input: CHAPTER XIV

OUT OF AN UNPLEASANT SITUATION

Not one of the party was just then in a position to give poor Hans any assistance. All were stuck in the ooze, and one horse after another was slowly but surely sinking.

"We must turn back," cried Songbird, "and do it in a hurry, too."

"Easier said than done," grunted Fred. "My, this is worse than glue!"

"I think the ground on our left is a bit firmer than here," said Sam. "I am going to try it, anyway."

Not without considerable difficulty, he turned his steed, and after a struggle the spot he had indicated was gained. Dick followed, and so did Tom.

The Rovers were safe, but not so their chums. Hans was the worst off, but Fred and Songbird were likewise in positions of serious peril. Wags was flying around, barking dismally, as though he understood that all was not right.

"Turn this way!" called out Sam. "It's your one hope!"

"Let me have that rope you are carrying, Tom," said Dick, and having received the article, he threw one end to Hans, who was still floundering around. "Catch hold, Hans, and I'll haul you over!"

As the rope fell across the German youth's body, he caught it tightly in both hands, and, as Dick, Tom and Sam pulled with might and main, he fairly slid on his breast to where they were standing.

"Mine gracious, dot vos somedings awful!" he exclaimed. "It vos so sticky like molasses alretty!"

"Now, we must help the others," said Dick. 1. Who was the worst off?
2. Who could help him?
3. What were they stuck in?
4. What was it worse than?
5. According to who?
6. What did Songbird want to do?
7. How quickly?
8. Was there any firm ground?
9. Where?
10. Did anyone go that way?
11. Who?
12. Was it easy?
13. Did anyone else go that way?
14. Who?
15. Anyone else?
16. What did Dick ask Tom for?
17. What did Dick do with it?
18. What did Hans catch it with?
19. Who pulled Hans?
20. Were they successful? Return numbered answers in your output.

output: 1. Hans
2. The Rovers
3. in the ooze,
4. glue
5. Fred
6. turn back
7. in a hurry
8. yes
9. on their left
10. yes
11. Sam
12. no
13. yes
14. Dick
15. Tom
16. rope
17. he threw one end to Hans
18. both hands
19. Dick, Tom and Sam
20. yes

question: John thought about things that he liked to do.

Well, for one, he liked baseball. Compared to his friends, he was very good at the sport. He didn't even have to practice that much. He remembered that he once hit the ball so hard that it flew out of the park. Home run!

He was also a fan of basketball. He enjoyed watching people on television pull off crazy tricks like slam dunking (but he didn't really like all of the passes). He wasn't quite that good yet, but he was pretty good at making shots from the three point line. He knew that if he kept practicing, he would be really great someday.

Finally, he loved football. Unlike baseball and basketball, he didn't play football himself, but he was drawn to the games. He got a kick out of sitting in the stands, cheering on his team and friends. He once cheered so loud that he could barely speak at all for the rest of the day.
1. How many sports does John like?
2. How many does he actually play
3. Does he need to practice them both?
4. Which is he good at?
5. has he eve done really well?
6. what happened?
7. Where'd it go?
8. What does he like about basketball?
9. like?
10. Is he any good?
****
answer: 1. Three
2. Two
3. no
4. baseball
5. yes
6. he hit a home run
7. out of the park
8. watching people pull off tricks
9. slam dunking
10. no

Question: LOS ANGELES, California (CNN) -- Michael Jackson's sister, LaToya Jackson, told a London newspaper she suspects her brother was "murdered" in a conspiracy by "a shadowy entourage."

Michael Jackson "was surrounded by a bad circle," LaToya Jackson told a British newspaper.

London's Daily Mail newspaper paid for the interview, according to a source close to the Jackson family and another source familiar with the interview arrangements. The amount of money paid was not disclosed.

LaToya Jackson was "very candid" throughout the four-hour interview, which took place in Los Angeles, California, last Thursday, said Caroline Graham, the Daily Mail reporter who conducted the interview.

Jackson cited no evidence of a murder conspiracy, Graham said, but she did tell the paper the family has seen results from the private autopsy it ordered. She would not reveal the findings, Graham said. Watch reporter describe LaToya's demeanor "

"There indeed had been concern among several family members about the circumstances around Michael's death," said Bryan Monroe, the last journalist to interview Michael Jackson. "Some folks have hesitated to go as far as saying it was murder."

The Los Angeles coroner could release his autopsy report on Jackson within a week, according to assistant chief coroner Ed Winter.

Los Angeles police Chief William Bratton told CNN last week that he was waiting for the coroner to determine the exact cause of Jackson's death. "And based on those, we will have an idea of what it is we are dealing (with)," he said.

The Jackson family knows that the probe into his June 25 death might turn into a criminal case, a source close to the family told CNN last Thursday. "The family is aware of a potential criminal prosecution," said the source, who did not want to be identified. 1. are siblings mentioned?
2. how many?
3. what was one of the siblings named?
4. was she suspicious?
5. why?
6. who was her brother?
7. did someone receive payment?
8. who?
9. who provided the payment? Provide a numbered list of answers.
****
A numbered of answers:
1. yes
2. two
3. LaToya Jackson
4. yes
5. she suspects her brother was "murdered" in a conspiracy by "a shadowy entourage."
6. Michael Jackson
7. yes
8. LaToya Jackson
9. London's Daily Mail newspaper