Red Line 4, Coursebook

fif ty-seven 57 Downriver C This story is about some teenagers at a summer camp. The activities were not exciting enough for them, so they ‘borrowed’ two rafts and rowed down the Colorado River to the Grand Canyon. Now, a week later, they know it is important to stop and ‘scout’, or look carefully at the dangerous rapids, Granite Falls, before they go farther. But Al, from the summer camp, and the police, are chasing them. Jessie, one of the girls in the group, tells the story. We began to hear the noise of Granite Falls downriver. As we all started looking around for where to scout, Freddy said, “Helicopters.” On the left side, where we would have to scout, two helicopters were parked, and Al stood above the beach with three other men. We couldn’t scout on the right side. It was all cliff over there. They’ve got us, I thought. They know we’ll have to scout Granite. Game’s over. “They don’t have us, you know,” Troy said. “Only if we give ourselves up.” “I’m not ready to quit, no way,” Rita said. “Maybe we should go closer,” I said. “We could talk to them.” Troy wasn’t too happy with me. “What about? Are we going to believe what they say? And they’ll try to scare us about the rapids.” “Live free or die,” sang Adam and Pug. “I love the river,” Star said. “I want to stay with the rest of you for as long as I can.” Troy was pleased. “Freddy?” I remembered when Troy had suggested the trip. Freddy was the only one, I knew now, who had had any idea what it might be like. “Let’s run it,” Freddy said. We moved into the current that would take us into the rapids. The men on the beach were waving their arms, but we couldn’t stop now. The adrenaline was making my heart go crazy. Troy was standing up on his seat and scouting. Behind us Freddy was standing up in the other raft. He wasn’t as close yet as we were. “Good water on the right,” Troy shouted. “Rocks center and left. Watch where I enter – stay away from the cliff! Looks nasty!” 25 30 35 5 10 15 20 This is part of a novel for American teenagers, but you can enjoy it, too. Try to get the ‘gist’ of the story. Who’s who in the story, what’s happening, and where? Don’t worry if there are some words that you don’t know. READING SKI LLS Text 3 Nur zu Prüfzwecken – E gentum des Verlags öbv