Paragliding is a kind of flying, but instead of the wing being made of metal, wood or plastic, it is made of nylon or polyester. The wing is attached to a harness by lines where a pilot sits, similar to a parachute.
Is it safe?
Paragliding, is as safe as sailing and deep-sea diving. The big advantage is that it’s probably the slowest form of aviation, so if you do crash, you'll hit the ground quite gently! It’s a very relaxing sport as you're mostly sitting down. Yet, you’ll probably experience pain in some muscles you didn’t know you had while learning, but many of those will be due to the walk up the training hill to launch.
Where do I learn?
There are lots of schools, mainly based inland by appropriate hills or mountains, and there are also schools on the coast near spectacular cliffs. These are very attractive, though the prospect of landing in the sea seems to discourage beginners! It takes seven days to get your basic license; then you’re free to fly independently at sites across the country.
What do I need?
Pilots normally wear warm clothes in case they get very high up, and a helmet in case they stumble on landing. In terms of gear, schools supply basic training, canopies, harnesses, etc. However, you'll probably want to buy your own more sophisticated equipment, which you’ll be able to choose much better once you’ve tried some out on your course.
Who can do it?
There’s no upper age limit provided your instructor judges you capable, but the youngest is 14. Anybody with good eyesight and good balance is a potential paraglider pilot.
Flying a paraglider is a great sport. We hope to see you in the air with us this season!
1. Which would be the best heading for Paragraph 1?| A．What is paragliding? | B．Who invented paragliding? |
| C．How is paragliding special? | D．Why is paragliding popular? |
| A．exciting but tiring | B．safe and relaxing |
| C．attractive but expensive | D．fast and challenging |
| A．Fit people of any age can take up paragliding. |
| B．Most paragliding schools are situated by the sea. |
| C．Pilots need to buy basic equipment on their training course. |
| D．Learners can fly on their own after at least a week’s training. |
| A．She played tennis. | B．She played football. | C．She went running. |
| A．Rainy. | B．Sunny. | C．Cloudy. |
4 . Sports can help us a lot. Taking exercises can make us strong. In collective(集体的) sports like basketball, volleyball or football, we will learn the importance of cooperation(合作). And sports can also help us relax after work or study.
However, as the saying goes, “there are two sides of everything.” Sometimes we may hurt other players or ourselves if we are not careful enough when participating(参加) in sports activities. What’s more, too much or hard practice can be bad for our health.
Sports can make us healthy both physically and psychologically(心理地). It is also a good way for people to know each other and can improve friendship between people. So long as we are careful enough, sports can do us nothing but good.
1. can make us strong.| A．Sleeping | B．Singing |
| C．Making friends | D．Taking exercise |
| A．good | B．enough |
| C．bad | D．helpful |
| A．help people to know each other | B．improve friendship between people |
| C．do us nothing but good if we are careful | D．All of the above |
| A．Sports can help us relax after work or study. |
| B．Sports can only make us healthy physically. |
| C．Sometimes we may hurt other players or ourselves when participating in sports activities. |
| D．Basketball and volleyball are both collective sports. |
