Hiking (徒步) in the countryside is one of life's simple and cheap pleasures. But is it safe? Sport writer Mark Waters considers the dangers.
Imagine the following...
One day, Tom decided to take up hiking. Before going, he quickly looked at a map and decided that he could easily walk from the bus stop at Pak Tam Chung to the beach at Dai Long Wan.
After walking for hours and hours under the hot sun, Tom started to feel sick. He reached for his water but found that the bottle was empty. Then he smelt smoke and saw a fire. He called 999. However, he could not tell them where he was because he did not have a map.
Think about it...
Put yourself in Tom's shoes. How could you stay away from the risks? One way is to learn the following common types of danger well.
1. Getting lost
Bad weather is one of the reasons that some walkers get lost. However, the most common one is not having enough knowledge of the hiking route (路線). Always remember to bring a map and don't be too confident. Always choose a route that is right for you.
2. Heat stroke (中暑)
The summer in Hong Kong is very hot and wet. Many hikers forget this and walk for too long in the midday heat. They become hot and feel weak. Don't forget it is necessary to drink 100 to 200 ml of water every 15 to 20 minutes.
3. Accident
Some of Hong Kong's paths are very dangerous and it is not unknown for hikers to fall. Never walk alone and always bring a map and a mobile phone with you.
4. Hill fire
Every year, over 10,000 hill fires take place in Hong Kong, hurting more than 600 people. Never light fires unless you are allowed to and, if you see a hill fire, stay cool, walk away and report it quickly.
1.In Mark's opinion, is hiking in the countryside safe or dangerous?
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2.Why couldn't Tom tell the police where he was?
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3.What is the most common reason for people getting lost?
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4.What will you do if you see a hill fire according to the passage?
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5.What does the writer mainly talk about in the passage?
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leave the taps on 2. 
leave the lights on
throw the food away 4. 
draw on the wall
drop rubbish everywhere
