Q: In South America, the rich soil of the Amazon River basin in Brazil is known as "black gold". Scientists found that the secret of this rich soil was charcoal . Local people made it from animal bones and tree branches. They mixed the charcoal with the soil about 1.500 years ago.

Now, scientists in the United States have done a modern demonstration. They say charcoal fertilization offers a revolutionary way to improve soil quality for hundreds or even thousands of years.

Mingxin Guo and his team at Delavare State University heated tree leaves, corn stalks , small pieces of wood and poultry waste into "biochar" . They reported their findings at a recent meeting of the American Chemical Society in New Orleans.

Biochar could be good news for farmers with poor soil and hungry populations to feed. Professor Guo says it could even help against global warming. Intensive farming and overuse of chemical fertilizer give out carbon dioxide into the atmosphere. Biochar does the opposite, he says. It traps carbon in the ground.

The researchers planted winter wheat in containers of soil in a greenhouse -- some with biochar, some without. Professor Guo says the wheat grows much better in the pots with biochar. The soil was added two percent charcoal to. But he says even a one percent treatment will increase productivity.

The results demonstrated that biochar can increase organic matter in soil. Loss of nutrients in soil is an increasing problem worldwide as farmers try to grow more food for growing populations.

Next, the team will carry out a five-year study of biochar with spinach , green peppers and tomatoes.

Mingxin Guo says he learns about the "black gold" in Brazil from a magazine story. He explains that it was discovered in the jungle, in the area where waters flow to the Amazon, in the 1960's. But it was not until recent years that scientists began to bring public attention to it.

Answer the following questions:
1. Where is the Amazon River basin located?
2. What kind of soil if found there?
3. What is the rich soil also known as?
4. Who made the soil the way it is?
5. Using what?
6. When did they do this?
7. What country is doing modern demonstrations of this method?
8. Who is the scientist that is heading this project?
9. Does he work alone?
10. What school does he work for?
11. How did he learn about black gold?
12. Where was black gold discovered?
13. When?
A: 1. Brazil
2. the secret of this rich soil was charcoal
3. black gold
4. Local people
5. animal bones and tree branches
6. 1.500 years ago
7. United States
8. Mingxin Guo
9. Mingxin Guo and his team at Delavare State University
10. Delavare State University
11. heated tree leaves, corn stalks , small pieces of wood and poultry waste into "biochar"
12. Amazon River basin in Brazil
13. in the 1960's
Q: Bill McIntosh and Royce Wedding had been the best friends for 30 years. Now, living alone 12 miles east of the town, Bill earned his living by hunting foxes and rabbits.

"Coming to the football match this afternoon?" Bill McIntosh asked 54-year-old Royce Wedding as they drank beer at the Eureka Hotel. Royce shook his head, "I promised Mom I'd burn off the weeds in one of our fields." "I'll give you a hand," Bill said.

Driving slowly from the southern edge of the field, they worked their way upwind, leaving a line of burning weeds in their wake. Suddenly the fire was on them. Bill pushed open his door only to find himself thrown through the air, the gasoline tank exploded and the car jumped three feet off the ground. When it crashed back down Royce found himself unable to move. Bill lay where he fell. "Royce!" he cried, struggling to his feet and heading for the car. Pulling open the door, he seized Royce's arms through the smoke. "I'm stuck," Royce said. "Get yourself away!" The fire bit at Bill's arms, face and legs, but he said, "I'm not leaving you here." Now Bill pulled as hard as he could. Suddenly he fell backward. Royce was free and out of the car.

"What's the matter with that dog?" said Vicky Wedding, Royce's mom. Shocked by noise behind her, she turned to see Bill leaning against the door.

Six months after the fire, when Royce went out of hospital, he walked into the Eureka Hotel and bought Bill a beer.

Answer the following questions:
1. How long did Bill Mcintosh and Royce Wedding been best friends?
2. How far east of town did Bill live?
3. How old was Royce?
4. What exploded when Bill pushed oen his door?
5. how did Bill earn his living?
6. What was helping royce with?
7. What did Royce say to bill because he was stuck from the accident?
8. What did Bill and Royce do together at the Eureka hotel?
9. How long did it take Royce to get out of the hospital after the fire?
10. Did Bill get pull Royce free?
A: 1. 30 years
2. 12 miles
3. 54
4. gasoline tank e
5. hunting foxes and rabbits
6. burn off the weeds in one of our fields
7. Get yourself away!
8. drank beer
9. Six months
10. yes
Q: (CNN) -- It's an itch he just hasn't been able to scratch. More than 54 years after he announced the success of Fidel Castro in the Cuban revolution, Larry King still hasn't been able to interview him.

"The day Castro marched into Havana, I was on the air in Miami doing my morning show and I made the announcement," King told Ismael Cala in an interview for the "Cala" talk show on CNN en Espanol.

Just two years ago, King was in Cuba to try to get that elusive Castro interview, but the Cuban leader remains the only major figure he hasn't interviewed, he said.

"Forget politics, he has run a country for 50 years, he's a successful revolutionary, an intriguing person," said King about why he remains fascinated.

One top interview he did secure -- with the late Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez in 2009 -- came back into focus recently with Chavez's death.

"What's funny is that he spoke perfect English off air, but once the interview started, we had an interpreter," King said. "He wanted to talk in his native language."

King -- the last person to interview Chavez on CNN -- recalls Chavez being easy to be around and engaging, even remembering him as a hugger and singer.

"He was a conflicted person. An enigma. Yes, he was against capitalism, but he helped a lot of people, especially in the Northeast (of the U.S.). When there was a shortage of oil, he gave a lot of free oil to that area."

Answer the following questions:
1. Has Larry King be able to interview Fidel Castro?
2. How many years of success has Castro had?
3. Is Larry King fascinated with Castro?
4. Why?
5. What top interview did he secure?
6. Who was referred to as a hugger and singer?
7. Was he pro capitalism?
8. Where did he help a lot of people, specifically?
9. What did he provide to the area?
10. Where did Castro march into?
A:
1. No
2. More than 54 years
3. yes
4. he's a successful revolutionary, an intriguing person
5. Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez
6. Chavez
7. no
8. Northeast (of the U.S.)
9. Oil
10. Havana