05 Crossing Fire, Connecting Hearts
/05 Crossing Fire, Connecting Hearts
*Lyon was an 13-year-old boy living in a mountain town in a certain country.
/*Lyon was an 13-year-old boy living in a mountain town in a certain country.
One summer day, the sky turned red, and black smoke rose from the distant mountains.
/One summer day, the sky turned red, and black smoke rose from the distant mountains.
“It’s a wildfire…”
/“It’s a wildfire…”
The townspeople looked up at the sky with worry.
/The townspeople looked up at the sky with worry.
The news reported that the wildfire was spreading, burning thousands of hectares of forest.
/The news reported that the wildfire was spreading, burning thousands of hectares of forest.
The fire rode the wind and kept spreading.
/The fire rode the wind and kept spreading.
Firefighters were doing their best to extinguish the flames, but the rugged terrain made it difficult.
/Firefighters were doing their best to extinguish the flames, but the rugged terrain made it difficult.
*Lyon’s family began preparing to evacuate.
/*Lyon’s family began preparing to evacuate.
“If this continues, the fire might reach the town…”
/“If this continues, the fire might reach the town…”
Then, the TV news reported:
/Then, the TV news reported:
“Neighboring countries, Turkey and Jordan, have announced support. They are sending helicopters and fire trucks to help with firefighting across the border.”
/“Neighboring countries, Turkey and Jordan, have announced support. They are sending helicopters and fire trucks to help with firefighting across the border.”
*Lyon was surprised.
/*Lyon was surprised.
“Huh? Other countries are coming to help?”
/“Huh? Other countries are coming to help?”
The next day, foreign helicopters flew in the sky, spraying water over the mountains.
/The next day, foreign helicopters flew in the sky, spraying water over the mountains.
Fire trucks had flags from different countries painted on them.
/Fire trucks had flags from different countries painted on them.
At the evacuation center, *Lyon asked a firefighter he met:
/At the evacuation center, *Lyon asked a firefighter he met:
“Why are people from other countries coming to help?”
/“Why are people from other countries coming to help?”
The firefighter smiled and said:
/The firefighter smiled and said:
“Fires can cross borders. But so can people’s hearts. If someone is in trouble, we help. That’s what it means to be a global citizen.”
/“Fires can cross borders. But so can people’s hearts. If someone is in trouble, we help. That’s what it means to be a global citizen.”
*Lyon remembered those words deeply.
/*Lyon remembered those words deeply.
A few days later, the fire was finally extinguished.
/A few days later, the fire was finally extinguished.
The townspeople expressed their gratitude to the countries that helped.
/The townspeople expressed their gratitude to the countries that helped.
*Lyon also wrote a letter.
/*Lyon also wrote a letter.
“Thank you. Because you came, we felt safe.”
/“Thank you. Because you came, we felt safe.”
At school, the teacher said:
/At school, the teacher said:
“On Earth, there are many problems that require cooperation across borders—wildfires, climate change, infectious diseases, war. This wildfire taught us how important that cooperation is.”
/“On Earth, there are many problems that require cooperation across borders—wildfires, climate change, infectious diseases, war. This wildfire taught us how important that cooperation is.”
*Lyon told his friends:
/*Lyon told his friends:
“If someone is in trouble, even if they’re from another country, I want to help. That’s what it means to be a global citizen.”
/“If someone is in trouble, even if they’re from another country, I want to help. That’s what it means to be a global citizen.”
And *Lyon made a decision.
/And *Lyon made a decision.
“When I grow up, I want to work with people around the world to protect the Earth.”
/“When I grow up, I want to work with people around the world to protect the Earth.”
The fire was gone. But in *Lyon’s heart, the red sky and the people who came to help across borders remained.
/The fire was gone. But in *Lyon’s heart, the red sky and the people who came to help across borders remained.
Review Questions (Multiple Choice)
/Review Questions (Multiple Choice)
Q1. What problem occurred in *Lyon’s country?
/Q1. What problem occurred in *Lyon’s country?
A. Flood
/A. Flood
B. Wildfire
/B. Wildfire
C. Earthquake
/C. Earthquake
Q2. What idea about “global citizenship” did *Lyon learn?
/Q2. What idea about “global citizenship” did *Lyon learn?
A. Protecting only your own country
/A. Protecting only your own country
B. Cooperating across borders
/B. Cooperating across borders
C. Running away when there’s a fire
/C. Running away when there’s a fire
Let’s Think!
/Let’s Think!
① Have you ever felt, “I want to help someone in trouble”? What would you do if that person was from a faraway country?
/① Have you ever felt, “I want to help someone in trouble”? What would you do if that person was from a faraway country?
② What kinds of global problems do you think exist? Think about what you can do to help with them.
/② What kinds of global problems do you think exist? Think about what you can do to help with them.
