Text by Dictation
Harry works for a high tech German company based in Munich. Last month, he was in an automobile accident. He was on his way to attend an important meeting in New York City. He had just arrived on a flight from London and was taking a Taxi into the city.
The weather was terrible and the road was icy. He was in a hurry, so he asked the Taxi driver to get him into the city as soon as possible. The Taxi driver agreed and sped up. But just as they left the airport, the car went out of control. It spun around and skidded into the path of an oncoming truck.
Fortunately the truck wasn’t going too fast, so nobody was killed. But the Taxi was severely damaged and both passengers are hurt.
The taxi driver survived with only a few injuries because he was wearing a seat belt. The taxi’s airbag had also deployed, absorbing much of the impact.
However, Harry, who was in the back seat, hadn’t put on his seatbelt. As a result, he was severely injured and had to be rushed to a hospital.
Now, a month later, Harry still can’t remember much of what happened. When he first woke up in the hospital, it was several hours after the accident, and he wasn’t sure where he was. The bad news was that he couldn’t move his legs. This was because his back had been broken in the accident. The doctors later told him, that he might never regain the use of his legs. Some of the nerves in his spines and legs had been damaged, but everything else was okay.
Now Harry is trying to figure out what to do. If he works hard and exercises every day, there is still a chance that his legs will recover on their own. There are also some new treatments that might help his nerves regenerate. Still he should be prepared for a long recovery and the possibility that he might never walk again. Without the use of his legs, he wouldn’t be able to continue working in the same way. It wouldn’t be possible to travel, so he would have to find another way to attend meetings. Either that, or he would have to look for another way to make for a living.
Harry has good disability insurance, so money won’t be a problem for a while. But sooner or later, he wants to be able to earn a living again. Of course, he isn’t planning to give up on his legs. If he works hard, he might still be able to regain their use and learn to walk again. Some of his nerves had been damaged, but there is chance that they will heal. The new drugs being developed might make it possible for the nerves to grow back. Still he has to face the possibility that nothing would turn out good.
Whatever happens, Harry is determined to think positively. Even if he can’t walk, he can still attend meetings all over the world. With new technology, he could be anywhere, and there is much that he can still do. Luckily he still has the use of his arms and hands, and his brain is still functioning. With the right attitude, he can find a way forward. There is no reason for despair or feeling sorry for oneself. That kind of thinking won’t solve anything. He just hopes that his company or another company will give him the chance to prove himself. He can still be a good asset for them!
Vocabulary
amuse
to make time pass pleasantly for somebody or yourself, to make somebody laugh or smile
This piece of writing was done to amuse the reader by presenting some crazy logic.
annoyed
upset and a bit irritated, slightly angry
cynic
a person who believes that people are selfish and are not sincere
I’m afraid I’m becoming a bit of a cynic.
He is a cynic that few people enjoy being around.
despair
the feeling of having lost all hope
feast
to eat a large amount of food, with great enjoyment
feast on something 尽情享用
The wolf feasted on several of the sheep and then slipped back into the forest.
frantic
extremely worried and frightened about a situation, so that you cannot control your feelings
They ignored his frantic calls for help
friction
the natural force that prevents one surface from sliding easily over another surface
glare
a very bright, unpleasant light
graze
(of cows, sheep, etc.) to eat grass that is growing in a field
The sheep were grazing peacefully.
harsh
(of weather or living conditions) very difficult and unpleasant to live in
This vast area is famous for its harsh desert climate.
make a living
to do some kind of work to support livelihood
mischievous
enjoying playing tricks and annoying people
The boy was mischievous and selfish.
open-minded
willing to listen to, think about or accept different ideas
Someone who is open-minded will consider trying something new.
prank
a trick, especially one which is played on someone to make them looks silly
play pranks on somebody 对某人做恶作剧
The villagers were convinced that it was another one of his pranks.
rush somebody to somewhere 把某人快速输送到某地
As a result, he was severely injured and had to be rushed to a hospital.
scorching
very hot
This can help to shield you from the glare and scorching heat of the sun.
scrambled eggs 炒蛋
shield against/from 保护……免受……
to protect someone or something from being harmed or damaged
skid
to slide sideways or forwards in an uncontrolled way
spin around
to turn around quickly
It spun around and skidded into the path of an oncoming truck.
vast
extremely large in area, size, amount, etc.
An area is vast if it is immense or huge.
