Level 2 issue 41 lores

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Prou dly Sing

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Inventor Of The Stethoscope

41

Wh

at is This?

LEVEL 2

Pr o u d l

Managing Editor: Jevin Lim Senior English Language Consultant: Lee Sow Ling [B.A. Hons, Dip Ed, M-Phil] Science Editor: Kerinier Chan English Editor: Shel Sweeney (MA, BA, BTeach) Senior Story Writer: Anita Sebastian Assessment questions from: Shing Lee Publishers Pte Ltd. Publisher: English Corner Publishing Pte Ltd Singapore: Block 1003 Bukit Merah Central #03-05 Inno Centre, Singapore 159836 Tel: (65) 6225 5770 Fax: (65) 6377 0890 Hotline: 9002 0322 (after office hours) Email: sales@englishcorner.sg Website: www.scienceadventures.sg OR www.englishcorner.sg Hong Kong: GF Education (HK) Limited Mr Alan Lee Tel: +852 97351683 / +852 90712048 Email: alan@greenfieldbook.net All rights reserved. No part of this magazine may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the publisher.

Permit No.: MICA (P) 123/08/2016 Printed in Singapore

MIX Paper from responsible sources Xxxxxxxxxxx

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All papers used by English Corner Publishing from 2017 for Science Adventures magazine Levels 1, 2 and 3 are natural, recyclable products made from wood grown in well-managed forests. The manufacturing processes conform to the environmental regulations of the country of origin.

y S i n g a p o r ea n O w n ed TM

Editor’s Note:

Shel Sweeney

Welcome to SCIENCE ADVENTURES, an inspiring science magazine. Singapore’s First and Best Homegrown Science Story in comic for young children.

Packed with easy-to-read science stories and activities, SCIENCE ADVENTURES is specifically designed to initiate learning of science.

Our SCIENCE ADVENTURES series uses stories and fun activities to bring basic scientific concepts to children in a lively way that will feed their natural curiosity and develop a love of reading. Science is FUN and not just a subject taught in school!

Anita Sebastian Anita is a local writer and graduate of Zoology from the National University of Singapore.

Anita’s ranger Anne series of children’s books were launched at the Singapore Writers Festival.

Meet Ranger Jack. Jack is a young zookeeper who loves taking care of the animals at the Zoo. His focus is on animals and conservation.

And his friend is Olivia, the young naturalist who loves the earth and treasures the nature round her. In every issue, Olivia will highlight one of the environmental issues that we are facing now. In this issue, read about birds that hum.

You can write to Ranger Jack at Jack.AnimalWhisperer@ gmail.com and to Olivia at Olivia.YoungNaturalist@gmail. com. Both Jack and Olivia will reply to your questions as soon as they can. Your question may also appear in an issue of SCIENCE ADVENTURES. So remember to include your name and the name of your school.

Contents 4 Animal World

Diversity

Scarlet Ibises

9 Let’s Do Experiments

General Knowledge

Birds That Hum

16 Creative Invention

The Stylish Charger

21 Material World

General Knowledge

Inventor Of The Stethoscope

Diversity

The Pale Plant

43 Tell Me Why

How Do Corals Form?

Singing Sand

52 Science Adventures Series

Wide-Eyed: The Seas 6

48

General Knowledge

48 The Earth And The Universe

43

Systems

Dandruff

38 Plant World

38

Making Sense Of Science

33 Our Amazing Body

26

Gold Rosin!

29 Science Quiz

14

General Knowledge

Energy

26 The Science Giant

Interactions

Picking Up An Ice Cube

14 Olivia Corner

4

General Knowledge

General Knowledge

Animal World

Diversity

S carlet Ibises Hmm…I’m worried.

My eggs are taking too long to hatch!

Huh? Why isn’t anything happening to my eggs? This is strange…

Oh, good!

Finally, they are hatching!

ck… a r C Cr a

… ir p … h C ir p Ch

ir Ch Ch

SAS L2 no. 41

Ch

i

r p…

Ch

ir p

Oh, my little ibises, you all look so adorable!

…

p…

ir p

ck…

…

4

Cr a

ck…

A few weeks later, two of the chicks look for food in the mangrove swamp, but...

Nope! I don’t want to get wet!

He’s so different from the others...

He’s a black sheep...a black ibis in our family...

I'm not going!

Don’t be lazy!

la… , a l , La

Look at your brothers…

Oh, dear…

An hour later…

Okay, that’s enough!

Get up, now! We have brought some food.

Huh?

Wake up, dear!

It’s time to eat.

Now I Know

Ba

r aa

Huh? I’m not eating that crab, its shell is very hard.

…

*altricial:

hatched in an undeveloped state and requiring care and feeding by the parents *independent: able to look after themselves *colonies: animals of the same type living closely together

Young scarlet ibises are *altricial birds. They need to be nursed by their parents until they learn to be fully *independent. Scarlet ibises live in *colonies which generally consist of about 30 birds, at times these colonies can swell to thousands.

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Huh?

5

Uggh! You must eat it! Crabs have the nutrients that your body needs.

Ug gh…

Hmm…

Yippee! We’ll eat this! Ha, ha…

Crack…

Mmm…this fish is soft. It’s easy to chew.

The baby scarlet ibis is picky about food and only eats fishes.

Here’s some shrimps, they’re less hard…

Now I Know

Yikes! Shrimp shells sting my throat. I won’t eat them.

*dull: lacking interest *monotonous: unvaried,

The cries of a scarlet ibis are *monotonous and *dull because the bird has no syrinx (voice box) or *syringeal muscles in its trachea (windpipe).

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Don’t be angry, dear.

Let him eat what he wants…

repetitious

*syringeal: the vocal organ of a bird

6

The little scarlet ibises grow up…

Mmm…our feathers are changing colour as we grow!

Two years later…

Oh…

That is because you are picky about food, eating only fish.

Boo, hoo…Dad, help me!

I want to be a beautiful, bright, scarlet ibis.

Huh? Why is my colour so different from my brothers?

Huh? Okay! Don’t cry!

Yes, Dad! Promise!

No more being picky about food. You must eat crabs and shellfish.

Now I Know The scarlet ibis has a long pair of legs and long webbed toes making it impossible for it to get stuck in mud when it looks for food in swampy areas. When flying, ibises form a V-shape.

This makes flying easier. They stretch out their neck and legs when they fly.

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Humph! I hope he keeps his promise!

The Brightest Red Bird In The World The scarlet ibis is a medium-sized wading bird. As well as having a long, dark-grey bill and black-tipped wings, it is characterised by its red body. Even its legs and toes are red.

Scarlet ibises feed on small fishes, molluscs and crustaceans in shallow waters.

Scarlet ibises inhabit beaches, saltwater lakes, mangroves and swamps.

They are particularly fond of inland swamps.

Scarlet ibises are not bright red before they reach adulthood. As they grow up, they feed on large amounts of red shellfish and crabs. After eating astaxanthin (a chemical compound found in red shellfish and crabs) for a long time, the ibises turn scarlet.

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8

Let’s Do Experiments

Interactions

Picking Up An Ice Cube In the kitchen…

Hmm…I thought Mum kept cookies there.

Angeline, there are lots of salt packs here!

Huh? Why did Mum buy so much salt?

What are you girls doing?

Huh? I don’t know!

Yikes!

Grandpa!

You gave us a scare!

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Oops!

I didn’t mean to frighten you…

Let me scoop the salt for you. Salt is useful, you shouldn’t waste it.

Look, we dropped the salt packs!

9

We didn’t waste it!

We dropped it because of you!

Grandpa, why don’t we cook some drumsticks with it?

Aha! I have an idea, an experiment!

We can use the salt to pick up ice cubes.

We can’t use dirty salt for cooking, Jacqueline!

Grandpa, you’re lying.

How do you do that?

I am not lying! Come on girls, I’ll show you how.

A few minutes later...

Oh no, not another experiment!

Here are the materials we need for our experiment…

Tools and materials…

Now, shall we start?

Salt Glass

Yes, Grandpa!

String Ice cubes

Now I Know Salt is one of the most important substances for human survival and one of the most commonlyused seasonings in cooking as well.

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First, we put some ice cubes in the glass.

Yes, Angeline.

We put the string on the ice cubes.

Do we put the string in next?

We can do that when we add salt.

Huh? How can you pick the ice cubes up with the string?

They’re not attached!

Sprinkle a little salt on the string dangled over the ice cubes.

What do we do now?

Now! We count to 20!

3, 2, 1‌ 20!

Twenty seconds is over, Grandpa!

Now, lift up the string.

Now I Know *iodine:

a chemical element required for growth

In most parts of the world, *iodine is added to salt to prevent iodine deficiency. The salt that is mixed with iodine is called iodized salt.

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Wow! Look, I can lift an ice cube!

When salt is sprinkled on the ice cube, it lowers the freezing point of the cube.

As the ice begins to melt, the string is buried in the ice cube.

Wow! Grandpa, why is the string attached to the ice cube?

The melted ice water dilutes the salt content and the freezing point of the ice cube goes back to normal.

So the ice cube freezes again and the string is frozen into the ice.

Ha, ha… Let’s do that again!

Ha, ha… This is fun!

So that explains it.

Jacqueline, let‘s have a competition.

The first ice cube to drop loses.

Okay!

Some time later...

I’m going to take a nap in the living room. You girls can play without me.

B

! g n a

Uggh! Those girls are at it again!

Now I Know Salt is mainly composed of sodium chloride, a compound which has a bacterial-killing function.

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Salt has been a very important commodity throughout history. It is mainly produced from the evaporation of seawater and from salt mines.

The National Research Institute of Singapore found a scientific use of salt. In making hard disks, adding salt can increase the data recording density of a hard disk to 3.3 terabits per square inch. And the storage space of the hard disk can be increased by 6 times.

Salt has sodium chlorine in it. When sodium chlorine is dissolved in water, it creates a decontamination effect. Thus, to remove dirt from clothes, soak them in cold water with salt and wash them with warm water. Then, soak them in soapy water, heat them up and boil them. The dirt will finally be removed.

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Olivia Corner

General Knowledge

These small birds are called hummingbirds because of the sound created by their fast-beating wings.

They can flap their wings about 50 times per second and even reach up to 200 times per second.

*hibernation: an extended period of inactivity

*iridescent: bright, shining colours

that seem to change when seen from different angles *metabolic rate: the rate at which chemicals are processed in a living organism *radiant: shining *torpor: a state of inactivity

Hummingbirds are the tiniest birds in the world. They are about 8.5cm long and weigh between 2 and 20 grams. Some are so small that they have been caught by dragonflies and praying mantises!

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Hummingbirds have a high *metabolic rate and use a lot of energy while flying. They need to eat about twice their body-weight in food every day. To do this, they visit hundreds of flowers each day to find nectar.

Hummingbirds are brightly coloured. The *radiant colours come from *iridescent colouring, like what you might see on a soap bubble.

Hummingbirds also have the ability to hide these colours when needed.

Hummingbirds can hover, fly forwards and backwards, and even upside down! The wings can even rotate in a full circle. To save energy, they spend most of the day sitting. To save energy at night, many hummingbirds go into *torpor, a type of *hibernation.

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Creative Invention

General Knowledge

The Stylish Charger In the forest…

Yikes, what are we going to do?

There could be ferocious animals here… Do you think so, Deloitte?

Oh no, Deloitte!

I think we’re lost!

Huh?

What’s that?

A... A snake?

I’m sure it is nothing…

Henry! Stop making wild guesses!

Ug gh!

Ug gh!

Rust le...

Rust le...

Rust le...

Rust le...

Ha, ha… It’s just only a frog.

Rib b

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Phew!

That gave me a fright.

Rib bi it!

t!

16

Let’s find our way to the picnic spot with our phones’ map software.

Yes!

Dicky, give me your mobile phone.

Sorry!

I didn’t bring mine.

My bracelet! It’s my QBracelet. It’s actually a charger.

That doesn’t matter. I’ve something that will help.

Oh no, my phone has gone flat.

Open the clasp of the bracelet and you’ll see the charging port. Insert it into your phone to start charging.

Wow, Deloitte!

You always have something in hand!

Thank you…

Now I Know The QBracelet, designed by QDesigns in New York, is a stylish bracelet. It is also a high-tech charger that can juice up your electronic device discreetly.

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Huh? What is it?

That’s it?

Great! Now you can power up your phone… and we can find our way out of here!

The QBracelet doesn’t store much electricity. It only provides a small amount of electricity to help in emergencies.

It is charging my phone now!

So how long does the bracelet hold its charge?

Is the QBracelet heavy?

The battery has a standby life of 30 days. It can take up to 60 minutes to fully recharge your device.

The QBracelet only weighs about 40 to 50 grams. It looks fashionable and feels like a piece of jewellery.

It looks heavy.

30 minutes later...

Your phone is charged now!

Now I Know The QBracelet uses a lithium-ion battery with a capacity of 1160mAh. The battery can provide a device with about 60 per cent of its electricity.

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Yay, now we can find our way out with the map software!

Yeah! Let’s get going before Henry’s parents get worried about us!

We should turn left here…

Lead the way Dicky…

Okay!

gg Bla Yikes…

What…

Hoo, hoo…

We were lost in the jungle.

Hey, boys! You are finally back! Why are you running?

! …sound!

oo!

Hoo! Hoo! H

Run!

Hoo, hoo… We heard a strange noise…and started running…

Dad! Was that you?

Hoo, hoo…it was only me! I went looking for you!

Looking for us…

Uh, oh! He looks angry…

Now I Know The QBracelet is waterproof. It can be worn anywhere, anytime.

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The QBracelet comes in five colours: gold, matte silver, matte black, silver and black.

QDesigns has launched three sizes of QBracelet: large, medium and small. This makes the bracelet very lightweight and durable. The bracelet is designed for men and women.

The QBracelet has two USB ports that are compatible with iphones and most Android devices.

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Material World

Energy

Gold Rosin The 15th Benefit Concert

Clap!

Clap!

Clap!

Clap!

Clap!

Clap!

Yes, keep cool! We’d better apply some rosin to our bow hair now.

Your performance is after mine…

Backstage: Amy and Kent are getting ready for their performances…

Oh, Kent, I’m next! I’m so nervous!

Amy, you need to keep your cool so you can play well.

Ah, what am I going to do?

The bow will slip easily and the music won’t sound right when I play my violin.

Yes! Huh? Oh, no! I’ve lost my rosin!

Thanks, but I must use my rosin, it is mixed with gold powder. I have to find it!

Kent, you can use my rosin.

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My performance is after Amy’s and I still haven’t found my rosin. What will I do?

Amy, are you ready?

You are next?

Yes! I am ready, Miss Wendy!

Kent! I have your rosin!

Huh? Why do you have it, James?

Phew! I must be anxious about this performance...I forgot I’d given it to you.

Lucky I remembered in time… Now, *break a leg…

You asked me to hold it for you.

I put it in my pocket and forgot I had it…

Now I Know *break

a leg: something that you say to wish someone good luck, especially before they perform in the theatre *brittle: hard, but easily broken *transparent: see through

Rosin is a *transparent, *brittle, solid and natural kind of resin.

It is made up of different resin acids.

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Kent, are you ready?

You are next.

My special gold rosin will make the bow hair sticky. I will make pleasant sounds when I play my violin‌

Yes, Miss Wendy! I am definitely ready!

Yes! He may become the next *Maxim Vengerov‌ Wow! Kent plays the violin so well!

Now I Know Oil from the trunk of a pine tree melts into a liquid after being heated at high temperatures. When it dries up, it becomes a solid called rosin.

SAS L2 no. 41

*Maxim

Vengerov: the most incredible violinist of the early 1990s

23

Clap!

Clap!

Clap!

Kent, your performance was excellent!

Clap!

Clap!

Clap!

Thanks! My rosin mixed with gold powder helped!

Wow! What a performance!

Really? There’s rosin mixed with gold powder?

So a bow with gold rosin makes different tunes than a bow with regular rosin.

Manufacturers add metals to rosin, such as gold or lead powder. This changes the properties of the rosin. So the string sounds change as well.

I’d better get a rosin mixed with gold powder for my next performance!

Ha… Ha… Ha… Oh, really? I didn’t know that!

Now I Know Rosin is a sticky substance. Ballet dancers use rosin to prevent slipping. Applying rosin to their shoe soles increases friction.

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Yes!

Rosin mixed with linseed oil, calcium carbonate, charcoal and pigments can be used to make carpet tiles.

Rosin is *soluble and *volatile.

After being *volatilized, it can be quickly condensed into a solid and transparent film that can help artists protect their paintings from being scratched.

In welding, rosin is used as a scaling powder to remove welding *flux and *oxide on the surface of a welded object and to clean the surface. Rosin is neutral and does not *corrode circuit elements or welding heads.

*corrode: wear away slowly *flux: a substance used for helping to melt or join metals *oxide: a compound of oxygen and another substance *soluble: being dissolved in a liquid *volatile: easily evaporated *volatilized: to become volatile SAS L2 no. 41

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The Science Giant

General Knowledge

Inventor Of The Stethoscope Paris, France.

Miss Jenny, what seems to be bothering you?

I have a pain in my chest. I’m having difficulty breathing and *palpitations, Dr Laennec.

She could have some sort of heart disease.

I cannot be certain… if only I could listen to her heartbeat.

She’s a young lady.

It would be *inappropriate to put my ear to her chest to listen to her heartbeat.

I don’t think it’s a heart attack. But…

Dr Laennec, what is wrong with me?

…to know what is wrong with you, I’ll have to put my ear against your chest to listen to your heartbeat…

No! You cannot do that!

*palpitations: make you feel like your heart is beating too hard or too fast *inappropriate: not suitable or proper in the circumstances SAS L2 no. 41

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Yes, of course, I won’t do that.

Don’t worry, I will figure out something…

Hmm… What can I do to listen to a heartbeat?

Okay! I’ll come to the clinic tomorrow.

Yes! I have an idea.

A few days earlier, Dr Laennec and his niece were walking at the Louvre Square and he saw some children playing around a tree…

Mmm... That could work to hear a heartbeat!

Can you hear anything?

Nurse Joan, can you please get me a thick piece of paper?

Yes! I can hear you hitting the tree. The sound is getting louder.

Yes, doctor.

Ta-thump…

Ta-thump…

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Miss Jenny, now I know what the matter is with your heart. It is nothing serious. I’ll write you a *prescription.

Dr Laennec went to a carpenter…

Jim, can you make for me a hollow cylinder with wood and metal?

No problem, Doc! Just leave it to me!

Thank you, Doctor.

With just a wooden pipe?

What do you want this wooden pipe for?

Yes. A hollow wooden pipe can focus on the heartbeat sounds of the human body.

It’s for listening to the sounds in my patients’ bodies.

Wow, Doc! I didn’t realise that! Great, you have invented a listening device.

The invention of the stethoscope enabled Rene Laennec to diagnose many different diseases. He became known as “the father of chest medicine”.

*prescription: a medicine or

drug that a doctor officially tells someone to use

Quote of Rene Laennec From this moment I imagined that the circumstance might furnish means for enabling us to ascertain the character, not only of the action of the heart, but of every species of sound produced by the motion of all the thoracic viscera, and, consequently, for the exploration of the respiration, the voice, the rhonchus (the sound of air flowing through diseased air passages), and perhaps even the fluctuation of fluid extravasated (leaked) in the pleura (sack around the lungs) or the pericardium (sack around the heart).

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Science Quiz

Making Sense Of Science Look at the horseshoe magnet below, then answer questions 1 and 2.

B

A C D

1. If the magnet is placed in a box of paperclips, which part of the magnet will attract the most number of paperclips?

(1) A

(2) B

(3) C

(4) D

Answer ( ) 2. Which part of the magnet has the weakest magnetic force?

(1) A

(2) B

(3) C

(4) D

Answer ( ) 3. The green leaves of plants make food. They can do so when there is enough __________________.

(A) air

(1) (2) (3) (4)

(B) sunlight

(C) water

(D) minerals

None of the above All of the above A, B and C only A, C and D only

Answer ( )

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Copyright Š Shinglee Publishers

The diagram below shows a plant and the parts of its system. Use it to answer questions 4 and 5.

Q Q

Q

Q

P

P

P

P

4. The arrows P show the movement of _________________.

(1) food (2) water (3) sunlight (4) soil Answer ( ) 5. The arrows Q show the movement of _________________.

(1) food (2) water (3) sunlight (4) minerals Answer ( ) 6. Which of the following shows the correct order of growth?

Flower Petals dropping Bud (1) Fruit Petals dropping Flower Bud (2) Fruit Flower Petals dropping Fruit (3) Bud Petals dropping Flower Fruit (4) Bud Answer ( )

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Copyright Š Shinglee Publishers

7. Study the three animals below. Which one of the following characteristics is common to all three?

(1) They have scales for body covering.

(2) They have wings.

(3) They are mammals.

(4) They live both on land and in water.

Answer (

)

8. Which of the following is a source of light?

A

B

Sun

C

Moon

D

Star

E

Mirror

Firefly

(1) A only (2) A and E only (3) A, C and E only (4) A, B, C, D and E Answer ( )

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Copyright Š Shinglee Publishers

9. Which one of the following statements is true?

(1) All living things eat plants.

(2) All living things can make food.

(3) Humans obtain food from plants only.

(4) Animals get energy from the food they eat.

Answer ( ) 10. Which one of the following comparisons is wrong?

Characteristic

Nymph Cockroach

Adult Cockroach

(1)

Presence of wings

No

Yes

(2)

Number of legs

Many

6

(3)

Moulting

Yes

No

(4)

Eating habit

Anything

Anything

Answer ( ) 11. Which one of the following expands the most when heated?

(1) Iron (2) Silver (3) Oxygen

(4) Pure water Answer ( )

12. What do green plants need to make food?

A: Sunlight B: Oxygen C: Sugar D: Carbon dioxide (1) A and B only (2) A and D only (3) B and C only (4) C and D only Answer ( )

Answers: 1 (4), 2 (2), 3 (3), 4 (2), 5 (1), 6 (3), 7 (2), 8 (3), 9 (4), 10 (2), 11 (3), 12 (2) SAS L2 no. 41

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Copyright Š Shinglee Publishers

Our Amazing Body

Systems

Dandruff Scrit

Jade sits beside Eddie in class...

ch… ch…

Scrit

Yikes… What’s that falling from Eddie’s head?

Uggh… I can’t stop scratching, my scalp is so itchy…

Yikes! Why is he scratching his head so hard?

After lessons…

Eddie!

What?

You were scratching your head during the whole lesson and dandruff flakes fell from your head like snow!

Stop scratching your head, now!

Yeah? So what?

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You should visit the medical room and have the school nurse check your scalp, Eddie.

Oh! But my scalp is very itchy!

Huh? Great idea, Ethan!

Let’s go to the medical room, now!

The school medical room…

Oh! You are hurting my arm!

Hi, kids! Isn’t it time to go home? Why are you here?

Nurse Nancy, Eddie seems to have a hair raising problem. His scalp is itchy and flaking *excessively.

Is it? Eddie, let me have a look at your scalp.

Oh no, is this going to hurt?

Now I Know *excessively: more than is necessary *sebum: fatty substance that coats the surface of skin

Visible dandruff is a skin disease that is caused

by Malassezia. Malassezia is a yeast-like fungus on human skin that feeds on *sebum. When it grows in great numbers, it can cause dandruff.

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Hmm… You don’t have inflamed scalp condition, but your scalp is a bit too oily.

Don’t be afraid, it is not going to hurt. I’m only looking at your scalp.

Uggh… Okay!

Boo…hoo… but I wash my hair every day.

Dandruff might be caused by scalp inflammation or… psychological issues. Since you don’t have an inflamed condition, it must be a psychological issue.

Psychological issue?

Now I Know Dandruff is the shedding of dead skin cells from the scalp. Under normal circumstances, it doesn’t fall off very often and is not obviously visible. When the scalp gets irritated, immature skin cells reproduce, clump into flakes and fall off. Then dandruff becomes more obvious.

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Stress can cause you to sleep less, irritate your scalp and make it secrete more oil.

At your age, it could be study stress.

A yeast-like fungus (malassezia), lives on the scalp of most adults. In some cases, the yeast starts to feed on the excess oil and dead skin cells on the scalp…

…causing the skin cells to shed more frequently and clump into flakes or dandruff.

Don’t worry. As long as you live a healthy lifestyle and wash your hair with antidandruff shampoo, you’ll be okay.

Nurse Nancy, that sounds serious…

What should I do?

Phew!

Thanks!

Now I Know When dandruff appears accompanied by scalp inflammation and other symptoms like scalp itching, it has to be treated quickly in order to prevent the hair follicles from being harmed, causing possible permanent hair loss.

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Using Shampoo Correctly When washing your hair, you should let the shampoo sit on your hair and scalp for at least five minutes before you rinse your hair. It will work better this way.

Do Not Wash Your Hair Too Frequently Shampoo contains chemicals.

Shampooing too often can stimulate the scalp, dry out your hair and cause the formation of dandruff.

Wash Your Hair With Warm Water If the water is too hot, it can stimulation the secretion of oil, causing your hair to be oilier. If the water is too cold, it will contract your pores, making it impossible for the dirt inside to be completely cleaned. Thus, you should wash your hair with moderate-temperature water.

Brush Your Hair After Washing It Brushing your hair helps distribute the natural oil secreted by your scalp.

Start at your scalp and brush outward, that’s how you distribute the oil.

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Plant World

Diversity

The Science Adventures Club are on a camping trip…

Mr Hilton, we are going to take a walk up the hill…

Okay! Be careful!

Carol, is this the correct path to the top?

Ten minutes later…

Huh? Why is this path getting narrower…

Huh? Mmm... She is unsure.

Huh? Yes!

Carol! Are you sure this path leads to the hilltop?

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Actually, David, I am not too sure…

Humph…

38

What? You are not sure!

I checked the path this afternoon… It did lead to the hilltop. Now there’s something…not right…

Why have you stopped?

Mark, be careful on that slope!

I will…

Oops!

Mark!

Plop…

Ouch!

Ouch...

T hud…

T hud…

Now I Know The Indian pipe blooms from spring to summer.

The first two months are the flowering period and the last three months are the fruit-bearing period.

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Mark, are you alright?

Don’t move! We’ll find a way down to you.

I’m okay…but I’m all bumped up from the roll down the slope…

Ouch…

Please, hurry up!

Huh? What’s that?

It looks like some kind of mushroom… but it’s white all over and has a weird shape…

Mark, are you okay?

Is he alright?

I’m fine. Come over and have a look at this interesting looking plant.

Now I Know

*conifer forests: evergreen trees or shrubs, including the pine

Indian pipes grow at altitudes of between 1,500 and 2,500 metres and are often found in *conifer forests.

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Wow! That’s the Indian pipe!

Huh? Indian pipe?

Mark, how did you find it?

What’s an Indian pipe?

What is this pipe? It looks interesting…

I just saw something shining, I thought they were mushrooms.

It’s a *herbaceous plant.

Some people call it “corpse plant” or “ghost plant” because it lives on the nutrients produced by *fungal *decomposition.

They’re not mushrooms!

Mr Hilton told me about the Indian pipe…he would be excited to know that we found it!

Let’s go back to camp to tell him!

Huh? Get back?

How? Where are we now?

! !

Help!

*decomposition: when something (plants and the

Now I Know

bodies of dead animals) is slowly destroyed and broken down by natural processes *fungal: caused by a fungus *herbaceous: a type of plant that has a soft stem *humid: having a lot of moisture in the air *humus: a brown or black material in soil that is formed when plants and animals decay

Indian pipes grow best in *humid climates where there is *humus. It is hard for them to survive in artificial environments.

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The Indian pipe is a Pyrolaceae plant that has no *chlorophyll at all.

It is a semi *saprophyte that cannot conduct *photosynthesis.

The Indian pipe looks like the shape of a pipe, with a head that droops slightly.

It grows singularly on top of a plant and emits attractive white light in the dark.

Most Indian pipes grow in clusters and rarely grow alone. They are a *monoecious plant that is about 10 to 15 centimetres in height.

When the Indian pipe fruit ripens, it splits into five valves that have many seeds inside. The seeds are extremely tiny and hardly have any nutrients.

It is almost impossible for them to germinate in an artificial environment. *photosynthesis: the process by which green

*chlorophyll:

the green pigment found in most plants *monoecious: a plant having the stamens and the pistils in separate flowers on the same plant

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plants use sunlight to make nutrients from carbon dioxide and water *saprophyte: a microorganism that lives on dead or decaying organic matter

42

Tell Me Why

General Knowledge

? m r How Do Corals F o Don’t you love the beach, Jayden! It so nice here!

Yippe

Jayden, Jorden…

Be careful.

Don’t go too far!

e…

Uh, huh...

Jorden, look…there’s a boat. Where do you think it came from?

Wow! The coral reef was so beautiful!

H I don’t care, Jayden. Are you coming for a swim?

u

h

Jorden! Wait for me!

H

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?

43

u

h

?

Yes! We must thank our guide for taking us there.

Excuse me, sir. Are you a guide?

Kate, I didn’t know there was a coral reef nearby!

Me either! Shall we ask someone on the boat?

Apparently there’s a coral reef nearby.

Can you take us there?

Yes. What can I do for you?

Of course!

Hey, boys!

Jayden, Jorden!

Come out now!

You will first have to take a basic snorkelling lesson before we go in the water.

H That’s great! I’ll get my boys now!

Now I Know Most people mistake corals for plants or reefs at the bottom of the sea. In fact, corals are *coelenterates.

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*coelenterate:

a type of sea creature that has a simple body with tentacles

44

u

h

?

H

u

h

?

Dad, why did you call us out?

There’s a small island not far from here.

We’re going there to see the coral reef and animals in the sea. But first, we have to take a basic safety lesson.

Yes, why?

We were having so much fun!

We’re going snorkelling!

Jayden and his family have a brief lesson on snorkelling and water safety.

They set out for the island...

Wow! There are so many pretty fishes here!

Bub

ble

Now I Know A coral *polyp has a cylindershaped body, with eight or more tentacles. Each tentacle has a mouth.

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*polyp: a small sea animal

(such as a coral) that has a body shaped like a tube

45

s…

Snorkelling! That sounds like fun.

Let’s go now!

Huh? That looks interesting… What is that?

Wow! They’re so beautiful.

I think I’ll take some home as souvenirs…

Jayden, you cannot pick these corals.

They are protected!

Huh

They look like colourful rocks…

Why are they in the sea?

They’re not rocks, they’re a type of animal.

Now I Know A coral grows extremely slowly, about 1 to 2 centimetres per year. It takes a coral reef at least a few thousand years to form.

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46

?

Children, do you know how coral forms in the sea?

Corals are made up of coral polyps that gather together. As coral polyps grow, they absorb the carbon dioxide and calcium from sea water and secrete limestone that becomes their own skeletons. This limestone sticks together and forms a coral after being fossilized and compacted.

Most coral colonies do not move around. Each coral polyp has to extend its tentacles to catch and eat zooplankton.

Corals themselves are colourless. Their colours come from *symbiotic algae — a *parasite living in the cells of coral polyps. Coral polyps gain their nutrients when the symbiotic algae photosynthesize.

When the environment is polluted or water temperatures change tremendously, the symbiotic algae leave their coral hosts. Then the corals expose their white calcium skeletons. This is what is called fossilization. *parasite: an organism that lives in or on another organism

*symbiotic: two different organisms living in close association

How do corals live their lives?

(A) They attract their prey with their bright colours.

(B) Coral polyps catch their food with their tentacles.

(C) They absorb carbon dioxide.

Why do corals become fossilized?

(A) The coral polyps are dead. (B) The symbiotic algae have left.

(C) They lack food and nutrients.

47

Answers: (1) B (2) B

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The Earth and The Universe

General Knowledge

d n a Singing S Listen closely to the sounds here.

You’ll find out how amazing the Sounding Sand Bay is.

Sounding Sand Bay.

Mr Alex, why are we here?

Phew! It’s so hot.

There are only sand dunes here.

What is there to see?

But we are here to do some sightseeing, not listen to sounds.

Yes.

Ralph, Ruth! Just listen to Mr Alex, he is the guide so he knows best!

Okay! Let’s go up the sand dune to enjoy the scenery…

Actually, we can take the cable car up there.

At the top...

Wow! Sandboarding!

This way, please!

Yippee!

I’ve never sandboarded before!

Phew! Lucky we don’t have to climb up!

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Get ready to hear a miracle!

m! o !

Bo m o Bo

Hmm…but it’s just sand sliding! What’s the miracle about that?

Ha, ha, ha! That’s the singing sand… It is something unique about the Sounding Sand Bay.

e Ph

w!

Ahhh! Bombers are coming!

Are you sure it is not a bomb?

Singing sand makes sounds like beating drums, blowing horns or thunder. When people slide down the sand dune it creates a symphony of sounds.

The whole sandhill is like a vast echo wall.

Ready!

Three, two, one… Go!

Are you ready for a symphony of sounds?

… y Ya

Now I Know Some sand dunes can make humming sounds for up to 15 minutes. The sounds made by the sand can be heard from 10 kilometres away.

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49

… y Ya

Yay! Let’s go sandboarding!

p… um

I did. What did you hear?

Th

Wow! Dad, did you hear it?

um

m

…

R um

bl

e…

Wow!

H

I heard humming!

It sounded like bees humming!

Mr Alex, there is really something miraculous about this sand!

Yes! Scientists have even been studying the causes of the sounds, but that remains a mystery.

Yes!

Mr Alex, do all sand dunes sing?

No, Ruth! Not all sand dunes sing.

Now I Know The sound frequencies made by singing sand are between 65 and 120 hertz. The sounds can reach up to 110 decibels.

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I heard rumbling like thunder!

The sounds also vary according to seasonal changes.

These singing sand dunes are really exciting!

Thank you, Mr Alex, for a wonderful experience!

Isle of Eigg When people walk on the sand dunes on the Isle of Eigg, Scotland, the rolling of sand grains can make sharp, loud sounds that are similar to those made by the silk strings pulled tightly by fingers.

Crescent Lake The sand dunes at the Crescent Lake in China are formed by an accumulation of yellow sand. When a high wind blows up, the sand makes very loud sounds. When a breeze blows, there are musical sounds.

Kauai Island When people walk on sand dunes in Kauai Island, Hawaii, America, the sand makes dog barking sounds. If they run quickly on the sand dune, they hear thunder-like sounds.

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Science Adventures Series

General Knowledge

Wide-Eyed: The Seas

6

Ha, ha. Caught you! Today is my lucky day! I caught my food so easily!

Sna p!

Wow! A monster!

It has really sharp teeth…

Tim, did you get bitten?

Arrgh! Something is happening to me!

What is it?

No. I just got scared!

Phew…lucky I wasn’t standing there.

Uggh! It almost killed us!

zz z z B

Click!

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…

Bzzzz…

!

Za p! Za p! Za p

Bzzzz…

Bzzzz…

Bzzzz…

Bzzzz…

Wow!

Huh?

Oh…oh…I am so dizzy!

Bzzzz…

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Plop…

Phew! We’re out of the monster’s grasp.

Don’t worry.

I have something for all of us!

Ar gh…

G

Plop…

Oh, no! Seawater is seeping into the craft!

ur g le…

We’ll have to wait outside while the flying saucer repairs itself.

Hiss...

Brr…the water is so cold!

Oh, no! We are going to drown!

Wide-Eyed, do something!

Huh?

Splash Aha! Got it! My space watch has a function to help me!

Our oxygen will only last for two hours. Don’t move around too much or it’ll be used up.

…

Phew! With this helmet, I’ll be safe!

Okay!

Got it!

Click!

Click!

Wide-Eyed!

What about us?

Do you want us to drown?

I am afraid!

Mmm...

Kaka, come and have some fun!

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Oh, no! I can’t move!

Are you guys alright?

That machine disabled the Leopard Moray Eel. Oh, look, something is coming out of it!

We’re fine.

Let’s go and take a look!

Wow! Tiny humans!

Yes! Even tinier than us.

Wow! Look at those fish!

Hey! You two fellows…don’t scare my friends!

These are small fish living in coral reefs. They don’t grow any bigger. Ha, ha…

We are small… but adorable.

Hey, what’s going on there?

Oh…

Sorry. …more are coming.

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Yes! They do look adorable!

Wow!

Leopard Moray Eel defeated! By a group of kids.

That eel always bullied us! Now he has been disabled!

Yippee! We should really thank them!

Yes! We can show them around the reef to show our *gratitude!

That’s a great idea!

Yes!

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*gratitude:

being thankful

Fady, just accept their gratitude…

Wow! Why are they being so nice to us?

Yes!

Ha, ha…I didn’t do anything to defeat the Leopard Moray Eel. My little hero… here we go…

Can we go a little faster?

I like some excitement!

Yeehaw!

Sure! Hold on!

Oh…oh, please go slower…I am afraid!

Ha, ha… this is fun!

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Yippee…ha, ha…

Ha, ha, ha…

Oh… Oh… Wow!

*Comrades! Look!

Food is being delivered to us!

Wait! Let them get closer!

Then we’ll make our move!

Woo!

Yes, sir!

Yes, sir! *comrades:

a colleague or a fellow member of an organisation

To be continued.

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Leopard moray eels are distributed in tropical to subtropical warm waters. They have sharp teeth and are ferocious by nature. They fear nothing.

Sergeant majors are found in the Red Sea, Indian Ocean and central Pacific Ocean. The sergeant major has seven dark bands across the sides of its body.

Threadfin butterflyfish are found in the Indian Ocean and Pacific region. They have a pointed snout and black bands running across their eyes.

Blue green damselfish are distributed in the tropical western Pacific Ocean. They have a blue-green body, a lighter coloured abdomen and a forked tail.

Moorish idols are distributed in Indonesia and the western waters of Australia. This fish is flat-bodied and has a protruding, beak-like mouth.

Golden damselfish are found in waters around Australia and in the western Pacific Ocean. During the breeding season, the female fish lay eggs and the male fish keep watch over the eggs until they hatch.

Humbug damselfish are distributed from Sumatra to the southern Ryukyu Islands and the waters of New Caledonia. This fish has a body that is white with three broad, vertical bands on it.

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The mangalica is a Hungarian breed of pig. It is an unmodified, lard-type pig that is a hybrid of a wild boar and a domestic pig.

The mangalica is large and round and has the thickest fat in the world. Its fat takes up 70 per cent of its total body weight.

This pig is easy to raise and is usually fed with wild forage or potatoes and pumpkins.

The mangalica has curly hair all over its body. It looks like a sheep and is as gentle as a lamb.

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