If you've ever seen a parrot on television or in someone's house, you may be tempted to buy one of these talkative birds for yourself! Training parrots to talk takes work, though! First, keep your bird active. They are social creatures and love to be engaged in talking and activity! Next, set aside ten to fifteen minutes to work on teaching your parrot short phrases, such as "Hello, friend!" After you have taught your bird a new phrase, continue to repeat it so that your bird doesn't forget it. Don't forget to talk to your parrot- studies show that they don't only repeat what you say, but can truly understand you and communicate with you!

The first video game console, "Brown Box", was invented in 1967. In 1977, Nintendo created their first gaming unit along with the Atari video game. Many different video game players came out in 1982 including the Intellivision. The Sega became popular in the early 1990s and in 1994, the first PlayStation was released. In 2001, the Xbox came to stores! Nintendo released the Wii in 2006 followed by the Xbox One in 2013.

The common cold and the flu have a lot of similar characteristics, but they are different illnesses caused by different viruses. Even though many of the symptoms, such as fever, tiredness, and a cough are the same for a cold and the flu, symptoms of the flue are usually much worse. When someone suffers from a cold, they usually continue their daily lives, going to work or school. However, the side effects of the flu are so severe that people often stay home from work or school. Colds usually cause a runny or stuffy nose, where the flue is less likely to cause such symptoms. The flu must be diagnosed with a special test from your doctor's office.

No matter what winter sport you participate in, you will need winter gear. Long johns, which are tight pants and shirts, help trap heat against your skin, and are often worn under regular clothing. Fluffy winter jackets and snow pants are important if you're going to be in the snow for long. Heavy boots, a warm hat and gloves, and goggles are other winter staples!

Benjamin Franklin spent his life creating inventions, and most were dreamed up to solve a problem he had. For instance, his first invention came as an eleven year old who loved to swim. He wanted a little extra push while swimming, so he used boards to create the very first pair of swim fins. As he became older, he found that his eyesight was both near and far sighted. He needed two different glasses for different activities. Therefore, he invented bifocal glasses that could be used for both near and far sightedness. Franklin was very interested in electricity, and entire churches and homes were burning down when lightning struck. He created the lightning rod, which sent the electric currents from lightning underground, keeping buildings and people safe from devastating lightning.

Sultan Kosen, the world's tallest man according to Guinness World Records, faces several health problems caused by his incredible height. Sultan developed a tumor as a child that caused him to grow to the record breaking height of 8 foot 3 inches. Not only did the tumor cause him to get so tall, it also pressed on the nerves in his eyes and caused visual problems. Because he is so tall, Sultan's joints, bones, and muscles are very weak, and he can't walk without crutches.

During the Titanic's maiden voyage, its first across the Atlantic, Captain Smith received warnings about dangerous icebergs. On April 14, 1912, at 9:20 p.m. Captain Smith went to bed. The last iceberg warning came in around 9:40, and he never received it. At 11:40 p.m. lookouts spotted an iceberg, and 37 seconds later, the ship scraped the bottom of the berg. By 12:45 a.m., lifeboats began lowering into the freezing water. At 2:20 a.m. on April 15, the Titanic sank to the bottom of the ocean. Survivors in lifeboats were not rescued until 4:10 a.m. On April 18, 1912, the 705 survivors from the Titanic docked in New York.

Even though both Disney World and Disney Land were built by Walt Disney himself, they are not the same theme park. Built in 1971 in Orlando, Florida, the main park at Disney World, The Magic Kingdom, features a huge Cinderella Castle. Disney Land, on the other hand, was built in 1955 in California, and features Sleeping Beauty's Castle. While Disney World has four different theme parks, Disney Land only has two. Even with their differences, they are both popular tourist destinations for children and adults!

In 1994, chef Alice Waters began The Edible Schoolyard Project, an opportunity for students at Martin Luther King Junior Middle School to grow and prepare their own fresh foods. First, the students spend ninety minutes in the garden each week learning how to prepare the soil and how best to plant certain seeds. Then, they learn to tend to their garden and eventually harvest the crops. Finally, they even have the opportunity to learn how to prepare the fresh fruits and vegetables and turn them into lunches and other healthy treats.

The Titanic was built in Belfast, Ireland over the course of three years. It cost 7.5 million dollars and took 3,000 men to build the 882 foot ship. Watertight compartments made it "unsinkable" in the even of a collision, and the four funnels were made to make the ship look more grand than most ships of the time.

When someone is struck by the flu, they are often downright miserable! To help the symptoms of the flu, your doctor can prescribe medications, but home remedies can help you feel better, too. Try taking warm showers or baths, and drink plenty of water to stay well hydrated. If your throat is aching, or you can't catch a break from the dry cough the flu causes, try sucking on a hard candy and snacking on chicken noodle soup. Above all, staying home to rest can help your body fight the virus!

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People who live in cold climates know that there are several

different winter sport choices. If you enjoy flying down

hills at breakneck speeds, you’ll need to choose between

snowboarding and skiing. Both are winter sports where

you move along snow with boards attached to your feet.

While skiing, you’ll have a ski attached to each foot, and a

pole for each hand. Snowboarding, on the other hand, uses

only one board, which both feet are attached to. Skis and

snowboards both require boots to buckle into. While you

need a sloped hill to snowboard down, with skis, you can

cross country ski on snowy flat land. Your body’s position

will also be different depending on the sport you choose—

snowboarders ride down hills sideways, and skiers move

straight ahead. Either sport is a thrilling winter activity!

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Most ski and snowboard resorts open in mid-November. Sometimes, though, there is no snow forskiers and snowboarders to ride. When that happens,the resorts fire up their snow machines, called snow guns or cannons. If temperatures are cold enough, air and water can be combined to create artificial snow, and the “no snow problem” will disappear under a pile of fresh, white, powder. Some ski resorts use the snow machines nightly until mother nature creates enough of her own snow!

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The Magic Kingdom is the first built

of four theme parks at Walt Disney

World. It opened on October 1971,

and the park features rides and shows

related to major Disney characters

and fairy tales. Symbols of The Magic

Kingdom include Cinderella’s Castle,

Main Street USA, and rides like the

famous Space Mountain coaster.

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When you make the choice to bring home an exotic pet, you must consider the pros and cons. Buying an exotic pet is fun and exciting, and you will be different than most of your

friends and neighbors. When you choose an

exotic pet, be prepared to pay more for

veterinary care since fewer vets know how to

take care of these pets. If you want an

unusual pet, you must also make sure they are

legal where you live. If they are not, your

exotic pet could be confiscated from your home

and taken to live in an approved shelter.

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Have you ever wanted to own a pet other than a typical house pet such as a dog, cat, fish, or bird? An exotic pet might be the choice for you! Flying squirrels and sugar gliders are becoming popular exotic pets. Although they seem similar, a flying squirrel is a better pet. Their diet consists of a simple parrot food along with other fruits and veggies you may already have in your fridge. On the other hand, sugar gliders require a complicated and well-balanced diet, including nectar and special proteins like bug mix or mice. While sugar gliders mark their territory with a musky smell, flying squirrels have no scent glands and don’t leave any odor. Flying squirrels are also a better choice since sugar gliders require constant attention, unlike squirrels who are more independent.

CHOOSE THE CORRECT TEXT STRUCTURE. Preparing for an exotic pet is unique. First, you must do research to find an exotic pet good for your home environment. Then, you must find someone who breeds and sells the pet you are

interested in. Before you buy your pet, you will

need to gather the supplies you need, and many

will be ordered online since regular pet stores

don’t carry exotic materials. Finally, before you

bring your pet home, find a good supply of the

unique food your new pet will require.

CHOOSE THE CORRECT TEXT STRUCTURE.. Have you ever gathered around a table with yourfriends excited to play a board game, and when youopen the box, find that pieces are missing? It’s alwaysa bummer when you don’t have a piece to mark your place in the game, but you can get inventive to solve the problem. Go to your kitchen and try using beans,

gummy bears, or Skittles to replace the missing pieces!

Or try using bingo chips, marker tops, or paperclips in

their place. Don’t let a missing piece stop you from

playing games.

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Video Game Systems, Then & Now

The Missing Pieces Games, Games, Games

The first video game console, “Brown Box”, was

invented in 1967. In 1977, Nintendo created their

first gaming unit along with the Atari video

game. Many different video game players came

out in 1982 including the Intellivision. The Sega

became popular in the early 1990s and in 1994,

the first PlayStation was released. In 2001, the

Xbox came to stores! Nintendo released the Wii

in 2006 followed by the Xbox One in 2013.

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Although it may be tempting, eating too much candy can have a negative impact on your body and how you feel. Munching on too much candy can cause cavities in your teeth from all of the sugar. It is also very high in “empty” calories, which means the calories provide you no nutrients, just fat and calories from sugar! This can cause you to gain too much unhealthy weight. Too much sugar can also cause you to have a “foggy” brain, slowing down your memory and making you tired.

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Candy is often categorized into two different types:chocolate or sugary. Even though both have sugar inthem, chocolate also includes the key ingredient, cocoa. Sugary candies like Skittles, Smarties, and Sweet Tarts

are made by combining sugar and water with other

flavors and colors. To make chocolate, cocoa beans are

combined with other ingredients such as sugar and

milk. While both candies are considered sweets,

chocolate often has more fat than sugary candies. Both

types of candy can have an effect on your body—

chocolate contains small amounts of caffeine, and

sugar might cause a “sugar” rush!

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All candies have a different process by which it is made. M&Ms are popular chocolate treats made from a mixture of liquid milk chocolate and a hard candy shell. First, the chocolate is

poured into small molds. Then, it is left to cool and harden. A conveyor belt transfers the chocolate to another section of a factory, where the chocolates are coated with the hard candy

shell. Finally, they are coated with color!

French fries were not invented in the U.S., but Americans still love them. The first documented use in the United States was when then-President Thomas Jefferson asked a French chef to make “potatoes served in the French manner.” A recipe for “French fried potatoes” has been found in a cookbook from the 1850's. They were referred to as “French fried potatoes” until the 1930's, when Americans dropped the word “potatoes” and started referring to them as simply French fries. They gained in popularity with the growth of the fast food chains that took America by storm in the 1950's and 1960's. Today, they are as popular as ever!

Have you ever wanted to own a pet other than a typical house pet such as a dog, cat, fish, or bird? An exotic pet might be the choice for you! Flying squirrels and sugar gliders are becoming popular exotic pets. Although they seem similar, a flying squirrel is a better pet. Their diet consists of a simple parrot food along with other fruits and veggies you may already have in your fridge. On the other hand, sugar gliders require a complicated and well-balanced diet, including nectar and special proteins like bug mix or mice. While sugar gliders mark their territory with a musky smell, flying squirrels have no scent glands and don’t leave any odor. Flying squirrels are also a better choice since sugar gliders require constant attention, unlike squirrels who are more independent.

Gymnastics is one of the most watched events of the Summer Olympics. The women’s artistic competition includes four events: balance beam, floor exercise, uneven bars, and vault. Competitors can win medals in each individual event, and there are also medals given to the three individuals who score the highest in all four events combined. A team competition also takes place during the Olympics. In the team final, three gymnasts from each participating team are selected to compete in the four events. The scores are totaled into a final team score, and the team with the highest number of points wins the gold medal.

Tsunamis are particularly dangerous events because they cannot be predicted. A tsunami can reach land with minutes. Scientists are researching methods that they hope will assist them in warning people in the path of the tsunami at a faster speed. One current solution that has bee developed is the SMS Tsunami Warning System. This warning system sends a text alert directly to your cell phone if there has been an earthquake and it appears that a tsunami may be approaching your area. Scientists hope to develop even more reliable warning systems in the future.

There are four major events that can cause a tsunami. Most often, tsunamis are caused by earthquakes below or near the ocean. The most destructive tsunamis occur when there is a shallow focus earthquake where the ocean is less than 70 km deep. Other less-common events that can cause tsunamis include underwater landslides and violent volcanic eruptions. Tsunamis can also be caused by asteroids or meteors that crash into the ocean from outer space, but this is a rare occurrence.