许多人可能会认为极限运动爱好者们有些奇特甚至不可理喻。是什么促使人们冒着生命危险去尝试一项体育运动的呢？最新的研究逐渐开始打破人们的刻板印象，显示出极限运动爱好者并不仅仅是不计后果或者对肾上腺素飙升上瘾的人。本文讨论哪些因素在驱使着人们不断尝试极限运动。
词汇：extreme sport 极限运动
There are two types of people: those who would jump from a plane, hungry to feel the rush of adrenaline in those moments before the parachute opens up, and those who would rather not tempt fate, and instead find pleasure in remaining safely on firm ground, perhaps enjoying a nice view. An extreme sport is one where a small mistake could result in a serious injury, even death. What is it that separates extreme sports enthusiasts from others who prefer to avoid such activities?
"There has to be something wrong with them." That's an assumption that many people, including researchers, have historically held. Why else would a person participate in sports such as base jumping and free solo climbing, which are characterised by such high risk? But Eric Brymer, behavioural scientist who studies the psychology of adventure, has met many extreme athletes in his career and challenges the view that they are all reckless thrill-seekers. "Most people were very careful and took years to develop their skills," he said. Many don't even consider their sports risky because they spend so much time minimising risk.
In fact, a desire to manage risks was a trait identified in extreme athletes in a 2024 study called 'What factors explain extreme sport participation?'. The authors also found that athletes enjoyed feeling at one with nature and being part of a community of like-minded people. Another theme was a drive to succeed. In this sense, extreme athletes might not differ much from traditional athletes – they are all united in wanting that sense of achievement. Lastly, while many extreme athletes are thrill-seekers, others use extreme sports for emotion regulation. For those who struggle to confront their emotions, extreme sports can provide an outlet.
Alex Honnold is the first and currently only person to free solo climb El Capitan, a rock formation in Yosemite National Park, from base to summit. When asked why he free climbs, he said "I'm searching more for that feeling of having done something well and being deeply content – it's more than the quick hit of adrenaline. It's personal." You might not feel the need to free solo climb a massive rock face to feel fulfilled, but the feeling of achieving goals outside of our comfort zone is something many of us can relate to.
词汇表
feel the rush 感受（某物的）激增
adrenaline 肾上腺素
parachute 降落伞
tempt fate 冒不必要的危险
pleasure 乐趣
enthusiast 爱好者
base jumping 定点跳伞
free solo climbing 徒手攀岩
reckless 不计后果的，鲁莽的
thrill-seeker 追求刺激的人
at one with nature 与自然融为一体
drive 欲望，强烈的动力
sense of achievement 成就感
emotion regulation 情绪调节
outlet （情绪的）发泄途径
summit 山峰，顶峰
comfort zone 舒适区
测验与练习
1. 阅读课文并回答问题。
1. How is an extreme sport defined?
2. What is the traditionally held view of extreme sports enthusiasts?
3. True or False? Eric Brymer thinks all extreme athletes are reckless thrill-seekers.
4. Name three factors which explain extreme sport participation, according to the 2024 study.
5. Why does Alex Honnold say he free solo climbs?
2. 选择意思恰当的单词或词组来完成下列句子。
1. I love spending time in the forest. It makes me feel so _______.
comfort zone emotion regulation thrill-seeker at one with nature
2. His _______ driving put everyone else on the road at risk.
thrilled parachute reckless feel the rush
3. She _______ by riding her bike down the hill without checking her breaks first.
base jumped tempted fate free solo climbed sensed achievement
4. Writing in a journal became _______ to process his thoughts and feelings.
an outlet a pleasure a comfort zone a parachute
5. As a hiking _______, she spends every weekend exploring new trails.
enthusiast drive summit adrenaline
答案
1. 阅读课文并回答问题。
1. How is an extreme sport defined?
An extreme sport is one where a small mistake could result in a serious injury, even death.
2. What is the traditionally held view of extreme sports enthusiasts?
The traditionally held view of extreme sports enthusiasts is that there has to be something wrong with them.
3. True or False? Eric Brymer thinks all extreme athletes are reckless thrill-seekers.
False. He challenges this view, saying "Most people were very careful and took years to develop their skills".
4. Name three factors which explain extreme sport participation, according to the 2024 study.
Factors which explain extreme sport participation include: A desire to manage risks, a feeling of being at one with nature, being part of a community of like-minded people, a drive to succeed and emotion regulation.
5. Why does Alex Honnold say he free solo climbs?
Alex Honnold says he free solo climbs for that feeling of having done something well and being deeply content.
2. 选择意思恰当的单词或词组来完成下列句子。
1. I love spending time in the forest. It makes me feel so at one with nature.
2. His reckless driving put everyone else on the road at risk.
3. She tempted fate by riding her bike down the hill without checking her breaks first.
4. Writing in a journal became an outlet to process his thoughts and feelings.
5. As a hiking enthusiast, she spends every weekend exploring new trails.