Week 15b: Friday, 19 December 2014

Posted by Zakumi on December 12, 2014

(1) Tara's News

This is the last time we'll do the news. Students who haven't done the comments during the past week, will tell us the news first. So, if you are serious about improving your listening skills, please listen to the news; this is probably also the last time you would ever do it as students just don't visit this website any longer to practice their language skills by themselves.

(2) Class activity: Describing a car accident.

We'll divide into 7 or 8 small groups and follow the script in the attachment. At the end of the role plays, each group will report back to the class about the outcome of the accident report.

M - W15b - Role play - car accident.rtf

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Replies

    • Zakumi December 19, 2014 4:39

      Li Yaze, you have addressed the two major causes of road accidents in your scenario (speeding and drunken driving); so, both parties were to blame, not so?! But do you think it was fair that the rich man only received a fine? Would that stop him from this criminal offense next time? Or should the police only be strict when the girl (or any other person) was killed in the accident he caused through his intoxicated condition? Maybe that is exactly what the problem is: the police and the lawmakers don't act pre-emptively (implementing actions to avoid something from happening), but only punish according to the amount of damage by an unlawful act.

      Thank you, Li Yaze, for your comment. You personally also made an impression on me. And I could see that you were serious about improving your language skills (most teachers, I think, can see and feel when a student is committed to her/his task!). So, thank you for your good attitude in all our classes. Some students just make teaching a pleasure to teachers! But, I have to disagree somewhat with you ... about the patience (as I think I have often failed there)! However, I have a view that I am never too old to learn, and I am also of the opinion that I can improve myself to be a better person and teacher to benefit others' lives more. So, I will die one day still trying to be a better person! ;-)

  • Hou Jialei December 18, 2014 16:50
    The old woman had a little panic said to the policeman,she explained that her granddaughter let her see a picture wihch she finished just now when she hit the Rolls Royce .She was sorry for the owner of the car and she would like to make some compensation.The owner of the car is very angry with the old lady.He said he parked his car at the curb to buy a packet of cigarettes when his new car was hitted by someone.The shortsighted bystander said to the police officer he heared a loud noise then he saw that two cars crashed together.He didn't know who is to blame.
    • Zakumi > Hou Jialei December 19, 2014 3:59

      Haha, Hou Jialei, the old lady would most probably not have the money to pay for the damage to that expensive car! The damage to the rich man's car is probably more than what the old lady's car is worth! So, if a rich man - even if he was absolutely innocent - wants to be fair, he should accept an apology and even give the other party money to repair their car! But what rich man would be so full of humanity to do that in today's selfish society? Think about it!

  • jiang dan December 18, 2014 16:36
    Maybe i would choose to punish the rich man,if i were the policeman.I think it's most possible for the rich man to drive too fast and result in the accident.The old lady is so old and weak that she can't control the speed and get in the accident reluctantly.In our society,we all need to obey the traffic rules strictly and take the responsibilities of being a eligible citizen.Only in that way can we avoid such bad occurrance and found a harmonious family.
    • Zakumi > jiang dan December 19, 2014 3:55

      Jiang Dan, I can agree with you that it would be more probable that the rich man caused the accident, as I have witnessed here how those people (the rich and the powerful) drive (running red lights, stop streets, and being plainly rude on the roads). But I can't agree with you that the Chinese people obey traffic rules strictly! Maybe you mean that to be the ideal! Every day when walking to the campus I am witness of people applying their own traffic rules and drive as they feel like! And of course, there are never any police around to apply the laws (and when they are, they mostly turn a blind eye)! And I am not so sure that Chinese societies are so harmonious as they want others to believe either! Haha, those are some of my observations after living for nearly six years in China! ;-)

  • fengdongli December 18, 2014 16:25
    the crash occurred when i was walking on the third street. Suddenly a car come to the edge and we were all psych out can not move.it failed to stop at a stop sign .run into with another black car,both of the car was breathe upon ,and the drive was injured.after ten minutes,the policemsn comes with the doctors,they takes the injured person to the hospital .it was very shocked,and i just do not want see this any more .I hope everyone of us try our best to stop that happen.
    MOVE DESIGN
    • Zakumi > fengdongli December 19, 2014 3:47

      Haha, I am not surprised that the cars involved in your accident are both black, Lily; because probably 70 to 80% of cars here are that horrible colour! In the West, black is the colour of death! Why do the Chinese fancy black so much? I have learned that when people associate with black, it is a sign of what their hearts are like inside - black! Further, you said that the doctors would also come to the scene of the accident as there was an injury ... Are you sure about that?! Doctors never come to accident scenes except if they are involved in the accident or drive past accidentally! They normally wait at the hospitals where they work for patients to arrive (even in China)!

  • HuoMeng December 18, 2014 15:53
    One day ,on the street ,an old car hit a Rolls Royce. Because the old car run the red light.The owner of the Rolls Royce is a young man ,he is so angry with the the old lady (she is the owner of the old car ,and the old lady's granddaughter of 6 years old in the passenger seat),his car was hit seriously.The young man argue with the old lady ,but she don’t want to acknowledge that she cause the accident .A shortsighted bystander see that ,he think the young man is so rude to the old lady,and he sympathy for the old lady and her granddaughter.So the
    bystander quarrel with the young man to help the old lady ,the young man feel crazy.
    • Zakumi > HuoMeng December 19, 2014 3:38

      Huo Meng, you started off with a mistake ...! Old cars don't usually run the red lights! It's the rich and powerful who do that - I witnessed that with my own eyes, even here in Xingcheng! I guess you're right about the reaction of the driver of the smart car, but again, another error ... most men in China would get angry when their cars are scratched or damaged in an accident, whether they are young or old! Remember, this is a very patriarchal society where men mostly think they are right!

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    • Zakumi December 19, 2014 3:32

      Good reasoning about the roles of each person, Liu Weifang; except for the driver of the Rolls Royce! You didn't speculate about he would be telling! Maybe you're right about the kid who might not be speaking the truth (kids often lie, but to protect their own family, they would lie even more easily!), but do you really think the rich man would speak the truth, especially if he was in the wrong?! I haven't heard of many rich and powerful people being honest (in fact, I don't know if they exist)! Haha, and do you really believe that the police officer would be honest and fair?! If the rich man offers him money to decided against the old lady, how honest would he still be ..?! But, you also mentioned that the result is expected. My feeling is, if their is a rich man involved (and the rich is usually powerful too as their money let them do what they want), the outcome would be in his favour! Is that what you meant by the result of this accident?! ;-)

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