Escape from the canyon

English reading comprehension

Intermediate B1 - B2

644 Words

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Escape from the canyon

Before you read

Canyonlands National Park is an area of rocky mountainous desert in south western America. It covers over 1,000 square kilometres and is home to black bears, foxes, and eight species of snakes including the prairie rattlesnake. Summer temperatures reach 32 degrees C.
Imagine you were going to make a day trip to Canyonlands.
1. What problems might you have?
2. What would you take with you, and what safety

Early in the morning of April 26, 2003, Aron Ralston left his home in the city of Aspen, Colorado, and headed west across the desert in his truck.

A passionate climber, 28-year-old Ralston was making for the Canyonlands National Park in the neighbouring state of Utah, where he'd planned a day hiking alone in the Blue John Canyon.

Five hours later he passed through the town of Moab, known locally as 'the end of the world'. He was about to enter one of the remotest parts of the American West.

With the magnificent desert landscape stretching for miles all around, he parked the truck and continued on his bike until the track ended.

For many it would be difficult terrain for hiking, but the experienced Ralston leaped confidently over the smooth rocks. For him it was an easy day's outing.

He was just starting to climb down into the canyon when he put his hand on a boulder and it came loose. He lost his balance for a second and slipped down to the bottom of the canyon. The boulder came crashing after him and landed on his arm. In a few seconds the outing had turned into a nightmare.

Above, a sliver of blue sky was all he could see of the world outside. He knew that shouting for help would be pointless. To make matters worse, he had no mobile phone and he hadn't told anyone where he was going. All he had was 350 ml of water, two sandwiches and a small knife.

It didn't take him long to realise that he wouldn't be able to pull himself free or move the rock, which was later weighed at 360 kilograms. His only chance of survival would be to do something almost unthinkable: he would have to cut off his own arm. But there was no way his tiny knife could cut through the bone.

The nightmare continued for five days as he tried to keep his spirits up and think of a solution. But by the fifth day the situation was clearly hopeless. His arm was decomposing, and he knew that without medical attention he would soon die.

Certain that the end was coming, he carved RIP in the wall of the canyon and made a goodbye video for his family.

Then, on the sixth day, he had a brainwave: he realised that he could use the weight of his body to bend his arm until the bone broke. He could then cut through the flesh with his knife and he'd be free.

He later said that this was the most beautiful moment of his life. The knowledge that he'd soon be out of the canyon gave him strength to tolerate the appalling pain. In an hour he was free from the rock. But it was still a thirteen-kilometre walk back to his car and he had lost a litre and a half of blood. He knew he could survive for half an hour at the most.

Amazingly, he managed to rappel down a 20-meter cliff one-handed and get out of the canyon. He then started walking towards the road, but he was getting weaker by the minute. For all his bravery and determination, it looked as though he was going to die in the desert after all. But at this critical point luck intervened, and a Dutch family who were hiking nearby saw him and raised the alarm. Minutes later a rescue helicopter arrived and took him to the hospital in Moab.

Aron Ralston made a complete recovery, and in 2011 a film was made about his adventure - 127 Hours. He has praised the film's accuracy, saying it was 'as close to a documentary as you can get and still be a drama.' Ralston is now married with a young son and lives in Boulder, Colorado. He continues to hike and climb.

Now watch the video clip 127 hours before starting the lesson.

Drag and Drop

Match the following definitions to their words.

very good, beautiful, or deserving to be admired:

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magnificent

passionate

outing

boulder

unthinkable

rappel

appalling

remote

Drag and Drop

far away in distance:

​

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remote

passionate

outing

boulder

unthinkable

rappel

appalling

magnificent

Drag and Drop

shocking and very bad:

​

Placeholder

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appalling

passionate

outing

boulder

unthinkable

rappel

remote

magnificent

Drag and Drop

to go down a very steep slope by holding on to a rope that is fastened to the top of the slope:

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rappel

passionate

outing

boulder

unthinkable

appalling

remote

magnificent

Drag and Drop

so shocking that it cannot be imagined as possible:

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Placeholder

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unthinkable

passionate

outing

boulder

rappel

appalling

remote

magnificent

Drag and Drop

having very strong feelings or emotions:

​

Placeholder

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passionate

outing

boulder

unthinkable

rappel

appalling

remote

magnificent

Drag and Drop

a short journey made by a group of people, usually for pleasure or education:

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Placeholder

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outing

passionate

boulder

unthinkable

rappel

appalling

remote

magnificent

Drag and Drop

a very large rock

​

Placeholder

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boulder

passionate

outing

unthinkable

rappel

appalling

remote

magnificent

Drag and Drop

a very small, thin piece of something, usually broken off something larger:

​

Placeholder

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sliver

intervene

brainwave

nightmare

canyon

terrain

decomposing

RIP

Drag and Drop

rest in peace

​

Placeholder

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RIP

sliver

intervene

brainwave

nightmare

terrain

decomposing

canyon

Drag and Drop

to decay, or to cause something to decay:

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decomposing

sliver

intervene

brainwave

nightmare

terrain

RIP

canyon

Drag and Drop

to intentionally become involved in a difficult situation in order to improve it or prevent it from getting worse:

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Placeholder

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intervene

sliver

brainwave

nightmare

terrain

decomposing

RIP

canyon

Drag and Drop

an area of land, when considering its natural features:

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Placeholder

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terrain

sliver

intervene

brainwave

nightmare

decomposing

RIP

canyon

Drag and Drop

a large valley with very steep sides and usually a river flowing along the bottom

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Placeholder

Drag these tiles and drop them in the correct blank above

canyon

sliver

intervene

brainwave

nightmare

terrain

decomposing

RIP

Drag and Drop

an extremely unpleasant event or experience or possible event or experience:

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Placeholder

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nightmare

sliver

intervene

brainwave

terrain

decomposing

RIP

canyon

Drag and Drop

a sudden clever idea:

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Placeholder

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brainwave

sliver

intervene

nightmare

terrain

decomposing

RIP

canyon

Multiple Choice

Comprehension:

Aron Ralston went hiking in the desert near his home in America.

• true

• false

Multiple Choice

He climbed to the bottom of a canyon and couldn't get back out.

• true

• false

Multiple Choice

He didn't call for help because he knew nobody would hear him.

• true

• false

Multiple Choice

He didn't tell his family where he was going.

• true

• false

Multiple Choice

He couldn't get out of the canyon because his arm was trapped.

• true

• false

Multiple Choice

He soon realised he would have to cut off his arm, but he was afraid.

• true

• false

Multiple Choice

At one point he was sure he was going to die.

• true

• false

Multiple Choice

He eventually realised he could get out if he broke his own arm.

• true

• false

Multiple Choice

Once he had got out of the canyon, his problems were over.

• true

• false

Multiple Choice

Aron Ralston gave up hiking after his experience in the canyon.

• true

• false

Multiple Choice

Vocabulary Quiz

Choose the best definitions for the words from the text.

Terrain refers to;

• the physical features of land

• a large rock or boulder

• a place of natural beauty

Multiple Choice

A nightmare is a;

• bad night

• bad accident

• bad experience

Multiple Choice

If something is appalling, it is;

• very frightening

• very painful

• very bad

Multiple Choice

If someone is passionate about something, they;

• have a lot of experience doing it

• have strong positive feelings about it

• know a lot about it

Multiple Choice

A canyon is a;

• steep valley

• long path

• high hill

Multiple Choice

A brainwave is a;

• brain injury

• medical test

• good idea

Multiple Choice

A remote place is;

• far from other places

• wild and dangerous

• good for adventures

Multiple Choice

Magnificent means;

• very hot and dry

• very beautiful and impressive

• very hilly with rocks

Fill in the Blanks

Vocabulary in other contexts

Use words from the word list to complete the sentences.

We visited a

village, two-hours' drive from the nearest town.

Fill in the Blanks

We had no idea what to do, and then Janet had a

.

Fill in the Blanks

The journey home was a

. Our plane was delayed and we lost our luggage.

Fill in the Blanks

The weather was

- cold and wet with high winds.

Fill in the Blanks

They had a lucky escape when a huge

rolled down the hill and nearly hit their car.

Fill in the Blanks

The royal palace is absolutely

You really should go and see it.

Fill in the Blanks

My brother is

about mountain biking. He rides every day.

Fill in the Blanks

On flat

. cycling is easy. Hills, of course, are more challenging.