Welcome to Lesson 8 of New Concept English Book 3. Today we will explore a fascinating story that combines adventure and discovery. This lesson is designed to help you develop advanced vocabulary, understand complex grammar structures, and improve your reading comprehension skills. We will focus on key learning objectives including vocabulary expansion, grammar analysis, reading comprehension, and practical language application. Let's begin this exciting journey into advanced English learning.
Now let's read the text together. Listen carefully to the pronunciation and intonation. The Great St. Bernard Pass connects Switzerland and Italy. At 2,473 metres, it is the highest mountain pass in Europe. The famous monastery of St. Bernard de Menthon stands at the pass. For hundreds of years, St. Bernard dogs have saved the lives of travellers crossing the dangerous pass. These dogs work in pairs and are sent out to search for lost travellers.
Let's analyze the key vocabulary from this lesson. First, we have 'monastery', pronounced as /ˈmɒnəstri/, which means a religious building where monks live. 'Traveller' is pronounced /ˈtrævələ/ and refers to a person who travels from place to place. 'Dangerous' means involving risk or potential harm. 'Search' means to look for something carefully. Important phrases include 'mountain pass', which is a route through mountains, 'work in pairs' meaning to operate together in groups of two, and 'for hundreds of years' which means for centuries. These vocabulary items are essential for understanding the text and will help expand your English lexicon.
Now let's examine the key grammar structures in this lesson. First, we have the present perfect tense in 'have saved', which shows an action that started in the past and continues to have relevance in the present. Second, we see passive voice in 'are sent out', where the focus is on the action rather than who performs it. Third, there's the superlative form in 'the highest mountain pass', indicating the maximum degree of comparison. Finally, we have time expressions like 'for hundreds of years' which shows duration. These grammar structures are essential for advanced English communication and help create more sophisticated and precise expressions.
Let's analyze the text comprehension elements. The main ideas include the location of the Great St. Bernard Pass connecting Switzerland and Italy, its impressive height of 2,473 metres making it the highest mountain pass in Europe, the purpose of the monastery in providing rescue services, and the method of using St. Bernard dogs working in pairs. The author's purpose is to inform readers about these historical rescue operations and highlight the important role of trained animals in saving lives. The writing technique employs factual description with specific details and follows a chronological and logical organization. This structure helps readers understand both the geographical significance and the humanitarian mission of this remarkable place.