Q: Because plants cannot move or talk, most people believe that they have no feelings and that they cannot receive signals from outside. However, this may not be completely true.

People who studied plants have found out that plants carry a small electrical charge . It is possible to measure this charge with a small piece of equipment called "galvanometer". The galvanometer is placed on a leaf off the plant, and it records any changes in the electrical field of the leaf. Humans have a similar field which can change when we are shocked or frightened.

A man called Backster used a galvanometer for his studies of plants and was very surprised at his results. He found that if he had two or more plants in a room and he began to destroy one of them - perhaps by pulling off its leaves or by pulling it out of its pot - then the galvanometer on the leaves of the other plants showed a change in the electrical field. It seemed as if the plants were signalling a feeling of shock. This happened not only when Backster started to destroy plants, but also when he destroyed other living things such as insects .

Backster said that the plants also knew if someone had destroyed a living thing some distance away, because they signalled when a man who had just cut down a tree entered the room.

Another scientist, named Sauvin, achieved similar results to Backster's. He kept galvanometers fixed to his plants all the time and checked regularly to see what the plants were doing. If he was out of the office, he telephoned to find out about the signals the plants were sending. In this way, he found that the plants were sending out signals at the exact times when he felt strong pleasure or pain. In fact, Sauvin could cause a change in the electrical field of his plants over a distance of a few miles simply by thinking about them.

1. Yes.
2. A galvanometer.
3. Sauvin.
4. Yes.
5. No.
6. It's leaves.
7. Yes.
8. A few miles.
9. Yes.
10. Feelings .

Numbered questions:
1. are plants known to carry an electrical charge?
2. What was the piece of equipment backster used?
3. Who was the other scientist who achieved similar results as backster?
4. do humans also have a small electrical field?
5. do plants sense strong pleasure or pain?
6. he pulled off the plants?
7. Could Sauvin change electrical field simply by thinking of them?
8. from what distance?
9. could they sense when other living things were destroyed?
10. most people believe they have no what?

Q: Katharine Meyer Graham was once described as "the most powerful woman in America." She was not a government official or elected representative. She owned and published The Washington Post. Under her leadership, it became one of the most important newspapers in the country.

Katharine Meyer was born in New York City in 1917. Her father was a successful investment banker and became an important financial official. Her family was very rich. Katharine grew up in large houses in New York and Washington. Her parents were often away from home, traveling and working, Katharine was often lonely. Katherine Meyer graduated from the University of Chicago in Illinois in 1938. In 1933, her father bought a failing newspaper, The Washington Post. It was the least successful one of five newspapers in Washington.

Katharine Graham returned to Washington and got a job editing letters to the editor of her father's newspaper. She married Philip Graham. He was a clerk for Supreme Court Justice Felix Frankfurter but soon accepted a job at his wife's father's newspaper. Mr. Graham improved The Washington Post. He bought Newsweek and several television stations. He also established close ties with important political leaders. However, Mr. Graham treated his wife badly. He had an affair with a young reporter. For many years, Mr. Graham suffered from mental illness. He killed himself in 1963.

Katharine Graham had four children to raise and a newspaper to operate. At first, she was only concerned about finding a way to keep control of The Washington Post until her sons were old enough. She did not think she had the ability to do an important job. She had no training in business or experience in operating a large company. In those days, it was unusual for a woman to be the head of a business. Women were expected to look after their homes and children.

Katharine Graham met with officials of The Washington Post. She was elected president of The Washington Post Company. She had no idea about how to operate a newspaper. So she decided to learn. She began by hiring Benjamin C.Bradlee. He later became chief editor. Mr. Bradlee improved the newspaper. He hired excellent reporters and editors. They began doing important investigative reporting. In 1969, Mrs. Graham became publisher as well as president of The Washington Post Company. In the 1970s, The Washington Post became famous around the world because of two major successes.

1. owner and publisher of The Washington Post
2. in 1917
3. New York City
4. in New York and Washington
5. no
6. the University of Chicago
7. unknown
8. 1938
9. because it was failing
10. The Washington Post
11. 1933
12. editing letters to the editor
13. yes
14. Philip Graham
15. a clerk
16. Supreme Court Justice Felix Frankfurter
17. yes
18. yes
19. yes
20. four
21. the most powerful woman in America
22. He killed himself
23. 1963

Numbered questions:
1. who was Katharine Meyer Graham?
2. when was she born?
3. where?
4. where was she raised?
5. was her family poor?
6. where did she go to school?
7. when?
8. when did she graduate?
9. why did her dad buy The newspaper?
10. which paper?
11. when did he buy it?
12. what was her job with the paper?
13. was she ever married?
14. to who?
15. what was his job?
16. for who?
17. did Philip ever come work for the paper?
18. was he successful there?
19. Did they have kids?
20. how many?
21. what was she known as?
22. how did her husband die?
23. when?

Q: It was Jessie Bear's birthday. She was having a party. She asked her two best friends to come to the party. She made a big cake, and hung up some balloons.

Soon her friend Lion came over. Then her friend Tiger came over. Lion and Tiger brought presents with them.

Jessie hugged her friends. She asked them if they would like to have cake.

Yes! said Lion. Yes yes! said Tiger. Jessie cut the cake, and they all ate it together. Then Jessie opened her presents. She got a new jump rope and a fun game. She asked Lion and Tiger to play the game with her.

The friends played and played. They all had a good time. Soon it was time for the party to be over.

Lion and Tiger hugged Jessie and said goodbye to her. Thanks for a great birthday! Jessie Bear told her two best friends.

1. her two best friends
2. cake.
3. a jump rope and a game
4. yes
5. yes
6. Lion and Tiger
7. Yes
8. Yes
9. They hugged
10. she said thanks for a great birthday

Numbered questions:
1. Who came to Jessie Bear's birthday party?
2. What did they eat?
3. What did she get?
4. Did they have fun?
5. Were there decorations?
6. What were Jessie's friend's names?
7. Did she tell them thank you?
8. Were they glad they came?
9. Did they do something when they left?
10. Did she tell them anything when they left?