SpecialEnglish/2009/March/spec2345a0322.htm Paul Neal Adair was born in Houston, Texas in nineteen fifteen. While growing up, he became known as Red Adair because his hair was bright red. As a young man, Red Adair dropped out of high school to help support his family. He worked as a laborer for several different companies. In nineteen thirty-eight, Adair got his first oil-related job with the Otis Pressure Control Company. During World War Two, Adair served on a trained army team that removed and destroyed bombs. After the war, he returned to Houston and took a job in putting out fires in oil wells for fourteen years. But in nineteen fifty-nine, Adair started his own company. During his thirty-six years in business, Red Adair and his crews battled more than two thousand fires all over the world. Some were on land. Others were on ocean oil-drilling structures. Some fires were in burning oil wells. Others were in natural gas wells. Putting out oil well fires can be difficult, but Red Adair developed modern methods to extinguish and cover burning oil wells. They became known in the industry as Wild Well Control techniques. In addition to explosives, the techniques involved large amounts of water and dirt. Adair also developed special equipment made of bronze metal to help extinguish oil well fires. Needless to say, Red Adair was a leader in this specialized and extremely dangerous profession. Red Adair was known for not being afraid. He was also known for his sense of calm and safety. None of his workers were ever killed while putting out oil well or gas fires. He described his work this way: "It scares you -- all the noise, the rattling, the shaking. But the look on everyone's face, when you are finished and packing, it is the best smile in the world; and there is nobody hurt, and the well is under control." Red Adair had spent his seventy-sixth birthday in Kuwait working side by side with his crew. When asked when he might retire, he told reporters: "Retire? I do not know what that word means. As long as a man is able to work, and he is productive out there and he feels good – keep at it." Red Adair died in two thousand four. He was eighty-nine years old. At his funeral, many family members and friends honored him by wearing red clothes. Many Americans regard Red Adair as a hero. He lived his life on the edge of danger. He was known for his willingness to risk his own life to save others. Title: Red Adair and his dream Adair’s experience ▲Young Adair(1) high school to support his family and got his first oil-related job. ▲During World War Two, Adair served on a trained army team ▲After the war, he took a (2) in putting out fires in oil wells. ▲(3) years later, Adair started his own company. Adair’s achievements ▲Adair and his crews battled more than two thousand fires all over the world. ▲Adair developed new methods and special (4) to deal with oil well fires. ▲Adair was a (5) in the dangerous profession (6) for Adair’s success ▲Red Adair was known for his (7) . ▲(8) stop working as long as one is able to work. Judgment on Adair He is a hero in people’s eyes because he is (9) to save others at the cost of his own (10) . Key: 1. quitted 2. job 3. Fourteen 4. equipment 5. leader 6. Reasons 7. bravery 8. Never / Don’t 9. willing / ready 10. life 【查看更多】
