Bears
Scientists remind people repeatedly-
DO NOT FEED BEARS. Why is this so
important? Bears that are fed become comfortable
being around humans, and are more likely to
damage property or injure someone. When bears
become comfortable around humans, they are often
eventually destroyed when they are in search of
food and approach a person who is frightened by
the bear. They are also more likely to cause a
vehicle accident, which can cause injury (or death)
to the bear and the humans involved. Humans can
help protect bears simply by remembering not to
feed them.
Cause and Effect
A tsunami is a series of gigantic waves.
The word “tsunami” is made up of two Japanese
words: “tsu” (which means harbor) and “nami” (which
means wave). When a tsunami forms far out at sea,
it is often barely noticeable. When tsunami waves
form near a shore, however, the results can be
devastating for people and buildings near the
shoreline.
Description
Wildfires can cause the destruction of
beautiful trees and forests. Nonetheless,
there are several benefits to wildfires. Some trees
can only reproduce after a fire. Certain pine tree
cones are sealed with something called pitch. A
pinecone’s seeds can only be released after a
fire has melted away the pitch. Aspen and birch
tree seeds will also only sprout roots following a
fire. Also, ash remaining after a fire adds
nutrients to the soil. Deer and other animals feed
on new grasses and shrubs that grow after forest
fires. These are a few of the benefits of a
wildfire.
Cause and Effect
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A tandem bicycle is a specially-designed
bike for two riders. The front rider is known as the
“captain”. The captain has overall control of the
bike. He or she steers the bike, shifts gears, and
stops when necessary. The rear rider is known as
the “stoker”. The stoker’s main responsibility is to
pedal the bicycle. Riding a tandem bicycle requires
good balance by both riders. Also, cooperation
between the captain and the stoker is essential for
a smooth tandem bicycle ride.
Description
The sun bear is the smallest of all
bears. It gets its name from the golden or
white patch of fur on its chest that legend says
represents the rising sun. Short, black fur covers
the rest of its body. The sun bear grows four to
five feet tall and weighs between 60 and 150
pounds. Because of its size and facial features, it
has been nicknamed “the dog bear”. It has also
been nicknamed the “honey bear” because of its
long tongue- perfect for extracting honey from
bee hives. The sun bear is nocturnal and extremely
shy and reclusive.
Description
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Most wildfires are caused by humans.
People who live in or near the woods in fire-
prone areas should follow certain guidelines to help
prevent the spread of wildfires. First, homeowners
should use non-flammable roof and deck materials
on their homes. They should trim their trees
regularly. There should be at least a five foot
opening between neighboring trees. Further, there
should be no tree limbs within ten feet of the
ground. This will reduce the chance that flames will
travel to the top of the trees. Finally, homeowners
should keep the lawn well-watered and cut short.
Problem and Solution
French fries, potato chips, and fried
chicken are not nutritious foods. In fact,
people should limit the number of fried foods they
eat. There are many health risks that can be linked
to eating foods fried in oil. One well-known side
effect is obesity. People who eat fried foods often
tend to be overweight. Eating fried foods also
increases the chance of gas, heartburn, and
bloating. Eating fried foods can result in higher
levels of cholesterol, which can result in a heart
attack. Clearly, there are many negative effects
which can be associated with eating large amounts
of fried foods.
Cause and Effect
The common person might not know the
difference between a road bike and a
mountain bike. After all, they both have pedals,
handlebars, frames, and two wheels.
However to an experienced biker, a road bike
and a mountain bike are very different. A road bike
has a lighter frame and narrower tires. These
features allow the bike to travel much faster
across smooth roads. A mountain bike has a
heavier frame and wider tires with noticeably thick
tread. These features are key for bikers who plan
to ride on off-road trails with rocky terrain.
Compare and Contrast
Two bears call the continental United
States home- the black bear and the Grizzly
bear. Both are omnivores that feed on plants and
animals. Both species are solitary animals, living alone
most of the time.
There are, however, many differences between
the two species. The Grizzly bear is usually larger,
growing to 8 feet and weighing 800 pounds. The black
bear grows to 5-6 feet tall and weighs between 200
and 600 pounds. Grizzly bears are always brown,
whereas black bears can be black, brown, and even
(rarely) white. When winter arrives, Grizzlies hibernate,
while black bears go into a dormant state.
Compare and Contrast
There are four major events that can cause a
tsunami. Most often, tsunamis are caused by
earthquakes below or near the ocean. The most
destructive tsunamis occur when there is a shallow
focus earthquake where the ocean is less than 70
km deep. Other less-common events that can cause
tsunamis include underwater landslides and violent
volcanic eruptions. Tsunamis can also be caused by
asteroids or meteors that crash into the ocean from
outer space, but this is a rare occurrence.
Cause and Effect
Smokey Bear is a fictional character
that has educated generations of Americans
about how they can help prevent human-caused
wildfires. He was created in 1944 and his original
catch phrase was “Smokey says- Care will Prevent
9 out of 10 Forest Fires”. In 1947, the phrase was
shortened to “Only YOU can prevent Forest
Fires”. It was changed once again in 2001 to “Only
You Can Prevent Wildfires” because of the large
number of wildfires in natural areas other than
forests. Smokey Bear’s message is still as
important today as ever.
Sequence
When you open a supermarket freezer,
you can immediately see how many French
fry varieties are available to consumers. Homestyle
fries usually have straight edges, while crinkle-cut
fries have rippled edges. Waffle fries tend to be
round with a criss-cross waffle-like pattern in the
middle. Steak fries tend to be straight with a wider
cut. Curly fries are spiral ringlets of potato.
Regardless of their cut, French fries are close to
the top of the list when it comes to favorite
American foods.
Description
Our environment has weakened due to
the invention of the automobile. Vehicles emit toxic
gases into the air we breathe. One solution to this
alarming problem is to ride a bike whenever
possible. A four mile bicycle trip will results in 15
fewer pounds of pollutants in our air. Riding a bike
also reduces water pollution since bikes don’t use
antifreeze, brake fluid, or transmission fluid. Riding
a bike is an environmentally friendly thing to do!
Problem and Solution
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Tsunamis are particularly dangerous
events because they cannot be predicted. A
tsunami can reach land within minutes. Scientists
are researching methods that they hope will assist
them in warning people in the path of a tsunami at a
faster speed. One current solution that has been
developed is the SMS Tsunami Warning System. This
warning system sends a text alert directly to your
cell phone if there has been an earthquake and it
appears that a tsunami may be approaching your
area. Scientists hope to develop even more reliable
warning systems in the future.
Problem and Solution
At first glance, wildfires and prescribed
fires look the same. Both fires produce hot
flames and smoke that can be seen for quite a
distance. A closer look, however, reveals that
these two types of fires are vastly different. While
most wildfires are caused accidentally by humans, a
prescribed fire is purposely started by humans only
after careful planning. During a prescribed fire,
weather conditions are closely monitored and the
fire is under control at all times. In contrast,
wildfires are not under human control, and can
spread rapidly, resulting in property destruction and
death.
Compare and Contrast
In the1990s, McDonalds and other fast
food restaurants started getting publicity
for the amount of fat in their kids’ meals. At that
time, one hamburger Happy Meal contained about
70% of the recommended daily fat allowance for
children. Greasy French fries account for most of
the fat in the meal. A public outcry caused most fast
food restaurants to re- view their kids’ meal
offerings. McDonald’s solved the problem by offering
healthy apple slices in place of the greasy fries.
Now, a Happy Meal consisting of a hamburger, apples,
and milk contain about 35% of a child’s
recommended daily fat allowance.
Problem and Solution
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Two bears call the continental United
States home- the black bear and the Grizzly
bear. Both are omnivores that feed on plants and
animals. Both species are solitary animals, living alone
most of the time.
There are, however, many differences between
the two species. The Grizzly bear is usually larger,
growing to 8 feet and weighing 800 pounds. The black
bear grows to 5-6 feet tall and weighs between 200
and 600 pounds. Grizzly bears are always brown,
whereas black bears can be black, brown, and even
(rarely) white. When winter arrives, Grizzlies hibernate,
while black bears go into a dormant state.
Problem and Solution
Both hurricanes and tsunamis are natural
disasters that send large amounts of water
crashing into the land of coastal areas. Both
originate in the ocean and release large amounts of
energy. Although they share common elements, they
are very different things. A hurricane is a type of
storm caused by weather, while a tsunami has
nothing to do with weather, as it is usually triggered
by an underwater earthquake. Also, hurricanes
move fairly slowly, and people are usually warned
several days before it reaches land. In contrast,
tsunamis are sudden and fast-moving, leaving little
time to warn the people in its path.
Compare and Contrast
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French fries were not invented in the U.S.,
but Americans still adore them. The first
documented use in the United States was when then-
President Thomas Jefferson asked a French chef to
make “potatoes served in the French manner”. A recipe
for “French Fried Potatoes” has been found in a
cookbook from the 1850s. They were referred to as
“French fried potatoes” until the 1930s, when
Americans dropped the word “potatoes” and started
referring to them as simply French fries. They gained in
popularity with the growth of the fast food chains that
took America by storm in the 1950s and 1960s. Today,
they are as popular as ever!
Sequence
The first metal two-wheeled machine
appeared in 1865. The pedal was attached
directly to the wheel, and it was made completely of
wood. The first metal bicycle dates back to 1870, and
was also the first pedaled machine referred to as a
bicycle. It had a high front wheel. The first bicycle to
have a chain was invented in 1879. This chained bike
returned to the original design of having two wheels of
the same size.
A kid’s bike was introduced after World War I, and
it featured automobile elements. By the 1960s, bicycles
were becoming lighter and simpler. The ten-speed bike
was popular in the 1970s. Today, bikes of all shapes
and sizes are ridden every day.
Sequence