Question: What kind of pets do people have in your country? Dogs? Cats? How about a duck, hippo or lion? Here are two cases of animal owners with unusual pets.

Barrie Hayman has a pet duck called Star. Barrie adopted him after his brothers and sisters stayed away from him at birth. Barrie, a duck breeder, realized the little duck needed special attention. So he began taking Star with him everywhere he went. "I would put him in my pocket while I did my shopping," said Barrie. Now, at five months, Star is too big for Barrie's pocket, but the two are still _ . They watch sports together and even share a drink together. Barrie said, "He is one fantastic duck. I've never known any like him." Star even has his own Facebook page, with more than 2,000 Facebook friends.

Then there's the case of Tonie and Shirley Joubert in South Africa. They live with their pet hippo, Jessica. Tonie saved Jessica from floodwaters when she was only a day old. Jessica lives outside their riverside house, but she knows how to open the kitchen door, and often goes there for a snack. Tonie recently said, "I don't know whether Jessica sees me as a hippo or whether she sees herself as a human." Shirley is more certain, "Jessica sees herself as our child and I see Jessica as my daughter. I can't imagine my life without Jessica." Jessica is free to leave, and often visits wild hippos that live nearby. But she always returns home at night. Jessica's website notes that she has three hippo boyfriends, but one in particular, Fred, is her favorite. They often go grazing together and Fred has recently moved onto the Jouberts' house as well. 1. Who was Star?
2. 'what does Barrie Hayman do for a living?
3. What did he do with Star when he went shopping?
4. How old is STar now?
5. What kind of pet do Tonie and Shirley Joubert have?
6. What is the hippo's name?
7. What's the setting for the Joubert's house?
8. What country is it in?
9. Can Jessica leave if she wants to?
10. Does she?
11. How many boyfriends does she have?
12. What's the name of her favorite?
13. What do they do together? Provide a numbered list of answers.
****
A numbered of answers: 1. a pet duck
2. a duck breeder
3. put him in his pocket
4. unknown
5. hippo
6. Jessica
7. riverside
8. South Africa
9. Yes
10. she always returns home at night
11. three
12. Fred
13. go grazing

Question: (CNN) -- Karim Benzema shrugged off his club troubles and a violent challenge to give France a 1-0 win over 10-man Brazil in Wednesday's prestige friendly in Paris.

The Real Madrid striker netted the only goal from close range nine minutes into the second half of the rematch of the 1998 World Cup final at the same venue -- which France won 3-0.

He was lucky to escape serious injury five minutes before the break when Brazil midfielder Hernanes was sent off for kicking him in the chest.

Benzema has struggled to show his true form in Spain since his $48 million move in 2009, but was a constant threat after the red card and should have added more to his new tally of 12 international goals.

However, his 54th-minute strike proved enough, set up by winger Jeremy Menez's burst down the right and subsequent teasing low cross.

Menez was lucky to stay on the pitch after a bad tackle from behind on Brazil defender David Luiz, whose new English club Chelsea will be relieved he escaped injury.

It was France's fifth consecutive win under coach Laurent Blanc, who has revived the team's fortunes after last year's first-round exit at the World Cup in South Africa.

Brazil coach Mano Menezes suffered a second successive defeat following November's loss to Argentina.

Also on Wednesday, two of the world's best footballers went head-to-head in neutral Switzerland, and once again Lionel Messi came out on top as Argentina snatched a last-gasp 2-1 friendly win over Portugal. 1. Who shrugged off troubles to give France a 1-0 win over Brazil?
2. Who almost seriously injured him?
3. Why was Menez lucky to stay on the pitch?
4. what is Benzema's new tally of international goals?
5. How many consecutive wins did France have according to this report under Laurent Blanc?
6. What round did they exit the world cup the last year as of this report?
7. Where was that match held?
8. What team does Menez play for?
9. What team does Karim Benzema play for?
10. Where did Portugal play last Wednsday according to the report? Provide a numbered list of answers.
****
A numbered of answers: 1. Karim Benzema
2. Brazil midfielder Hernanes did.
3. a bad tackle from behind on David Luiz
4. 12
5. Five
6. the first round
7. in South Africa
8. None, he coaches
9. France.
10. Argentina

Question: People think of ice cream as an American food. Yet, ice cream really came from Asia. In the late 1200s Marco Polo, the great explorer, is said to have seen rich Asians eating dishes of ice. Camels had brought the ice from distant mountains. Before it was served, the ice had been flavored with fruits. Marco Polo brought this new dish to Italy, In France cooks changed the ice recipe and made ice cream. At first, cooks tried to keep the recipe a secret. They wanted it to be a special dish for rich people. By the late 1700s, though, ice cream was sold throughout Europe and America. Some great Americans loved ice cream. George Washington was the first to buy a special machine for making it. When Thomas Jefferson returned from France, he brought an ice cream recipe home with him. Dolly Madison, wife of President James Madison, also liked ice cream, and she often served it at the White House. Actually, a famous brand of ice cream was even named after her. In the late 1800s, the ice cream industry began to grow. A way of keeping ice cream frozen had been found, so ice cream makers did not have to worry about ice cream melting anymore. 1. What is the story about?
2. Where was it invented?
3. How did it get world wide?
4. What did he do?
5. How did he learn about it?
6. When did this happen?
7. Where did they get the ice?
8. Did they have flavors?
9. Where else did it become popular?
10. When was cream first added?
11. When did it get to America?
12. Did any famous people eat it?
13. Who, for example?
14. How do we know he liked it?
15. Who else?
16. How did Jefferson learn about it?
17. Anyone else?
18. Did they ever serve it to guests?
19. When did it really become popular?
20. How come it became popular? Provide a numbered list of answers.
****
A numbered of answers:
1. ice cream
2. Asia
3. Marco Polo
4. brought this new dish to Italy
5. seen rich Asians eating dishes of ice
6. the late 1200s
7. Camels had brought the ice from distant mountains
8. the ice had been flavored with fruits
9. France
10. In France cooks changed the ice recipe and made ice cream
11. By the late 1700s
12. Yes
13. George Washington
14. He was the first to buy a special machine for making it
15. Thomas Jefferson
16. When Thomas Jefferson returned from France, he brought an ice cream recipe home with him
17. Dolly Madison, wife of President James Madison, also liked ice cream
18. Yes
19. In the late 1800s,
20. A way of keeping ice cream frozen had been found,