Linlithgow Academy S3(d) NewspaperArticle Homework

Article Questions

1) Finish the sentence of the example that you think best describes the purpose of the article (A, B, C, D or E?):

A. To persuade the reader that…B. To entertain & amuse the reader.C. To educate the reader about…D. To inform the reader about… (1)

2) Explain why you think this is the purpose? (1)

3) In your own words, summarise the main points the writer makes in the article. Give 3 bullet points. (3)

4) Use a dictionary to write down the meanings of the words in bold. (1)

(6 marks)

After Mars, hunt for water and life goes deep into the solar system

by Robin McKie, The Guardian

Without water, life as we understand it would be impossible. It is the one substance upon which our existence depends. And now it has been found streaking down the red, dusty slopes of the hills of Mars.

The discovery, announced by Nasa last week, that the Red Planet has running water has provided scientists who are seeking life there with a major boost. As Jim Green, Nasa’s director of planetary science, put it: “If you look at Earth, water is an essential ingredient. Wherever we find water, we find life.”

Hence the international acclaim for the discovery, although the hunt for water, and life, in the solar system is not restricted to Mars. Indeed, astronomers have recently found that our solar system is awash with tantalising pools of the stuff, including several moons of both Jupiter and Saturn. Now researchers wish to study these very different, remarkable worlds, even though some are found more than a billion miles from the nurturing warmth of the sun.

Space engineers have been sending probes to Mars for decades, but until recently their record was poor, with a substantial number either missing or crashing into their targets. Success rates have improved over the past decade, however. As a result, there are now five satellites in orbit round Mars, all returning data, while two robot rovers continue to trundle across its surface.

Nevertheless, it has taken this armada a very long time to find evidence of water on the planet, which shows how inhospitable and arid conditions are on Mars. Its atmospheric pressure is only 0.6% of Earth’s and its surface is bombarded by ultraviolet radiation. Any reservoirs of water or deposits of lifeforms will exist only underground, scientists believe. Finding them will be tricky.

Save the Bees

extract from: Essential Articles 13: Carel Press

A warm summer’s day would not seem complete without the sight and sound of bumble bees moving from flower to flower, yet this may soon be a thing of the past. And if bees disappear, so too will many of our favourite foods – including that other symbol of summer: strawberries.Bees are essential for the pollination of around 90 crops worldwide and are crucially important to many others. Without them farmers would be unable to grow crops such as apples, blackberries, peaches, leeks, even tea! It has been calculated that the ‘service’ that bees provide is vital for the production of one in three of our mouthfuls of food. But bee numbers are declining rapidly. Within the last 70 years two bumblebee species have become extinct in the UK and others have had a drastic drop in numbers.Changes in farming have brought about a change in habitat and a severe decline in the number of all pollinating insects. Over the years many hedges have been removed to make vast fields suitable for larger machinery harvesting a single crop. Grasslands, which were rich in wildflowers, disappeared. Bees feed only on pollen and nectar and, since there are far fewer flowers in the countryside now that there once were, their food source has dwindled.

Napping: the expert’s guideby Jennifer Ackerman, The Guardian, 27.01.09 (adapted)

For years, napping has been criticised as a sign of laziness. We are "caught" napping or "found asleep at the switch". But lately it has gained new respect, thanks to scientific evidence that midday dozing benefits both mental acuity and overall health. A slew of recent studies have shown that naps boost alertness, creativity, mood, and productivity in the later hours of the day.

A nap of 60 minutes improves alertness for up to 10 hours. Research on pilots shows that a 26-minute "Nasa" nap in flight (while the plane is manned by a co-pilot) enhanced performance by 34% and overall alertness by 54%. One Harvard study published last year showed that a 45-minute nap improves learning and memory. Napping reduces stress and lowers the risk of heart attack and stroke, diabetes, and excessive weight gain.

Getting even the briefest nap is better than nothing. A 2008 study in Düsseldorf showed that there are benefits even if sleep is limited to only a few minutes. And last year, a British study suggested that just knowing a nap was coming was enough to lower blood pressure.

Most mammals sleep for short periods throughout the day. Humans have consolidated sleep into one long period, but our bodies are programmed for two periods of intense sleepiness: in the early morning, from about 2am to 4am, and in the afternoon, between 1pm and 3pm. This midday wave of drowsiness is not due to heat or a heavy lunch but from an afternoon quiescent phase in our physiology, which diminishes our reaction time, memory, coordination, mood, and alertness.

Naps make you brainier, healthier, safer. But to understand how you can nap best, you need to understand your body.

‘Angry Birds’ MovieBy Peter Bradshaw, The Guardian, 9th May 2016 (adapted)

That’s right: a film has been made out of the addictive smartphone/tablet game Angry Birds, where catapults ping flightless birds at the little pink piggies who have stolen their eggs. This movie is driven by a naked commercial goal – though perhaps no more than any other film – and it doesn’t match up to the hyperactive, clever surreality of the Lego Movie. Yet there is a kind of pleasure and fascination, mixed with exasperation, in seeing how the game has been mangled and bent into the shape of the conventional animation narrative, with zappy little dialogue moments, funny characters and some sophisticated touches for the grownups.

Jason Sudekis voices Red, the grumpy red bird with big eyebrows who is the star of the game. After a rage outburst, he amusingly has to attend anger management sessions, but then the piggies arrive, pretending to be the birds’ friends while scheming to take away their eggs. To rescue them, Red has to rediscover his inner righteous anger and to re-invade the piggies’ domain. For this he must use the catapult the piggies have, erm, given them as a present, and he must also detonate the huge mounds of TNT that the piggies have left lying around. The sheer contrived ridiculousness is part of the fun. But you really do have to know the game.

(*TNT is an explosive chemical substance)

Hawaii's Kilauea: Explosive eruption at volcano

An explosive eruption at Hawaii’s Kilauea volcano has sent ash 30,000ft (9,100m) into the sky.

The eruption took place at 04:15 local time (14:15 GMT) on Thursday, and scientists say further activity is likely in the near future. Staff at the volcano observatory and the national park had been evacuated.

Since a new zone of Kilauea began erupting almost two weeks ago, lava has wrecked dozens of homes and forced hundreds of people to be evacuated. A red aviation code had already been issued, warning pilots to avoid the potentially damaging ash cloud.

The US Geological Survey had warned that an explosive eruption at Kilauea was becoming more likely as the volcano's lava lake was lowering. This increases the risk of steam-powered explosions as the magma meets underground water. "We may have additional larger, powerful events," USGS geologist Michelle Coombs told reporters after Thursday's eruption.

Hawaii's emergency management agency advised people in the area affected by ash to stay in their homes if possible.

Kilauea is one of five volcanoes on the island of Hawaii - three of them active. It is one of the most active in the world and has been erupting continuously, though not explosively, for more than 30 years. Its last explosive eruption took place in 1924.

Even before Thursday morning's explosive eruption, the ash plume from the volcano could be seen from the International Space Station.

BBC News

BBC drops 'exploitative' rap song

The BBC says a rap song broadcast on Asian Network and Radio 1 "did not meet our editorial standards" and will not be played again.

The track, by Frenzo Harami, has been accused of glamorising sexual exploitation, for lyrics which refer to profiting from a prostitution ring.

"I got 20 white girls... laying on their backs for P [money]," raps the east Londoner.

He also boasts about dealing drugs and refers to himself as a "pimp".

The song, called Chaabian Boyz, received limited plays on late-night shows hosted by Kan D Man and Bobby Friction, who described it as "proper grimy, grimy, grimy".

Although it was edited to remove swearing, the rest of the lyrical content apparently went unchecked.

Chris Tuck, founder of the Survivors of Abuse charity, said: "I do not think it's appropriate for any individual or group to promote the exploitation of women of any race".

In a statement, the BBC said: "A version of the track which did not meet our editorial standards was played on Asian Network produced shows, in error.

"The song will not be played on any future shows."Harami appeared to be unfazed by the criticism of his song, posting a screen-grab of a Daily Mail article to Instagram, and commenting: "Peak times."

By Mark Savage: BBC Music reporter

Hither Green burglar 'ran into knife' during break-in

A 79-year-old man who killed a burglar had picked up a kitchen knife to try to get the two intruders out of his home, an inquest has heard.

Richard Osborn-Brooks stabbed Henry Vincent to death in Hither Green, south-east London, in April last year.

He told Southwark Coroner's Court the 37-year-old had threatened him with a screwdriver, then "rushed forward" and "ran into the knife I was holding".

Mr Vincent's sister told the hearing her brother was "not a violent person".

"He was a father, he was a son, he was a brother. No one deserves to die," Rosie Vincent said.

Speaking by videolink, Mr Osborn-Brooks told the inquest he still believed that the intruder was "intending to do me harm" during the break-in on 4 April 2018.

He said the two men had knocked on his door, grabbed him and pushed him inside.

Both then demanded money as one then shoved him toward the kitchen and the other ran upstairs.

He told the hearing that when he grabbed the knife, Mr Vincent's accomplice fled out of the front door but the intruder came down the stairs holding the screwdriver and saying "get out of my way or I'll stick you with this".

Mr Osborn-Brooks said he had then warned him his weapon was "bigger than yours" as "I thought he would look at my knife... and he would take the opportunity to run out the front door which was open".

"He definitely didn't try to get out of the front door, he came towards me," he said.

Mr Vincent's cause of death was given as an incised wound to the chest.

In a statement, the pathologist who carried out the post-mortem examination said a toxicology report indicated "a recent use of both cocaine and heroin".

He said Mr Vincent "may have been experiencing the effects" at the time of the raid.

BBC news

Thai king Vajiralongkorn marries bodyguard making her queen

The king of Thailand has married the deputy head of his personal security detail, and given her the title of queen, a royal statement has said.

The surprise announcement comes before his elaborate coronation ceremonies begin on Saturday, when his position is consecrated.

King Maha Vajiralongkorn, 66, became the constitutional monarch after the death of his much-loved father in 2016.

He has been married and divorced three times before and has seven children.

A royal statement said: King Vajiralongkorn "has decided to promote General Suthida Vajiralongkorn Na Ayudhya, his royal consort, to become Queen Suthida and she will hold royal title and status as part of the royal family".

Queen Suthida is King Vajiralongkorn's long-term partner and has been seen with him in public for many years, though their relationship has never before been officially acknowledged.

Footage from the wedding ceremony was shown on Thai TV channels late Wednesday, showing other members of the royal family and palace advisers in attendance.

The king is seen pouring sacred water on the head of Queen Suthida. The couple then sign a marriage registry.

In 2014 Vajiralongkorn appointed Suthida Tidjai, a former flight attendant for Thai Airways, as the deputy commander of his bodyguard unit. He made her a full general in the army in December 2016.

The previous king, Bhumibol Adulyadej, ruled for 70 years, making him the longest-reigning monarch in the world when he died in 2016.

BBC news

Confused about climate change? Talk to our chat bot

BBC News has launched a chat bot to help users learn about climate change in weekly conversations on Facebook Messenger.

Subscribers will get an alert every Wednesday inviting them to explore topics from rising temperatures to new ways of tackling global warming.

They can also ask questions which the bot will pass on for our human journalists to answer.

You can sign up at the bottom of this page.

We know that audiences are hungry for a better understanding of where the world stands on targets to control rising temperatures.

This tool allows them to choose the climate-related topics they are most interested in, learning more through conversation which they control.The United Nations says we should take drastic action to cut greenhouse gas emissions within 12 years to limit the negative effects of climate change around the world.

Scientists add that keeping to the preferred target of 1.5C above pre-industrial levels will mean "rapid, far-reaching and unprecedented changes in all aspects of society".

The climate bot gives users the chance to increase their understanding of the challenges - and solutions - at their own pace, in weekly instalments.

Over six weeks, it will help set out some of the actions which all of us can take, from transport choices to diet.

It will also look at existing efforts on a global scale and new science currently being developed.

BBC news

Stress-busting dogs on university staff

Five dogs have joined the staff of Middlesex University to help students with exam stress or whose anxiety puts them at risk of dropping out.

The five labradors have become "canine teaching assistants" and will work on improving students' wellbeing.

The five have their own staff cards, in a project purported to be the most systematic use of dogs in a university.

"You can literally feel stress levels reducing," said Fiona Suthers, head of clinical skills at the university.

"It's amazing and we're very keen to continue and expand what we're doing.

"It's hard to describe the impact of just having a dog lying down in the corner of a class.

"When we initially introduced the scheme, I don't think any of us thought it would be so successful.

Ms Suthers added all the dogs were specially trained and a "stringent assessment" had ensured they had the right temperament.

Last month, University of Buckingham vice-chancellor Sir Anthony Seldon backed the use of dogs as a way of reducing stress in schools and universities.

"The quickest and biggest hit that we can make to improve mental health in our schools and to make them feel safe for children is to have at least one dog in every single school in the country," said Sir Anthony.

Education Secretary Damian Hinds backed his call, saying more schools seemed to have "wellbeing dogs" and "the pets can really help".

BBC news

Purpose and Audience

Purpose is …

Audience is …

Word Definition Example

Simile This is an expression which compares one thing to another using the word ‘Like’ or ‘as’.

Her hair was as black as night.

Metaphor Makes a comparison between two things by saying that something is another thing.

She had a heart of stone.

Alliteration When the writer chooses words that start with the same sound to make a phrase stand out.

She sells sea shells on the sea shore.

Repetition This is when a word or phrase is used more that once to make it stand out to the reader.

Gas, gas, quick boys.

Question Marks

It might be a simple question or a rhetorical question, where the writer already has an answer in their mind. They might affect the tone.

Is it right to test things on animals just to create more beauty products for us?

Semi-colon They do the same job as commas. They separate items in a list or join two related sentences together.

The group of people is 12 rows deep; 15 minutes later there are lots more.

Glossary