Page 100 - Active Skills for Reading Intro Book

A Real Life Superhero

Alain Robert climbs Burj Khalifa (828 meters) in Dubai.

As a child, Alain Robert was afraid of heights. One day, when he was J 2, he returned
home from school. At the front door of his building, he looked for his keys. He didn't
have them. It was 3:30, and his parents worked until 6:00 p.m. Robert looked at
his apartment on the eighth floor. He saw an open window. He closed his eyes and
s pictured himself climl,ing the building. When he opened his eyes, he told himself, "I can
do it." Fifteen minutes later, he was in his house, and his fear of heights was gone.

Today, Robert (a native of France) still climbs buildings. In 2004, he climbed
Taipei 101 (the tallest building in the world at the time), and in 2011 he climbed
the Burj Khalifa tower in Dubai. To reach the top of a building, Robert usually uses
10 only his hands and special shoes. To climb the Burj Khalifa tower, though, he was
· ·
made to wear safety ropes.

Robert climbs as a'hobby. He also does it to make money for charity (for children
1
and the homeless ). When he climbs, he wants to send. a. message to people. If
you have a dream-something you really want to do-it can become real. But you
1s must be 1,rave and keep trying. If something bad happens, don't give up. Close your
eyes and tell yourself, "I can do it."

1 The homeless are people who don't have homes. A Real Life Superhero 99