Snakebites (1)

Watch out for poisonous snakes!

Adults, children and pets around the world experience them. They can result in swelling, bleeding or even death. In India they kill many more people than tiger attacks. Snakebites affect between 1.2 million and five million people each year around the world. Luckily, out of the 3,000 species of snakes that exist worldwide, only 600 have venom according to the World Health Organization. However, any bite can be dangerous if infection sets in. Some types of venom make the bite area swollen or painful. Others cause bleeding or damage the heart's nerves. Here are some especially dangerous snakes.

King cobra
The largest of all poisonous snakes, king cobras can reach 5.5 meters in length. Each king cobra bite contains enough poison to kill an elephant - or 20 people. But these massive snakes usually avoid people. They live throughout India, southern China and Southeast Asia.

Inland taipan
A bite from Australia's inland taipan, the world's most poisonous snake, releases enough venom to kill 100 men. The good news is that people rarely come in contact with this snake, and a treatment for its venom exist.

Info Cloud
The author of today’s lesson starts her article by telling us there exists a deadly danger and that the danger is everywhere in the world.

Pretty frightening. But she didn't tell us what it is.

Not right away, anyway, because she’s busy grabbing our attention and making us care about reading what comes next.

And so finally, in the fourth sentence of the article, we learn what the danger is – snakebites.

So what did the author do? She created a little suspense – that mental and emotional excitement we feel while anticipating the outcome of uncertain situations.

Suspense could come from a real-life situation, a story, a drama or even a joke.

Using suspense is effective because we humans are naturally curious people. If we start to watch a thrilling drama, we’re usually willing to continue watching to see how it ends. If we’re reading a murder mystery, we’re often pretty eager to read on and find out who did it.

So friends, take advantage of this. The next time you write an essay or prepare a speech, try adding some suspense.

And give your audience a reason to care about what you’ll say next.

Language Lab
venom n. (蛇、蜘蛛等的)毒液
/ˈvɛnəm/
a liquid poison that some snakes, insects etc produce when they bite or sting you
venomous adj. 
/ˈvɛnəməs/
a venomous snake, insect etc produces poison [= poisonous]
- Just a tiny bit of the snake's venom can kill's a person in hours.
venom n. 怨恨; 痛恨; 惡毒
full of hatred or anger
- You can feel venom in his expression.

set in 某件不好的事, 開始; 到來
- When the love between the couple faded away disappointment set in.
- Despair began to set in as the disease got worse.

poison n. 毒; 毒藥; 毒物 
a substance that can cause death or serious illness if you eat it, drink it etc
- The water contains poison.
poisonous adj. 有毒的，含有毒素的
/ˈpoɪznnəs/  
- poisonous mushrooms. 有毒的香菇

massive adj.大而重的, 厚實的, 巨大的, 大量的 [mass 大量]
very large, solid, and heavy; unusually large, powerful, or damaging
- Massive air attacks almost ruined the city.
- Many lotto winners didn't know how to deal with such a massive amount of money.

Review Skit
Before we start hiking, I have something important to talk about.
Yeah? What’s that?
Something that adults, children and pets around the world have experience with.
Yeah? What’s that?
Something that can result in swelling, bleeding or even death.
What’s that?
Something that kills more people in India than tiger attacks.
What? Tell me what!
Snakes.
Ah, snakes! Oh, no.
But don’t worry. Only 600 kinds of snakes have venom.
Six hundred poisonous snakes?
Of course. A bite from any snake can be dangerous if infection sets in.
Infection?
Yes. Some types of snakebites become swollen or painful.
Oh, no.
Others cause bleeding or damage to the heart’s nerves.
Oh, no.
King cobras are the largest poisonous snakes. Their poison can kill elephants.
I’m glad I’m not an elephant.
Or 20 people. Lucky for you, they usually avoid people.
Lucky for me, I usually avoid snakes.
The world’s most poisonous snake has enough venom to kill 100 men.
Ah… luckily, I’m not a man.
Well, they kill women, too.
Oh, no.
OK. Well, let’s go hiking.
Let’s go home.
What, come on!

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