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Achievements

Robert Swan

Polar explorer, TED Speaker

UNIT GOALS
“Beneath our feet: 90 percent of all the world's ice, 70 percent of all the world's freshwater.”

In this unit, you will...

. talk about personal achievements.

. read about an extreme explorer.

.watch a TED Talk about protecting a special place.

WARM UP

9.1

Watch part of Robert Swan's TED Talk.

Answer the questions with a partner.

1 Where do you think the speaker is?

2 Why do you think he's there?

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Climbers celebrate reaching the top of a mountain in Antarctica.

9A

We did it!

Vocabulary
Personal achievements

Match the words in each set.

1 run

2 get
3 lean

4 climb

5 win

6 finish

7 win

8 pass

9 get

10 get

11 give

12 start

into shape

a new language

a marathon

college

a mountain

an award

a job

a competition

an exam

a presentation

into college

a business

Which of the achievements above do you think are the most difficult? Why? Discuss with a partner.

I think running a marathon is the most difficult.

Really? | think learning a new language is more difficult.

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Listening
My great achievement

Listening for past time expressions

Listening for certain time expressions helps you understand when the speaker is talking about the
past. For example:

one year ago last week When I was a child, ...

A 9.2

Scott Leefe is an amateur marathon runner. Watch and check [/] his achievement.

He ran 12 marathons in one year.

He broke a national record for the marathon.

He won a marathon in Iceland.

B 9.2

Watch again. Match the events to the places.

1. Leefe ran his first marathon in

2. His favorite marathon was in

3. His most difficult race was in

4. He finished in third place in

Reykjavik, Iceland.

Okinawa, Japan.

Gwacheon, Korea.

Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

C
critical thinking
Personalizing

Do you know anyone who achieved something similar to Leefe?

Discuss with a partner.

Speaking
Talking about an achievement
A 9.3

what was speaker B's achievement?

a. How was the race last week? speech contest / talent show
b. Pretty good. I got second place. came in second / was runner-up
c. On, well done! congratulations / good job
d. Thanks! lt wasn't easy.
e. Did you get a prize?
f. Yeah, I did. I won a $50 book voucher.
g. Great! You must be really happy. really pleased / delighted
h. I am. It was really hard work, but it was worth it.

Practice the conversation with a partner. Practice again using the words on the right.

Think of something you achieved. Choose one of these ideas or think of your own. Join a group and
talk about your achievement.

a time you won something

a time you learned something

a time you achieved a goal

a time you passed an important exam

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9B
Exploring the world
Language focus Discussing past events

A 9.4

Read the information. Which achievement do you think is the most interesting?

Milestones in exploration
Edmund Hillary and Tenzing Norgay climbed Mount Everest. 1953
Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin became the first people to walk on the moon. 1969

Robert Swan walked to the South Pole. 1986

Ann Bancroft and Liv Amesen traveled across Antarctica. 2001

Gennady Padalka broke the record for the longest time spent in space. 2015

Valentina Tereshkova became the first woman to travel to space. 1963

Robert Ballard discovered the Titanic. 1985

Bertrand Piccard and Brian Jones flew a balloon nonstop around the world. 1999

Sixteen-year-old Jessica Watson sailed alone around the world. 2010

B 9.5

Listen to more information about Ann Bancroft and Liv Arnesen's achievement. Complete the
sentences.

1 Before they became explorers, Ann Bancroft and Liv Amesen worked as .

2 In 2001, they became the first women to cross the Antarctic on .

3 Their journey across Antarctica took months.

C 9.6

watch and study the language in the chart.

Talking about the past

In 1969, Apollo 11's Lunar Module landed on the moon.

Neil Armstrong was the first to walk on the moon. Buzz Aldrin was second.

They were on the surface of the moon for just over two hours.

Michael Collins was also on the mission but he didn't walk on the moon.

Piccard and Jones began their balloon flight around the world in 1999.

Were they successful? Yes, they were.

Did they make any stops on their journey? No, they didn't.

How long did the journey take? It took almost 20 days.

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D
Look back at the infographic. Write short answers to the following questions.

1 Was Valentina Tereshkova the first woman in space? Yes, she was.

2 Did Ann Bancroft and Liv Amesen journey across the Arctic?

3 Did Edmund Hillary discover the Titanic?

4 Did Robert Swan walk to the South Pole?

5 Were Piccard and Jones the first people to walk on the moon?

E 9.7

Complete the information with the correct form of the words in parentheses.

Listen and check your answers.

Sarah McNair-Landry ' grew up (grow up) in northem Canada. Her parents were Arctic guides, so it's
not surprising that she * (want) to explore from an early age. At age 18, she (ski) to the
South Pole. She (be) the youngest person ever to do this.

In 2007, McNair-Landry, her broiher, and a friend

(decide) to snow-kite 2,300 kilometers across Greenland. She (want) to

raise awareness of global warming, and she (hope) to inspire a new generation

of explorers.

In 2015, she and a friend (travel) for 120 days in the Arctic by dogsled. According

to McNair-Landry, the most difficult thing about the trip (be) keeping the dogs happy. Often |

they simply (not want) to run.

Use the words to write questions. Ask and answer them with a partner.

1 you/ pass / your last exam? Did you pass your last exam?

2 when/you/ last win / a prize?

3 what / you / achieve / last year?

4 be/you/a good student / in middle school?

Speaking Round-the-world adventure

A

Read the beginning of the story of Jessica Watson's round-the-world sailing trip.

Australian Jessica Watson sailed around the world alone. She left Sydney on October 18, 2009. She
was just 16 years old.

You are going to read more about Jessica Watson's trip. Student A: Tur to page 144.

Student B: Turn to page 141.

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9C

Extreme survival

Photo of Robert Swan and team member taken during the “Antarctica expedition, 1985

Pre-reading Scanning
A

Scan the passage quickly. What was Robert Swan's great achievement?

B Read the passage to check your answer.

9.8

At age 11, Robert Swan knew he wanted to be an adventurer. Inspired by famous polar explorers
Roald Amundsen and Robert Scott, Swan wanted to become the first person to walk to both the North
and South Poles. People told him he was crazy, but in 1985, after years of raising money, the first part of
this adventure could begin.
In January 1986, Swan and his team arrived at the South Pole following a 1,400-kilometer journey
through Antarctica's intense conditions. Just three years later, Swan put together a new team to head
to the North Pole. After walking 1,000 kilometers in 60 days, the team arrived at its destination. Swan,
in his own words, became the first person stupid enough to walk to both Poles.
During those two expeditions,? however, Swan noticed some frightening things. At the South
Pole, his eyes changed color and his skin blistered due to a hole in the ozone layer.# At the North Pole,
1,000 kilometers from safety, the ice started to melt beneath his feet. This was four months earlier than
the usual "melt season." These experiences made Swan realize something--the Poles were in real
danger.
That feeling never left Swan. He now works to raise awareness about climate change and the ice
melt of the South and North Poles. In doing this, Swan hopes that he can not only help in the
preservation of these two amazing places, but also in our own survival here on Earth.

Understanding main ideas

Circle the main idea Jo each paragraph number below.
 1.
a. From young age, Swan wanted to explore the North and South Poles.
b. Swan was oul youngest man to walk to the South Pole.
2.
a. The journey to the North Pole Was more dangerous than the one to the South Pole.
b. In ou 1980s Swan became the person to walk to both Poles.
3.
a. During out expeditions, Swan saw that the Poles were in danger.
b. Swan thought about stopping ƏUl expeditions due to the many dangers.
4.
a. Swan hopes that one Kep Ou can return 01 the South Pole.
b. These days Swan works to teach people about the dangers of climate change.

Understanding details
Complete the Venn diagram using the information below.

a. 1,000-kilometer journey

b. 1,400-kilometer journey

c. traveled with a team

d. arrived at destination in 1986

e. arrived at destination in 1989

f. ice started to melt four months earlier than usual

g. skin and eyes damaged due to hole in ozone layer

Building vocabulary
A

Complete the paragraph below using the correct form of words in blue from the passage.

More than 100 years ago, Robert Falcon Scott to Antarctica in an attempt to
become the first person to reach the South Pole. In January 1912, after a long and difficult expedition in
the cold, Scott and his team successfully reached their destination.
However, when they got there, they found that a Norwegian team, led by Roald Amundsen, had already
arrived 34 days earlier. On the return journey. Scott's team faced a struggle
for as they suffered in the extreme conditions. Sadly, Scott and his four
companions all died before they reached home.

Complete the definitions below. Circle the correct words.

1 If something is beneath you, it is (above / below) you.

2 An example of something that can melt is (ice cream / orange juice).

C
critical thinking
Applying What other places in the world have intense conditions? Discuss with a partner.

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9D
Let's save the last pristine continent

Tedtalks

Robert Swan has made it his mission to protect Antarctica. He knows from experience that what is
happening there threatens the Earth's long-term health. His idea worth spreading is that the
preservation of Antarctica is linked to our survival, and that it's within our power to slow down the
melting of ice in the South Pole.

Previewing

Read the paragraph above. Match each bold word to its meaning. You will hear these words in the TED
Talk.

1. connected:
2. a very important task.
3. to put in danger:
4. keeping the same:

Viewing

A 9.9

Watch Part 1 of the TED Talk. Circle T for true or F for false.

1 Swan describes himself as an environmentalist.

2 On the expedition, Swan's team had radios so that they could call for help.

3 It was so cold that water could freeze in their eyes.

4 The journey to the South Pole took 90 days.

B9.10

Watch Part 2 of the TED Talk. Complete the summary with the numbers you hear.
Robert Swan has taken more than businesspeople and students to Antarctica so that
they could experience the place for themselves. During these visits, they removed tons of
old waste metal over a period of years and recycled it in South America. Swan has
been to Antarctica times. He believes everyone who goes there returns home as a
champion' for this amazing place.

C 9.11

Watch Part 3 of the TED Talk. What "simple solution" does Swan suggest to stop the melting of
Antarctica's ice? Circle the correct answer.

a. We should all use more renewable energy. If we do, people won't need to use Antarctica's
resources and we can also slow down the melting of Antarctica's ice.
b. Antarctica can provide a lot of renewable energy. If we use energy from Antarctica, people will
realize how special the place is. It can also help slow down global warming.

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critical thinking

Inferring

Discuss the following questions with a partner.

1. Why do you think Robert Swan chose to have no backup on his expedition to the South Pole?
2. Robert Swan describes India and China as "game-changing nations." What do you think he
means?

Vocabulary in context
9.12

Watch the excerpts from the TED Talk. Choose the correct meaning of the w

Presentation skills
Pausing effectively

Pausing at an appropriate time allows the audience time to stop and consider speaker's message. You
can pause after an important point or a question you want the audience to think about.

A 9.13

Watch the excerpt. Notice how Swan uses pauses when he speaks.

B9.14
Read the excerpt below. Mark with a / where you think Swan will pause Watch and check your
guesses.

I have faced head-on these places, and to walk across a melting ocean of ice is wit doubt the most
frightening thing that's ever happened to me.

Look at the paragraph about Robert Swan on page 104. Imagine this is part of a presentation you are
giving. Mark with a / where you think you should pause. T practice reading the paragraph to your
partner.

A polar bear in the Arctic jumps from one piece of ice to the next.

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9E
Great achievements

Communicate

An achievement

Work with a partner. Think of a person who made an important achievement in one of the following
categories.

sports

entertainment

medicine

Inventions

education

science

exploration

technology

Research Information about this person. Find answers to some of the following questions. Take notes.
What does this person do?

Why did you choose this person?

What was his or her achievement?

What did he or she need to do to achieve it?

What's your opinion of this person's achievement?

Did anyone help him or her?

Why is the achievement important?

What other events in this person's life are important?

How long did it take?

Use your notes to prepare to talk about the person and his or her achievement. Then tell another pair.
Answer any questions.

Interrupting politely

Sorry, can just stop you there?

Sorry, do you mind if I ask a question?

Sorry, can I just ask something?

Writing

A biography

Use your notes from the activity above to write about a person who achieved something important in
his or her life. Include information about the person's background and childhood.

Usain Bolt was born in Jamaica in 1986. As a child, Bolt was interested in playing cricket, but his
coach suggested that he try running instead. Boit took part in a 200-meter race at school and won with
a time of 22.04 seconds...

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Presentation 3
Model presentation

Complete the transcript of the presentation using the words in the box.
ago most beach quite best stayed didn't too In was largest were

I'd like to talk to you about the amazing place I've ever visited. The Great Barrier Reef is
the coral reef system the world. It stretches for more than 2,300
kilometers off the east coast of Australia. You can even see it from spacel I went there with my best
friend about two years . We both really love diving, so this our dream holiday.
We in a hotel on Heron Island, which is just off the coast. It's a beautiful place. The thing
about the island was that we need to take a boat to visit the reef-the reef was right
there, just off the .

We saw some amazing things while we were diving. There so many different kinds of
colorful fish. We even saw a sea snake that swam very close to us. To be honest, I was scared!

The only bad thing about my trip was that it was much short. We stayed for three
days and spent most of our time in the water. I'd love to go back again and maybe go diving in a different
place.

Thanks for listening.

B P.3

Watch the presentation and check your answers.

CP.3

Review the list of presentation skills from Units 1-9 below. Which does the speaker use? Check [✔]
each skill used as you watch again.

The speaker

introduces herself

uses effective body language

introduces her topic

uses effective hand gestures

involves the audience

gives some statistics

shows enthusiasm

pauses effectively

thanks the audience

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YOUR TURN
A

You are going to plan and give a short presentation to a partner about a place you've visited, or a place
you'd like to visit. Use some or all of the questions below to make some notes.

What's the name of the place?

Where is it exactly?

What's special about it?

What did you do there? / What would you like to do there?

Look at the useful phrases in the box below. Think about which ones you will need in your presentation.

Useful phrases

Natural features:

beach, canyon, desert, island, lake, landscape, mountain, ocean, waterfall

Adjectives to describe natural features:

deep, dry, high, long, wide

Stronger adjectives:

amazing, brilliant, fantastic, magnificent, wonderful

Past time expressions:

ago, last, When I was...

Work with a partner. Take turns giving your presentation using your notes. Use some of the presentation
skills from Units 1-9. As you listen, check [✔] each skill your partner uses.

The speaker

introduces himself/herself

gives some statistics

uses effective body language

shows enthusiasm

introduces his or her topic

pauses effectively

uses effective hand gestures

thanks the audience

involves the audience

Give your partner some feedback on their talk, Include two things you liked, and one thing he or she can
improve.

That was great. You paused effectively, and you showed enthusiasm. But you
forgot to introduce your topic.