Legendary aviation survival tale

admin 2023年5月13日

Vocabulary:

I will read the words, meanings, and sample sentences. Then, repeat after me.

eject /ih-JEKT/

[verb] – to push, throw, or force something out of a place
As soon as the rollercoaster reached the end of the ride, the safety bar was released, and the passengers were able to eject from their seats.

plunge into /pluhnj into/

[phasal verb] – to suddenly experience a bad situation or unhappiness, or to make someone or something suddenly experience a bad situation or unhappiness
After carefully considering her options, Sarah decided to plunge into the challenging task of learning a new language.

intense /in-TENS/

[adjective] – extreme
During my first job interview, I was so nervous that I could feel my heartbeat increasing and my palms getting sweaty due to the intense pressure of the situation.

thankfully /thangk-FOOL-ee/

[adverb] – used, to show you are happy or grateful about something
I woke up late this morning and thought I was going to miss my bus, but thankfully it was running behind schedule, and I made it just in time.

legendary /LEJ-uhn-der-ee/

[adjective] – very famous and admired or spoken about
The legendary musician played the guitar so well that people traveled from all over the world to attend his concerts.

Article reading:

Please read the whole article. Then, I will check your pronunciation and intonation.

Have you ever heard of pilots ejecting from a plane and landing safely on the ground? Well, imagine doing that, but instead of the ground, you end up in the middle of the ocean. This may sound like something out of a Hollywood movie, but it actually happened to a group of pilots who survived one of the most harrowing experiences of their lives.

The story starts with a routine training mission for the US Navy in the 1960s. The pilots were flying over the ocean when suddenly their planes malfunctioned, and they were forced to eject. However, instead of landing on the surface of the water, they plunged into the depths of the ocean. The pilots were submerged in freezing water, and the pressure was so intense that their eardrums burst. Thankfully, these pilots had been trained for this type of situation. They managed to survive for hours by using their survival techniques and the limited resources they had. Eventually, they were rescued by the US Navy, and their story became one of the most legendary survival tales in aviation history.

The story of these pilots is a testament to the importance of training and preparation. While their situation may seem extreme, it serves as a reminder that unexpected events can happen, and it is crucial to be ready for them. These pilots were able to survive by staying calm, using their training, and relying on their ingenuity. Their story is an inspiration to all of us, showing that even in the face of adversity, we can overcome it with the right mindset and tools.

Discussion Questions:

I will read each question. Then, please answer them.

Have you ever experienced a situation where you had to rely on your survival skills? If so, could you tell me about it? If not, do you have any general knowledge or advice related to survival skills and techniques?
Can you share an example of a time when you had to stay calm in a difficult situation?
Do you believe that training and preparation can make a difference in life-threatening situations?
How do you think this story of the pilots can inspire people to be better prepared for unexpected events?
How do you think the experience of the pilots might have affected their future as pilots?

Summarization

Please summarize the whole article using your own words and expressions. You will have one minute to prepare before you answer.

Describe:

Please explain the definition of each word listed below based on your understanding. You can provide example sentences if needed.

pilot
Hollywood
malfunction
limited
adversity