Current Events, a Weekly Reader publication back issues from September 2008:
Freewheeling.(MOVE)(Brief article)
Sep 01, 2008 ... It's a bird! It's a plane! Nope, it's a unicyclist. Although unicycling takes balance and concentration, it offers loads of fun. Variations include mountain unicycling, formal ...
Scratching the surface.(PULSE)(Brief article)
Sep 01, 2008 ... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Did you ever wonder why scratching an itch feels so good? Dr. Gil Yosipovitch and his colleagues did, and they found the answer. "Areas of the brain associated with unpleasant memories or sensations [are] less active during scratching," explains the ...
Diabetes by the numbers.(PULSE)(Brief article)
Sep 01, 2008 ... As more Americans develop diabetes--a disease that's often preventable--its toll continues to grow. The American Diabetes Association looked at how diabetes affects both lives and the U.S. economy. ...
In 2005, nearly 1 in every 11 teens reported being physically assaulted.(PULSE)(Brief article)
Sep 01, 2008 ... In 2005, nearly 1 in every 11 teens reported being ...
Grove is in the heart.(PULSE)(Brief article)
Sep 01, 2008 ... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Take one "huge iPod fan," add encouragement from his cardiologist dad, stir well with an interest in science, and you've got Jay Thaker. While still in high school, the 18-year-old from East Lansing, Mich., teamed up with University of Michigan scientists ...
Backpack pain: not just kid stuff.(PULSE)(Brief article)
Sep 01, 2008 ... Think you left the risks of heavy book bags behind in grade school? Nope. For starters, think about how many mere books you're carrying new--and how heavy they are. They can add up to real damage to your body. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Recently, researchers ...
Eat local, help birds.(PULSE)(Brief article)
Sep 01, 2008 ... There are many reasons to get your fruits and veggies from a local market or farm stand, as "To Everything There Is a Season" (page 22) shows. One of them is keeping our feathered friends healthy. Farmers in other countries sometimes use dangerous pesticides that can kill U.S ....
Get it started! September is a great time to start new things. How about a new healthier lifestyle too?(GET UP AND GO!)
Sep 01, 2008 ... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] This year in Get Up And Go, we're helping you figure out what activities are best for you. Each issue of Current Health will feature a new way to, well, get up and go! We'll show you how to set goals and try new activities and also give you ideas for ...
Get your laugh on: laughing doesn't just feel good--it's also good for you!(YOUR MIND)(Cover story)
Sep 01, 2008; ... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] "I'm a guy who laughs a lot," Bo Burnham says. The 17-year-old from Hamilton, Mass., makes others laugh too. He started out writing songs set to guitar and keyboard. With clever rhymes and turns of phrase, Bo performed kooky fake TV commercials and sang ...
A shot of prevention: vaccines that teens need to stay healthy.(YOUR BODY)
Sep 01, 2008; ... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Going back to school in the fall often means trips to buy school supplies, new clothes, and shoes ... and maybe a trip to the doctor. That's right; you might also need to stock up on some vaccines. Doctors now try to give most kids their vaccines before ...
School counselors 101: how they can help.(YOUR RELATIONSHIPS)
Sep 01, 2008; ... ARE SCHOOL BULLIES GIVING YOU A HARD TIME? Is the thought of that geometry midterm making you nauseous? Or maybe you need help coping with the death of a pet. Whatever the problem, if it's something you can't turn to your family or friends about, consider talking to your trusty ...
Terrible TB: tuberculosis is a quiet threat.(YOUR WORLD)(Disease/Disorder overview)
Sep 01, 2008; ... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Do you recall the case of the man who got in trouble last year for traveling by airplane because he had drug-resistant tuberculosis (TB)? "I kind of remember hearing about him," says Joann C., a 16-year-old from Norwalk, Conn. "I know what TB is, but I ...
To everything there is a season: fresh-picked food is just plain good.(YOUR ENERGY)
Sep 01, 2008; ... Strawberries in January, peaches in March, tomatoes in December. Unless you live in a state with a long growing season, all of the above violate the laws of eating naturally--in other words, eating in season. When we eat in rhythm with the seasons, we can appreciate Earth's ...
No need for speed: meth isn't worth messing with.(YOUR CHOICES)
Sep 01, 2008; ... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] "I didn't think it was a big deal," says Jose, now 17, of his first time trying crystal meth. When Jose was 13, a girlfriend offered him some, saying it would give him a good rush. He figured, why not--it would just be a one-time thing. "I'd smoked ...
Ghastly gas.(SAFETY ZONE)
Sep 01, 2008 ... The arrival of fall in many places means a return to cool nights with the windows shut and the heat cranked up. In other parts of the country, fall brings hurricanes that knock out power and force people to rely on portable generators. Both situations increase the risk of carbon monoxide ...
What's up, Doc?(briefs)
Sep 01, 2008 ... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Q Can people really be double-jointed? --Lynne D., Rhode Island [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] If you've ever gone to a circus and watched a contortionist twist his or her body into a pretzel, you've witnessed hypermobility in ...
Physical therapist a hands-on job.(Brief article)
Sep 01, 2008 ... Physical therapy is one of the most satisfying jobs, according to the nearly 175,000 people who do it. That's because they see the difference their work makes in the lives of patients. Physical therapists help people recover from injuries and illnesses by restoring their ability to move ...
National health standards.(Brief article)
Sep 01, 2008 ... Students will: * comprehend concepts related to health promotion and disease prevention to enhance health ("Get Your Laugh On"; "A Shot of Prevention"; "Terrible TB") * demonstrate the ability to access valid information and products and services to ...
Somebody to lean on.
Sep 01, 2008 ... Directions: Read the article "School Counselors 101" (page 16). Then answer the questions below. Part 1 1. Name two school-related questions or problems that school counselors can help with. -- 2. Name two non-school-related questions or ...
The scourge of tuberculosis.
Sep 01, 2008 ... The Scourge of Tuberculosis Directions: Read "Terrible TB" (page 19). Answer the questions in Part 1 by circling T for true or F for false. In Part 2, write your answer on the lines provided. <Pre> Part 1 1. If infected with tuberculosis (TB), teens are more ...
Season your food.
Sep 01, 2008 ... Directions: Read the article "To Everything There Is a Season" (page 22). Then use almanacs, reference books, or the Internet as needed to help you answer the questions below. Part 1 1. What was the last fresh fruit or vegetable you had? (Frozen and canned don't ...
Speed bump.
Sep 01, 2008 ... Directions: Read the article "No Need for Speed" (page 26). Then answer the questions below. Part 1 1. Immediate side effects of methamphetamine abuse include A. irritability. B. anxiety. C. changes in heart rhythms. D ....
Party time!(WORLD NEWS ROUND UP)(Brief article)
Sep 08, 2008 ... [1] WASHINGTON, D.C. -- Thousands of die-hard Democrats and Republicans pulled on their favorite patriotic hats, grabbed signs to wave, and headed to their parties' big quadrennial celebrations: the national conventions. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Their mission: to ...
Water on Mars!(WORLD NEWS ROUNDUP)(Brief article)
Sep 08, 2008 ... NASA's scientists always suspected that the shiny stuff on Mars was ice. Now they know for sure. The U.S. space agency sent a robot spacecraft called the Phoenix Mars Lander to figure out what was on the surface of the Red Planet's north pole. This summer, the spacecraft scooped ...
Quote of the week.(WORLD NEWS ROUNDUP)(Brief article)
Sep 08, 2008 ... "It's the hardest thing I've ever tried in my life." Olympic swimmer Michael Phelps talking not ...
Superhero Olympians.(WORLD NEWS ROUNDUP)(Brief article)
Sep 08, 2008 ... [2] BEIJING--Sports fans all over the world were on the edge of their seats this summer as Olympic superheroes "Lightning Bolt" and "Aquaman" broke record after record in the race for the gold. Inside the National Stadium, better known as the Bird's Nest, Jamaican runner Usain ...
Power struggle.(WORLD NEWS ROUNDUP)(Brief article)
Sep 08, 2008 ... [3] HARARE, Zimbabwe -- Zimbabwe is having serious growing pains. The African country's first and only president, Robert Mugabe (below), was losing his reelection bid fast spring when his supporters turned violent. They brutally attacked hundreds of supporters of Mugabe's opponent, Morgan ...
Getting nowhere.(CARTOON OF THE WEEK)(Cartoon)
Sep 08, 2008 ... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] GETTING NOWHERE. These protesters are having a tough time. The Chinese government (represented by the arm on ...
War cries: conflict in the country of Georgia chills U.S.-Russian relations.(Cover story)
Sep 08, 2008 ... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] TBILISI, Georgia -- While the world's attention was focused on China and the athletic "wars" at the Olympic Games this summer, soldiers on the other side of the continent were fighting a real war. President Mikheil Saakashvili of the country of Georgia ...
Double trouble.(TELEVISION)(Dylan and Cole Sprouse)(Interview)(Brief article)
Sep 08, 2008 ... Troublemaker Zack Martin and his sensitive twin, Cody, are packing up their suite at the Tipton Hotel and heading for the high seas this fall aboard a cruise ship. The Suite Life of Zack & Cody is spinning off into The Suite Life on Deck. With this crew, someone's bound to go overboard ....
I can walk on water!(STRANGE BUT TRUE)(Brief article)
Sep 08, 2008 ... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Hey, guys! Look at me! Dolphins are smart and playful, and apparently they like to show off too. Scientists in Australia have been watching a wild dolphin named Billie teach her buddies to tail walk near the Australian coast. It's an old trick for the ...
Hut one!(HOT TOPICS)(Brief article)
Sep 08, 2008 ... In the NFL, only the best make it onto the field, and only the toughest get to stay. The 2008 football season starts on September 4. Are you ready? The players are! Current Events student reporter Austin Zelasko watched the Buffalo Bills in training. Here's his report: ...
Teens under the knife: is plastic surgery too dangerous for teens?(DEBATE)
Sep 08, 2008; ... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Nose jobs. Eyelid lifts. Liposuction. Adults aren't the only ones going under the knife to change their looks. Last year, more than 87,000 teenagers had cosmetic plastic surgery, according to the American Society of Plastic Surgeons. Nearly half of them ...
Word power!(TEST YOURSELF)(Brief article)
Sep 08, 2008 ... Circle the best definition for the emphasized word in each sentence. The page number shows you where the word can be found in this issue. 1. ... their parties' big quadrennial, celebrations: the national conventions. (page 2) (A) every two years (B) every ...
Analyze the map.(TEST YOURSELF)(Brief article)
Sep 08, 2008 ... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Study the map showing the countries of the former Soviet Union. Then fill in the circle next to the correct answer. 1. How many countries border the Caspian Sea, a region valuable for its oil and natural gas? (A) three ...
Comprehension.(TEST YOURSELF)(Brief article)
Sep 08, 2008 ... Which answer best completes each statement? 1. Violence broke out in Zimbabwe because the African nation's president, Robert Mugabe, (A) was losing the election. (B) raised taxes on corporations. (C) invaded a neighboring country. 2 ....
Words in the news.(Brief article)
Sep 08, 2008 ... Below are some key words used in this issue of Current Events. Communist (page 5) Communists subscribe to a system of politics and economics in which private property is eliminated and citizens share all goods equally. German philosopher Karl Marx developed the ...
Analyze the map.(SKILLS PAGE)(Brief article)
Sep 08, 2008 ... Study the map of Georgia showing its separatist, or breakaway, regions and the locations that the Georgians say were bombed by Russia. Then answer the questions. 1. What is the capital of Georgia? (A) Gori (B) Tbitisi (C) Moscow 2 ....
Comprehension.(SKILLS PAGE)(Brief article)
Sep 08, 2008 ... Read this issue's cover story, "War Cries." Then answer the following questions. 1. Why did U.S. President George W. Bush lean over to speak to Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin during the opening ceremony of the 2008 Olympic Games? (A) He wanted to congratulate ...
2008-2009 standards/skills.
Sep 08, 2008 ... NCCS Standards/Skills * Standard: Study diverse cultures. Skill: Compare world cultures. * Standard: Consider continuity and changes that occur over time. Skill: Use time lines. * Standard: Study interactions between people and their ...
Gustav: no Katrina.(WORLD NEWS ROUNDUP)(Brief article)
Sep 15, 2008 ... [1] NEW ORLEANS -- Whew! The relief coming from New Orleans as Hurricane Gustav blew in and out was almost audible. Everyone had prepared for the worst as the hurricane tracked toward New Orleans. It was scheduled to make landfall almost three years to the day Hurricane Katrina devastated ...
Quote of the week.(WORLD NEWS ROUNDUP)(Riley Keaton quotation)(Quotation)
Sep 15, 2008; ... "This election probably affects kids more than adults because these are the policies that could last all the ...
My, what big eyes you have.(WORLD NEWS ROUNDUP)(mummy of a woman)(Brief article)
Sep 15, 2008 ... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] 2 LIMA, Peru -- Talk about an eye-popping discovery! Archaeologists recently uncovered the intact mummy of a woman at a ruins site inside the South American nation's bustling capital. The bulging blue eyes on the mummy's mask surprised workers at the site ....
Eye on the Arctic.(WORLD NEWS ROUNDUP)(Arctic sea ice)(Brief article)
Sep 15, 2008 ... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] [3] NORTH POLE -- Now you see it, now you don't. That's the story new satellite images (as above) of Arctic sea ice tell. The National Snow and Ice Data Center reports that sea ice in the Arctic Ocean is at its second-lowest level in about 30 years. Arctic ...
War criminal stands trial.(WORLD NEWS ROUNDUP)(Brief article)
Sep 15, 2008 ... [4] THE HAGUE, Netherlands -- Former Bosnian Serb leader Radovan Karadzic recently showed up before the United Nations International Criminal Tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia looking dapper in a dark suit and tie--minus the flowing white hair and ponytail, he wore while he was on the lam ...
Damage control?(CARTOON OF THE WEEK)(Cartoon)
Sep 15, 2008 ... The U.S. government was harshly criticized for the way it handled Hurricane Katrina. What point is this cartoonist trying to make about the Federal ....
Here's the ticket!(Cover story)
Sep 15, 2008 ... Democrats Barack Obama and Joe Biden or Republicans John McCain and Sarah Palin? Either way, this election is historic. The United States will have either its first African American president or its first female vice president. Both parties recently set the stage for their campaigns at ...
Bria's bears.(TEENS)(Interview)(Brief article)
Sep 15, 2008 ... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Bria Brown learned she had a dangerous type of bone cancer in her leg when she was 6 years old, in 2001. At the time, most patients in Bria's situation would have lost the leg to amputation. But Bria agreed to try a new surgery that removed only a section ...
Pitched!(HOT TOPICS)(Brief article)
Sep 15, 2008 ... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Can a person be too good at a sport? Apparently. Ten-year-old Jericho Scott was thrown a curveball when he was tossed from his New Haven, Conn., baseball league for being able to throw a 40-mph fastball. Now that's bringing the heat! Claiming Jericho's ...
Record reptile.(STRANGE BUT TRUE)(Brief article)
Sep 15, 2008 ... Ssssssuper news! The world's smartest snake just slithered into the record books. The tiny reptile is less than 4 inches long. Blair Hedges, a biology professor at Pennsylvania State University, found the snake in Barbados. The reptile was under a rock in one of the Caribbean island's ...
Teacher's pal: should you 'friend' your teacher?(DEBATE)
Sep 15, 2008 ... [ILLUSTRATIONS OMITTED] During the first week of school, English teacher Randy Turner' 52, chatted with new and former students, answered homework questions, and complimented his students on their writing exercises--all through his MySpace page. Turner, who teaches ...
Analyze the map.(TEST YOURSELF)(Brief article)
Sep 15, 2008 ... KEY STATES Each state has a set number of electoral votes depending on its population. A candidate needs 270 electoral votes to win the presidency. This map shows the states each candidate is likely to win and which are still, up for grabs. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] ...
Which word works?(TEST YOURSELF)(Brief article)
Sep 15, 2008 ... Circle the best definition for the emphasized word in each sentence. The page number shows you where the word can be found in this issue. 1. Karadzic ... changed his name and appearance, eluding capture until July. (page 3) refusing attracting ...
Know the news.(TEST YOURSELF)(Brief article)
Sep 15, 2008 ... Fill in the circle next to the correct answer. 1. Radovan Karadzic is facing war crimes for his involvement in which war? (A) Persian Gulf War (B) Kosovo war (C) Bosnian war 2. Which statement is true about Barack Obama? ...
Words in the news.(Brief article)
Sep 15, 2008 ... Below are some key words used in this issue of Current Events. The Bosnian war (page 3) On Feb. 29, 1992, the republic of Bosnia and Herzegovina voted to become independent from Yugoslavia. A civil war immediately broke out among Bosnia's three major population groups: Croats, ...
Online: smart stuff at www.weeklyreader.com/ce.(ANSWER KEY)
Sep 15, 2008 ... World and Geography: 1. C, 2. A, 3. C, 4. A. 5. C; History: 1. B, 2. A, 3. A, 4. B, 5. Culture ...
Analyze the time line.(SKILLS PAGE)(Brief article)
Sep 15, 2008 ... Study the time line. Use the information to answer the questions that follow. 1. Which party is currently in control of both houses of Congress? [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] (A) Democratic (B) Republican (C) both 2. In which ...
Comprehension.(SKILLS PAGE)(Brief article)
Sep 15, 2008 ... Read this issue's cover story, "Here's the Ticket!" Then answer the following questions. 1. What is the main idea of the story? (A) McCain and Obama recently outlined their campaigns at political conventions. (B) Both candidates announced their vice ...
Find the framers.(SKILLS PAGE)(Brief article)
Sep 15, 2008 ... The framers of the Constitution made history when they signed the important document on Sept. 17, 1787. But crafting the Constitution was only one of many famous feats by the four framers pictured below. Use the clues to figure out who the framers are, and write each person's name under ...
Founding fun!(SKILLS PAGE)(Brief article)
Sep 15, 2008 ... Find the last name of a framer of the Constitution in each of these sentences. We did the first one for you. Find a list of framers at www.usconstitution.net/constframe. 1. I can't wait to see the car roll down the hill. 2. Maya tests herself with homemade flash ...
Never forget.(WORLD NEWS ROUNDUP)(years after the 9/11 attacks)(Brief article)
Sep 22, 2008 ... [1] NEW YORK -- The two rivals in the race for the U.S. presidency set aside politics on September 11. Instead of campaigning, Republican John McCain (right) and Democrat Barack Obama (left) went together to the site where the World Trade Center towers once rose above New York City. They ...
Quote of the week.(WORLD NEWS ROUNDUP)(Quotation)
Sep 22, 2008; ... "This critter was angry, really angry." --Delia Oliveras, 64, who watched as ...
A bang-up job.(WORLD NEWS ROUNDUP)(Large Hadron Collider )(Brief article)
Sep 22, 2008 ... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] [2] GENEVA -- In a looping tunnel under the French-Swiss border, scientists are trying to peer into the origins of the universe. They want to re-create, in miniature, the conditions that existed right after the big bang, a huge explosion that many ...
Lost in translation.(WORLD NEWS ROUNDUP)(Brief article)
Sep 22, 2008 ... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] [3] TBILISI, Georgia -- The nine-day war between Russia and neighboring Georgia ended weeks ago, but the Russians are only now promising to pull back their troops. If you're saying, "Wait a minute, I thought the Russians agreed to do that back in ...
Spying on our friends?(WORLD NEWS ROUNDUP)(Brief article)
Sep 22, 2008 ... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] [4] BAGHDAD -- The Iraqi government wasn't happy when it Learned that the United States might have spied on its prime minister. The allegations surfaced in a new book by Washington Post reporter Bob Woodward. He's the same reporter who uncovered the ...