Little could people imagine a seventy-year-old man rowing a boat unassisted across a seemingly endless stretch of ocean. Frank Rothwell from Oldham of the United Kingdom did it and even became the oldest adventurer to sail solo across the 3000-mile Atlantic Ocean, setting a new world record in early February this year. Mr. Rothwell   21   on this daunting journey from Canary Island on December 12, crossing the finish line at Antigua in the Caribbean, where dozens of mega superyachts hooted their horns for him. Achieving this   22   task, Mr. Rothwell said he was feeling “euphoric.” It’s truly remarkable that in contrast to most elderly people who adamantly resist strenuous challenges, Mr. Rothwell has   23   embraced opportunities to push limits both physically and mentally. 

       Mr. Rothwell came fourth among the eight solo boats that took part in the Talisker Whisky Atlantic Challenge. Most participants   24   between rowing and sleeping every two hours. Mr. Rothwell, on the other hand,   25   started a day on the ocean with his 1.5-hour morning ritual—brushing his teeth, using his tablet, eating his breakfast and phoning his family. Then, Mr. Rothwell managed to row in two or three-hour stints, with 10 or 20-minute breaks in between for rests and meals. He kept rowing until it was completely dark. In addition, to guarantee that his boat proceeded at a faster speed, he needed to jump into the sea every week or so, wearing a safety belt   26   to his boat, to scrape barnacles off the bottom.

        This extraordinary   27   has also raised more than £720,000 for dementia research with Alzheimer’s Research UK. Mr. Rothwell said that the money was raised for Alzheimer’s research in   28   to his brother-in-law Roger Wheeldon, who died of the disease at the age of 62. He received numerous messages from people who had had similar   29   experiences. “I hope I’ve helped other families in some way too,” Mr. Rothwell added. After the rowing competition, Mr. Rothwell announced his next challenge—building a six-ton steam traction engine from scratch in his own garage, at which his wife was   30   with delight because she thought it would keep her husband anchored at home for quite a while. 

(AB) alternated (AC) attached (AD) bursting (AE) embarked (BC) grievous (BD) typically (BE) tribute (CD) undertaking (CE) unprecedented (DE) wholeheartedly