question: New York (CNN) -- Popular science-fiction author Harry Harrison, whose book "Make Room! Make Room!" was the basis for the 1973 film "Soylent Green," about a futuristic society and its fictional food, has died, his publisher said Wednesday. He was 87.

Born in 1925 in Stamford, Connecticut, Harrison was best known for his 12 novels about the futuristic character "Slippery Jim" DeGriz, also known as the Stainless Steel Rat. Harrison also was the main writer for the "Flash Gordon" comic strip during the 1950s and '60s, according to his publisher, Tor Books.

Harrison started his career as an illustrator before switching to writing. He is a member of the Science Fiction Hall of Fame.

"He believed science fiction was important, that it caused people to think about our world and what it could become," Tor Books' publisher Tom Doherty wrote in a blog post.

On learning of his death, fiction author Harlan Ellison said, "It's a day without stars in it."

Ellison, who says he knew Harrison since 1952, said the author was one of the funniest guys who ever lived.

"Harry was one of those who you thought would go on forever like a wind-up toy," Ellison told CNN.

Harrison's death comes after notable science fiction author Ray Bradbury passed away in June.

Tributes to Harrison poured in on Twitter after his death was announced.

"Thank you for sharing your mind, kind sir!" wrote @hijadecano on Twitter.

"Heaven has to make room, make room for Harry Harrison," wrote @petdance.

Tor Books will be publishing Harrison's memoir in December, according to a spokesperson for the publisher.
1. What is the title of Mr. Harrisons Book?
2. In December who will be publishing his book?
3. What year was Harrison born?
4. and how did he start his career?
5. When had Harlan elison known harrison since?
6. What did Tom doherty write about in in a blog post?
7. Where was Harrison born?
8. Was he a member of the Science Fiction Hall of Fame?
9. What is he best known for?
10. How many books did her write about a character also known as the Stainless Steel Rat?
****
answer: 1. "Make Room! Make Room!"
2. Tor Books
3. 1925
4. as an illustrator
5. since 1952
6. "He believed science fiction was important, that it caused people to think about our world and what it could become,"
7. Stamford, Connecticut
8. yes
9. Soylent Green
10. 12

question: Zheng He was an amazing man. He was born in 1371. Eleven years later, he was caught by the army of a rich young man called Zhu Di and made to work for him. Over time the rich man saw that Zheng He was very clever and strong and they became close friends. In 1403 Zhu Di was made the King of China and he asked Zheng He to join his government. The King wanted to learn more about the world and show other countries his power. He ordered many new ships to be built and made Zheng He their leader. between 1405 and 1433, Zheng He led seven sea trips to different parts of the world. He certainly travelled to India, Africa and the Middle East. A few people think his ships have even reached South America and Australia. Each trip lasted between two and four years and it is believed he sailed more than 50,000 kms during the years of his travels.Zheng He led a fleet with 28,000 men and over 300 ships, such as boats for food, water and even soldiers' horses. On these trips he brought with him many Chinese goods like silk and medicine to give to foreign kings or to sell for local goods. He returned from each trip with boats filled with expensive things such as gold and treasures, foreign guests and strange animals like a giraffe. It is a pity that we may never learn everything about Zheng He' s travels. The Columbus of the east, Zheng He, died in 1433. After that, the new king, had these trips stopped and he burned almost all the books about Zheng He's travels, because he believed the trips were unlucky and too expensive. It is only in the last 50 years that historians have begun to carefully study the adventures of great Zheng He.
1. What happened in 1403?
2. Who did he ask to join his government?
3. When was he born?
4. was he friends with Z.Di?
5. Did Z.He travel on boats?
6. Did he make a lot of sea voyages?
7. how many?
8. were they short trips?
9. about how long did they last?
10. how many ships did he oversee?
11. how many men?
12. what countries did they go to?
13. what did he carry in the ships?
14. did he bring live things back with him?
15. what animal?
16. do we know everything about him?
17. what is one reason why not?
18. when did historians start studying him?
19. when did he die?
20. what other famous explorer is he referred to as?
****
answer: 1. Zhu Di was made the King of China
2. Zheng He
3. 1371
4. yes
5. yes
6. yes
7. seven
8. no
9. between two and four years
10. 300
11. 28,000
12. India, Africa, Middle East, South America and Australia
13. silk, medicine
14. gold, treasures, foreign guests and strange animals
15. giraffe
16. no
17. the new king burned almost all the books
18. in the last 50 years
19. 1433
20. Columbus

question: CHAPTER IV.

HAL STANDS UP FOR HIMSELF.

Hal now found himself in a tight situation. Felix Hardwick had him by the throat, and was slowly but surely choking him.

"Don't! don't!" cried Mr. Sumner, in great alarm.

"The miserable tramp!" cried Hardwick. "I'll teach him to call a gentleman a thief."

He continued his choking process, paying no attention to his employer's efforts to haul him away.

But by this time Hal began to realize that Hardwick was in earnest. He began to kick, and presently landed a blow in the book-keeper's stomach that completely winded the man.

Hardwick relaxed his hold, and Hal sprang away.

"Stop! stop!" ordered Mr. Sumner. "I will not have such disgraceful scenes in this office."

"But he intimated I was a thief," said Hardwick, trying to catch his wind.

"And he said the same of me," retorted Hal.

"So you are!"

"I never stole a thing in my life, Mr. Sumner." Hal turned to the broker. "And I am not a tramp."

"Then supposing we make it a poor-house beggar," returned Hardwick, with a short laugh.

Hal turned red. The shot was a cruel one.

"Hush! Hardwick," cried Mr. Sumner. "There is no necessity for such language."

The broker turned to Hal.

"You just made a strange statement, Carson," he said. "How do you know Mr. Hardwick contemplated robbing the safe?"

"Because I do."

"That is no answer."

"I overheard him and Mr. Allen talking about the bonds being in the safe."

"When?"

"The evening I came to New York."
1. Did Hal turn red out of embarrassment?
2. What had Hardwick called him?
3. What else?
4. And what was the final insult?
5. Did he confess to ever stealing anything?
6. What's Mr. Sumner's profession?
7. What's Hal's last name?
8. Does Mr. Sumner appreciate profane language?
9. What's Hardwick's first name?
10. Did he contemplate committing a crime, according to Hal?
11. What type of crime?
12. What did he want to rob?
13. By himself?
14. Who did Hal overhear Felix talking to about robbing the safe?
15. What's in the safe?
16. When did Hal overhear them?
17. Where was he coming back from?
18. What had Felix been doing to Hal when Mr. Sumner intruded?
19. Does Felix think of himself as a gentleman?
****
answer:
1. yes
2. a thief
3. miserable tramp
4. poor-house beggar
5. no
6. broker
7. unknown
8. no
9. Felix
10. yes
11. thieving
12. the safe
13. yes
14. Mr. Allen
15. bonds
16. evening
17. New York
18. had him by the throat
19. yes