In early August, a man fell into the Yu Fu River in Jinan, a city in eastern China. The water was fast and deep, and he could not swim back to the bank. Then something wonderful happened: four strangers, who had never met each other, acted at the same time.
One was a 19-year-old university student. Another worked on the subway construction site. There was also a government worker and a delivery courier. None of them knew the man in the water. None of them stopped to ask questions. They just jumped in, worked together, and pulled him to safety. When the man was safe, the four heroes quietly walked away — no names, no photos, no words about what they had done.
The news spread quickly on the Internet. People were deeply moved and wanted to thank the four brave strangers. The city started a search for them. Reporters interviewed local people and checked video records. Finally, all four were found. Their story became one of the most talked-about topics of the week.
Why does this story touch so many people? Perhaps because it is simple and true. In a busy world, where people often walk past each other without a look, four strangers chose to stop, to help, and to leave quietly. Their act needed no cameras and no applause. It came from the heart.
There is an old Chinese saying: “Do good deeds without expecting rewards.” These four people showed us what that really means. Their bravery did not save one life only — it also warmed the hearts of millions.
Words to know: stranger (陌生人), rescue (救援), drown (溺水), courier (快递员), brave (勇敢的), spread (传播), touch (触动), reward (回报).
长难句拆解 · 非限定从句与过去完成时
① Then something wonderful happened: four strangers, who had never met each other, acted at the same time. 主干是 something wonderful happened。something wonderful 是「不定代词 + 形容词后置」；冒号后交代事件主角，其中 who had never met each other 是非限定性定语从句，谓语用过去完成时 had met，强调「在下水救人之前从未相识」，时态层次是理解本句的关键。
② In a busy world, where people often walk past each other without a look, four strangers chose to stop, to help, and to leave quietly. 主干是 four strangers chose to stop…。where 引导非限定性定语从句修饰 world，译作「在这个人们常常擦肩而过、看都不看一眼的世界里」；三个 to 不定式并列（stop / help / leave），节奏层层推进，是描写类文章常用的排比收束。
同义替换 · 雅思阅读利器
人物事迹类文章的替换点常在动作短语上。做题时先圈出题干信号词，再回原文找同义变体，比逐词回找高效得多。本文可迁移的替换组：
- fell into → plunged into（意外事故类话题通用）
- acted at the same time → responded simultaneously
- pulled him to safety → brought him ashore / dragged him out of danger
- spread quickly → went viral rapidly / circulated fast
- deeply moved → profoundly touched
- started a search → launched a search / kicked off a hunt
- walk past each other without a look → pass by without a glance
阅读自测 · 3 题
- 判断（T / F / NG） — The four rescuers knew each other well before the rescue.
- 简答（不超过 6 个词） — Which river did the man fall into?
- 判断（T / F / NG） — The rescuers included a 19-year-old university student and a delivery courier.
参考答案与解析
- F — 定位「four strangers, who had never met each other」，过去完成时明确「此前从未相识」，题干的 knew each other well 与原文相反。
- The Yu Fu River. — 定位开头「a man fell into the Yu Fu River in Jinan」，注意问的是河流名，别答成城市 Jinan。
- T — 原文逐一列举「One was a 19-year-old university student… and a delivery courier」，身份细节一一对应，属原文直述。
中文译文
八月初，在中国东部城市济南，一名男子掉进了玉符河。水流又急又深，他游不回岸边。随后奇迹发生：四个素不相识的陌生人，同时伸出了手。
一个是 19 岁的大学生，另一个在地铁工地干活，还有一名公务员和外卖骑手。他们都不认识水里的男子，也都没停下来多问，直接跳下水合力把他拉到安全处。人一脱险，四位英雄便默默离开——不留姓名、不拍照、不提自己做过什么。
消息在网上迅速传开。人们深受感动，想感谢这四位勇敢的陌生人。城市发起了一场寻人。记者采访当地人、调看录像，最终四人全部找到。他们的故事成了那一周最热议的话题之一。
为什么这个故事打动这么多人？或许因为它简单而真实。在忙碌的世界里，人们常擦肩而过连看都不看一眼，四个陌生人却选择停下、相助、悄然离开。他们的举动无需镜头也无需掌声，出自内心。
中国有句古话：「做好事不图回报。」这四人让我们懂得它真正的含义。他们的勇敢救下的不只是一个生命——也温暖了千万人的心。