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Explorers or boys messing about? Either way, taxpayer gets rescue bill by Steven MorrisSummary: Adapted from an article published in The Guardian newspaper, 28 January 2003. Helicopter duo plucked from life raft after Antarctic crash.Perspectives and ideasSteven Morris is critical of the men and their behaviourThe men’s sense of adventure is costly.‘cost the taxpayers of Britain and Chile tens of thousands of pounds.’verb – cost / noun – taxpayers / proper nouns – Britain and Chile / hyperbole – tens of thousandsLanguage and toneAt the beginning of the article…disapproving toneTheir last expedition ended in farceadj: last / noun: expedition, farceAlmost led to tragedyadv: almost / noun: tragedy Last night there was resentment in some quarters noun: resentment Had cost the taxpayers of Britain and Chile tens of thousands of poundsverb: cost / hyperbole: tens of thousands / Proper nouns: Britain, Chile‘taxpayers will pick up the bill’modal verb – will / noun – billExperts questioned the wisdomnoun: experts / verb: questioned / noun: the wisdom‘taxpayer gets rescue bill’verb – gets / noun - billA single engine – into such a hostile environmentadj: single / adj: hostileThe men were ill-prepared.‘I wouldn’t use a helicopter like that to go so far over the sea’quote from a reliable source / modal verb- wouldn’t / adverb – so farThere was also confusion about what exactly the men were trying to achievenoun: confusion ‘I’m surprised they used the R44’’quote from a reliable source / verb – surprised / factual information – R44In the middle of the article…factual tone1am British time when Mr Brooks, 42, and 40-year-old Mr Smith, ditched into the sea 100 miles off Antarctica, about 36 miles north of Smith Island.statistics: 100 miles / proper nouns: Mr Brooks, Mr Smith, Antartica, Smith Island / facts: 1am, 42The men were seemingly experienced.‘experienced adventurers’adj – experienced / noun – adventurers (noun phrase)Towards the end of the article…disbelieving toneOne Antarctic explorer told Mr Brooks’ wife it was ‘nothing short of a miracle’ that they had survived.noun phrase: Antarctic explorer / noun: miracleQualifiedadj – qualifiedHe has trekked solo…he has negotiated….and survived a charge.verbs: trekked, negotiated, survived.‘trekked solo’ / ‘walked barefoot’ / ‘negotiated the white water rapids’ / ‘survived a charge by…gorilla’verbs – trekked, walked, negotiated, survived / clause – a charge by…gorillaHe is also a qualified mechanical engineer and pilot. adj: qualifiedMr Smith…claims to have been flying since the ages of 5 verb: claimsDespite their experience prep phrase: despite their experience But they were forced to call a haltverb: forced / verb phrase: to call a haltFlying since the age of fiveadverb – sinceThe wisdom of the team’s latest adventure was questioned by, among others, Endres, editor of Jane’s Helicopter Markets and Systems, said: ‘I’m surprised they used the R44. I wouldn’t use a helicopter like that…noun: wisdom / verb: questioned, surprised / verb phrase: I wouldn’t useTwice flown a helicopter around the globestatistic – twice / noun phrase – around the globeWon the world freestyle helicopter flying championshipverb – won / noun – championshipThe flying conditions had been ‘excellent’. adj: excellentIt was ‘highly unlikely’ it would recover any money.verb phrase: It was highly unlikelyThe men have been in trouble before.Despite their experience, it is not the first time they have hit the headlines for the wrong reasonsdiscourse marker – despite / time clause - it is not the first time / adj – wrongThe end of the article…Dismissive toneThey’ll probably have their bottoms kickedverb phrase / colloquial: bottoms kicked“boys messing about with a helicopter”verb: messingStructureWhole text / features of formArticle: third person, 5Ws and 1H, factual information, statistics, quotes from reliable sourcesSentencesShort sentence: ‘Both men are experienced adventurers.Multi-clause sentences to convey a lot of information quicklyMs Vestry doesn’t seem to see the seriousness of the situation.Boys messing about with the helicopternoun – boys / verb – messingPunctuationDashes: taking a small helicopter – the four seater Robinson R44 has a single engine – into such a hostile environmentInverted commas: ‘trusty helicopter’Speech marks (quote a reliable source): “I’m surprised they used the R44.”They’ll probably have their bottoms kicked and be sent home the long way.adv – probably / noun – bottoms / verb – kickedRepetitionwisdomContrastsperceptions of Steven Morris versus Ms Vestry, experience versus reality ................
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