冒 險(xiǎn) 島

江蘇 溫從秀

瓦努阿圖是南太平洋上的一個(gè)小島國(guó)家，以火山?jīng)_浪和陸地蹦極這兩項(xiàng)極限運(yùn)動(dòng)而聞名。

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Vanuatu is a nation of small islands in the South Pacific. It is one of the smallest countries in the world. But for those who are interested in adventure and sport, there is more than you could expect. Some of the best swimming,snorkelling （徒手潛水）, and sea kayaking （劃艇） can be found here. Vanuatu's islands also offer visitors two of the most exciting and dangerous activities in the world: volcano surfing and land diving.

Volcano surfing

On Tanna Island, Mount Yasur rises 300 meters into the sky. Yasur is one of Vanuatu's few active volcanoes. It erupts almost every day,sometimes several times a day. For centuries,both locals and tourists have climbed this mountain to visit the top. Recently, people have also started climbing Yasur to surf the volcano.In some ways, volcano surfing is like surfing in the sea; but in other ways, it's very different. A volcano surfer's goal is to escape the erupting volcano without being hit by flying rocks! It's fast, fun and dangerous. It is the perfect extreme sport.

Land diving

Most people are familiar with bungee jumping. But did you know that bungee jumping started on Pentecost Island in Vanuatu almost 15 centuries ago? The original activity, which is called land diving, is part of a religious ceremony. A man ties two tree vines （藤） around his ankles. He then climbs a wooden tower around 20 to 30 meters high, crosses his arms, and jumps headfirst. The goal is to touch the earth with the top of his head without breaking the vines or hitting the ground hard. Every spring,local boys and men still perform this amazing test of bravery. Women are not allowed to dive,but they support the divers by dancing and singing at the bottom of the tower. Many tourists come to the island every year to watch this ancient tradition.

Reading Check

1.What is the purpose of this reading?

A. To explain what volcano surfing and land diving are.

B. To persuade the tourist to participate in extreme sports.

C. To talk about the world's best volcano surfer and land diver.

D. To compare Vanuatu with other islands in the South Pacific.

2. How are volcano surfing and land diving similar?

A.Anyone can do them.

B.They last very long.

C.They are both ancient sports.

D.They are both extreme activities.

3. In paragraph 1, what does the underlined word“those”refer to?

A.People. B.Countries.

C.Islands. D.Activities.

4.What can we know about Mount Yasur?

A.It is no longer active.

B.It is on Pentecost Island.

C.It is the highest mountain in Vanuatu.

D.It has been an attraction for a long time.

5.What can be inferred about land diving?

A.It kills many lives every year.

B.It was first called “bungee jumping”.

C.It is a traditional activity in Vanuatu.

D.It is less popular today than in the past.

Language Study

Choose the right word for each blank.

If you lead an 1. _______（almost/active）lifestyle and want to learn an extreme water sport, consider whitewater kayaking. Many people head to Chile every year to kayak along many rivers and rapids that the 2._______（bravery/nation） is known for. The United States also has many popular kayaking spots, such as the Great Falls of the Potomac River. The falls lie 3. _______（almost/familiar） entirely within the state of Maryland.

Whitewater kayaking is very dangerous. So why do people do it? For some, it is a test of 4. ________（centuries/bravery）. For others, it makes them feel alive.