Billy Lezra stood on the edge of a train platform, with her heart pounding and her mind clouded by despair. At 23, she faced her mother’s suicide attempt and spiraled into depression and alcohol addiction. She saw no way out, and just as she was about to take the final step, a stranger __1__ her with an unexpected request: “Excuse me, but would you mind taking my picture?”
This simple, unforeseen meeting was enough to pull Billy back from the brink. __2__ that fateful day, Billy has been on a journey of recovery and discovery, determined to understand what drives people to the edge and how to bring them back.
Billy’s research reveals startling statistics. The child of a parent who has tried to take their own life is five times more likely to develop suicidal __3__ than the child of a parent with no history of self-harm. Also, the likelihood of someone with an alcohol use disorder attempting suicide is 120 times greater than that of someone who is not __4__ alcohol. Other factors include depression, life crises, financial problems, and chronic pain.
Photo: AdobeStock 照片： AdobeStock
According to the World Health Organization, suicide is the fourth leading cause of death among people aged 15-29. While many charities strive to prevent it, Billy’s story shows that sometimes, all it takes is __5__ to stop a tragedy from happening. Now, Billy comes up to lonely or depressed individuals and offers to do some small things for them. This simple act often brings a smile and a moment of connection, reminding us of the power we all have to change a life.
比莉萊斯拉站在火車月臺的邊緣，她的心跳加速，思緒被絕望所籠罩。在二十三歲時，她面臨了母親意圖自殺的狀況後，陷入憂鬱和酗酒的漩渦中。她看不到出路，就在她準備邁出人生的最後一步時，一位陌生人接近她，並提出了一個意料之外的請求：「不好意思，妳能幫我拍張照片嗎？」
這簡單而意外的相遇足以將比莉從邊緣拉回來。自那命運的一天以來，比莉踏上了一段康復和探索之旅，決心要了解是什麼把人們逼到邊緣，以及該如何把他們帶回來。
比莉的研究揭露了驚人的統計數據。比起父母沒有自殘史的孩子，父母曾試圖自殺的孩子發展出自殺傾向的可能性高出了五倍。此外，比起沒有酒精依賴的人，有酗酒問題的人試圖自殺的可能性高出一百二十倍。其他因素還包括憂鬱症、生活危機、經濟問題和慢性疼痛。
儘管許多慈善機構努力防止自殺，但比莉的故事顯示出，有時只需要一次偶然的相遇就能阻止一場悲劇的發生。現在，比莉會接近孤獨或抑鬱的人，並主動提出幫他們做一些小事。這個簡單的舉動常常會帶來一抹微笑和片刻的連結，提醒著我們每個人都有改變生命的力量。
Ivy 熊提醒您：勇敢尋求幫助並非弱者，珍惜生命，若需諮商或相關協助可撥生命線專線「1995」、張老師服務專線「1980」或衛福部安心專線「1925」。
What Did You Learn?
1. (A) observed (B) approached (C) informed (D) embarrassed
2. (A) Through (B) Until (C) Since (D) On
3. (A) tendencies (B) possessions (C) resemblances (D) capacities
4. (A) appealing to (B) beneficial for (C) ignorant of (D) dependent on
5. (A) a random encounter (B) a brief vacation (C) a comforting thought (D) a polite greeting
答案：1. B 2. C 3. A 4. D 5. A
Word in Use
1. pound vi.（心臟）劇烈地跳
Ted is so stressed out that his heart is pounding and he can’t sleep properly.
泰德壓力太大了，以致於他的心臟砰砰地跳，無法好好睡覺。
2. despair n. 絕望
in despair 絕望地
The scientists gave up on the experiment in despair.
這些科學家絕望地放棄了這個實驗。
3. suicide n. 自殺
a suicide attempt 自殺意圖
attempt suicide 試圖自殺
suicidal a. 想自殺的
The bomber attempted suicide after being caught.
這名炸彈客被抓後試圖自殺。
The suicidal man threatened to jump off the building if the police came any closer.
那名想要結束生命的男子威脅警方再靠近的話，他就要從大樓跳下去。
4. spiral vi.（情勢）急遽惡化
What started as occasional gambling soon spiraled into an addiction that consumed all of James’ savings.
一開始只是偶爾賭博，卻很快地演變成一種上癮，耗盡了詹姆斯所有的積蓄。
5. depression n. 憂鬱（症）
depressed a. 患憂鬱症的；沮喪的
Nancy suffered from depression after she got divorced.
南西離婚後得了憂鬱症。
I felt depressed when I heard the bad news.
我聽到這個壞消息時感到很沮喪。
Practical Phrases
1. drive sb to V/N 迫使某人……
The arguments and violence drove Mary to leave home.
爭執及家暴迫使瑪麗離家。
2. take one’s own life 自殺
The criminal took his own life en route to the police station.
該罪犯在前往警局的路上自殺了。
3. strive to V 努力（做）……
Mike has been striving to raise his grades for over a year.
麥克一年多來一直努力提升他的成績。
4. come up to sb （為了攀談而）走到某人跟前
The stranger came up to me and asked me how to get to the train station.
那個陌生人走到我跟前來問我火車站要怎麼去。
聽文章朗讀及講解: https://ivy.pse.is/455bfu
本文出自常春藤解析英語雜誌: www.ivy.com.tw
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Billy Lezra stood on the edge of a train platform, with her heart pounding and her mind clouded by despair. At 23, she faced her mother’s suicide attempt and spiraled into depression and alcohol addiction. She saw no way out, and just as she was about to take the final step, a stranger __1__ her with an unexpected request: “Excuse me, but would you mind taking my picture?” This simple, unforeseen meeting was enough to pull Billy back from the brink. __2__ that fateful day, Billy has been on a journey of recovery and discovery, determined to understand what drives people
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