News First-Super moon!

Did you see the super moon? The night sky was lit up by a ‘super moon’ last Sunday (6 May). The moon looked bigger and brighter than usual as it was at its closest to Earth. The distance from the Earth to the moon varies, but it is usually around 384,000 km. Last weekend, the moon was just 356,000km away from Earth. When this happens, it is known as a perigee full moon. At these times, the moon can appear to be 14% bigger and 30% brighter than when it is furthest away from Earth. Dr Robert Massey from The Royal Astronomical Society says that the perigee full moon has a big effect on the tides: “When the moon is closest to the Earth and full or new, you get an increase in the tidal pull in the ocean because the gravity of the moon and the sun line up.” Some people believe that full moons (and especially perigee full moons!) have other effects, such as making people behave strangely, or even causing natural disasters. The super moon could be seen across the world. In Britain’s skies, it was at its biggest and brightest at around 4.30am last Sunday, 6 May. Questions 1)When was the sky lit up by a super moon? 2)How did the moon look? Why? 3)Is the moon distance from Earth always the same? 4)How far away from the Earth was the moon last weekend? 5)What is the moon known as when it is so close to the Earth? 6)Who said that the perigee moon has a big effect on the tides? 7)Why do we get an increase in the tidal pull of the ocean? 8)What do some people believe about full moons? 9)Could the super moon be seen in Japan?Did you see it? 10)When was the moon at its biggest in Britain's skies?

500 elephants killed in two months

500 elephants killed in two months
Poachers have killed nearly 500 elephants in just two months in a national park in Africa.
Nearly 500 elephants have been killed by poachers in the Bouba Ndjida National Park in northern Cameroon, near the border with Chad.
Nearly 500 elephants have been killed in a Cameroon national park in less than two months by poachers from Sudan and Chad, a park official told.
"As of today we estimate that 480 elephants have been slaughtered in our park," said park keeper Mathieu Fometa.
"These figures may be an underestimate because the park covers 220,000 hectares and it isn’t easy to travel to get accurate information."
The elephants were killed for their meat and for their tusks which are sold as ivory.
Park keepers are worried because they have spotted lots of baby elephants who have been orphaned by the poachers. If they are not spotted in time many will die from hunger or thirst.

Taking off your Shoes

I had always heard that people in the U.S.don't
take off their shoes when they go into their homes.
So,when I went to Chicago last spring,I didn't
take off my shoes at my host family's house.I just
walked in.I was really surprised when my host
father asked me to take off my shoes!In their
home,everyone takes off their shoes when they
enter the house.Some of my classmates said that
their host families also took off their shoes at the
door.Other classmates said that their host families
usually left their shoes on.But,when it was
raining or snowing,they always took them off.
They didn't want to clean the floor afterwards!
It just watch to see what other people do when they
go into a house.If I should take my shoes off.That's
the easiest way-just ask if you're not sure.

Powered By The Sun

The Sun sends huge amounts of energy to Earth.This solar energy
can be used to heat things,or to make electricity-without making
pollution.The Sun will still be shining long after the last coal
and oil have been mined.
The rows of solar panels on the roof of the house in the picture
turn the Sun's energy into electricity.This energy can be stored in
batteries.It can also travel along power lines into the electricity
system.
Solar water heaters absorb the Sun's energy to heat water.
This hot water is stored in a tank,which can be seen above the
two heating panels.

1.What does the sun send to Earth?
2.What can this solar energy be used for?
3.Does solar energy make pollution.
4.How long will the Sun be shining?
5.What is on the roof of the house in the picture?
6.What do the solar panels do?
7.How can the energy be stored?
8.What do solar water heaters do?
9.Where is the hot water stored?
10.Does your mansion/house have any solar panels?

Earthquake Rescuers

When the ground stops shaking after an earthquake,rescue workers
are quick to arrive.Sirens sound and helicopters hover overhead.
Rescuers search buildings and dig through the rubble.They listen
everywhere for sounds of life.They must work quickly to find
trapped survivors on or buried under the ground.
Earthquakes often destroy roads.Helicopters provide the only
means of carrying injured survivors to hospital.
Rescuers have a difficult and dangerous job.Cut power lines can
cause fires and broken gas pipes can release deadly fumes.The
mixture of gas and fires often causes sudden explosions.

Venezuela

Venezuela was one of three countries that emerged from the collapse of Gran Colombia in 1830 (the others being Ecuador and New Granada, which became Colombia). For most of the first half of the 20th century, Venezuela was ruled by generally benevolent military strongmen, who promoted the oil industry and allowed for some social reforms. Democratically elected governments have held sway since 1959. Hugo CHAVEZ, president since 1999, has promoted a controversial policy of "democratic socialism," which purports to alleviate social ills while at the same time attacking globalization and undermining regional stability. Current concerns include: a weakening of democratic institutions, political polarization, a politicized military, drug-related violence along the Colombian border, increasing internal drug consumption, overdependence on the petroleum industry with its price fluctuations, and irresponsible mining operations that are endangering the rain forest and indigenous peoples.

Location
Northern South America, bordering the Caribbean Sea and the North Atlantic Ocean, between Colombia and Guyana
Geographic coordinates
8 00 N, 66 00 W
Map references
South America
Area

total
912,050 sq km
land
882,050 sq km
water
30,000 sq km

Area - comparative
slightly more than twice the size of California
Land boundaries

total
4,993 km
border countries
Brazil 2,200 km, Colombia 2,050 km, Guyana 743 km

Coastline
2,800 km
Maritime claims

territorial sea
12 nm
contiguous zone
15 nm
exclusive economic zone
200 nm
continental shelf
200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation

Climate
tropical; hot, humid; more moderate in highlands
Terrain
Andes Mountains and Maracaibo Lowlands in northwest; central plains (llanos); Guiana Highlands in southeast
Elevation extremes

lowest point
Caribbean Sea 0 m
highest point
Pico Bolivar (La Columna) 5,007 m

Natural resources
petroleum, natural gas, iron ore, gold, bauxite, other minerals, hydropower, diamonds

Sailing West

In 1492,Christopher Columbus set said from Spain.He commanded
a fleet of three ships.They sailed west across the Atlantic Ocean.
After two months at sea,there was great excitement when a sailor
saw land.The fleet of ships had reached islands in the Caribbean
Sea.Columbus thought they were in Asia and named these islands
the West Indies.
The Santa Maria was the ship in which Columbus sailed from Spain.
It was wrecked among the islands of the Caribbean.
In 1498,Columbus reached mainland South America on his third
voyage west.His ships explored the Orinoco River in the country
that is now called Venezuela.

1. When did Christopher Columbus set sail from Spain?
2. How many ships did he command?
3. Which direction did they sail?
4. What caused great excitement on the ship?
5. What islands had they reached?
6. Where did Columbus think he was? Was he correct?
7. What was the name of Columbus's ship?
8. What happened to the Santa Maria?
9. What does wrecked mean?
10. When did Columbus reach mainland South America?
11. Did Columbus find South America of his first voyage west?
12. Where did his ships explore?