Around the world more and more people are taking part in dangerous sports and activities. Of course, there have always been people who have looked for adventure — those who have climbed the highest mountains, explored unknown parts of the world or sailed in small boats across the greatest oceans. Now, however, there are people who seek an immediate excitement from a risky activity which may only last a few minutes or even seconds.
I would consider bungee jumping to be a good example of such an activity. You jump from a high place (perhaps a bridge or a hot-air balloon) 200 meters above the ground with an elastic rope tied to your ankles. You fall at up to 150 kilometers an hour until the rope stops you from hitting the ground. It is estimated that two million people around the world have now tried bungee jumping. Other activities which most people would say are as risky as bungee jumping involve jumping from tall buildings and diving into the sea from the top of high cliffs.
Why do people take part in such activities as these? Some psychologists suggest that it is because life in modern societies has become safe and boring. Not very long ago, people's lives were constantly under threat. They had to go out and hunt for food, diseases could not easily be cured, and life was a continuous battle for survival.
Nowadays, according to many people, life offers little excitement. They live and work in comparatively safe environment; they buy food in shops; and there are doctors and hospitals to look after them if they become ill. The answer for some of these people is to seek danger in activities such as bungee jumping.
1.Which of the following is the suitable title for the passage?
A.Dangerous Sports: What and Why? B.The Boredom of Modern Life
C.Bungee Jumping: Is It Really Dangerous? D.The Need for Excitement
2.More and more people today_______.
A.are trying activities such as bungee jumping
B.are climbing the highest mountains
C.are close to death in sports
D.are looking for adventures such as exploring unknown places
3.People probably take part in dangerous sports nowadays because_______.
A.they have a lot of free time B.they can go to hospital if they are injured
C.their lives lack excitement D.they no longer need to hunt for food
4.The writer of the passage has a(n)_________ attitude towards dangerous sports.
A.positive B.negative C.objective D.subjective
5.It can be inferred from the article that_________.
A.ancient people disliked dangerous sports
B.struggle for survival is important for human being to evolve
C.excitement is a kind of special experience so attractive
D.there are many ways to sense the danger in sports
长难例句分析
［长难例句］There have always been people who have looked for adventure — those who have climbed the highest mountains, explored unknown parts of the world or sailed in small boats across the greatest oceans.
［结构分析］本句中，主干是there have always been people...。people后面是who引导的定语从句，破折号后面的those还是指people，它后面也接有一个由who引导的定语从句。climbed, explored, sailed是这个定语从句中的三个并列的谓语动词。
［参考译文］总是有人寻求冒险——他们攀登最高的山峰，在世界未知的领域探险或是乘小舟跨越大洋。
［长难例句］Other activities which most people would say are as risky as bungee jumping involve jumping from tall buildings and diving into the sea from the top of high cliffs.
［结构分析］本句中，主干是Other activities involve jumping...and diving...。which引导的定语从句修饰句子的主语other activities。在这个定语从句中，主干是which are as risky as bungee jumping，而most people would say只是一个插入语成分。
［参考译文］其他大多数人认为和蹦极一样冒险的活动包括从高楼跳下和从悬崖顶跳入海里。
［长难例句］You jump from a high place (perhaps a bridge or a hot-air balloon) 200 meters above the ground with an elastic rope tied to your ankles.
［结构分析］本句中，主干是You jump from a high place...。200 meters...ground是a high place的定语成分，而with短语则是整个句子的伴随状语成分。
［参考译文］你从离地面200米的高处（有可能是一座桥或是热气球）跳下，一条有弹性的绳子绑在脚踝上。
全文参考译文
世界各地愈来愈多的人正在参加危险的体育活动。当然，总是有人寻求冒险——他们攀登最高的山峰，在世界未知的领域探险或是乘小舟跨越大洋。但是现在有的人从持续时间只有几分钟或者甚至几秒钟的冒险活动中获取即时的刺激。
我认为蹦极跳就是这样一种典型的活动。你从离地面200米的高处（有可能是一座桥或是热气球）跳下，一条有弹性的绳子绑在脚踝上。你以高达每小时150千米的速度落下，直到绳子阻止你撞到地面上。估计世界各地有200万人现在已经尝试了蹦极。其他大多数人认为和蹦极一样冒险的活动包括从高楼跳下和从悬崖顶跳入海里。
为什么人们参加这样的活动呢？某些心理学家认为原因就是现代的生活已经变得安全无趣。从前人们的生命时时受到威胁。他们不得不外出觅食，疾病也很难治愈，生活就是一场无休止的生存战斗。
对于很多人来说，现在的生活缺乏刺激。他们在相对安全的环境中生活和工作；他们可以在商店中购买食物；如果生病了，有医生和医院照料他们。在蹦极这样的活动中寻求危险就是他们中一些人的排解方法了。
题目答案与解析
1.适合本文的题目是“_________”。
A.危险体育运动：是什么和为什么？ B.对现代生活的厌倦
C.蹦极跳：真的危险吗？ D.刺激的需要
【答案】A
【解析】从文中内容可知，第一段讲到全世界有越来越多的人参加各种危险的运动和活动。第二段以蹦极（bungee jumping）为例加以说明。三、四两段主要在解释人们参加这类活动的原因。只有A项能概括全文，因此是正确答案。
2.如今愈来愈多的人_________。
A.正在尝试像蹦极这样的运动 B.正在攀登最高的山峰
C.在运动中接近死亡 D.正在寻找冒险，例如探索未知地区
【答案】A
【解析】从文中内容可知，第一段第一句话就讲到全世界有越来越多的人参加各种危险的运动和活动。第二段以蹦极（bungee jumping）为例加以说明。只有A项符合文章的意思，为本题的正确答案。
3.如今人们参加危险运动的原因可能是______。
A.他们有太多的空闲时间 B.如果受伤可以去医院
C.他们的生活缺乏刺激 D.他们不再需要寻找食物
【答案】C
【解析】本题可参照文章的第三、第四段。从Nowadays, according to many people, life offers little excitement可知，C项为正确答案。
4.对危险运动，本文作者所持的态度是_________。
A.肯定的 B.否定的 C.客观的 D.主观的
【答案】C
【解析】本题应在理解全文的基础上来进行判断。综观全文，作者的态度是较为客观的，因此，C项为正确答案。
5.从文章中可以推理出_________。
A.古人不喜欢危险的体育运动 B.为生存而作出的努力对人类进化很重要
C.兴奋是种很特殊的体验，因此也吸引人 D.体育运动中可以有多种方式体验危险
【答案】D
【解析】其他三个选项可能从理论上推理出来，但是本文中没有提及也得不出这样的结论。阅读理解的核心是要理解现在文章中的意思而不是自己想象、发挥出来的意思。
