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Hi there, guys! Welcome to Words in Use 2.

“Record Holders”

The Guinness Book of World Records is full of fascinating facts. For example, the champion commuter* is Bruno Leuthardt of Germany, who traveled 370 miles each day for ten years to his teaching job and was late only once because of a flood. The record for being buried alive is held by Emma Smith of Ravenshead, England. She was confined* in a coffin for 100 days. What a way to spend the idle* hours! Peter Clark of London collected 1276 autographed pictures of famous men and women. Obviously* not all were his idols*, but he did set a record.

What drives people to these unusual practices? Some are simply done in jest, some for patriotic reasons. Certainly no one would dispute* the valor* of the “record-makers,” even if the records themselves may be no more lasting than a popular* song. While one need not be a lunatic, he must have a vein of recklessness* to participate in such activities as bungee-jumping, high diving, or parachute jumping. If you are tired of leading a dull, uneventful* life, remember the mortals* whose fertile* imaginations have found novel* ways to add excitement to their lives.

Alright, our story for lesson 31 is finished. See you in the next part, good luck!