2.4 The Present Perfect—Overview of Uses

EXAMPLES We have discussed risk for a few days. He has studied English for a long time. He has observed this behavior several times. He has made many important discoveries. I've learned a lot about risk. Have you ever done anything dangerous?

EXPLANATION The action started in the past and continues to the present. The action repeats during a period of time from the past to the present. The action occurred at an indefinite time in the past. It has importance to a present situation or discussion.

EXERCISE 5 Fill in the blanks with the present perfect form of the verb given to complete this paragraph.

Nik Wallenda comes from a long line of risk takers. He doesn’t take risks for science or nature. He’s a

circus performer; he walks a tightrope. His family, known as the Flying Wallendas, has been

1. be in this

business for seven generations. Nik started walking on a tightrope when he was two years old. Over time,

he

2. become famous for some amazing acts of danger. He

3. walk

across Niagara Falls and over a deep canyon near the Grand Canyon on a tightrope. So far, he

4. never/have a serious accident.

Crowds watch as Nik Wallenda walks the tightrope over Niagara Falls.

Mount Everest

Climbing MOUNT EVEREST

Read the following article. Pay special attention to the words in bold. 2.3

Have you ever thought about taking a risk for the fun or excitement of it? Mount Everest, the tallest mountain in the world, has always been a symbol of man’s greatest challenge. Located between China and Nepal, Mount Everest has attracted mountain climbers from all over the world. In 1953, Sir Edmund Hillary, from New Zealand, and his Nepalese guide, Sherpa Tenzing Norgay, were the first to reach the top. Since then, about 4,000 people have reached the summit1. But more than 200 climbers have died while trying.

Between 1953 and 1963, only six people successfully climbed to the top. But things have changed a lot in recent years. In 2012 alone, 500 people made it to the top.

What has changed? Why has the number of climbers increased so much recently? One reason is that there are more companies leading expeditions2 . Now 90 percent of climbers use expedition companies. A climber pays about $100,000 to go up the mountain with a guide. But these guided expeditions have attracted a lot of inexperienced climbers. And the crowds have made it even more dangerous to make the climb. Danuru Sherpa, who has led 14 expeditions, has had to carry at least five people off the mountain to save their lives. The expedition companies might want to consider limiting the number of inexperienced climbers, both to protect people and to protect the mountain.

1 summit: the top of a mountain 2 expedition: a group journey organized for a specific purpose