Experience: I hunt for missing hikers in remote mountains

This is a list of key vocabulary and expressions from the article in order of how useful they are. The student must choose 6 items from the list to study in the lesson.

Attempt
Definition: An effort to do or achieve something.
Example: She made an attempt to finish the project before the deadline.

Would
Definition: A modal verb used to talk about past habits, imagined situations, polite requests, or the future from a past perspective.
Example: When we were children, we would play outside every evening.

Initial
Definition: Happening at the beginning; first.
Example: My initial reaction was surprise.

To be obsessed (with something/someone)
Definition: To think about someone or something constantly or in an unhealthy way.
Example: He is obsessed with football and watches every match.

To vanish
Definition: To disappear suddenly or completely.
Example: The magician made the coin vanish.

No one had taken for decades (Past Perfect)
Definition: The past perfect (had + past participle) is used to describe an action that happened before another action or time in the past. It shows that one past action was already completed before another past event occurred.
Structure: Subject + had + past participle.
Example: By the time we arrived, everyone had left.
Another example: Before she moved to London, she had never travelled abroad.

To hire (someone)
Definition: To give someone a job.
Example: The company decided to hire three new employees.

To underestimate (something/someone)
Definition: To think that someone or something is less capable, important, or difficult than it really is.
Example: Don't underestimate the importance of getting enough sleep.

Whether
Definition: A conjunction used to express a choice or uncertainty between alternatives.
Example: I don't know whether he will come.

To be devastated
Definition: To feel extremely shocked, upset, or sad.
Example: She was devastated when she lost her passport.

To lose hope
Definition: To stop believing that something good will happen.
Example: Even after many failures, he never lost hope.

To carry (something) out
Definition: To perform or complete a task, plan, or experiment.
Example: The scientists carried out several tests.

Rewarding
Definition: Giving a feeling of satisfaction because something is worthwhile.
Example: Teaching can be a very rewarding career.

To exceed (something)
Definition: To go beyond a limit, expectation, or amount.
Example: Sales exceeded our expectations this year.

Back and forth
Definition: Moving repeatedly from one place or side to another.
Example: The children ran back and forth across the playground.

To call (something) off
Definition: To cancel something that was planned.
Example: They called off the meeting because of the storm.

Harrowing
Definition: Extremely distressing, frightening, or upsetting.
Example: She told us a harrowing story about surviving the earthquake.

Alongside
Definition: Next to or together with someone or something.
Example: She worked alongside experienced engineers.

Gear
Definition: Equipment, clothing, or tools needed for a particular activity.
Example: Make sure you pack your hiking gear.

A side job
Definition: A job that someone does in addition to their main job to earn extra money.
Example: He has a side job as a private tutor.

To step in
Definition: To become involved in a situation in order to help or take control.
Example: The manager had to step in to solve the problem.

Fatal
Definition: Causing death; deadly.
Example: The accident proved fatal.

Remote
Definition: Far away from towns, cities, or other populated places.
Example: They lived in a remote mountain village.

To pore over something
Definition: To study or examine something very carefully and for a long time.
Example: She spent hours poring over the financial reports.

The fallout (of something)
Definition: The negative consequences or effects of an event or situation.
Example: The company is still dealing with the fallout of the data breach.

15 Conversation-provoking questions related to the article.

1.       How did Petr end up in the mountains of Taiwan?

2.       What was Petr’s first search and rescue mission?

3.       How do his search and rescue operations normally work?

4.       How does Petr feel about his work?

5.       What do you think motivates Petr?

6.       Would you be good at Petr’s search and rescue job?

7.       What is Petr’s full-time job, and does it sound appealing to you?

8.       Would you prefer to work for the police or the ambulance service?

9.       Would you prefer to work for the fire brigade or in mountain rescue?

10.     Is it unethical for Petr to upload his rescue missions on Youtube?

11.     Which profession do you admire the most?

12.     Do you have a head for heights, and when have you needed it?

13.     Do you know any famous stories of people going missing?

14.     When was the last time you were in nature?

15.     Have you ever been lost?