Question:
Read the text and answer the questions.
Scientific American (informally abbreviated SciAm) is an American popular science magazine. Many famous scientists, including Albert Einstein, have contributed articles in the past 170 years. It is the oldest continuously published monthly magazine in the United States(though it only became monthly in 1921). 

"Scientific American" was founded by inventor and publisher Rufus M. Porter in 1845 as a four-page weekly newspaper. Throughout its early years, much emphasis was placed on reports of what was going on at the U.S. Patent Office. It also reported on a broad range of inventions including perpetual motion machines, an 1860 device for buoying vessels by Abraham Lincoln, and the universal joint which now can be found in nearly every automobile manufactured. Current issues include a "this date in history" section, featuring excerpts from articles originally published 50, 100, and 150 years earlier. Topics include humorous incidents, wrong-headed theories, and noteworthy advances in the history of science and technology. 

Porter sold the publication to Alfred Ely Beach and Orson Desaix Munn a mere ten months after founding it. Until 1948, it remained owned by Munn & Company. Under Munn's grandson, Orson Desaix Munn III, it had evolved into something of a "workbench" publication, similar to the twentieth-century incarnation of "Popular Science".
1. When did SciAm become a monthly publication?
2. Who famously contributed to the magazine?
3. Anyone in particular?
4. Who was it founded by?
5. When?
6. Was it sold soon thereafter?
7. To whom?
8. How long after it was founded was it sold?
9. What did it emphasize early on?
10. What section is included in current issues?
11. What kinds of articles does it publish in this section?

Numbered answers:
1. 1921
2. Many famous scientists,
3. Albert Einstein
4. Rufus M. Porter
5. 1845
6. yes
7. Alfred Ely Beach and Orson Desaix Munn
8. ten months
9. reports of what was going on at the U.S. Patent Office.
10. "this date in history"
11. excerpts from articles originally published 50, 100, and 150 years earlier.


Question:
Read the text and answer the questions.
Wednesday night 7: 30 p. m. at the Chuckle Bar! 

Starring Rodney Mann, Pedro Mendez and Larry Dunne! 

Next Wednesday night at the Chuckle Bar we have an all star line up of comedians. Three of the world's best known comedians are coming together for one night only. Book your tickets by calling 1 900 555 6565 or be at the door early to buy them before the show begins. 

Rodney Mann 

Mann is famous for his jokes about average people and their life. Many of his jokes are social commentaries on everyday things. He loves to set his jokes in New York, the city where he grew up. 

Mann's most famous opening line, "You know, I was walking down the street the other day. . . " is known all over the world. He is just back from his tour of Europe, and is appearing at the Chuckle Bar for one night only. Don't miss it! 

Pedro Mendez 

Pedro Mendez grew up on a small farm in Panama. He moved to the USA with his parents when he was ten, and has been telling jokes and making people laugh ever since. Recently, the 30 year old comedian began to film a new TV programme that he will both act in and produce. 

Experience Mendez's unique Latin style humor for yourself. His routine, "I had a farm in Panama", is a classic that should not be missed. 

Larry Dunne 

Larry Dunne has been making people laugh all over the world for more than five decades. He began his career by performing for soldiers in Hawaii in the 1950s, and since then, he has been the host of his own late night TV programme. The videos and DVDs of his performances are the best sellers of any stand-up acts out there. As an old style comedian, Dunne uses lots of singing and dancing as part of his routines. 

Dunne is best known for his jokes about life in the USA and how it has changed during his lifetime. This will be Dunne's last show before he retires, so don't miss it. 

Call 1-900-555-6565 to reserve your tickets or be at the door by 7: 00 p. m. .
1. How many comedians will be at the Chuckle Bar on Wednesday night?
2. What time is the show?
3. How can people book tickets?
4. Or?
5. Who is famous for his jokes about normal people?
6. Where is the locale of many of his jokes?
7. What significance does New York have for him?
8. What is a frequent opener for Mann?
9. Where did he just get back from?
10. How many nights will he perform at the Chuckle bar?
11. Who grew up on a small farm?
12. Where?
13. How old was he when he relocated to the United States?
14. How old is he?
15. What did he do recently?
16. Will he act in it?
17. What is a common opener of his?
18. Who has been a comedian for over five decades?
19. Who was his first audience?
20. Where?
21. When?
22. Does he have his own TV show?

Numbered answers:
1. three
2. 7:30 pm
3. call 1 900 555 6565
4. at the door
5. Rodney Mann
6. New York
7. he grew up there
8. "You know, I was walking down the street the other day. . . "
9. Europe
10. one
11. Pedro Mendez
12. Panama
13. ten
14. 30
15. filmed a new TV programme
16. yes
17. "I had a farm in Panama"
18. Larry Dunne
19. soldiers
20. Hawaii
21. 1950s
22. yes


Question:
Read the text and answer the questions.
(CNN) -- It's been more than three weeks since militants from the dreaded Boko Haram terrorist group dragged 276 girls out of their beds at a boarding school in northern Nigeria, and still no one knows where the girls are. International assistance has begun to flow into Nigeria, whose president has vowed to end the terror threat plaguing his country. 

Here's what you need to know to get caught up: 

Where are the girls? 

It's anyone's guess. Boko Haram's leader, Abubakar Shekau, said in a video that he was going to sell them into slavery, but it's unknown whether he has. Pentagon spokesman U.S. Navy Rear Adm. John Kirby and other officials have said they believe the girls may have been separated into smaller groups, making the task of finding them inordinately more difficult. Gordon Brown, a former UK prime minister and the U.N.'s special envoy for global education, speculated that the girls may have been moved into neighboring countries. "The search must be in Niger, Cameroon and Chad, to see if we can find information," he said. 

What's being done to find them? 

Nigeria hasn't given a lot of information about its efforts other than to say that its soldiers have been out in the field, looking for the girls. Nigerian police offered a $310,000 reward, but there's no evidence that has turned up any leads. The United States and Britain have sent advisers to help the Nigerian government find the girls, stage rescue missions and help in the larger fight to defeat Boko Haram. 
1. When did Boko Haram kidnap the girls?
2. Where are they?
3. Who leads the group?
4. Who is looking for them?


Numbered answers:
1. three weeks ago
2. no one knows
3. Abubakar Shekau
4. soldiers