Read the passage.In 1812, war broke out in Europe and in North America. In addition to the usual ravages of conflict, this war saw two of the most precious US landmarks damaged. Two years into the conflict, in 1814, a British force invaded Washington DC, and burned the Capitol building and the White House in retaliation for US forces burning York in 1813.
Read the passage.One of the best ways to protect the natural resources in our great state is to visit the many Florida state parks open to the public. When you visit a state park, the fee you pay goes toward preserving the environment in the park. Whether you like the sun and sand or prefer the cool air of a slash pine forest, there is a state park for you. Grayton Beach State Park, located near Panama City, has miles of hiking and biking trails as well as a sandy beach, where visitors enjoy sunbathing and swimming in the Gulf of Mexico. Another option for beach access is Washington Oaks State Park, located just north of Daytona Beach on the Atlantic Coast. Although it does not have hiking and bike trails, visitors can spend hours walking up and down the beach and exploring the large rock formations that house tide pools teeming with life when the tide goes out.
Read the passage.Stonehenge is the most famous stone circle in the world. Located on Salisbury Plain in southern England, it was most likely built about 5,000 years ago, but no one knows why or by whom. No one knows how the stone circle was built, either. Of the stones that remain standing in the circle, the sarsens (sandstone boulders found in southern England) are the biggest. They are extremely heavy, each weighing up to 25 tons, or 50,000 pounds—about the weight of a fire truck or a fully loaded bus. The tallest sarsens stretch 30 feet into the sky, as tall as two-story houses. These stones are thought to have come from about 20 miles away. How could the prehistoric people who built Stonehenge have transported these gigantic stones and then positioned them in a circle? We will most likely never know.
Read the passage.Pizza may have its roots in Italy, but the United States has certainly left its mark on the food. Pizza from the US is some of the most popular in the world. New York and Chicago are both known for their great pizza. Pizza is similar in both cities in that they include tomato sauce and mozzarella cheese. However, their crusts are very different. New York pizza has a thin, hand-tossed crust, while Chicago’s pizza is a thick, deep-dish crust that is cooked in a pan.
Read the passage.The space race between the United States and the Soviet Union began in 1957 when the Soviets launched an intercontinental ballistic missile. Before the United States launched its first satellite, more than a year later, the USSR had already sent the first mammal, a dog named Laika, into space. It would be four years later, in 1961, when the United States would send its first mammal into space, a primate named Ham. It quickly became clear to government officials, particularly President John F. Kennedy, that the Soviets were outpacing the United States when it came to technology. This was concerning because technological advancements would have implications for the military. This was the main reason that President Kennedy pledged, in 1962, that the United States would put a man on the moon.
Read the passage.The Saint Lawrence Seaway is a body of water that separates Canada and the United States. It connects the Atlantic Ocean to the Great Lakes, which makes it important for trade and the transportation of goods. In addition, it provides opportunities for recreation, such as boating and scuba diving.
Read the passage.The Saint Lawrence Seaway was built to allow oceangoing vessels to reach the Great Lakes. It was seen as a great boon for trade. However, it has proven to be extremely detrimental to the environment. After the seaway was built, a number of invasive species arrived on ships and began to plague the area. Residents along the river have also experienced dangerously high water levels because of the seaway.
Read the passage.Teenagers can help out at home by pitching in during mealtime. Not everyone is born to be a celebrity chef but learning how to make a few simple meals is an easy and fun way to show people that you care about them. If you have never even boiled an egg before, you might be wondering where to start. Think of a meal you have had in a restaurant that you enjoyed. The internet is full of websites that give step-by-step instructions on how to create even the most complicated meals, but it is best to keep things simple at first. Once you have chosen your meal, it is time to plan. Make a list of ingredients. Find out what is already in the kitchen and what you will need to purchase at the market. Go shopping early enough so that you have plenty of time to prepare and cook your meal. Read the recipe carefully to find out how long it will take. Cook your meal and then, most importantly, enjoy your creation!
Read the passage.The overpopulation of feral cats is a serious problem in many areas of Florida. A simple, humane way to reduce the overpopulation of feral cats is trap-neuter-release. Feral cats are gently trapped, spayed or neutered to prevent further breeding, and then released back into their colony. Over time, the population of the colony dwindles without the need for the cats to be unnecessarily euthanized.
Read the passage.Amending the Constitution of the United States is difficult, tedious, and time-consuming. Once an amendment is proposed, two-thirds of both the Senate and the House of Representatives must ratify, or approve, it. Next, three-fourths of the state legislatures must ratify it. Only then will the proposed amendment become law.
Read the passage.People in the United States throw away roughly 286 million tons of garbage annually, and nearly half of that goes to landfills. Landfills are a serious problem for the environment. For one thing, the country will eventually run out of space for landfills. Also, as it breaks down, most of the garbage in landfills releases toxins into the earth and greenhouse gases into the atmosphere. It is important to divert as much garbage away from landfills as possible. One way this can be done is by putting food waste in a composter instead of throwing it out. Another way is for local governments to encourage people to recycle; many communities are using single-stream recycling, which allows people to easily place all recyclable materials in the same container. Finally, waste-to-energy plants are an excellent way to reduce landfill garbage; they use the garbage as fuel to generate power.
Read the passage.Colic in horses is a serious condition. Horses that eat too much or eat food that has spoiled are at risk of being in distress. A veterinarian should be called if colic is suspected. To prevent colic, make sure your horse has plenty of fresh water to drink and monitor its food intake.
Read the passage.Everyone would agree that many of our roads need repair. However, repairs that improve the condition of the roads often wreak havoc on the lives of people whose homes and businesses are located on those roads. Traffic is, of course, the most obvious negative result of road repair. Blocked streets or blocked lanes on the highway can result in hundreds of people being late for work, school, or other appointments. Business revenue is also potentially impacted by road repair. When streets or sidewalks are closed for construction, businesses lose the customers who are no longer able to access them and must go elsewhere. Sometimes those customers never return. Lastly, blocked streets can prevent emergency vehicles, such as fire trucks and ambulances, from traveling on their normal routes, resulting in possible loss of life.
Read the passage.The emerald ash borer beetle is one of the top five most invasive species in North America, and its spread should be monitored carefully. It is native to Asia, and researchers believe that it was imported to North America on a piece of wood or wood product. The adult female beetle lays its eggs on the ash tree’s bark. The larvae bore into the tree after they hatch, hence the insect’s name, and feed on the tree’s tissues. Infestation is almost always fatal for the tree. Since the early 2000s, when the beetle first arrived in North America, tens of millions of ash trees have died. This has devastated the ecosystem, since many insects and birds rely on ash trees for their diet. It has also changed the landscape of many cities, as infected trees have had to be removed.
Read the passage.Compared to nursing in the 1950s, the process of becoming a nurse is very different today. Some argue that it was easier in the 1950s because, unlike today, a university degree was not necessary. However, nursing students still had to complete what was known as "training.” The program was rigorous; students had to live in dorms at the hospital and were only allowed to see their families one weekend a month. They had to wear crisp, white uniforms—dresses—nothing like the scrubs of today’s nurses. They would be sent to change if their uniforms were not spotless. Perhaps the most oppressive rule was that any nursing student who married while still in training was immediately dismissed from the program. Today, of course, nursing students now include men, and are no different from other university students; they are free to live and dress as they choose.
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