question: Three kids have been learning chemistry for only a few months. But they have already begun to challenge a world famous scientist! Li Weichi, Huang Runling, and Xiao Yan are from Zhongshan Huaqiao Middle School in Guangdong. They have just found a red cabbage that could be a new kind of acid-base indicator . They want it to take the place of litmus paper. "We've learnt to think of and ask questions about life by ourselves," said Li, "We work well with each other." British scientist Robert Boyle discovered the use of litmus paper over 300 years ago. Now it is used widely in experiments all over the world. But when the kids did some experiments in class last winter, they saw that the litmus paper didn't turn very blue with base matter. It's hard to get a clear result. Will there be a better indicator than litmus paper? The three kids decided to try and find out! How? They went to collect over 40 plants in parks, gardens and markets. Then they ground leaves, flowers and stems to get the pigments from them. The kids mixed pigments with acid and base. They spent months watching carefully to see which paper showed the best colour change. They decided it was the litmus paper! "It's our first scientific journey, Huang said, "But it makes me want to try harder."
1. What subject do the kids study?
2. How many kids are there?
3. What are their names?
4. Are they in school?
5. Which one do they attend?
6. Where is that at?
7. What chemist are they challenging?
8. What did he discover?
9. How long ago was that?
10. What might replace the litmus paper?
****
answer: 1. chemistry
2. Three
3. Li Weichi, Huang Runling, and Xiao Yan
4. Yes
5. Zhongshan Huaqiao Middle School
6. Guangdong
7. Robert Boyle
8. the use of litmus paper
9. over 300 years ago
10. mixed pigments with acid and base

question: CHAPTER XV

A RUNAWAY MOTOR-BOAT

"What do you make of that?"

"The motor-boat must have run away from Nat!"

"Either that or Nat has fallen overboard!"

"Maybe Nat has been drowned!"

These and other remarks were made, as the boys on the highway gazed down at the craft that was speeding along in such an erratic fashion over the surface of the river. A closer look confirmed their first opinion, that nobody was on board.

"I'm going to try to stop her!" shouted Dave, and ran back along the highway, and disappeared into the bushes. Roger followed him closely, and some of the others trailed behind.

"I am going up the river--to see if I can find Nat!" shouted Phil, and away he sped, and Sam and Ben went along.

It was no easy matter for Dave to work his way down the bank of the stream. The bushes were thick and the footing uncertain, and once his jacket caught on a root and he had to pause to free himself. But at last he came out on a narrow strip of rocks and sand, at a point where the Leming River made a broad turn.

The water at this point was quite shallow, and here he thought the progress of the motor-boat would be stayed. His surmise was correct, the craft bringing up between several smooth rocks. The engine continued to work, pounding the boat back and forth, and threatening to sink her.

Fortunately, Dave had on a pair of gaiters he had borrowed, and they were so big that he slipped them off with ease. His socks followed, and then he rolled up his trousers to his knees, and waded into the stream.
1. Who was having difficultly reaching the water?
2. Why?
3. Did he make it?
4. What was the body of water called?
5. Did it have a name?
6. Was it deep?
7. Why was he going to it?
8. Did he find the barge?
9. Was it broken?
10. Who yelled they were looking for Nat?
****
answer: 1. dave
2. uncertain footing, thick brush and he was caught on a root
3. yes
4. river
5. Leming River
6. no
7. they can't find nat
8. yes
9. the engine was runing and threatening to sink the ship on the rocks
10. Phil

question: James the Turtle was always getting in trouble. Sometimes he'd reach into the freezer and empty out all the food. Other times he'd sled on the deck and get a splinter. His aunt Jane tried as hard as she could to keep him out of trouble, but he was sneaky and got into lots of trouble behind her back.

One day, James thought he would go into town and see what kind of trouble he could get into. He went to the grocery store and pulled all the pudding off the shelves and ate two jars. Then he walked to the fast food restaurant and ordered 15 bags of fries. He didn't pay, and instead headed home.

His aunt was waiting for him in his room. She told James that she loved him, but he would have to start acting like a well-behaved turtle.

After about a month, and after getting into lots of trouble, James finally made up his mind to be a better turtle.
1. Who were always getting in trouble?
2. What did he reach into?
3. What would he do on the porch?
4. Where did he think he would travel to?
5. Why did he want to visit town?
6. What did he pull at the shop he was in?
7. Who tried to help him behave?
8. How many cans did he eat
9. Where did he stroll to after the store?
10. How many french fries did he order?
11. Did he buy the food?
12. Who was in his bedroom?
****
answer:
1. James the Turtle
2. The freezer
3. He would sled
4. Into town
5. To see what trouble he could get into
6. All the pudding
7. His aunt Jane
8. Two
9. The fast food restaurant
10. 15 bags worth
11. No
12. His aunt