CRAZY BUT TRUE Wacky water around the world Facebook/Erin Lacey It s not every day you wake up to find bright pink water running from your taps! But that s exactly what happened to people living in the town of Onoway, Canada, last week. Startled residents had no idea whether the water was safe and posted pictures of their weird water on the internet. The neon pink colour was caused by a chemical called potassium permanganate. It was released into the town s drinking water by mistake. The chemical is used to clean our water as part of the normal water treatment process, but it is usually removed before the water is piped to houses! The mayor of the town had to apologise for the shocking pink surprise and told people the water wasn t dangerous. He said: While it is alarming to see pink water coming from your taps residents were never at risk. Meanwhile, in Australia, an entire lake has turned bright pink! The colour is caused by algae (extremely tiny plants) in the water. High salt levels in the lake along with high temperature and a lack of rainfall has caused the algae to thrive.
CRAZY BUT TRUE - WACKY WATER AROUND THE WORLD 1) What links the news stories from Canada and Australia? 5) Can you find the different adjectives used to describe the word water in the story? 2) What made the tap water in Canada bright pink? algae in the water a chemical used to clean water pink dye released from a Barbie factory water water water water 6) What did the mayor tell people? 3) How would you react if the water in your tap came out this colour? What feelings would you have? 4) Find the word in the second paragraph which shows the people in the town were surprised. 7) Algae has made the lake in Australia turn pink. Find three things which have caused the algae to grow. 1. 2. 3. 8) Why do you think the writer chose the headline Wacky water around the world?
ANIMAL NEWS rhino killed A rare white rhino has been shot and killed by poachers in a zoo in France. Vince, a four-year-old rhino, was found dead by his keepers last Tuesday morning. His horn had been sawn off and taken. He was killed by poachers: people who wanted to make money by selling his horn. Two other rhinos who lived with him Bruno and Gracie were thankfully not hurt. It is against the law to kill rhinos and to sell their horns in other countries. However, people in parts of Asia use rhino horn in their medicines and are willing to pay a huge price for it. A kilo of rhino horn can be sold for over 43,000. Police are now investigating how the poachers managed to get into the zoo. It is the first time that poachers have killed a rhino living in a European zoo. There are 111 rhinos living in zoos in the UK. Several large zoos have responded with sadness to the death of Vince, but have said that their own rhinos are safe. A person from ZSL, which runs London Zoo, said: Our security teams are aware of this tragic incident and will be increasing their onsite patrols.
ANIMAL NEWS - RHINO KILLED 1) What is a poacher? a person who is an expert in hunting wild animals a person who breaks into buildings when they are not allowed to be there a person who hunts and kills animals when it is against the law 5) Find the numbers. Vince was years old. rhinos live in zoos in the UK in total. kilo of rhino horn can be sold for about 2) Why was Vince killed? It was a tragic accident He was killed by someone who hates rhinos Someone wanted to take his horn 6) How do you know that some people in Asia must be desparate to get hold of rhino horn? 7) How are security teams going to keep rhinos at London Zoo safe? 8) What do you think can be done to stop people selling and buying rhino horn? 3) Who are Bruno and Gracie and what do you know about them? 4) How is rhino horn used in some parts of Asia?
SPECIAL REPORT Red Nose Day Get ready Friday 24th March is Red Nose Day! Here s everything you need to nose about the big day. Red Nose Day is all about trying to make the world a better place, simply by goofing around with a big red nose on! It takes place every two years and the money is spent helping people who need it most, both here in the UK and around the world. It all finishes with a massive night of comedy and fun, live on the BBC. 2017 HIGHLIGHTS There are ten new Red Noses this year (see nine of them, above). The tenth nose is the ultra-rare Frankinose, which is silver! You ve got a 1 in 900 chance of finding Frankinose will it be you? The scientist Professor Stephen Hawking has voiced part of a new online game. He joked: I m a world-renowned (famous) scientist and I m being asked to make snot jokes. I must really like this charity! To play the game and find out more, go to www.rednoseday.com/kids How Red Nose Day helps Meet 12-year-old Hassan, from Sierra Leone, West Africa. Hassan s mother died from the Ebola disease in 2014. His father had already died. To stop the disease spreading, yellow tape was put around Hassan s house and he wasn t allowed to leave. Hassan was brought food by a charity, using money raised on Red Nose Day. The schools were shut for eight months during the crisis. Eventually, Hassan went to live with his uncle and aunt. The charity lent his aunt money so that she could earn enough to feed the family. Hassan s favourite subject is maths and he dreams of becoming a doctor one day. Just by putting on a red nose next week, you could be helping another little boy or girl like Hassan turn their life around.
SPECIAL REPORT 1) Find these key facts about Red Nose Day. When is it? How often does it take place? Who does it raise money for? 2) What is special about the tenth nose Frankinose? 3) Fill in the gaps in the sentences by choosing words from the box. 4) Why has the writer included Hassan s story? 5) What would Hassan like to be when he grows up? 6) True or false? The website for the event is www.rnd.com In the second sentence, the word know has been replaced with the word nose Hassan s favourite subject is maths. You have a 1 in 90 chance of finding Frankinose. Red Nose Day African Sierra Leone helped 2014 Ebola 7) What joke does Professor Hawking make about helping to make a new game? Hassan lives in the country of. 8) Of all the information you have read, what do you think will inspire people to take part in Red Nose Day? Sadly, his mother died of the disease in and he was left alone. He was by a charity, thanks to the money raised on.
CRAZY BUT TRUE Real-life Hogwarts Have you ever dreamed of going to a magical school like Harry Potter? Well, this summer, a castle in East Sussex is being transformed into a real-life wizarding school! For three days, muggle guests will get to experience what life was like for Harry, Ron and Hermione. They will be sorted into houses, take lessons on witchcraft and have a school banquet. There ll be wands, robes, magical creatures and house competitions. Guests will even be able to sleep over in the castle. The only downside to all this magical fun? You have to be 18 to take part boo! But organisers say they are hoping to create similar events for young people in the future. Potter power A real-life Forbidden Forest from the Harry Potter books is opening at the Warner Bros Studio Tour London, on 31st March. Herstmonceux Castle in East Sussex
CRAZY BUT TRUE - REAL-LIFE HOGWARTS 1) This story will only make complete sense if you are over 18 have visited the Warner Bros Studio Tour have read a Harry Potter book 5) Where can you find out the name of this castle? in the headline in the second paragraph in the caption 2) What can you do at a castle in East Sussex this summer? try out wizarding school for a few days go on a tour of the place where Harry Potter was filmed watch the next Harry Potter film being made 3) Can you pick out the words and names used in the news report which come from the Harry Potter books? (You don t have to have read the books to make a good guess.) 4) Find three things you can do if you take part in this event. 6) What does the writer describe as the downside to this news? 7) What new experience is opening at the Warner Bros Studio Tour? a real-life Forbidden Forest Azkaban, the wizarding prison a replica of 4 Privet Drive 8) Do you think you would like to go to a wizarding school like this one? What would you enjoy most? 1. 2. 3.