【明報專訊】Luciano Baietti, a 70-year-old Italian man, holds the world record of having the most university degrees. He has fifteen Bachelor's and Master's degrees from universities across Italy.
Baietti pulls out his books and starts studying every morning at 3 am. "Thanks to books I feel free," he said. He got most of the qualifications under his belt while he did his day job and volunteered with Italy's Red Cross.
Once headmaster of a secondary school, Baietti obtained in 1972 his first degree (in physical education). He then fell in love with the academic world. He made it into the Guinness Book of World Records in 2002 with his eighth degree. By then he had earned degrees in sociology, literature, law, political science and philosophy. He has since got seven more, including those in criminology and military strategies. The last he got is one in tourism from an online university in Naples.
"Each time I set myself a new challenge to see how far my body and my brain can go," said Baietti, who is soon to embark on a degree in food science.
(sources: Ming Pao, AFP)
■Photo Story
Baietti's passion for studying is evident from his certificates hung on the wall of his house.
■English highway﹕
have something
under one's belt
If you have something useful or important under your belt, you have achieved it.
e.g. She had worked hard to prepare herself for the exam and got three distinctions under her belt.
■Quiz
Answer the following questions.
(Answers on next text)
1. Is the following sentence true or false?
Baietti has no plan to do his sixteenth degree. (True / False)
2. What is Baietti's first degree in?
_____________________________________________
3. Fill in the blank with a word from the second paragraph.
He ___________ to design the logo for the new company.
4. Which of the following is NOT the subject area of any of Baietti's degrees?
a. literature
b. food science
c. tourism
d. philosophy
■Glossary
Bachelor (n) 學士
qualification (n) 資格
obtain (v) 取得
criminology (n) 犯罪學
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