INPUT ARTICLE: Article: If you have funds to invest, it's important to understand why you want to invest in gold in the first place. Make sure it's the right thing for you. Understand that gold mainly serves as a repository of value and as an investment hedge. Common reasons for investing in gold include: Gold is always in high demand. It is a tangible product that can always be passed on without concerns for its desirability. Contrast this with antiques and collectibles, which are subject to fluctuations in fashion and style trends. Owning gold can protect you from inflation or currency fluctuations. Countries often invest in gold when economic growth starts to decline. The more debt-laden an economy, the more it may have to pay for gold. Gold can be another "string to your bow" when you seek to diversify your investment portfolio. Diversification is another reason to own gold. This is a cornerstone of sound financial management. Gold is an excellent vehicle for protecting wealth over a long period of time (provided you store it securely). During a period of civil instability, gold is a way to protect assets. It is portable, easy to hide, and can give you something to hang on to when everything else is crumbling.

SUMMARY: Decide why you're interested in investing in gold.

In one sentence, describe what the following article is about: Be sure to use denatured alcohol if pruning a dying or diseased holly shrub. This is necessary because pruning tools can spread disease among to other plants or to different, healthy parts of the same plant. Disinfecting your tools will help you avoid this contamination. Otherwise, clean tools with soap and water before putting them away. In addition to rubbing alcohol, you can also use a solution made from pine oil cleaner, household bleach, or ammonium salts. Soak your tools in the solution for at least five minutes, and then rinse with water. While large holly shrubs rarely require pruning, shrubs used as hedges need to be trimmed yearly to keep a clean silhouette and shape. Shear along the surface of leaf growth to make sure the cut is even. Perform regular trimming by cutting the outermost twigs to the nearest bud node. If your holly shrubs do not function as hedges or formal decorative pieces, allow them to grow naturally. When you spot any signs of disease or damage from weather, eliminate the affected portion by cutting it off several inches below the damaged portion. You should do this as soon as you notice problems, regardless of whether or not it's pruning season. Open up the shrub with thinning cuts if you have disease issues, in order to promote air circulation. Several different types of root rot affect holly shrubs, so look out for yellow spots on the leaves, dark black roots, and stunting as common symptoms of these problems. Several types of pests such as scale, mites, and leaf miners harm holly shrubs and should be taken care of at the first sign of a problem. Again, disregard seasonal considerations and take care of it before the infestation gets worse. The most common signs of infestation are discoloration, trails, or speckling on the foliage.
Summary: Clean pruning tools. Prune hedge shrubs yearly. Keep an eye out for symptoms of disease. Look for insect activity.

Write or recite a subtraction word problem for your students. It's best to show them a written problem so that they can refer back to it. There are 10 dogs at the pet store. 6 of the dogs are adopted by new owners. How many dogs are left at the pet store? Draw a number line on the board that ranges from 0 to 10. Ask the students how many dogs are at the pet store. Place your marker or pointer on "10." Ask the students how many dogs are adopted. Count down the number-line 6 places (9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4) to number "4." Ask the students how many dogs are left at the pet store. It's a good idea to create a permanent number line that your students can reference. You could use a permanent marker on paper, a poster, or the board, or you could use colorful washi tape on the board or wall. Explain that this word problem can be represented by a number sentence. Walk them through the process of translating the word problem into a number sentence. Ask them how many dogs are at the pet shop. Write "10" on the board. Ask the students how many dogs are adopted. Write "6" on the board. Ask the students if this is an addition or a subtraction problem. Write down "-" between the "10" and the "6." Ask the students for the solution to "10-6." Write down "=" followed by a "4."
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One-sentence summary -- Present your students with a subtraction word problem. Use a number line to solve the problem. Write a number sentence.

INPUT ARTICLE: Article: Seashells can either be gathered from the beach or purchased at a craft store, or you can buy synthetic or artificial shells. While artificial shells may not have the same natural appeal, they are better for the environment. Seashells play an important role in coastal ecosystems, and provide homes to algae, birds, and hermit crabs. Removing shells from the beach can have a detrimental impact on the creatures that rely on them. If you really want to collect your own shells, only take a couple from each beach, and never take shells from highly visited beaches where others are often collecting shells. Always inspect each shell to ensure a hermit crab hasn't claimed it for a home. Shells are also a byproduct of the fishing industry, and there are some shell suppliers that only obtain shells from these producers. Buying shells from these producers could have less of an impact than purchasing ones collected from beaches. Natural shells that are collected from the beach need to be cleaned to remove dirt, particles, odors, and bacteria. The most common way to clean shells is to soak them in a bleach and water solution: Fill a bowl with one part bleach and three parts water. Soak the shells for anywhere from 30 minutes to 24 hours, until the leathery coveringcalled the periostracumcomes off. When the shells are clean, use a soft cloth or soft-bristled toothbrush to give them a gentle scrub, then rinse them well with clean water. Allow the shells to dry. You don't actually have to do anything to preserve the shells, but if you want to enhance and protect their shine and luster, you can polish them with mineral oil. Use a lint-free cloth to rub a small amount of mineral oil over each shell, and gently polish the inside and outside. Since you'll be using the shells for jewelry, another option is to protect them with a thin coat of satin-finish polyurethane varnish. Apply a light layer of varnish to the inside and outside of the shells using a clean paintbrush. Allow the varnish to dry completely.

SUMMARY:
Obtain seashells. Clean the shells. Preserve the shells.