FirstNews 10-Minute Challenge
Science: Crossword
Read this Science story from this week’s First News (14 - 20 JUNE 2013), then have a go at
the crossword. All the answers to the crossword are underlined in the article.
FirstNews
Learning lessons from the Romans
ISSUE 365 14 - 20 JUNE 2013
ALTHOUGH the Romans didn’t have the benefit of amazing inventions like
the internet, cars or the electric guitar, they did make better concrete than
we do.
That’s what scientists have discovered after studying concrete from an Italian harbour,
which has withstood 2,000 years of battering by waves and corrosive seawater. Many
concrete buildings and bridges built within the last 50 years have already had to be
replaced or repaired.
Portland cement is what holds most modern concrete together, but making it is very
harmful to the environment because mixing the limestone and clay uses a lot of energy
and gives off a lot of CO2.
However, the Romans managed to mix it at
temperatures over 500°C lower.
Samples from Pozzuoli Bay showed that the
CE
volcanic ash used in Roman concrete provides
N
E
I
6
more aluminium and less silicon to the mix, and
e SC p age
r
o
makes the concrete stronger.
or m
n to
ue!
r
F
s
s tu ek’s is
e
i
r
s to h is we
of t
ACROSS
4) Having the capablitiy or tendency to corrode; the process of
wearing something away by rusting or with a chemical reaction
(adjective, 9)
6) A hard sedimentary rock, used as building material and in the
making of cement (noun, 9)
7) A building material made from a mixture of broken stone or
gravel, sand, cement and water (noun, 8)
8) A powdery substance made by calcining lime and clay.
Mixed with other substances to form mortar or concrete
(noun, 6)
9) A stiff, sticky earth that can be
manipulated when wet
and is dried and baked to make
bricks, pottery and ceramic
(noun, 4)
10) Remained undamaged or
unaffected by something (verb, 9)
DOWN
1) The ancient Roman Empire and its
people and culture (noun, 6)
2) A place on the coast where ships
may moor in and shelter (noun, 7)
3) Relating to the present or recent
times (adjective, 6)
5) Very small solid particles ejected
from a volcano during an eruption
(noun, 8, 3)
Learning through news
www.FirstNews.co.uk
FirstNews 10-Minute Challenge
Science: Crossword
Read this Science story from this week’s First News (14 - 20 JUNE 2013), then have a go at
the crossword. All the words in the crossword can be found within the story.
FirstNews
Learning lessons from the Romans
ISSUE 365 14 - 20 JUNE 2013
ALTHOUGH the Romans didn’t have the benefit of amazing inventions like
the internet, cars or the electric guitar, they did make better concrete than
we do.
That’s what scientists have discovered after studying concrete from an Italian harbour,
which has withstood 2,000 years of battering by waves and corrosive seawater. Many
concrete buildings and bridges built within the last 50 years have already had to be
replaced or repaired.
Portland cement is what holds most modern concrete together, but making it is very
harmful to the environment because mixing the limestone and clay uses a lot of energy
and gives off a lot of CO2.
However, the Romans managed to mix it at
temperatures over 500°C lower.
Samples from Pozzuoli Bay showed that the
volcanic ash used in Roman concrete provides
NCE 6
E
I
C
e
S
more aluminium and less silicon to the mix, and
ore to p ag !
m
makes the concrete stronger.
r
o
n
ue
F
s
tur
s
’s is
e
k
i
r
e
o
e
w
st
h is
t
f
o
ACROSS
4) Having the capablitiy or tendency to corrode; the process of
wearing something away by rusting or with a chemical reaction
(adjective, 9)
6) A hard sedimentary rock, used as building material and in the
making of cement (noun, 9)
7) A building material made from a mixture of broken stone or
gravel, sand, cement and water (noun, 8)
8) A powdery substance made by calcining lime and clay.
Mixed with other substances to form mortar or concrete
(noun, 6)
9) A stiff, sticky earth that can be
manipulated when wet
and is dried and baked to make
bricks, pottery and ceramic
(noun, 4)
10) Remained undamaged or
unaffected by something (verb, 9)
DOWN
1) The ancient Roman Empire and its
people and culture (noun, 6)
2) A place on the coast where ships
may moor in and shelter (noun, 7)
3) Relating to the present or recent
times (adjective, 6)
5) Very small solid particles ejected
from a volcano during an eruption
(noun, 8, 3)
Learning through news
www.FirstNews.co.uk