Problem: Millions of citizens throughout the central US are jumping into pools, sitting in the shade, and turning on their air conditioners as they try to beat the heat.With record-breaking temperatures and unbearable humidity attacking the central US.17 states from Texas to Michigan have all received heat advisories and warnings.

"Even with the air conditioning on, it's 82 degrees Fahrenheit in the house," said North Dakotan Betty Smokov.'The heat is really unpleasant and sticky.'"I According to the National Weather Service, the heat is not likely to ease up soon.

In Western Oklahoma, the heat is even worse.There, temperatures have frequently climbed to above 110 degrees over the past several weeks." _ " said Daryl Williams, a weather forecaster in Norman, Oklahoma.On Saturday night, the asphalt at a busy road in Enid, Oklahoma, crumbled due to the extreme heat.

Across the area, citizens are keeping cool in many different ways.Cities like Chicago and Detroit are providing relief for their citizens by opening cooling centers for those without air conditioning in their homes.Others are heading to the water to cool down.But in some cases, the water itself needs cooling.Dwight Anderson, an amusement park owner in Omaha, Nebraska, had to put two tons of ice cubes into his park's swimming pools to lower the water's temperature from 88 degrees to 82 degrees.

But not everyone is complaining about the heat.Sixty-five-year-old Detroit citizen Marcellus Washington enjoyed the weather as he walked along the Detroit River to stay cool."What a wonderful weather! It's a very pleasant day, " he said.
1. Where is Betty Smokov from?
2. How warm is her house?
3. Is she using the AC?
4. How did she describe the atmosphere?
5. Who is saying the heat is not ending soon?
6. How are Chicago and Detroit trying to help citizens?
7. for who?
8. Where is Dwight Anderson from?
9. What kind of business does he have?
10. What did he add to the pools there?
11. How many?
12. Why?
13. What was the temp?
14. How far did it come down?
15. How high has the temperature gotten in Western Oklahoma?
16. Who said that?
17. What's his job?
18. Where?
19. How many people have been effected by this?
20. How many states have warnings about the weather?
Answer: 1. North Dakota
2. 82 degrees Fahrenheit
3. Yes
4. Unpleasant and sticky.
5. The National Weather Service
6. Providing cooling centers
7. Citizens without air conditioning in their homes
8. Omaha, Nebraska
9. An amusement park
10. Ice cubes
11. Two tons
12. To lower the water's temperature
13. 88 degrees
14. 6 degrees.
15. Above 110 degrees
16. Daryl Williams
17. A weather forecaster
18. Norman, Oklahoma
19. Millions of citizens
20. 17

Problem: (CNN) -- Barack Obama has talked of ripping out the White House bowling alley and replacing it with a basketball court. The former reserve player for Punahou High School's 1979 state championship team brings an enthusiasm for pickup basketball games to a place where golf, baseball and football have been the most-discussed sports.

Reggie Miller says he'd pick Barack Obama for his squad because he likes the president-elect's team approach.

And if he puts hoops in the White House, Reggie Miller, the retired basketball star and sports broadcaster, wants in.

"I would love to be the first to go there and play," said Miller, whose record-breaking 2,560 three-pointers with the Indiana Pacers electrified basketball fans. Today Miller, 43, is an NBA analyst for TNT, which is owned by Turner Broadcasting, parent company of CNN.

Miller and others have said Obama's playing style yields clues to the type of president he will be. Miller, who said he backed Obama in the election, spoke Monday to CNN.com. iReport.com: What would you like to ask Obama?

CNN: Do you know Barack Obama?

Reggie Miller: I have never met him personally, but from afar, obviously I admire the man and the courage and the strength, the wisdom. I respect how much of a family man he is.

CNN: Where does basketball fit in your view of Barack Obama?

Miller: It seems like he has a regular pickup game, which I like because as a ballplayer, you like to do the same routine. ... He plays with the same guys, he likes to get a good sweat in. ... When you get a good workout in, you feel good for the rest of the day. It helps clear the mind.
1. Who would like to play basketball at the White House?
2. How old is he?
3. Where is he from?
4. What's his current occupation?
5. For what network?
6. Who did he vote for?
7. Has he met him?
8. How many three point shots has he made?
9. How many awards has he won?
10. Has Obama played basketball?
11. When?
12. For whom?
13. What does he want to add to the White house?
14. Where would he put it?
Answer: 1. Reggie Miller
2. 43
3. Indiana Pacers
4. an NBA analyst
5. TNT
6. Obama
7. no
8. 2,560
9. unknown
10. yes
11. 1979
12. Punahou High School
13. a basketball court
14. in place of the bowling alley

Problem: CHAPTER V

In the misty morning twilight Colonel Zane, fully armed, paced to and fro before his cabin, on guard. All night he had maintained a watch. He had not considered it necessary to send his family into the fort, to which they had often been compelled to flee. On the previous night Jonathan had come swiftly back to the cabin, and, speaking but two words, seized his weapons and vanished into the black night. The words were "Injuns! Wetzel!" and there were none others with more power to affect hearers on the border. The colonel believed that Wetzel had signaled to Jonathan.

On the west a deep gully with precipitous sides separated the settlement from a high, wooded bluff. Wetzel often returned from his journeying by this difficult route. He had no doubt seen Indian signs, and had communicated the intelligence to Jonathan by their system of night-bird calls. The nearness of the mighty hunter reassured Colonel Zane.

When the colonel returned from his chase of the previous night, he went directly to the stable, there to find that the Indians had made off with a thoroughbred, and Betty's pony. Colonel Zane was furious, not on account of the value of the horses, but because Bess was his favorite bay, and Betty loved nothing more than her pony Madcap. To have such a march stolen on him after he had heard and seen the thieves was indeed hard. High time it was that these horse thieves be run to earth. No Indian had planned these marauding expeditions. An intelligent white man was at the bottom of the thieving, and he should pay for his treachery.
1. Who was the threat?
2. WHat did they do?
3. Who did they steal from?
4. Did he know they were a threat?
5. How?
6. Who was he?
7. Who did he comminucate with?
8. What method did he use?
9. Why would Wetzel contact Jonathan?
10. WHat did JOnathan do after hearing that?
11. What did Colonel Zane do?
12. Why did he stay behind?
13. What could he have done instead?
14. How long did he stay up?
15. Were they successful in stopping the Indians?
16. Were the stolen items valuble?
17. Was that why people were upset?
18. Why then?
19. What other reasons?
20. Did they think the natives were working alone?
21. Who did they think was responsible?
Answer:
1. Indians
2. made off with a thoroughbred, and Betty's pony.
3. Colonel Zane
4. yes
5. Wetzel had signaled
6. a mighty hunter
7. Jonathan
8. system of night-bird calls
9. seen Indian signs
10. seized his weapons
11. maintained a watch.
12. his family
13. send his family into the fort
14. All night
15. no
16. yes
17. no
18. Bess was his favorite
19. Betty loved her pony
20. no
21. An intelligent white man