[高一]Reaching his seventh heaven- 21英语教师网

征服世界之巅的英国少年。

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Most teenagers worry about exams, success with their friends and the expectations (期望) of their parents. British teenager George Atkinson adds to that list the feat of climbing the “Seven Summits (高峰)” – made up of the highest mountain in each continent – and living to tell the tale.

On May 26, when he reached the top of Mount Qomolangma, he achieved this. Since he turned 17 just three days later, it was probably the best birthday gift he had ever had.

This was Atkinson’s second attempt (尝试) at Qomolangma. Last year he was almost at the top of the 8,844-meter mountain, but had to turn back less than 120 meters from the top. He wanted to “assist (帮助) his sherpa (夏尔巴人) guide and two teammates who were suffering severe altitude sickness,” reported Reuters.

Atkinson got the mountaineering *bug from his father, and by the age of 7 had climbed the three highest peaks in Scotland, England and Wales.

George told the BBC: “My father really got me into climbing. When I was six we climbed Slieve Donard, the highest mountain in Northern Ireland. We did that because we needed to find something we needed to do together. I really loved it.”

His challenge began when he climbed Mount Kilimanjaro in Tanzania at the age of 11.

“There are a number of things that drive me. I do enjoy any mountain and I feel there is an amazing sense of freedom in any mountain range,” he told the BBC. “I like a good challenge in life and the Seven Summits is something which gives me that.”

Atkinson may have had a different goal from other teenagers, but Atkinson is a typical teenager. According to the UK’s Daily Mail, he loves popcorn. And he shares the sorrows of other soccer fans that follow the national soccer team. Before his trek (艰苦跋涉) up Mount Denali in Alaska in June 2010, he had to watch Germany defeat England in the World Cup in South Africa.

Mount Qomolangma (main picture) and its latest teenage conqueror, George Atkinson (insets).

AFP

BONUS

你一定知道bug有“虫子、臭虫”的意思。这个词也用来指计算机程序中的缺陷或瑕疵。而在这里bug意为“痴迷”(a strong interest in a particular activity)

关键词：高一 Reaching his seventh heaven