NPR's All Things Considered: World
Two Marathons a Day in the Sahara

Three long-distance runners have just completed a three-month run across the Sahara Desert.
February 23, 2007
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Remember to practice reading and answering the questions aloud before class!!!

Vocabulary:
expedition
vast
unforgiving
landscape
long-distance
Sahara Desert
West coast
eastern edge
consecutive
on average
supplies
documentary film crew
in part
to raise money for
access
JFK Airport
New York
North Carolina
physical toll
calories
to keep one going
off the charts
to maintain one's weight
weight loss
significant
to level off
initially
in more than one way
Gatorade
bulk
to pass through
to be forced to
overland



for up to...at a time
wherever we could
nomadic people
to stay healthy
moderately speaking
to suffer from
injuries
intestinal issues
hardest days
near the finish

to pick up the pace
"concerning situations"
huge
stretch of territory
to cover
terrain
varied
as...as you can imagine
paved road
never even came close to
deep sand
massive
sand dunes
salt fields
incredible
to head back
to hug
a big basketball fan
to make it home for
NBA
couch-sitter
definite
sofa
to lay (lie) around
to be at an age where
to have a vision in one's mind
to be thrilled to be...
Melissa


Listening comprehension and thought questions:
1. What are the names and nationalities of the participants in this marathon?
2. What was your personal reaction, if any, to the news of Kevin Lin's feat and return to Taiwan?
3. Which African countries did the runners cross?
4. What was one of the main purposes of this marathon?
5. For each of the three participants, use Google to find one written news report on the Internet (i.e. find a total of three news reports) that features him and his feat. Give the name of the newspaper or news source and the date of publication.
6. Can you find any source that features all three participants in a balanced way? If so, give the name of the newspaper or news source and the date of publication, and include a printout of the report with this assignment.
7. What observations do you make on how news is reported, and on human nature regarding national and international news and one's home country, based on this report and exercise?


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