question: Tom Becker has won the 2007 Waterstone's children's book prize with his first novel, Darkside, receiving a cheque for PS1,000 and the promise of display in branches of the book store across the country.

The 25-year-old author described winning as an "unbelievable feeling". "I didn't think my book would be on the shortlist and stood a chance of winning, and it's amazing to receive such an important award at the beginning of my writing career. Needless to say I am absolutely made up." he said.

The novel, inspired by film noir , fantasy and a fascination with the dark side of the 19th century, is for children between the ages of nine and 12. It tells the story of a boy, Jonathan Stirling, who discovers a similar world filled with vampires and werewolves . This alternative reality has a clearly Victorian air, and is ruled by a descendant of Jack the Ripper. Soon hunters from the other side begin searching for Jonathan, who finds himself driven into their world.

Waterstone's head children's buyer, Wayne Winstone, thought highly of Becker's "huge" achievement. He said: "Tom Becker's writing style attracts you in the same way that Darren Shan's does with his mix of adventure and the supernatural.

"I have a feeling that Tom has real potential and could be one of the big names in children's writing in the future."

This year's shortlist also included Michael Broad's Jake Cake, Philip Caveney's Sebastian Darke and Siobhan Dowd's A Swift Pure Cry. Last year's prize was won by Julia Golding with The Diamond of Drury Lane.
1. How many novels had Tom written before winning a prize?
2. What prize did he win?
3. Did receive a monetary reward as well?
4. What did Wayne Winstone think about the writer?
5. What did Wayne have to say about him?
6. Who was on the shortlist with him?
7. Who won the prize the previous year?
8. For what work?
9. What type of writing style inspired Tom's novel?
10. From what century?
11. Is his book a suggested read for teenagers?
12. Is it geared a younger or older audience?
****
answer: 1. none
2. Waterstone's children's book prize
3. Yes
4. he thought highly of Becker's "huge" achievement
5. Tom has real potential and could be one of the big names in children's writing in the future
6. Michael Broad, Philip Caveney and Siobhan Dowd
7. Julia Golding
8. The Diamond of Drury Lane
9. mix of adventure and the supernatural.
10. 19th century
11. No
12. younger

question: Oklahoma City is the capital and largest city of the state of Oklahoma. The county seat of Oklahoma County, the city ranks 27th among United States cities in population. The population grew following the 2010 Census, with the population estimated to have increased to 620,602 as of July 2014. As of 2014, the Oklahoma City metropolitan area had a population of 1,322,429, and the Oklahoma City-Shawnee Combined Statistical Area had a population of 1,459,758 (Chamber of Commerce) residents, making it Oklahoma's largest metropolitan area. Oklahoma City's city limits extend into Canadian, Cleveland, and Pottawatomie counties, though much of those areas outside of the core Oklahoma County area are suburban or rural (watershed). The city ranks as the eighth-largest city in the United States by land area (including consolidated city-counties; it is the largest city in the United States by land area whose government is not consolidated with that of a county or borough).
1. What city is featured in this article?
2. In terms of size, what is it ranked in the US?
3. In terms of land mass, how is it ranked?
4. In what state?
5. What about in the US?
6. Is it a growing city or a dying city?
7. How do you know?
8. Where did you get your statistics?
9. What did the Chamber of Commerce say the population was?
10. Where do the city limits extend?
11. What kind of areas are these?
****
answer: 1. Oklahoma City
2. 27th
3. largest
4. Oklahoma
5. eighth-largest
6. growing
7. increased to 620,602 as of July 2014
8. 2010 Census
9. 1,459,758
10. Canadian, Cleveland, and Pottawatomie counties
11. suburban or rural

question: Apple Inc co-founder and former CEO Steve Jobs, counted among the greatest American CEOs of his generation, died on Wednesday at the age of 56, after a years-long and highly public battle with cancer. Mourners gathered outside his house in Palo Alto, California, and Apple stores around the world.

Steve Jobs made technology fun. As tech leaders, they're really happy if they have one hit in their life. Steve Jobs has the Apple II, the Mac, the iPod, the iPhone, the iPad and Pixar.

Steve Jobs was a college dropout. He was adopted by a machinist and his wife, an accountant. They supported his early interest in electronics. He and his friend Steve Wozniak started Apple Computer--now just called Apple--in 1976. They stayed at the company until 1985. That year, Steve Wozniak returned to college and Steve Jobs left in a dispute with the chief executive.

Mr. Jobs then formed his own company, called NeXT Computer. He rejoined Apple in 1997 after it bought NeXT, He helped remake Apple from a business that was in bad shape then to one of the most valuable companies in the world today. However, Steve Jobs stepped down as Apple's chief executive in August, 2011 because of his health. He died a day after the company released a new iPhone version that met with limited excitement. Steve left behind a company that only he could have built, and his spirit will forever be the foundation of Apple.

President Obama said in a statement: by building one of the planet's most successful companies from his garage, Steve Jobs showed the spirit of American ingenuity . By making computers personal and putting the Internet in our pockets, he made the information revolution not only accessible but intuitive and fun.

The fact that he was able to redesign American commerce top to bottom and across is really astonishing. He probably will be considered an industrial giant on the scale of Thomas Edison and Henry Ford, so one of the greatest of all time. Steve Jobs not only revolutionized technology, he also revolutionized American business. Steve Jobs was remembered as a " great visionary and leader" and a marketing genius.
1. Who co-founded Apple?
2. What other position did he hold?
3. When did he die?
4. How old was he?
5. What was his second company?
6. Who was his partner in creating Apple?
7. When did they start it?
8. How many years was Jobs there?
9. Why did he leave?
10. Did he graduate college?
11. How many products and companies are mentioned?
12. What were his parents' occupations?
13. When he came back to Apple did he make it more or less valuable?
14. When did he step down?
15. Why?
16. What was the cause of his death?
17. Will he be considered a great businessman?
18. Like which other people?
19. Where was his home?
20. Besides there, where else did people gather after his death?
****
answer:
1. Steve Jobs
2. CEO
3. Wednesday
4. 56
5. NeXT Computer
6. Steve Wozniak
7. in 1976
8. Until 1985
9. Dispute with the cheif executive
10. College Dropout
11. Seven
12. unknown
13. More valuable
14. August 2011
15. His health
16. Cancer
17. Yes
18. Thomas Edison and Henry Ford
19. Palo Alto, California
20. Apple stores around the world