Problem: Samuel Langhorne Clemens (November 30, 1835 April 21, 1910), better known by his pen name Mark Twain, was an American writer, humorist, entrepreneur, publisher, and lecturer. Among his novels are "The Adventures of Tom Sawyer" (1876) and its sequel, the "Adventures of Huckleberry Finn" (1885), the latter often called "The Great American Novel".

Twain was raised in Hannibal, Missouri, which later provided the setting for "Tom Sawyer" and "Huckleberry Finn". He served an apprenticeship with a printer and then worked as a typesetter, contributing articles to the newspaper of his older brother Orion Clemens. He later became a riverboat pilot on the Mississippi River before heading west to join Orion in Nevada. He referred humorously to his lack of success at mining, turning to journalism for the Virginia City "Territorial Enterprise". His humorous story, "The Celebrated Jumping Frog of Calaveras County", was published in 1865, based on a story that he heard at Angels Hotel in Angels Camp, California where he had spent some time as a miner. The short story brought international attention and was even translated into French. His wit and satire, in prose and in speech, earned praise from critics and peers, and he was a friend to presidents, artists, industrialists, and European royalty.
1. what was Mark Twain's real name?
2. When was he born
3. What was his best book?
4. Did it had anything to do with his real life?
5. In which way?
6. What did he have a lack of success in?
7. Did he have any humorous stories?
8. What were they?
9. what was it based on?
10. Did he have famous friends?
11. Who were they?
12. what about royalty?
13. What does California have to do wtih Twain?
14. What story was translated in another language?
Answer: 1. Samuel Langhorne Clemens
2. November 30, 1835
3. Adventures of Huckleberry Finn
4. Yes
5. he was raised in the town the book was set
6. mining
7. Yes
8. The Celebrated Jumping Frog of Calaveras County
9. on a story that he heard at Angels Hotel
10. Yes
11. presidents, and artists
12. Yes
13. he spent some time as a miner
14. The Celebrated Jumping Frog of Calaveras County

Q: Fifty-three years ago Barbie Millicent Roberts first appeared in the world of toys. Since then, Barbie doll, as everyone called her, has become the most successful toy doll in history. Her parent, the Mattel Company, said that 90% of all American girls between 3 and 10 have at least one Barbie at home. However, Barbie is facing some trouble at present . There are many similar dolls on the market in competition with her. Another doll named Bratz, for example, came to life thirteen years ago. She looks more like today's pop stars with heavy makeup and miniskirts. And her company offers more kinds of clothes too. It seems that Barbie has lost her magic among older girls. 'For younger girls, playing with a Barbie is much fun. But when you get older, you want something smarter and more modern,' says Vera Shepherd, a shop assistant in a New York toy store. It is good news that on the international market, Barbie is still No. 1. Although Mattel is selling fewer barbie in the United States these years, sales in other countries are still going up. In January 2009, Mattel opened its first Barbie store in Shanghai, where girls can shop, eat, drink or even become _ for their own Barbies. Mattel is planning big celebrations for Barbie's 53rd birthday. She has called Fashion designers from all over the world to make new dresses for Barbie. How long will Barbie stay popular in the world of toy dolls? It is hard to say, but 53 is surely not the age to retire .

Answer the following questions:
1. Who makes the doll?
2. What is her full name?
3. How old is she?
4. Is she still popular in the United States?
5. Is she still popular elsewhere?
6. What did Mattel do in response to her international popularity?
7. When did they open it?
8. What can girls do there?
9. Is the company planning anything for Barbie's birthday?
10. Who have they invited?
11. What did they ask them to do?
12. Who does Mattel say own the most dolls?
13. Does Barbie have competition?
A: 1. Mattel
2. Barbie Millicent Roberts
3. Fifty-three
4. yes
5. yes
6. opened a store in Shanghai
7. January 2009
8. shop, eat, drink or become _ for their own Barbies
9. planning big celebrations
10. Fashion designers from all over the world
11. make new dresses for Barbie
12. American girls between 3 and 10
13. yes

Problem: Giglio, Italy (CNN) -- Francesco Schettino, the captain of the ill-fated Costa Concordia cruise liner, wants to get back on the ship. His lawyers Monday formally asked a panel of three judges for permission to tour the ship's bridge and engine room as part of a defense strategy that he says will prove that was not the only person responsible for the disaster.

The liner, which crashed on the rocks off Giglio Island in January 2012, killing 32 people, was rotated back to vertical last Monday. The unprecedented maneuver, called parbuckling, exposed a twisted mass of metal, dotted with mattresses, passenger luggage and deck chairs on the ship's previously submerged starboard side. Now that the Concordia is upright, there can be further investigation of the captain's alleged mishandling of the ship.

Read more: Concordia righted

Defense lawyers for Schettino agreed with lawyers representing more than 200 civil parties against the captain, including Giglio Island and several passenger and environmental advocacy groups, in asking for a new examination of the ship now that it is upright. Such an examination could include divers going deep into the belly of the vessel to examine whether watertight doors sealed properly, and whether automatic generators functioned. He also wants to walk the judges through the command bridge in a re-creation of the night of the crash. Half of the command bridge was submerged for 20 months.

The trial began with preliminary hearings last March, but Monday was the first time the court heard any substantial evidence in the case. A panel of maritime experts addressed the role of the Indonesian helmsman Jacob Rusli Bin in the accident. Rusli Bin and four others were convicted in a plea deal in July for their role in the disaster. A Florence court is considering the validity of those plea bargain agreements.
1. In what month did initial steps of the court case begin?
2. What did the hardcore proof start being shown?
3. What day did the hardcore proof start being shown?
4. Who is being accused?
5. What happened to the boat?
6. Into what?
7. When?
8. Did anyone die?
9. How many?
10. What's it called when they turn a boat right side up?
Answer:
1. March
2. unknown
3. Monday
4. Francesco Schettino, the captain
5. rashed
6. the rocks off Giglio Island
7. January 2012,
8. yes
9. 32 people
10. parbuckling