Q: Central America () is the southernmost, isthmian portion of the North American continent, which connects with the South American continent on the southeast. Central America is bordered by Mexico to the north, Colombia to the southeast, the Caribbean Sea to the east, and the Pacific Ocean to the west. Central America consists of seven countries: Belize, Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua, and Panama. The combined population of Central America is between 41,739,000 (2009 estimate) and 42,688,190 (2012 estimate).

Central America is a part of the Mesoamerican biodiversity hotspot, which extends from northern Guatemala through to central Panama. Due to the presence of several active geologic faults and the Central America Volcanic Arc, there is a great deal of seismic activity in the region. Volcanic eruptions and earthquakes occur frequently; these natural disasters have resulted in the loss of many lives and much property.

In the Pre-Columbian era, Central America was inhabited by the indigenous peoples of Mesoamerica to the north and west and the Isthmo-Colombian peoples to the south and east. Soon after Christopher Columbus's voyages to the Americas, the Spanish began to colonize the Americas. From 1609 until 1821, most of the territory within Central Americaexcept for the lands that would become Belize and Panamawas governed by the Viceroyalty of New Spain from Mexico City as the Captaincy General of Guatemala. After New Spain achieved independence from Spain in 1821, some of its provinces were annexed to the First Mexican Empire, but soon seceded from Mexico to form the Federal Republic of Central America, which lasted from 1823 to 1838. The seven states finally became independent autonomous states: beginning with Nicaragua, Honduras, Costa Rica, and Guatemala (1838); followed by El Salvador (1841); then Panama (1903); and finally Belize (1981). Even today, though, people in Central America sometimes still refer to their nations as though they are provinces of a Central American state (e.g. it is still common to write "C.A." after the country names, in formal and informal contexts).

Answer the following questions:
1. Where is Central America in relation to North America?
2. Is it a single nation?
3. How many countries are in it?
4. WHat are some of them?
5. Are all of the countries landlocked?
6. What bodies of water does it border?
7. Is the poopulation growing?
8. What was it in 2012?
9. Were Europeans the first people to live there?
10. Who were?
11. WHat European nation came there first?
12. Who did they send?
13. When did they start taking over?
14. Do they still have control of the area?
15. When did their control end?
16. Were they taken over by anyone else then?
17. WHat did they become after they left Mexico?
18. Which modern nation was the last to leave that republic?
19. WHen did that happen?
20. Is the area geologically stable?
A: 1. southernmost
2. no
3. seven
4. Belize, Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala
5. no
6. Caribbean Sea and the Pacific Ocean
7. yes
8. 42,688,190
9. no
10. indigenous peoples of Mesoamerica, and the Isthmo-Colombian
11. Spanish
12. Christopher Columbus'
13. 1609
14. no
15. 1821,
16. No they were annexed though
17. Federal Republic of Central America
18. Belize
19. 1981
20. no
Q: Near East (French: Proche-Orient) is a geographical term that roughly encompasses Western Asia. Despite having varying definitions within different academic circles, the term was originally applied to the maximum extent of the Ottoman Empire. The term has fallen into disuse in English, and has been replaced by the term Middle East.

The Encyclopdia Britannica defines the Near East as including Armenia, Azerbaijan, Bahrain, Cyprus, Egypt, Georgia, Iran, Iraq, Israel, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Libya, Oman, Palestine, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Sudan, Syria, Turkey, the United Arab Emirates, the West Bank, and Yemen. The Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations defines the region similarly, but also includes Afghanistan while excluding the countries of North Africa and the Palestinian territories. According to the National Geographic Society, the terms Near East and Middle East denote the same territories and are 'generally accepted as comprising the countries of the Arabian Peninsula, Cyprus, Egypt, Iraq, Iran, Israel, Jordan, Lebanon, Palestinian territories, Syria, and Turkey'.

Answer the following questions:
1. How many countries are in an encyclopedia's definition of a term?
2. What is the term?
3. Is that term still used?
4. What is used now?
5. What is a more rough definition of the area?
6. How was it used at the beginning?
7. What is the French version of the term?
8. What areas does a society think is a part of it?
9. Do groups agree on the meaning of it?
10. Who else has a meaning for it?
A: 1. 22
2. the Near East
3. not in English
4. Middle East.
5. Western Asia
6. it applied to the maximum extent of the Ottoman Empire
7. Proche-Orient
8. the countries of the Arabian Peninsula, Cyprus, Egypt, Iraq, Iran, Israel, Jordan, Lebanon, Palestinian territories, Syria, and Turkey'.
9. No
10. The Food and Agriculture Organization
Q: Nature Love

Yolanda loves nature. She loves trees, flowers, grass, singing birds, the sky, and even the wind. She spends a lot of time lying on the grass, looking at the sky, and listening to the birds.

One of Yolanda's favorite things to do is to look at the shapes of the big, fluffy clouds. "That one looks like a flower. And that one looks like a boat. There's one that looks like my dog!" she says to herself. She is always surprised and happy to find a new shape.

Yolanda's most favorite thing to do is to look at the flowers and bugs that visit her place. She watches and studies all the butterflies, bees, ants, spiders, and even worms that are in her backyard.

Yolanda has a wonderful backyard. Her mother has a big, beautiful garden that she helps to take care of. This is how Yolanda is learning to grow and take care of plants. The garden makes the whole yard look beautiful and smell wonderful. And the garden brings in all kinds of amazing birds and insects.

Yolanda has lots of pictures of the birds and bugs that come into her backyard. She feels like a kid scientist. Someday, she wants to become a real scientist. Then she can learn all about plants, bugs and nature.

Answer the following questions:
1. Where is one of Yolanda's favorite places to be?
2. What does she like about it?
3. What does she do with it?
4. What is attracted to the garden?
5. Is she afraid of any of the insects?
6. What else does she like to do outside?
7. Why?
8. What game does she play when she looks at them?
9. What does she want to be when she grows up/
10. Why?
11. What insects does she like to explore now?
A:
1. her garden
2. it's beautiful
3. learns and takes care of plants
4. birds and insects
5. No.
6. She spends a lot of time lying on the grass
7. because she likes the clouds
8. find the shape
9. scientist
10. learn about plants, bugs and nature.
11. butterflies, bees, ants, spiders, worms