Problem: Cotton farmers in some Indian villages are busily buying Coca-Cola and Pepsi, believing that the sugar in the fizzy( ) drinks kills pests.

Farmers say scientists advised them to mix pesticides with a sugary juice to control pests, and they found the mixture cheaper and more effective than pure chemicals-- although soft drink makers and scientists dismissed the remarks. N. Hamunayya, who has become a famous person in his village in the southeastern state of Andhra Pradesh, said his crop survived an attack of pests which had resisted other pesticides. "We found that all the colas had uniform effect on pests. The pests became dead and fell to the ground, "he said. He said the drinks had all the elements they needed : they were cheaper, sticky, fizzy, and attracted ants, which ate the young of the pests. But Thinupathi Reddy, assistant director of the Regional Agri-Research Station, Guntur, says tests had proved such results wrong. "We conducted some field trials on cotton crop at our research station. There was no obvious productivity or destruction of pests, "he says.

Statements from Pepsi and Coca-Cola said there was " no scientific basis" for _ . But their dealers are enjoying increasing sales. Mantan Wall, who sells soft drinks in 17 villages in the region, said sales rose up, thanks to the farmers. " For the 10 days between August and September I had successful business. Instead of just 30 cases( each containing a dozen one-litre bottles) of cola, I started selling almost 200 cases, "he said. " We expected the sales to drop after the news over pesticide residues( ) in the cola drinks. Now I have to keep extra supply for the cotton farmers, "he said.

In February, an Indian environment group made a report saying drinks made by Coca-Cola and Pepsi contained pesticides and called for tougher safety standards. The U. S firms strongly rejected the findings of the New Delhi-based Centre for Science and Environment and said their products were safe.
1. What are cotton farmers busy buying?
2. What are the farmers advised to mix with sugary juices to control pests?
3. What country rejected the discoveries of a New Delhi-located center?
4. What did the USA mention their sodas were?
5. Soda companies mentioned there was what for companies liking soaring revenue?
6. What type of areas were purchasing the sodas?
7. What type of environmental collective designed a summary?
8. What allegedly happened to the bugs?
9. Did the soda companies mention the analysis was strong?
Answer: 1. Soft drinks
2. Pesticides
3. The USA
4. Safe
5. unknown
6. Farming villages
7. A Regional Agri-Research Station
8. The pests became dead and fell to the ground.
9. No

Problem: Have you ever listened to young children talking in the playground? They are always boasting. They say things like, "My Dad's car is bigger than your Dad's," and "My Mom is smarter than yours." They particularly like to boast about their families.

There were three little boys, Harry, Ted and Gavin, who were always boasting. Gavin was the worst. Everything about his family was always the best or the biggest or the most expensive.

Whatever the others said, he could always go on better. One day when they were walking to

school, Harry said, "My father had a bath twice a week," Ted spoke next. "That's nothing," he said. "Having a bath twice a week is dirty. My father has a bath every day, sometimes twice a day." Ted looked at Gavin. Now it was his turn. But what could he say? "This time," Ted thought, "I'm going to win." Gavin didn't know what to say. He couldn't say that his father had a bath three times a day. That was silly. He walked on in silence. Ted smiled at Harry, and Harry smiled back. They were sure that for once they had beaten Gavin. They reached the school gates. Still Gavin said nothing. "We've won," Ted said to Harry, but he spoke too soon. On the way home, Gavin said, "My Dad is so clean that he doesn't have to bathe at all."
1. Where were the boys walking to when Harry started talking about his father?
2. Who was he boasting about?
3. What did he say his dad had had two of that week?
4. Who thought his dad was better than Harry's?
5. How often does Ted's dad take a bath?
6. Only once a day?
7. Whose turn was it to boast next?
8. Did he say anything?
9. What would it be if he said his dad bathed three times a day?
10. Did Gavin know what to say right then after Ted had finished talking?
11. Did Harry and Ted think they'd finally beat Gavin?
12. Had Gavin said anything before they reached the school gates?
13. When did Gavin finally speak?
14. Did he say his dad was cleaner or dirtier than the other boys' dads?
15. How often did Gavin boast his father had to wash himself?
16. Were Harry, Ted and Gavin little boys or little girls?
17. Were any of their parents divorced?
18. Has one of the boys ever said their mom was smarter?
19. What did one of the boys previous brag that their dad's was bigger?
20. Did the boys like talking about their families?
Answer:
1. school
2. his father
3. baths
4. Ted
5. every day
6. sometimes twice a day
7. Gavin's
8. yes
9. silly
10. no
11. yes
12. no
13. On the way home
14. cleaner
15. he said he doesn't have to bathe at all
16. little boys
17. unknown
18. unknown
19. unknown
20. yes