5 . I was hiking with Sam and Kyle to show them a cliff where they could feel the sea spray on their faces. I knew the area could be dangerous, but I was not worried for I had hiked there many times.
We sat in the sun and watched the waves throw themselves against the rock. Then I crept (爬) up to the edge, Kyle right behind me. I found a seat-shaped place and sat down with much contentment. When Kyle came near, I gave him my place. He settled in and I moved a few feet over where the smooth rock had no holds.
Suddenly, a monstrous wave came. I felt myself starting to slide. The water washed me off the cliff and forced me under. I screamed for help. I swam hard for the shore. I was not a strong swimmer but I tried rimming for shore anyway, battling the warm water the best I could. Soon, I realized the sea had swept me farther out.
“Sam!” I yelled. “Kyle, help me and send a helicopter!” After about thirty minutes, I saw a helicopter. I could see Sam and Kyle looking anxiously from it. My eyes lit up and my heart missed a beat. The helicopter buzzed overhead, and then kept on going. I floated on my back to make myself more visible, my body pale in contrast to the darker ocean. When the helicopter came by again, I moved my arms and legs desperately to attract their attention. Again, the helicopter disappeared. Helpless, I stared in disbelief as they missed seeing me twice in a row. Deciding that I needed to save my energy, I continued floating on my back and closed my eyes.
Gradually, a noise grew louder. I soon realized a helicopter was overhead. The crew had seen me, but it might be too late. Waves of exhaustion overwhelmed me. My leg muscles tightened uncontrollably. “This is it,” I thought, as I gave up to the weight that was pulling me down.
Then, I felt a strong arm wrap across my chest and turned to see a rescue diver. He asked me if I was alright. The next thing I knew was that I was in the air. The waves that had just been big enough to kill me suddenly seemed small.
1. Which of the following can best describe the author in paragraph 2?
| A．Curious and careful. | B．Happy and relaxed. |
| C．Proud but disappointed. | D．Anxious but satisfied. |
2. Why couldn’t the author swim back to shore?
| A．He met with fast wind. | B．He couldn’t perform his best. |
| C．He was not a strong swimmer. | D．He was not used to the warm water. |
3. What did the author do to increase his chances of being seen by the passing helicopter?
| A．He tried to preserve his energy. | B．He made his arms pale. |
| C．He yelled at the helicopter. | D．He floated on his back. |
4. What does the author’s thought “This is it” mean?
| A．The disaster came to an end as expected. | B．He finally got the rescue he needed badly. |
| C．He was convinced he was about to drown. | D．The waves were not big enough to kill him. |
