Listening
Unlocking Word Meanings
Read the following words/expressions found in today’s article.
- lay claim to (something) / leɪ kleɪm tu / (idiom) – to say it belongs to someone or that someone has the right to own or use it
Example:The player is laying claim to the record for most goals this season after scoring again last night.
- stint / stɪnt / (n.) – a period of time spent doing a job or activity
Example:After a two-year stint as a tour guide, he opened his own travel agency.
- plod / plɒd / (v.) – to walk slowly and heavily, usually because you are tired or it is hard to move
Example:The tired workers plodded up the hill after a long day in the fields.
- outlast / ˌaʊtˈlæst / (v.) – to stay strong or continue longer than someone or something else
Example:Maria outlasts the younger group members during long hikes because she’s been hiking and training for years.
- intimidated / ɪnˈtɪm ɪˌdeɪ tɪd / (adj.) – feeling scared, nervous, or not confident because someone or something seems stronger, bigger, or more powerful
Example:Joe felt intimidated walking into the job interview without much experience.
Article
Read the text below.
A New York man is laying claim to the record for most consecutive hours playing golf—a 35-hour stint on a course on Long Island that began early evening of June 8 and ended early morning of June 10.
Kelechi Ezihie initially planned to play 24 hours to set a Guinness World Record, only to learn hours into his effort that a British golfer had played for 32 straight hours on a course in Norway at the end of May. His sister had called him after seeing the 32-hour record while searching the internet, he said.
Surprised but determined, he plodded on through rain, fatigue and drenched and aching feet to outlast the Brit, Isaac Rowlands.
“I feel proud to be able to say I am a world champion,” he said. “This is an opportunity that not many people have. It’s definitely something I will definitely be telling my kids and my grandkids moving forward in the future.”
Armed with friends, flashlights and glow-in-the-dark golf balls, the 27-year-old Ezihie teed off at Huntington Crescent Club at about 6:30 p.m. on June 8 and sank his last putt shortly after 5:30 a.m. on June 10—playing the 18 holes seven times for a total of 126 holes, he said.
Along the way, friends took video of the entire outing and other people served as witnesses so Guinness could verify the record, he said. He was allowed a five-minute break per hour, under Guinness rules, and ended up taking 20-minute breaks at the end of each round while still following the rules.
Ezihie, an assistant manager at an organization that serves people with intellectual and developmental disabilities and autism, said he wanted to set the record to promote diversity in golf.
“People become intimidated when they hear about golf and they think it’s for the wealthy,” he said in a phone interview. “I see how much golf has taught me, and I just believe that golf is a game that everybody should be able to get a chance to play and they could definitely learn life lessons from this game.”
This article was provided by The Associated Press.
Viewpoint Discussion
Enjoy a discussion with your tutor.
Discussion A
- Kelechi Ezihie wanted to set the record to promote diversity in golf. Do you think personal achievements can be a good way to raise awareness for important social causes? Why or why not? How do you think people would feel or respond after seeing Ezihie’s achievement (ex. be inspired, be more interested in golf)? Discuss.
- Ezihie said people sometimes think golf is “for the wealthy,” and he wants to show it’s for everyone. Do you have this perception about golf, too? Why or why not? Is golf popular in your country? Why do you think that is? Discuss.
Discussion B
- Ezihie found out about a new, higher record during his attempt but kept going despite rain, fatigue, and pain. How do you react when you face an unexpected challenge or a new obstacle while trying to achieve a goal? How important is it to have friends, family, or a team to support you when you are working towards a difficult goal? Discuss.
- Ezihie believes golf can teach “life lessons.” What life lessons do you think people can learn from playing sports or engaging in competitive activities? Discuss.