Is It Fun to Take Risks?Johnny: Hey Mom, is it OK if I go rock climbing with my friends?Mom: No way! Do you realize how dangerous it is? It's not that easy to do either.Dad: Y our Mom is right. I mean, it's far too difficult and dangerous to go rock climbing. Y ou need specialized instruction.Johnny: But I did have some specialized training a couple of months ago. Remember that climbing course I did? Now I'd like to try it out and climb on a real rock face.Mom: I know. But the thought of you and your friends climbing on steep rock faces is just too scary for words.Johnny: But, Mom, I don't have to climb to the top. The rocks aren't slippery. They have holes and cracks, and lumps and ribs where it's easy to get a good hold.Lily: Sounds cool!Mom: I know, but can't you do something less dangerous instead of rock climbing? Johnny: But, Mom, I like rock climbing more than any other sport I've tried. Don't you think we all need to take some risks sometimes? It's part of growing up, and it's fun to try new things. Haven't you always said that we should expand our horizons and push ourselves to the limit? Mom: Y es, but not by rock climbing! As your parent I need to think about your safety. I want to help you make good choices and avoid the risk that can kill you. Definitely not rock climbing! It's too risky! I want you to evaluate risks and make good, safe choices.Lily: OK, Mom, it's OK to take some risk. It can be fun. There's even a poem in my English book about how to take risk. Uh, would you like to hear it? It goes like this:To laugh is to risk being a fool.To weep is to risk appearing sentimental.To reach out to another is to risk involvement.To express feelings is to risk exposing your true self.To place your ideas, your dreams, before the crowd is to risk their loss.To love is to risk not being loved in return.To live is to risk dying.To hope is to risk despair.To try is to risk failure.The person who risks nothing, does nothing, has nothing and is nothing.They may avoid suffering and sorrow,But they simply cannot learn, feel, change, grow, love or live.Risks must be taken because,The greatest hazard in life is to risk nothing."Only a person who risks is free."Don't you all think it's a good poem?Johnny: Sure is! Thanks for reading it, Lily. Don't you think we're always taking risks no matter what we're doing? Even when you are drinking water, you have the risk of choking. And when you're driving, you have the risk of having an accident. But, you drive anyway and you know it'sMom: Sure, there are some risks we need to take. We all know that some things are riskier than others, but not every risk is worth taking. Y ou need to think about what could happen to you. Johnny: I agree, but nothing we do is completely safe. And I've often heard you say, "Nothing ventured, nothing gained." Besides, rock climbing isn't as dangerous as it seems if you have the right equipment and good training. We wear special shoes when we go climbing. Climbing-shoes are very flexible and fit around the feet tightly. Besides, I won't climb the difficult rock.Lily: On TV I've seen that climbers use some metal hooks to help them climb more safely. Johnny: Y es, the hooks are put in place and secured by the first climber, and then they stay there for the other climbers to be able to climb safely. (He turns to his Dad.) Dad, what do you think about climbing?Dad: Well, how many of you are going? Do you have a guide, or even an instructor? Johnny: Y es, there'll be an instructor with us, and there'll be about 10 of us climbing.Dad: To be honest, this conversation reminds me of, uh, my childhood, my parents being protective of me.Mom: Isn't that what parents should do—protect our children?Johnny: Mom, I know you love me, and I am very thankful for that. But I'd like to make my own decision about rock climbing. I've been wanting to go climbing for a very long time now. It isn't much different from the climbing I've done during my training, and I've learned that I can do it safely. I don't mind taking some risks! It's like what the poem says: The greatest hazard in life is to risk nothing. Y ou've already admitted that driving a car is a risk, but you still do it, and you enjoy it.Mom: I'll admit that. I know your Dad's always taking risks.Dad: Me? What risks do I take?Mom: Y ou smoke almost a pack of cigarettes a day. Don't you think you're risking having a heart attack, lung cancer or whatever?Dad: Don't get me involved. We are talking about Johnny and rock climbing!Johnny: I think Mom's right about the risk of smoking. The important point is whether you think the risk is worth taking. Just like Dad, he knows smoking will harm his health, but he still won't give it up. I don't think rock climbing is as risky as smoking a pack of cigarettes a day.Lily: Even if you stay at home, doing nothing, you still have the risk of fires, earthquakes, and tornadoes...Mom: OK, OK, I give up. Just be careful. Do what your instructor has to say. Stay close to the rest of your group. I don't want you to get injured. OK?Johnny: Don't worry, I'll be very careful. We'll all be careful. Thanks Mom. Y ou are the greatest!(He winks at Lily.)LS-11. 3-5-6-8-10Husband:Oh! It's unbelievable!Wife:What's the matter?Husband:This article says that lifespans vary according to race, income level and whether you are male or female. Er, now, can you guess which is the most important factor?Wife:Mm, I think it might be the sex.Husband:That's right! Y ou see, my grandma lived four years longer than my grandpa. Generally speaking, women live longer than men. In 1993, the average lifespan of women was 6.9 years longer than that of men in the United States.Wife:6.9 years?! I can't believe it. Then how about race?Husband:Race... The paper says white women live 5.1 years longer than black women.Wife:So this means I am doubly lucky since I am a white woman.Husband:Y es. But actually the largest risk you could run—after being born male—is being poor. Being poor is far more likely to kill you than smoking, drinking, a hereditary disease, or an unhealthy lifestyle.Wife:That's true. If you are poor, you may not have good living conditions, good medical care and good nutrition. But still I have a question. Why can women live longer than men?Husband:I think you'd better ask the experts.LS-21. NYNYYThe possibility that something bad will happen is a risk. Risk can also be defined as the degree of danger that goes along with an opportunity. All risks have possible negative results. However, some risks are worth taking. For example, suppose that you have the chance to join a school team. Y ou risk a possible injury while playing to achieve the sense of accomplishment that comes with being on the team. Y ou may decide that the pleasure of playing is worth the risk of injury. By being fit, you can also reduce the risk of physical injury.How can we determine the risks involved in an action? Many risks that relate to health choices have been studied. These risks relate to choices made of activities or behavior that influence one's health either positively or negatively and scientists use statistics to measure these risks. Statistics is a branch of mathematics that helps determine the possibility that something will occur. The information about the possibility is called statistical risk and can help you make healthy choices. For example, statistics indicate that in the United States the chance of dying from cancer is about 20 percent. In other words, two out of every ten deaths are due to some kind of c ancer. Therefore, the risk of death from cancer is quite high. However, statistics also show that 80 percent of all cancers are related to things over which you have some control. In other words, you can make choices that will reduce your risk of developing cancer. These include such things as avoiding pollution, not smoking, and eating a diet high in fiber. If you do these things, you are less likely to develop cancer.ML-11.A-H-C-L-E-G-I-N-J-F-K-M-O-B-D2.BDDABIf you plan to go hiking in the wilderness or a national park, make sure you are prepared. A compass, a knife, and maps are essential items to take with you. Y ou should also take wooden matches in a waterproof case, some concentrated food such as nuts and dried fruit, and water in a canteen. Plan for emergencies as well. Take along first-aid equipment, shelter for the rain, and extra clothes. In order to stay warm, your head, hands and feet must be kept warm, so you should bring gloves, extra socks and a wool hat.If you get lost in the woods, first try to backtrack and find the trail you were on. Look for trail signs other people may have left, such as piles of rocks, tied bunches of grass, or broken branches. Sit down and try to figure out which direction you came from. Then go back that way.If you can't find the trail, try to explore the area, marking your path as you go. Climb a tree and look for landmarks. During the day, look for roads or rooftops in the distance. At night, look for lights and sniff the air. Y ou may be able to smell smoke from a campfire. If you detect any of these signs, start to walk in their direction, but if it is dark, find shelter for the night and wait until morning. Even a full moon won't give you enough light, and it can throw shadows that hide dangers.If you are lost, do not expect to be rescued. Even if someone knows you are lost and sends out a search party, it may not find you. Therefore, if you can get out on your own, do so. However, if you cannot move far for some reason, build a bright fire at night and a smoky one during the day. Try to clear an area that can be seen from the air, and use rocks to write a message. Y ou can also use bright colors, shiny metals or mirrors to signal aircraft. Above all, do not panic.ML-21.BCCDB2.5-7-3-1-4-6-2I've been in a lot of dangerous situations. Over in Bolivia, for example, I was working for a small airline, and we carried just about everything: animals, whisky, dynamite, and, of course, people. There were times when I felt I was flying a bomb, not a plane. Once I was taking dynamite to the mines. Dynamite! Man, I had never seen so much. They had even put some on the floor right next to me. I was certainly nervous on that trip. Another time, I was flying over the mountains when suddenly the engine stopped. Somehow I got down without the plane, but I was hurt. I was lying out there for about four days before they found me. They told me later that they had almost given me up for dead. Anyway, they got me back to the hospital, and three months later I was flying again. No, I'm not afraid of flying. But there's a lot to worry about as a pilot. Questions:1. What is the speaker?2. What does the speaker mean by "I was flying a bomb, not a plane"?3. How did the speaker feel when flying a plane carrying a lot of dynamite?4. What happened when the speaker was flying over the mountains?5. What does the speaker think of his job?ML-31. FTTTFBalley: Hello, fire service.Grace: Oh, em, I'm ringing because I think there's a fire in the house opposite. Smoke is coming out of the upstairs windows, and I can see flames, too.Balley: Can you give me your name and address and telephone number, madam?Grace: Y es. Grace Litton, 17, Mallett Street, Alford.Balley: I'm sorry. Can you spell Mallett, please?Grace: Y es, M, A, double L, E, double T. The telephone number is 6943168. The fire's in number 18, just across the road.Balley: Is anyone in the house?Grace: No, they've gone on holiday. They went to Bournemouth last Saturday, for two weeks. Balley: All right, madam. We'll send a fire engine up to Mallett Street straightaway.Grace: What shall I do? Shall I warn the neighbors?Balley: Y es, you'd better tell the people living next door, at number 16 and number 20. But don't go into the house.ML-42. TFFFTOn the morning of April 10, 1912, the luxury liner the Titanic left England on a voyage to New Y ork. Four days later she lay at the bottom of the Atlantic Ocean. On July 18, 1956, the ocean liner the Andrea Doria left Italy. The Andrea Doria was also traveling to New Y ork. Eight days later this great ship also lay at the bottom of the Atlantic.The sinking of the two huge ships, these two very, very large ships, shocked the world. Reports of the two tragedies filled the newspapers for days. When the Andrea Doria went down, people compared her sinking with the sinking of the Titanic. There were similarities between the two events; however, there were also important differences.What were some of these similarities? First of all, both ships were transatlantic ocean liners. In addition, they were both luxury liners. They carried many of the world's rich and famous people. In fact, ten American millionaires lost their lives when the Titanic went down. Today millions of dollars worth of gold, silver, and cash may still remain locked inside these two sunken ships.Another similarity was that as each ship was sinking, there were acts of heroism and acts of evil. Some people acted very bravely, even heroically. Some people even gave up their lives so that others could live. There were also some people who acted like cowards. For example, one man on the Titanic dressed up as a woman so that he could get into a lifeboat and save his own life. The last similarity was that both of these ships were considered "unsinkable". People believed that they would never sink.There are also differences between the great ship disasters. To begin with, the Titanic was on her very first voyage across the Atlantic. The Andrea Doria, on the other hand, was on her 101st transatlantic crossing. Another difference was that the ships sank for different reasons. The Titanicstruck an iceberg while the Andrea Doria collided with another ship. Another contrast was that the Andrea Doria had radar to warn of the approach of another ship, but the Titanic was not equipped with radar. The Titanic had only a lookout. The lookout was able to see the iceberg only moments before the ship struck it. But, of course, the greatest difference between these two terrible accidents was the number of lives lost. When the Titanic sank, more than 1,500 people died. They drowned or froze to death in the icy North Atlantic water. Just over 700 people survived the sinking. In the Andrea Doria accident 60 people lost their lives, and about 1,650 lives were saved. One of the reasons that so many people died on the Titanic was that the ship was considered to be unsinkable and so there were about half the number of necessary lifeboats to rescue all the people aboard the ship. The Andrea Doria had more than enough lifeboats to rescue every person on the ship; however, they were able to use only about half of the lifeboats they had because of a mechanical problem. The passengers and crew of the Andrea Doria were very lucky that another ship was able to rescue most of them. The passengers on the Titanic were not so fortunate. It is interesting that the wreck of the Titanic was found only in September of 1985.TY-1FFTFTTMrs. Grace Hume is one of the few living survivors of the Tyrone disaster. The ship sailed from Liverpool for New Y ork on the 7th of April 1926. Five hundred passengers were aboard. Only 85 of them survived. Mrs. Hume described the voyage recently for a BBC radio program."The morning we left Liverpool the weather was very pleasant and we were all sure we were going to have a very pleasant voyage. The captain told us it would be warm and calm all the way to New Y ork. I still remember some of the passengers. There was an old lady who was going to visit her son in Boston. And there was a man who was going to start a new life in Canada. They both went down with the ship. The first and second days were very nice. I thought I would soon have a fine suntan. Then, on the second evening, the captain told us that the weather the next day was going to be a bit worse than expected but that it wouldn't last long."It turned very nasty on the third day. I remember someone saying, 'Oh, well, it'll soon be over.' None of us had any idea how bad it was going to get. By the time it was evening, it was really terrible."Everybody stayed in their cabins on the fourth day. The storm was impossible to describe by then. Suddenly I felt a jolt. Then someone started screaming something about a huge leak in the engine room. We all ran up on to the deck. I was sure I would never be able to get in one of the lifeboats. There were too many people fighting over them. I also knew that I would go down with the ship if I stayed any longer because it was going to sink any minute. When I jumped into the water I sank so deep that I was sure I was never going to come up again. Somehow I did and there was a lifeboat in the water near me, only half full. Someone pulled me in."During the night I often thought we were going to sink again or at least die of the cold, but the next morning the storm died down. Then a ship came into sight and we and some people in another lifeboat were rescued."TY-2( Joe Burns is a famous racing-driver. He is being interviewed on a sports program.) Reporter: Y ou've had a very dangerous life, haven't you, Joe? I mean, you've almost been killed several times, haven't you?Joe: Y es. I suppose that's right.Reporter: When was your worst accident?Joe: I'd say last year. It was during the British Grand Prix. I smashed into a wall. The car was completely ruined and my left leg was broken. Luckily, nobody was killed.Reporter: Is that the only time you've been...er...close to death?Joe: No. Once, during the Mexican Grand Prix, two cars in front of me had a bad accident. One of them ran into the other. I swerved to avoid them and hit a fence. My car was badly damaged, but luckily, I wasn't even hurt.Reporter: Y ou must enjoy danger. I mean, you wouldn't be a racing-driver if you didn't want to be, would you?Joe: I don't know about that. I had a very frightening experience quite recently. I was frightened to death! I thought I was going to be killed at any moment.Reporter: Really? When was that? During your last race?Joe: No. It was on my way to this studio. I had to drive through London during the rush hour.TY-3CBCDASix days ago, in Russia, a mine was flooded when all the miners were working. And lots of miners were trapped underground. Nobody knew how much air was inside and what the situation was to the trapped miners. Rescue teams tried every way to get some message from the miners, but it seemed in vain. This caused worldwide concerns. The accident was reported by the world media. But to people's great surprise, this morning came the dramatic news. Rescue teams dug 60 meters and had tunneled through. They discovered survivors at part of the mine not flooded. To miners underground those were really anxious moments. They prepared themselves for the worst. Now suddenly they had hope they could see their loved ones again. And then they were brought out of the mine. Exhausted and wounded, they were not strong enough to wave to their relatives or friends. Wrapped with blankets, these survivors were carefully handed over to the ambulances and taken to a nearby hospital. However, not everyone survived. One miner was reported to have been found dead, another missing.Questions:1. Where did the accident happen?2. What caused the mine's accident?3. What can we learn about the rescue teams?4. Which of the following statements is true of the miners?5. How many miners became the victims of the accident?。
