Dunkin’ diamond: Dive team retrieves ring from Boston river

Category: Human Interest

Listening

Unlocking Word Meanings

Read the following words/expressions found in today’s article.

  1. retrieve / rɪˈtriv / (v.) – to find and bring something back
    Example:

    The police were able to retrieve the wallet from the thief.


  2. against all odds / əˈgɛnst ɔl ɑdz / (idiom) – despite having many challenges that make success seem impossible
    Example:

    He finished his studies against all odds.


  3. fish / fɪʃ / (v.) – to search for an object and use one’s hand to get it
    Example:

    I fished for some paper clips in my drawer.


  4. distraught / dɪˈstrɔt / (adj.) – feeling very worried and upset
    Example:

    The distraught flood victims were sent to the tent for first aid.


  5. sentimental / ˌsɛn təˈmɛn tl / (adj.) – relating to feelings that are brought about by strong emotions, rather than reason
    Example:

    My sister became sentimental when she found a box full of letters from her old friends.


Article

Read the text below.

What could be harder than looking for a needle in a haystack? Probably retrieving a ring from a river.


But against all odds, divers with the Cambridge Fire Department managed to fish a Chicago woman’s diamond ring from the Charles River after it tumbled into the water while she and her husband were relaxing at a yacht club.


Lynn Andrews told WCVB-TV she had removed the ring so she could apply sunscreen and placed it in her husband’s shirt pocket for safekeeping. But it was a hot day, and when he took off his shirt to cool off with a quick swim, the ring fell in the river.


“I said a bad word, and then I took a deep breath, and then I said, ‘Everything’s going to be fine,’” her husband, Ninos Andrews, told WBZ-TV.


Andrews “was obviously quite distraught,” the fire department said on its Facebook page.


The couple alerted a dive team that was patrolling the river, and within five minutes of searching, firefighter Jeremy Marrache located the ring and returned it to its “very relieved and excited” owner, the department said in its post.


“They all had wives, and they all knew how important this was and how sentimental it was to us,” Lynn Andrews said.


Fortunately, Marrache said, the ring lay at an angle that caused the diamond to shimmer as he shined his flashlight over the silty bottom of the river.


“We have open communications via our mask. So when I said I found it, the person attending us relayed that message, so I could hear everybody cheering,” he told WBZ.


“This is an amazing example of using our training for public service and a terrific opportunity for the dive team and marine unit members to practice working together,” fire Lt. Stephen Capuccio said in a statement.


This article was provided by The Associated Press.


Viewpoint Discussion

Enjoy a discussion with your tutor.

Discussion A

  • The diamond ring that Lynn Andrews lost in the Charles River has a sentimental value to her. Do you own something that you consider sentimental? What is it? If you don’t own one, why is that so? Discuss.
  • If you were Andrews, would you also ask for the fire department’s help to look for a sentimental object you lost? Discuss.

Discussion B

  • According to Capuccio, the incident was a terrific opportunity for the dive team and marine unit members to practice working together. In your opinion, what key factors are needed for teams to work well together (ex. open communication, good planning)? Discuss.
  • Is it easy for you to work with other people during stressful situations? What stressful situations have you and your team encountered? Discuss.