Question: Zinc is a chemical element with symbol Zn and atomic number 30. It is the first element of group 12 of the periodic table. In some respects zinc is chemically similar to magnesium: its ion is of similar size and its only common oxidation state is +2. Zinc is the 24th most abundant element in Earth's crust and has five stable isotopes. The most common zinc ore is sphalerite (zinc blende), a zinc sulfide mineral. The largest mineable amounts are found in Australia, Asia, and the United States. Zinc production includes froth flotation of the ore, roasting, and final extraction using electricity (electrowinning).

Brass, which is an alloy of copper and zinc, has been used since at least the 10th century BC in Judea and by the 7th century BC in Ancient Greece. Zinc metal was not produced on a large scale until the 12th century in India and was unknown to Europe until the end of the 16th century. The mines of Rajasthan have given definite evidence of zinc production going back to the 6th century BC. To date, the oldest evidence of pure zinc comes from Zawar, in Rajasthan, as early as the 9th century AD when a distillation process was employed to make pure zinc. Alchemists burned zinc in air to form what they called "philosopher's wool" or "white snow". 1. What does Zn symbolize?
2. what is it?
3. what is the atomic #?
4. which group is it found in an the chart?
5. what is the chart's title?
6. How is brass related to zinc?
7. when did people start using it?
8. where?
9. Was Zinc metal produced on a large scale?
10. when did it start?
11. when did Europe discover it?
12. How far back does zinc production date back?
13. where?
14. where is the oldest evidence of the element found?
15. what method was used in it's production?
16. why was zinc burned in air?
17. what was another name for it?
18. who burned it?
19. Is zinc the most abundant element found?
20. how does it rank? Provide a numbered list of answers.
****
A numbered of answers: 1. Zinc
2. a chemical element
3. 30
4. group 12
5. the periodic table
6. Brass is an alloy of copper and zinc
7. since at least the 10th century BC
8. in Judea
9. no
10. the 12th century in India
11. the end of the 16th century
12. the 9th century AD
13. Rajasthan
14. Zawar
15. distillation
16. o form what they called "philosopher's wool
17. white snow
18. Alchemists
19. no
20. 24th

Question: It's the end of class. When the bell rings, students of Luohu Foreign Languages School in Shenzhen quickly take out their cell-phones. They want to log on to their microblogs to check the funny things that have happened in the last hour. Since last year, the trend of microblogging has swept the country. Recent surveys show that most students in middle schools have a microblog, and some even update their blogs over five times per day. "We learn many fresh and interesting things on microblogs and they have become popular topics in class," said Liang Jianmin, 14, a student at Harbin No 3 Middle School. "If you do not know about them, you are out of the loop ." It is also a great place for students to _ stress. "My parents always ask me to study hard, and encourage me before exams, but actually it adds pressure ," said Zhang Yazhe, 15, a student in Luohu Foreign Languages School. "When I share these feelings on my microblog, I get many replies from friends in the same situation, which makes me feel better." But parents are worried that microblogging could be a waste of time. Some misleading messages may even cause danger to kids, they said. Shen Mingde, a professor at the China Education Association, suggests parents not worry too much as long as kids are not crazy about microblogging. Instead, it can become a window for parents to understand their children. "If parents can read their children's microblogs, they'll know their thoughts, thus leading to better communication and solutions to problems," he said. Micro blogging tips for kids 1. Don't microblog for more than one hour a day. 2. Never microblog in class. 3. Try to talk face to face with people instead of just microblogging. 4. Be critical . Don't trust all the messages on a microblog. 1. Which trend has become increasingly popular?
2. Are parents concerned?
3. Why?
4. Which professor disagrees?
5. of what organization?
6. How many tips does he suggest?
7. How does he think micro blogging could be beneficial?
8. Whose parents expect a lot from them?
9. What do they ask of him?
10. Where does he attend?
11. Which one?
12. How old is he?
13. Does he enjoy microblogging?
14. Why?
15. How does that make him feel?
16. How often do some students update their blogs?
17. Is the trend localized to this school?
18. Does Liang feel like it's a necessity? Provide a numbered list of answers.
****
A numbered of answers: 1. trend of microblogging
2. yes
3. microblogging could be a waste of time
4. Shen Mingde
5. China Education Association
6. four
7. it can become a window for parents to understand their children
8. Zhang Yazhe
9. to study hard
10. Foreign Languages School
11. Luohu
12. 15
13. yes
14. I get many replies from friends in the same situation,
15. better
16. over five times per day
17. no
18. yes

Question: (CNN) -- Five blasts went off in the Nigerian city of Jos Friday night as residents were celebrating Christmas Eve, leaving 31 dead, a regional government official said.

Choji Gyang, a special adviser to the governor of Nigeria's Plateau state, said two bombs went off in the Angwa Rukuba area of Jos. Within five to 20 minutes, three more blasts happened in the area of Kabong, he said.

"We have a lot of casualties and are struggling to cope," Gyang said.

Hassan John, a Jos resident and journalist with the media department of the Anglican Diocese of Jos, had just come out of church about 7 p.m. (1 p.m. ET) when he heard the sound of the first explosion. He rushed to the site, which he described as a beer parlor frequented by locals.

"By the time I got there, there were women crying, people screaming. It was all chaos, people were screaming, blood everywhere."

"I counted eight corpses all over, seven in the building," John said. He added that a second blast went off within a couple of minutes after the first one. "We cannot say if there are more bodies under the rubble because it was dark," John said.

Gyang, who is special adviser on religious affairs to the governor, said it was unclear who set off the blasts or whether they were related.

"It was Christmas Eve, lots of activities was going on. People were still preparing for Christmas, lots of people were coming into town. A blast went off, those around the area -- some were killed, some injured and the houses and cars caught fire," Gyang said. He said he received reports of "a lot of dead bodies." 1. Did bombs go off?
2. Where?
3. When?
4. During the holiday?
5. Were there casualties?
6. How many?
7. Who's saying all this?
8. Who is that?
9. to whom?
10. Who is responsible?
11. Were there witnesses?
12. What did they witness?
13. Who heard it?
14. Who is that?
15. Where does he work?
16. What did he do?
17. Where was it?
18. What did he see?
19. Is there a total body count? Provide a numbered list of answers.
****
A numbered of answers:
1. Yes
2. Nigerian city of Jos
3. Friday
4. Christmas Eve
5. Yes
6. 31
7. Choji Gyang
8. a special adviser
9. Governor of Nigeria's Plateau state
10. It was unclear.
11. Yes
12. Heard the sound of the first explosion
13. Hassan John
14. A Jos resident and journalist
15. Anglican Diocese of Jos
16. He rushed to the site
17. a beer parlor frequented by locals
18. Women crying, people screaming.
19. No