Nonfiction Text Structure

Crocodiles and alligators look very much alike, but there are ways to tell them apart. The crocodile has a pointy snout, while the alligator's snout is rounder. The crocodile weighs less than the alligator and can move faster. Both animals have an extra-long lower tooth. When the mouth is closed, the tooth is hidden inside the mouth.

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Clara Barton was born in Oxford, Massachusetts in 1821. She taught school and worked at the United States Patent Office. When the Civil War broke out in 1861, Clara worked as a nurse. She brought supplies to soldiers and worked on the battlefield. In fact, she was called the "Angel of the Battlefield". In 1869, Clara went to Europe. There she worked with the International Red Cross. Clara returned to the United States in 1873. In 1881, Clara set up the American National Red Cross. Clara Barton helped many people in her lifetime.

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First, you will need to preheat the oven to 350 degrees. The oven needs to be nice and hot when the meatballs go in. After that, mix together the meat, egg, and vegetables in a large bowl. Next, add salt and pepper and shape the mixture into balls. Make sure all of the balls are the same size. Lastly, put each ball into a muffin tin, and bake for 40 minutes. When you remove the meatballs from the oven, let them cool down for a couple minutes before eating them. Finally, you will get to enjoy this nice delicious treat.

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At one time, Americans could not get from coast to coast by train. The train tracks did not go all the way across the United States. This was a problem because it took months to travel from one side of the country to the other. Suddenly, in the early 1860's, the railroad companies decided to begin building a transcontinental railroad. This railroad would allow American to cross the continent in less than a week. This was a much better way to travel.

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During the Revolutionary War, and for a long time afterward, the colonists used British, French, and Spanish money. Because the British government would not allow the colonists to make their own coins, they made paper money instead. By the mid-1700s, there was more paper money than there was gold or silver for which the bill could be traded. As a result, the British government ordered the colonists to stop making paper money.

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Some scientists are worried about what will happen to people and animals if large forests and jungles in the world are destroyed. The trees and green plants in the forests and jungles produce oxygen, which is released into the atmosphere. Animals and people need this oxygen to breathe. If huge areas of green plants and trees are destroyed, there will not be enough oxygen produced to keep people and animals alive.

So, what should be done? The solution must be based on what is possible. People need to restore, or fix, ruined forest lands along with protecting areas of forests that already exist. It is not a simple solution, be at least we can try.

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A tandem bicycle is a specially designed bike for two riders. The front rider is known as the "captain". The captain has overall control of the bike. He or she steers the bike, shifts gears, and stops when necessary. The rear rider is know as the "stoker". The stoker's main responsibility is to pedal the bicycle. Riding a tandem bicycle requires good balance by both riders. Also, cooperation between the captain and the stoker is essential for a smooth tandem bicycle ride.

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The North Pole marks the northern end of the Earth's imaginary axis, while the South Pole marks the southern end. The North Pole is found in the Arctic Ocean. It was first reached by Robert E. Perry and Matthew Menson. The South Pole is located on the continent of Antarctica. It was first reached by Roald Amundsen in 1911. The North and South Poles are the only two places in the world that receive six months of continuous daylight, followed by six months of continuous darkness.

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In 1804, the steam locomotive was invented. They were strong and could transport a heavy amount. As a result, this made it possible for a locomotive to pull cars along a train track. Soon there was steam-powered train service in the United States.

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Glaciers are large, think masses of snow and ice. Unlike a normal sheet of ice, however, glaciers are able to move. They move very slowly over time, flowing like a slow river. Glaciers are often considered remnants from the last Ice Age.

Glaciers can be found all over the world. They currently cover about 10% of the Earth's surface. They are mainly located in the polar areas of Antarctica and Greenland. Some glacial ice can be found in mountainous areas, as well.

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