1.It's not as bad as you're making it out to be。

【语法讲解】这里用了固定搭配"as ...as..."，意思是“和……一样”，用于形容词、副词的同级比较，需要大家注意的是，两个as的词性和用法不一样，第一个as是副词，后面接形容词或副词的原级，第二个as多为连词，后面多接比较状语从句，其基本结构为：as + adj + as和as+adv+as。
如This dictionary is as useful as you 这本字典和你想象的一样有用。

2.This was the first time Alex had collided with an indifferent world.

【语法讲解】这里用了固定句式“It is the first time that +现在完成时”。
如：It will be the first time I've met him. 这将是我第一次遇见他。

3.I tried gingerly to make my way up over the snowpack without slipping or letting my cast drag in the slush.

【语法讲解】"without...."是介词短语做状语，修饰"made my way up".