Question

1. Read the following passage carefully :

(8 marks) Rafting or white water rafting is a challenging and recreational activity using an inflatable raft to navigate a river or other bodies of water. This is usually done on white water or different degrees of rough waters for its thrill and excitement. The development of this activity as a leisure sport has become popular since the mid-1970s.

White water rafting can be a dangerous sport, especially if basic safety precautions are not observed. It has its share of injuries and fatalities. But like most ou r sports, rafting has become safer over the years. Expertise has increased, and equipment has become more specialised and better in quality.

Risks in rafting stem from both environmental dangers and improper behaviour. Rafting is often played for the adrenaline rush and this often becomes a problem for people and their own safety. Certain features on rivers are inherently unsafe and have remained consistently so despite the passage of time. These would include fallen trees, dams, rocks and high waterfalls.

Rafting with experienced guides is the safest way to avoid such features.

Rafting contributes to the economy of many regions which in turn may contribute to the protection of rivers from hydroelectric power generation, diversion for irrigation, and other

development. Additionally, white water rafting trips can promote environmentalism experiencing first-hand the beauty of a river, individuals who would otherwise be indifferent

environmental issues may gain a strong desire to protect and preserve that area because their positive outdoor experience.

Based on your reading of the passage, answer the following questions briefly

(1x 8 = 8 marks)

(a) Why is rafting a dangerous sport ?

(6) Why has rafting become popular ?

(c) Why do many accidents occur while rafting ?

(d) How does rafting contribute to the economy of many regions ?

(e) 'Adrenaline rush' refers to a Which features are unsafe on rivers ?

(g) How can rafting be safe ?

(h) Find the word from the passage which means 'occurrence of deaths by accident in war, or from disease'.​

Answer 1

1. Rafting is a dangerous sport because it has a share of injuries and fatalities.

2. The development of this sport as a leisure has made it popular.

3. Many accidents occur if safety precautions are not observed properly.

4. Rafting does contribute to the economy of many regions as to the protection of rivers from hydroelectric power generation , diversion of irrigation and other development.

5. It refers to the features such as fallen trees , dams rocks and high waterfalls

6. Rafting can be safe if necessary precautions are taken

7. Injuries and fatalities