(CNN) -- The way some Republicans talk about the Environmental Protection Agency, you would think it was created by a bunch of pot-smoking hippies communing at a nudist camp in northern California -- when in fact, the EPA was created by one of their own, Richard Nixon, in 1970.

Much as Republicans don't like to bring up the huge tax increases instituted by their hero, Ronald Reagan, they prefer to sidestep their role in the EPA's humble beginnings and blame it on Democrats. They characterize the whole thing as an albatross hanging around the economy's neck.

To be fair, Nixon did not ride into the White House as a conservationist, and he did veto the Clean Water Act. But he said he did so because of the price tag of the policy, not its purpose. After the Santa Barbara oil spill in 1969 -- which at the time was the largest in U.S. history -- Nixon agreed with the rest of thinking society that clean water and air were a good thing. And his fingerprints are all over such tree-hugging initiatives as the Clean Air Act.

Sadly, if he tried any of that funny business today, his own party would probably impeach him. That's how far down the oil well some in the Republican leadership have fallen.

Rep. Michelle Bachmann said she would lock the EPA's doors and turn off its lights if she were president (thankfully there's no chance of that); Newt Gingrich said he would shut down the EPA and create a replacement to work with businesses to create jobs (making it more of a lapdog than watchdog); Rick Perry asked the president to halt all regulations, adding "his EPA regulations are killing jobs all across America." What are the answers to this following set of questions: 1. Who created the EPA?
2. When was that?
3. What political part was he part of?
4. Were they proud he started it?
5. Why did he start it?
6. What happened to cause him to start it?
Answer: 1. Richard Nixon
2. 1970
3. Republicans
4. No
5. unknown
6. unknown

A lot of kids have dreams they'll never achieve due to the limitations of their little bodies. They want to fly, or to become a dinosaur, or to learn how to act like Spiderman. Luka Tavcar, 12, has muscular dystrophy and is totally dependent on his wheelchair. Nevertheless, late last year, he had an inspired plan: to be photographed walking around and having fun. He approached Matej Peljhan, an amateur photographer and a psychologist at CIRIUS rehabilitation center near Ljubljana, Slovenia, where Luka is a patient. At first, Peljhan was perplexed. How could he photograph a boy who can not move or act in motion? "Luka wanted to see himself playing and having fun, but it seemed impossible," he says. Then Peljhan had a brainstorm: Luka could lie down on a piece of cloth and, with the help of an assistant, Peljhan would pose the boy as if he were jumping, climbing stairs, moving downhill on a skateboard, and playing basketball. Then Peljhan would shoot these images from above. The photos took about a month to produce; all were shot early this year. Peljhan, who lost his right arm and left eye as a child, says his own disabilities motivated him to make the photographs. "I understand people with limitations," he says. He named the series "The Little Prince" after the French story by Antoine de Saint-Exupery in which a boy teaches a man about trust, hope, and friendship. Luka loves the photos. Matej himself understands what it is like to live with limitations--he lost his right arm and left eye as a child."Luka wants to stay positive and his imagination helps him forget his physical limitation," says Peljhan. "He's fragile, but he can see the world differently." What are the answers to this following set of questions: 1. What is Luka's impairment?
2. How does he get around?
3. What did he want to do last year?
4. Who would take the pictures?
5. Where did he work?
6. Where is that located?
7. Did Peljhan think this was a normal request?
8. What did Luka lie down on?
9. And what did Peljhan do with him?
10. How long did it take to make all the photos?
11. What was Peljhan's disability?
12. What did he call the photo series?
13. Was Luka satisfied with the pictures?
Answer: 1. muscular dystrophy
2. his wheelchair
3. to be photographed walking around and having fun
4. Matej Peljhan
5. CIRIUS rehabilitation center
6. Ljubljana, Slovenia
7. no
8. a piece of cloth
9. Peljhan would pose the boy as if he were jumping, climbing stairs, moving downhill on a skateboard
10. a month
11. he lost his right arm and left eye
12. The Little Prince
13. yes

Much has been said and written recently about heroes, mainly because many people think we have too few of them. There are many different kinds of heroes, but they all seem to have two things in common. First, heroes, by their actions, show the great possibilities of human nature. Second, heroes can also stand the test of time, and their achievements will not be easily forgotten. Because of these good points, we need to choose our heroes carefully. Olympic sports star Jackie Joyner-Kersee, who is believed to be a hero, warns young people to be careful of making athletes heroes. She hopes that if someone tries to copy her, it will be because she has achieved her goals by working hard. Joyner-Kersee says that a hero should be someone who has an influence on another person's life. Poet Maya Angelou believes that a hero encourages people to treat others well and to be concerned about the greater good. A hero should show politeness, courage, patience, and strength all the time. A hero should encourage others to follow him with actions that improve the world, even if only in small ways. Author Daniel Boorstin suggests that, " _ are people who make news, but heroes are people who make history." Thus, if a person is truly worthy to be called a hero, he or she will not be soon forgotten. We all need heroes. We need to be able to respect people who have been there, done that, and succeeded. Many times the greatest heroes are the people we deal with every day -- relatives , friends, and neighbors -- who will keep going when it is easier to give up. The parent who puts her or his family ahead of herself or himself, the teacher who will make more money at another job but chooses to help others -- all these people can be considered as heroes. A hero quietly and continuously sets a good example, an example that inspires others to follow. What are the answers to this following set of questions: 1. what Olympic star is mentioned?
2. what does she say that a hero is?
3. how does Maya Angelou believe that heroes should treat people?
4. what is her profession?
5. how many things does the story say all heroes have in common?
6. has a lot been written about heroes?
7. what is one thing that all heroes have in common?
8. what Daniel Boorstin's profession?
9. what does he say heroes make?
10. who are some of the greatest heroes?
11. like who?
12. can parents be heroes?
13. what about teachers?
14. what do some teachers give up in order to help others?
Answer:
1. Jackie Joyner-Kersee
2. Someone who has an influence on another person's life.
3. Well
4. Poet
5. Two
6. Yes
7. They show the possibilities of human nature
8. Author
9. History
10. People we deal with every day
11. Relatives, friends and neighbors
12. Yes
13. Yes
14. A job where they can make more money