Problem: In 1883. John Roebling was inspired by an idea to build a spectacular bridge connecting New York with the Long Island. However, bridge building experts throughout the world thought this was an impossible feat and told Roebling to forget the idea, but Roebling could not ignore the vision he had in his mind of this bridge. After much discussion and persuasion he managed to convince his son Washington, an up and coming engineer, that the bridge in fact could be built.

The project started well, but when it was only a few months underway a tragic accident on the site took the life of John Roebling. Washington was injured and left with a certain amount of brain damage, which resulted in him not being able to walk or talk or even move.

"We told them so." "Crazy men and their crazy dreams.'' "It's foolish to chase wild visions." Evcryone had a negative comment to make and felt that the project should be scrapped since the Roeblings were the only ones who knew how the bridge could be built. In spite of his handicap, Washington was never discouraged.

One day he was lying on his bed in hospital, seeing the sky and the tops of the trees outside for just a moment with the sunlight streaming through the windows, and a gentle breeze bowing the flimsy white curtains apart when an idea hit him. He decided to make the best use of the only finger he could move. Thus, he slowly developed a code of communication with his wife.

He touched his wife's arm with that finger, indicating to her that he wanted her to call the engineers again. Then he used the same method of tapping her arm to tell the engineers what to do. It seemed foolish but the project was under way again.

For 13 years Washington tapped out his instructions with his finger on his wife's arm until the bridge was finally completed.
1. When did John get the idea?
2. What was the idea for?
3. What did it connect?
4. Did people tell him it was not possible?
5. Did he listen?
6. What was his son's name?
7. What the son's profession.
8. What happened to the bridge shortly after start?
9. Did someone die?
10. Who?
11. What was Washighton's injury?
Answer: 1. In 1883
2. build a spectacular bridge
3. connecting New York with the Long Island
4. Yes
5. yes
6. Washington
7. engineer
8. tragic accident
9. Yes
10. John Roebling
11. brain damage, which resulted in him not being able to walk or talk or even move.

Problem: CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa (CNN) -- Floodwaters inundated Iowa City and the University of Iowa arts campus on Sunday despite what one official called a "Herculean effort" to hold back the water with sandbags.

Residents surround Lt. Tobey Harrison at a Cedar Rapids checkpoint as they wait to see their homes Sunday.

"We've had the [National Guard] working next to prisoner inmates, sandbagging," said David Jackson, the university's facilities manager. "Students, faculty and staff, leaders of the university, the president of the university -- out sandbagging."

Some 500 to 600 homes were ordered to evacuate and others faced a voluntary evacuation order through the morning, said Iowa City Mayor Regenia Bailey.

The Iowa River in Iowa City crested at 31.5 feet and was expected to remain at that level until Monday, city and state officials said Sunday.

Classes at the university have been suspended until next Sunday, according to its Web site.

"All of our theaters, our music building, Clapp Recital Hall, our fine arts building [the] new Art Building West designed by Stephen Holl, has taken on significant water as well," said Sally Mason, president of the university. "Fortunately we were able to save all the art," she said.

The art was placed in crates shipped out of state last week.

"We anticipated the worst a week ago." At least 8 feet of water rushed through the campus, officials said. Among the school's 30,000 students, Ann Barber told CNN she has been sandbagging for nearly seven days.

"It's very hard to watch the devastation of our university," she said.
1. Who is the University's facility manager?
2. Which river crested at 31.5 feet?
3. Where is it located?
4. How deep was the water that rushed through the school?
5. How many stidents
6. She has been putting sand bags for days.
7. Were prisoners involved?
8. She is the city manager.
9. Who did a student talked to?
10. Pupils were able to save these.
11. They were put where?
Answer: 1. David Jackson
2. The Iowa River
3. Iowa City
4. 8 feet
5. 30,000
6. Ann Barber
7. yes
8. Regenia Bailey
9. CNN
10. all the art
11. in crates

Problem: It was Jessie Bear's birthday. She was having a party. She asked her two best friends to come to the party. She made a big cake, and hung up some balloons.

Soon her friend Lion came over. Then her friend Tiger came over. Lion and Tiger brought presents with them.

Jessie hugged her friends. She asked them if they would like to have cake.

Yes! said Lion. Yes yes! said Tiger. Jessie cut the cake, and they all ate it together. Then Jessie opened her presents. She got a new jump rope and a fun game. She asked Lion and Tiger to play the game with her.

The friends played and played. They all had a good time. Soon it was time for the party to be over.

Lion and Tiger hugged Jessie and said goodbye to her. Thanks for a great birthday! Jessie Bear told her two best friends.
1. Who came to Jessie Bear's birthday party?
2. What did they eat?
3. What did she get?
4. Did they have fun?
5. Were there decorations?
6. What were Jessie's friend's names?
7. Did she tell them thank you?
8. Were they glad they came?
9. Did they do something when they left?
10. Did she tell them anything when they left?
Answer: 1. her two best friends
2. cake.
3. a jump rope and a game
4. yes
5. yes
6. Lion and Tiger
7. Yes
8. Yes
9. They hugged
10. she said thanks for a great birthday

Problem: (CNN)He's a blue chip college basketball recruit. She's a high school freshman with Down syndrome.

At first glance Trey Moses and Ellie Meredith couldn't be more different. But all that changed Thursday when Trey asked Ellie to be his prom date.

Trey -- a star on Eastern High School's basketball team in Louisville, Kentucky, who's headed to play college ball next year at Ball State -- was originally going to take his girlfriend to Eastern's prom.

So why is he taking Ellie instead? "She's great... she listens and she's easy to talk to" he said.

Trey made the prom-posal (yes, that's what they are calling invites to prom these days) in the gym during Ellie's P.E. class.

Trina Helson, a teacher at Eastern, alerted the school's newspaper staff to the prom-posal and posted photos of Trey and Ellie on Twitter that have gone viral. She wasn't surpristed by Trey's actions.

"That's the kind of person Trey is," she said.

To help make sure she said yes, Trey entered the gym armed with flowers and a poster that read "Let's Party Like it's 1989," a reference to the latest album by Taylor Swift, Ellie's favorite singer.

Trey also got the OK from Ellie's parents the night before via text. They were thrilled.

"You just feel numb to those moments raising a special needs child," said Darla Meredith, Ellie's mom. "You first feel the need to protect and then to overprotect."

Darla Meredith said Ellie has struggled with friendships since elementary school, but a special program at Eastern called Best Buddies had made things easier for her.
1. who is trey ?
2. who is ellie ?
3. what changed ?
4. whay day ?
5. where does trey go to school ?
6. what is a prom posal ?
7. to what ?
8. did she say yes ?
9. who is a a teacher at Eastern ?
10. who is darla ?
11. what is Best Buddies ?
12. where ?
Answer:
1. college basketball recruit.
2. high school freshman
3. Trey asked Ellie to be his prom date.
4. Thursday
5. Eastern High
6. invites
7. prom
8. yes
9. Trina Helson
10. Ellie's mom
11. special program
12. Eastern