Question

It is named a kind of wooden Eiffel Tower, because of the fact that there was a large wooden platform far out in the lake on which stood an improbably high diving board. It was, I¡¯m sure, the county¡¯s tallest wooden structure and no one had ever been known to jump from it.

So it was quite a shock when our teacher, Mr. David, announced that he would dive off the high board that very afternoon.

Word of his questionable plan was already spreading through town as Mr. David swam out to the platform. He was just a tiny, stick figure when he got there but even from such a distance the high board seemed almost to touch the clouds. Once at the top, he paced the enormously long board, then took some deep breaths and finally stood at edge. He was going to do it.

Several hundred people had gathered at the shore to watch. Mr. David stood for quite a long time, then he raised his arms, took one massive bounce and launched himself into a perfect dive. It was beautiful. He fell with perfect style for what seemed minutes. The crowd fell silent. The only sound to be heard was the faint whistle of his body tearing through the air toward the water far, far below.

But about three quarters of the way down he seemed to have second thoughts and began suddenly to panic, waving his arms and legs like someone having a bad dream. When he was perhaps thirty feet above the water, he gave up on waving and spread his arms and legs wide, apparently hoping that it would somehow slow his fall.

It didn¡¯t.

He hit the water at over six hundred miles an hour. The impact was so loud that it made birds fly out of their trees three miles away. I don¡¯t think he entered the water at all. He just bounced off it, about fifteen feet back into the air. After that, he lay still on the surface, spinning like an autumn leaf.

He was brought to shore by two passing fishermen in a rowboat and placed on an old blanket where he spent the rest of the afternoon. Occasionally he accepted small sips of water, but otherwise was too shocked to speak. From head to toe, he was covered with deep red bruises.

It was the best day of my life.

1.How did the writer find Mr. David¡¯s plan to jump from the diving board?

A. Heroic. B. Disappointing. C. Crazy. D. Confused.

2.In Paragraph 3, Mr. David is described as ¡°a tiny, stick figure¡± because he was ________.

A. very far away B. very small and thin

C. tired after swimming D. sure to be broken

3.Why did Mr. David suddenly start swinging his arms and legs during the dive?

A. He thought it was the best way to slow his fall.

B. He wanted to show his courage.

C. He was signaling the crowd for help.

D. He lost his confidence and started to panic.

Answer 1