unit1 《breaking the records 》文本素材（新人教版选修9）.docVIP

Unit 1 Breaking records 背景知识导读 1. Facts of Ashrita Furman Ashrita Furman, born September 16, 1954 in Brooklyn, New York, is the holder of 26 records in the Guinness Book of Records, including being the individual with the most current Guinness World Records [1]. Furman first entered into the Guiness book by doing 27,000 Jumping Jacks in 1979. Since he began in 1979, Furman has broken more than 100 Guinness records. Furman is a graduate of Jamaica High School in Jamaica, Queens, New York. He went on to attend Columbia University but dropped out in 1974 after he had become a devout follower of Sri Chinmoy, the Indian philosopher and religious teacher. ●World records Records held by Ashrita Furman include: Most hopscotch games in 24 hours Most rope jumps in 24 hours Fastest 10-km sack race Most underwater rope jumps in one hour Fastest pogo stick ascent of Canadas CN Tower Largest bouquet of flowers Greatest distance traveled on a pogo stick Most milk crates balanced on chin The longest distance walked by a person balancing a milk bottle on their head Greatest amount of beer glasses balanced on chin Most sit-ups performed in an hour The fastest mile, pushing an orange with his nose Longest time juggling underwater Longest continuous somersaulting Fastest time juggling 3 balls while running 50 miles Longest distance pogostick Jumping Fastest mile on a pogostick Fastest walking lunge mile Fastest marathon mile skipping Swiss ball balancing Fastest hula hoop racing Furthest distance traversed carrying the most bricks with one hand Fastest 100 meters on a kangaroo ball Fastest mile on a kangaroo ball Most Guinness records in different categories 2. About Beijing Olympic The 2008 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the XXIX Olympiad, will be held in Beijing in the Peoples Republic of China from August 8, 2008 to August 24, 2008, with the opening ceremony to take place at 8 p.m. on August 8, 2008 (the number 8 stands for prosperity