Unit 1 Reading

People have always been interested in knowing about world records People have always been interested in knowing about world records. They want to know about the biggest, smallest, fastest, slowest, longest, shortest, oldest and youngest.

The fastest land bird ostrich It runs at a speed of 72 km/h (45mph).

The fastest land animal It runs at a speed of 100 km/h (62mph) = the American Highway speed limit. cheetah

The fastest species of fish over short distances sailfish It swims at a speed of 68m/h.

Warming up The lowest temperature ever recorded on earth is . 2. The world’s tallest man is . 3. The youngest college graduate was . -89.2ºC 2.35M 10 years old

4. The highest number of goals in a soccer career is . 5. The longest beard is . 6. The longest lecture lasted . 1,279 1.83m 62.5h

Pre-reading Predict what will be talked about in the text.

Reading

Sir Hugh Beaver

While – reading: note-taking Director: The first edition was published in: The number of new records sent to the book each year: Categories: 5.Reasons why people are interested in the book: 6.Unacceptable record attempts:

While – reading: note-taking Director: The first edition was published in: The number of new records sent to the book each year: Categories: Sir Hugh Beaver 1955 more than 60,000 human body, amazing feats, the natural world, science and technology, arts and media, modern society, travel and transport, sports and games

entertained by accounts of strange and unusual deeds and facts Reasons why people are interested in the book: Unacceptable record attempts: curiosity; entertained by accounts of strange and unusual deeds and facts dangerous

1.How did Sir Hugh Beaver come up with the idea? (para. 1) He first wanted to settle an argument about the fastest bird in Europe．After talking to his friends, he concluded that a book which answered such questions might be popular.

2. The Guinness Book of World Records has chapters except _______ 2. The Guinness Book of World Records has chapters except _______.(para 2) education science and technology travel and transport the natural world A

3.Chinese record (para 3) Tian’anmen Square is the largest square in the world with an area of about 40 hectares. China has the largest number of hospitals in the world. Urumqi is the most remote city from the sea--- it is 2,500 kilometres from the nearest coast. The world’s largest jiaozi was made, weighing an incredible 480 kilogrammes.

4. From the sentence “…, it fades next to the story of Armstrong’s struggle against disease”, we know that _______.(para 4) his fastest speed is as impressive as his story of struggle against cancer his fastest speed is more impressive than his story of struggle against cancer his story of struggle against cancer is less impressive than his fastest speed his story of struggle against cancer is more impressive than his fastest speed D

Why are people so interested in records? (para 5) Because we want to know what is possible and find out just how far we can push ourselves and are also entertained by accounts of strange and unusual deeds and facts．

If you want to set a world record, what has to be done to get your record into the Guinness Book of World Records? (para 6)

How to set a record? contact decide send get inspect confirm

First contact the Guinness Book of the World Records Step 1: Step 2: Step 3: The editors need to decide if your suggestion is suitable and safe. The editors will send you rules and the form you need to apply for the record.

Step 4: Step 5: Step 6: A Guinness official will come to inspect your attempt. The official will confirm the record. You will get a certificate that says you are a world record holder.

Match the general idea of each paragraph. 1. Chinese record 2. The first edition of Guinness Book of World Record 3. Records from the world of sports 4. Records of different categories 5. How to set a record? 6. Why are people so interested in records? Para. 1 Para. 2 Para. 3 Para. 4 Para. 5 Para. 6

C The text is mainly about _____. a famous book Sir Hugh Beaver came up with an idea The Guinness Book of Records Many records in the world

If you want to set a record, what kind of record would you like to? Discussion If you want to set a record, what kind of record would you like to?

Key words and phrases settle an argument in the first place conclude send in set down keep track of put into different categories athletic fade be diagnosed with in a row in the first place account attempt be out to do contact suitable make for inspect confirm certificate