Student's World

Louis Pasteur’s gifts to the world

2007-02-26T10:58:00.000+05:30

Pasteurised milk, rabies vaccines, fermentation and a whole lot more. These were the gifts Louis Pasteur gave the world. Also called the Father of Microbiology and Immunology, Pasteur was one of the greatest scientists of the 19th century.
Born in a tiny village in France in 1822, Pasteur’s academic career actually took off under the influence of a brilliant chemistry teacher. Pasteur believed that science should have practical uses and went on to found the science of microbiology, or the study of organisms that are invisible to the naked eye. In fact, many of Pasteur’s greatest discoveries were based on the requests for help by wine and silk merchants, and his solutions to their problems, along with his work in fighting fatal diseases like rabies, made him a hero.
For instance, his most famous discovery, that of fermentation and decay, occurred when a vinegar manufacturer asked Pasteur to find out why the process of fermentation sometimes went awry. The problem was happening with both vinegar as well as wine. When Pasteur researched this predicament, he found that when wine aged properly, it contained round yeast cells. If the process went wrong, then the cells changed shape and became long and narrow. He had discovered that there were two types of yeast cells — one which helped the fermentation process and the other that spoilt the product.
Even as the scientific world absorbed this miracle, Pasteur went on to discover that heating wine to about 60 degrees Celsius killed the unwanted yeast. This method was soon applied equally to other liquids, especially to milk, and became known as "pasteurisation" after its inventor. Pasteur discovered the existence of life without oxygen: "Fermentation is the consequence of life without air". The discovery of anaerobic life paved the way for the study of germs that cause septicemia and gangrene, among other infections. Thanks to Pasteur, it became possible to devise techniques to kill microbes and to control contamination.
In 1881, Pasteur turned his attention to the combating of a deadly disease, in the shape of rabies, which was killing hundreds of people and animals in Europe every year. Careful studies showed Pasteur that brain tissue from infected animals could be turned into a vaccine. Four years later, in 1885, he experimented on a young boy who had been bitten by a rabid dog. The boy recovered. Going on from there, he proved that vaccination could help an animal to develop immunity to infecting bacteria.
Louis Pasteur’s discovery of the rabies vaccine had made him a star, and accolades, donations and rewards poured in even from political leaders like the Tsar of Russia and the Emperor of Brazil. The funds collected went to finance the Pasteur Institute, which was built in 1895. Pasteur died the very same year and was buried at the Institute.
He was the Father of Microbiology and Immunology.
Timeline....................
* 1822: Born in Arbois, France

* 1843: Begins his studies at the Ecole Normale Superieure, Paris

* 1854: Becomes Dean of The Faculty of Science at the University of Lille

* 1857-65: Studies the fermentation process

* 1865-70: Studies pebrine, a disease affecting the silkworm

* 1877-1887: Pasteur employed the fundamentals of microbiology in the battle against infectious diseases. He went on to discover three bacteria responsible for human illnesses — staphylococcus, streptococcus and pneumococcus.

* 1881: Begins work on rabies disease and proves the effectiveness of the anthrax vaccine

* 1888: Becomes Director of the Pasteur Institute

* 1895: Dies. Pasteur Institute is completed

Why does our nose run?

2007-02-26T10:56:00.000+05:30

Have you ever wondered why our noses run? Why do we constantly have to reach for a handkerchief when we catch a cold? Our noses run when we have a cold, cry or when it’s cold outside.
A cold is essentially a viral condition. When we catch a cold, the mucous membrane that lines the inside of our nose becomes irritated by this virus. The tissues of the membrane instinctively try to repair the damage done by the virus by increasing the production of water from the blood. They also increase the production of white blood cells, or leucocytes, that help to protect the body and actually attack the source of irritation. Further, the mucous that is produced by the membrane is continuously being moved towards the opening of the nose by the action of cilia, which are numerous tiny hairs present inside the nose. This is why our noses run when we catch a cold.
When we cry, the tears produced by the tear glands in the eyes overflow from the narrow tube that is connected to both the nose and the eyes. As a result our eyes water and our noses run. In this case the excess tears from our eyes flow out via the nose!
If you’re outside on a particularly cold day, you will notice that your nose begins to run. This is because the air in your nose is much warmer than the air outside and water droplets come together and condense. These drops mix with your mucus and run out of your nose!
Interesting ‘nose’ expressions
* When Raja decided he was not going to the party, he was just cutting off his nose to spite his face because he was the one who would lose out on having a good time (make things worse for yourself usually because you are angry).
* The teacher told Shalini that she had to keep her nose clean if she wanted to stay in school (stay out of trouble).
* He had been keeping his nose to the grindstone for three months because he wanted to do well in the board exams (work hard for a long period).
* Ram has managed to lead the principal by the nose ever since he got into senior school (persuade someone to do anything you want).
* Rita looks down her nose at people who she feels are not as clever as her (think of as worthless).
* My mother paid through the nose for a new car (pay too much). We hope these expressions will spur you on to look for many more such ones associated with the ‘nose’!

Improve Your Language

2007-02-26T10:50:00.000+05:30

Here are some more commonly made grammatical mistakes.
a) Amount, number
Correct usage: You will require the right amount of money.I was surprised at the number of people that attended the gathering.
Point to remember: Use the word amount to refer to quantity and number for things that are countable.The most common mistake of this kind is to refer to an “amount” of people instead of a “number” of people.
MoreNote: The word “more” can be used either way: you can eat more food and also drink more juice.
***
b) Less, fewer
Point to remember: These are often confused because they both mean the opposite of more. But more has two meanings: Greater amount and greater numberLess means not as much Fewer means not as many
Correct usage: Sheila earns less (not as much) money for her work.Sheila sells fewer (not as many) products than Jatin. It’s the units of time and money which are treated as amounts: less than an hour, less than five rupees. Only when you are referring to specific coins or bills would you use fewer: “I have fewer than fifty stickers left to complete my collection.”Note: The use of the word lesser is incorrect. Please use less than…
c) An historic, a historic
You should use “an” before a word beginning with an “H” only if the “H” is not pronounced: An honest effort; it’s a historic event.And also, and, also‘And also’ is redundant; say just ‘and’ or ‘also.’
d) Anxious, Eager
Correct usage: I am very anxious about my sick mother.I am eager to receive my present.
Point to remember: Anxious has to do with worry while eager means looking forward to.
e) Any where, anywhere
‘Anywhere,’ like ‘somewhere’ and ‘nowhere,’ is always one word.
f) Apart, a part
Correct usage: Six months after they were married, Seema and Raja decided to live apart.Seema always claimed that Ravi would be a part of her life forever.
Point to remember: Apart (single word) implies separation while the two-word (a part) signifies union!

Learn about our National Symbols

2007-02-19T20:42:00.000+05:30

Symbols are created to unite people using either a visual vocabulary, or by creating verbal representations of a nation’s goals, values or history. India, for example, is a country that is home to people with diverse backgrounds, religions, cultures and traditions. Binding all these together is our National Anthem and our National Flag. And this is what sets us apart from other nations and gives us a sense of individuality and pride in our motherland.
Symbols should be cherished and preserved by all of us for they are what makes us unique and what makes us proud to be Indian. Here are some facts on some of our other national symbols:
The national animal
The Tiger is symbolic of India’s wealth of wildlife. Its combination of grace, strength, agility and enormous power has contributed to making it our national animal. Sadly however, this magnificent beast is in danger of extinction today.
The national flower
The Lotus symbolises divinity, fertility, wealth and enlightenment. It occupies a unique place in our art and mythology and is held in the hands of numerous Gods and Goddesses. This is a flower that rises above the dark depths of the water to spread its beauty for everyone to see — therefore it is considered a symbol of triumph.
The lotus also symbolises purity of heart and mind.
The national bird
The Peacock is India’s national bird because it is symbolic of beauty, grace, pride and mysticism. Depicted in the company of Gods and Goddesses, the peacock is protected by a Parliamentary statute as well as under the Indian Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972.
The national fruit
The Mango, cultivated in India since time immemorial, is our national fruit. We have over 100 varieties of the fruit that come in a range of colours, shapes and sizes. Our heritage is full of tales, songs and sketches of the mango tree. The poet Kalidasa sang its praises, Akbar was so taken up by the fruit that he planted a grove of mango trees. The mango tree is also as a symbol of life and is thus used in puja ceremonies or to decorate the doorways of homes. It heralds the season of spring and is considered the Creator’s blessing. And who can forget that the paisley takes its inspiration from the mango?
The national tree
The Banyan tree that towers over its counterparts and has the widest reaching roots of all known trees that in turn have the ability to give birth to new shoots, is our national tree. The Banyan, is capable of regenerating and is therefore thought of as immortal. Old pictures depict our sages sitting under the shade of this leafy tree holding their councils and meetings. It is not surprising therefore, that this is one of our national symbols.

Answer This Question?

2007-02-19T20:38:00.000+05:30

Who do you think are the 3 most important people in the world today?
*The three most important people in the world today are the soldier, the doctor and the farmer. Soldiers are fighters who protect our country.
They are ready to die for their country so that we live in peace and dignity. Doctors too lead a stressful life spending all their time in treating us. Farmers feed us.
They are the very soul of our country. That is why the late Prime Minister Lal Bahadur Shastri gave us the slogan: Jai Jawan, Jai Kisan.
(Dheeraj V. JessaniSt Stanislaus High School .Mumbai)

*To me, the three most important people in the world are mother, teacher and friend.God exists but cannot be present physically every where. A mother takes care of her young ones even at the cost of her life. She is a child’s constant companion — feeding, clothing, teaching and nurturing. We owe our existence to our mother. Next comes the teacher who gives us knowledge which helps us succeed in life. Thirdly, a true friend who you can depend on is a priceless possession.
(Maranatha Edwin,Delhi Public School)

Today’s inspiration

2007-02-19T20:36:00.000+05:30

The tears happen:
Endure, grieve, and move on. The only person who is with us our entire life, is ourself.LIVE while you are alive.

In the blink of an eye

2007-02-19T20:35:00.000+05:30

Have you ever wondered why you blink your eyes? If you haven’t, here’s some food for thought. Blinking our eyes automatically supplies them with moisture. In fact, blinking acts like oil would if used on dry skin. Blinking is so fast that the motion does not impair our vision. It lasts only one tenth of a second — all the time needed to clear away those dust particles and to spread lubricating fluids across the eyeball.
Amazing isn’t it? Think about it. One blink later and your eyes are moistened! Our eyelids can be likened to "wind-shield wipers." Their rims are lined with 20-30 sebaceous, oil-producing glands, which are located between our eyelashes, and are invisible to the naked eye. Our eyelids draw on a fluid from the tear duct over our eyeballs to moisturise our eyes. This same fluid flows copiously when we cry.
But apart from keeping our eyes from drying out, blinking also helps to keep the foreign bodies out. Blinking also keeps your eyes safe from situations where you have to confront harsh, bright lights. Blinking causes our eyelids to lower and with this motion our eyelashes serve as dust-catchers. If you look at the camel, for example, you will find that it has huge, thick curly eyelashes. That’s because the camel, also known as the Ship of the Desert, needs protection against the frequent dust storms that it may encounter on its journey through the desert.
And last but not least if you’ve ever wondered why the world around you does not go dark every time you blink, scientists have discovered that the human brain ignores what it perceives to be a momentary blackout.
And now for some interesting expressions associated with the eyes:
* Shalini is the ‘apple of her father’s eye’ (a cherished person).
* My mother did not ‘bat an eyelash’ when we told her we were going to be home late (show surprise).
* We couldn’t ‘believe our eyes’ when we saw our teacher at the party (believe what one sees).
* I tried to ‘catch Anil’s eye’ at the party but he did not see me (attract one’s attention).
* His ‘eyes were bigger than his stomach’ when he went to the restaurant and ordered too much food (take more than what you can eat).
* The teacher has ‘eyes in the back of her head’ and always knows what is going on in the classroom (ability to know what happens when one’s back is turned).
There are many more ‘eye’ idioms like these. Why don’t you see how many you know?

Improve Your Language

2007-02-19T20:25:00.000+05:30

Everyone has the right to express him/herself in any way they choose. However, if you do wish to communicate effectively, you must use the right words and in the right context. Here is a rough guide to help you navigate your way through the English language maze.
Common grammatical errors
1 .Accept, except
Correct usage:
* Usha and Ravi accepted my invitation to dinner.
* Everyone went out to dinner except me.Point to remember: Accept is a verb while except is a preposition.
2 .Advice, advise
Correct usage:
* Ravi’s advice was invaluable.
* I was advised to buy a better guidebook.
Point to remember: Advice is a noun while advise is a verb.
3. Affect, effect
Correct usage:
* My mother told me that pollution affects everyone.
* However the word will change when you say ‘The effects of pollution include diseases like asthma.’
* Similarly, ‘Your anger does not affect me.’ But the word changes when you say ‘Your anger has no effect on me.’
Point to remember: Affect is a verb which means to influence; to attack or infect, as a disease, to act on the emotions of; touch or move. Effect could be either a noun or a verb. The verb means to cause; to happen; while the noun means the result.
4 .Almost, most
Correct usage:
* Almost all the dinner I cooked was eaten.
* Most of us are studying hard these days.
Point to remember: Almost is an adverb while most is used to modify a noun and is used to form the superlative.
5 .Already, all ready
Correct usage:
* The paper had already begun by the time we reached the examination hall.
* Ravi, Seema and I were all ready for the examination.
Point to remember: Already means ‘before the specified time’ while all ready means ‘completely prepared.’
6. Altogether, all together
Correct usage:
* The thought of another tsunami is altogether too scary.
* Ravi, Seema and I were all together in the park.
Point to remember: Altogether means ‘completely, thoroughly’ while all together means ‘in a group.’

A timetable to cope with Boards

2007-02-11T14:35:00.000+05:30

With the board exams knocking at the door, here are some valuable thoughts on how you can deal with stress. Experts say that over 80 per cent of students report significant exam anxiety before their papers. This at least means you are not alone!It is important for you to understand what you are feeling and learn to handle your fears in a constructive manner. Never feel swamped or overwhelmed by fear. Here are some suggestions that’ll help you to de-stress.
Learn to relax: All you need is 10 minutes of free time. This will help you unwind.
Focus right: Close your eyes and focus on your body. Think about your toes. How do they feel? Are your shoes comfortable? If not take them off. Now go upwards and concentrate on your legs. Are you sitting in the right position? Are you relaxed? Work your way up your body. If some part of it is aching, adjust your position. Soon you will find yourself feeling almost liquid. No more tense spots and no more worries.
Use your imagination: Shut your eyes and visualise yourself in the midst of a serene scene. Choose the setting of your choice and fantasise about it. Get into your fantasy. This is an excellent relaxer.
Play some music: Listen to your favourite music. No heavy rock or metal please! Something that really soothes the soul. “Music has the ability to soothe and calm, so you're bound to be less tense afterwards,” says Dr. Yatish Agrawal, National Consultant to the WHO.
Set routines: “Set a routine for yourself. A routine always keeps thoughts at bay and gives you a sense of control over your fears,” says counsellor, Pravin Kumar, adding, “use positive suggestions and statements.” If it’s revision-related: Here are some tips.
* Make a realistic revision timetable and stick to it.
* Revision should never be left to the last day.
* Suppose you are revising something you've never been good at. You don't really like the subject at all. What you should do in this case is to set a period of about one hour of intense study. Then take a one hour break. Then go back to it and take another break and so on.
* Underline passages of importance. Make notes. And try to practice your answers by writing them down. Writing always helps you retain things better. Many students study all night and day. This is really not such a good idea.
* Plan well ahead of the boards. Now is a good time. Make a tentative list of the number of days you would require in total after you have allotted days to each subject. Now write out a rough schedule with free days in between each subject to cater to any thing that may come up unexpectedly (you may have given yourself 4 days for Biology but you actually need five and so on).
* Do schedule your map work, diagrams etc into your work sheet. Remember maps can bring you 100 per cent marks. That is, if a map question carries 8 marks and you get everything right — that's 8 marks added to your total.
* Go to bed at a reasonable hour to get enough sleep. Being too tired will slow down your revision and not help your exam chances.
* Do a few sample papers.
* And finally, never study for hours on end. More than three hours of study must be broken up with at least half an hour of free time. “And if stress is still bothering you. Talk to a friend, your teacher, parent or even a helpline,” advises Kumar.

Winters mean sleep time

2007-02-11T14:33:00.000+05:30

Have you ever wondered how animals spend the winter? Did you know that some sleep the whole winter away? While we spend time in houses that are warmed either by central heating or good old heaters, animals have no such luck — expect of course if they are house pets. Animals do many different, amazing things to get through the winter. Some of them migrate, others adapt and some hibernate. Today, we will take a look at what hibernation is about.
Hibernation is a very deep sleep that some animals, like bears, go into all through winter. During this period they need little or no food as this deep sleep allows them to conserve energy, and survive the winter. Most animals therefore, prepare for this period by storing food in their burrows or dens to eat when they wake up for short periods. Others stuff themselves with extra food while it is available in plenty.
Hibernators appear almost dead. Their body temperature drops and their breathing and heart beat slow down significantly. For example, a hibernating land beaver’s heart rate slows from 80 to 4 beats per minute, and its temperature drops from 980F to as low as 380F. Of course some animals do not experience major changes in temperature, heart rate and breathing. Animals such as skunks, raccoons and some chipmunks are light sleepers and thus, easily awakened. They may sleep during the most severe weather and wake up to eat during milder weather.
The largest hibernators are the bears. Their temperature drops slightly so that they awaken more easily. The grizzly or black bear, for example, is unique because it does not eat, drink, or excrete at all while hibernating, which can be as long as six months! Scientists have been wondering how animals know it is time to hibernate. But what is known is that animals that hibernate have something in their blood called HIT, or Hibernation Inducement Trigger.
Animals that hibernate
* Bears and chipmunks
* Frogs, snakes and even some bugs
* The jumping mouse, little brown bat, the eastern chipmunk, and some species of ground squirrels.

Create a paper-bag puppet owl

2007-02-11T14:30:00.000+05:30

What you need
* Brown paper bag
* Brown construction paper
* Scissors
* Craft glue
* Orange, yellow and black craft foam
* One black chenille stem
* Black marker
What to do
1. Lay the bag flat, with the flap side up.
2. Measure the width and depth of the bag flap. Then, cut a rectangle of brown construction paper that same size. Cut rectangle shape into a triangle shape and glue onto the bag as shown.
3. Cut two brown construction paper triangles about 2 inches tall for the ears. Glue the bottom of the ears to the back of the bag as shown.
4. Cut out two yellow foam circles for the eyes, about 2 inches in diameter.
5. Cut two black foam circles for the pupils about ½ inch in diameter. Glue the pupils onto the yellow circles.
6. Glue the eyes to the center of the bag.
7. Cut two 1 inch chenille stem pieces and glue on as eyebrows.
8. Cut the beak from orange foam. (We made ours a diamond or kite shape about 2 inches long.)9. Glue only the top part of the beak onto the head, with half the beak coming over the flap.
10. Cut two three-toed feet out of orange foam. Cut one piece first and use that piece as a pattern for the second.
11. Cut three black foam claws for each foot. Glue the claws onto the feet; glue the feet onto the paper bag as shown.
12. Cut an oval shape of the brown construction paper and glue it to the belly.
13. To make a wing, trace around your hand on the brown construction paper. Repeat this for the second wing and cut out both pieces. Glue the edge of each wing to the back of the bag as shown.When you’re not using your owl puppet, you can place the owl over a plastic bottle to display.

Increase your vocabulary

2007-02-11T14:27:00.000+05:30

1. Executive
2. Unnatural
3. Subsequent
4. International
5. Contract
6. Attractive
7. Consequence
8. Good-natured
9. Pursuit
10. Retraction
11. Portrait
12. Nativity
Match the twelve definitions below to the vocabulary words on the left
a. Contrary to the laws and course of forces; at variance with what is normal and expected
b. Having or showing a pleasant, kindly, agreeable disposition; amiable
c. The state of being born, esp. with reference to the place of being produced
d. Between or among countries; pertaining to two or more countries or their citizens
e. A painting, photograph or other likeness of a person, esp. one showing the face
f. Providing pleasure or delight, esp. in appearance; charming; alluring, arousing interest
g. To draw together; to settle or establish by agreement; to restrict; to shorten
h. Withdrawal of an opinion, statement or promise as inaccurate or unjustified
i. Person or group having administrative or supervisory authority in an organization
j. Act of following in order to overtake; effort to secure or attain; quest
k. Effect, result or outcome of something occurring earlier; conclusion reached
l. Occurring or coming later or after; following in order of succession

Answers: 1 - i; 2 - A; 3 - L; 4 - D; 5 - G; 6 - F; 7 - K; 8 - B; 9 - J; 10 - H; 11 - E; 12 - C

Catching food spider style

2007-02-11T14:25:00.000+05:30

Navigating a sticky trap
Because a spider has only two body segments, it is technically not an insect. In fact, spiders love to eat insects. To catch food, some spiders use special glands to create silken threads and build a web, a task that’s usually done at night and can be completed in as little as 30 minutes. Some, but not all, of the silky strands are sticky and serve to entangle prey. If you’re wondering why spiders don’t get caught in their own webs, it’s because they tend to remember which strands are which, and just to be safe, they coat their legs with an oily substance that keeps them from sticking.

Kill them

2006-06-23T22:48:00.000+05:30

You would have certainly heard of suicide, homicide, genocide, etc.
These are all terms used to suggest killing. Though it’s wrong to kill, there are certain insects which spoil our stuff and you have to kill them. But what’s the act called?

Killing of insects: insecticide
Killing of adult insects: adulticide, imagocide
Killing of insect larvae: larvicide
Killing of insect eggs: ovicide
Killing of pests: pesticide
Killing of ants: formicide, formicicide
Killing of aphids: aphidicide, aphicide
Killing of bedbugs: cimicide
Killing of bees: apicide
Killing of fleas: pulicide, pulicicide
Killing of flies: muscacide, muscicide
Killing of gnats or mosquitos: culicicide
Killing of lice: lousicide, pediculicide
Killing of mites: acaricide, miticide
Killing of mosquitos: mosquitocide
Killing of spiders or scorpions: arachnidcide
Killing of wasps: vespacide

Apes can think ahead

2006-06-23T22:46:00.000+05:30

People aren’t the only ones making plans. New research as reported by Timeforkids.com suggests that two species of great apes have the ability to think ahead. Researchers say this ability developed long before electronic planners or even the most basic calendars existed.

Earlier research had shown that apes could find or even make tools to solve a problem on the spot. Scientists at the Max Planck Institute conducted their experiments to see whether apes would hold onto the tools for future use. Six out of 16 times, the apes chose the right tool, kept it with them in the waiting room and used it to reach the reward. The apes were just as successful even after more time passed.

Language Ladder

2006-06-23T22:41:00.000+05:30

Emulate \EM-yuh-layt\ verb
What does it mean?
To try to be like or better than
How do you use it?
Teachers often urge their students to emulate a respected and admired person from history.

Concrete \kahn-KREET\ adjective
What does it mean?
1. Naming a real thing or class of things: not abstract
2. Belonging to or based on actual experience.
3. Relating to or made of concrete.
How do you use it?
Even though she had no concrete proof, Marianne was sure that her family was planning a surprise party for her.

Defiant \dih-FYE-unt\ adjective
What does it mean?
Full of or showing defiance: impudent, insolent
How do you use it?
Even after being asked three times, Aidan remained defiant and wouldn't give up his chair.

Lounge \LOWNJ "OW" as in "cow"\ verb
What does it mean?
1. To move or act in a lazy, slow, or tired way.
2. To stand, sit, or lie in a lazy relaxed manner.
How do you use it?
Grandma came out to the porch, threw me a dish towel, and said, "Quit lounging around out here! Get in there and dry those dishes!"

Turnpike \TURN-pyke\ noun
What does it mean?
1. A road one must pay to use
2. A main road
How do you use it?
Even driving on the turnpike, it took us three hours to get to our cousin's house.

Poetic twist

2006-06-23T22:38:00.000+05:30

The Two-Toed Tree-Toad
A tree-toad loved a she-toad
Who lived up in a tree.
He was a two-toed tree-toad,
But a three-toed toad was she.
The two-toed tree-toad tried to win
The three-toed she-toad's heart,
For the two-toed tree-toad loved the ground
That the three-toed tree-toad trod.
But the two-toed tree-toad tried in vain;
He couldn't please her whim.
From her tree-toad bower,
With her three-toed power,
The she-toad vetoed him.

History jokes

2006-06-23T22:37:00.000+05:30

What was King Arthur’s favourite game?
Knights and crosses.
Why did the knight run about shouting for a tin opener?
He had a bee in his suit of armour.
What was Camelot?
A place where people parked their camels.
What was Camelot famous for?
It’s knight life.
Why did the tyrannosaurus wear a Band Aid?
He had a dino sore.
When a knight in armour was killed in battle, what sign did they put on his grave?
Rust in peace.
When were King Arthur’s army too tired to fight?
When they had lots of sleepless knights.
What English King invented the fireplace?
Alfred the grate.
What famous chiropodist ruled England?
William the Corn-cutter.
Who invented fractions?
Henry the 1/8th.

Ever wondered...

2006-06-13T12:27:00.000+05:30

What is the quickest way to double your money?
Fold it in half.
What is hail?
Hard boiled rain.
What is Cheddar Gorge?
A large cheese sandwich.
What language do they speak in Cuba?
Cubic.
What is a myth?
A female moth.
What is an archaeologist?
Someone whose career is in ruins.
What is the noisiest game?
Squash because you can't play it without raising a racquet.
Why do birds fly south in the winter?
Because it's too far to walk.
How many balls of string would it take to reach the moon?
Just one if it's long enough.

Find the match

2006-06-13T12:25:00.000+05:30

a. SECRETE
b. ALLEGATION
c. UNJUSTLY
d. CERTIFY
e. PERJURY
f. RELEGATE
g. RECRIMINATION
h. ILLEGITIMATE
i. DISCRIMINATE
j. ABJURE
k. LEGACY
l. JURISDICTION

Match the twelve definitions below to the vocabulary words on the top.
a. Without or lacking fairness.
b. The willful giving of false testimony under oath, especially in a legal inquiry.
c. A bitter countercharge (or counteraccusation) against a denouncer.
d. Anything handed down from the past, as from an ancestor.
e. To confine or send to an inferior or lower position, condition or place.
f. Right, power or authority to hear, to determine and to administer justice in a case.
g. To discharge, generate or release; to separate out (a substance) from cells.
h. To distinguish or note as different; to show partiality; to differentiate against.
i. To attest to as certain; to confirm; to testify or vouch for; to guarantee.
j. Not correct by law; not in accordance with established rules, principles or standards.
k. To repudiate or retract especially with formal solemnity; to recant; to forswear.
l. An affirmation or assertion with little or no proof.

ANSWERS: 1 - g; 2 - L; 3 - a; 4 - i; 5 - b; 6 - e; 7 - c; 8 - j; 9 - h; 10 - k; 11 - d; 12 - f

Language ladder

2006-06-13T12:20:00.000+05:30

Paramount \PAIR-uh-mount\ (adjective)
What does it mean?
Superior to all others.
Supreme
How do you use it?
Niko's earnest desire for a good grade in physics was paramount to every other desire he had.

Redeem \rih-DEEM\ (verb)
What does it mean?
1. To buy or win back
2 (a) To ransom or free by paying a price.
(b) To free from the penalties of sin
3. To change for the better, reform
4. To remove the obligation of by payment
5. To make good, fulfill
How do you use it?
I would risk my life to redeem my honor and recapture my sense of decency. I shall pay my debt and blot out the foul mark that sullies my good name.

Tractable \TRAK-tuh-bul\ (adjective)
What does it mean?
Easily led, taught, or controlled
How do you use it?
The old lady made a marvellously patient and tractable invalid.

Students must have freedom of choice?

2006-06-06T22:28:00.000+05:30

With the increasing number of suicides committed by teenagers after their dismal performance in the Board exams, parents seem worried. After the recently announced CBSE results for Class 10 and 12, the capital alone registered seven cases of suicide by teenagers.
The scenario is not only upsetting parents, but sociologists and psychiatrists seem perturbed by this disruptive social trend. Says renowned psychiatrist Samir Parikh, ?It?s an alarming signal for our society that our youngsters are getting depressed because of their mediocre performance in exams. Peer pressure and the rise in competition to move ahead are two major factors for this trend. Both parents and teachers must ensure that their children and students don?t get entangled in this depressive net and have reasons to smile even in the time of crisis.?
But beyond the distant sermonising, the pain and suffering the student goes through can only be fully understood by him, feels Sameera Bhargav, a Class 12 student, who attempted suicide because of her poor performance in mathematics. ?It?s not that I lack the courage to face the world after failure, but what was? unbearable for me was to accept the fact that I?m far behind my classmates. Despite doing my best, I decided to end my life to escape the humiliation. But I was saved by God?s grace,? she explains.
Refusing to accept the lack of confidence and courage in her daughter, Sameera?s mother Gitanjali Bhargav says, ?Sometimes, the reason behind a bad performance might be an incorrect choice of subjects. Since every child has an inborn talent for a specific field or discipline, it?s the duty of both the parents and teachers to help them pursue what they enjoy. That?s what exactly happened with Sameera. She is exceptionally good in literature, but we made her take science and maths to make her an engineer which proved fatal for our child as she is highly sensitive and can?t take failure easily.?
Prof. Manjit Arya, who taught sociology at the JNU, says that it?s high time that teenagers are given their space to pursue what they actually like. ?In today?s world, several avenues other than the conventional ones have opened. So, why should we impose our preferences upon them?? he asks.

Barbie, Mickey out, action heroes in

2006-06-06T22:21:00.000+05:30

Youngsters are very particular about which cartoon character or movie idol can grace their school bags, tiffin box, pencil case and so on
No school bag, tiffin box, water bottle or pencil case is even considered if it doesn?t come with a cool Power Ranger, Harry Potter, Ninja Turtles? design or picture on it. And nobody wants to touch anything with the colour pink as it?s considered too girly and common. Barbie doll and Mickey Mouse are over the hill!
?Mickey Mouse is so old. He belonged to my sister?s era. I am all for Power Rangers. My dad didn?t want to buy me a Power Ranger school bag so I requested my uncle who lives in Mumbai to buy me one. Can?t wait to see it. My cousins also promised to send me all the new stuff they have bought,? says six-year-old Rahul Srivastava.

If you still want to stick with something old, Pokemon and Beyblade are a safe bet since kids are still crazy about them. When asked why Barbie, a perennial favourite till the other day, is no longer considered cool, A. Pooja a fifth standard student says, ?She is a little old now. My older cousins who are in high school had Barbie merchandise, so wouldn?t I look really outdated if I sported something with Barbie on it?? Pooja prefers the cartoon character Tweety and Powerpuff girls instead. ?Powerpuff girls are very friendly but can destroy the evil fly if they feel like, what can Barbie do?,? she asks.

If you think girls ignoring Barbie is shocking, boys are bored of navy blue and black coloured school bags. Bhargava Sai, a 12-year-old says, ?It?s so annoying to see only girls sport colourful things whereas we have just black or navy blue bags. Now I have a nice Power Ranger water bottle and can?t wait to take it to school. My cousin who lives in America sent me Bayblade erasers and pencil sharpeners. I?m sure nobody has them. Atleast I haven?t seen them in any of the shops here.?

Talking about shops, shopkeepers say they are being bombarded with demands for Power Rangers and Beyblade merchandise. ?We have enough Beyblade merchandise but are not able to meet the demand for Power Ranger stock,? says Sunil Prakash, owner of Prakash Party Shop. Other stores in the meanwhile cash in on all time favourite characters like Harry Potter. ?Pencil boxes with characters from the Harry Potter ?s latest movie have all been sold out,? says Venkat Prasad, the sales manager at Lifestyle.

Interesting facts

2006-06-06T11:31:00.000+05:30

Einstein won the Nobel Prize in 1921 for his work on the photoelectric effect.

100,000 Swiss francs or approximately $80,000 is needed to open a Swiss bank account.

The average iceberg weighs 20,000,000 tons. In Newfoundland, iceberg ice is now ‘harvested’ for bottled water and vodka production.

The colours and patterns you see when you rub your eyes are called pressure phosphenes.

Popcorn pops because of water stored in a small circle of starch in each kernel. When the kernel is heated, the water turns into steam which builds up pressure until the kernel explodes.

The first camera was called the camera obscura, which means dark chamber.

‘Brain Age’ keeps you thinking

2006-06-06T11:30:00.000+05:30

He cried in a whisper at some image, at some vision — he cried out twice, a cry that was no more than a breath: “The horror! The horror! ”Ryuta Kawa-shima’s new game, “Brain Age,” (Nintendo for Nintendo DS, $19.95) deserves a four-star rating if only for devising a clever way to convince gamers to read aloud from dramatic passages like this one by Joseph Conrad.
To rack up top scores in “Brain Age,” he requires players also to read aloud from Robert Louis Stevenson, Herman Melville and Jack London. These excerpts from great literature certainly are the most unusual aspect of “Brain Age.” But there’s a lot more than reading aloud in this suite of 15 minigames developed by Kawashima, who claims to be a Japanese medical researcher with a specialty in improving the functions of the human brain.
Each day, players are supposed to fire up “Brain Age” and play several games involving math, vocabulary, short-term memory and critical thinking. Some days that involves reading aloud. Other days, it’s a Sudoku puzzle or rapid-fire math problems.

What am I?

2006-06-06T11:29:00.000+05:30

Abuse me for I will not care.
Curse me when I stray from fair.
Brute force won’t put me in my place.
Smooth and even wins the race.
Envy colours where I rest.
No sandy beaches for the best.

Learn about the Sun

2006-06-06T11:28:00.000+05:30

Summer solstice, that falls on June 21, is considered the longest day of the year because it has the most daylight hours between sunrise and sunset. In the summer, the North Pole tilts toward the sun, so the Northern Hemisphere gets more sunlight. On the solstice, the North Pole is tilted the closest to the Sun. On this day, the sun reaches its highest point in the sky.
There’s a lot to learn about our nearest star, the Sun, which may seem calm and steady but is always changing. Its energy causes weather and seasons. The sun provides heat for oceans, air and land. It creates water vapour by evaporating water from lakes and oceans, which drops as rain or snow. And plants and animals can’t survive without light and water.

Language Ladder

2006-06-06T11:24:00.000+05:30

Raucous \RAW-kuss\ (adjective)
What does it mean?
1 Being harsh and unpleasant
2 Behaving in a rough and noisy way
How do you use it?
The announcer’s message could not be heard over the shouting and laughter of the raucous crowd.

Cabinet \KAB-nit\ (noun)
What does it mean?
1 (a) A case or cupboard usually having doors and shelves
(b) A case for a radio or television
2 A group of advisers to the political head of a government
How do you use it?
Liam and his dad sanded, stained, and then painted the doors of all the kitchen cabinets.

Immutable \ih-MYOO-tuh-bul\ (adjective)
What does it mean?
Impossible to change
How do you use it?
The immutable law of gravity explains why what goes up must come down.

Fill in the blanks

2006-06-06T11:20:00.000+05:30

Word bank for the sentences below (words are listed alphabetically): Please put your answers in the blanks within the sentences.

CATALYST, DEPOSIT, ELEMENT, ELUVIAL, EQUILIBRIUM, EXPLORATION, FERMENT, FOSSIL, GRAVITATION, KINETIC, MAGNET, MATTER, MINERAL, MOLECULE, REACTION, SEDIMENTARY, SYNTHESIS, VELOCITY

1. Bobby puzzled over the odd directions pool balls take when they ricochet off each other, a result of a ________ action.
2. When the clerk tripped, spilling hundreds of tiny paper clips, he used a ________ to amass them into a pile.
3. The geologist at the excavation site discovered a significant ________, a print of bones from dinosaurs.
4. If Tim leaves his glass of milk in the hot sun all day, it will ________ and turn sour.
5. The physicist examined electrons and protons, the most minute particles which make up ________.
6. The statistician calculated and reported every hour the ________ of the hurricane winds.
7. On the windward slope, ________ deposits occurred with frequency and made hikers step cautiously.
8. Documentation states that on the moon there is less ________ than there is on earth.
9. Timmy avidly watched the birds make a ________ of small pieces of string, twigs and grasses into the nest.
10. Frank needs to study only one more abbreviation of an ________ to have memorised forty-five.
11. A diamond, unlike coal, is a ________ that has certain specific properties that can be determined and rated.
12. The scientist speculates that there can be no ________ between a mixture of ammonia and alcohol.
13. The chemist, peering into the powerful microscope, was frustrated to locate only a single atom in the ________.
14. Did you learn in class that a chemical ________ regulates the rate of its reactions?
15. ________ rocks have multiple colors because they are made from various fragments as well as animal and plant remains.

ANSWERS: 1. KINETIC 2. MAGNET 3. FOSSIL 4. FERMENT 5. MATTEr 6. VELOCITY 7. ELUVIAL 8. GRAVITATION 9. DEPOSIT 10. ELEMENT 11. MINERAL 12. SYNTHESIS 13. MOLECULE 14. CATALYST. 15 SEDIMENTARY

Know the prefixes better

2006-06-06T11:17:00.000+05:30

AD = to, toward
CIRCUM = around — circumSPECT
CON-COM = with —conSPICuous
CONTRA = against
DE = down, from — deSPICable
E(X) = out of, outside — exPECT
EXTRA = beyond
IN-EN = in, into — inSPECT
INTER = between
OB = against PER = through, across — perSPECTive
POST = after
PRE = before, toward
PR0 = before, forward — proSPECT
RE = again — reSPECT
RETRO = backward — retroSPECT
SUB = under, below — suSPECT
TELE = far
TRANS = across

What are the world’s largest and the smallest fish?

2006-06-06T11:15:00.000+05:30

The largest is the whale shark, which grows to more than 50 feet in length and may weigh several tons; second largest is the basking shark, which may measure 35 to 40 feet long. The smallest fish is the tiny goby, an inhabitant of fresh-to-brackish-water lakes in Luzon, Philippines. It seldom is longer than a half inch at adulthood, yet is so abundant it supports a fishery.

Don’t write, draw instead

2006-06-05T23:22:00.000+05:30

It’s not illegal to have an illegible handwriting, but it’s annoying for both the person reading it and the one who has written it too. Not only are you constantly told to improve, but you can’t score well in essays sand tests because the teacher can’t understand what you have written. In order to avoid all these problems learn to draw and enroll for picture therapy.

“Good handwriting comes with practice, correct positioning of the hand and excellent hand control. And this is possible only when you have a good grip on your pencil/pen,” says Jameel Ahmed, an arts and handwriting teacher who has done research on developing retaining capabilities and handwriting skills in kids through drawing. Picture therapy, which is extensively used in schools these days can actually help you do this. “It’s very important for those of you who want to try your hand at calligraphy,” he says.

Crampy, uneven letters are a result of drawing the letters with the fingers rather than using the whole arm. “It’s also been noticed that children press down on the paper when they write, creating impressions on the subsequent pages. Lifting your hand often while writing also spoils your writing,” says popular artist Fahwad Tamkanat. Throwing more light on the idea, Mr Ahmed says, “Drawing figures relaxes your hand and allows it to move freely. It gives you a good control over your movements and curves.”

Here are a few tips that would help:

* Your fingers should move very little and your wrist even less. Your forearm does most of the gliding, while your shoulder provides the power.

* Hold the pen/pencil lightly, don’t squeeze it hard. Pretend that the barrel is a soft rubber and squeezing it will get you a big, fat blot. The thumb and forefinger should form an oval when you hold the pencil.

* Go by Picasso’s rule. Sharpen your instrument, whatever it is. The lines will be sharper and better.

* Never sit hunched or slump over the desk. Give your hand space to move.

* Practice making Xs and slashes, ///s and \\\s and Os overlapping each other. Make your lines, loops, circles and spirals freely.

* Create animal figures with letters. This will help you gain better control and also improve your pictorial skills. Try stretching, elongating the letters to test your skill at cursive writing.

Helpful games

* Practice cursive letters by playing Tic tac toe using two cursive letters instead of ‘x’ and ‘o’.

* Play hangman, but write the letter on paper instead of guessing it.

Create a thick rain forest

2006-06-05T22:47:00.000+05:30

Thanks to a sealed environment that traps moisture but lets in light, this self-contained mini greenhouse needs little care. To make one, you’ll need a glass container with a top and an opening wide enough to fit your hand into, pea gravel or aquarium gravel, activated charcoal (available at gardening stores), potting soil mix and a selection of small houseplants. (Ours included a prayer plant, a button fern, a Persian shield, an aluminum plant and a miniature African violet.) First, place a 1 to 2 inch layer of the gravel in the container, then sprinkle a thin layer of the activated charcoal. Top this with a layer (from 2 inches to as much as one-fourth of the height of the terrarium) of potting soil.
To add the plants, first scoop out holes for planting, then take the plants from their pots and carefully remove any excess soil from their roots. Set the plants in their holes, then gently pack the soil around each one. Lightly mist the plants with a spray bottle. Replace the lid and set the rain forest in a bright spot away from direct sunlight. Check it every few weeks and add more water by lightly spritzing the plants with the spray bottle if the soil feels dry. If heavy condensation forms inside the glass, temporarily lift the cover to let some of the moisture escape.

Must read

2006-06-05T22:46:00.000+05:30

Just Listen
by Sarah Dessen

Annabel Greene seemingly had everything a young girl would want: cool friends, close family, good grades, and a part-time modelling career. But it all comes crashing down one day, and Annabel gets trapped in a self-imposed exile. She finds herself dreading the new school term and facing everyone again. The last thing she wants to do is revisit old friendships. While the loss is very painful, the truth behind the rifts with her friends is disturbing. Her family seems too fragile to emotionally support her because they are also hiding secrets within them. . Why is there resentments between her two older sisters? Why doesn’t anybody want to talk about her middle sister’s eating disorder? All these secrets are revealed in parts, as she goes to amazing lengths to avoid confrontation.

Amazing Science

2006-06-05T22:45:00.000+05:30

Scientists have discovered that harmless bacteria found in rivers produce a super glue which is stronger than any other glue in the world. According to the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, the microorganism C. crescentus attaches to surfaces with three to four times the strength of commercial glue. The bacteria uses the biological glue to attach itself to surfaces with a stalk-like appendage. Tests show that the amount of bacteria that fits onto a quarter could withstand a pulling force of four to five tons, which is about the weight of an adult elephant. Scientists hope that this research will lead to new, stronger, synthetic adhesives.

Language Ladder

2006-06-05T22:34:00.000+05:30

convulse \kun-VULSS\ verb
What does it mean?
To shake violently; especially : to shake with usually uncontrolled jerky movements
How do you use it?
“He gazed at me with bleared, drunken eyes for a moment, and then I saw a horror spring up in them, and convulse his whole features, which showed me that he knew me.” (Arthur Conan Doyle, A Study in Scarlet)

tarmac \TAR-mak\ noun
What does it mean?
A road, apron, or runway paved with layers of crushed stone covered with tar
How do you use it?
Did you hear how lucky Eva and Ricky were? They got to be on the tarmac and greet the dignitaries as they arrived at the airport.

ballot \BAL-ut\ noun
What does it mean?
1. A small ball used in secret voting or a sheet of paper used to cast a vote
2. a:The action or system of voting
b : the right to vote
3. The number of votes cast
How do you use it?
In the last town election, paper ballots were used after a power failure caused the electronic voting booths to malfunction.

subterfuge \SUB-ter-fyooj\ noun
What does it mean?
1. The action of deceiving usually by slyness in order to avoid some unpleasant circumstance (as to escape blame)
2. A plan or trick that employs sly deception
How do you use it?
Catherine faked a headache to get out of her share of the spring house cleaning, but her mom saw through the subterfuge and assigned her to washing windows.

tractable \TRAK-tuh-bul\ adjective
What does it mean?
Easily led, taught, or controlled
How do you use it?
“The Old Lady made a marvellously patient and tractable invalid." (Lucy Maud Montgomery, Chronicles of Avonlea)

Enjoy now, read up in the classroom

2006-05-29T12:45:00.001+05:30

Unlike many kids who would just like to have fun during the holidays, there are a few who dedicate the summer to studying next year’s syllabus. Their argument is that they would like to stay ahead of everybody. Says Vishakha Goda, a class VII student, “I have been doing this since the last three years. We get the book list on the day of the results, and I buy the books in advance. I study for at least two hours everyday. It helps me because I haven’t been performing well in the class. So when the teacher is explaining the lesson I understand it better.”
However, there are a few others who read up just to prove a point and let others know that they are ‘intelligent’. P. Ritvik Kumar for instance insists that he has to know the answers for all the questions being asked during lesson time. “My friends tease me when I give wrong answers. Though I don’t enjoy it much, I have decided to read everything in advance, so that I can prove them wrong and give the answers even before anybody else does,” he says. Some even go to the extent of taking holiday tuitions.
Teachers surprisingly think this practice has more disadvantages than advantages. They feel, reading up the next academic year’s syllabus during the holidays can actually kill a child’s interest when the lesson is being taught in the class. Says Mrs Malini Sudhakar, a mathematics teacher, “Tutors follow different methods of teaching and the only thing they teach the kid is to arrive at the correct answer somehow. The child will not have proper foundation. When we try to tell them the right method, they don’t follow.”
Another disadvantage is that the child develops attitude problems. Healthy competition is good, but some of the average students go out of their way to beat their more intelligent competitors. Child counsellors say that their only aim is to give the answer before the other child does. According to Shahana Ismail, a child counsellor, children who have this habit will develop hollow intelligence.
“They will parrot the answers without understanding them. Ask them a question outside their field of knowledge and they will stay mum. In many cases, parents are to be blamed because they force this competition on to the child. I wouldn’t say it’s bad to read a little before you go to class, but it shouldn’t be because you want to show off.”
Experts go a step further and say that holidays are to be utilised for extra-curricular activities, because the busy school schedule will not allow them to do anything else. “This is the time to enjoy and learn new things and not sit with your book all through the day, forcing yourself to read,” says Mrs Sudhakar.
P. Ritvik Kumar, student
My friends tease me when I give wrong answers. Though I don’t enjoy it much, I have decided to read everything in advance.

Dress up your tresses

2006-05-29T12:45:00.000+05:30

Try this
Design your own distinctive hair decorations with a set of wooden chopsticks and a few spare craft supplies. Here’s how: Ask an adult to use a small handsaw or needle-nose pliers to cut the tops off a pair of wooden chopsticks so that they measure about 6 inches. Sharpen the pointed ends in a pencil sharpener and dull the points with a nail file. Paint them if you’d like.

For beaded chopsticks, cut a 10-inch length of wire and centre it about 1½ inches from the top of the chopstick. Wrap it tightly around the stick several times, then twist the two portions of wire together a few times. Thread beads onto the wire, bend the ends over and clip off the excess. For feathered chopsticks, glue feathers to the top of the stick and wrap them tightly with wire. To display your dazzlingly decorated sticks, poke them into a bun or ponytail.

Funny Definitions

2006-05-29T12:42:00.000+05:30

Dandelion Daniel,
king of the jungle.
Dandruff
(1) Chips off the old block.
(2) Mrs Druff's husband
Daredevil
Hey, Satan, nya nya nya.
Hackneyed
The opposite of knock-kneed
Halo
What one angel says to another angel
Rag and Bone Man
Skeleton working in a clothes shop
Raisin
A very old and very anxious grape
Generation Gap
The distance you keep from your parents when they do something embarrassing.

Must Read

2006-05-29T12:40:00.000+05:30

The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane By Kate DiCamillo, Bagram Ibatoulline (Illustrator)
It all starts simply: A china rabbit, a house, and a girl. And then one day, the rabbit, who is named Edward Tulane, disappears from the house, and the girl begins a miraculous journey to recover her beloved companion.
Along the way Edward begins to understand what love and caring for someone means as he sees what life is like with it and without it. Newbery medalist Kate DiCamillo and artist Bagram Ibatoulline have created a piercingly beautiful story about love, loss, and the power to love again.
The novel is set in the storybook land of no specific time or locale. Edward’s fate is to be passed from person to person, sometimes loved, sometimes hated.

Did you know?

2006-05-29T12:36:00.000+05:30

On an average people fear spiders more than they do death.

The name for Oz in the Wizard of Oz was thought up when the creator, Frank Baum, looked at his filing cabinet and saw A-N, and O-Z, hence ‘Oz.’

The flea can jump 350 times its body length, that is like a human jumping the length of a football field.

There are only four words in the English language which end in ‘-dous’: tremendous, horrendous, stupendous, and hazardous.

Language ladder

2006-05-29T12:31:00.000+05:30

tolerate \TAH-luh-rayt\ verb
What does it mean?
To allow something to be or be done without making a move to stop it: put up with
How do you use it?
Desert plants are able to tolerate long periods of drought.

parasol \PAIR-uh-sawl\ noun
What does it mean?
A light umbrella for protection against the sun
How do you use it?
For her town’s bicentennial celebration, Linda wore a dress with a wide hoopskirt and carried a lace-trimmed parasol.

strive \STRYVE\ verb
What does it mean?
To struggle against: contend
How do you use it?
“Money is a needful and precious thing . . . but I never want you to think it is the first or only prize to strive for.”

lackadaisical \lak-uh-DAY-zih-kul\ adjective
What does it mean?
Lacking spirit or enthusiasm: languid, listless
How do you use it?
Paulette’s teachers knew she was bright, but she was always so lackadaisical that she rarely finished her assignments on time.

gosling \GOZ-ling\ noun
What does it mean?
A young goose
How do you use it?
“When the first gosling poked its grey-green head through the goose’s feathers and looked around, Charlotte spied it and made the announcement.”

Match them right

2006-05-29T12:29:00.000+05:30

Match the twelve definitions below to the vocabulary words on the left.
1. _____ CERTIFICATE
2. _____ ILLEGAL
3. _____ JUROR
4. _____ COLLEGIATE
5. _____ CONCERTO
6. _____ JUSTIFY
7. _____ CONCERN
8. _____ ADJUSTMENT
9. _____ PRIVILEGE
10. _____ SECRECY
11. _____ LEGISLATURE
12. _____ INJURY
a. Musical composition usually in 3 movements.
b. Person who has taken an oath or sworn allegiance; member of a panel.
c. A special right, immunity or benefit enjoyed by a person or restricted group.
d. Adaptation, alteration or minor change to a particular condition, position or purpose.
e. Characteristic of or intended for college students.
f. State of being kept from general knowledge; done privately or secretly.
g. Anxious sense of interest in or responsibility for; something that relates to; worry or fear.
h. Bodily harm; damage done or sustained; wrong or injustice.
i. A document providing evidence of status or qualifications attesting to the truth of something” j. A deliberative body of persons, (usually). elective, empowered to make, change or repeal laws.
k. To show or prove to be right or reasonable; to defend or uphold as warranted.
l. Forbidden by law or statute; contrary to official rules & regulations.

ANSWERS: 1 - i; 2 - L; 3 - b; 4 - e; 5 - a; 6 - k; 7 - g; 8 - d; 9 - c; 10 - f; 11 - j; 12 - h

Improve your vocabulary

2006-05-29T12:28:00.000+05:30

Here is a paragraph-story with a few election related words. Read it carefully and grasp the meaning of these words and use them in your conversations.
Sam sees that Herb, a very eloquent speaker, is campaigning without challenge or controversy. Sam decides to declare himself a candidate. After canvassing the electorate he chooses various strategies to win (including a great debate with Herb).
Voters react negatively to Sam’s, “If we don’t go slow, I will veto everything” message. The adverse election results disappoint Sam. However, he is a gracious loser in the face of Herb’s jubilant victory celebration. It’s also clear that Sam is the one with charisma.

Shark trouble

2006-05-29T12:26:00.000+05:30

Twenty one swimmers taking part in the 10-km Cole Classic Race in Sydney had to be hurriedly evacuated by boats and jet skis, when a three-metre-long shark decided to join the race. The authorities were not convinced that the shark’s intention was entirely sportive as a woman had been killed a week back.

Book jokes

2006-05-29T12:18:00.000+05:30

Teacher: Who is your favourite author?
Pupil: George Washington.
Teacher: But George Washington never wrote any books.
Pupil: You got it.
Librarian: Why don't you take home a Dr. Seuss?
Pupil: I didn’t know he made house calls.
Teacher: How many books did you finish over the summer?
Pupil: None. My brother stole my box of crayons.
Teacher: How many books have you read in your lifetime?
Pupil: I don’t know. I’m not dead yet.
Teacher: What did you learn from your history book about Harriet Beecher Stowe?
Pupil: If you draw a beard and a stovepipe hat on her, she looks exactly like Abraham Lincoln.
Teacher: What does your history book tell you about the Civil War?
Pupil: It doesn’t tell me anything. I have to read the dumb thing. My father gave me a really cheap dictionary for my birthday. I couldn’t find the words to thank him.If you don’t know what the word “dictionary” means, where would you look it up?
Teacher: Why are you holding your textbook up to the window?
Pupil: You told me to open it up to the Middle East.
Teacher: Where is South America?
Pupil: I don’t know.
Teacher: Where is Greenland?
Pupil: I don’t know.
Teacher: Where is Bulgaria?
Pupil: I don’t know.
Teacher: Look them up in your textbook.
Pupil: I don’t know where that is, either.