Bungee Jumper Survives New Year’s Accident

Pre-Listening Vocabulary

• plunge: to go down very quickly
• bungee jump: a jump that requires you to leap head first from a platform; the jumper is attached to a cord which bounces up just before the jumper hits the surface
• disoriented: confused about one’s direction and surroundings
• rapids: fast moving river water
• white water rafting: a water sport that requires you to work your way over river rapids in a special boat
• miraculously: as if by a miracle; with help from God or an external source
• incident: event or occasion (often involving trouble)

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Bungee Jumper Survives New Year’s Accident

An Australian tourist plunged into an African river during a bungee jump  between Zambia and Zimbabwe on New Year’s Eve. The video footage shows that 22-year-old Erin Langworthy was about  through a jump off the Victoria Falls  when her cord snapped. The tourist was disoriented and heading into dangerous rapids when she came up to the surface. Her feet were still  together and the rope got caught on some rocks. Using safety tips she had learned through white water rafting the day before, Langworthy managed to free herself and swim to the Zimbabwe side of the river. The Australian suffered cuts and , but is recovering miraculously in South Africa. The bungee company claims it has been in operation for 10 years without an incident.

Comprehension Questions

1. Where was the tourist visiting from?
2. Why was it so difficult for the jumper to swim after the accident?
3. How did the tourism company react to the accident?

Discussion Question: Does a news story like this make you less likely to try an extreme sport such as bungee jumping?

hide Answers

Bungee Jumper Survives New Year’s Accident
An Australian tourist plunged into an African river during a bungee jumpaccident between Zambia and Zimbabwe on New Year’s Eve. The video footage shows that 22-year-old Erin Langworthy was about halfway through a jump off the Victoria Falls bridge when her cord snapped. The tourist was disoriented and heading into dangerous rapids when she came up to the surface. Her feet were still tied together and the rope got caught on some rocks. Using safety tips she had learned through white water rafting the day before, Langworthy managed to free herself and swim to the Zimbabwe side of the river. The Australian suffered cuts and bruises, but is recovering miraculously in South Africa. The bungee company claims it has been in operation for 10 years without an incident.

1. The tourist was visiting from Australia.
2. It was difficult for the jumper to swim after the accident because her feet were tied together and the rope was getting caught on rocks.
3. The company claimed it had never had an accident in 10 years of operation.