Unlocking Word Meanings
Read the following words/expressions found in today’s article.
- coastline / ˈkoʊstˌlaɪn / (n) – the part where the land meets the sea
Example:Many tourists go to the coastline to have a good view of the sea.
- paramedic / ˌpær əˈmɛd ɪk / (n) – healthcare providers who work in emergency situations
Example:The paramedic quickly helped the person who got stung by a jellyfish.
- chastise / tʃæsˈtaɪz, ˈtʃæs taɪz / (v) – to criticize a person for doing something wrong
Example:He is known to publicly chastise people who don’t follow the rules.
- plummet / ˈplʌm ɪt / (v) – to fall from a very high place
Example:The ball plummeted down the cliff.
- put (one’s) life on the line / pʊt wʌns laɪf ɒn ðə laɪn / (idiom) – risking oneself to gain something
Example:Extreme sports can sometimes put people’s lives on the line.
Article
Read the text below.
A B.A.S.E. jumper jumped off a chalky cliff and got injured at Beachy Head in the United Kingdom.
The jumper landed on the coastline after losing control, breaking his hip as a result. He practices B.A.S.E. jumping, a type of extreme sport wherein people jump off from areas like buildings, antennas, bridges, or cliffs. People who enjoy this sport use parachutes or wingsuits to land safely.
The jumper’s friend, who is a trained paramedic, saw what happened and followed him down the rocks to give first aid. The search and rescue team soon arrived to help the injured jumper, who was eventually transferred to the hospital and given proper treatment.
Eastbourne representative Stephen Lloyd chastised the two jumpers and expressed his disapproval over their actions. He said that he hopes this accident will serve as a warning so people will avoid doing the same thing in Beachy Head.
Prior to the jumper’s accident, two people have already fallen over the cliff at Beachy Head.
A woman who was found walking by the cliff’s edge fell over in May 2017. While the police were trying to get her body, another man plummeted down the cliff, just a few meters away from where the woman fell. Both were unable to survive.
These accidents have forced the UK Coastguard Agency to warn people to stay away from the cliff’s edge while taking pictures. However, this has not stopped people from putting their lives on the line just for the sake of taking photos for their social media accounts.
Viewpoint Discussion
Enjoy a discussion with your tutor.
Discussion A
• Do you agree that the B.A.S.E. jumper’s action was a careless act? Why or why not?
• Given the accidents reported in Beachy Head, would you still want to visit the place? Discuss.
Discussion B
• How can people prevent accidents when traveling?
• Do you think taking risky selfies just for social media is worth it? Why or why not?