Take Risks When There’s No

Danger

In-Class Reading

In-Class Reading: pre-reading questionsWhat differences could be made if we say “Take risks.” instead of “Take care.” to our friends? (Para 1-2)When are we faced with a risk? (Para 14)What does the word “risk” remind you of?What might happen if you confuse risk with danger? (Para 3-7, 9)What could be the (maximum) price for risks? (Para 8)What’s the difference between risk and danger? (Para 10) With the knowledge of the fundamental difference between risk and danger, what could you do the next time you face uncertainty? (Para 14-15-16)

Many of us have grown up with warnings to be careful.

When people leave one another, for example, they often say,

“Take care.” (Para 1)

Have you ever doubt the necessity of saying “take care”

What differences could be made if we say “Take risks.” instead of “Take care.” to our friends? (Para 1-2)“Take care.”---taking these words too

seriously could inhibit your development. (Do you agree?) “Take risks.”--- extremely successful? physically injured or

harmed?

When are we faced with a risk?(Para 14, 1st sentence)

---each time you do something new or different.

(BTW, do you want to make a difference or do something new?

—Only with the curiosity and the willing can we possibly make further discussion on this topic.)

What does “risk” remind you of? Adventure? Venture? Discomfort? Disapproval? Danger? Your flesh being torn into pieces? You being killed?(para 3-7)

When dealing with risks, many people often believe that risk brings danger.

This is because our language confuse danger with the possibilities of discomfort or disapproval that risk brings. (Para 3)

What might happen if you confuse risk with danger? (Para 7, 9) You color your thoughts about the future

with alarming thoughts… You will inhibit your action. (Para 7) When those strong expressions bother you,

you won’t take a risk. The only things that will be killed are your

initiative, your confidence, and your advancement.

(Para 9)

What could be the (maximum) price for risks? (Para 8)

You are NOT likely to be killed or fall into pieces (mistaken

expressions) BUT may experience some mild discomfort,

which is part of the risk for achieving final success.

You can advance your career by knowing the difference between risk and danger.

(Para 10)

What’s the difference between risk and danger? (Para 10)

Risk is when an outcome is uncertain.(uncertainty—possibilities---win-win or just

a discomfort)

Danger is when your flesh will be torn.(a metaphor, which implies that (?) )

Some new ideas succeed. Some don’t.

The risk of failure does not make the future dangerous.

Your flesh will not get torn during most changes.

(para11)

---Study one example (Para 12-13)

With the knowledge of the fundamental difference between risk and danger, what could you do the next time you face uncertainty? (Para 14-15-16)

1. Separate risk from danger.2. If you know that danger is likely….3. If you determine that danger is not

likely… If it seems that future is safe…4. Strategies: danger-free, risk

taking

More about risk taking The idea of taking risks does not appeal to everyone, but

those who truly believe in reaching for the sky often realize early in their lives that it would be impossible for them to do so if they do not take any risks.

Some people may be scared to take risks for the fear of failure.

one can achieve the impossible only by snapping out of one's present condition and play a few gambles.

The maximum that can happen is failure, but those who are bold enough to take risks do not get intimidated by the mere fear of failure.

知其不可为而安之若命---东方哲学的不完全的现代阐

释

明知不可为而为之---古希腊悲剧精神的核心

Laocoon’s choice and his destiny

when a risk does mean a danger…

Laocoön a Trojan priest of Poseidon (or Neptune) In the Trojan War, he warned the Trojans in vain

against accepting the Trojan Horse from the Greeks "Do not trust the Horse, Trojans / Whatever it is, I

fear the Greeks even bearing gifts.“ Laocoön was strangled by sea snakes, sent by the

gods who favored the Greeks. Because Laocoön had tried to warn the Trojan

citizens of the danger of bringing in the wooden horse, he incurred the wrath of the gods.

A priest was familiar to god’s will and was able to predict events before it happened.

As a priest, he must have known what could happen (the cruelest punishment from the gods) if he had chosen to tell Trojans the truth.

Yet he took the risk. But Troy was still conquered by Greeks, and Laocoon and his sons suffered the consequence in a painful way.

Language Study

I. Sentences

Or does the thought cross your mind that you might become physically injured or harmed? (Line 6)

Attributive clause?

Appositive clause?

The supplies ________ will be sent over within the week.

A) which they have asked for them

B) they have asked for them

C) that they have asked for them

D) they have asked for

Scientists have reached the conclusion ________ the temperature on the earth is getting higher and higher.

A) when B) but C) that D) for that

Please fill in the blanks with an appropriate word and then decide whether it is an appositive clause.

D

C

2. I know a manager who used to be frightened by the thought of speaking in front of an audience. (Line 32)

used to do

the thought of 相关的词组还有： at the thought of … 一想到 ······

the very (mere) thought of … 只要一想起 ······ 就 ······

Translation:

她一想到马上就要毕业了，就觉着很凄惶。 She was so upset at the thought of being

graduating / that she was going to graduate soon.

The very thought of graduation made her blue.

If you know that danger is likely, I suggest that you avoid the dangerous situation unless you know that you can manage the danger. (Line 46)

suggest 后跟 that 从句时，从句需用虚拟语气。

从句的谓语动词用（ should ） + 动词原形。

一些表示命令、建议、要求等的词后如果带从句时，从句往往需用虚拟语气。如：advise, order, demand, desire, insist, request, require, decide, recommend, etc.

The people demand that ______________________________.

人民要求部队马上撤退。

考试指令要求学生不能用红笔答题。

The examination instructions ask that

_______________________________.

the troops (should ) withdraw at once

the students (should) not use a red pen

II. Expressions

Did the thought cross your mind?

If you colour thoughts about the future with alarming thoughts, you will inhibit your action.

mild discomfort

Danger is when your flesh will be torn.

你是否这样想过？

倘若你在思想上给未来抹上惊恐的色彩，你的行动就会受到制约。

些微的不适

当你肉体要受到伤害时就有危险。

Your flesh will not get torn during most changes.

He created excessive anxiety.

She is frightened by the thought of doing sth.

danger-free, risk-taking strategies

大多数的变更不会使你受很严重的皮肉之痛。

他把自己搞得过分地紧张。

一想到做······,她就惊慌。

没有危险的冒险策略

III. Words and phrases

1. risk

n. danger of loss, harm, etc. 危险，风险

He was willing to serve as a mole into the

gangdom __________________ .

他甘愿冒着生命危险进入黑社会充当卧底。

at the risk of his life

There is a risk of his getting infected with HINI.

他可能会感染 HINI 。

=He risked his life serving as a mole into the gandom.

Take risk Risk one’s life / reputation …risk-Verb Risky

2. inhibit (Line 3, Para. 1)vt. hold someone or something back 妨碍；抑制

Those corrupt officials in government should know how to inhibit their greedy desires.

服用兴奋剂可能会让他无法继续自己的职业生涯。

Doping would probably inhibit him from continuing his career.

那些政府中的腐败的官吏应该知道如何抑制心中贪婪的欲望。

3. deal with (Line 9, Para. 3) 1) take action about 处理；对付

It seems that so far the Indian government does not want to take any action to deal with the problem of India’s fast-growing population.

看来印度政府目前不想采取任何的措施来应对国内人口快速增长的问题。Asian countries must act immediately and decisively to exploit a real but short-lived chance to deal with the spread of AIDS in the region.

亚洲国家应该迅速果断地采取行动，利用虽然近在眼前但却是稍纵即逝的机会来应对艾滋病在该地区的传播。

This book deals with the drug smuggling in some Asian countries.

2) be about; be concerned with 论述；涉及

这是一本论述亚洲部分国家毒品走私问题的书。

The next chapter of the novel deals with the obstacles he encountered during his youth.

小说的下一章讲述了他在青年时期所遭遇的种种挫折。

4. confuse (Line 10, Para. 3)vt. mistake someone or something for someone or something else 混淆，使混乱

On that matter, you should not have confused black and white.

在那个问题上，你不应该混淆黑白。

You must have confused famous gymnast Li Xiaoshuang with Li Dashuang, his twin brother.

你一定是把著名体操运动员李小双和他的孪生哥哥李大双搞混了。

Confuse A and B / Confuse … with…

名词形式： confusion

5. alarm (Line 18, Para. 7)

n. warning of danger 警报

The air-raid alarm could be easily heard across the city of Baghdad.

空袭警报在全巴格达城都能听到。

The outbreak of SARS and bird flu ________________ to human being’s consciousness of environmental protection.

非典及禽流感的爆发为人类的环保意识敲响了警钟。

sounds an alarm

There is nothing to get alarmed about.

没有什么可大惊小怪的。

vt. make people afraid that something unpleasant or dangerous might happen 使惊恐，使担心

I don’t want to alarm you, but there is a strange man sitting in your garden.

我并不想惊扰你，不过你的花园里坐着个陌生人。

6. likely (Line 20, Para. 8)

__________________ more Shenzhou manned spaceships

will be sent to the outer space in the near future.

在不久的将来，更多的“神舟”载人飞船会被送往外太空是很有可能的。

adj. probable or expected 可能的，有希望的

It’s quite likely that

Be likely ( to) / be unlikely (to)

Tell the children to stop bothering their father.

告诉孩子们不要再打扰他们的父亲。

7. bother (Line 23, Para. 9)vt. & vi. be or cause trouble to; worry

打扰，搅扰，烦扰

Don’t bother me with such foolish questions.

不要拿这么愚蠢的问题来烦我。

He was eventually dismissed ______________________ .

由于缺乏进取心，他最终还是被解雇了。

_______________________, you will easily be defeated by any opponent in the match though you were once the world champion.

如果不发挥自己的主动性的话，尽管你曾是世界冠军，在比赛中也会轻易被任何对手击败。

8. initiative (Line 24, Para. 9)n. the ability to start things, especially without being told to do so 主动性，进取心

due to the lack of initiative

Unless using your initiative

动词形式： initiate

The National Basketball Association of America decided to initiate a new plan in Asia to further promote the popularity of basketball.

美国的 NBA决定在亚洲地区开始实施一项新的计划来进一步促进篮球运动的普及。

vt. begin; set (a scheme, etc. ) working 开始；着手（计划等）

Exercises

Vocabulary Translation