A Martian Reading Strategy

Evaluating

Dream
• Think about whether
spending money to
go to Mars is a good
investment.

Q1 What are the

two reasons humans
humans on the moon for the very first time have had to wait for
half a century before
considering going to
half a century since then before seriously Mars? It’s because Mars
before the world seriously considers is too far from Earth, and
humans have had only limited
consider knowledge about it.

1969 7 20

11

which are

with • Martian
• spacecraft
• delay
• industrialized
• progress

The Future of Space Exploration 127

 Going to Mars

twice three times than

Q2 Why does reaching is being

Mars require a more

powerful rocket than
that for the moon? It’s
because Mars is more than 100
times farther than the moon
National Aeronautics and
Space Administration (NASA)

1958

to

Q3 What is the most with

e itin findin bo t
Mars for human to
survival? The most exciting to see if the plan works.
finding about Mars is water, a vital
ingredient for human life survival
Living on Mars
• aeronautics to
• planet
• orbit more much
• launch
• astronaut
• crew
• colony
• vital
• polar
• ice cap
• equipped with water
• come up with

128 Lesson 6
 that
International Space Station
to (ISS)
Mir)

16

Q4 What makes
farming on Mars more
challenging than on
the ISS? Recovering water
that is locked up in ice, the poor
that quality of the soil, and the weak
gravity of Mars make farming
on Mars more challenging.

Q5 What does NASA

plan to use until there
to
are enough plants
to od e s ffi ient
oxygen?
NASA plans to use specially
designed machines to
convert the carbon dioxide
convert A into B A B
into oxygen.

• complex • gravity • protein • carbohydrate

• sufficient • carbon dioxide • convert ~ into ...

The Future of Space Exploration 129

 Protecting Ourselves
Q6 Why does the
human heart have to
work harder on Mars
than on Earth? The heart has
to work harder to compensate gravity drags bodily fluids downwards
for the weak or zero gravity.

to

to

Q7 What harm does

cosmic radiation bring
to the human body?
It damages our DNA and
increases our risk for cancer.

• fluid
• weightlessness
be to 1
• artificial
• cosmic radiation be to 2
• magnetic field
• expose
• shelter

130 Lesson 6
 Martian exploration may
bring practical benefits
Reasons for Going There and a sense of our shared
destiny as the human race
The final question is this: Do we really have to go to Mars, Q8 What are the two
kinds of benefits of
spending such enormous resources and risking people’s lives? That exploring Mars?
is a reasonable question. Experts answer by mentioning two kinds
Sample Answer
of benefits Martian exploration may bring: practical benefits and I have read about our shared
which that destiny while reading about
a sense of our shared destiny as the human race. Practical benefits global warming. I think global
warming and space exploration
are economic, educational, and political. Space travel stimulates have in common that they both
industry and draws people into careers in science and engineering. are based on the fear that we
are destroying Earth and it may
draw into
And while space exploration is a collaboration between countries not sustain us some day.
Thinking Critically
to cover its high cost, having a space program raises any country’s
to Have you ever heard
standing on the world stage. about the human
race’s “shared destiny”
A sense of our shared destiny as the human race can be understood before? What does it
when considering the resources that are being depleted on Earth. have to do with this
when we consider text?
We humans need to find ways to survive before we consume all the
to
available resources on Earth. That is our shared destiny. Martian • exploration
• destiny
exploration can be seen as a step toward a human presence on another • the human race
• stimulate
planet. It is not an easy but a worthy dream for humanity. • collaboration
“You can’t really measure the value,” says a scientist involved in • deplete
who is • humanity
a Martian project. “If money is our only concern, everyone would • draw ~ into ...
• appeal to
study business. But we also want to give meaning to our lives. That’s
why dreams and passion appeal to humanity.”
Jo Carlowe, “Can We Survive on Mars?”, Asia Reader’s Digest.
Stephen L. Petranek, How We’ll Live on Mars.

Self-check 1st 2nd

it is this kind of challenge that can bring

positive: It is a worthy investment because about technological advancement .
negative: I think it’s a waste of money because the economic benefits mentioned here .
are not clear

The Future of Space Exploration 131

 Things That Were
Invented for Astronauts
NASA developed freeze-drying technology for the food of the
Apollo missions. After the process, the product retains 98% of its
nutritional value and weighs just 20% of its original weight.

Carbon fiber was invented by the British

in the 1960s but was given a boost by its use in space
flight. Strong, light, and heat resistant, it is found in everything
from bicycle frames to Formula One racing cars.

For the first U.S. human space flight program in the 1960s, scientists
developed monitoring systems to check the health condition of its
astronauts. The same technology is used today in the intensive care
units of hospitals.
<http://kearth101.cbslocal.com/2011/07/21/list-stuff-we-use-everyday-that-was-invented-from-the-space-
program/>

On the Web Search for other inventions from the space program being used today. Tell your
partner about them.

Self-evaluation
Communicative
Functions Is it likely that we can go to the moon during our lifetime?
I wish I could look at Earth from the space.

Language Forms
With many countries participating in those projects, scientists are making progress.
With more people becoming comfortable with spending online, e-payments is expected
to grow fast.
We have much more to learn about Mars, although much has already been discovered.
A lot of stories about space exploration have been reported in the media.

Reflection

The Future of Space Exploration 141

Coach
Carter
Special Lesson
 enny Carter is a former high school and college basketball
player, now running a successful business selling sporting goods
and now he is running
in Richmond, California. The basketball team of Richmond High It reflects [shows]
hopelessness. / They are
Being
School, where he played long ago, however, is in deep trouble. undisciplined.
be in trouble
Undisciplined both in the classroom and on the court, they register Q1 How would you
As they are undisciplined both A and B A B describe Richmond
disappointing seasons year after year. It is not just their problem, High basketball
players’ attitude
though. Their attitude toward basketball and studying reflects that toward basketball and
attitude
of the other students and teachers at the school: Hopelessness. studying?

Richmond High graduates only fifty percent of its students, of Sample Answer
I think it is a good idea
whom only a small number go on to college. because it can help students
and only a small number of the fifty percent students go discover and develop their
Upon repeated requests from the exhausted coach to take over talents in sports.
Thinking Critically
the team, Carter accepts the offer, but his plan is to teach more
What do you think of
than basketball. He wants to send the players to college because schools having sports
that
he believes a college education is the most effective stepping stone teams and coaches?
that
toward a better future for them. The first thing he does to carry out • undisciplined
his plan is having the players sign contracts, his idea of inspiring • register
have the players sign • contract
discipline and commitment. • commitment
• abuse
• disbelief
Carter: Good afternoon, young men. I’m your new basketball • carry out

coach, Ken Carter. (Players do not seem to be listening.) I

guess I need to speak louder so you can hear me. I’m Ken
Carter, your new basketball coach. (One of the players keeps
keep ing
shooting the ball.) You, shooting the ball. What’s your name,
sir?
Lyle: Jason Lyle, but I am not a sir.
Carter: As of now, you are a sir. So are the rest of you.
so are the rest of you
“Sir” is a term of respect. And you will have my
respect until you abuse it. I’m going to give you
contracts. If you sign and honor your side of
them, we are going to be successful.
(Students look at each other with a look of disbelief.)
Worm: Do I get a signing bonus for signing this
contract?
Coach Carter 143
 Carter: Yes, sir. You get to become a winner. Starting today, you will
play like winners, act like winners, and most importantly,
They have to maintain a you will be winners. If you listen and learn, you will win
2.3 grade point average,
attend all their classes, basketball games. And, gentlemen, winning in here is the
and sit in the front row of
those classes.
key to winning out there. This contract states that you will
Q2 What do the maintain a 2.3 grade point average. You will attend all your
players have to do to
keep the contract they
classes and you will sit in the front row of those classes.
signed?
The players do not like the idea of the contract, and two of the
leading scorers leave the team, while the others reluctantly sign the
contract and start to practice under Carter’s direction. With hard
training and new strategies, the team wins a game for the first time
in a long while.
Now that his plan on the court is on track, Carter checks his
plan in the classroom. To his regret, the players are not keeping
to
their contracts in that area. Some rarely attend classes, and others
classes some others
who attend do not make an effort to keep up with the class. Carter
decides to enforce the contract.
Q3 What is the
Carter: I have four seniors on this team, Junior, Lyle, Kenyon and
reason the Richmond
Oilers are invited to a Worm, all of whom I think can play basketball at the college
tournament?
It is because the team
level. College. That’s an available option for all of you, but
has won all its games this
season.
you have to perform in the classroom to have that chance.
You have to have a vision. You signed a contract. You made
a commitment. If you don’t perform in the classroom, you
make a commitment
• row will not play.
• reluctantly
• enforce
• undefeated One of the players leaves the team in protest, but after realizing
he
• tournament after he realizes that

• now that
he cannot give up basketball, returns with a promise to honor the
• keep up with contract. The Richmond Oilers begin to write a new history for
themselves: an undefeated season. As a result, they are invited to
the Richmond Oilers
a tournament during the Christmas holidays. To the
surprise of all, they win the tournament.

144 Special Lesson

 Back at the school, however, their academic progress reports
have been waiting on Carter’s desk and he does not like what he
finds in them. They are filled with failing grades and poor records.
be filled with
Carter realizes that the players still do not fully understand the
reason why they have to study. They are just happy with winning
games and few of them believe they can really go to college. With
their attitude, the more games they win, the farther away college
the the
gets from them. Carter decides to take severe measures that no one
has ever tried: Lock the gymnasium and cancel their scheduled
games until they achieve the target grades.

Carter: (raising his right hand) Gentlemen, in this hand, I hold Q4 What are the
which were measures that Carter
contracts signed by me and signed by you. (raising his takes after he sees
which were
left hand) In this hand, I hold academic progress reports his players’ academic
progress reports?
prepared by your teachers. We have six players failing at He locks the gymnasium
and cancels their scheduled
least one class, eight players getting “incompletes” based games.

on attendance. Gentlemen, you have failed to... No, I’m Q5 What are the
responses to Carter’s
sorry. We have failed. We have failed each other. Now, there severe measures?

are some of you who have upheld this contract, but we Players complain, parents
protest, and Principal
know that we are a team. Until we all meet the terms of this Garrison orders Carter to
meet open the gym.
contract, the gym will remain locked.

• academic
Players complain, parents protest, and Principal Garrison orders • progress
order to
Carter to open the gym, thinking his action has gone too far. Carter • gymnasium gym
as Principal Garrison thinks that his action • incomplete
refuses. • uphold

• Carter checking players’ progress reports and canceling their scheduled games.

Coach Carter 145

• Carter telling players to have a vision

The lock up of the gym and cancelation of the games draw

the attention of the local media. After answering questions from
reporters, Carter tells the disappointed players to accept the harsh
tell A to A
reality of their lives and come up with a vision for their future.

Carter: Let’s take this time to say what we want, whatever it is,
while the doors are closed. This is about us.
Battle: This is not about us. This is all about Coach Carter.
that
Lyle: We’re the basketball team. All I see is you on TV, getting
famous. that
Carter: Is that all you see?
that
Worm: It’s all I see.
Carter: Well, let me tell you what I see. I see a system that’s designed
for you to fail. Richmond High only graduates 50 percent of
to fail
its students, and of those who do graduate, only six percent go
among
to college. “Well, Coach Carter, if I am not going to college,
where am I going to go?” Now, that’s a great question. The
answer is this: Probably to prison. In this county, 33 percent
of black males between 18 and 24 get arrested. So look at the
Q6 What does Carter between A and B A B
promise the players? guy on your left. Now look at the guy on your right. One of
He promises to do
everything in his power to
you is going to get arrested. Now, I want you to go home, and
get them to college and to
a better life.
look at your lives tonight, and look at your parents’ lives, and
ask yourself, “Do I want better?” If the answer is yes, I’ll see
• harsh you here tomorrow. And I promise you. I will do everything
• prison
• arrest in my power to get you to college and to a better life.
1 2

146 Special Lesson

• Carter and parents giving their opinions at the education board meeting

Despite media reports that criticize the lock up of the gym,

there are growing voices that approve of Carter’s effort to improve
the players’ academic performance. At the education board meeting
to should
held at the angry parents’ request, parents demand that the gym be Q7 What do the
demand that should 1 players’ parents
opened and the basketball team resume playing. demand at the
should 2
education board
meeting?
Woman: This whole school, this whole community, is behind this They demand that the
gym be opened and the
team. Everybody goes to every game. Basketball is the basketball team resume
only thing that these boys have. Are we going to let Coach playing.
let
Carter come in here and take that away from them?
1 2
Carter: You need to consider the message that you’re sending
these boys. I’m trying to teach them the discipline that will
to
inform their lives and give them choices. If you approve of
that
the fact that 15-, 16-, and 17-year-olds don’t have to honor
the simple rules of a basketball contract, how long do
that
you think it’ll be before they’re out there breaking laws? I
took this job because I wanted to effect change in a special
that
group of young men, and this is the only way I know how
to do that.

Despite Carter’s sincere request, the board decides to take the

lock off the gym. Disappointed, Carter decides to quit and packs his • criticize
1
Because he is disappointed 2
things. When he enters the gym, however, he finds that his players • approve
• demand
have turned the gym into a classroom, ready to study there. • resume

Coach Carter 147

 Lyle: Sir, they can cut the chain off the door, but they can’t make
us play. that
Stone: We’ve decided we’re going to finish what you started, sir.
in the gym finish
Worm: Yeah, so leave us be, coach. We got things to do, sir.
leave us
Sample Answer Due to their efforts and teachers’ help, everyone reaches their
I made a lot of effort when I
entered an English presentation target grades, and they get back to their games. They keep winning,
contest. I practiced my
presentation and tried to deliver and finally are invited to the California State Tournament, the
my message clearly in English which
every day. I won second prize championship of which is the highest honor for a California high
in the contest. Even though
it wasn’t first pri e, I felt so school basketball team.
rewarded for my hard work.
Unfortunately, their first opponent is the number one team in
Q8 Why does Carter
the state, and after a tight game, they lose by one point. To Carter,
1
feel proud of the however, they are not losers. They are winners who beat their own
players?
It is because they have
weaknesses. After the game, Carter tells the players that they grew
achieved a victory within. up more than he expected.

Carter: You played like champions. You never gave up. You’ve
Talk about It give up
achieved something that some people spend their whole
Have you ever achieved spend ing
anything after making lives trying to find: a victory within. And, gentlemen, I am
a lot of effort? What did
you achieve? How did so proud of you. Four months ago, when I took the job at
you do it? Richmond, I had a plan. That plan failed. I came to coach
to
basketball players, and you became students. I came to
teach boys, and you became men. And for that, I thank you.
• opponent
• scholarship The Richmond Oilers did not win the State Championship, but
they won five college scholarships and six members of the team
went on to college.
Coach Carter directed by Thomas Carter, Starring Samuel L. Jackson, Rick
Gonzales, Robert Richard. MTV Films, 2005.

148 Special Lesson

 After You Read
A Review the text and complete the introduction of the movie.

Coach Carter

When former Richmond High School basketball player Ken

Carter accepts the job of basketball coach at his old high school, he
wants to send the players to college for a better life. He has the
players sign a contract that demands good grades and perfect
class attendance. With Coach Carter, the team wins games. But
when the coach learns that some members of his team are failing in
their studies, he locks them out of the gym . This measure
leads to the anger of the players, the parents, and the school.

B Read the lines from the text and match each one to the appropriate situation.

1. “Now, I want you to go home, and 2.

look at your lives tonight, and look at “Basketball is the only thing that
your parents’ lives, and ask yourself, these boys have.”
‘Do I want better?’” d c

3. 4.
“I came to coach basketball players,
“Sir, they can cut the chain off the
and you became students. I came to
door, but they can’t make us play.”
teach boys, and you became men.”
a b

After the board decides to take the lock off the gym, the players turn the gym into a
classroom, ready to study there.
After the game in the California State Tournament, Carter tells the players that they
grew up more than he expected.
At the education board meeting, parents demand that the gym be opened and the
basketball team resume playing.
After he locks up the gym, Carter tells the players to come up with a vision for their
future.

On the Web Search for more films dealing with sports. Share what you find with your class.
sports movies high school sports movies

Coach Carter 149