The Rickshaw (人力车) Run is one of the world’s most unusual races. It lasts for two weeks and takes place in India. Each team has one rickshaw and one to four drivers. The rickshaw has to transport light loads (货物) in short distance, which makes the event such a challenge.

The race takes place twice a year: once in summer and once in winter. The route (路线) is different, but the length is always about 2,500 kilometers long. The race is a lot of fun, but it also has a task for all participants (参赛者). They should raise at least 1,000 pounds for charity.

The first race took place in 2006 with 34 teams. Since then, the Rickshaw Run has become famous around the world. A few days before the race, if participants don’t know how to drive a rickshaw, they will receive a crash course to make sure they can control it during the race. They can also use the pre-race time to decorate their rickshaws and ask any last-minute question.

“The adventure really starts when things go wrong,” said one participant. “The wind blew a hole in our rickshaw, but I saw the most beautiful town in India!” said another. Just as the organizers say on their website, “There’s no set route, and you don’t know if you’re going to make it. The only certainty is that you will get lost, you will get stuck and you will break down.”

Are you ready for some real adventures?

Once there was a deer in a forest. The deer thought that he was the fastest runner. One day, a rabbit asked the deer, “Do you think you can race with me?”

“Why not?” the deer angrily answered. “I am the greatest runner on earth.”

On that race day, every animal came to watch the race. The elephant was the judge (裁判). The deer and the rabbit got ready at the starting line. “Go!” the elephant shouted.

In the beginning, the deer was ahead of the rabbit. But soon, because there were too many small trees, the deer’s horns (角) knocked into the trees. It made him slow down. Finally, the rabbit won the race. The deer felt embarrassed and sad. He bowed his head and had nothing to say.

The rabbit came to the deer, “Actually, you run much faster than me. But it’s only because of the environment that I beat you.”

The elephant said, “Let this be a lesson to you. Always be humble (谦虚的) and learn from others in the future. Everyone has his own weakness. Nobody can always win.”

First traffic light

20 October 1923—People in the US first use a traffic light. I is a little different form today’s traffic light. I has only two parts. One says “GO” and the other says “STOP”.   When people see “GO”, they can cross the road.

Football rules

26 October 1863—It is the birthday of today’s football. The FA is the oldest football group in the world. It starts in London on that day. The FA makes the rules for football matches. Before that, there are no rules. People play football in their own ways.

Safe crossing

31 October 1951—People first walk on a zebra crossing (斑马线) in the UK. A zebra crossing is black and white. People can see it easily. People walk on a zebra crossing when they want to cross the road. This can keep them safe from cars.