The Big Leap

A scared boy's bravest jump · 怕高的我，那一跳

I don’t like heights. I never have. I don’t mind being in a tall building or on a plane. But looking out over the edge of a cliff, or even down from a tree, makes me feel a little dizzy.

I mention this because it has a lot to do with something that happened to me a few years ago. I was with my friends at a lake, and we were having a good time swimming, canoeing, and playing cards.

On one of our canoe trips, we came across a huge rock. It was much taller than a house, and it was right beside the water. The other kids thought it would be a great place for swimming. "It even has a perfect jumping rock!" said one of my friends.

You can imagine my reaction. I never told my friends about my fear of heights. There was no way I was jumping off that rock!

I got in the water and swam around. I was the best swimmer, so I thought just in case something happened I would be in the water to help.

Everyone jumped off the rock many times, except me. "Hey John! You haven’t jumped yet," said one of the girls. "Are you scared?" joked one of the boys. Soon, they were all chanting, "Jump, jump, jump!"

I was too embarrassed to admit my fear. So I climbed the rock. Everyone was watching as I looked over the edge. Only Wendy was in the water far below. I just couldn’t do it.

Suddenly, a branch fell and hit Wendy on her head. I called to her, but she didn’t answer. I was the closest person to her and the best swimmer. I had no choice.

I jumped. Actually, I dove in to get close to her more quickly. At that moment, I lost all fear. I pulled her to the shore. She coughed a little, but she was fine.

I still don’t like heights, but I was amazed at what I did to help another person. I guess you never know what you’re capable of when someone needs your help.

The Big Leap — Facing my fear the moment someone needed me

I don’t like heights. I never have. I don’t mind being in a tall building or on a plane. But looking out over the edge of a cliff, or even down from a tree, makes me feel a little d(1)__________.

I mention this because it has a lot to do with something that happened to me a few years ago. I was with my friends at a lake, and we were having a good time swimming, canoeing, and playing cards.

On one of our canoe trips, we came across a huge rock. It was much taller than a house, and it was right beside the water. The other kids thought it would be a great place for swimming. "It even has a perfect jumping rock!" said one of my friends.

You can imagine my r(2)__________. I never told my friends about my f(3)__________ of heights. There was no way I was jumping off that rock!

I got in the water and swam around. I was the best swimmer, so I thought just in case something happened I would be in the water to help.

Everyone jumped off the rock many times, e(4)__________ me. "Hey John! You haven’t jumped yet," said one of the girls. "Are you s(5)__________?" joked one of the boys. Soon, they were all c(6)__________, "Jump, jump, jump!"

I was too e(7)__________ to admit my fear. So I climbed the rock. Everyone was watching as I looked over the e(8)__________. Only Wendy was in the water far below. I just couldn’t do it.

Suddenly, a b(9)__________ fell and hit Wendy on her head. I called to her, but she didn’t answer. I was the closest person to her and the best swimmer. I had no choice.

I jumped. Actually, I dove in to get close to her more quickly. At that moment, I lost all fear. I pulled her to the shore. She coughed a little, but she was fine.

I still don’t like heights, but I was amazed at what I did to help another person. I guess you never know what you’re c(10)__________ of when someone needs your help.

📌 重点单词 · Key Vocabulary

🔗 重点词组 · Key Phrases

💡 语法小贴士 · Grammar Tips

🌊 文化拓展 · Courage You Didn't Know You Had

恐高在心理学上称为 acrophobia（恐高症），是最常见的特定恐惧之一——大约每 20 个人中就有一位。作者很聪明地辨析了"程度"：坐高楼、坐飞机都不怕，怕的是"脚踩实地、眼睛看着悬崖边缘"的本能眩晕，这让故事里的"恐高"读起来真实可信，而不是夸张的戏剧设定。

这个故事最动人的地方，是恐惧消失的那一瞬：前一秒他还在悬崖上"怎么也迈不出脚"，下一秒树枝砸中同伴的头，"I had no choice"——他不是不害怕了才跳，而是跳下去的那一刻发现，为别人而来的勇气比为自己而去的大得多。心理学上也有类似发现：紧急情境下的利他行动，往往先于恐惧反应发生。

文末的点睛句 "You never know what you're capable of when someone needs your help" 是本文留给读者的思考：一个人的能力边界，往往不是在安逸中测出来的，而是在"不得不上"的那一刻被重新定义的。当然也要记住故事里的安全常识——下水救人要选离落水点最近的位置、让水性好的人先上，平时"泡在水里待命"的细心，关键时刻真的能救命。