1. 新课标人教版课件系列
《高中英语》
选修(模块）9

2. Unit 1
Breaking Records
Ashrita Furman

3. Warming up
These pictures have been taken at the end of events. How do you think the participants are feeling? Give reasons.

4. Do you think they are feeling …? Excited/encouraged/great/
wonderful/happy/disappointed/
delighted/marvellous/proud/
cheerful/glorious.

5. standing on a Swiss ball
Pre-reading
1. In groups, answer these questions about the pictures of the activities below.
standing on a Swiss ball
doing jumping jacks
pogo stick jumping
hula hooping
somersaulting
doing lunges

6. pogo stick jumping
somersaulting

7. standing on a Swiss ball
doing jumping jacks

8. doing lunges
hula hooping

9. 2. Now read about a man called Ashrita Furman who has broken Guinness records in all these activities.
Ashrita Furman
Ashrita Furman

10. Reading
Read the text carefully and try to catch the main idea of it, then finish the following exercises.

11. 1. Quickly glance through the text
1. Quickly glance through the text. Tick the topics about Ashrita that the author does not cover. (Page 3)
physical skills needed for events
kinds of records broken
place and date of birth
his first Guinness record
number of records broken
why he became a sportsman
his occupation
his family life
countries he likes best
his education √ √ √ √ √

12. 1) Where do you think Ashrita lives?
2. Now read the story more carefully and answer the following questions in groups.
1) Where do you think Ashrita lives?
The text doesn't say where he lives now but it is possible he lives in New York because we know that he lived there when he was a teenager and that he took part in a bicycle marathon there in 1978.

13. 2) How old do you think he is?
He was 16 in the early 1970s so he would be in his late 40s now.
3) Has he broken records in all seven continents?
Yes. (See Para. 2)
4) When did he first come across the Guinness Book of World Records?
When he was a child.

14. 5) A. What are some of the physical difficulties he has experienced when
walking with a bottle of milk on his head?
He has to make fine neck adjustments, and has to rest and eat with the bottle of milk on his head.

15. 5) B. What are some of the physical difficulties he has experienced when
standing on top of a Swiss ball?
He needs a great sense of balance, and has to stay on top even though his legs may start shaking.

16. 5) C. What are some of the physical difficulties he has experienced when somersaulting?
He has to overcome dizziness, extreme tiredness and pain. During the process, he is permitted to rest for only five minutes in every hour and stop briefly to vomit.

17. 5) D. What are some of the physical difficulties he has experienced when doing gymnastically correct lunges?
Lunges are very hard on his legs.

18. 6) Which one of Sri Chinmoy's beliefs led Ashrita to attempting records?
There is no limit to people's physical abilities.
7) Why was it amazing that Ashrita came third in the bicycle marathon in 1978?
He had done no training.

19. 8) Why did Ashrita believe he could accomplish anything after the bicycle marathon?
He believed that because he had done no training, it must have been his spirit that made him come third, and so after the bicycle marathon he believed that he could accomplish anything by using his spirit, and his body was just an instrument of the spirit. He believed there is no physical limitation.

20. 9) What happens in an event that prevents Ashrita from giving up?
When he feels like giving up, he goes deep within himself and connects with his soul and his teacher to keep on.

21. 10) Do you think that the events that Ashrita participates in are childish? Why or why not?
In my opinion, they are not childish,
because they require an enormous
amount of strength and fitness as
well as determination in reality.
OR:The students’ answers may vary.

22. Here are some of Ashrita’s beliefs.In groups,discuss
Discussion
Here are some of Ashrita’s
beliefs.In groups,discuss
whether you agree with
them or not.

23. 1.There is no limit to people’s physical
abilities.
2.The body is just an instrument of the
spirit.
3. You can use your spirit to
accomplish anything.
4. There is only one perfect road. It is
ahead of you, always ahead of you.

24. Homework
1. Read through the text carefully again and find out the difficult language points.