Unit 1 Family and Marriage
Unit 2 Language and Culture
Unit 3 Honesty
Unit 4 Happiness
Unit 5 Traffic and Transportation
Unit 6 Music and Art
Unit 7 Media and Privacy
Unit 8 Science and Innovation
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Text A
No Matter What Happens I’ll Always Be There for You
In 1989 a 6.9 earthquake almost flattened America1, killing a lot of people in less than four minutes. In the midst of the disaster, a mother rushed to the school where her son was supposed to be, only to discover that the building was as flat as a pancake2.
After the unforgettable initial shock, she remembered the promise she had made to her son: “No matter what happens, I’ll always be there for you!3” Tears began to fill her eyes. As she looked at the pile of ruins that once was the school, it looked hopeless, but she kept remembering her commitment to her son.
She began to direct her attention towards where she walked her son to school each morning. Remembering her son’s classroom would be in the back right corner of the building, she rushed there and started digging through the ruins.
As she was digging, other helpless parents arrived, clutching their hearts, saying: “My son!” “My daughter!” Other well-meaning parents tried to pull her off what was left of the school4, saying: “It’s too late! They’re all dead!” “You can’t help! Go home!” “Come on, face
reality, there’s nothing you can do!”
To each parent she responded with one line: “Are you going to help me now?” And then she continued to dig for her son, stone by stone. The fire chief showed up and tried to pull her off the
school’s ruins, saying, “Fires are breaking out, explosions are happening everywhere. You’re in danger. We’ll take care of it. Go home.” To which this loving, caring American mother replied,
“Are you going to help me now?” Courageously she went on because she needed to know for herself: “Is my boy alive or is he dead?” She dug for eight hours…12 hours…24 hours…36 hours…then, in the 38th hour, she pulled back a large stone and heard her son’s voice. She screamed her son’s name, “ARMAND!” She heard back, “Mom!?! It’s me, Mom! I told the other kids not to worry. I told them that if you were alive, you’d save me, and when you saved me, they’d be saved. You promised, no matter what happens, I’ll always be there for you! You did it, Mom!” “What’s going on in there? How is it?” his mother asked.
“There are 14 of us left out of 335, Mom. We’re scared, hungry, thirsty and thankful you’re here. When the building collapsed, it made a triangle, and it saved us.”
“Come out, son!”
“No, Mom! Let the other kids out first because I know you’ll get me! No matter what happens, I know you’ll always be there for me!” 440 words