Question

What do hardboiled eggs, invisible instruments, and cheese wheels have in common? They bring people together. Check out these three offbeat competitions from around the globe.

Jarping Is a Real Crack-Up

Competitors line up for battle in Peterlee, England, sporting their weapons—hardboiled eggs. The winner will be declared the world champion of jarping.

Jarping is a simple game—competitors face off one on one and tap their eggs together until one of them cracks. If an egg breaks, its owner is eliminated. The egg-citement continues until only one uncracked egg remains, and a victor is crowned.

Playing for Peace

All bad things will disappear if everyone in the world plays air guitar. That's the motto of the Air Guitar World Championships, held in Oulu, Finland.

No expensive instrument or musical expertise is required. Hopeful performers just need to be ready to rock, the competition's website says.

That's not to say there aren't any rules on the way to becoming the air guitar champion of the world. The competition is strict, with a scoring system like that of figure skating.

At the end of the showdown, everyone plays their air guitars at the same time. The site proclaims they do it "to save the world," because no one can do harm when they're busy strumming.

It's Not Easy Being Cheesy

Chasing cheese is a centuries-old tradition in Gloucester, England, and it's an extreme sport. The event, known as cheese rolling, starts atop a hill with a crowd of runners gathered behind an 8-pound (3.6-kilogram) wheel of cheese—then, the official countdown begins.

"One to be ready," the master of ceremonies shouts. "Two to be steady. Three to prepare." The cheese wheel is launched, giving it a one-second head start before the signal to chase it comes: "And four to be off!"

The first racer to cross the finish line wins the giant wheel of cheese, but it's no easy feat. The downhill course is steep, slippery, and uneven. And then there's the peril of the cheese wheel reaching speeds up to 70 miles (112.7 kilometers) per hour. Injuries are common from tumbles on the course. But that doesn't stop serious competitors from returning year after year to dash for the dairy.

Question 2


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Which is the closest synonym for the word feat, as it is used in the article?


disagreement
partnership
achievement
relationship

Answer 1

achievement — in this context "feat" means an impressive or difficult accomplishment.