Name Monday, March 26

Martyr Available, Inquire Within

By Brenda B. Covert Augustus Glance stood for some time at the stone facade, staring in astonishment at the sign on the rough-hewn door. Ambling along the cobblestone streets, he had been attempting to familiarize himself with this strange town to which his travels had drawn him, when suddenly that sign stopped him. Such an oddity Augustus had never seen! Why would one advertise oneself as a martyr? Surely the word's connotation hinted at frightening torture and unspeakable death. It conjured up thoughts of the Coliseum, where they fed hapless victims to the lions for the amusement of the emperor and a horde of bloodthirsty Romans. Martyr Available, Inquire Within. Was this an occupation, or merely an avocation? Augustus pondered these things as he stood outside the door in protracted silence. He felt a sudden movement at his side. Looking down, Augustus was immediately alarmed. His arm was rising of its own volition! His hand became a fist as he watched. He trembled at the thought of the secrets hidden beyond that door. This was not an establishment that he would choose to patronize. Yet, the sequence continued. His knuckles rapped soundly on the door, almost demandingly. However, any pain Augustus might have felt was obliterated by his fear of the unknown. The heavy door was pushed open to reveal a hairy, stooped man. His appearance struck Augustus as zany. Would a hermit put a sign on his door? Didn't they normally live in isolated mountains, away from humanity? This unexpected encounter brought a query to Augustus' lips that he quickly squelched as he noticed the large bowl in the man's hands. "I'm sorry," Augustus stammered. "I fear I have disrupted your daily ablutions." "What is life, if not one long series of disruptions?" the hairy man responded. "Come in." If he smiled, it was concealed beneath the facial hair. Nevertheless, his clear gray eyes had kindness in them.

"I would not choose to inconvenience you," Augustus responded politely. "I can return later." In truth, he had half-expected the martyr of the sign to be inaccessible. To knock merely for curiosity's sake was an inexcusable blunder. What an ordeal this was becoming! How could he extricate himself from this predicament without being forced to divulge his lack of purpose? What mental gymnastics would it take to improvise an acceptable escape? "You are my guest," the hermit-martyr person said firmly, stepping aside to allow Augustus to enter. Augustus looked down at his feet. They were crossing the threshold without his permission. Though the hairy man's manner was not overbearing, Augustus' body moved quickly to obey. He had to reconcile himself to the fact that he was being drawn into a mystery against his will. The two men entered a sparsely-furnished room where sunlight streamed dimly through one large window. There was a rough-hewn bench against the wall, a sturdy table, and a few chairs. An old broom stood in the shadows of one corner. Augustus saw all this as he sat down and stretched his aching legs before him. "Now tell me, how can I be of service?" Judging by the crimson sash worn around his waist, the man was probably not a hermit after all. Augustus searched his mind for a way to make a smooth transition from polite introductions to the burning question. He didn't want to seem gauche. "Are you truly a martyr?" Augustus blurted out. "They call me Lucian the Wise," the man responded without answering the question. As the host of an uninvited guest, it was certainly his prerogative to ignore awkward questions. That didn't stop the anxiety from rising in Augustus, however. "I have to know!" Augustus implored, sweat breaking out on his brow. Lucian tilted his head and studied Augustus for a few moments. "What is your passion?" he asked. "Wh-what?" Consternation was evident on Augustus' face. "For what cause are you willing to die?"

Name Monday, March 26

2. Why was Augustus drawn to the rough-hewn door? A. He wanted to know the meaning of the sign. B. He was looking for a few good martyrs. C. It pulled him like iron to a magnet. D. He was hoping to find a job there. 3. What is another word for the term avocation? A. technical skills B. Hobby C. personal opinion D. Vacation 4. What did August apologize for interrupting? A. The man's bath. B. The man's soup-making. C. The man's dinner. D. The man's laundry. 5. Choose the best line to end this story. A. He had no right to ask others to fight for a cause he did not passionately believe in himself. B. He wished with all his heart that he were back at home. C. It was time to think about another line of work, perhaps carpentry or blacksmithing. D. If Lucian would give him something to eat, he'd soon be on his way. 6. Lucian the Wise did not say whether he was a martyr. Why not?

Lucian's question came out quietly, yet Augustus felt it pierce his heart as an arrow. He stood to defend himself. "I have no tendencies toward martyrdom, if that is what you are suggesting," he said angrily. "Then what right have you to ask another man to do what you are unwilling to do yourself?" Lucian asked reasonably. "I do no such thing!" At first Augustus' face flamed red, but the color quickly drained away. His countenance paled as he understood the truth in Lucian's statement. He should never have come. This changed everything. Augustus Glance had come to this town to enlist men in his High Lord Faustus' army. Those men would risk their lives to put their leader on the throne. And while Augustus was paid well for his efforts, he lacked the conviction in the high lord's right to the kingdom. His intention had been to avoid all skirmishes, surviving unscathed to enjoy future rewards at the hand of the high lord. The heart that beat within his chest was not a martyr's heart. Martyr Available, Inquire Within

Questions
1. What clues lead you to the conclusion that this story is not set in present time?

Name Monday, March 26 7. What is the message of this story?

Name Monday, March 26

The Age of Computers Begins

By Jane Runyon People have always needed math skills. Archeologists have found evidence of the need for these skills as far back as 30,000 B.C. to 20,000 B. C. Bones that old have been discovered with notches carved into them that were used for counting. Early sheepherders developed their own way of computing information. The shepherd would drop a stone into a basket for each sheep as it left the pen in the morning. The shepherd would take the sheep into grassy meadows to graze during the day. When he returned home in the evening, he would take a stone out of the basket as each sheep reentered the pen. If there were any stones left in the basket when all sheep he had were in the pen, he knew he had lost some of his sheep. He would have to go back to the meadow to search for them. Early Egyptians devised their own signs to denote certain numbers or groups of numbers. Sea merchants used these symbols to keep track of the cargos they delivered throughout the Mediterranean Sea area. They might use tally marks to show individual items and a rope to show eight of those items. They might use a snake to represent six groups of eight. As the need for addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division grew, so did the need for better ways to correctly complete these operations. Different types of computing machines have been invented for centuries. Somewhere between 1000 B.C and 500 B.C. the abacus was invented. The Chinese version of the abacus was highly successful and is still in use today. This series of beads on columns of wires can be used quickly and with accuracy. Some abacus experts can find the answers to complicated math problems quicker than those using calculators and computers.

The invention of the slide rule in 1621 allowed mathematicians to do basic math operations and more advanced problems with an instrument not much bigger than a ruler. Engineers working on the Apollo space program made many of their calculations using slide rules. The invention of desktop calculators was a boon to businesses. Companies that needed quick and accurate work with numbers were fast to accept the use of calculators that could stay at the worker's desk. Some companies had rooms filled with people doing complicated mathematical calculations on these new machines. The people doing the work were called computers. They got this name because they were computing numbers into usable information. As early as 1801, machines were invented that used punch cards to run other machinery. The first of these machines were used in textile factories to make sure the weaving machines continued to put the right threads in place to create patterns. By 1890, the US government used this same type of punch card machine to keep track of the population count called the census. IBM used this same punch card system to create their own data processing computers in the late 1940s and early 1950s. The 1940s saw the dawn of the digital computer. These are the computers that have opened the gates to modern technology. Work was in process before World War II for electronic circuits, relays, and tubes that would replace the older, slower analog computers. World War II speeded up the process. Scientists saw the need for quicker, more reliable forms of processing information. The first general use electro-mechanical computer was called ENIAC. It was begun in 1941 and was completed in 1945. When it was in full use, it could perform thousands of operations per second. Unfortunately, the parts burned out often. The ENIAC spent a lot of time being repaired. The first totally electronic computer was designed and built by the British during World War II. They called it Colossus. One of its primary jobs was to break codes used by the Nazis. The time was right. The scientists and mathematicians were ready. The 1940s provided what was needed for the computer. No one at that time could have imagined that computers would become a part of everyday life for almost every citizen. People have computers in their homes. They pay their bills by computer. They order toys and clothes on the computer. They go to the grocery store and the cash register is a computer. Library cards are computerized. Architects design

Name Monday, March 26 buildings on a computer. It would be hard to find any segment of life today that is not touched by a computer in some way. Although people have been computing for thousands of years, it was in the 1940s that the age of computers really began. The Age of Computers Begins

5. What was the main purpose of the first British computer? A. to calculate war pay B. to plan transportation of troops C. to break Nazi codes D. to map battle plans 6. What proof do scientists have that people counted tens of thousands of years ago? A. coins B. bones with notches cut in them C. cave drawings D. baskets with stones 7. Which type of computer is faster? A. analog B. digital

Questions
1. Egyptians invented the first computer. A. false B. true 2. What kinds of cards were used to control the pattern in textile factories? A. playing cards B. punch cards C. factory cards D. slide rule cards 3. What is it called when a population is counted? A. a calculation B. a math problem C. a computer D. a census 4. How could desktop calculators make business better?

Name Tuesday, March 27

The Munich Massacre

By Brenda B. Covert It was an unforgettable Olympics. It wasn't because American swimmer Mark Spitz won gold medals in all seven events in which he competed, setting a new world record. Nor was it because of Russian gymnast Olga Korbut's gold medal performances for the balance beam and floor exercise. What made the 1972 Olympics in Munich, Germany, unforgettable? It was terrorism. Early in the morning of September 5, eight Arab terrorists wearing ski masks burst into an apartment in the Olympic Village. An Israeli coach and weightlifter were immediately killed. Nine other Israeli athletes and coaches were taken hostage. Within 24 hours, the nine hostages were dead. So were five terrorists and one German policeman. The immediate reaction was to suspend the Olympic Games for 24 hours and hold a mass for the victims in the main stadium. The Olympic and national flags were flown at half-mast. The tragedy was called "the Munich Massacre." What had the Israeli athletes done to deserve murder? Nothing. Terrorists use violence to reach their goals, and innocent people are often their victims. In this case, the goal was to gain the release of 234 Arab prisoners in Israeli jails and two German terrorist leaders in a German jail. The terrorists called themselves "Black September." They acted on orders from Yasser [sometimes spelled "Yasir"] Arafat, leader of the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO), an organization that resorted to violence to attain their goals. Though some thought the Games should be canceled, the IOC (International Olympic Committee) President, Avery Brundage, announced, "The Games must go on!"

Ankie Spitzer was the wife of Israeli fencing coach Andre Spitzer, one of the nine hostages who were murdered. She traveled to Munich the day after the massacre. "Somebody has to pay a price," she said, "because it cannot be that people can terrorize other people and kill them." Three of the terrorists had been captured alive and were being held in Germany. Incredibly, they were released less than two months later when Arab terrorists hijacked a jet and demanded their release in exchange for the safety of the people aboard the flight! Those three terrorists weren't the only men involved in the plot. There were other members of Black September, including the mastermind behind the whole thing. That leader turned out to be Abu Daoud. He admitted his role in the autobiography published in 1999. It was called, Memoirs of a Palestinian Terrorist, and it won the Palestine Prize for Culture. Before the release of his book, it was believed that another Palestinian - known as "The Red Prince" - was behind the massacre. He was the protg of Arafat and was involved in terrorist activities. Israel quickly began extracting their price for the massacre of their Olympic athletes. Israel's Prime Minister, Golda Meir, preferred to bring the terrorists to trial, but that was unlikely to happen. She said, "We have no choice but to strike at the terrorist organizations wherever we can reach them. That is our obligation to ourselves and to peace." The Mossad was called in. Like America's CIA, Israel's Mossad was responsible for intelligence collection, covert action, and counter terrorism. The Mossad asked for and was given permission to target and assassinate terrorists. The first assassination was carried out on October 16, 1972, just six weeks after the Munich Massacre. The widowed Ankie Spitzer received an anonymous call. She was told to watch the morning news, so she did. There she learned of the first terrorist to be taken out. Her husband's death was being avenged. From 1972 to 1979, the Mossad continued to hunt down known Palestinian terrorists. One by one, they were picked off. By some accounts, the Mossad eliminated all the terrorists. However, in Vengeance: The True Story of an Israeli Counter-Terrorist Team, George Jonas asserts that the Mossad certainly took out eight of the eleven targeted terrorists, while one died of natural causes. The remaining two were indeed assassinated, but perhaps not by Israeli agents. The man now known to be the mastermind, Abu Daoud, was

Name Tuesday, March 27 not targeted and is still alive today. Because of the 1972 attack on Olympic participants, security has been tightened for all subsequent Games. The Olympic Games are meant to promote peace among the nations of the world. Terrorists shattered that peace once. Now the goal is to prevent such a tragedy from ever happening again. The Munich Massacre

5. What country released the three captured terrorists? A. Israel B. America C. Germany D. Palestine 6. What was "Black September"? A. the name of Yasser Arafat's secret agent B. the name Golda Meir's top secret agent C. the name of the terrorist group D. the name given to the Olympic tragedy 7. Who experienced personal loss in the Munich Massacre? A. Avery Brundage B. Golda Meir C. Ankie Spitzer D. Abu Daoud 8. What is the most likely reason that the Games weren't canceled? A. no one wanted to show weakness in the face of terrorism. B. the death of Israeli athletes wasn't considered that important. C. the Olympic Committee didn't want to disappoint remaining athletes. D. Many people had already paid for tickets to the events. 9. How was the mastermind behind the massacre discovered?

Questions
1. What was the purpose of the Munich Massacre? A. to terrorize the world B. to disrupt the Olympics C. to punish Israel D. to gain freedom for prisoners 2. Why would terrorists strike during the Olympic Games? A. that's where the enemy was located B. to show their contempt for the Olympics C. to get the most attention for their cause D. to avoid media coverage 3. The first action after the massacre was: A. the widow of one of the victims arrived. B. the Games were suspended for a day. C. the Arab prisoners were released. D. The Mossad went after the terrorists. 4. Because terrorists killed eleven Israelis: A. Avery Brundage refused to call off the Olympics. B. Israel tracked down and killed the terrorists. C. the Israeli government gave in to demands. D. the terrorists wore ski masks.

10. What is the Mossad?

Name Tuesday, March 27

Date

Transport Yourself Into the Future

Written by Joyce Furstenau

In 1968, a report was given to President Lyndon B. Johnson concerning ways to improve transportation in American cities. The report included several different proposals. First on the list of ideas was a proposal for a "Dial-a-bus." The Dial-a-bus concept suggested a door-to-door bus in which passengers would share the cost of the ride to their destination. The idea was that people would be able to phone in a request and catch a ride with others who might be on the same route. Perhaps the present day Dial-a-Ride was an outcome of this suggestion. Dial-a-Ride is a transportation service available in larger communities for different purposes. Many times it is used by senior citizens or by the disabled. It continues to be similar to a taxi service, however, the vehicles are generally equipped to handle wheelchairs as well as mobile passengers. Another suggestion was called a "personal rapid-transit system." This proposal included both bus-sized vehicles as well as smaller units that ran on a rail system. The proposal called for a "guideway network" that used a programmable electric engine to guide the vehicle to its destination by using an electric railway. A third suggestion was called a "dual-mode vehicle." This was a vehicle that could be converted from traveling on the street to traveling on the guideway network system. It was an electric vehicle that used a third rail for power. Nearly all the suggestions involved a complete renovation of streets and roads to a type of rail system that would be used for both power and to transport these vehicles. Some of these ideas appear to have been developed in several cities. The monorail in Seattle or the BART in the Bay Area near San Francisco are both operated on a network system. But there are a few drawbacks to these systems. For example, no other vehicle can use the monorail system. It is also difficult for passengers to exit subways or monorails in an emergency. Like the engineers back in 1968, imagine a transportation system that might solve some of the transportation problems we are facing today. Rising gasoline prices, congested freeways, and limited parking spaces are just a few. If you were to become a U.S. Transportation Secretary of the future, what would you do?

Name Tuesday, March 27

Date
Transport Yourself Into the Future

How would you react? 1. What was the purpose of the report given to President Johnson described in this selection?

2. Why do you think transportation is an important issue in our country?

3. Why do you think the "Dial-a-bus" concept was a good/bad suggestion?

4. What are some problems you believe we will face in the future of transportation?

5. Are monorail or subway systems promising solutions to our growing transportation problems? Explain your answer.

Name Tuesday, March 27

Date
Transport Yourself Into the Future

6. A few dreamers have suggested the possibility of flying cars. What problems do you see with this type of transportation?

7. Why do you think rails instead of paved roadways were suggested as a solution to future types of transportation?

8. What is your major form of transportation?

Name Tuesday, March 27

Date
Transport Yourself Into the Future

What is your family's major form of transportation? Do you use public transportation (buses, subway or rail) whenever you can? If not, why not? Why do you think many people do not make use of public transportation? How do you think carpooling could reduce the cost of transportation? If carpooling reduces smog and the cost of transportation, why is it so hard to get people to carpool?

Name Tuesday, March 27

Date
Transport Yourself Into the Future

Imagine what the world will be like fifty to one hundred years from now. Will there be many changes or will it be much the same as it is now? Will there still be cars? What other vehicles will be used for daily transportation? What role will computers play? How will most people get from one place another? What type of fuel will power these vehicles? What will power them? What kind of roads will exist? What will they look like?

Name Tuesday, March 27

Andr held back. Willow reached for his hand. "Come on. It'll be fun!" she said. Andr sighed at her display of spontaneity. He would have preferred to discuss the pros and cons of mounting a ride built for little kids. He fantasized about gripping Stoney by the scruff of his little neck and shaking the pudding out of him. How dare he drag a couple of teenagers on a baby ride? They were shown to a giant pink teddy bear. With a surreptitious glance at the surrounding crowd, Andr reluctantly climbed into the bear's tummy and sat down beside Willow. It was dark inside. Good. That made it less likely that his friends would spot him in there. The ride began by moving the bears slowly in a wide circle. Stoney strained at the turn wheel of their private bear. His little cheeks puffed and reddened, but the bear did not spin. He added a few grunts, but they didn't make a difference. Andr chuckled at the determined boy's attempts, but he had no intention of helping--that is, until he spotted Logan and Kyle, two friends of his, hanging out with a couple of slurpies. Daring to hope that a spinning bear would conceal his presence, Andr grasped the wheel with both hands and pulled. It began to turn. Motivated by the imminent threat of being caught on a kiddy ride, Andr forced the bear to spin at a supersonic rate of speed. Willow pleaded with him to stop, her voice growing weaker even as Stoney's voice took on a panicked tone. The lack of efficacy of Andr's plan was soon apparent. The wildly spinning bear attracted so much attention that, when the three dazed and green-faced passengers wobbled off, a crowd had gathered to watch them. Kyle and Logan laughed so hard they choked on their slurpies. The furor Andr felt at being the object of ridicule was nothing compared to the rage of Willow. "What's wrong with you?" she cried. "Are you trying to spoil Stoney's fun? You're lucky he didn't hurl all over both of us! You're lucky I didn't throw up everything I've eaten since last week!" For Andr to get back in Willow's good graces and supersede Stoney in her affections, he would have to change his tactics. Heretofore he

Carnival Daze
By Brenda B. Covert Andr eyed the flotilla of ducks bobbing toward him and grimaced. What had made him volunteer to take Willow and Stoney to the Clearmoon Carnival? It might have been entertaining had it just been Andr and Willow. But with Stoney in tow, Andr had a legitimate excuse for succumbing to the doldrums. Willow's baby brother was a super-sized pain. It was on that basis alone that Andr made a snap decision never to have children. Under the indolent gaze of the bored game attendant, Stoney snatched up three of the plastic yellow ducklings. "So what do I win?" he demanded. The attendant showed Stoney a display of trinkets. In a moment's appraisal Andr realized that he could have bought two or more of each object at the five and dollar store for the price it cost to play the game. No wonder they bragged, "A winner every time!" Even when every consumer won, the game still made a big profit. Andr tried to talk to Willow about the games, but she refused to heed his warning. "Don't be such a pompous old man," she told him. "Stoney's having fun, and that's all that matters." Andr barely concealed his irritation as they continued to move along Game Row. He looked longingly at "The Scream Machine" in the distance. Now that was his idea of fun. Would Willow mind if he slipped away for one little ride? She shot him a look that told him not to try it. When Stoney wasn't wasting money on games with cheap prizes, the little glutton was wolfing down caramel apples, funnel cakes, and cotton candy. Andr hoped that the child would have the decency to wait until he was home before exploding. That was an experience Andr wished to avoid. Suddenly Stoney's gaze was captured by giant spinning bears. "Hey! Let's ride that!" he shouted. Without waiting for an answer, he raced toward the carnival ride.

Name Tuesday, March 27 had treated Stoney as a liability; from now on he would act as if the boy were an asset that enhanced Andr's carnival experience. "Stoney will be fine," Andr said placatingly. "Let Dr. Andr prescribe a little cure for the upset tummy." A giant soft pretzel and lemonade later, Stoney was back to normal. He wanted to play more games. Andr stopped complaining about wasting money. Instead he began to play games too. Soon Willow was burdened with two giant stuffed bears--trophies of Andr's athletic prowess. He tried to gauge his success in her eyes. She was still focused more on Stoney than on Andr. To fix that, Andr set his sights on a sterling silver necklace. He spent fifteen dollars playing the game until he finally won it. He presented it to Willow with a proud flourish. "I hope this doesn't have nickel in it," Willow said, hesitating to take it. "I'm allergic to nickel. I'll break out in a rash." Holding back a sigh, Andr finally convinced Willow to wear the necklace. Then the trio went into the house of glass, followed by the house of mirrors. Too many people had left fingerprints on the glass, but Andr kept that observation to himself. When the three of them came to "The Scream Machine," Andr convinced them that the day would not be complete unless they took a ride. The attendant buckled them in, and they were off. The ride moved slowly at first, but it picked up speed as it went up and down and round and round. The music was ear-splitting. The spinning force of the ride pinned Andr to the side of his car. He clung to the safety bar, feeling as if any moment he would be ripped from his seat. He wished he could turn and look at Willow and Stoney behind him, but it was impossible. Willow's screams verified her presence. At least she hadn't been flung out of the ride...yet. Andr held on for dear life and wished that the ride would end. It seemed to last forever. When it did slow down, Andr still had trouble releasing the safety bar. His hands were locked in a death grip

position. He had never been so happy to exit a ride in his life! His knees almost gave out! Stoney, though pale, was giggling as the trio walked away from "The Scream Machine." Almost hidden under Andr's stuffed animals, the little boy poked fun at Andr's effeminate reaction to the ride. His exact words were, "You screamed like a girl!" Andr was not amused. Willow slipped up beside Andr and slid an arm around his waist. "Are you okay?" she asked. "Do I need to get you anything? Do you want to sit down and rest for a while?" A slow smile spread across Andr's face. He had found the key to Willow's full attention. Now he would make the most of it. Carnival Daze

Questions
1. What action preceded this story? A. Willow felt concern for Andr. B. Stoney begged to go to the carnival. C. Stoney got sick and threw up. D. Andr agreed to take Willow and Stoney to the carnival. 2. Which of these words best describes Willow? A. witty B. glamorous C. gluttonous D. motherly 3. The word legitimate as used in paragraph one means: A. related to acted plays B. born of parents who are married to each other C. lawful D. reasonable 4. The author used exaggeration in which of these paragraphs? A. Paragraph 12 B. Paragraph 3 C. Paragraph 15 D. Paragraph 13

Name Tuesday, March 27 5. The word furor appears in paragraph 15 along with a synonym; which word is its synonym?

6. Which of these statements is not true? A. Stoney ate an unhealthy amount of junk food. B. The Scream Machine was scarier than Andr had imagined. C. Andr's plan to avoid detection on the bear ride was effective. D. Willow was allergic to nickel in jewelry. 7. This story implies that: A. Carnivals are for little kids. B. Willow and Andr have been dating a long time. C. Andr is an only child. D. Stoney is a spoiled brat. 8. How did this date likely end? A. The couple had a huge argument. B. Andr thanked Stoney for teaching him to play the games. C. Willow's mother served them a big dinner. D. Willow apologized after Stoney threw up in Andr's car.

make sure everything was all right. Name Tuesday, March 27 When Spencer checked the candy bar he kept in his pocket, he discovered that it had melted. The radar he had put through the magnetron had melted his candy bar! Being a curious inventor, he decided to experiment a little more. He put some popcorn kernels near the tube he was working on. He decided to back up a little from the experiment. It was just in time. The kernels began to sputter and explode all over the room. The next day, Spencer decided to try another experiment. He called one of his fellow workers in to witness this experiment. Spencer put a raw egg next to the magnetron tube and turned on the energy. The two scientists watched the egg start to shake. The colleague decided to take a closer look at what was happening. His timing was perfect. He looked over the egg just as it exploded. He ended up with partially cooked egg all over his face. Spencer and his company realized they had a potentially important invention on their hands. They applied for a patent on October 8, 1945. The Raytheon Corporation produced its first microwave oven in 1947. A contest was held among company employees to name the first oven. The winning name was the Radarange. The first microwave oven was a little on the large side. It was almost six feet tall and weighed 750 pounds. A restaurant was the first customer for the microwave. It cost about $5000. It was too big and too pricey for home use. It also produced about three times as much energy as microwaves today produce. Over the years, changes were made to the design of the microwave oven. By 1954, ovens for use in restaurants cost about $2000 to $3000. A smaller home unit was produced in 1955. It sold for about $1295. Not many people could afford that kind of money for a home appliance. The first model to become popular for home use came out in 1967. It was a countertop model that sold for about $495. Today you can find microwave ovens in any size, any price range, and almost any color. It has been calculated that 90% of the population of the United States has microwave ovens in their homes. Microwaves are used for more than cooking food today. Factories use commercial ovens to dry potato chips, roast coffee beans and peanuts, dry cork, ceramics, paper, and flowers. It seems that microwave ovens have become a necessary appliance in both homes and factories. It makes you wonder what would have happened if Percy Spencer hadn't carried a candy bar in his pocket. Would we all still be making

How Do You Make Your Popcorn?

By Jane Runyon My grandmother used to make popcorn for me when I visited her. She would take out a heavy cooking pan. She would put bacon grease in the bottom of the pan. Then she would put about a quarter cup of popcorn kernels into the pan. She'd add a little salt, put a lid on the pan, and put it on the old stove. When she heard the first kernels begin to pop, she would take the pan off the stove and shake it. Back onto the heat the pan would go. Soon the popping became quicker and louder. Before long, the puffed up kernels were pushing the lid off the pan. We would sit on the old front porch swing, watch lightning bugs, and eat our popcorn. My mother made popcorn in a more modern way. Her popcorn pan had a crank built into the lid. She would put oil, popcorn, and salt into her pan. Instead of shaking the pan, she would just turn the crank to move the popping kernels around. The popcorn was still good. I still liked curling up on the couch with my mom and dad to enjoy this warm, buttery treat. My children must feel neglected. Their mother just puts a bag of prepackaged corn into the microwave oven. Two minutes later, they have the popcorn, fresh out of the bag. They can thank a man named Percy Spencer for that. He is credited with the invention of the microwave oven, and he wasn't even trying. Microwave energy is formed when electric current flows through a conductor. This energy is a natural thing just like sunlight or sound waves. Percy Spencer was an engineer working for the Raytheon Corporation. Spencer had never finished high school, yet he was able to teach himself about energy sources. He held 120 patents for inventions he had created in his work in the early 1940s. One day he was working on something called a magnetron. He became aware of a strange tingling going through his body. He checked his pockets to

Name Tuesday, March 27 popcorn in an old pan? How do you make your popcorn? How Do You Make Your Popcorn?

5. Why did it take almost twenty years from the invention of the microwave oven until the time it became popular in American homes?

Questions
1. The invention of the microwave oven was an accident. A. false B. true 2. What was Percy Spencer working on when he invented the microwave oven? A. a Raytheon B. a magnetron C. a radar gun D. a magnetic field 3. What was the first item cooked on purpose by microwaves? A. popcorn B. a candy bar C. water D. an egg 4. What is microwave energy?

6. What was the first commercial microwave oven named? A. the Raytheon B. the Microwave Miracle C. the Radarange D. the Spencer Oven 7. How much formal education did Percy Spencer have? A. He was a high school graduate. B. He didn't finish high school. C. He had a master's degree. D. He had a college degree. 8. What is a microwave oven NOT used for today? A. roasting nuts B. drying potato chips C. drying flowers D. sterilize baby bottles

Name Wednesday, March 28

"Ready, set, go!" said his mom. She sprinkled the brown and orange fish flakes across the water as carefully as she sprinkled fresh pepper into her savory spaghetti sauce. The surface of the water was suddenly raging with fish, food, and bubbles in a frantic feeding frenzy. Michael dutifully started the watch as he daydreamed about how he might arrange his display. His mom knelt next to the tank and watched the frantic goldfish intently. She was always tossing her slightly frizzy, wayward hair away from her face with quick jerks. Her merry personality was evident in the crinkly laugh lines at the corners of her eyes. Suddenly Michael dropped the watch. Their data was lost! Mrs. Smith looked upset but said optimistically, "We'll just have to make another attempt later!" "I'm sorry, Mom!" Michael said. He felt terrible. Was his mistake just coincidental, or was it his way of telling his mom he did not enjoy experiments that much? He went up to his room to mope. Michael lounged on his red and green checked beanbag chair and thought about his display. He suddenly had a terrific idea. He raced down to the kitchen and nearly ran over his mom as she peeled potatoes at the kitchen counter. His tall, gangly frame caused him to constantly crash into things since last year's growth spurt. "Mom, I want to make a model of the fish tank for the display, since the rules don't allow live animals or water at the fair! I can make goldfish out of orange clay and put them on wires in a wooden box. I can add plastic plants. I can glue rocks, gravel, and my pirate ship to the bottom of the box!" exclaimed Michael. "That sounds exciting, son, but remember, we still need to actually finish the experiment! A good scientist collects data before presenting it," his mom said, as she created another perfect potato-skin spiral with her paring knife. She was always so practical. That night, after Michael and his mom successfully finished the experiment, Michael spent hours creating his model. His first attempt at making clay goldfish was a disaster. He accidentally smeared gooey blobs of clay all over the kitchen countertop. His mom sat nearby at the kitchen table, rewriting his hypothesis with intense concentration. By the end of the next day, the beautiful model was finished.

Something Fishy at the Science Fair

By Colleen Messina "Michael, are you ready with the stopwatch?" his mom asked eagerly. Her brown eyes sparkled with glee and rolls of flab around her waist pressed over the edge of the fish tank as she prepared to give the fish a sumptuous feast. She loved feedings of all kinds, and Michael saw her mouth practically water in anticipation! "Yes, Mom," Michael answered, as he suppressed a groan. Even though he was in high school, he still let his mom help him because it seemed to mean so much to her. He would much rather work on his project alone! They were doing an experiment for the annual Billings Deaconess Clinic Science Fair. Michael's dark eyes, though a replica of his mom's, held an indecipherable emotion. He twirled his sandy hair rhythmically. He felt unbearably bored. The purpose of the experiment was to assess whether goldfish took longer to eat in the morning or in the evening. Michael tried not to make his boredom conspicuous, but he truly did not care whether goldfish took twenty seconds or an hour to have their breakfast, lunch, or dinner. Let them enjoy their meals! Gastric events were probably the only excitement goldfish experienced in their dull, aquatic life! Michael was skeptical about his chances of winning anything at the fair, especially because of his lackadaisical attitude. "We'll have to be explicit in our description of the fish's feeding habits. It is a good thing we timed their breakfast this morning," said Mrs. Smith. Whoopee, thought Michael. Mrs. Smith seemed to embody the "mad scientist" personality more than anyone Michael had ever seen. She was forever creating explosions, bubbling solutions, or slimy ooze. Ubiquitous evidence of her love of science abounded in their household. Michael liked these experiments when he was little, but now he preferred art and computer graphics to science.

she reached up to hug her son. Name Wednesday, March 28 Neon orange fish with moving bubble eyes danced on thin copper wires, swaying as if they had a life of their own. Turquoise and purple gravel decorated the bottom of the box. A sparkly gem-studded pirate ship was on the bottom of the "sea," surrounded by a forest of green plastic plants. Michael and his mom carefully loaded the display into the car. The drive to Billings, Montana, seemed endless for the Smith family. Parched hills rolled on for miles, and black telephone poles punctuated the horizon like exclamation points. They arrived at the university at last, and Mr. and Mrs. Smith helped Michael carry the display into the enormous auditorium. Later that evening, Michael explained his project to three judges. The next morning, Michael ran to his display and saw a sticker saying, "THIS PROJECT IS A WINNER! COME TO THE AWARDS CEREMONY AT 3 pm." A winner! Something is fishy here, thought Michael, I don't think my project is that good. Michael's hands were sweating during the ceremony. When the master of ceremonies announced the names of the winners in Michael's grade, Michael waited eagerly to hear his name. Suddenly the judges were finished. Was there a mistake? Since his name was never called, Michael wondered if he would have to broach the subject of whether his project was a winner with the judges. "We have a unique award this year," the roly-poly master of ceremonies announced in a cheerful, booming voice. "This award has never been given before, but in order to recognize that presentation of data is an important part of science, we are giving Michael Smith an award for the Most Artistic and Dynamic Exhibit for grades 1 through 12. Michael, I apprise you of your prize!" The crowd roared, and Mrs. Smith shrieked with joy until she turned as red as a second place ribbon. Michael picked his way down the bleachers in a daze to collect a crisp $100 bill and a special certificate. The master of ceremonies grabbed Michael's hand and pumped it up and down enthusiastically. Michael then climbed back up to his seat in shock. "I guess you are an artistic scientist," Mrs. Smith exclaimed, as "Well, Mom, actually, I think I am a scientific artist instead," replied Michael, and they both laughed. Something Fishy at the Science Fair

Questions
1. Did you think that Michael might win a science fair prize after reading only the first page of the story? Why or why not?

2. Michael's attitude about his project is best described by which word? A. excited B. enthusiastic C. focused D. uninterested 3. The expression "she turned as red as a second place ribbon," uses what literary device? A. repetition B. metaphor C. alliteration D. simile 4. Place the following events from the story in the proper order:

A. Michael made his fabulous model. B. Michael dropped the stopwatch. C. Michael and Mrs. Smith successfully performed the science experiment. D. Michael and his family drove to Billings.

Name Wednesday, March 28 5. What does the word, "ubiquitous," mean in paragraph 7? A. obnoxious B. widespread C. excellent D. underhanded 6. Which statement is an opinion rather than a fact? A. Michael's mom had frizzy hair. B. Michael's pirate ship was decorated with gems. C. Goldfish feel that eating is exciting because their lives are dull. D. Michael dropped the stopwatch. 7. What color was Michael's beanbag chair? A. green B. red, white, and blue stripes C. red and green checked D. red 8. Where did the science fair take place? A. at an aquarium B. at the Billings Science Clinic C. at Michael's school D. in an auditorium

Write your wildest description of the perfect "mad scientist."

Name Thursday, March 29

dropping them off at the daycare center and going to work at another building nearby. Others lost parents, children, and friends who had simply gone to work or to do an errand. No one can really determine why Timothy McVeigh felt the need to commit such a horrible act. However, Dan Herbeck, co-author of "American Terrorist," had some thoughts. He tells of various difficulties McVeigh went through as a young person, and McVeigh's strong feelings that the American government was infringing on individual liberty, especially the right to keep and bear arms. McVeigh seemed to feel that his act, done with the cooperation of another man, Terry Nichols, was a message to the American government. He has claimed, "One man's freedom fighter is another man's terrorist." Various theories also exist about McVeigh's possible ties to anti-government groups. There are even conspiracy theories about government involvement in the bombing itself. Whatever the truth, McVeigh's decision changed the life of America forever, and ended his own life prematurely. McVeigh was executed by lethal injection for his crimes on June 11, 2001, after being convicted on June 2, 1997. The last criminal executed by the federal government was Victor Feguer in 1963. McVeigh had the dubious distinction of being the first criminal to be executed by the federal government in more than 30 years. However, the results of his actions will last far longer than that. American Terrorist - The Oklahoma City Bombing

American Terrorist - The Oklahoma City Bombing

By Beth Beutler On April 19, 1995, a tragedy rocked America at the core. No one expected it would happen here, initiated by one of our own. It was an act of American terrorism in the interior of the United States Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. Oklahoma City, and America itself, will never be the same. Any act of terrorism tears at the fiber of all American citizens. To have a foreign enemy attack our shores is bad enough. When a fellow American causes mass destruction, the heartbreak and anger is fiercer still. That is what happened that bleak day. Even now, one cannot visit the site, with its museum honoring those injured and killed, and not feel emptiness over what was lost that day. It started out as a typical day at the Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building, a building that housed a credit union, several governmental offices, and even a daycare for the children of many of the people who worked there. Citizens went in and out of the building, conducting business at the various agencies. However, at 9:02 a.m., something went terribly wrong. Earlier that morning, Timothy McVeigh drove a rented truck to the site. Unbeknownst to others, it was full of explosives. McVeigh left the truck at the front of the building, and a huge explosion erupted at 9:02 a.m. One entire side of the building was destroyed, along with the lives of 168 people. The impact on those left behind, and all of America, is immeasurable. One mother lost both her young boys, after

Questions
1. When did the Oklahoma City bombing take place?

7. How was McVeigh executed? Name Thursday, March 29 2. True or false. One possible reason for Timothy McVeigh's actions was to send the government a message about not infringing on liberty. A. True B. False 3. How many people died as a result of this tragedy?

8. Who was the last criminal executed by the federal government before McVeigh?

4. The Alfred P. Murrah building housed a ______ center.

5. Which of the following statements did McVeigh make? A. "One man's freedom fighter is another man's terrorist." B. "The government made me do it." C. "I am a proud citizen." D. "I did not mean to kill all those people." 6. Which right did McVeigh feel the government was particularly infringing upon?

Name Thursday, March 29

Languages of the Spanish World

By Jane Runyon The most predominant Hispanic language is, of course, Spanish. When the conquistadors conquered the Caribbean islands, Mexico, Central America, and South America, they insisted that the natives learn to speak Spanish. Catholic priests were brought to the New World to teach religion and language. About one and a half million Mexicans are still able to speak Nahuatl and Mayan. Nahuatl was the language used by the Aztec civilization. Mayan was spoken by the Maya people of the Yucatan Peninsula. More obscure native languages such as Lacandon are spoken by much smaller numbers of people. English is spoken by many Hispanics for business purposes. Having a good knowledge of the English language can lead to job advancement or raises in salary for Hispanics working in some companies. People living in areas close to the United States border or in high tourist areas also find knowledge of the English language beneficial. Many private schools in Mexico conduct their classes in both Spanish and English. Certain areas of Mexico and Central America have been settled by specific European groups. For instance, the present day city of Chipilo, Mexico, was founded in 1882 by immigrants from Venice, Italy. These people adopted many of the traditions of the Mexican people. They also merged many of their words with the Mexican words. What resulted is a special dialect recognized in other parts of Mexico as the "Veneto" dialect. German and Dutch immigrants settled in Chihuahua and Durango. They tried to save much of their German culture and language. The result is a combination of the old German language with the Spanish of the area. Near the southern end of Central America, French is very predominant. Many immigrants from France came to the New World looking for work. They, of course, brought their own language and traditions with them. Many of the traditions and much of the language have survived the years and are still found in different areas of the country.

You can find people who speak Swedish or Norwegian in an area called Nueva Escandinavia (New Scandinavia). Russian is a language spoken in the Baja California area. It can also be heard in Mexico City, which was the area many immigrants from Russia, Poland, and the Ukraine chose. In the early 1900s, people from Armenia, Lebanon, Syria, and Greece settled in the western area of Baja California. Many people from these settlements moved on to Mexico City in hopes of finding better paying jobs. The Mexican government recognizes sixty-two different languages spoken in its country. Whether the people were already in the area (like the Maya, the Aztecs, the Cherokee, or the Kickapoo Indians) or they immigrated from other countries (like the French and Germans), they all kept part of what had been theirs before the Spanish took over. Spanish is still the predominant language, but it is not alone. Hispanic countries have many languages to choose from. Languages of the Spanish World

Questions
1. The language spoken most in Mexico is English. A. true B. false 2. What two languages are taught in private schools in Mexico? A. French and German B. French and Spanish C. Spanish and English D. German and Swedish 3. Who taught Spanish to the natives in the New World? A. soldiers B. conquistadors C. priests D. teachers

Name Thursday, March 29 4. How did some areas of Mexico come to have mixtures of languages?

5. Why would it be important for some people in Latin America to know English?

6. What were two of the Indian tribes that settled in Mexico? A. Ojibwa and Sioux B. Huron and Erie C. Apache and Navajo D. Kickapoo and Cherokee 7. What is the native language of the Aztecs called? A. Veneto B. Mayan C. Nahuatl D. Escandian 8. Where did immigrants to Baja California go to earn a better living? A. Chihuahua B. Yucatan C. Mexico City D. Vera Cruz

Name Friday, March 30

Francis Marion
By Mary L. Bushong Imagine a time more than 200 years ago in South Carolina. Many Indians still lived in the forests across the state. There were plantations being built along the coast and rivers. It was into this world that the Revolutionary War hero Francis Marion was born. Francis was born near Georgetown, South Carolina in 1732. His grandparents were French Huguenots who had come there looking for religious freedom. Francis was the youngest of six children, and when he wasn't in school, he was exploring the swamps around his home. He became so familiar with them that, during the Revolutionary War, no one could find him when he went in. When he was just 15 years old, Francis left home against his parent's wishes. He planned to sail to the West Indies, but he didn't make it. The ship sank and he spent a week in the wooden lifeboat before it drifted ashore. In 1753, at the start of the French and Indian war, Francis joined his brother Gabriel's militia company, but they did not see any action. After the war, he used money from an inheritance to establish himself as a planter or farmer. He did well at it, and in 1773 he bought a plantation and called it Pond's Bluff. Two years later, in 1775, he was elected to the South Carolina Provincial Congress. This congress authorized the formation of two regiments, the second of which was commanded by Francis Marion. In 1779 he led an attack on the British in Savannah, Georgia. In 1780, Francis was almost captured by the British in Charleston, SC. He escaped capture, because he had broken his ankle and was ordered out of the city to his plantation to recuperate. He was gone when Charleston was surrendered to the British. If Francis had been caught, he would probably have been executed.

Four months later when his ankle healed, Francis Marion was spying on British troop movements. He would count the soldiers and tell his superiors where they were headed. He led guerrilla strikes, suddenly breaking British supply lines before quickly disappearing back into the swamps he knew so well. He always seemed to be where the enemy did not expect him, and they could not catch him. It is no wonder he became known as the "swamp fox." In September of that year he skirmished with some Loyalist soldiers (colonists who were loyal to Britain) and defeated them. On December 30, 1780 he was promoted to Brigadier General. In 1781, he commanded the militia of both North and South Carolina, driving the British back to Charleston. Once the war was over, Francis Marion moved back to his plantation at Pond Bluff and married his cousin, Mary Videau. He attended the Constitutional Convention in 1790, voting for a Federal Union. Then he retired to his plantation, where he died on February 26, 1795. Francis Marion was a quiet, though moody, man who was daring and elusive in battle. He cared deeply for the people of his country and fought for the freedom of his countrymen. Francis Marion

Questions
1. What country did Francis Marion's grandparents come from?

Name Friday, March 30 2. What was the name of General Marion's plantation?

3. Why was Francis Marion called "the swamp fox"?

4. What year did the North and South Carolina militia drive the British soldiers back to Charleston?

5. How did Francis vote at the Constitutional Convention?

Name Friday, March 30

messages from your five senses, too. Different areas handle sights, sounds, tastes, smells, and touch. The cerebral cortex, along with another part, the cerebellum, controls movements of your muscles. In the area called the motor cortex, a particular section connects to each part of your muscular system. There is a section for your fingers, a section for your wrist, a section for your arm, a section for your toes, and so on. The body parts that do the most complicated movements get the most brain space. That is why the muscles of the mouth and tongue have a big space on the brain, because they have to make many different movements to speak and eat. Your brain stem has parts that regulate automatic body processes. Your heartbeat and your breathing are regulated by the brain stem. A part called the limbic system, which spreads over several parts of the brain, is in charge of emotions. When a horror movie scares you, or a hug makes you feel happy, somehow the limbic system is involved. Thinking and remembering are really complicated things that the brain does. Scientists have only begun to figure them out. They know that it has something to do with the brain building new connections between its nerves. The brain is not easy for scientists to study, since they can't just take a look in there. But they do have some ways of finding out what's happening inside. By studying people who have had brain injuries, they can learn which parts of the brain do which jobs. They can record brain activity with a machine hooked up to electrodes fastened to the outside of a person's skull. Intelligence tests, and other types of tests, also provide information about what knowledge is inside the brain. When scientists learn some new facts about the brain, they often come up with just as many new questions. Now that you know a few facts about the brain, maybe you have some new questions too.

The Brain
By Sharon Fabian That three-pound pinkish-gray blob in your head may be ugly but it can do a lot of things. Like a computer, it can figure out math problems, and store and organize information. Like a camera, it can turn patterns of light into pictures. It can also regulate body processes, produce emotions, understand and construct language, and order muscles to move. If your nervous system, which includes your brain, is the control center for your body, then your brain is its commander-in-chief. Your brain has three main parts: the large part called the cerebrum, the smaller part in the back called the cerebellum, and the brain stem which attaches the brain to the spinal cord. The large part, the cerebrum, is made up of layers of folds and wrinkles called the cerebral cortex. As the surface of your brain grows, it folds and wrinkles more to fit into its space in your skull. Somewhere between 10 billion and 100 billion nerve cells are at work in your brain. They are powered by the food that you eat and the oxygen that you breathe. In case of a fall, or a blow to the head, your brain is protected by your cranium, also called your skull, and by three protective layers called meninges inside your skull. Your brain has specialized parts for particular jobs, but some jobs involve many different parts of the brain. Reading is a good example. When you read a word, the light that enters your eyes is seen as an image of the word in the vision center of your brain. Another part of your brain transforms that picture into the right sound pattern for the word. Another part figures out the meaning of the word. If you want to say the word aloud, the message is sent to yet another area that instructs the muscles of your throat and mouth to make the right sounds. Your brain has specialized areas in its cerebral cortex to receive

Name Friday, March 30 The Brain

6. Scientists can learn about what different parts of the brain do by studying ______. A. intelligence tests B. report cards C. people who have had a brain injury D. electrodes 7. Scientists now understand how all parts of the brain work. A. false B. true 8. Meninges are three more layers inside the skull that help protect the brain. A. true B. false

Questions
1. Your brain is the main part of your ______ system. A. nervous B. digestive C. respiratory D. skeletal 2. Reading involves ______ of the brain. A. no parts B. two parts C. many parts D. one part 3. The wrinkles and folds of the cortex make up which part of the brain? A. cranium B. brain stem C. cerebrum D. cerebellum 4. Cranium is another word for the ______. A. skull B. cerebrum C. spine D. brain 5. Heartbeat and breathing are examples of ______. A. brain activities B. resting activities C. automatic activities D. voluntary activities