World Records: Amazing but Real
Discover remarkable records in sports, travel, buildings, and nature. Explore documented achievements as of December 31, 2024.
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Questions with solutions-
1. 选择正确答案。
Which country is home to this record-breaking building?
The Burj Khalifa rises 828 meters above Dubai, a city in the United Arab Emirates. As of 2024, Guinness listed it as the world's tallest building.
- Saudi Arabia
- The United Arab Emirates
- Qatar
Show solution
- The United Arab Emirates
The Burj Khalifa contains homes, offices, and a hotel—not just a viewing area. Source: Guinness World Records.
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2. 选择正确答案。
What travels through this tunnel?
Switzerland's Gotthard Base Tunnel carries passenger and freight trains beneath the Alps. At about 57 kilometers, it held the record for the longest railway tunnel as of 2024.
- Cars and motorcycles
- Bicycles and pedestrians
- Passenger and freight trains
Show solution
- Passenger and freight trains
A route through a mountain can avoid the steep climb over it. This tunnel opened in 2016. Source: Guinness World Records.
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3. 选择正确答案。
In which race was this record set?
In Berlin in 2009, Usain Bolt ran 100 meters in 9.58 seconds. World Athletics officially recognized this world record.
- The 100-meter sprint
- The 400-meter sprint
- The 100-meter hurdles
Show solution
- The 100-meter sprint
Bolt also set a 200-meter world record at the same competition. Source: World Athletics.
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4. 选择正确答案。
What does the total of 23 describe?
Swimmer Michael Phelps won gold medals at four Olympic Games, from 2004 to 2016. As of 2024, his career total of 23 was the record for the most Olympic gold medals.
- All his Olympic medals, including silver and bronze
- His gold medals across several Olympic Games
- His gold medals at one Olympic Games
Notice the difference between one Olympic Games and a whole career.
Show solution
- His gold medals across several Olympic Games
Eight of his gold medals came from the Beijing Olympics in 2008 alone. Source: International Olympic Committee.
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5. 选择正确答案。
What did Junko Tabei achieve?
In 1975, Junko Tabei reached the summit of Mount Everest with a Japanese climbing team. No woman had reached the summit before her.
- She became the first person to climb Everest.
- She became the first woman to climb Everest alone.
- She became the first woman to reach Everest's highest point.
Show solution
- She became the first woman to reach Everest's highest point.
The first confirmed climb to Everest's summit happened in 1953, 22 years before Tabei's success. Source: Guinness World Records.
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6. 选择正确答案。
Which time barrier did this run break?
In Oxford in 1954, Roger Bannister ran one mile in 3 minutes and 59.4 seconds. He was the first runner officially recorded with a time under the famous four-minute barrier.
- Running a mile in less than four minutes
- Running a mile in exactly four minutes
- Running a mile in less than three minutes
Compare his finishing time with four full minutes.
Show solution
- Running a mile in less than four minutes
Two other runners helped Bannister keep the right pace during parts of the race. Source: World Athletics.
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7. 选择正确答案。
Which measurement made this bridge a record holder?
China's Danyang–Kunshan Grand Bridge carries trains for about 165 kilometers. As of 2024, Guinness listed it as the world's longest bridge.
- Its height above the ground
- Its distance from one end to the other
- Its width from side to side
Show solution
- Its distance from one end to the other
A very long bridge does not have to cross an ocean: much of this bridge runs over land. Source: Guinness World Records.
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8. 选择正确答案。
How was the pizza's record size measured?
In Los Angeles in 2023, a team made a pizza covering more than 1,200 square meters. Guinness recognized it as the largest pizza by area.
- By the number of slices cut from it
- By the weight of its cheese
- By the amount of surface it covered
Square meters measure space across a surface.
Show solution
- By the amount of surface it covered
Area measures a surface, not how thick or heavy something is. Source: Guinness World Records.
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9. 选择正确答案。
What did “nonstop” mean for this sailing record?
In 2017, Francis Joyon and his crew sailed nonstop around the world in about 41 days, setting a speed record. They completed the journey without stopping at a port.
- They stayed at sea for the whole journey.
- Nobody on the boat slept during the journey.
- The boat traveled at the same speed throughout.
Show solution
- They stayed at sea for the whole journey.
A nonstop sailing trip still allows the crew to take turns sleeping while others work. Source: Guinness World Records.
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10. 选择正确答案。
Did the plane make this journey in one nonstop flight?
In 2016, Solar Impulse 2 completed the first trip around the world by a solar-powered airplane. It used sunlight for energy and made several planned stops.
- Yes. The plane stayed in the air for the whole journey.
- No. The plane landed at several places along the route.
- No. Ships carried the plane across the oceans.
Show solution
- No. The plane landed at several places along the route.
The plane stored solar energy in batteries, so it could also fly at night. Source: World Air Sports Federation (FAI).
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11. 选择正确答案。
How did the pilots find winds moving in a useful direction?
In 1999, Bertrand Piccard and Brian Jones completed the first nonstop balloon trip around the world. They moved their balloon higher or lower to find helpful winds.
- They kept the balloon at one height throughout.
- They turned a steering wheel to point the balloon.
- They changed altitude to reach different winds.
Show solution
- They changed altitude to reach different winds.
A balloon travels with the surrounding air; winds at different heights can move in different directions. Source: Guinness World Records.
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12. 选择正确答案。
What was remarkable about Baumgartner's falling speed?
Guinness records Felix Baumgartner's 2012 jump as the first freefall to break the sound barrier. He jumped from a capsule carried by a balloon and reached his top speed before opening his parachute.
- He fell faster than sound travels.
- He fell at exactly the speed of sound.
- He stayed below the speed of sound.
A barrier is a limit; breaking it means going beyond it.
Show solution
- He fell faster than sound travels.
An open parachute catches air and slows a falling person, so the fastest part of his fall happened before it opened. Source: Guinness World Records.
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13. 选择正确答案。
What happened to the planned Moon landing?
Apollo 13 was meant to land on the Moon in 1970. After a serious problem, its crew traveled around the Moon and returned to Earth without landing. Guinness lists this journey as the farthest humans have traveled from Earth.
- It took place later during the same mission.
- It was canceled, and the crew returned to Earth.
- It was moved to a different part of the Moon.
Show solution
- It was canceled, and the crew returned to Earth.
The crew used the Moon's gravity to help guide their spacecraft back toward Earth. Sources: NASA; Guinness World Records.
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14. 选择正确答案。
What is measured by this spaceflight record?
Valeri Polyakov stayed on the Mir space station from January 1994 until March 1995—about 437 days without returning to Earth. Guinness records this as the longest single spaceflight.
- The total time from several separate space trips
- The distance traveled during one space trip
- The time spent in space during one continuous trip
Pay attention to “single” and “without returning.”
Show solution
- The time spent in space during one continuous trip
Several shorter trips do not count as one continuous stay, even if their combined time is longer. Source: Guinness World Records.
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15. 选择正确答案。
Why can either mountain be described as taller, depending on the measurement?
Everest has the highest summit above sea level. However, Hawaii's Mauna Kea begins deep underwater. Measured from its base on the ocean floor to its summit, Mauna Kea is taller than Everest.
- The measurements use different starting points.
- Changing from meters to feet changes which mountain is taller.
- Everest's height is measured only when it has snow.
Compare “above sea level” with “from its base.”
Show solution
- The measurements use different starting points.
Sea level is a shared starting point, but a mountain's base may lie far below it. Sources: Guinness World Records; NOAA.