Action magazine

Transcription

Action magazine

September
May 11,
7, 2009
WWW.SCHOLASTIC.COM
READING AND WRITING
POWER FOR TEENS
MAGAZINE
Will
Smith
What’s the
secret to this
star’s success?
Lots of hard
work, he says.
issn 0163-3570 vol. 33
32 no. 114
Meeting
Obama
When this teen
shared her story
with the world,
our President
listened.
THE CREATORS
OF
FROM
INSIDE: Reading Comprehension | Writing | Fluency | Test Prep | Context Clues
MAGAZINE
READING AND WRITING POWER FOR TEENS
MAGAZINE
What’s
INSIDE
MAGAZINE
4
Will Smith
Celebrity Profile
IN THE NEWS
Scientists say
Predator X
looked a lot like
this drawing.
6
Jesse Owens:
Olympic Champion
Readers Theater Play
12
Speaking From
the Heart
True Teen Story
16
Tracking Jaguars
Science
20
22
Be a Health Hero
Real-Life Reading
and Writing
24
Vocabulary
Puzzle
starring
Quest Crew
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2
A Real
SEA MONSTER
Chomp! Last summer, scientists made a big discovery. They dug
up the bones of an amazing creature. They named it Predator X.
This undersea animal lived 147 million years ago. Its body was 50
feet long—about as long as three cars. It was a fierce hunter, with
footlong teeth. Plus, its jaws were stronger than those of any other
animal ever known.
Scientists say that a bite from Predator X would be much
stronger than a bite from a dinosaur like T. rex. “This monster
makes a T. rex look like a puppy dog!” said one scientist.
Scholastic Action | September 7, 2009
Cover: ©John Russo/Corbis Outline; Left Page: Reuters/Natural History Museum, University of Oslo;
Right Page, Top: ©Mark Mainz/AP Photo Images for Fox; bottom: TriggerPhoto/iStockphoto.com
No-School
Fridays
Debate
SmokeFree
Teen
When Chad Bullock,
19, saw some of his
friends and family start
to smoke, he decided to
do something. “I’ve
had family members
die from using
Chad Bullock
tobacco,” says Chad. “I
with his award.
know it’s a big issue.”
Chad is from Durham, North Carolina. He led a fight
to make the Durham Bulls baseball park smoke-free. He
won! In 2008, Chad also won a Do Something Award.
He was given $100,000 to help him continue his fight
against smoking.
TAKE ACTION
Advice from Action reader
Indra B. Karki
Age: 15
School: Oakland
International
High School
His advice for
how to get ready
for a big test:
“Start preparing for the test one
or two weeks before. Look at
the books or notes on the test.
Sleep well, drink a lot of water,
and don’t get worried.”
Picture this: Your best friend stops speaking
to you and won’t say why. What would you
do? Go to www.scholastic.com/action/
takeaction to send us your advice.
Poetry in Action Contest
What is your favorite music?
How does it make you feel? Write
us a poem about it! We’ll choose
one winning poem to publish in
a future issue of Action. The winner
will also get an iPod Shuffle.
To enter the contest, write an
acrostic poem like the one at right.
Look at the first letter of each line.
Put together, these letters spell
“MUSIC.”
Go to our new Web site,
www.scholastic.com/actionmag,
to send us your poem.
Music
Moving to the sounds
Up I jump
Spinning and swaying
I don’t know why, but I
Can’t stop dancing
—Anonymous
NO PURCHASE NECESSARY. Open to legal U.S. residents in grades 6-12.
All entries must be received by September 21, 2009. Void where prohibited.
For complete details and official rules go to www.scholastic.com/actionmag.
3
profile
Will Smith says
that success didn’t
come easy to him.
Vocabulary in Action
Contractions
Contractions are made when two words are shortened
into one. An apostrophe takes the place of one or more
letters. For example, did not becomes didn’t. Look at the
contractions in bold in the article. Two of them are below.
What do you think they mean?
can’t=________________ he’ll=________________
4
Will Smith
This top actor knows the secret to success: hard work.
Will Smith is seriously
successful. He has won
dozens of awards. He’s one of
the few actors in Hollywood
who earn $20 million for
each movie they make.
Many people say Will is
very talented. Others say he’s
really lucky. Will says hard
work is what got him where
he is today.
Left Page: ©Rex Features; Right Page: Frank Masi©Sony Pictures/Photofest
Hard Work at Home
Will learned about hard
work from his parents. His
mom worked for the school
board. His dad ran a company
that set up refrigerators in
grocery stores.
The summer when Will
turned 12, his dad put him
and his brother to work. “My
dad decided he wanted a new
front wall at his shop,” Will
remembers. “He tore the old
one down. It was probably 16
feet high and 40 feet long.”
The brothers said they
couldn’t build a new wall.
Their dad didn’t agree. When
the wall was finished, Will’s
father said, “Now, don’t you
ever tell me there’s something
you can’t do.”
Early Fame
As a teen, Will decided to
become a rapper. His hard
work paid off. He got a record
deal while he was still in high
school. He formed the group
DJ Jazzy Jeff and the Fresh
Prince. It won the first-ever
Grammy award for rap.
In 1990, Will got a chance
to star on a new sitcom, The
Fresh Prince of Bel-Air. The
show was wildly popular.
It ran for six seasons. Will
became a superstar.
Movie Magic
After the TV show ended,
Will became a movie star.
In 1996, he starred in the hit
movie Independence Day. The
next year, he starred in Men
in Black.
Will has made more than
a dozen movies so far. In
2010, he’ll produce and star
in a movie called Monster
Hunter. It’s about a man who
can see monsters in kids’
closets.
How He Does It
Will says all of his success
has come from hard work.
“I’ve never really viewed
myself as very talented,”
he says. “But I never stop
working.”
Will played a
superhero in
Hancock. The
movie won
a 2008 Teen
Choice Award.
5
READERS THEATER PLAY
Fluency in Action
Chunking | When you
read, watch for commas and
periods. They will tell you when
to pause. Practice pausing
between each “chunk” in these
sentences from the play: “Jesse
likes his new school. One
day, the track coach sees him
playing tag.”
6
After the 1936
Olympics, Jesse
Owens became a
hero to people all
over the world.
JESSE
OWENS:
Olympic Champion
He won four gold medals in Germany in 1936—and proved Hitler wrong.
Characters
*Narrator 1 (N1)
Illustrations by Lee Montgomery; Photo: ©Hulton-Deutsch Collection/Corbis
*Narrator 2 (N2)
*Coach Riley, Jesse’s first
coach
Ralph Metcalfe, an athlete
*Jesse Owens
*Dave, Jesse’s best friend
Mama, Jesse’s mom
Coach Snyder, Jesse’s college
coach
Daddy, Jesse’s dad
Lutz Long, a German athlete
Prentice, Jesse’s oldest
brother
Lawrence, a landowner’s son
Owner, a racist restaurant
owner
Sign up for the character
you’re going to read.
*Starred characters are
major roles.
Scene 1
N1: In the 1920s, in a town in
Alabama, young Jesse Owens
plays tag with his friends. His
brother Prentice walks by.
Prentice: It’s no use playing
with my brother. You never
can catch him!
N2: Jesse flies around a bend
in the road. He sees Lawrence
Cannon. Lawrence’s dad
owns the land that Jesse’s
family works on.
Jesse: You sure have nice
clothes. I wish I had clothes
like that.
Lawrence: Too bad. You’re a
dirty cotton picker, and you
always will be.
Jesse: Shut up!
N1: Jesse throws a punch.
Lawrence’s brothers show up
and grab Jesse.
Lawrence: Hold him still.
N2: Prentice runs up.
Prentice: Let him go!
N1: Lawrence and his
brothers leave. Jesse and
Prentice go home.
7
While Jesse was playing
tag, the track coach
noticed how fast he was.
school. Paddock won a gold
medal at the 1920 Olympics.
Jesse: Coach, I want to
be like Mr. Paddock. The
newspapers call him “the
world’s fastest human.”
Riley: They’ll call you that if
you keep working. The next
Olympics are in four years.
Scene 5
Scene 2
N2: Jesse’s parents talk.
Mama: We work so hard, and
we never have any money.
Daddy: Farming is all I know.
What can we do?
Mama: If we go north, you
and the boys can work in
factories. The girls and I can
clean houses.
Daddy: My father worked this
land. This is where we belong.
Mama: Your father was a
slave. Do you want your
children to pick cotton all
their lives?
Daddy: You’re right. Let’s
move north.
N1: Jesse and his family move
to Cleveland, Ohio. His dad
gets a job in a factory.
Scene 3
N2: Jesse likes his new school.
One day, the track coach sees
him playing tag.
Riley: I’m Coach Riley. What’s
your name?
8
Jesse: I’m Jesse.
Riley: You’re fast, Jesse. How
about joining the track team?
Jesse: I’d love to!
Riley: Be at the field at 4 p.m.
Jesse: I can’t. I work every
day after school.
Riley: How about before
school?
Jesse: I’ll be there!
N1: They meet every morning
for the next few years.
Scene 4
N2: One day, Jesse finishes
running a 100-yard dash.
Jesse: Coach, what was my
time?
Riley: About 13 seconds.
Jesse: The best runners do it
in 11 seconds.
Riley: Don’t worry about
running fast. Just run right.
Run like you’re on a hot
stove. Lift your feet up as soon
as they touch the ground.
N1: In 1928, a runner named
Charley Paddock visits Jesse’s
N2: In high school, Jesse’s
best friend is Dave. Dave’s
specialty is the high jump.
N1: In 1932, Jesse and Dave
have their first shot at the
Olympics. Coach Riley takes
them to the tryouts in Illinois.
Dave: Jesse, we could be two
of the first black athletes on
the U.S. Olympic team!
Jesse: We’re just high school
kids. There’s Ralph Metcalfe
from Marquette University. He
has set a lot of records.
N2: Jesse and Ralph get ready
to race.
Jesse (to himself): I have to
beat him!
N1: Jesse runs as hard as he
can. For a second, he’s ahead
of Ralph.
N2: Suddenly, the race is over.
Ralph has won.
Jesse (to Ralph): I thought I
had you.
Ralph: Maybe that’s why
you lost.
Jesse: You’re right. I need
to worry about running my
best race, not beating the
competition. I blew it.
Riley: It’s OK. There’s another
Olympics in four years.
Scene 6
N1: Three years later, Dave
and Jesse are freshmen at
Ohio State University.
N2: Their new coach, Larry
Snyder, helps them train for
a big meet.
Dave: Coach Snyder! We
were playing touch football,
and Jesse hurt his back!
Snyder: Jesse, ice your back
and rest up. Maybe you can
still compete on Saturday.
N1: The meet takes place on
May 25th, 1935. Jesse is in a
lot of pain.
Snyder: You can’t run today.
Jesse: Coach Riley came all
this way to watch me. Just let
me try the 100-yard dash.
N2: Jesse runs the race as
smoothly as he can. He sails
past the other runners.
Snyder: Jesse! Your time was
9.4 seconds. You tied the
world record!
Jesse: I have a good feeling
about today. I’m going to try
the broad jump.
N1: Jesse beats the world
record of 26 feet, 2 inches.
N2: Next, Jesse runs the
220-yard dash.
Dave: Wow! You broke
another record!
N1: Jesse tries one more
event—the hurdles. Again,
he breaks the world record.
Ralph: You broke four world
records in less than an hour!
N2: The watching crowd
cheers and whistles.
Riley: You’ve made me so
proud today, Jesse.
Scene 7
N1: The next spring, Dave
and Jesse drive to a track
meet in Indiana.
N2: The team’s cars stop
outside a restaurant. The
white athletes go in.
Dave: Nobody complains
when we win races for our
team. But restaurants won’t
let us in to eat with them.
N1: Snyder brings Jesse and
Dave some fried eggs.
N2: The restaurant owner
follows Snyder outside. He
sees Jesse and Dave.
Owner: Hey! You never said
those eggs were for them!
N1: He grabs at the plates.
Dave won’t let go.
Jesse: No, Dave. Don’t fight.
Dave: We never fight back,
Jesse!
Jesse: We fight on the field.
That’s where we prove we’re
as good as anybody else.
Scene 8
A racist man didn’t want
Jesse and Dave to eat
food from his restaurant.
N2: Jesse and Dave make the
team for the 1936 Olympics,
to be held in Berlin, Germany.
Dave reads the newspaper.
Dave: Have you heard about
the German leader, Hitler? He
has been taking rights away
from Jewish people. And he
tried to keep black athletes
out of the Olympics.
Jesse: Can he really do that?
Dave: No. The Olympic
Committee told him they
would hold the Games
someplace else if he made
trouble. But he still wants
9
Jesse and German athlete Lutz
Long became friends. They stood
together to get their medals.
to prove that black athletes
aren’t as good as white ones.
Jesse: Who does he think
can beat me?
N2: Dave shows Jesse a
picture of a tall, smiling
German athlete.
Dave: Meet your competition.
His name is Lutz Long.
Scene 9
N1: When the U.S. team gets
to Germany, crowds of people
cheer for Jesse.
N2: Soon, Dave wins a silver
medal for the high jump. The
gold and bronze medals also
go to black athletes.
Jesse: Well done, Dave!
Snyder: I see Hitler didn’t stay
to congratulate you.
N1: Dave and Jesse see that
Hitler’s seat is empty.
N2: The next day, Jesse runs
the 100-meter dash. He wins
the gold medal.
N1: Jesse sees Lutz Long
practicing for the broad jump.
Jesse (thinking): He’s good.
10
Maybe I can’t beat him.
N2: Jesse’s practice jumps
aren’t good. He can’t stop
thinking about Lutz.
Lutz: Hi, Jesse. I had the same
problem last year. Just relax
and do your best.
N1: With Lutz’s help, Jesse
gets ready. He jumps.
Lutz: Wow! You jumped 26
feet, 5.25 inches. You set a
new world record!
N2: Jesse proudly accepts his
second gold medal. His new
friend Lutz takes the silver.
Scene 10
N1: The next day, Jesse
has one more race—the
200-meter dash.
Jesse (thinking): This could be
my last Olympic race. I have
to give it everything.
N2: Jesse speeds past the
cheering crowd. He wins a
third gold medal.
Snyder: Jesse, the relay
coaches want you and Ralph
to join their team. They want
the fastest runners to compete
against Hitler’s so-called
supermen.
N1: The American team
beats the Germans. They set
a new world record.
Ralph: Jesse, you take the
top platform. You’ve proved
you’re the best athlete here.
N2: Jesse happily accepts his
fourth gold medal.
Epilogue
N1: Jesse was a hero. Hitler
had tried to prove that people
from Northern Europe were
the best at everything. He
took away the rights—and
even the lives—of many
non-white and non-Christian
people. But Jesse helped to
show that people of many
races can be winners.
N2: Jesse Owens died in
1980. Two years later, in
Berlin, a street leading to
the Olympic stadium was
named after him.
—Rachel Waugh
problem and solution
Problem Solved!
A solution is the way a problem gets fixed. Most stories include
a number of problems and their solutions. In the “problem”
column of the chart below, there are four problems that came up
in Jesse Owens’s life. In the “solution” column, briefly explain how
each problem got solved. If you need help, look back at the play.
PROBLEM
SOLUTION
Example: Jesse’s parents
worked hard as farmers but
made very little money.
Jesse’s family moved to Ohio,
where they could all get jobs
and earn more money.
1. Jesse couldn’t make it to
___________________________
track practice because
he worked after school.
2. Dave wanted to fight a
racist restaurant owner.
3. Hitler tried to stop black
athletes from competing
in the Olympics.
4. At the Olympics, Jesse
had trouble with the
broad jump. All of his
practice jumps turned
out wrong.
___________________________
___________________________
___________________________
___________________________
___________________________
___________________________
___________________________
___________________________
_____________________
__________________
_________________
_______________
©Bettmann/Corbis
_______________
11
true teen Story
Last year,
Evelyn lost her
home. But she
never lost hope.
Words in Action
Vocabulary
economy: the way a country makes and
uses money, goods, and services
affecting: changing
fees: costs, charges
insurance: an agreement that a company
will pay the costs in case of a fire, flood, or
other problems
focus: to concentrate, pay attention
12
Speaking
From the Heart
Left Page: ©Gilles Mingasson/Getty Images; Right Page: Still from Is Anybody Listening?; ©Aude Guerrucci/Pool/Aude Guerrucci/Corbis
Evelyn lost her home. Talking about it helped her—and millions of others.
Evelyn Aguilar, 18, is
usually quiet. But when the
economy hurt her family,
she spoke up. Evelyn was
in a video about teens
dealing with tough times.
She has been on TV and in
newspapers. She even got
to shake hands with
President Obama.
Our country’s economy is
affecting many families.
Many people can’t pay
their bills. Last year, more
than 2 million families
could no longer afford their
homes. Evelyn’s family was
one of them.
In April 2008, the family
had to leave. They moved in
with Evelyn’s aunt. They were
glad to have somewhere to
go. But 12 people lived in
the one-bedroom house. It
wasn’t comfortable.
Not Alone
At first, Evelyn couldn’t
believe what had happened.
“You never expect it to be
you,” she says.
One day Evelyn’s teacher,
Mr. Steinman, talked about
the economy in class. He
asked the students if the
country’s money troubles
were affecting their lives.
Everyone said yes. That’s
when Evelyn realized her
family wasn’t alone.
The students made a video
about the troubles they were
facing. They spoke on film
about their fears—being
unable to afford food, or even
being homeless. They called
the video Is Anybody Listening?
They wanted to share their
stories with the President.
Evelyn felt her family’s
Pomona, California
Losing a Dream
In 2005, Evelyn’s
family bought a house in
Bloomington, California.
Evelyn, her parents, and her
two sisters lived in it.
But in 2007, the bills
for the house got much
higher. Fees were added
for insurance and taxes.
Evelyn’s parents could not
afford the high fees. They
lost the house.
Above: Evelyn appeared
in the video Is Anybody
Listening? Right: President
Obama was listening. He
spoke about Evelyn’s class.
13
problems were personal.
But she decided to speak on
the video. “I thought it was
important,” she remembers.
“If we could get the video to
the President, he could see
things from our point
of view.”
Everybody Listening
Evelyn’s school sent the
video to news reporters.
They also sent it to Barack
Obama. In January 2009,
the video made the news.
Reporters came to the school
and spoke with the students.
“That increased my hope
of the President seeing our
video,” says Evelyn.
For a while, the video got
a lot of attention. Then for
three weeks there was none
at all. The students thought
people had lost interest.
Then they heard from the
President.
A Great Experience
In March, President
14
Obama made a speech on
TV. He talked about the need
for better education. Then he
talked about Evelyn’s class
and its video, Is Anybody
Listening?
“I am listening,” said
Obama. “We are listening.
America is listening. And
we will not rest until your
parents can keep their jobs
and your families can keep
Talking about their problems
taught these students a lot about
themselves and each other.
Left Page, Top: Sergio Garcia; Bottom: ©Gilles Mingasson/Getty Images; Right Page: ©Gilles Mingasson/Getty Images
President Obama met
with Evelyn (front, left)
and her classmates.
their homes, and you can
focus on what you should
be focusing on—your own
education.”
A week later, the President
traveled to California. He
made time to speak with
Evelyn’s class. “Everyone
rushed up to shake his
hand,” says Evelyn. “It was
an experience that I’ll always
remember.”
Today, Evelyn is in college.
She knows that many doors
are open to her. If she can get
the President’s attention, she
can do anything.
“Making the film showed
me that, if you really want
to do something, you can
do it. You just have to go for
it,” says Evelyn. “Everybody
says that in movies, but
when you go through
something like this, you
realize it’s true.”
reading comprehension test prep
Show What You Know
Answer these questions about “Speaking From the Heart.”
Fill in the bubble next to the best answer to each question.
1. Evelyn’s story happened in _____.
Colorado
A
B California
C Connecticut
D Texas
2.What happened first in her life?
A
B
C
D
S he moved in with her aunt.
Her family bought a house.
She found out she wasn’talone.
The bills for the house got higher.
3.Evelyn’s class made a video
called __________.
A Is Anybody Listening?
B Hi, Mr. President! C Teens Speak Up
D High School Musical
7. Which of these statements is an
opinion?
A Evelyn is in college.
B Being on TV is cool.
C Evelyn and her family had to move
out of their house.
D Evelyn met the President.
8. Which of these happened last?
A The President spoke with
Evelyn’s classmates.
B Evelyn’s class made a video.
C Evelyn’s school sent the video to
reporters.
D The President spoke about
the video on TV.
4. __________ said: “I am listening.
9. Evelyn showed __________ when
We are listening. America is
listening.”
A Mr. Steinman C a reporter
B President Obama D Evelyn
she spoke up about her family’s
problems.
A laziness
C honesty
B shyness
D silliness
5. E velyn spoke in the video because 10. E velyn learned that talking
__________.
A She wanted to become famous.
B She loves to talk.
C She wanted an excuse to skip
math class.
D She wanted the President to
know how teens were feeling.
6. W
hich statement is a fact?
A Evelyn is 18 years old.
B Evelyn has pretty hair.
C Barack Obama is the best
President ever.
D Evelyn should make more videos.
about a problem can help
you feel better. Think of a
time when you shared your
feelings. What person did
you talk to? Why did you
choose that person?
Evelyn Aguilar
__________________________
__________________________
__________________________
__________________________
__________________________
__________________________
15
SCIENCE
The number of jaguars
has been going down.
Scientists have new
ideas for how to help.
Words in Action
Content-Area Vocabulary
predators: animals that hunt
habitat: place where an animal
naturally lives
prey: an animal that other animals hunt
for food
population: a group of animals that are
the same kind and live in the same place
biology: a kind of science that deals
with living things
16
Tracking Jaguars
Left Page: ©Andy Rouse/Peter Arnold Inc; Right Page: ©Luiz C. Marigo/ Peter Arnold Inc.
Scientists are finding new ways to protect these beautiful big cats.
In a forest in South
America, a hungry jaguar
waits. The night is dark, but
the big cat can see clearly. It
spots a wild pig. It leaps onto
the pig and bites through
the animal’s skull. Next, the
jaguar drags the dead pig to
the top of a tree and eats it.
Jaguars are fierce
predators. But that does not
always keep them safe. Their
main habitat in Central
America and South America
is shrinking. As people there
build more houses and
roads, jaguars have fewer
wild places to live.
In the last 100 years,
jaguars have lost more
than half of their habitat.
Jaguars Need Space
Alan Rabinowitz is a
scientist who works to save
jaguar habitat. He asked the
country of Belize to set aside
a large piece of land for
jaguars. Now, this protected
area is a safe place where
the big cats can live.
“If you protect areas
with jaguars,” Rabinowitz
says, “you protect many
other things as well.” Those
things are the plants and
the animal prey that live in
the same habitat. Monkeys,
turtles, crocodiles, and wild
pigs all live in jaguar habitat.
Staying Connected
Other places jaguars live
are not protected. On a map,
these areas look like dots
spread over Central America
and South America.
Rabinowitz says it’s
important to make sure
jaguars can travel between
“dots.” But sometimes
jaguars get stuck. There
are ranches, farms, and
highways in the way.
Male jaguars travel for an
important reason. They need
to find a mate that is not a
close relative. That way, the
baby jaguars will be stronger
Jaguars are strong
and fierce. But they
are in danger in
many places.
U.S.
Belize
As a result, their numbers
have been going down.
But scientists are trying to
change that.
South
America
Central
America
N
W
E
S
Most jaguars live in Central
America and South America.
A few have been seen in the
southwestern United States!
17
To be healthy,
a baby jaguar
needs parents
that are not
closely related
to each other.
and healthier. If jaguars
have healthy babies, the
jaguar population will grow.
Rabinowitz wants to make
it easier for male jaguars to
roam. He has a new plan to
protect the paths they travel.
He wants to keep humans
from building new roads or
buildings on these paths.
This will help jaguars travel
safely between habitats.
A Teen Helps Out
numbers are growing or
shrinking.
Last year, Megan Maher,
14, got a chance to help the
scientists. She and her mother
traveled to South America.
camera trap
Above: A jaguar
photo taken by a
“camera trap.”
Right: Megan Maher.
Far right: A canoe
took Megan (front)
out into the jungle to
help study jaguars.
18
Looking at Jaguars
Megan and her mom
helped a scientist check
for jaguars on “camera
traps.” Each “trap” is a
special camera that is set
up far out in the jungle. The
camera senses heat when
an animal is nearby. Then
it snaps a picture.
When studying the photos,
scientists look at the pattern
of spots on the jaguars.
“Jaguar spots are unique,
like fingerprints,” Megan
explains.
Megan loved traveling
deep into the jungle to
learn how scientists do their
jobs. “Going to a different
place and seeing the animals
can be a lot of fun,” she
says. Megan learned about
many jungle animals on
her trip. She plans to study
biology to learn even more
about them.
—Emily Costello
Left Page, Top, ©Gerard Lacz/ Peter Arnold Inc; Middle: ©Santiago Espinosa;
Bottom: ©Julie Larsen Maher (2); Right Page, Jaguar: Clinton Johnston/iStockphoto.com
Other scientists try to
count jaguars. It’s difficult
work. Jaguars live in thick
forests and stay away from
humans. But it’s important
to find out how many
jaguars are out there. That is
how scientists learn if jaguar
reading a map
Find the Jaguars
It’s not easy to spot jaguars in the jungle. But you can find
them on a map! On the map below, look for the areas and
lines in green. They show the places where jaguars live and the
paths they travel. Use the map to answer the questions.
United States
Mexico
Belize
Honduras
Nicaragua
Guatemala
El Salvador
Costa Rica
Panama
Colombia
EQUATOR
Atlantic
Ocean
Venezuela
Guyana
Suriname
French Guiana
Ecuador
Pacific
Ocean
Peru
Brazil
Bolivia
Paraguay
Places where
jaguars live
Chile
Uruguay
Scale of miles
0
Argentina
500
1. Do any jaguars live in Mexico?
3.Jaguars in Venezuela live close
2.If a jaguar living in Nicaragua
Yes
A
B No
traveled south, the next country it
would reach is __________.
A Belize
B Argentina
C Paraguay
D Costa Rica
Answers are in the Teacher’s Edition.
to __________.
A the United States B the Atlantic Ocean
C the Pacific Ocean D Argentina
4.Which of these countries does not
have any places where jaguars live?
A Peru
B Brazil
C Uruguay
D Venezuela
19
DEBATE
SCHOOL
CLOSED
ON FRIDAY
Some schools are open
only four days a week.
They want to save money.
No-School Fridays
Is a four-day school week a good idea?
Some schools around the country already
have four-day weeks. They make up the class
time with longer school days from Monday
through Thursday. They say their students like
having Fridays off to do homework.
But many working parents say four-day
weeks are a bad idea. They want their kids to
be in a safe place with teachers around, not at
home alone.
Read Both Sides of the Debate and Decide.
Yes
A four-day school week is a
good idea. Here’s why:
● Schools need to save money. If they can
save on gas and heating, they will be able
to afford computers and sports programs.
● H
aving Fridays free would give teachers
more time to plan exciting lessons.
● A
t some schools, the four-day week has
led to better attendance. Students can plan
doctor appointments for Fridays. That way,
they won’t miss class.
20
No
A four-day school week is not a
good idea. Here’s why:
● Many students would be left alone on
Fridays. They could get into trouble or
get hurt.
● Longer school days would make students
more tired at the end of the day. Teens
can’t learn well when they’re tired.
● An extra day off might make it hard
for students to get back to learning on
Mondays.
Left Page: ©Scott Olson/Getty Images; Right Page: Blend Images Photography/Veer
Picture this: It’s 11 a.m. on a Friday, and
you’re home in your room. You’re not sick.
You’re not in trouble. It’s just a normal Friday.
These days, everyone is trying to save
money—even schools. Some schools in
Oregon, South Dakota, and other states will
have a shorter week this fall. If they don’t use
classrooms or buses on Fridays, they can save
on electricity, heating, and gasoline.
Fact vs. Opinion
School Facts and Opinions
A fact is a statement that can be
proved, such as, “We are starting a
new school year.” An opinion states a
feeling or belief, such as, “Starting a
new school year is exciting.” Opinions
can’t be proved, but they can be
backed up with reasons.
Read the sentences below about
four-day school weeks. Decide whether
each one is a fact or an opinion.
In the blank next to each sentence, write an F for “fact”
or an O for “opinion.” We did the first one for you.
F
1. T his fall, some schools will be closed on Fridays. _______
2. A three-day week would be even better than a four-day week. _______
3. L onger school days would be annoying. _______
4. W
ith a four-day week, schools can save money on electricity. _______
5. S ome schools already have four-day weeks. _______
On the line below, write a fact about your school.
___________________________________________________________
On the line below, write your opinion about four-day school weeks.
___________________________________________________________
Some teens like the idea of four-day school weeks.
You can e-mail your sentences to actionmag@scholastic.com. We’ll write back!
21
real-life reading and writing
Be a Health Hero
22
Calories
Calories
From Fat
Total Fat (g)
Sodium (mg)
Protein (g)
Vitamin C
(% daily value)
Iron
(% daily value)
The letter
g means
“grams.”
A gram is
an amount
that weighs
about as
much as a
paper clip.
A milligram
is 1/1,000
of a gram
and is
written mg.
Sanwich
A sandwich shop can be a great place to get a quick,
healthy meal. But not every sandwich on the menu may be
good for you. How do you know which one to pick?
Many restaurants have charts that show nutrition facts
for all the food they sell. Reading these facts can
help you pick the food that is healthiest for
you. Check out the chart below. It shows
information for three sandwiches.
Meatball
Hero
(6 inches)
580
210
23.0
1,660
24
100
140
Turkey
Hero
(6 inches)
290
35
4.0
1,050
18
50
110
Veggie
Hero
(6 inches)
230
25
2.5
550
9
50
80
Scholastic Action| September 7, 2009
The veggie
hero has
50%, or
1/2, of the
vitamin C
you need in
one day.
The meatball
hero has all
the vitamin
C you need
in one day.
That’s 100%!
Reading Nutrition Information
Read It Right
How well do you understand nutrition facts?
Check out the chart on page 22. Then, test your
knowledge by answering the questions below.
1.Which sandwich has the largest
7.The meatball hero has 23.0 grams
amount of protein? ___________
___________________________
of fat. That’s __________ more fat
grams than the turkey hero has.
A 20.5
C6
B 19
D 10
2.Which sandwich has the lowest
number of calories? __________
__________________________
8. Eating too much sodium (salt)
can cause health problems for
some people. If your doctor tells
you to stick to low-sodium foods,
the best sandwich for you is the
________________________.
3.The turkey hero has exactly
__________ calories as the
meatball hero.
A twice as many
B half as many
C the same number of
D three times as many
9.The meatball hero has about
__________ as much sodium as
the veggie hero has.
A half
C twice
B one third D three times
4. Let’s say your coach wants you
Left Page, Top, Left: ©Bernard Prost/StockFood; Top, Right: Ken Glaser/FoodCollection/
StockFood; Bottom: Food Collection/StockFood; Right Page: iStockphoto.com
to choose high-protein foods to
build stronger muscles. Which
sandwich would be your best
choice? _____________________
10. Now that you know how much
5.Eating fatty foods is bad for your
heart. Doctors say the calories from
fat in the food you eat should be less
than 1/3 of the food’s total calories.
Which sandwich on the chart
wouldn’t fit in with this advice?
____________________________
6.Most people need to eat 50
grams of protein each day. If you
eat all three sandwiches, will you
get enough protein for the day?
____________________________
protein, iron, fat, and sodium
each sandwich has, which do you
think is the best sandwich for you?
Explain why.
__________________________
____________________
___________________
___________________
____________
____________
_____________
Answers are in the Teacher’s Edition.
23
VOCABULARY WITH context clues
Fill In
the Blanks!
They flip. They spin on their heads. They
even do splits. Last year, the amazing
hip-hop dancers of Quest Crew were on
the TV show America’s Best Dance Crew. On
March 9, 2009, they won the top prize!
Read the sentences about Quest Crew.
Look for each word in bold. Then circle the
letter next to the correct definition of the
word. Write the circled letters in the blanks
in the puzzle. We did the first one for you.
1. The dancers first encountered each
other at the Quest Learning Center near
Los Angeles, California. They named
their group after the center.
J smiled at
C met
O
2. Dancer Daniel Ryan Conferido also
plays and writes music! He composed
one of the songs the group danced to on
America’s Best Dance Crew.
O wrote
L liked
3. A n enormous number of people voted
after the show’s finale. Almost 20
million fans called in!
L large
K silly
“We have really
O ___ ___
___ ___
C
1
2
3
A ___ ___
R !”
___ ___
4
5
4. A merica’s Best Dance Crew forbids
groups from performing with more
than 7 dancers. Quest Crew has 10
members in all, so 3 of its dancers
didn’t appear on the show.
M wants to have H doesn’t allow
5. Dancer Ryan Feng likes to show how
loyal he is to the group. He dyed half
of his hair purple, which is the Quest
Crew color.
I strongly supportive
R talented
Answers are in the
Teacher’s Edition.
Maurice R. Robinson, founder of Scholastic Inc., 1895-1982 • EDITORIAL: Editor: Sarah Jane Brian • Senior Editor: Christy Damio • Executive Editor, Media: Marie Morreale
• TE Writer: Peg Van Kleef • Copy Chief: Renee Glaser • Copy Editor: Veronica Majerol ART: Senior Art Director: Albert Amigo • PRODUCTION: Production Editor: Anthony Giammanco •
Manager of Digital Imaging Technologies: Marc Stern • Senior Digital Imager: Bonnie Ardita • Photo Editor: Linda Eger • MAGAZINE GROUP: Scholastic Classroom and Library Publishing
President: Greg Worrell • VP, Editor in Chief: Rebecca Bondor • Associate Editorial Director: Amanda Miller • Creative Director: Judith Christ-Lafond • Executive Production Director: Barbara
Schwartz • Executive Editorial Director, Copy Desk: Craig Moskowitz • Publishing Systems Director: David Hendrickson • Executive Director of Photography: Steven Diamond • CORPORATE:
President, Chief Exec. Officer, and Chairman of the Board of Scholastic Inc.: Richard Robinson. • Original contributions to Scholastic ACTION magazine or to contests, projects, and special
features sponsored by Scholastic ACTION magazine become the property of Scholastic Inc. Contributions cannot be acknowledged and cannot be returned. Copyright ©2009 by Scholastic
Inc. All Rights Reserved. For subscription information, call 1-800-Scholastic. Material in this issue may not be reproduced in whole or in part in any form or format without special permission
from the publisher. SCHOLASTIC, ACTION, and associated designs are trademarks/registered trademarks of Scholastic. Inc. Printed in the U.S.A.
Want to know more about us? Contact 1-800-SCHOLASTIC or e-mail the editors at actionmag@scholastic.com.
Tikko Studios
Quest Crew
A reporter once asked
the dancers what makes
them special. Quest
Crew member Dominic
Sandoval joked,

Action magazine

Transcription

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