Reaching for Records (1)

What drives people to set and break world records?

At the Pyrmids fo Giza in 2005, visitors may have seen a strange sight. A man named Ashrita Furman walked 11.33 kilometers balancing a pool cue on his finger. That day he set a world record, which he later broke by walking 14.40 kilometers with the pool cue.

Furman has set over 450 records in his lifetime according to the Guinness World Records book. He currently holds more than 150, including one for holding the most records.

Guinness World Records
Guinness World Records began with a question. While hunting, Sir Hugh Beaver, then chairman of the Guinness Brewery, wondered what the fastest game bird in Europe was. Beaver couldn't find a book that answered his question, so he decided to create one.

In 1954 Beaver asked two sports journalists to help him collect records. And in 1955 The Guinness Book of Records, as it was then called, was published. That very year, it became a bestseller. Later editions have sold over 130 million copies and have been translated into more than 25 languages.


Info Cloud
Teaching Topic: Yes Sir!
In medieval England, men were knighted by a king or queen in recognition for special service to their country, especially outstanding military service.

It was a great honor. Knights were given all the rights and privileges of nobility and a good measure of military authority. Knights were allowed to put the honorable title "sir" before their names.

Then, beginning in about the late 1500's, kings and queens began knighting civilians as a way of honoring their contributions to society.

The man in today's lesson, Sir Hugh Beaver, was knighted in 1943 for his service to the British government.

Today, people from all over the world are being knighted by the British monarchy for achievements in science, entertainment, politics, and other fields.

However, only knighted citizens of British Commonwealth countries may place the title "sir" before their name. Knighted non-Brits, like Americans Steven Spielberg and Bill Gates, have to settle with placing the letters KBE, signifying "Knight of the British Empire" after their names.

By the way, women can also be knighted. They can receive the honors of knighthood, too. However, instead of "sir", their title is "dame". Judi Dench, the famous British actress for example, is a dame.



Language Lab 
pyramid n.
a large stone building with four triangular (=three-sided) walls that slope in to a point at the top, especially in Egypt and Central America
- The novel's setting is an ancient Egyptian pyramid.
an object shaped like a pyramid
- The kids made a pyramid of stones in the backyard.

currently adv.
at the present time
current adj.
happening or existing now
- The current situation at the border is quite dangerous.
- The proposal is currently in the discussion stage.
- Tom is currently the head of the department.

chairman n.
someone, especially a man, who is in charge of a meeting or directs the work of a committee or an organization
- The chairman of the committee decided to change the agenda of the meeting.
chairperson n.
someone who is in charge of a meeting or directs the work of a committee or organization
- Chelsea was nominated as the chairperson of next year's parent advisory committee.

journalist n.
someone who writes news reports for newspapers, magazines, television, or radio
journal n.
- The journalist revealed the scandal the governor was involved in.
journalism n.
the job or activity of writing news reports for newspapers, magazines, television, or radio
- Eric started his career in journalism right after graduation.


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