Fauja Singh becomes oldest marathon runner

PRE-READING:

Look at the title and predict the main ideas of the article. Then, write down three wh-questions about the text.

Ex: What is the age of the marathon runner?

WHILE READING:

Set a time limit to read this article. An average reader can read at the speed of 250 words per minute. Note down your reading speed regularly to check your progress.

SKIMMING:

Within the time limit, read and summarize the main ideas of the paragraphs in your own words. Do not worry about unfamiliar vocabulary.

FAUJA SINGH BECOMES OLDEST MARATHON RUNNER

A 100-year-old Briton has become the world's oldest marathon runner after finishing a race in Canada.

Fauja Singh, from Ilford, east London, ran the Toronto Waterfront Marathon in eight hours, 25 minutes and 16 seconds.

The record-holder "hit the wall" at 22 miles but soldiered on for another two hours and finished in 3,850th place, ahead of five other competitors.

Mr Singh, who took up running 11 years ago after his wife and son died, trains every day by running 10 miles.

His coach and translator Harmander Singh said Mr Singh was "overjoyed".

"Earlier, just before we came around the (final) corner, he said, 'achieving this will be like getting married again'.

"He's absolutely overjoyed; he's achieved his lifelong wish."

Born in India in 1911, Mr Singh was a farmer in the Punjab but moved to Britain in the 1960s. He puts his stamina down to ginger curry, tea and "being happy".

He holds the world record for the over-90 category after running the 2003 Toronto marathon in five hours and 40 minutes. His latest feat earns him another spot in Guinness World Records.

On Thursday he broke another eight records for 100-year-old men by completing all eight distances ranging from 100m to 5,000m.

Mr Singh said: "The secret to a long and healthy life is to be stress-free. Be grateful for everything you have; stay away from people who are negative, stay smiling and keep running."

Word count: 243 words

Source: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-15330421

SCANNING:

Use your notes to identify where you can find the answers to the questions you made in the pre-reading stage.

READING FOR DETAILED UNDERSTANDING:

Compare the following sentences with the article carefully. Write T if the statement agrees with the text and F if it contradicts the text.

1. Singh finished the race first, ahead of five other competitors.

2. Singh will marry again because he has achieved his lifelong wish.

3. Fauja Singh was born in India but grew up in Britain.

4. This was not his first world record.

5. Being positive and optimistic is one of his secrets to being healthy.

POST-READING:

Grammar:

It is common in newspaper articles for the first sentence(s) to be in the present perfect. The events are recent with a present result (this is what makes them ‘news’!). The details are then often told in the simple past.

Read the text again. Notice the verb tenses of the following sentences and compare them.

1. A 100-year-old Briton has become the world's oldest marathon runner.

2. Singh broke another eight records for 100-year-old men.

3. He has achieved his lifelong wish.

4. Singh finished in 3,850th place, ahead of five other competitors.

Select the correct alternative in the explanations below:

Sentences 1 and 3 are in the present perfect/simple past tense because they talk about an event in the recent past that has a present result. The focus is on the result now.

Sentences 2 and 4 are in the present perfect tense/ simple past tense because they talk about specific events at specific times in the past. The events are completed.

Discussion:

Ask and answer the questions with a speaking partner.

1. What are the three most interesting things you have experienced or done in your life?

2. What are three things you would like to do, but have not yet experienced or achieved in life?

Glossary:

Pay attention to how the word is combined with other words in context. Do not learn the meaning of the word without sentences. Vietnamese should be the last resort after you have tried all the learning strategies.

• A record holder = (n.) someone who is recognized for being able to do an extraordinary task or having a unique ability or characteristic (Người giữ kỷ lục nào đó)

• Hit the wall = (exp.) a point where the runner is exhausted and in pain, but if she keeps running, the runner can go past this point (Cảm thấy kiệt sức (nhưng vẫn cố gắng tiếp tục và vượt qua))

• To soldier on = (idiom) to persist in one's efforts in spite of difficulties, pressure (Kiên trì)

• Overjoyed = (adj.) extremely happy (Vui mừng tột đỉnh)

• Lifelong (wish) = (adj.) lasting for a lifetime or as if for a lifetime (Cả đời)

• To put something down to something = to say something is the cause or source of something else (Xuất phát từ)

• To earn someone a spot in Guinness World Records (Được ghi vào Kỷ lục Guiness)

ANSWERS:

True or False:

1. F (he finished in front of 5 competitors, but not in first place; in 3,850th place!)

2. F (he compares running the marathon with being married, he doesn’t say he will get married).

3. F (he was a farmer in India, so he must have grown up there)

4. T (he already holds the record for the over-90 category: 2003)

5. T (‘be grateful; stay away from negative people; keep smiling)

Grammar:

Sentences 1 and 3 are in the present perfect tense.

Sentences 2 and 4 are in the simple past tense.

This material is provided by the Australian Centre for Education and Training (ACET).