In1974whenIwas181tookuphang-glidingandparagliding.TodayTmaprofessionalhang-glideinstructorbutatthetimeIwasoneofonlyaboutadozeninthecountrydoingit.Iwasluckytosurvive:thesportwassonewanddangerousthen.In1997Iheardaboutthe

Birdmancompetitioninwhichparticipants(参与者）competetoflythefurthestdistance;Ithoughtitsoundedlikefun.Ifeltthatahang-gliderwhichusuallytravelsaround90metrescouldgoasfaras100metresoneday.Thefirstleapwasfrightening:ahugecrosswindmeantIhadtotakeoffatalmost90degreesanditwasdifficulttomanage.ButIcamebackandnowparticipateinthevariousBirdmancompetitionsthattakeplaceacrossthecountryattractingseriousandsillycompetitorsalike.

Ifstaken17yearstobreakthe100metrebarrierandIwasthefirsttodoit.WhenIbroketheworldrecordin20141tookofffromWorthingpier(码头）anddidn’ttouchdownfor20seconds.Itwasthelongesteverflightfromapiercarryingme159.8metresuntilItouchedthewater.Twentysecondsisalongtimewhenyou'redoing45milesanhourflyingoverthewaves.ThoughIstillholdthedistancerecordIdidn'twinthe2015Birdmancompetition.Thispastyearhasbeenmoredifficult.I’mnearly60now.Competitorshavealwaysjokedabouthowthey’llprobablybethrowingmeoffthepier.Ihadoperationsonmykneesandthenthreeweeksbeforethisyear’scompetitionatBognorRegisIhadamildheartattack.ImanagedtocompeteagainbutIdidn’tfeelright.MywifewasobviouslyveryconcernedbutIkeepfit.AslongasIdon’toverworkmyselfandprepareproperlyfortheeventthere’snoreasonJcan’tdoitforthenext1213years.NextyearImgoingtowinitagain.

8.Thepassagemainlytalksaboutthewriter’s_________.

A.enthusiasmaboutasport B.knowledgeabouthang-gliding

C.difficultiesinhiscareer D.recordsinBirdmancompetitions

9.Whatcanbelearnedabouthang-glidingin1974?

A.Itwasquitepopular. B.Itwasfullofrisks.

C.Ithadarecordof100meters. D.Ithadabout12instructors.

10.Thewriterfailedtowinthecompetitionin2015becausehe•

A.didn’ttakeitseriouslyenough B.wastooproudofhisrec