Problem: 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. 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?
Answer: 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 .

Problem: (CNN) -- Celebrity chef Paula Deen's sons staunchly defended their mother Tuesday, saying allegations of racism are false "character assassination."

"Neither one of our parents ever taught us to be bigoted toward any other person for any reason," Bobby Deen told CNN's "New Day" in an exclusive interview with Chris Cuomo.

"Our mother is one of the most compassionate, good-hearted, empathetic people that you'd ever meet," he added. "These accusations are very hurtful to her, and it's very sad."

In a recent lawsuit deposition, Deen admitted having used the "N-word" long ago. The suit alleges discrimination and racism at two of Deen's restaurants.

But the Deen sons -- also chefs with TV shows, and part of their family's restaurant businesses -- insisted the depictions of their mother are an effort by the plaintiff to get a chunk of the family fortune.

"I'm disgusted by the entire thing, because it began as extortion and it has become character assassination," Bobby Deen said.

Official: Food Network will not renew Paula Deen's contract

Jamie Deen said it's "ridiculous, completely absurd to think there is an environment of racism in our business, and it's really disrespectful to the people that we work with. We have strong, educated men and women of character that have been with us for five, 10, 15, 20 years. To think they would allow themselves to be in this position is simply baloney. It's ridiculous."

When he was a child, Jamie Deen said, his parents taught him the story of his hero, baseball legend Hank Aaron. They explained that "the challenges (Aaron) had to overcome because of his color was unacceptable."
1. Who won't renew Paula Deen's contract?
2. What word did Paual Deen admit to using in the past?
3. Who defended her on Tuesday?
4. What did they claim the allegations of racism were?
5. Which athlete did Jamie Deen say he learned about when he was little?
6. Who did Bobby Deen tell that neither of his parents ever taught them to be bigots?
7. What was the interviewer's name?
8. What did a recent lawsuit allege at her restaurants?
9. What are Deen's sons?
10. What do they insist the plaintiff is trying to do?
11. How long did Jamie Deen say some men and women have been with them?
12. Who was described as one of the most compassionate, good-hearted empathetic people you could meet?
13. Is their father a chef as well?
14. Did he teach them to be bigotted?
15. What was Booby Deen disgusted by?
16. What did he say it began as?
17. What did Jamie Deen say was disrespectful to the others he works with?
18. What sport did Hank Aaron play?
19. What caused him to have challenges to beat?
20. What organization wrote this article?
Answer: 1. Official: Food Network will not renew Paula Deen's contract
2. N-word
3. Celebrity chef Paula Deen's sons staunchly defended their mother
4. allegations of racism are false
5. Hank Aaron
6. CNN's "New Day"
7. Chris Cuomo
8. discrimination and racism
9. also chefs with TV shows
10. get a chunk of the family fortune
11. five, 10, 15, 20 years
12. Our mother
13. unknown
14. Neither one of our parents
15. the entire thing
16. began as extortion
17. racism in our business
18. baseball
19. his color
20. CNN

Problem: On a hot summer day, Brian was walking home from the park. While walking, Brian passed his favorite toy store, and saw that they had a new baseball glove in the window. Brian's baseball glove was very old and was ripped in a few places. Brian really wanted the new glove because he wanted to show off his glove to his friends tomorrow. The cost of the new glove was fifteen dollars, but when Brian checked his pockets for money, he only had six dollars and fifty cents. Brian ran home and went to look around his house for money. He checked under his bed and found fifty cents under some toys. He then checked all of his pockets of his pants and shorts, and found another two dollars. Brian then went to look between the cushions on all of the couches in his house, and he found another three dollars. After finally looking around his whole house, Brian knew that he still did not have enough money to buy the new glove. Brian went outside and saw his dad doing yard work. He told his dad that he would finish all the yard work for him, if he could have the money he needed for the new glove. His dad said yes, so Brian spent the rest of the afternoon raking the yard, and bagging leaves. Brian's dad was very proud that his son was working hard for money. When Brian was finally done, Brian knew that he was too late, and the toy store was closed. Just as Brian was walking inside, he saw his dad walk up to home holding the new glove that he wanted. Brian was so happy, and he and his dad spent the rest of the afternoon having a catch.
1. What did someone pass on the way home?
2. Who passed a toy store?
3. did someone see something in the shop?
4. Did Brian want the glove?
5. why
6. how much did it cost?
7. Did he have it?
8. How much did he have?
9. Did he get the money?
10. did he end up getting the glove?
Answer:
1. toy store
2. Brian did
3. a new baseball glove
4. yes
5. because he wanted to show off his glove to his friends tomorrow
6. fifteen dollars
7. no
8. six dollars and fifty cents
9. Brian knew that he still did not have enough money to buy the new glove.
10. yes