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NAME: ______________________ DATE: __________

Top Notch Pop Song Activities

(Unit 5, “Lucky to Be Alive”)

A. Listen to the song “Lucky to Be Alive.” Complete the lyrics with the five
disasters and emergencies you hear.

Thank you for helping me to survive.

I’m really lucky to be alive.
When I was caught in a freezing (1.) __________________,
you taught me how to stay warm.
When I was running from a (2.) __________________
with no place to hide,
you protected me from injury.
Even the world’s biggest (3.) __________________
has got nothing on me,
because you can go faster.
You keep me safe from disaster.
You’re like some kind of hero—
you’re the best friend that I know.
Thank you for helping me to survive.
I’m really lucky to be alive.
When the big (4.) __________________came with the pouring rain,
they were saying that a natural disaster loomed.
You just opened your umbrella.
You were the only fellow who kept calm and prepared.
You found us shelter.
I never felt like anybody cared
the way that you did when you said,
“I will always be there—
you can bet your life on it.”
And when the (5.) __________________turned the day into night,
you held a flashlight and showed me the safe way home.
You called for help on your cell phone.
You said you’d never leave me.
You said, “Believe me,
in times of trouble you will never be alone.”
They said it wasn’t such a bad situation.

Top Notch 3, Second Edition Unit 5

Copyright © 2011 by Pearson Education, Inc. Permission granted to reproduce for classroom use.
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It was beyond imagination.

I’m just glad to be alive—
and that is no exaggeration.
Thank you for helping me to survive.
I’m really lucky to be alive.

B. Listen to the song again. Think about the meaning of the song. Answer the
questions.
1. What’s the main theme of the song?
______________________________________________________________________
2. Challenge: What did the friend do for the singer during each of the following
disasters?
a. during a freezing snowstorm
______________________________________________________________________
b. during a landslide
______________________________________________________________________
c. during a big flood
______________________________________________________________________
d. during a cyclone
______________________________________________________________________
3. What’s the singer thankful for?
______________________________________________________________________

ABOUT YOU. Put the following disasters and emergencies in the order in which
you fear them, with 1 being the most feared and 7 the least.
____ an epidemic
____ a flood
____ a tsunami
____ an earthquake
____ a drought
____ a tornado / cyclone
____ a hurricane / typhoon

Top Notch 3, Second Edition Unit 5

Copyright © 2011 by Pearson Education, Inc. Permission granted to reproduce for classroom use.
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What can or should people do to prepare themselves for these disasters? (Choose
the two disasters you most fear.)
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________

SPEAKING OPTION. Compare and discuss your answers with a classmate. Then
discuss with a classmate any disasters you may have experienced.

WRITING OPTION. Have you or anyone you know ever experienced one of the
events above? Tell the story.
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________

Top Notch 3, Second Edition Unit 5

Copyright © 2011 by Pearson Education, Inc. Permission granted to reproduce for classroom use.