(五) Lines 43--53
1. Questions for Discussion
(1) What does the author mean by "the cops were matter-of-fact about the whole thing"?
---They showed no personal emotions but dealt with the matter as something that happened routinely on duty.
(2) Which cop's words is right? Why or why not?
(3) Are you surprised to hear that the cop concludes "there is no right or wrong in the situation. There is only luck." ?
(六) Lines 54--63
1. Language Points
no intelligent response to a gun = there is no clever reaction to a gun
Security is an illusion; there is no safety in licks or in guns. = No one is in fact secure; even if you have licks and guns, you are not safe from danger.
2. Questions for Discussion
(1) What does "luck" mean in the context?
---Something that comes by chance and people cannot do anything about it.
(2) How did the author feel when thinking of security?
---Hopeless and pessimistic. Nobody is really secure and safe anywhere.
五. Summary Questions and concluding Remarks
1. Summary Questions
(1) What does the author want to tell us?
---Security is an illusion. One can only rely on his luck.
(2) Do you think the author has good reasons to think so? What are they?
---a) She was attacked just in front of her own house.
b) It was then early in the evening.
c) She was helpless at the moment; her neighbors were reluctant to help.
d) The policemen couldn't offer any useful ways to cope with street crime.
e) She made her escape by luck.
f) She knew there was no way to prepare for the next time.
2. Concluding Remarks
---The point of the true story is not only to tell what happened to the victims, but also to expose how the neighbors and the police reacted to the crime. It's thought-provoking, isn't it?
