Last week, a surprising rescue story spread across China. In Suzhou, a woman in her 50s fell into a river by accident. She could not swim, and the water was deep. But she did not panic. She lay on her back and floated on the water, like a leaf. She stayed that way for almost an hour until someone found her and called the police. Finally, she was saved safely.
The police said her way of staying afloat was the key to her survival. Why does floating work? When a person lies on the back and keeps the body relaxed, the lungs hold air like a balloon. This helps the body stay on the water surface without moving. It saves energy, so the person can wait longer for help.
This story teaches us a simple but useful lesson. If you fall into water and cannot swim, do not fight the water. Fighting makes you tired quickly and may pull you under. Instead, lie back, spread your arms and legs, and breathe slowly. Then shout for help or wait for the rescuers to arrive.
Of course, the best way to stay safe near water is to be careful. Wear a life jacket when needed, and do not swim alone. But if an accident happens, remember the golden rule: keep calm, float, and help will come.
This is also a lesson for daily life. When we face a difficult situation, staying calm is often the first step to finding a way out. Panic makes problems worse, while a cool head helps us see the chance of hope.
Words to know:
- rescue (救援)
- panic (惊慌)
- float (漂浮)
- surface (水面)
- energy (体力；能量)
- relax (放松)
- rescuer (救援人员)
- life jacket (救生衣)
长难句拆解 · 状语从句与动名词主语
① When a person lies on the back and keeps the body relaxed, the lungs hold air like a balloon. 主干是 the lungs hold air like a balloon（肺像气球一样存住空气）。句首 When 引导时间状语从句，从句里 lies on 和 keeps 两个谓语并列；keep the body relaxed 是「keep + 宾语 + 过去分词」结构，表「让身体保持放松状态」，比单独说 the body is relaxed 更紧凑。
② Fighting makes you tired quickly and may pull you under. 主干是 Fighting makes you tired。动名词 Fighting 作主语，谓语用单数；make + 宾语 + 形容词（tired） 是使役结构，表「让你疲惫」；and 连接 may pull you under，两个谓语共用一个主语。这个句式在「劝告类」写作里非常实用。
同义替换 · 雅思阅读利器
题目从不照抄原文，全靠同义替换改写。做题时先在题干里圈出「信号词」，再回原文找它们的同义变体，定位速度会明显变快。本文可迁移的替换组：
- staying afloat → stay on the water surface / keep floating（保持漂浮）
- did not panic → stayed calm / kept a cool head
- the key to her survival → what kept her alive / the secret of surviving
- wait longer for help → hold on until rescuers arrive
- makes problems worse → makes things worse / adds to the danger
- the best way to stay safe → the surest way to keep safe
阅读自测 · 3 题
- 判断（T / F / NG） — The woman in Suzhou could swim a little, but she was too tired to move.
- 简答（不超过 6 个词） — What do the lungs do to help the body stay on the water surface?
- 判断（T / F / NG） — The writer thinks staying calm is often the first step to finding a way out in daily life.
参考答案与解析
- F — 用 She could not swim 定位，原文明确说她「不会游泳」，题目改成「会一点但累得动不了」，属典型的「篡改细节」式干扰项。
- Hold air like a balloon. — 用 lungs 定位，原文紧接的谓语就是 hold air like a balloon。题目问的是肺的作用，不要答成 keep the body relaxed。
- T — 原文最后一段 “staying calm is often the first step to finding a way out”，与题干一一对应，属原文直述。
中文译文
上周，一则令人意外的救援故事传遍了中国。在苏州，一名五十多岁的女子不慎落入河中。她不会游泳，而河水很深。但她没有惊慌，而是仰面躺在水面上，像一片树叶般漂浮着。她就那样坚持了近一个小时，直到有人发现并报警。最终，她被安全救起。
警方表示，她保持漂浮的方式是她得以生还的关键。为什么漂浮管用？当人仰面躺下、让身体放松时，肺部会像气球一样存住空气。这有助于身体不靠动作就停留在水面上，还能节省体力，让人能更长久地等待救援。
这个故事给我们上了一堂简单却实用的课。如果落水又不会游泳，不要与水搏斗。挣扎会让人很快力竭，还可能被拖入水下。相反，应当仰身后躺、四肢舒展，缓慢呼吸，然后大声呼救，或等待救援人员到来。
当然，在水边保障安全的最好办法还是谨慎。需要时穿上救生衣，不要独自游泳。但如果意外发生，请记住这条黄金法则：保持冷静、漂浮等待，救援终会到来。
这也是一堂生活的课。当我们面对困境时，保持冷静往往是找到出路的第一步。恐慌会让问题更糟，而清醒的头脑能帮我们看见希望的可能。