Discussion Guide
®
Vol. 15 No. 32
Week of April 30, 2012
SUDAN
DECLARES
WAR ON
SOUTH SUDAN
ALSO IN THIS ISSUE:
Space Shuttle Discovery retired
The Gulf oil spill – two years later
A new documentary about chimps
Country of the Week: Sudan
This Week in History: Machiavelli
Remember When: Dick Clark
See inside cover
Who Am I?
Can you answer this
question? If not,
here are some clues.
BASIC/GENERAL
A) I am the son of a Hungarian immigrant
father and a mother whose background was
French, Greek, and Jewish. I went to school
to become a lawyer.
B) In 2007 I was elected president of France.
I pledged to revive my country’s economy.
But France’s economy, like the economy
across most of Europe, has continued to
struggle.
C) Now I am running for re-election. In the
first round of voting, I came in second to
Francois Hollande, the Socialist Party candidate. The second round of voting takes place
on May 6th. Who am I? (Nicolas Sarkozy.)
ADVANCED
A) I am the son of a Hungarian immigrant father and a mother of mixed French
Catholic and Greek Jewish ancestry. I was
educated as a lawyer, and in 2007, I was
elected president of France.
B) I campaigned to increase France’s workweek from 35 to 40 hours. I also vowed to
revive the French economy and improve the
national work ethic. But like many European
economies, France has struggled due to the
Euro debt crisis and the austerity measures
taken to address it.
C) Now I am running for re-election. I
came in second to Socialist Party candidate
Francois Hollande in the first round of voting. Both Hollande and I have been trying to
woo voters who voted for far-right anti-immigration candidate Marine Le Pen. Who am I?
(Nicolas Sarkozy.)
News Names, News Places, News Words
News Names
News Words
Jane Goodall — Noted chimpanzee
expert
NASA — National Aeronautics and
Space Administration; the U.S. agency
responsible for the nation’s space program
Niccolo Machiavelli — Italian historian, philosopher, and writer during the
Renaissance
Omar al-Bashir — President of Sudan
Sally Ride — First American woman to
travel to outer space
Salva Kiir Mayardit — President of
South Sudan
captivity — Being confined; not free
civil war — A war between citizens of the
same country
conservation — Preservation, protection,
or restoration of the natural environment
contaminate — To make something
impure by exposure to a poisonous or
polluting substance
ecosystem — A biological community of
interacting organisms and their physical
environment
idealism — The practice of envisioning
things in an ideal form
landlocked — Surrounded by land; having no coastline or seaport
orbit — To rotate around, like the Earth
does the sun
referendum — A general vote on a single
political question
pyramid — A monumental structure with
a square or triangular base and sloping
sides that meet in a point at the top
News Places
Italy
Ivory Coast
Louisiana
South Sudan
Sudan
Virginia
Sudan declares war on
South Sudan
Less than a year after gaining its independence, South Sudan is at war
with rival Sudan.
1
BASIC The countries of Sudan and
people of South
Sudan voted to
break away from
Sudan. But the two sides don’t agree on
where exactly the border should be between
the two countries. In April, South Sudan
took over an area on the border that they
want to control. This led Sudan’s president,
Omar al-Bashir, to declare war on South
Sudan. Here you see a South Sudan soldier.
If you lived in South Sudan, what would
you think of the words here from Sudan’s
president? Do you think the people of
either country want war? NEXT
Bashir, agreed to recognize South Sudan’s
independence. But the two countries never
agreed on the exact border between them.
Why do you think this might cause a
problem? One big reason this was a problem is that the area around the border contains some very valuable natural resources
— oil and natural gas. What are these
things used for? (Mainly fuel.)
After it became independent, South Sudan
thought it would control a border area
called Heglig, which has a lot of oil. In April,
South Sudan took over Heglig by force. In
response, Sudan’s president said it would
attack South Sudan and march into its
capital city. Here you see a South Sudanese
soldier. How do you think the people of
both Sudan and South Sudan reacted to
President Bashir’s words here? NEXT
ADVANCED
agree on their exact border.
Since splitting from Sudan, South Sudan
had counted on controlling oilfields near the
town of Heglig. In late March, South Sudan
began attacking Heglig, and after some
back-and-forth battles, South Sudan took
Heglig by force in late April. In response,
President Bashir said he would retake Heglig
and march to South Sudan’s capital city.
President Bashir also called the fight a
“jihad,” or holy struggle. Many observers
believe this was intended as a call to arms for
other Muslim countries. Many also believe
Sudan will call on support from its biggest
trade partner, China. Meanwhile, South
Sudan has developed strong ties with both
Uganda and Kenya to the south. What do
you think war between Sudan and South
Sudan would mean to the region? NEXT
South Sudan are both in Africa.
Can you find them on a map or globe?
The nation of South Sudan is less than one
year old. It became its own country only
last summer. But the newest country in
the world is now at war with its northern
neighbor. From the words you see here,
which country is South Sudan fighting?
(Sudan.) For a long time, South Sudan was
part of Sudan. But the people of Sudan were
always divided among different groups within the country. Sudan was especially divided
between north and south. Last summer, the
GENERAL The nation of South Sudan
is less than one year old,
but it is already at war with its northern
neighbor. From what you see here, who
can name this neighbor? (Sudan.) On what
continent are these countries? (Africa.)
For a long time, South Sudan was part of
Sudan. But that changed last summer when
the people of South Sudan voted to break
away from Sudan. Even before that vote,
northern and southern Sudan were very
divided. We’ll find out more about this later.
What do you think makes people want to
break away from a country and form their
own independent country?
South Sudan officially became independent from Sudan last summer. At first,
relations between the two countries were
not unfriendly. Sudan’s president, Omar alAlthough South Sudan
isn’t yet a year old, it is
already facing war with rival Sudan. What
do you know about the situation between
Sudan and South Sudan? South Sudan
was formerly part of Sudan, one of Africa’s
largest countries. But deep divisions within
the country led to a referendum last summer. The result was clear, and the world’s
newest country was born. What factors do
you think led the people of South Sudan
to want to break away from Sudan?
Initially relations between Sudan and South
Sudan were relatively smooth, and Sudanese
President Omar al-Bashir agreed to recognize South Sudan’s independence. But from
early on, hostilities began brewing over how
the two countries would share revenue from
their most valuable natural resources — oil
and natural gas. And the two sides failed to
NewsCurrents Week of April 30, 2012
1
Sudan declares war on South Sudan (cont'd)
Sudan has long been a divided country.
BASIC
Sudan has a long history of fighting between different groups within
the country. Northern and southern Sudan
have fought two separate civil wars. Who
knows what a civil war is? (A war between
groups within the same country.) From the
words you see here, how many people
have been killed in these wars? (More than
2 million.) All together, these wars lasted 40
years. The second war ended in 2005. When
did South Sudan become independent?
(July 9th, 2011.) Almost all of the people
of South Sudan voted to break away from
2
GENERAL
called a referendum. A referendum is when
voters vote on a single question. This time
the question was whether they should separate from Sudan or not. Millions of voters
turned out for the referendum, and in the
end more than 98 percent of them voted
to break away from Sudan. Why do you
think they did this? Here you see some of
the South Sudanese people celebrating this
vote. The country’s first president is Salva
Kiir Mayardit — SAHL-vah KEER May-YARdeet. He was vice president of Sudan before
the referendum. He took office on the first
day of South Sudan’s independence. Now
South Sudan may be headed for a third war
with Sudan. Only this time it won’t be a civil
war because South Sudan is independent.
What difference do you think this might
make? NEXT
ADVANCED
of southern autonomy followed by a referendum on independence. During those six
years, oil revenue was to be divided equally
between north and south. Islamic Sharia
law was to remain in effect in the north but
not in the south.
For one week last January, millions of
south Sudanese voters cast their ballots in
the referendum. In the end, more than 98
percent of them voted in favor of independence. The country’s first president is Salva
Kiir Mayardit — SAHL-vah KEER May-YARdeet. He had been acting president under
the terms of the peace agreement, and was
also Omar al-Bashir’s vice president. What
do you think his future will be if his
nation goes to war with Sudan? NEXT
Sudan has always been
a country whose people are very divided, by
language, ethnic groups, and many other
things. Civil war between the north and the
south went on for many years. What is a
civil war? (A war between groups within the
same country.) Has this ever happened in
the United States? (Yes, from 1861-1865.)
There have been two north-south civil wars
in Sudan, lasting 40 years total. The first
was from 1955 to 1972. The second civil war
began in 1983 and ended in 2005. In that
time, more than 2 million people have been
killed. How do you think so much fighting
over such a long time has affected the
people of Sudan and South Sudan?
For one week last January, voters in
southern Sudan took part in a special vote
Sudan has long been
a nation of deep divisions: political, ethnic, cultural, and linguistic. There have been two north-south civil
wars spanning four decades. The first lasted
from 1955 to 1972. The second — considered by most experts to be a continuation
of the first — began in 1983 and ended in
2005. The fighting has claimed more than
2 million lives, and displaced twice that
many. The civilian death toll in these wars is
thought to be one of the highest of any war
since World War Two. How do you think
this prolonged fighting has affected the
people of Sudan and South Sudan?
The peace agreement that ended the second civil war in 2005 called for six years
2
Sudan
and
become independent. The
name for this
type of vote is
a referendum. On the right you see some of
South Sudan’s people celebrating this vote.
Do they look happy to you? The other picture here shows the person who was elected
as South Sudan’s first president, Salva Kiir
Mayardit — SAHL-vah KEER May-YAR-deet.
How do you think he feels to be his country’s first president? NEXT
NewsCurrents Week of April 30, 2012
Sudan declares war on South Sudan (cont'd)
Sudan and South Sudan have different resources and demographics.
Here you see a map of
Sudan and South Sudan,
and a list of some of the differences between
them. Who can name the capital cities of
the north and south? (Khartoum in Sudan,
and Juba in South Sudan.) Most people in
Sudan are from the Arab ethnic group, and
follow the Muslim religion. Most people in
South Sudan are from one of many different
ethnic groups. South Sudan is poorer, but it
has a very valuable natural resource. Who
can name it? (Oil.) What is the kind of oil
found underground used for? (Mainly fuel.)
Sudan and South Sudan also have another
kind of fuel found underground, natural gas.
BASIC
GENERAL
Many people
in the south
feel that the
north gets an
unfair portion
of the profit
from the south’s oil. But the south also
needs a pipeline to sell its oil to customers,
and that pipeline runs through the north’s
land. That’s because South Sudan is landlocked. That means it has no access to the
ocean without going through another country. How do you think Sudan and South
Sudan can solve their differences without
going to war? END
3
The map here shows
the border between
Sudan and South Sudan. Abyei is part of
the area that the two sides are arguing over.
The words here give you an idea of some of
the main differences between north Sudan
and south Sudan. They have different climates and geography, and they are made
up of different ethnic groups. Most in the
north are Muslims, and most in the south
are Christians or follow traditional African
religions. How do you think these differences affect tensions between north and
south?
The north is generally wealthier than
the south, but the south holds more of
the region’s oil and natural gas. However,
South Sudan is landlocked. What does
this mean? (It has no access to the ocean
without going through another country.) This
means South Sudan must rely on a pipeline
to transport its oil to the giant tanker ships
that carry the oil to customers around the
world. That pipeline runs north through
Sudan. It is shown here in red. Where does
it end? (The Red Sea.)
If war breaks out now between Sudan
and South Sudan, it may well involve more
than just those two countries. Sudan is a
Muslim country, and Sudan’s president has
called the fight a “holy war.” Many people
think other Muslim countries may come to
Sudan’s aid. Sudan may also get help from
its biggest trading partner, China. South
Sudan, meanwhile, may get support from its
neighbors Uganda and Kenya. It may also
get support from another powerful country,
Israel. Do you think the U.S. should get
involved in trying to negotiate peace
between Sudan and South Sudan? Why or
why not? END
ADVANCED In many ways, north-
between Sudan and South Sudan?
While Sudan may have the support of its
trading partner China and possibly some
Islamic groups or nations, many think that
President Bashir is becoming increasingly
isolated. The International Criminal Court
issued a warrant for his arrest for war
crimes and genocide in the Darfur region.
What do you know about Darfur? Now
his government faces the loss of oil revenue
from the South. And South Sudan has its
own powerful ally, Israel, who has reportedly been arming South Sudanese forces. Do
you know if the situation in South Sudan
has escalated into full-on war? What role
do you think the U.S. and other Western
nations should take in trying to resolve
this conflict? END
ern and southern Sudan
have always been separate entities. They are
vastly different in terms of climate, geography, ethnicity, and religion. In general, the
north is wealthier and better educated than
the south. But the south holds more of the
region’s valuable petroleum. For years, people in the south have accused the Khartoumbased government of taking a disproportionate share of the profits from the south’s oil
and gas. However, South Sudan is landlocked
and relies on a pipeline to transport oil to
foreign markets. That pipeline, shown here
in red, runs through Sudan. South Sudan
has proposed building a new pipeline to a
port in Kenya. What do you think would be
the fairest way to divide the oil revenues
NewsCurrents Week of April 30, 2012
3
Retired space shuttle Discovery
finds new home in museum
The space shuttle Discovery was recently moved to the
Smithsonian’s National Air and Space Museum facility in Virginia.
in charge of
space travel in
our country for
many years. The left photo shows Discovery
being launched into space. What would it
be like to see a space launch like this?
Discovery is one of five shuttles used by
NASA in the last 30 years. NASA’s space
shuttles were made in such a way that they
could be reused. The were the first reusable
spacecraft. Unlike rockets, the shuttles can
land on a runway like planes. NEXT
GENERAL
to land in water using parachutes. Space
shuttles can land on a runway, just like a
plane. Have you ever seen one of NASA’s
space shuttles being launched, from the
Kennedy Space Center in Florida? The
space shuttles have been used for many different things, including bringing satellites
to outer space. A satellite is a device that
orbits the Earth and sends back information to scientists. Before the space shuttle
program, NASA had a very famous program
called Apollo. In 1969, two astronauts
from Apollo 11 walked on the moon. This
was seen on live TV by millions of people
around the world, and is considered one
of the most important moments in history.
Do you understand why? What would it
be like to be an astronaut and go into
space? NEXT
The right photo shows
what looks like a
smaller plane on top of a large one. But the
smaller one is not just a regular airplane.
This is the space shuttle Discovery, and it has
been to outer space many times! It made its
last flight in 2011. Recently it was taken to a
new home in a museum in Virginia, because
it is an important part of U.S. history. Would
you like to see Discovery? Discovery is
owned by a government group called NASA,
which stands for National Aeronautics and
Space Administration. This group has been
Here you see what
looks like a small
plane on top of a larger plane. But the
smaller one is not a regular airplane. This is
the space shuttle Discovery, and it has gone
to outer space, many times! It first went
into space in 1984, and made its last flight
last year. Recently, Discovery was moved
to a permanent new home, a museum in
Virginia. Discovery is owned by the National
Aeronautics and Space Administration, or
NASA. What does NASA do? (It is the
part of the government in charge of the
space program.) Do you think it would be
interesting to go to this museum and
see Discovery? Discovery was one of five
different shuttles used by NASA during its
space shuttle program. This program created the first reusable spacecraft. Before the
space shuttles were built, astronauts had
ADVANCED It’s flown 149 million
miles in 39 missions,
and spent 365 days in orbit over 27 years.
And now, this well-traveled spacecraft has a
place of honor to spend its retirement. Earlier
this month, NASA transferred space shuttle
Discovery to the Smithsonian Institution,
where it will be displayed in Smithsonian’s
National Air and Space Museum’s UdvarHazy Center in Chantilly, Virginia. Discovery
will be displayed as if it just landed. Visitors
won’t be permitted to go inside, but the
museum has created 360-degree interactive
pictures of its flight deck. Do you think it
would be interesting to see the Discovery?
Discovery flew every type of mission during
the 30-year shuttle program. It deployed
satellites, and during the 1980s, it flew
Defense Department missions with military
4
4
BASIC
astronauts on board. It also was the first
shuttle to travel to the Russian space station Mir and to dock with the International
Space Station.
The idea for a shuttle that could return
from space and land like a plane was conceived even before the famed Apollo program of the 1960s. Apollo astronauts used
“splashdown” landings, where a capsule
with a parachute landed in the water, and
the astronauts were retrieved by boat. Do
you know which Apollo mission was the
first to land astronauts on the moon?
(Apollo 11, in 1969.) Have you seen the
famous footage of this event? There were
five shuttles built for the program. Can anyone name them all? (Columbia, Challenger,
Discovery, Atlantis, and Endeavor.) NEXT
NewsCurrents Week of April 30, 2012
Space shuttle Discovery (cont'd)
The Space Shuttle program lasted for 30 years.
BASIC
NASA’s Space Shuttle program helped scientists
learn a lot about outer space. Do you think
it would be interesting, or scary, to travel
to outer space? A person trained to serve
on a spacecraft is called an astronaut. The
shuttle program had the first woman astronaut. Can you name her? (Sally Ride.) In
1983, she became the first American woman
in space. Ms. Ride has written several books
to get kids more interested in studying science. Would you like to read her books?
Here you see two other important things
that came out of the shuttle program. One
of them is the International Space Station.
Since 2000, it has been orbiting the Earth.
That means it
goes around
the
Earth,
just like the
Earth
goes
around
the
sun. Scientists actually live on the space
station and do research. The other picture
here shows the Hubble telescope, which
also orbits Earth. It can see billions of miles
away. The telescope has taken thousands
of pictures that have taught us a lot about
other planets and outer space. Do you think
it’s important to learn about outer space?
END
5
GENERAL
not have been built. It has been orbiting
the Earth since 2000, and researchers have
been living there ever since. It is used as a
base for many types of space research. The
Hubble Telescope would also not have been
possible without the space shuttles. Hubble
was carried into orbit by a space shuttle in
1990. Hubble can see billions of miles away,
and has gathered amazing images of outer
space and the other planets in our solar
system. Have you ever seen any of the
photos taken by the Hubble Telescope?
The shuttle program also had two great tragedies. The space shuttle Challenger blew up
after takeoff in 1986. And in 2003 the space
shuttle Columbia came apart while returning to Earth. Do you think the shuttle
program has been worth the costs and the
risks? END
ADVANCED
International Space Station could not have
been built without the space shuttles. It
is the largest, most complex international
scientific project in history. Shared by several countries, this football-field sized orbital research station has been continuously
inhabited by rotating crewmembers since
2000. It has led to much important scientific
research, including the effects of space travel
on the human body. It could also lead to an
eventual manned mission to Mars. Do you
think this will happen eventually? The
Hubble Space Telescope was brought into
orbit in 1990 by Discovery, and has been in
orbit ever since. Many Hubble observations
have led to breakthroughs in astrophysics,
such as accurately determining the rate of
expansion of the universe. How important
do you think space travel is? END
The Space Shuttle
program lasted for 30
years, ending last year. The decision to end
the program was made in 2004, so NASA
could spend money to build new spaceships. NASA’s space program is something
that Americans are very proud of. Do you
understand why? Through our space program, NASA scientists have learned a great
deal about outer space and our solar system.
What are people who travel into outer
space called? (Astronauts.) The program is
responsible for the first American woman
to go into space, Sally Ride. She made her
first flight in 1983 aboard the space shuttle
Challenger. Here you see two other major
accomplishments of the shuttle program. One
is the International Space Station. Without
the space shuttles, the space station could
The
Space
Shuttle
program
provided
many milestones in science and technology. Americans celebrated its successes,
and shared in the heartbreak of its two
devastating failures, the fatal Challenger
and Columbia flights. Sally Ride became a
hero to girls and women everywhere when
she became the first American woman in
space, in 1983 aboard the Challenger. But
the 1986 Challenger disaster rocked the
nation. Challenger disintegrated and blew
up shortly after takeoff, killing all its crew.
Another shuttle, Columbia, came apart during re-entry in 2003, again killing all seven
crewmembers. How do you think these
tragedies affected NASA and the shuttle
program? Pictured here are two of the Space
Shuttle program’s greatest successes. The
NewsCurrents Week of April 30, 2012
5
Two years later, the Gulf oil spill
Two years after the massive oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico, experts are
trying to assess the damage.
The worst oil spill in
U.S. history happened
two years ago this
month. On April 20th, 2010, an oil-drilling
rig off the shore of Louisiana exploded. The
rig was owned by the oil company called
BP. The explosion killed 11 workers, and
started the fire you see here. The explosion
also caused a huge oil spill in the waters of
the Gulf of Mexico. Can you find the Gulf
of Mexico on a map or globe? The oil spill
sent millions of gallons of oil into the water
before the leak was finally capped 3 months
BASIC
6
GENERAL
environment.) More than 400 different
species live along the coastline. Here you see
some of the first victims of the spill, coastal
birds that became covered in oil. What kind
of birds are these? (Pelicans.) Thousands
of volunteers came to help wash birds and
other animals. Would you have wanted
to help with something like this? A year
after the spill, it was estimated that many
thousands of seabirds, sea turtles, and
marine mammals like dolphins had been
killed. And those numbers don’t include
the fish and other non-mammal sea life
that were killed and damaged by the spill.
Now, many experts are trying to figure out
the long-term effects of the oil spill on the
area. What do you think can be done to
prevent disasters like this in the future?
NEXT
ADVANCED
of the spill, coastal birds that became
covered in oil. A year after the spill, it was
estimated that some 80,000 seabirds, 6,000
sea turtles, and 26,000 marine mammals,
including dolphins, had been killed. These
numbers don’t include the damage done to
untold numbers of fish and other animals,
like shrimp and coral, that live in the water.
And the oil wasn’t the only problem for the
area’s wildlife. BP used nearly 2 million
gallons of chemical dispersants to make the
oil break up and sink to the bottom. These
chemicals are thought to be even more toxic
than the oil itself. Now, efforts are underway
to determine the long-term impact of the
spill and the dispersants. Do you think
the media has done an adequate job
of keeping the public informed of this
situation? NEXT
This month marks the
two-year anniversary
of the worst oil spill in U.S. history. On April
20th, 2010, an oil-drilling rig owned by the
BP oil company exploded. The rig was about
40 miles off the coast of Louisiana. The
explosion killed 11 men who were working
on the rig, and started the huge fire you see
here. The explosion also caused a massive
oil leak into the gulf. It took nearly three
months for BP to cap the leak, and during
that time, nearly 200 million gallons of
oil had spilled into the gulf. What do you
remember about this story? The spill,
as well as some chemicals used to break
up the oil, caused terrible problems for the
environment. The Louisiana shoreline is a
very fragile ecosystem. Who can describe
what an ecosystem is? (It’s a community
of animals and plants and their physical
This month marks two
years since the worst
oil spill in U.S. history. On April 20th, 2010,
the Deepwater Horizon oil rig exploded
in the Gulf of Mexico about 40 miles off
the coast of Louisiana, killing 11 workers
and damaging more than 1,000 miles of
coastline. Can you name the company
that owned the rig? (British Petroleum, or
BP.) It took BP three months to cap the leak.
By then, more than 200 million gallons had
spilled, much deep underwater. Although
obvious signs of the spill have faded, the
disaster still isn’t over for the Gulf Coast’s
fish and wildlife and its human residents.
Have you ever been to the Gulf Coast?
Louisiana’s coastline is a unique and
fragile ecosystem. It’s one of the nation’s
largest wetlands; more than 400 species live
here. Pictured are some of the first victims
6
later. How do
you think the
oil affected the
fish and animals
in and near the water? This area has a
very fragile ecosystem. An ecosystem is
the plants and animals that live together
in their special environment. Thousands of
birds and animals died because of the oil
spill. Here you see pelicans covered in oil.
Scientists are still trying to figure out how
the animals and people in the area have
been affected. NEXT
NewsCurrents Week of April 30, 2012
Two years later, the Gulf oil spill (cont'd)
Residents struggle with health problems and a shattered economy, and many
worry no long-term lessons have been learned.
After the spill, workers
from BP poured a lot of
chemicals into the water to make the oil break
up and sink. The people who live in the Gulf
area say these chemicals have had many bad
effects. Many people here make their living by
fishing, and they say they don’t catch nearly as
much since the oil spill. Even worse, they have
started catching shrimp and fish that have
terrible health problems. Here you see a fish
with a bad sore on its side. How would you
feel if you were a fisherman in this area?
Some fear the chemicals made the seafood
contaminated, or
unsafe to eat. Also,
some people have
been having more
health problems than they did before the spill.
The woman quoted here and many others
are angry with the government and BP. BP
has said it would pay people who have had
problems. But many people haven’t gotten any
money yet. And Congress hasn’t passed any
laws making oil drilling safer. Why do think
this is the case? Do you think another oil
spill like this might happen? END
After the spill, BP poured
millions of gallons of
chemicals into the water to break up the oil
and make it sink. Some residents say these
chemicals were far more damaging than the
oil itself. They say BP just wanted to make the
oil disappear from view, rather than cleaning
up the damage. Why would BP want to make
the oil disappear? Now residents say that the
combined effect of the oil and the chemicals
has caused great damage to the people as
well as the animals. How could harm to
the fish in the area hurt the people? Many
people here make a living through the fishing
industry. Now, many say they are catching
far less than they used to. And worse, they
are finding fish and other seafood that show
strange health problems, like shrimp with no
eyes and fish with sores, as you see here. They
say this is because of the chemicals used by
BP. Some people are afraid to buy or eat Gulf
seafood because they fear it’s contaminated,
or unsafe, by the oil and chemicals. People are
also reporting a lot more health problems than
before the oil spill. The woman quoted here
says her two children are often sick. She and
others say that BP and the government seem
to have forgotten the lessons learned by the
oil spill. BP has paid some money to people
who have been hurt, but many others have
not been paid. And Congress has not passed
any laws making oil drilling safer. Oil drilling,
including in deep water like the Deepwater
Horizon, continues, and many people think
another tragedy like this could easily happen.
Do you think this is true? How would you
feel if you lived in this area? END
BASIC
GENERAL
ADVANCED
The oil spill has taken
a harsh toll on the economy in the Gulf area,
especially its hugely valuable fishing industry.
Many families in the area have made their
living for generations catching shrimp or
other seafood. Fishermen have reported a
large drop in how much they catch. Worse yet,
scientists say shrimp, fish, and crabs caught
in the area have been deformed by chemicals.
Many report catching shrimp without eyes.
Have you seen photos like this? Some
people are afraid that some gulf seafood
may be contaminated, or unsafe. Recently
BP announced they will pay $7.8 billion to
resolve economic and medical claims, but
residents are unsure how much they’ll receive
and when. Meanwhile, many people are
experiencing health problems they blame on
the toxins in the dispersants used by BP after
7
the oil. Kindra Arnesen, quoted here, said her
two children are often sick with infections
and illnesses they never had before the spill.
Many people report respiratory problems,
headaches, and more. What many find most
disturbing is that the lessons from the tragedy
are being forgotten or ignored. Investigations
have found that poor safety practices and a
rush to meet deadlines was partly to blame for
the tragedy. Yet Congress has failed to pass
comprehensive legislation that would improve
safety standards for offshore oil drilling. And
with high gas prices, environmental concerns
have dropped in Americans’ priorities. Do you
think Americans should be more concerned
about deep water oil drilling? Why or why
not? What do you think the situation on
the Gulf will be like in five years, or ten?
END
NewsCurrents Week of April 30, 2012
7
New movie teaches about chimps
“Chimpanzee” contains amazing footage of a group of chimpanzees
in Ivory Coast.
What kind of animal do
you see here? Have you
ever seen chimpanzees in a zoo? If so,
what did you notice about them? A new
movie is about the real lives of chimpanzees
in the wild. The movie teaches us about
chimps by following the lives of one chimp
group. The main character is a young
chimp named Oscar, shown at right. Oscar
lives in an African country called Ivory Coast
with his family. But Oscar’s mother dies and
then something amazing happens – Oscar
gets “adopted” by the group’s leader, a male
chimp named Freddy. Oscar is shown with
Freddy on the left. The film tells us their
GENERAL A new movie follows the
real lives of some amazing animals: chimpanzees. The movie is
called simply “Chimpanzee” and it took four
years to make. To make the movie, the filmmakers followed a group of chimps in the
African nation Ivory Coast. The main character is a young chimpanzee named Oscar,
shown at right. After Oscar’s mother dies,
the filmmakers thought Oscar might die
too. But something very unusual happens
instead. The group’s male leader, a tough
chimp named Freddy, “adopts” Oscar and
teaches him what he needs to know about
living in the jungle. Would you like to see
this film? The film is very entertaining,
but the filmmakers also wanted to educate
people about chimpanzees and how intelligent they are. And they want people to
understand that chimps should not live
BASIC
ADVANCED A new Disney nature
documentary gives an
amazing close-up look into the lives of chimpanzees in the wild. Culled from nearly four
years of shooting in the remote Tai Forest
area of Africa’s Ivory Coast, the film tells
the story of a group of chimps, centering
on baby Oscar. After Oscar’s mother dies,
the filmmakers worried that he might die
too. But something unexpected happens.
Freddy, a tough “alpha male,” takes Oscar
under his wing and helps him learn the
ropes of life in the jungle. While the movie
is very entertaining, it also has a serious
intent. The filmmakers want to show chimpanzees as the highly intelligent, emotionally complex wild animals they are, instead
of the comic creatures we often see in commercials and films. Do you think people
are entertained by chimps because they
8
story.
Does
this sound like
a movie you’d
like to see?
The filmmakers
want people to understand that chimpanzees should stay in the wild, and not be
held in captivity. Captivity means when
animals are not free, but are taken care of
by humans. The quote here talks about how
important conservation is for the future of
chimps. Conservation means protecting the
forests where the chimps live. Do you agree
with this quote? NEXT
8
in captivity. What does that mean? (Not
living in the wild, not being free.) Can you
explain what this quote means? Do you
agree with it? Chimpanzees are one of
humans’ closest relatives in the animal
world. Who knows the larger group of
animals to which both chimpanzees and
humans belong? (Primates.) Chimpanzees
are extremely intelligent and have emotions just like humans. Unfortunately, they
are very endangered. There are fewer than
300,000 living in the wild in Africa. Just
a few decades ago there were more than
1 million. One big reason is that much of
their habitat, the forestland they need to
live, has been turned into towns or farmland. One person who has been helping
them is Jane Goodall. Let’s learn more
about her work. NEXT
are so similar to us? Do you think the
movie will have the impact sought by
the man quoted here? Jane Goodall, the
world’s foremost chimpanzee expert, is a
spokesman for the film and some of its proceeds will go to her foundation. Her Jane
Goodall Institute works to help chimps and
educate the public about them. She also
tries to bring awareness to their endangered status. When Goodall began studying chimpanzees in Africa five decades ago,
there were more than 1 million individuals.
Today, there are fewer than 300,000, and
their numbers continue dropping. What do
you think are some of the main causes
for this? (Loss of their natural habitat, as
well as poaching, and the ruthless practice
of killing adult chimps to get their babies,
which are then sold on the black market as
pets.) NEXT
NewsCurrents Week of April 30, 2012
New movie teaches about chimps (cont'd)
Goodall has spent her adult life studying chimps and educating
the public about them.
Unfortunately, chimpanzees are very
endangered, meaning there are not many
of them left in the wild. The woman you see
here is Jane Goodall. She has spent her
whole life studying and helping chimpanzees. In fact, some of the money made on
the film “Chimpanzee” will go to a group she
runs that helps protect chimpanzees. Jane
Goodall knew very early in her life that she
wanted to work with wild animals. As a young
woman, she went to the African country of
Tanzania to study chimpanzees. She spent
many months living near chimpanzees and
getting them to trust her. She learned many
things about
chimps that
no one had
known before.
She learned
that chimps acted a lot like humans. She
was also the first to notice that they could
use tools. What does this say about how
smart chimps are? Ms. Goodall ended up
spending 20 years living with the chimps!
Would it be interesting to study animals
like this? What do you think of this quote
from Ms. Goodall? END
GENERAL
Jane Goodall is the
world’s best-known
expert on chimpanzees. In fact, she worked
with the Disney Company to help make
“Chimpanzee.” Jane Goodall has spent her
life studying chimpanzees and working to
protect them. Ms. Goodall was born in
Great Britain in 1934. From the time she
was a child, she knew she wanted to work
with wild animals. As a young woman, she
went to Africa to a country called Tanzania,
where many chimpanzees live. She went
there to study the chimpanzees and learn
about their behavior. Would you like to do
this kind of work? She thought she’d stay
only a few months, but she stayed nearly
20 years! She spent many days watching a group of chimpanzees. As the days
turned into months, the chimps became
less afraid of her and finally began to accept
and trust her. Could you have been this
patient? Because of the amount of time
she spent with the chimps, she made many
new discoveries about chimp behavior. For
example, she was the first person to see
chimps making tools out of sticks to dig for
insects that they eat. She was also the first
to discover that chimps hunt and eat animal
prey. Before that, chimps were thought to
eat only plants, fruit, and nuts. Ms. Goodall
also noticed many things about chimps’
intelligence and similarity to humans. She
learned about how very complicated their
society is. Today, she spends a lot of time
working to help chimpanzees. She also
works hard to help people understand how
important it is to preserve our environment.
What does this quote from her mean to
you? Do you agree? END
ADVANCED
time didn’t believe animals had personalities? Goodall was the first to note how many
qualities chimps share with humans, including complex emotions. Goodall’s research
also overturned two long-standing beliefs of
the scientific community: that only humans
could construct and use tools, and that chimpanzees were vegetarians. Goodall remains a
tireless advocate for chimpanzees, and she
has been very outspoken about how wrong it
is to use them in research or entertainment
or keep them as pets. “Chimpanzees, more
than any other living creature, have helped
us to understand that there is no sharp line
between humans and the rest of the animal
kingdom,” Goodall once said. What significance does that concept have for humans
and way in which we treat animals? What
do you think of this quote? END
BASIC
9
Jane Goodall was born
in England in 1934.
She knew from an early age that she wanted
to work with wild animals. Her method of
studying animals in the wild was revolutionary. It emphasized patient observation over
long periods of time. In July of 1960, Goodall
arrived at the Gombe Stream National Park
in Tanzania, expecting to stay a few months.
Instead she stayed two decades! Does this
sound like something you could do?
Slowly, the chimps began to accept and
trust her. Because of this, she was able to
make groundbreaking observations about
chimpanzee behavior and social structure.
She named each chimpanzee and noted that
they had unique personalities. Surprisingly,
this was an unconventional idea in that
time. Why do you think scientists at that
NewsCurrents Week of April 30, 2012
9
Country of the Week: Sudan
Sudan has been a nation since 1956.
The Country of the Week
is one we’ve already discussed this week: Sudan. Sudan is very big
— it is more than one-fourth the size of the
United States. The world’s longest river runs
through Sudan. Do you know the name of
this river? (The Nile.) The Nile helps bring
water to the desert areas in northern Sudan.
The capital city of Sudan is located where
the two parts of the Nile come together.
What is the name of this city? (Khartoum.)
Here you see Khartoum, and Sudan’s president, Omar al-Bashir. In the north, he has
put in place laws based on the religion of
BASIC
GENERAL
This week’s country is
one we’ve already discussed in NewsCurrents this week: Sudan.
Sudan is one of Africa’s largest countries,
measuring a little more than one-fourth
the size of the United States. It is only the
sixth largest in population, though. That’s
because much of the country is either desert or wetlands, where few people live. Do
you know which part of the country has
more desert? (The north.) The longest river
in the world runs through Sudan. What
is the name of this river? (The Nile.) The
capital city of Sudan was built in 1821 at
the place where the two main northern
parts of this river, the Blue Nile and the
White Nile, come together. Can you figure
out the name of this city from the map?
(Khartoum.)
ADVANCED
Sudan is one of Africa’s
largest countries, and
includes three main geographical regions.
The northern third is mostly desert land,
populated by nomads and farmers. The
middle section, which contains the capital
city of Khartoum, consists of low mountains and plains. The southern region,
called “the Sudd,” combines wetlands and
swamps with rainforests.
The world’s longest river unites these three
regions. Do you know the name of this
river? (The Nile.) Khartoum was founded
in 1821 at the intersection of the river’s
two most important tributaries: the Blue
Nile and the White Nile. Why do you think
Khartoum was founded at this spot?
(Transportation, trade, irrigation, etc.)
Sudan was granted independence by
10
Muslims. What
is this religion? (Islam.)
Laws based on
Islam are called
Sharia laws. Most Sudanese people are
Muslims. But many non-Muslims do not
want to live under Sharia laws. Can you
understand why?
Sudan has been an independent country
since 1956. Before that it was controlled by
Britain and Egypt. Let’s find out more about
Sudan’s history and culture. NEXT
10
Here you see a picture of Khartoum, and
of Sudan’s president, Omar al-Bashir. He is
Muslim, and 70 percent of Sudan’s population is also Muslim. What is the name of
the religion that Muslims follow? (Islam.)
In the north, President Bashir has put in
place laws based on the teachings of Islam.
These are called Sharia laws. In northern
Sudan, these laws apply to everyone, even
those who are not Muslims. But many
non-Muslims in Sudan do not want to live
under Islamic laws. Can you understand
why? Oil is the main export of Sudan and
Sudan’s economy has been growing. But
in spite of this, most of Sudan’s people are
poor farmers. Do you think there is more
hope for the future now as things change
in Sudan? Let’s learn about Sudan’s history and culture. NEXT
Great Britain and Egypt on January 1st,
1956. But it has been a republic in
name only for some time; the government
has generally been controlled by a oneparty system, and most observers consider
President Omar al-Bashir to be a dictator.
In the north, Bashir has instituted Islamic
law, which applies to Muslims and nonMuslims alike. Does anyone know the
name for laws based on the teachings of
Islam? (Sharia.) But many non-Muslims
in Sudan are opposed to Sharia law.
Sudan’s major export is oil and the
country’s economy has been growing as oil
production has been increasing and prices
rising. But in spite of this, most Sudanese
are poor agricultural workers. Do you
think this will change? NEXT
NewsCurrents Week of April 30, 2012
Country of the Week: Sudan (cont'd)
Kush, a great ancient civilization, originated in Sudan.
People have lived in the
area we now call Sudan
for many thousands of years. There were
people living here as far back as 60,000
years ago. In fact, these people were some
of the first farmers in the world. This is
mostly because of the rich farmland along
the Nile River.
This area has had many names, of which
perhaps the most well known is Kush. Kush,
which is about as old as Egypt, was known
all over the rest of the world as a great
kingdom. The picture on top and on the
right shows the ancient Kush city of Meroë.
BASIC
GENERAL
Sudan is the modern
name for one of the
first human civilizations. People have lived
here since man first learned to use stone
tools, perhaps 60,000 years ago or more.
The area has been home to an organized
civilization for at least 10,000 years. Do you
know how long there has been a civilization in your community’s location?
Some of the earliest farming in the world
started in Sudan’s fertile Nile valley.
This area has had many names, of which
perhaps the most well known is Kush.
Kush, which is about as old as Egypt, was
known all over the rest of the world as a
great kingdom. Kush carried on a longstanding rivalry with Egypt, which was
just north of it. Ancient Egyptians called
the Kush the “land of the bow” because
ADVANCED
This area of Africa,
often called Nubia, is
one of the oldest human habitats in the
world. Archaeologists have found evidence
of settlement here as far back as the Stone
Age, and there was a flourishing civilization here as early as the year 8,000 B.C.E.
According to some experts, this was the
first area in the world to have been farmed.
What made this area attractive for early
humans? (The Nile River and its tributaries.) The ancient kingdom known to the
Egyptians as Kush is about as old as Egypt
itself. In fact, the two lands competed with
each other for resources and land, and
Egypt at one point called Kush “the land
of the bow” to honor the Kush archers and
warriors. Kush is one of the most important
centers of art, culture, and trade in world
What
are
these kinds
of
buildings called?
(Pyramids.)
The
British
took control of Sudan in 1898, and later
Egypt controlled it. How do you think this
foreign control affected Sudan? The man
in the other picture belongs to the Beja
people. This is one of many different ethnic
groups in Sudan. How do you think his
life is different from yours? END
11
its archers were so good. Here you see the
ancient Kush city of Meroë. What are these
structures called? (Pyramids.) What other
ancient culture built pyramids? (Egypt.)
Eventually, Kush was conquered by Egypt
and then Turkish rulers who controlled
it for hundreds of years. The British took
control of Sudan in 1898. Later, Britain
and Egypt shared control of it. The country gained independence in 1956. How
do you think this much foreign control
affected Sudan? Sudanese people have
very little modern experience ruling themselves. Sudan also has many different ethnic groups. The man you see here is from
the Beja ethnic group. How do you think
its many ethnic groups have affected
Sudan’s development? END
history. The pyramids here are located at
Meroë, which became the capital of this
area in 590 B.C.E. Why do you think we
hear so little of Sudan’s pyramids?
This region came under the rule of Egypt,
then Turkey, and then Egypt and Britain
together in the 1800s. With so many rulers
over the last thousand years, it is perhaps
no surprise that Sudan has had trouble
governing itself. Sudan has also struggled
to maintain peace between its many different ethnic groups. The other picture here
shows members of the Beja people in the
north of Sudan. There are several other
main ethnic groups, and hundreds of different tribal divisions within those groups.
How do you think being under foreign
control for so much of its history has
affected Sudan? END
NewsCurrents Week of April 30, 2012
11
THIS WEEK IN HISTORY
Niccolò Machiavelli, author of “The
Prince,” was born this week in 1469.
Niccolò Machiavelli —
nee-ko-LOH MOCK-ee-aVEHL-ee- lived six centuries ago, but his
writings still live on today, especially the
one shown at top left. What is the name
of this book? (“The Prince.”) This book
was banned in its time, and has been
both loved and hated for centuries. Let’s
learn more about this famous book, and
its author’s fascinating life and career.
Niccolò Machiavelli was born in one of
the world’s great cities: Florence. From
the map, in what country is Florence
located? (Italy.) He was born during
a time called the Italian Renaissance.
During this time, there was no country
called “Italy.” Florence, Rome, and other
cities were independent city-states. What
is a city-state? (An independent city
with its own government and army.) In
Italy, these city-states often competed
with each other for power, and teamed
up against other city-states. Does this
sound like a good political system?
Why or why not?
For a while, Machiavelli worked for the
Florentine government. He was also in
charge of the militia for Florence. What is
a militia? (A private or volunteer army.)
But then there was a change in the government, and Machiavelli was forced out.
For many politicians, that is where the
story would end.
For Machiavelli, however, that was just
the beginning. He wrote several plays that
were very popular. He translated ancient
texts from Rome and Greece, and was
also named Florence’s official historian.
He also managed to write one of the most
important books of political history of all
time — and one of the most controversial
too.
This book, “The Prince,” was never officially published during his lifetime, but
many people read it before he died, as
well as after. In “The Prince,” Machiavelli
GENERAL
12
12
sets out his theory of how rulers should
rule. He says that it is important for a
leader to seem like he is a good person
— but he does not actually need to always
act that way.
This might include using violence and
threats to scare his citizens and his soldiers into obeying his every order. In this
book’s philosophy, “It is best to be both
feared and loved, however, if one cannot be both it is better to be feared than
loved.” What does this quote mean to
you? Do you agree? Why or why not?
The phrase “the ends justifies the
means” is considered to be the main point
of Machiavelli’s writing. This means that if
a leader wants to be successful, he must
be realistic instead of idealistic. What
does this mean? (Idealism is the living
according to ideals, rather than “real life.”)
Machiavelli’s prince does not worry too
much about whether he is always making the “moral” choice — the only thing
that counts is the final result. To this
day, leaders who act this way are called
“Machiavellian.” Do you think this kind
of leadership is usual or unusual in the
United States? Explain your answer.
“The Prince” has upset many people
over the years. Some readers do not want
to think that rulers should lie and scare
their people just to remain in power. And
the Catholic Church banned the book
for a long time, as Machiavelli criticized
the church’s leaders quite strongly. But
Machiavelli has his defenders as well.
Some make the case that he wrote “The
Prince” to try to educate people about the
way their leaders really think. They point
out that he wrote it in Italian, instead of
Latin, so that ordinary Italians could read
it and argue about it — and learn from it.
Do you like reading works that challenge you, or do you prefer books that
make you feel safe and happy? END
NewsCurrents Week of April 30, 2012
FACES AND PLACES
13
Philip Humber
Florida
On April 12th, Chicago White Sox pitcher
Philip Humber accomplished something
only 20 other players have done in the
course of Major League Baseball’s 143year history — he pitched a perfect game.
In baseball, a perfect game means no hits,
no walks, and no opposing player reaches
base for any reason. Humber retired all 27
Seattle Mariners batters he faced to give
his team a 4-0 win. He is the first pitcher
to pitch a perfect game since Roy Halladay
did it for the Philadelphia Phillies in 2010.
After the final out, Humber was mobbed
by his teammates and given a standing
ovation by fans — despite the fact that the
game was played in Seattle. What do you
think it means to a pitcher to pitch a
perfect game?
Florida resident George Zimmerman
was arrested recently on a seconddegree murder charge in the February
26th shooting death of unarmed teenager Trayvon Martin. The day after his
arrest, Zimmerman entered a “not guilty”
plea to the charge. Zimmerman has told
police that he shot 17-year-old Martin
in self-defense after being attacked by
him. Martin’s family and friends believe
the teen was targeted by Zimmerman, a
neighborhood watch volunteer, because
Martin was black. Zimmerman had called
police about Martin to report a “suspicious” person walking through his neighborhood. The case has drawn national
attention and sparked protests and rallies
around the country. Zimmerman was
released from jail after posting $150,000
bail, but he must wear an electronic
tracking device until his trial starts. Have
you been following this case?
Rebecca Mieliwocki
President Obama recently honored
Rebecca Mieliwocki as the 2012 National
Teacher of the Year in a ceremony at the
White House. Mieliwocki is a seventhgrade English teacher at Luther Burbank
Middle School. Her parents were both
schoolteachers, but Mieliwocki started out
to be a lawyer, and then worked in several
other jobs before becoming a teacher. The
White House ceremony honored more
than 50 top teachers from around the
country. President Obama told the crowd,
“I wouldn’t be here today if it were not for
teachers like these.” Mieliwocki told the
audience, “Our children are our future
and that I have a hand in guiding and
shaping that future compels me to make
every minute, every lesson, every moment
with them count.” What do you think
makes someone a great teacher?
Russia
Scientists on a research expedition off
Russia’s far eastern coast have captured
footage of the first ever all-white adult
orca, or killer whale, in the wild. The
scientists from the Far East Russia Orca
Project announced last week that they
saw the orca twice during an expedition in
August 2010. The male orca, nicknamed
“Iceberg,” is thought to be at least 15 or
16 years old. He was first spotted with
a pod of 13 relatives. Scientists are hoping to determine whether the orca is an
albino, meaning it has a genetic disorder
in which the skin and hair are very pale
or white. Erich Hoyt, co-director of the Far
East Russia Orca Project, said, “Iceberg
is a symbol of all that is pure, wild, and
extraordinarily exciting out there in the
ocean…The challenge is to keep the ocean
healthy so that such surprises are always
possible.” What do you think is the biggest threat to our oceans? What do
you think it would be like to discover a
white orca in the wild?
NewsCurrents Week of April 30, 2012
13
WHERE IN THE WORLD?
Write the names and numbers of the
locations on the map next to their
descriptions below.
a. The retired space shuttle Discovery
has been moved to Smithsonian’s
National Air and Space Museum in this
state. ________________________________
d. The coast of this state is still recovering from a devastating oil spill two
years ago._____________________________
reproducible activity
b. This young country won its independence only last summer._______________
c. This country recently declared war
on the country in question b.__________
e. The new movie “Chimpanzee” was
filmed in this country._________________
f. Niccolo Machiavelli, a well-known figure of the Renaissance, was from this
country._______________________________
Answers on inside back cover
2
5
1
6
4
3
14
NewsCurrents Week of April 30, 2012
Remember When . . .
Dick Clark was a savvy businessman, a trendsetter, and the “World’s
Oldest Teenager.”
The world was saddened to hear about the
recent death of Dick Clark. What did you
think when you heard about this? He is
best known as the host of one of the most
important shows of the 20th century. This
show introduced America to many of its
most popular musical acts — and some
great dancing too. What was the name
of this show? (“American Bandstand.”)
His youthful appearance and enthusiasm
earned him the nickname shown here in
the image. Can anyone here read it?
(“The World’s Oldest Teenager.”)
Dick Clark’s career did, in fact, start when
he was a teenager. In 1945, he was working in the mailroom of his uncle’s radio
station when he was asked to announce
the weather on the air. He did a great job,
and was soon recording announcements
for the station. He attended Syracuse
University, where he learned more about
radio — and a brand-new medium called
television. Did you pay more attention to
TV or radio in 1952?
After graduation, Clark moved to the
Philadelphia area, where he became a
well-known radio host. In 1956, he took
over a TV show that focused on music.
His high-energy hosting style helped this
show, called “Bandstand,” become hugely
popular in the Philadelphia area. By 1957,
it was picked up by ABC and broadcast all
over the U.S. every week — and Dick Clark
was suddenly a superstar.
“American Bandstand” was a groundbreaking show in many ways. Many
famous acts made their TV debuts there,
from Brenda Lee and Gladys Knight to
Madonna. Everyone who was anyone in
music dropped in to pretend to sing his
or her latest hit. The picture at lower right
shows Clark doing the biggest dance fad
of the early 1960s, along with two other
famous musicians. Do you know who
these musicians are, and what this
dance was? (Conway Twitty is on the left,
and Chubby Checker is in the middle; they
are all doing “The Twist.”)
In addition, kids all over America learned
the latest moves by watching the show’s
teenaged dancers. We’ll always remember
Clark interviewing the dancers on the
famous “Rate-a-Record” feature. “American
Bandstand”
was also one
of the few
shows in the
1950s
and
early 1960s that actually showed young
people of different races on the same show.
Did you watch “American Bandstand”?
What was your favorite part of this
show?
Dick Clark hosted other popular shows
on TV, including “The $10,000 Pyramid,”
“America’s Funniest Videos,” and “New
Year’s Rockin’ Eve.” He also produced
these and many other shows, making him
one of the most powerful men in television.
He also owned chains of restaurants, radio
networks, and theaters.
Dick Clark had a stroke in 2004. He
worked hard to come back, and ended up
co-hosting his New Year’s show several
times after that. He died on April 18th,
2012, of a heart attack. What else do you
remember about Dick Clark? END
15
CONNECTION IDEAS:
Find YouTube clips of Dick Clark
talking with musicians and politicians, as well as hosting his many
shows. Show your group members
these clips, and discuss what made
him special as a TV personality.
Do a “Rate-a-Record” segment in
your facility! Find some good songs
from the 1940s and 1950s, then
play them and have members assign
a score to it. What makes for a great
song? What elements DON’T they
like in a song?
Another famous Dick Clark production is the “$10,000 Pyramid”
(aka “The $25,000 Pyramid,”
“The $50,000 Pyramid,” and “The
$100,000 Pyramid”). If you can find
a board version of this clue-guessing game, or even make your own,
that should provide your group with
lots of fun as they try to guess words
based on clues given by a partner.
NewsCurrents Week of April 30, 2012
15
Senior Quiz
reproducible activity
Spring is here, and along with it bouquets of fresh flowers! Answer these questions below with the name of a flower. What’s your favorite flower?
1. “Tiptoe Through the __________” is the name of a song.
2. She looked as fresh as a __________.
3. The French fleur-de-lis is a stylized __________.
4. A shy person is called a shrinking __________.
5. “Oh my love is like a red, red __________” is a line from a poem by Robert
Burns.
6. Dorothy Gale fell asleep in a field of __________.
7. Washington, D.C. puts on a spectacular show every spring with its
_________________ blossoms.
8. _________________________ are considered pesky weeds by many, but its greens
are tasty, and its flowers can be made into wine.
Answers on inside back cover
Word Jumble
reproducible activity
Unscramble these countries from every corner of the globe.
1. NADACA ___________________________________________________
2. ZALIRB ____________________________________________________
3. ILAAUSART ________________________________________________
4. STOAC CRAI _______________________________________________
5. GYURAUU__________________________________________________
6. MIBWZBAE ________________________________________________
7. NGYMREA _________________________________________________
8. NHDILAAT _________________________________________________
9. CMCOORO _________________________________________________
10. CMOIXE __________________________________________________
Answers on inside back cover
16
NewsCurrents Week of April 30, 2012
This week’s word search celebrates Cinco de Mayo, a
national holiday in Mexico. It commemorates the victory of Mexican forces, led by Gen. Ignacio Zaragoza,
over the French in the Battle of Puebla on May 5,
1862. Today it has become a festival of Mexican heritage in the U.S., and is celebrated by non-Mexican
Americans as well.
Word Search
AVOCADO
BURRITO
CHILI
CINCO
FIESTA
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NewsCurrents Week of April 30, 2012
17
Solution on inside back cover
BASIC REVIEW QUIZ
1) Sudan and (CHOOSE ONE: North, South) Sudan may be
going to war.
2) TRUE OR FALSE: Sudan is a landlocked country.
3) The space shuttle (CHOOSE ONE: Discovery, Challenger)
was recently put in a museum.
4) The International Space Station (CHOOSE ONE: is in
California, orbits the Earth).
5) The huge oil spill of 2010 occurred off the coast of
(CHOOSE ONE: California, Louisiana).
6) Chimpanzees live in (CHOOSE ONE: Africa, Asia).
7) (CHOOSE ONE: Sally Ride, Jane Goodall) is a well-known
expert on chimpanzees.
8) The __________ River, the world’s longest river, runs
through Sudan.
9) TRUE OR FALSE: Most people in Sudan are Muslim.
10) Niccolò Machiavelli, author of “The Prince,” lived in
Florence, a city in __________.
ESSAY OR DEBATE QUESTION
What do you think humans can learn about themselves by
studying very intelligent animals like chimpanzees?
18
NewsCurrents Week of April 30, 2012
GENERAL REVIEW QUIZ
1) Sudan and its neighbor, __________________________, may
be headed for war.
2) Omar al-Bashir is the president of _____________________.
3) The space shuttles have been used for many different
things, including bringing (CHOOSE ONE: satellites, airplanes) to outer space.
4) The __________________ telescope was brought into orbit by
the space shuttle Discovery.
5) The company that owned the rig where the 2010 oil spill
happened is ___________.
6) Congress (CHOOSE ONE: has, has not) passed laws making oil drilling safer.
7) The group of animals to which both chimpanzees and
humans belong is called ___________________.
8) _______________ was the first person to see chimps making
tools out of sticks to dig for insects that they eat.
9) The capital of Sudan is (CHOOSE ONE: Juba, Khartoum).
10) “The Prince,” a political book written by _______________
in the 1500s, is still used by many people today.
ESSAY OR DEBATE QUESTION
What do you think should be done to stop tragedies like the
BP oil spill from happening again? Explain your answer.
NewsCurrents Week of April 30, 2012
19
ADVANCED REVIEW QUIZ
1) _________________ is the president of Sudan.
2) South Sudan became independent in the year __________.
3) Apollo astronauts landed on the moon in the year
_____________.
4) ____________________ was the first American woman in
space.
5) Many people are upset about the chemical _______________
put in the Gulf’s water to break up the oil.
6) The new movie “Chimpanzee” was filmed in the African
nation __________________.
7) Jane Goodall overturned a longstanding belief among scientists that chimpanzees did not eat _________________.
8) The capital of Sudan is ______________________.
9) The ancient _____________________ civilization originated in
Sudan.
10) Complete this phrase, often associated with Machiavelli’s
political philosophy: “The ends justify ____________.”
ESSAY OR DEBATE QUESTION
What role do you think the U.S. government should play in
the Sudanese conflict?
20
NewsCurrents Week of April 30, 2012
Quiz Answers
Answers to Where in the World:
a-5, Virginia; b-4, South Sudan; c-1, Sudan; d-6,
Louisiana; e-3, Ivory Coast; f-2, Italy
Answers to Senior Quiz:
1-tulips; 2-daisy; 3-lily; 4-violet; 5-rose; 6-poppies; 7-cherry;
8-dandelions
Answers to Word Jumble:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
CANADA
BRAZIL
AUSTRALIA
COSTA RICA
URUGUAY
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
ZIMBABWE
GERMANY
THAILAND
MOROCCO
MEXICO
Solution to Word Search:
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Publisher: Judith Laitman
Managing Editor: Kristii Horn
Associate Editor: Susan Dopkins
Contributing Editor: Matt Cibula
Graphic Designers: Ann Kniskern, Todd Brei
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BASIC QUIZ
1-South
2-FALSE
3-Discovery
4-orbits the Earth
5-Louisiana
6-Africa
7-Jane Goodall
8-Nile
9-TRUE
10-Italy
GENERAL QUIZ
1-South Sudan
2-Sudan
3-satellites
4-Hubble
5-BP
6-has not
7-primates
8-Jane Goodall
9-Khartoum
10-Niccolò Machiavelli
ADVANCED QUIZ
1-Omar al-Bashir
2-2011
3-1969
4-Sally Ride
5-dispersants
6-Ivory Coast
7-meat
8-Khartoum
9-Kush
10-the means
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P.O. Box 52, Madison, WI 53701.
Phone Toll-Free:(800)356-2303
or call (608) 661-5666
Web site: www.newscurrents.com
e-mail: [email protected]