A
Shana, Robyn, and I stood on the high platform near the tops of the rainforest trees. We were wearing heavy helmets on our heads and had thick leather straps around our waists, which made seats that hung from a thick wire overhead. The wire was hung between the platform we stood on and another platform far in thedistance.
This was the zip line(滑索), an adventure I had vowed I would not do on our family trip to Costa Rica. I was afraid of heights, afraid of falling, and afraid of zipping through the air above the rainforest at 30 miles per hour. Yet here I was, fastened in and ready to go.
“Who goes first?” our guide asked. My sisters exchanged a glance—neither of them stepped forward. I’dbeenteasedforbeinga “scarycat” eversinceIwasfourwhenItripped (绊倒) andfellonanescalator
（自动扶梯）. Even myparents,whilerelievedbymycautiousways,wereworriedthatI’dmissouton
enjoyable activities. No longer willing to let life pass me by, I stepped to the edge of the platform, sat back in the leather seat, and pushed off. Absolute terror filled me as I screamed and zoomed through the trees with my eyes squeezed shut. Before I could totally process what was happening, I landed safely on the second platform.
As my sisters flew in behind me, the guide attached me to the next wire, and I was off again. This time, fear was replaced with excitement, and I was able to look around me as I zipped. There—a toucan (犀鸟)! And was that a sloth (树懒) right at eye level?
By the time we had finished all the zip line journeys, I was shouting not with terror but with joy. And to think how close I'd come to missing itall!
1. Why had the writer vowed not to go on the ziplines?
A. She thought she would not be able to seeanything.
B. She had a fear ofheights.
C. She was afraid of the rainforestanimals.
D. She hated wearing the helmet andstraps.
2. What made the writer decide to go on the ziplines?
A. The encouragement ofhis own. B. The tease of hissisters.
C. The support ofhisparents. D. The order of hisguide.
3. How did the writer find the zip line journey in theend?
A. Tiresomeand unhappy. B. Nothing butfrightening.
C. Riskybut rewarding. D. Joyful butfruitless.
