高一英语月考试题及答案-安溪一中-学年高二第一次阶段考试7

安溪一中2012-2013学年高二第一次阶段考试英语试题
第I卷（选择题共115分）
第一部分：听力（共两节，满分30分）
做题时，先将答案划在试卷上。

录音内容结束后，你将有两分钟的时间将试卷上的答案转涂到答题卡上。

第一节（共5小题；每小题1.5分，满分7.5分）
听下面五段对话，每段对话后有一个小题，从题中所给的A、B、C三个选项中选出最佳选项，并标在试卷的相应位置。

听完每段对话后，你都有10秒钟的时间来回答有关小题和阅读下一小题。

每段对话仅读一遍。

1. Where does the conversation probably take place?
A. In a bookstore.
B. In a classroom.
C. In a library.
2. At what time will the film begin?
A. 7:20.
B. 7:15.
C. 7:00.
3. What are the two speakers mainly talking about?
A. Their friend Jane.
B. A weekend trip.
C. A radio programme.
4. What will the woman probably do?
A. Catch a train
B. See the man off.
C. Go shopping.
5. Why did the woman apologize?
A. She made a late delivery.
B. She went to the wrong place.
C. She couldn’t take the cake back.
第二节（共15小题；每小题1.5分，满分22.5分）
听下面5段对话或独白。

每段对话或独白后有几个小题，从题中所给的A、B、C三个选项中选出最佳选项，并标在试卷的相应位置。

听完每段对话或独白前，你将有时间阅读各个小题，每小题5秒钟；听完后，各小题将给出5秒钟的作答时间。

每段对话或独白读两遍。

听第6段材料, 回答第6至7题。

6. Whose CD is broken?
A. Kathy’s.
B. Mum’s.
C. Jack’s.
7. What does the boy promise to do for the girl?
A. Buy her a new CD.
B. Do some cleaning.
C. Give her 10 dollars.
听第7段材料, 回答第8至9题。

8. What did the man think of the meal?
A. Just so-so.
B. Quite satisfactory.
C. A bit disappointing.
9. What was the 15% on the bill paid for?
A. The food.
B. The drinks.
C. The service.
听第8段材料, 回答第10至12题。

10. Why is the man at the shop?
A. To order a camera for his wife.
B. To have a camera repaired.
C. To get a camera changed.
11. What colour does the man want?
A. Pink
B. Black.
C. Orange.
12. What will the man do afterwards?
A. Make a phone call.
B. Wait until further notice.
C. Come again the next day.
听第9段材料, 回答第13至16题。

13. What would Joe probably do during the Thanksgiving holiday?
A. Go to a play.
B. Stay at home.
C. Visit Kingston.
14. What is Ariel going to do in Toronto?
A. Attend a party.
B. Meet her aunt.
C. See a car show.
15. Why is Ariel in a hurry to leave?
A. To call up Betty.
B. To buy some DVDs.
C. To pick up Daniel.
16. What might be the relationship between the speakers?
A. Classmates.
B. Fellow workers.
C. Guide and tourist.
听第10段材料, 回答第17至20题。

17. Where does Thomas Manning work?
A. In the Guinness Company.
B. At a radio station.
C. In a museum.
18. Where did the idea of a book of records come from?
A. A bird-shooting trip.
B. A visit to Europe.
C. A television talk show.
19. When did Sir Hugh’s first book of records appear?
A. In 1875.
B. In 1950.
C. In 1955.
20. What are the two speakers going to talk about next?
A. More records of unusual facts.
B. The founder of the company.
C. The oldest person in the world.
第二部分英语知识运用（共两节，满分45分）
第一节单项填空（共15小题；每小题1分，满分15分）
从A、B、C、D四个选项中，选出可以填入空白处的最佳选项，并在答题卡上将该项涂黑。

21. ----Hurry up! Alice and Sue are waiting for you at the school gate!
----Oh! I thought they without me.
A. went
B. are going
C. have gone
D. had gone
22. ----Shall I go and buy two more bottles of beer?
----No, I’ve already bought them yesterday. That be enough for us two.
A. can
B. may
C. should
D. might
23. ----These days many fan-boys are queuing for the latest iPhone 5.
----Yes, but is still some doubt it is really better than iPhone 4s.
A. there; whether
B. it; whether
C. there; that
D. it; that
24. ----What do you think of the stand-up TV show by the comedian Zhou Libo?
----I can’t help it. I got whenever I watched it!
A. to love; exciting
B. to love; excited
C. loving; exciting
D. loving; excited
25. Many people were guilty the rude behavior in their anti-Japanese protests,
because of which some were even charged damaging some TOYOTA on purpose.
A. of; for
B. of; of
C. for; with
D. for; on
26. other good students, in my opinion, Tom is student.
A. Compared with; a most satisfied
B. Compared to; the most satisfied
C. Comparing to; the most satisfying
D. Compared with; a more satisfying
27. China’s first aircraft carrier many scientists devoted so much time perfectly.
A. to work out
B. to working out
C. to worked out
D. has worked out
28. ----Have you got any particular plans for the coming holiday?
----Yes. , I’m going to visit some homes for the old in the city.
A. If ever
B. If busy
C. If possible
D. If anything
29. There is little doubt in your mind that he is innocent, ? (2012江苏)
A. is there
B. isn’t there
C. is he
D. isn’t he
30. China has been pushing the reform of public hospitals all its citizens.
A. in charge of
B. for the purpose of
C. in honor of
D. for the benefit of
31. It is in Steven Spielberg’s first film, Jaw, a big white Shark attacks
swimmers____________are spending their holidays in a small village by the sea.
A. where; who
B. which; that
C. that; that
D. where; that
32. in thought, he sat at the edge of the bed, with his eyes on the
letter in his hand.
A. Lost; fixing
B. Losing; fixed
C. Lost; fixed
D. Losing; fixing
33. Anyway, the crowd around me were obviously enjoying their day out at the races,
by their happy faces and the sense of excitement.
A. observing
B. judging
C. considering
D. inferring
34. Jane has been absent from school for nearly two weeks, so she has a lot of homework
to .
A. make up
B. pick up
C. take up
D. add up
35. We desired that immediate help to the local villagers who have been trapped by
the flood.
A. be given
B. will be given
C. should give
D. is given
第二节完型填空（共20小题；每小题1.5分，满分30分）
阅读下面短文，从短文后所给各题的四个选项（A、B、C和D）中，选出可以填入空白处的最佳选项，并在答题卡上将该项涂黑。

One sunny afternoon, a seven-year-old girl went for a walk. She crossed a large area of grassland into the woods 36 she realized that she was lost.
Sitting on a rock and 37 what to do, she began crying. After a while，She 38 to walk along a wide path lined with tall trees and thick bushes. 39 it was getting dark, she saw a small, dark wooden house. She opened the door and 40 stepped in. Suddenly, she heard a strange noise, and she ran out the door and back to the 41 . Cold and tired, she fell asleep near a 42 .
The girl’s parents were out and her dog, Laddy, was at home. Laddy43 that his mistress(女主人) was in danger. He jumped 44 a window, breaking the glass. He looked in the fields. But he couldn’t find his mistress anywhere. However, from the ground came a45 scent(气味) as he lowered his head. He 46 the scent and walked across the grassland. Barking 47 into the air, the dog 48 through the woods until he found the 49 . But the girl was not there, so he headed back to the woods. Much to his 50 , he saw his mistress’ blue shirt in the distance. He 51 over some bushes and saw the little stream, where the girl was 52 .
When she opened her eyes and 53 her dog standing beside her, the girl said, “you54 me, Laddy.” and she kissed him several times. Seeing their daughter and dog coming back, the parents burst into tears of 55 . That night Laddy had a hero’s supper, a huge meal of steak.
36. A. before B. since C. while D. as
37. A. wondering B. forgetting C. remembering D. regretting
38. A. preferred B. expected C. failed D. decided
39. A. When B. Until C. If D. Because
40. A. carelessly B. cautiously C. hopelessly D. unwillingly
41. A. trees B. bushes C. woods D. grasses
42. A. stream B. rock C. tree D. house
43. A. found B. sensed C. heard D. smelt
44. A. at B. through C. in D. onto
45. A. terrible B. Strange C. pleasant D. familiar
46. A. missed B. discovered C. followed D. ignored
47. A. calmly B. loudly C. merrily D. gently
48. A. searched B. wandered C. looked D. travelled
49. A. window B. girl C. house D. hero
50. A. satisfaction B. disappointment C. embarrassment D. delight
51. A. jumped B. climbed C. walked D. flew
52. A. awake B. abandoned C. available D. asleep
53. A. spotted B. watched C. observed D. saw
54. A. disturbed B. comforted C. rescued D. scared
55. A. pain B. shock C. sorrow D. relief
第三部分阅读理解（共20小题；每小题2分，满分40分）
阅读下列短文，从每题所给的四个选项（A、B、C和D）中，选出最佳选项，并在答题卡上将该项涂黑。

A
Recently a Beijing father sent in a question at an Internet forum(论坛) asking what “PK” meant. “My family has been watching the ‘Super Girl’ singing competition TV program. My little daughter asked me what ‘PK’ meant, but I had no idea,” explained the puzzled father.
To a lot of Chinese young people who have been playing games online, it is impossible not to know this term. In such Internet games, “PK” is short for “Player Kill”, in which two players fight until one ends the life of the other.
In the case of the “Super Girl” singing competition, “PK” was used to refer to the stage where two singers have to compete with each other for only one chance to go up in competition ranking.
Like this father, Chinese teachers a t high schools have also been finding their students’ compositions using Internet jargons(行话) which are difficult to understand. A high school teacher from Tianjin asked her students to write compositions with simple language, but they came up with a lot o f Internet jargons that she didn’t understand.
“My ‘GG’ came back this summer from college. He told me I’ve grown up to be a ‘PLMM’.
I loved to ‘FB’ with him together; he always took me to the ‘KPM’,” went one composition.
“GG” means Ge Ge(Chinese pinyin for brother). “PLMM” refers to Piao Liang Mei Mei(beautiful girl). “FB” means Fu Bai(corruption). “KPM” is short for KFC, Pizza Hut and McDonald’s.
Some specialists welcome Internet jargons as a new development in language.
If you do not even know what a Kong Long(dinosaur, referring to an ugly looking female) or
a Qing Wa(frog, referring to an ugly looking male) is, you will possibly be regarded as a Cai Niao!
56. By writing the article, the writer tries to .
A. explain some Internet language
B. suggest common Internet language
C. laugh at the Beijing father
D. draw our attention to Internet language
57. What does the writer think about the term “PK”?
A. Fathers can’t possibly know it.
B. The daughter should understand it.
C. Online game players may know it.
D. “Super Girl” shouldn’t have used it.
58. The examples of the Beijing father and the Tianjin teacher are used to show that Internet
jargons .
A. are used not only online
B. can be understood very well
C. are welcomed by all the people
D. cause trouble to our mother tongue
59. What would be the best title for the passage?
A. A puzzled father
B. Do you speak Internet-ish?
C. Keep away from Internet-ish
D. Kong Long or Qing Wa?
B
On the first day of college our professor introduced himself and challenged us to get to know someone we didn’t already know.
I stood up to look around when a gentle hand touched my shoulder. I turned around to find a wrinkled, little old lady beami ng up at me with a smile that lit up her entire being. She said, “Hi, handsome! My name is Rose. I’m eighty-seven years old. Can I give you a hug?” I laughed and enthusiastically responded, “Of course you can!” and she gave me a giant squeeze.
“Why are you in college at such a young, innocent age?” I asked. She jokingly replied, “I’m here to meet a rich husband, get married, have a couple of children, and then retire and travel.”
“No seriously,” I asked. I was curious what may have motivated her to be takin g on this challenge at her age. “I always dreamed of having a college education and now I’m getting one!” she told me.
After class we walked to the student union building and shared a chocolate milkshake. We instantly became friends. Every day for the next three months we would leave class together and talk non-stop.
I was always mesmerized(催眠) listening to this “time machine” as she shared her wisdom and experience with me. Over the course of the year, Rose became a campus icon(偶像) and she easily made friends wherever she went.
At the year end, Rose finished the degree she had begun all those years ago. One week after graduation Rose died peacefully in her sleep. Over two thousand college students attended her funeral to pay their respects to the wonderful woman who taught by example that it’s never too late to be all you can possible be.
60. Why did Rose go to college at her age?
A. She wanted to marry a rich husband.
B. It was her dream to receive college education.
C. She wanted to change her present situation.
D. She wanted to get a Bachelor Degree.
61. Which of the following can best describe Rose?
A. Serious, helpful and hard-working.
B. Outgoing, humorous and determined.
C. Brave, warm-hearted and optimistic.
D. Rich, sensitive and graceful.
62. It can be inferred from the passage that .
A. Rose didn’t have any relatives when she died
B. Rose had lived a very hard life
C. the author was unwilling to understand Rose
D. the author learned a lot from his old friend Rose
63. By writing the passage the author intends to .
A. encourage old people to receive a good education
B. describe the author’s college life
C. introduce an admirable old college student
D. teach young people to value their school life
C
Top lists are lecturing people on everything from “100 books to read”. Aren’t you just tired of being told what to do with your time?
Now you have a list to end all lists!
Take a look at the following two examples from the list of “101 things not to do”:
Swim with Dolphins(海豚)?
Swimming with dolphins is one of the world’s most profitable tourist activities. However, every dolphin will welcome having their busy, tiring day interrupted by tourists screaming pushing around them in the water. Worse yet, when dolphins get too near to the boats loaded tourists, they could get caught up in ropes and killed by propellers(螺旋桨).
Here’s a little secret. Dolphins look like smiling at you, but actually they’re just opening mouths.
Go to See the Mona Lisa?
There must be something about the mysterious(神秘的) smile. The 6 million people who the lady in the Louvre every year can’t all be wrong after all. But they can be quite annoying standing in front of you, holding up their cameras to prevent you from seeing anything. In fact it is hard for you to see the painting clearly because you have to stay away from it for security read. After queuing for hours, many tourists can remain in front of the painting only for 15 seconds most.
If the mysterious lady in the picture knew her fate, she wouldn’t just be smiling, she laughing.
So, still long to see the Mona Lisa? If you want to find out more about the list, read 101 Things NOT to Do Before Y ou Die. Visit and buy the book at a 20% discount.
64. According to the passage, swimming with dolphins .
A. is the world’s most popular tourist activity
B. gives fun to both tourists and dolphins
C. will make tourists busy and tired
D. can cause danger to dolphins
65. What does the author think about going to see the Mona Lisa?
A. It is wrong to go and see the mysterious smile.
B. It is not as satisfying as expected.
C. Fifteen seconds in front of the painting is enough.
D. Queuing for hours is worthwhile.
66. The list of “101 things not to do” is m ade most probably because its author .
A. thinks it boring to do the things suggested by other lists
B. believes other lists are not humorous enough
C. intends to persuade people to read more lists
D. wants to provide a list different from other lists
67. What is the main purpose of the passage?
A. To advertise a book
B. To introduce a website
C. To comment on popular lists
D. To recommend tourist activities
D
Do you know that a fast reader can get the ideas better than a slow reader can? Of course, you save time by reading fast, but this is not the main reason for fast reading. The main reason is that you understand better what you are reading when you read fast.
As your eyes move along the line of print, they make fixations(固定) or pauses. It is important that you see several words at a fixation. It is also important that your eyes leave a group of words quickly and move on to another group. The number of letters or words that you see at a fixation is called your eye span. Pay more attention to improving your rate of reading. With
practice you can learn to read faster than you usually read.
The way in which you read always depends on what you are reading and for what purpose. You should know the different ways of reading so that you can apply whatever method that is necessary. Here are four ways of reading:
(1) Skimming is an important kind of reading. This method can be used when you wish to review something that you have forgotten. You can skim to get the main points.
(2) Rapid first reading and then rereading certain parts carefully is important. You may use this type of reading to study a science lesson or a history lesson.
(3) You need to do careful reading and rereading sometimes. This type of reading is necessary for making an intensive(精深的) study of your school subjects, solving maths problems or reading directions.
(4) Rapid reading is used when reading stories for enjoyment. You may also do rapid reading when reviewing material that you already know well.
68. The main reason for reading fast is that you can what you are fast reading.
A. get the ideas
B. save time
C. understand better
D. learn well
69. The way of reading always depends on .
A. the method that you like
B. your reading material
C. your reading purpose
D. both B and C
70. The underlined word “skimming” in the fourth paragraph means.
A. reading very fast
B. looking carefully
C. reading only the main points
D. reading some parts of the material
71. Careful reading is an important kind of reading .
A. when you read a story for enjoyment
B. when you go over a lesson that you have already known well
C. when you read the directions before using a camera which is expensive
D. when you wish to find a lost place that you have read
E
Deputy Agriculture Secretary Kathleen Merrigan sees an epidemic(流行病) sweeping across Americas farmland. It has little to do with the usual challenges, such as flood, rising fuel prices and crop-eating insects. The country’s farmers are getting older, and there are fewer people standing in line to take their place. National agricultural census(普查) figures show that the fastest-growing group of fanners is the part over 65. Merrigan is afraid the average age will be even higher when the 2012 statistics are completed.
Merrigan, a former college professor, is making stops at universities across the country in hopes of encouraging more students to think about careers in agriculture. Aside from trying to stop the graying of .America’s farmers, her work is made tougher by a recent blog posting that put agriculture at No.1 on a l ist of “useless” college degrees. Top federal(联邦的) agriculture officials are talking about the posting, and it has the attention of agricultural organizations across the country.
“There couldn’t be anything that’s more incorrect.” Merrigan said. “We know that there aren’t enough qualified graduates to fill the jobs that are out there in American agriculture.”
“In addition, a growing world population that some experts predict will require 70% more food production by 2050,” she said.
“I truly believe we're at a golden age of agriculture. Global demand is at an all-time record high, and global supplies are at all-time record lows,” said Matt Rush, director of the Texas Farm Bureau. “Production costs are going to be valuable enough that younger people are going to have the opportunity to be involved in agri culture.”
The Department of Agriculture has programs aimed at developing more farmers and at increasing interest in locally grown food. The National Young Farmers’ Coalition has also been pushing for state and federal policy changes to make it easier for new farmers.
Ryan Best, president of Future Farmers of America, has been living out of a suitcase, traveling the country and visiting with high school students about careers in agriculture. The 21 -year-old Best hopes his message-that this is a new time in agriculture-will motivate the next generation to turn around the statistics. “Never before have we had the innovations(创新) in technology which have led to agriculture in this country being the most efficient it has ever been,” he said. “There’s really a place for everybody to fit in.”
72. What is the new challenge to American agriculture?
A. Fewer and older farmers.
B. Higher fuel prices.
C. More natural disasters.
D. Lower agricultural output.
73. Why is Merrigan visiting universities across the country?
A. To draw federal agriculture officials’ attention.
B. To select qualified agriculture graduates.
C. To clarify a recent blog posting.
D. To talk more students into farming careers.
74. According to Matt Rush, American agriculture will provide opportunities for younger people
because .
A. the government will cover production costs
B. global food supplies will be even lower
C. investment in agriculture will be profitable
D. America will increase its food export
75. What do the underlined words “to turn around the statistics” in the last paragraph mean?
A. To re-analyze the result of the national census.
B. To increase agricultural production.
C. To bring down the average age of farmers.
D. To invest more in agriculture.
第II卷（非选择题共35分）
VI. 单词拼写（共10小题；每小题1.5分，满分15分）
根据汉语提示或首字母提示，在每个空格内填入一个适当的英语单词。

（每空只填一词）
76. A of stealing the car, the man burst into tears.
77. If he can support himself, he is i of his parents.
78. People with high EQ have p attitude towards life.
79. There is no p that we will give in to the Japanese government on Diaoyu Islands.
80. I think the question d further discussion.
81. I turned round and kept (瞪着) at the man who was bothering me.
82. The news that Lin Dan held a great wedding ceremony has been (证实).
83. The little boy has made great progress under the teacher’s (指导).
84. She consulted a few (律师) about her husband’s case.
85. That some protesters expressed their anger by destroying some cars of Japanese brands is
beyond my (理解).
V. 完成句子（共11小题；每空0.5分，满分20分）
在下列句子的空缺处填入正确的单词。

（每空只填一词）
86. 一个人的智商决定了他能否被录用，而情商决定了他能否得到提拔。

At work, it is IQ gets you but it is EQ that gets you .
87. 无论何时和他们一起出去吃饭，最终总是我付账。

Whenever we go out to dinner with them, I always
the meal.
88. 别老盯着我工作。

挺烦人的，而且我也无法集中注意力。

Don’t watch me I’m working. It is and I couldn’t .
89. 说到自然资源，那是西欧最贫穷的国家之一。

resources, it is one of the poorest countries in Western Europe.
90. 当我听到背后有人唱歌时，我的忍耐到了极限。

____________ ______________ ______________ was when I hear someone _______________ behind me.
91. 如果詹妮不是这么善良和宽容我的缺点的话，我就不会经历这段真正的友谊。

If Jenny such a kind person who was to forgive my , I wouldn’t have ______________ such true friendship.
92. 汤姆问莎丽能否接管这件事情。

Tom asked Sally if she could ____________ the matter.
93. 虽然没人受伤，但你们陷在一条不能通车的林间小路上。

No one is hurt, but you are a forest road with no _________________.
94. 她刚停止提问，我就站起来，离开了房间。

she stopped _______________ questions, I got up and went out of the room.
95. 路上除了几辆车外，杳无人迹。

The roads are deserted cars.
96. 在这个世界上生存并快乐地生活意味着能够与其他人很好相处，能够理解形势并尽可能以最快的方式做出反应。

To in the world and lead a happy successful life means getting on with other people and able to understand and to situations in the best way .
参考答案
听力录音材料
Text 1
M: Excuse me, Madam? W: Yes? M: How long can I keep the book?
W: For one month. Please make sure you return the book before it’s due.
Text 2
M: Hurry up, Jenny. It’s already seven. We’ll be late for the film.
W: Don’t worry dear, we still have twenty minutes. And it takes us only fifteen minutes to get t here. We’ll be there just in time.
Text 3
M: I heard on the radio that it’ll be sunny during the holiday weekend. Maybe we can take a trip to Boston. W: That sounds great. I’ll call J ane to see if she likes to join us.
Text 4
W: It’s nearly eight. If you want to catch the nine o’clock train, you’d better go now.
M: Don’t worry. I’ll drive to the station.
W: In that case, let me go with you. And you drop me off at the city center. I’ll go to the open market.
Text 5
W: I’m sorry, the cake is late. We’ll be better next time, I promise.
M: Well, I’m sorry too. You have to take it back. The birthday party is over and we don’t need the cake any more.
Text 6
W: Oh, it’s broken! Jacky is not going to be happy when he sees this.It’s his favori te CD. He will tell Mom.
M: Please Kathy, can I borrow ten dollars? I’ll buy him a new one and I will clean up your room. Text 7
W: How did you like the dishes, Sir? M: Delicious. Everything was excellent here. Thank you! W: Do you want some coffee, tea, sir?
M: No, thanks, I’m fine. Ah, just have the bill, please. How much is your service’s charge?
W: Fifteen percent and it’s included in your bill. Thank you very much, sir. We look forward to seeing you again. M: Sure, good night.
Text 8
W: Can I help you? M: Yes. My daughter bought this camera here for my wife’s birthday. But it doesn’t work. So I’d like to change it for another one.
W: I see. Let me have a look. Well, we’ll be happy to change it for you. But I am afraid we don’t have another pink one. M: Oh, what will I do then?
W: Would you like to choose a different color? We do have this camera in black and orange.
M: My wife doesn’t like either of those colors.
W: If you want, we can order another camera just like this one. Ther e wouldn’t be any extra charge for it. M: That sounds fine. Would you please go ahead and do that?
W: We’d be very happy to, but it’ll take at least a week. Maybe ten days. We’ll call you when it comes in. M: Thank you very much. W: You are welcome.
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W: Hi, Joe, many people in our department are leaving for Thanksgiving. What are you going to do?
M: I think I’ll just stay at home. I may see some friends and watch a few DVDs. And I probably would go to the Ottawa Car Show. What about you, Ariel? What’s your plan?
W: I am going to do some traveling with my family.
M: Oh, where to? W: Toronto. And on our way, we’re going to visit my aunt Betty, in Kingston.
M: That’s exciting .How long do you plan to stay?W: Two days, I have a get-together party with my college friends on the 10th in Toronto. Oh, I’m afraid I’ve got to go now. My husband is waiting for me. And we’ll have to pick up Daniel from school. Have a nice holiday, Joe! M: Thank you. You too.
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W: Where can you look if you want to know how tall the tallest person in the world is or who the oldest person in the world is. There is only one place where you’ll find all these information. A nd t hat’s the Guinness Book of World Records. This mor ning we have someone from the Guinness Company that produced that famous book—Tomas Manning. Welcome to the program, Tomas! M: Thanks Sue. It’s a pleasure to be here.
W: Perhaps you could start by telling us where the idea for the book came from?
M: Well, it was first suggested in the early 1950s. Sir Hugh Beaver, the Managing director of Guinness, was out shooting birds with some friends. A bird flew away so quickly that no one was able to shoot it. Sir Hugh wondered whether this bird was the fastest bird in Europe. And it wasn’t the fastest. He wondered what it was.
W: So I suppose he went to the nearest library to look for the information and he couldn’t find it? M: Yeah, that’s exactly what happened. And this made Sir Hugh think there must be other peop le in the same situation who wanted this kind of information. He thought that, like himself, people would be interested in finding facts about the records to satisfy their curiosity.
W: So the idea for a book of records was born. And when did the first book come out?
M: A few years later, in 1955. So to answer your first question: the tallest person in the world is 231.7cm tall. And the oldest person is Jeanne ∙ L ∙ Calment who was born in February, 1875.
W: There’re also some rather strange records, aren’t there, Tomas?.
M: Yeah, that’s right. Did you know, Sue, that the shortest time it is taking…?。