A round of applause, please, for the Indian man who recently sang for 80 hours straight, setting a new Guinness world record. It’s an impressive feat, to be sure, but let’s just hope he still has a voice. According to Indian newspapers, Rajesh Burbure has been told to keep silent for several days so his vocal cords (声带) can heal.
It was reported that Burbure and his family are in a celebratory mood. “It’s a proud moment for all of us,” his wife told DNAIndia.com.
I, on the other hand, am unable to share their enthusiasm. Don’t get me wrong: I hope the 35-year-old Burbure lives forever, sells a million records and becomes an international celebrity. But his record–singing for 80 hours straight–is about as meaningful as most of the other curious but crazy feats listed in the Guinness Book of World Records.
Granted , I’m not qualified to speak on the subject. I’ve got no world records to my name– and I never expect to have any. Then again, maybe I am qualified to speak for those of us who have better things to do than train for years to sing an 80-hour medley (混合曲) of pop songs.
But let’s not just pick on poor Burbure. He’s not the only person chasing meaningless accolades. The Guinness Book of World Records is full of the names of people who at one time grew the longest hair, or built the biggest bicycle, or baked the largest cheesecake.
To all of these enterprising (有进取心的) souls I ask, simply, “What was it all for?”
Congratulations! For all of your painstaking effort, you became a footnote in a thick book that no one reads, except for you and the person who will eventually surpass you–with one more hour of singing, a few more centimeters of steel or a few more pounds of cheese.
After all, records are made to be broken.
1.From the text, we can learn that the author .
A．has no Guinness records, so he admires Burbures’ feat
B．feels it is a pity he was not invited to share the happiness with the Burbures
C．thinks singing for 80 hours straight is completely meaningless
D．is quite worried about Burbure’s vocal cords
2.Before someone wins a Guinness record, he or she has to .
A．become an international celebrity
B．know all about Guinness record
C．practice a great deal
D．bear great stress for fear of injury
3.We can infer from the article that .
A．after the 80 hours of singing, Burbure could no longer speak
B．Burbure’ wife didn’t support his attempt to make a Guinness record
C．many have criticized Burbure for his stupid behavior
D．challenging a Guinness record may be harmful to the health
4.The author’s attitude to the Guinness world records mentioned in the passage is .
A．positive B．impressed
C．negative D．touched
5.What is the best title for the passage?
A．What Was the Point?
B．Records Are Made to be Broken
C．A New Indian Guinness Record
D．The Guinness Book Is Boring
STUDY CENTER COURSES
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From Paragraph to essay Of particular relevance to students who wish to improve their organizational skills and who feel that their final product is never clear enough. Thursday 10:00—12:00 Kiran Singh |
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Source Material How do you gather information for a project or paper? A practical course which looks at sources of information and how to use cataloguing systems. Monday 10:00—11 :00 Kiran Singh |
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Express Yourself An advanced course suitable for students who are about to step into organizations where they may have to voice their opinions often. Monday 12:00—2:00 Dave Parrin |
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Media Use Open to all students ,this course focuses on the many ways we can benefit from the radio and television. Group projects form part of course. Tuesday 9:00—11:00 Steve Ansell |
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The Short Story A research into the world of popular writers. One story is selected for adaptation into a short play and group performance. Pre-arranged groups welcome. Thursday 11:00—1:30 Mrs Owen |
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Caught for Speeding Open to all students .Simple eye exercises to help you with speed reading. How to be selective on the page . Using headings, topic sentences and paragraphs for easy access. Wednesday 11:00—1:00 Mrs Owen |
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Tense about Tenses For those who worry about their use of words—a look at tenses and other aspects of the language through poetry and song. Good voice helps but not a must. Saturday 10:00—12:00 Steve Ansell |
1.If a student takes the course The Short Story, he can’t take .
A．From Paragraph to Essay B．Tense about Tenses
C．Source Material D．Media Use
2.Which of the courses can develop the students’ team work?
A．From Paragraph to Essay B．The Short Story
C．Caught for Speeding D．Express Yourself
3.From where can a student read this?
A．On the radio. B．On television.
C．In a local newspaper. D．On a school notice board.
A passenger told an air hostess that he needed a cup of water to take his medicine when the plane just took off．She told him that she would bring him the water in ten minutes．
Thirty minutes later, when the passenger's ring for service sounded, the air hostess flew in a flurry．She was kept so busy that she forgot to deliver him the water．As a result, the passenger was held up to take his medicine．She hurried over to him with a cup of water, but he refused it．
In the following hours on the flight, each time the stewardess passed by the passenger she would ask him with a smile whether he needed help or not. But the passenger never paid any attention to her.
When he was going to get off the plane, the passenger asked the air hostess to hand him the passengers’ booklet (意见簿). She was very sad. She knew that he would write down sharp words, which might result in the loss of her job. But with a smile she handed it to him.
Off the plane, she opened the booklet, and cracked a smile, for the passenger put it, “On the flight, you asked me whether I need help or not for twelve times in all. How can I refuse your sincere smiles?”
That’s right! Who can refuse your twelve sincere smiles from a person?
1.What does the underlined sentence in Paragraph 2 mean?
A．The air hostess forgot the passenger’s need on purpose.
B．The air hostess suddenly realized that trouble was coming.
C．The passenger wasn’t angry at being ignored.
D．The passenger was refused to be served.
2.According to the passage, which of the following is TRUE?
A．The passenger refused to take his medicine.
B．The passenger set down his anger in the booklet.
C．The words in the booklet would never affect the air hostess.
D．The hostess finally moved the passenger with her smile.
3.What kind of person do you think the passenger is?
A．Forgiving. B．Curious. C．Sharp. D．Enthusiastic.
4.As a result, the air hostess would .
A．get fired by her company B．be hired by the passenger
C．keep her job D．get a promotion
It was in my high school science class．I was doing a task in front of the classroom with my favorite shirt on．
A 36 came．"Nice shirt," I smiled from ear to ear．Then another voice said, "That shirt belonged to my dad．Greg's mother works for my family．We were going to 37 that shirt away, but gave it to her 38 ．" I was speechless．I wanted to hide．
I 39 me shirt in the back of the closet and told my mom what had happened．She then dialed her 40__, "I will no longer work for your family," she told him．That night, Mom told my dad that she couldn’t clean anymore; she knew her life's 41 was something greater．
The next morning she 42 with the personnel manager at the Board of Education．Ke told her that without a proper education she could not teach．So Mom decided to__43__a university．
After the first year in college, she went back to the personnel manager．He said, "You are 44 aren't you? I think I have a___45_for you as a teacher's assistant．This opportunity deals with children who are mentally challenged with little or no chance of 46 Mom accepted the opportunity very 47 ．
For almost five years, as a teacher's assistant, she saw teacher after teacher give up on the children and quit, feeling 48 ．Then one day, the personnel manager and the principal 49 in her classroom．The principal said, "We have watched how you 50 the children and how they communicate with you and admire your hard-working 51 over the last five years．We are all in 52 that you should be the teacher of this class．"
My mom spent more than 20 years there． 53 her career, she was voted Teacher of the Year．All of this came about because of the 54 comment made in my classroom that day．Mom showed me how to handle 55__situations and never give up．
1.A．noise B．voice C．sound D．tune
2.A- get B．take C．carry D．throw
3.A．otherwise B．anyhow C．instead D．actually
4.A．settled B．pushed C．stored D．stuck
5.A．teacher B．employer C．director D．adviser
6.A．purpose B．encouragement C．achievement D．victory
7.A．went B．met C．worked D．stayed
8.A．visit B．continue C．attend D．prepare
9.A．serious B．fortunate C．careful D．responsible
10.A．career B．duty C．position D．part
11.A．learning B．judging C．obeying D．imagining
12.A．patiently B．eagerly C．successfully D．skillfully
13.A．upset B．frightened C．guilty D．ashamed
14.A．looked up B．went up C．took up D．showed up
15.A．believe B．protect C．treat D．receive
16.A．spirit B．intention C．action D．attempt
17.A．discussion B．argument C．disagreement D．agreement
18.A．At B．During C．On D．With
19.A．worthless B．thoughtless C．hopeless D．helpless
20.A．challenging B．different C．dangerous D．strange
—Mike, I really appreciate your handwriting．
— .
A．I practice every day B．Thank you very much
C．No, I don't mink so D．Well, it's not good enough
The traffic rule says young children under the age of four and __ _ less than 40 pounds must be in a child safety seat．
A．weighing B．weighed C．being weighed D．to weigh
