生态度的核心表达

1. have a hugely optimistic attitude 有很乐观的态度

2. stand head and shoulders above sb 鹤立鸡群

3. adapt to 适应

4. chase ones dream 追逐某人的梦想

5. motivate others 激励其他人

6. strive for ones dreams 为某人的梦想而奋斗

7. one of the most popular inspirational speakers 最受欢迎的鼓舞人心的演讲者之一

8. encourage people to discover true values and purposes in life 鼓励人们发现人生的真正价值和目标

9. deal with/tackle challenges from the outside world and ones inner self 应对来自外部世界和某人内心的挑战

10. If you put your happiness in temporary things， then your happiness is temporary. 如果你把快乐寄托在短暂的事物上，那么你的快乐也只是暂时的。

（二）感谢理由的核心表达

1. Im sincerely grateful for all your help in... 我真心感谢你在……对我的帮助。

2. Thank you for doing so much to make my trip interesting.谢谢你做了这么多，让我的旅行变得有趣。

3. Had it not been for you encouragement and guidance in...， I fear that I couldnt have achieved so much. 如果没有您在……的鼓励和指导，我可能不会有如此多的收获。

4. Your help benefited me greatly. 你的帮助让我受益匪浅。

5. I shall always remember your help. It not only...， but also...我将永远记得你的帮助。它不仅……而且……

6. Nothing could ever return the favor you gave me.没有什么能报答你对我的恩情。

7. I appreciate it more than I can say. 我的感激之情无以言表。

（三）感谢信的核心表达

1. I am writing to express my sincere/earnest thanks for...我写信是为了表达我对……诚挚的感谢。

2. I would like to take this opportunity to express my great appreciation for your timely support.我愿借此机会对你们的及时支援表示衷心的感谢。

3. My true gratitude is beyond the words.言语无法表达我真正的感激之情。

4. Please accept my sincere thanks for your help， which I will never forget. 请接受我真诚的感谢，我将永远不会忘记你的帮助。

5. Please have no hesitation in writing to me， should you want me to do something for you help.如果你想让我帮你做点什么，请毫不犹豫地给我写信。

三、写作支架

本次的写作任务是写一封感谢信，根据任务的要求，语篇结构可定位为“表达感谢+表明原因+传达祝福”。文章的框架如下：

I would like to express my earnest gratitude to you for... （表達感谢）

It is your speeches that inspire us to discover... Moreover， your speeches make us realize that... （表明原因）

We wish you...in the future. （传达祝福）

四、语篇过手

根据以上提供的主题、主题表达和语篇结构，写出感谢信的第一、二、三段。第一段表达对尼克·胡哲的感谢；第二段表明感谢的原因，即从他身上学到的精神或受到的影响；第三段表达对他的祝福。总词数控制在80左右。

同时，学习运用前文阅读中出现的what引导的名词性从句、现在分词作状语或so far充当现在完成时的时间状语。尤其要注意表达的内在逻辑关系，需要注意使用恰当的连词。