Vocabulary
- Discontinued
- Infamous
- Digital landscape
- Obsolete
- Perception
Article
The Guinness World Records, an ever-evolving anthology of human achievement and peculiarities, has seen its fair share of discontinued records that once captured the public’s imagination. In most cases, the goal has been to prevent people from harming themselves or others as a result of trying to top the previous record.
Over the holiday season of December 1963 and January 1964, high-school student Randy Gardner stayed awake for 11 days and 24 minutes. While this infamous experiment showcased human endurance, the repercussions of prolonged sleep deprivation on health have since become better understood, leading Guinness to discontinue the record in light of potential risks. By the end of his fifth day, Randy began experiencing hallucinations, along with general cognitive impairment.
In 1986, an astounding feline named Himmy was certified at a staggering 46.8 pounds (21.3 kilograms). While his extraordinary mass sparked fascination, it also raised concerns about animal welfare, prompting the organization to reconsider the implications of celebrating such extremes.
In the realm of technology, the record for the highest Tweet rate per second showcased the rapid evolution of online communication. During the release of Studio Ghibli film Castle in the Sky in August of 2013, an impressive 143,199 Tweets were sent in a fleeting moment across the globe. Yet, as social media continues to disrupt traditional forms of communication, the record became less relevant, leading Guinness to archive it as a reflection of a rapidly changing digital landscape.
The record for the fastest journey around the world by car, achieved in 1986 by a team that completed the trip in just over 31 days, is another fascinating entry that became obsolete. This record highlighted both human ingenuity and the challenges of global travel, but advancements in technology and road networks rendered such achievements less impressive in the context of contemporary transportation. Each of these discontinued records serves as a reminder of how societal values and environmental considerations shape our perception of achievement in an ever-changing world.
Summarize the article in your own words.
Speaking
- How many of these records have you previously heard about?
- If they still existed, would you attempt any of them?
- How closely do you follow Guinness World Records?
- Are there any current records that should be discontinued?
- Why do you think so many people Tweeted about Castle in the Sky?
Writing
- Has anyone from your country broken a Guinness World Record? If yes, describe the record. If not, do you think it will happen in the future?
Listening
- Describe what happened in this video. Would you enjoy living in such a house?
English with Melody 