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d
Prou dly Sing
Ow ean ap o r
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 Home-grown Science Story 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. Jack’s friend is Olivia, the young naturalist who loves the earth and treasures the nature around her. In every issue, Olivia will highlight one environmental issue that we are facing now. In this issue, she talks about how recycling saves the earth. 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.
4
Botany
9
Zoology
Flax
Systems
Blue Feet
9 Cycles
19
14
How It Works
Interactions
19
Daily Science
General Knowledge
24
Olivia Corner
General Knowledge
26
Let’s Go Golfing Gorilla Glass
24
Recycling Saves The Earth General Knowledge
Science Stories
Distinguishing Colours
29
Science Quiz
33
Bioscience
38
New Tech
42
Human Body
47
Our Universe
52
Science Survival
33
Challenge Your Skills Aquatic Insects
Diversity
The Smart Umbrella My Throat Hurts! Hot Lava Flows
Terrible Africa 8
General Knowledge
42
General Knowledge
General Knowledge
General Knowledge
52
Botany
Systems
F lax Hmm… I have had a good catch! One more and I’ll head home…
Ha, ha… Another fish! It’s time to go home.
Pl
op
!
Finally! Let’s scare him!
Whaaaaoohh…
Kha, kha!
Aw… Yikes…
Splash!
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Oooh...
Mily’s Grandma’s house…
Ding … Don g!
Grandma, I’ll get it.
4
Thank you.
Oh, Bernard! What happened to you? Come on in!
Bernard, how did you fall?
I fell into the river!
Ah
oo ach . . . h
I was fishing by the river, when Teka and Nono gave me a scare… I slipped into the water!
!
It is okay, Bernard, don’t be sad! I have baked some muffins. Here try some!
Sorry, Bernard! I didn’t expect that you would fall into the river!
Yoo-hoo muffins!
Hmm…it is a pity, I had a good catch. All the fish fell in too!
Kh
Grandma, these are delicious! I taste nuts in them. Did you flavour them with nuts?
Mu
Mu
Huh? Flax meal?
I didn’t add any nuts. It is flax meal.
Mu nc nc h… h…
a!
Flax meal is a powder that is made from flax seeds and has a nutty flavour.
That’s right, Bernard! Flax meal is also good for you. It can improve your digestion and lower your cholesterol as well.
nc h…
Tell Me More Flax flowers are blue or purple. Common flax is the national flower of Belarus.
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kh a,
5
Since it’s so good for us, let’s have more muffins!
Kha, kha! kha!
Because they were so tasty, we couldn’t resist them.
Ugh! You three ate all the muffins… and left nothing for me!
Buu
uur p
…
I agree!
Hey, Bernard, the fabric of your shirt looks nice.
Bernard, I’ve dried your clothes. Thanks, Grandma.
Huh
What sort of fabric is linen?
Yes, it does! This shirt is made from linen.
It is made by processing the stem bark fibre of flax.
This linen is made from flax plants.
?
What is the difference between linen and other fabrics?
Tell Me More Flax seeds are capsules that turn yellow when they ripen. Each capsule splits into five valves with seeds inside them.
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This material is waterabsorbent and dries very quickly. That’s why it is suitable for summer clothing.
Yawn! I am sleepy after all the muffins! Wow! I would like to have some linen clothes too. Tap!
Wow, look, this linen is really water-absorbent. We could use it as a towel or wiping cloth.
Clank…
Oh, no Teka!
Teka! That’s my shirt, not a wiping cloth!
Ha, ha…
Kha, kha!
Tell Me More Flax seeds (also called linseeds) are a rich source of micro nutrients, dietary fibre, manganese, vitamin B1 and the essential fatty acid alpha-linolenic acid, also known as ALA or omega-3. Flax seeds can be processed into all kinds of foods, such as bread, biscuits and sausages. SAS L3 no. 42
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Flax is an annual herbaceous plant. Flax fibres, taken from the stem, are used to make linen. Flax seeds are used to produce linseed oil. Flax plants like cool and damp weather and are widely planted throughout the world.
The stem bark fibre of flax is tough and wear-resistant. It does not rot easily in water and is often used for making ropes and fishing nets. Flax fibre can also be used as textile, garment and decorative fabrics.
Flax seeds are flat and oval in shape. Each contains 30 to 45 per cent oil. Flax seeds are widely used in painting, printing ink and dyes. They can also be made into a cooking oil.
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Zoology
Cycles
Blue Feet Uncle Mack, are you ready to haul in your fishing net?
Ka-chink
Yes, Carl!
Ka-chun
…
It’s exciting, isn’t it? I wonder how many fish they have caught.
That’s a lot of fish!
k…
Yes, Fiona, we’ve hauled in a good catch today!
Yes!
Look, up there! There are so many birds in the sky suddenly!
They’re here to catch the fish from our haul!
Wow! Yes!
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Don’t worry. They’re diving to catch fish!
Oh no, I don’t want to watch! The birds are falling into the sea! Splash…
Splash… Splash…
Ha, ha… Look! They can swim like ducks!
Why didn’t that bird catch any fish?
Carl, are you okay?
Plop!
They swallow their prey before they come up to the surface.
I’m okay, but that hurt…
Splash…
Help! This bird is attacking me! It’s called a blue-footed booby. It’s a sea bird. The most striking feature is its pair of blue feet.
Look! It has blue feet!
Wow!
Tell Me More Blue-footed boobies are good at flying and swimming. They often fly above the sea or swim on the sea surface.
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It looks like it’s wearing lovely blue shoes.
Yes, the males attracts the females with their lovely blue feet.
Blue-footed boobies have an elaborate mating ritual. The male struts before the female, raising one blue foot in the air, then the other. He looks like he is dancing as he stamps his blue feet up and down. Both the male and female stretch their necks and point their bills to the sky. The male spreads his wings and whistles. The female tucks her head under her wing.
It seems the booby rejected you, Fiona! Hey, booby, my shoes are blue too! Do you like me? Ha, ha, ha!
Aside from attracting females, the males’ blue webbed feet are used to incubate eggs.
But I thought that birds used their body temperature to incubate their eggs… Huh?
Ha, ha…Carl, not all the birds sit on their eggs to keep them warm.
Tell Me More Blue-footed boobies catch their prey alone, in pairs or in groups. They mainly feed on fishes such as sardines, anchovies and mackerels.
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Den is right. The bluefooted booby uses its feet to protect its eggs and keep them warm until they hatch into chicks.
Wow, the lovely blue feet are also very useful!
Mack, the booby is an excellent diver. With a pointed, tapered bill and a torpedo-shaped body, these birds were built for penetrating air and water.
Yes! They are so unique!
Yes!
They also have air sacs in their skull and between their skin and muscles. These inflate to function as shock absorbers and cushion the impact of their dive. This protects their brain from the enormous amount of pressure it endures. They also close their nostrils to prevent water entering their nose.
Wow, Uncle Mack, that’s too much information for my brain to absorb!
…
Splash…
Carl, Fiona…pick a few fish to take home for dinner. It was a great catch today! But, Den…we don’t like fish!
Tell Me More Blue-footed boobies have permanently-closed nostrils and have to breathe with their mouths. This characteristic makes it easy for them to dive into the water and catch their prey. SAS L3 no. 42
Ka-chink
12
Blue-footed boobies are large tropical sea birds that are distributed along the east coast of the Pacific Ocean, from the state of California to the Galapagos Islands. They spend most of their time at sea, except when they breed.
The blue-footed booby has a long and sharp bill. Its tail is shaped like a wedge and its wings are rather long. Its belly has white feathers and its legs are short and stocky. Female birds are somewhat larger than males.
The blue-footed booby generally lays one to three eggs. When the first egg is laid, the bird usually lays another egg a few days later. The male and female take turns to incubate the eggs. The incubation period lasts for about 42 to 45 days.
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How It Works
Interactions
Let’s Go On the golf course...
G o l fi n g
I hope Simon hits the ball this time!
I think I’ve got it this time!
Swish…
Swish…
Simon, if you adjust your posture a little, you’ll able to hit the ball…
Prof., it is my turn now! Why don’t you show me show how it is done?
Oh no, not again!
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That’s a good idea, Lucas!
14
Set your posture right. Then aim at the hole and swing.
Alright. Now you can try your swing. I am going to have a drink.
Okay!
Understood.
I hope so!
Simon, don’t be disheartened, you will get it right soon!
Swish… T hump! Prof., is there any principle behind the game of golf?
Yeah! I hit it!
The collision principle is involved in swinging the club and hitting the ball.
Huh? I’ve heard of the word collision. What is the principle?
Yippee!
A collision is when two or more objects hit each other. This creates an interaction and brings about the changes of speed and *momentum, or *kinetic energy.
Tell Me More Table tennis also involves the collision principle. A rubber sheet is glued to a table tennis racket in order to cause the balls to bounce, passing the kinetic energy on to them when they collide with each other. SAS L3 no. 42
*momentum: the quantity of motion of a moving body *kinetic energy: energy of an object resulting from motion
15
As the golf club hits the ball, it creates a collision. When the club is swung, the kinetic energy is transferred, causing the still ball to move.
Collisions of objects can be divided into elastic and inelastic collisions.
I see.
What is the difference?
An elastic collision is when objects collide and move apart, but conserve their kinetic energy.
Like two balloons colliding with each other and bouncing apart.
An inelastic collision is when objects do not bounce apart when they collide. In this kind of collision, part of the kinetic energy converts into other forms of energy, such as heat and sound, or the shapes of the objects may change.
Like clay falling to the ground, it sticks to the ground, but doesn’t bounce. The contact surface of the clay dents. This kind of collision is inelastic. I think I understand now.
Tell Me More Airbags are a safety device in case of car accidents. When a collision occurs, an airbag is released. The airbag absorbs the kinetic energy and momentum of the passenger’s body and changes its shape. This is an inelastic collision. SAS L3 no. 42
What about the inelastic collision?
16
Objects with different masses can also affect the energy of the impact.
Yes! The more mass an object has, the greater energy it will generate when it collides with something.
When a steel ball and rubber ball with a different mass are put at the same point of a track, which do you think will have a greater impact force?
Steel ball
I think it would be the steel ball. It has a greater mass.
Ha, ha…Simon, it’s your turn now. I didn’t realise that the word collision could have so many principles.
Rubber ball
Try hitting the ball this time!
Prof., I understood the collision principle, but could you show me the correct posture one more time…
Just remember the collision principle and also your posture. Don’t worry, I’ll do it this time!
Tell Me More The starting point of an object can affect the momentum of impact. For example, the higher the starting point is, the greater momentum of the impact will be. SAS L3 no. 42
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Ur g
h...
A car crashing into a tree is an example of inelastic collision. Since the kinetic energy is lost in this kind of collision, the car will not rebound off the tree, but will just stop there.
The penetration of a bullet is also an example of inelastic collision. The kinetic energy is not conserved in a case like this.
When you drop a ball to the ground, it will bounce back up almost to its previous height. This is an example of elastic collision; the momentum and kinetic energy are both conserved.
When the cue ball is pushed by the pool cue, it hits another still ball with the same mass and the momentum is transferred. Thus, it enables the still ball to move.
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Daily Science
General Knowledge
Gorilla Glass Mike, my classmate has invited me for a tea party. May I borrow your new jacket for the party?
No! Mum bought you one too.
No, Andrew! I am not lending you my jacket! You will dirty it!
Your blue jacket matches the theme of the party, which is blue, mine is black.
Oh
… h Ah
Oh
Ouch! My hand! Mike, you’re heavy!
Ah, ah!
Oops!
h…
…
T SAS L3 no. 42
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m hu
p!
Huh? What’s that? That’s my mobile phone! Come on. Get up!
Thanks, Uncle Wiseman, for breaking my fall.
Uncle Wiseman, your reaction was very quick!
Of course!
It is because of the Gorilla Glass!
Uncle Wiseman, is your phone damaged?
Gorilla Glass?
No, my phone is not damaged.
That sounds interesting.
Yes, it does sounds interesting and its functions are great!
Wow! Your phone is really solid.
Really?
Tell Me More Gorilla Glass is a trademark of Corning, a glass manufacturer in America. It is currently in its fourth generation of development. Gorilla Glass has been used on more than 4.5 billion devices. SAS L3 no. 42
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This Gorilla Glass is highly resistant to damage. Even if it falls from a height of one metre, it’ll still remain intact.
Besides, Gorilla Glass is very thin and tough. It can respond to touch even more sensitively and accurately.
Here, try scratching my phone’s screen with the car key.
Huh
Don’t worry, just do it. You’re sure you want me to scratch it?
Really?
Tell Me More Gorilla Glass is currently planning to launch the world’s first antimicrobial glass. Besides its anti-bacterial properties, this antimicrobial glass also has damage resistance and clear optical properties like other types of Gorilla Glass. SAS L3 no. 42
21
?
I am going to be in deep trouble soon…
Huh
?
Wow! There are no scratches!
That’s because Gorilla Glass stands up to abuse with scratch- and impactresistant qualities.
Okay, now give me back my phone.
Is this Gorilla Glass only used for making phone screens?
Wait a minute, Uncle Wiseman! Let us have a look at your photo gallery!
Yes! Ha, ha! Uncle Wiseman, your selfies are hilarious!
Ha, ha…
No!
Ha, ha…
Tell Me More Gorilla Glass is only 0.4 millimetres thin, making it even thinner than a hair. This makes the screen much thinner.
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Besides mobile phones, it’s also suitable for use on tablets, notice board, laptops and so on.
No!
Compared to regular car glass, the weight of a car window can be reduced by up to 50 percent if it uses Gorilla Glass. It is suitable for use on the openings of all vehicles, such as their windshield screens, side window glass and roofs.
Since Gorilla Glass is extraordinarily tough, durable, highly scratchresistant and thin, it can be used in buildings such as lifts, halls and meeting rooms.
Corning Incorporated has also launched Gorilla Glass SR+, which has more readability. The middle part, shown in the picture, looks like a hole but it’s actually covered with the Gorilla Glass SR+. This makes it unnecessary for users to adjust the brightness of their phones because users can still see things clearly on their screens.
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Olivia Corner General Knowledge
We do not know what the world will look like in 100 years, but do you know that a plastic bottle thrown into the sea or into a landfill will sit there for longer than 100 years? Yes, some things do not biodegrade. This means that they will not break down or rot naturally. Food and paper will biodegrade and fall into bits, but plastic will not.
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Most of our trash can be recycled to be reused or converted into new products. By recycling, we get rid of the need to manufacture more things, which may, in turn, help reduce the use of energy and also keep trash from reaching our landfills.
24
Many materials can be recycled, including paper, plastic, glass, metal, cloth, batteries, electronics and even food. When we recycle paper, we help to save trees, oil and energy that is used to produce paper. This saved energy can be used for other things, such as powering our houses. All this just from recycling paper. Imagine how much you can do if you recycle more things!
Use recycling bins. It’s fine if you cannot find a use for the plastic or metal trash that you’re throwing away. Separate trash that can be recycled and bin it correctly. There are recycling centres that will recycle trash for you. These simple steps will help the environment.
It is important to recycle or reuse as many things as possible. This saves the land and the seas from being filled with trash. It also helps to save energy and our earth. Isn’t that a good thing? So, let’s start recycling today! SAS L3 no. 42
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Science Stories
General Knowledge
Distinguishing Colours Hmm…Mother’s birthday is coming soon. What should I give her…
I’m going to wear this new coat today.
Oh, my…he is wearing such a brightly coloured jacket!
Sir, have a look at my stockings. They are good to wear and to give as a present too.
That’s strange. Why is everybody staring at me?
At home… This colour looks good! Mother will like these. I’ll take this pair.
Ah, yes! I’ll buy Mother a pair of stockings for her birthday.
Mother, happy birthday! I hope you like your present.
Thank you, John.
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Oh, John! Why did you buy me these brightly coloured stockings?
But this colour is too bright. I don’t think it suits me.
Because this colour looks very beautiful.
But, John…these stockings are redpurple, not blue. I think you’d better change it for another colour.
These stockings are obviously blue. Why would Mother say they are red-purple?
Guys, look at these stockings. What is the colour?
They’re blue. What’s wrong?
Huh, redpurple?
Hello, John! Huh? Only my brother and I think that the stockings are blue. Why is that?
No, they are red-purple. I see redpurple too!
Tell Me More British chemist John Dalton, was born in Eaglesfield, England, on September 6, 1766, to a Quaker family. He had two surviving siblings. Both he and his brother were born colour blind.
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I don’t think the blue stockings are that bright. They will suit you.
27
After some research, John discovered… When people see red, I see a dark shade. And orange, yellow and green seem yellowish in my eyes, only the shades are different.
My brother and I have colour vision deficiency.
Later, John published an article on colour blindness… This article concludes all the general characteristics observed from myself and some other people.
Extraordinar y Facts Relating
After John passed away, his eyes were donated to medical science to find out the causes of colour blindness.
to the Vision of Colours
As a result of his contributions to the understanding of red-green colour blindness, the condition is still often referred to as “Daltonism.”
John Dalton 1766-1844
The Ishihara Colour Blindness Test is the most common test for colour blindness. People with normal colour vision can easily make out the hidden digits in the dots. However, people with colour blindness can hardly, or not at all, tell them apart.
Tell Me More John Dalton is best known for his work in atomic theory. In the atomic theory he proposed in 1805, the word “atom” meant the smallest particle of an element, such as gold and iron. The idea that the atom is the basic unit of substances is one of the core concepts in Chemistry. SAS L3 no. 42
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Science Quiz
Challenge Your Skills 1. Look at the picture below. The picture shows people mining. Which of the statements below correctly describes the aftermath?
A. Land will be stripped of vegetation. B. The land will become useless. C. Organisms will be unable to survive there. D. Soil erosion will occur. (1) A and B only (2) A, B and C only (3) B, C and D only (4) All of the above Answer ( ) 2. Which of the following plant parts have the ability to reproduce?
A. Seed B. Root C. Stem D. Leaf
(1) A and D only (2) B and C only (3) A, C and D only (4) All of the above Answer ( )
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Copyright Š Shinglee Publishers
3. What are the adaptations that allow the swan to stay afloat?
A. B. C. D.
Webbed feet. Softer feathers at the down part. Greasy top feathers. Streamlined body shape.
(1) A and B only (2) B and C only (3) C and D only (4) A, B and C only Answer ( ) 4. Which of the following are reasons for recycling steel in Singapore?
A. B. C. D.
Energy is conserved through recycling of steel. Ease of collection, separation and recycling of steel. Producing more steel contributes to global warming. Steel is mainly made of non-renewable resources.
(1) A and B only (2) B and C only (3) C and D only (4) A and D only Answer ( ) 5. Which of the following will NOT change as a baby grows into an adult?
A. Colour of the eyes. B. Fingerprints. C. Height. D. Complexion of the skin.
(1) A and B only (2) C and D only (3) A, B and C only (4) B, C and D only Answer ( )
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Copyright Š Shinglee Publishers
6. The diagram below shows a plant cell. Which part of the plant cell is the control centre of the cell?
(3)
(1)
(2)
(4)
Answer ( ) 7. Which one of the following parts will differentiate a plant cell from an animal cell? (1) Cell membrane (2) Nucleus (3) Chloroplast (4) Cytoplasm Answer ( ) 8. Which one of the following components of a cell can be found in humans and plants, as well as in bacteria? (1) Flagella (2) Cell Wall (3) Cytoplasm (4) Pilus Answer ( ) 9. Which of the following gases have higher percentages in the air we breathe out than the air we breathe in?
A. Carbon dioxide
B. Oxygen
C. Water vapour
(1) A only (2) B only (3) A and C only (4) B and C only Answer ( )
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Copyright Š Shinglee Publishers
10. Handy wants to find out whether overcrowding will affect the survival rate of fish in a tank. He uses four identical tanks to conduct his experiment.
Which of the following two set-ups, A, B, C and D, should he use to carry out a fair test? Set-up
Type of fish
Number of fish
A
Guppy
15
Amount of water used (litre) 2.5
B
Guppy
25
5
C
Goldfish
25
5
D
Goldfish
15
5
(1) A and B (2) A and D (3) B and C (4) C and D Answer ( ) 11 Mary sets up an experiment to observe the rate of evaporation for three types of liquids: cooking oil, perfume and tap water. She pours 50ml of each type of liquid into three identical Petri dishes and then leaves them at the same location for some time. Which of the following shows the correct order of the rate of evaporation of the liquids, from the fastest to the slowest? (1) Tap water, cooking oil, perfume (2) Cooking oil, tap water, perfume (3) Tap water, perfume, cooking oil (4) Perfume, tap water, cooking oil Answer ( )
Answers: 1. (4) 2. (4) 3. (2) 4. (4) 5. (1) 6. (4) 7. (3) 8. (3) 9. (3) 10. (4) 11. (4) SAS L3 no. 42
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Copyright Š Shinglee Publishers
Bioscience
Diversity
Aquatic
Insects Boo!
Henry you gave me a scare!
hhh a a a A
…
Take this! Water cannon!
Ha, ha, ha! Now you deserve this! Nancy, do you want to fight?
s Spla
h…
s Spla Nancy, let’s get Henry together!
Uggh… Henry!
Spla
sh…
s Spla
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h…
h…
Yikes!
Huh? Something is crawling on my arm?
s! Yike
Help, help! Cockroach! It’s on my hand!
Huh? Nancy! This is not a cockroach. It’s a diving beetle.
This diving beetle is an excellent swimmer!
Ahhh… It looks like a cockroach to me!
Really?
Tell Me More Diving beetles mainly feed on aquatic animals such as small insects, tadpoles, shrimps and small fishes. Sometimes, they also eat the carcasses of aquatic animals. SAS L3 no. 42
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Its *streamlined body reduces water resistance. Its long, flat, hind legs are covered with long hair that increases its *buoyancy, giving it an edge when it swims.
How does it breathe in the water?
It has a hole in the back of its abdomen. This hole is called a stoma and it allows the diving beetle to breathe. The diving beetle also has a hard shell called an elytra.
When the diving beetle swims up to the surface, it exposes the stoma to the air and stores air under its elytra. It then turns the air into bubbles. When the diving beetle dives downward, it can breathe by using the oxygen from these bubbles. I see.
Can you guess, what else aquatic insects can do to get their oxygen?
Aquatic insects can also get oxygen with their biological gills and air tubes. Are they the same as the gills of a fish?
Uncle Thomas, come on. Tell us. No!
Tell Me More
*buoyancy: the ability to float in water or other liquid *categorised: placed in groups or classes *streamlined: having very little resistance to the flow of air or water
Aquatic insects can be *categorised in two ways: moving water and still water. Those living in moving water are larvae such as purple springtails and mole crickets. Those in still water include whirligig beetles and water scorpions. Pictured here is a water scorpion. SAS L3 no. 42
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These aquatic insects keep freshwater ecosystems functioning. Some aquatic insects dissolve dead leaves and plants, providing aquatic environments with food chains.
It’s not the same. The gills of an aquatic insect are located in different parts of their body and their shapes are different as well.
Yes! Huh? Where is Henry?
We can never underestimate these little aquatic insects.
He ran off while we were talking.
Ha, ha… Look I have caught more of these divers! I think I will keep them as pets!
Uncle T homas, Nancy!
Look, there’s Henry...
Oh, boy!
He is purposely doing it to scare me!
Tell Me More Aquatic insects can also let us know about the quality of water because they’re rather sensitive to pollution. Thus, researchers can analyse water conditions with aquatic insects. SAS L3 no. 42
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Backswimmers swim upside down, like backstroke swimmers do. They like to inhabit the still water in ponds and can be quite agile in the water thanks to their long and powerful hind legs.
A ranatra has a slender body and moves quite slowly both on land and in water. Ranatras breathe with the air tubes that extend from their tails and stick out of water surface.
Giant water bugs breathe in air from water surface with the short, blunt, flexible air tubes in their tails and store the air in their lungs. Giant water bugs like to inhabit still water.
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General Knowledge
New Tech
The Smart Umbrella Okay then. Don’t forget we’re going to the magic party later.
Asher, I think it’s going to rain soon. You guys should take an umbrella with you.
The weather’s fine. It won’t rain.
I wonder how long this rain will last. We have the magic party to attend later!
At the tool shop…
Dr u Oh, no! We should have listened to Conrad.
m!
La
sh
! What are we going to do now?
Magic Beast, we have no choice. We’ll have to hurry home!
La
Aw!
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Okay! Bye!
38
sh
! La
sh
!
Oh, dear! You two are soaking wet!
La
sh
!
15 minutes later…
We didn’t know it would rain…
Didn’t I tell you to take an umbrella?
Conrad! Do you have an umbrella that foretells the weather? Then I would never have to worry about it.
Ahh...achoo!
Actually, I do have an umbrella with such functions! Ta, da! This is Oombrella. It can foretell the weather and send an alert to your mobile via Bluetooth.
You do?
Ah, ha!
Tell Me More Oombrella, designed by a design company in France, comes in two different sizes. The classic one is 95 centimetres (3.5 inches) long, with a crooked handle. The other one fits perfectly in a backpack. It is 25 centimetres (0.82 inches) long and has a straight handle. Both have the same functions. SAS L3 no. 42
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If you forget your Oombrella somewhere, it can also remind you through your smart phone.
How does it work?
Wow! You don’t have to worry about losing it!
The Oombrella has a capsule at the end of its handle. This capsule is actually a sensor that detects the temperature, pressure, humidity and brightness when you’re outside.
Here, you can have it!
That night...
Hey, Conrad, where’s Asher?
Oh, the poor boy is not feeling well.
Thanks, Conrad!
Wow!
If only we had the Oombrella before we left for the tool shop…we wouldn’t be sick! And I would be at the party…
Tell Me More If you don’t want to buy the whole Oombrella, you can just buy its “capsule”. You can glue the capsule to part of your umbrella and it will be good to go.
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Aw!
Canopies Oombrella has three colours to choose from. It comes in: Shiny, black and white.
*The shiny version of Oombrella
The Top The top of the Oombrella has a screw thread that allows users to attach a camera, video camera or anything they like to it.
The Shaft The shaft of the Oombrella is made of a synthetic fibre called Kevlar, which is a durable, lightweight and highly tenacious material. This kind of shaft enables the Oombrella to withstand storms, hail or heavy rain.
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Human Body
General Knowledge
My throat hurts! Are you guys ready? Okay! On the mark, get set…and go!
Bee
ep!
Jack! n! Come o Jack! n! Come o
Oh, no! Jack seems to be losing the race.
Let’s cheer him on, Wilson!
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After the race is…
Yes! We will help you train! Why don’t we go for a karaoke session now, to cheer you up.
Hey, Jack, don’t be sad! You just have to train harder for next year’s race! Sob…
Yes! That’s a good idea!
Ooh! La! La!
Okay! Come, let’s go!
Hum… La! La!
The next morning…
Zane, what’s wrong? Why aren’t you eating?
Tell Me More A sore throat is a common bacterial infection that anyone can suffer from. According to your condition, a doctor may prescribe a targeted medication to treat you.
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My throat hurts when I swallow.
Your voice sounds hoarse. You must have been exerting your voice at the karaoke session yesterday with Wilson and Jack! That’s why your throat hurts.
Yes! I think so.
Come to the kitchen.
Mum, what other symptoms can a sore throat bring on?
Take this throat lozenge. It will help you relieve the pain in your sore throat.
Lozenge?
You may have red and swollen tonsils, pain or a scratchy sensation in your throat, or difficulty in swallowing. The pain worsens with swallowing or talking. Your throat may feel dry as well. Oh, my…all the symptoms seem to be really uncomfortable. Yes! If you’re still not feeling well tomorrow, we’ll go to a doctor.
Tell Me More Things that help relieve the pain of a sore throat: eating cold foods, drinking water and eliminating dry air with a humidifier.
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I’ll cook porridge for you for the next couple of days, so that you can swallow easily. But Mum, I thought you were cooking my favourite fried chicken tonight!
Dad, are you okay?
Ergggh…I’ve got a sore throat.
h Hu
?
No! Ow, ow...
Oh, no! Now I have two patients in this house!
Tell Me More You should wash your hands often and avoid sharing cups or cooking utensils with others. These steps will help prevent bacterial infections and sore throats.
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Cough!
Oh! That must be your Dad!
45
Viral infections Some viral infections, such as flu and *monocleosis, can accompany the symptoms of a sore throat. The sore throat is the preliminary symptom of flu or influenza.
*
*monocleosis: a contagious and infectious virus that is transmitted through saliva
Allergy If you are allergic to animal dander, mildew, dust, pollen or other things, you can be likely to get a sore throat because these allergies might stimulate your throat.
Environments An excessively dry environment can make your throat itchy and hoarse. If you breathe with your mouth because of a stuffy nose, you might have a dry and sore throat when you wake up in the morning.
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General Knowledge
Our Universe
Hot Lava Flows The Kilauea volcano in Hawaii erupted a few weeks ago and ejected a large amount of lava. The lava flows are getting closer. Residents, please pack up and move to safety, quickly!
I’m not leaving! This is my home!
Madam, I’ll carry to safety! You cannot be here any longer!
Madam, it’s not safe here anymore. You must leave!
We did it! We evacuated all the residents in the area. I’m exhausted! Ivan, I’m tired too!
… Boo o ho
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Huh? Looks like Jeny is having trouble getting that old lady to evacuate.
Come on! I’ll take you to a special place.
Wow, Man-in-Black, this place is completely covered by lava!
Guys, look! Lava is still flowing over there!
The lava is flowing towards the ocean! What will happen if the lava flows into the ocean?
When lava meets the seawater, it cools down and congeals. This constantly enlarges the surface area of Hawaii. Why is there smoke coming out over there?
Man-In-Black, why does a volcano erupt?
That’s because when the hot lava meets the seawater, it produces puffs of white smoke.
I want to know why too!
I see.
Tell Me More The Kulauea volcano is located in the Hawaii Volcanoes National Park. It is an extremely *active volcano and still erupts at times. SAS L3 no. 42
*active volcano: when underground magma is active and a volcano is still in danger of erupting
48
When lava buried deep in the earth fails to resist the internal pressure, it flows out of the ground surface and causes an eruption.
In the kitchen…
Huh? I still don’t understand…
Hmm…I think, an experiment will give you a better understanding…
I’ve prepared some baking soda and vinegar. First, pour the baking soda into the little bottle. Then, add some vinegar to it.
The baking soda with vinegar produces carbon dioxide. The resulting foam flows out of the bottle.
The same thing goes for the *magma deep underground, which is mixed with gases like carbon dioxide and vapour.
Magma
Tell Me More Not only does a volcano eject a great amount of volcanic ash that covers the blue sky when it erupts, it also releases a great amount of poisonous gases. SAS L3 no. 42
*magma: the liquid that is formed by the rock inside the earth after it melts
49
When magma fails to resist the internal pressure, it moves through the weaker parts of the earth’s crust and triggers *volcanic activities.
Here, Jeny, Man-In-Black have a soda.
I see. I understand now.
Ha, ha…this soda is for Jeny!
Thanks, Ivan. That’s very sweet of you!
! Pop sh… Swi
When a fizzy drink is shaken, the carbon dioxide in the can will be under great pressure. So when the ring is pulled, the soda gushes out…
Ivan is trying to explain to you that a volcanic eruption has the same principle as the soda gushing out.
Jeny’s anger has erupted because of you!
Ur g
gh…
Tell Me More
*volcanic activity: related to a volcanic eruption, including other activities such as the magma gushing out of the earth’s surface, explosions, oozing lava and the ejecting of fragmented materials
The effects of volcanoes are not entirely harmful. Volcanic soil is very fertile and suitable for growing crops. Besides, residual magma below the earth’s surface gives off heat, making the underground water hot and forming hot springs. SAS L3 no. 42
Yes! Just like a volcano!
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Due to the different components of magma, volcanic eruptions are divided into two types: “quiet” and “explosive”.
Explosive eruption: The magma has a high *viscosity, but it does not flow easily. Its internal gases cannot *disperse smoothly and, thus, the pressure increases. When the volcano fails to hold the pressure it erupts in an exploding way, like the Vesuvius volcano in Italy.
Quiet eruption: The magma has a low viscosity and its gas disperses easily. Thus, it does not explode easily, but erupts in an overflowing way, like the Kilauea volcano in Hawaii.
In a short period of time, an explosive eruption from a volcano crater can often eject large amounts of materials such as ash, *slag, rocks and magma. These materials are characterised by their high heat and high speeds that can destroy and bury houses near the volcano, causing loss of life and damage to property. *disperses: distribute or spread over a wide area *slag: stony material ejected by a volcano *viscosity: a quantity expressing the magnitude of internal friction in a fluid
In AD 79, the Vesuvius volcano in Italy erupted. Its volcanic ash, gravel and mud buried Pompeii with about 20,000 residents. The picture shows the ruins of Pompeii with Mount Vesuvius in the background.
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Science Survival
General Knowledge
Ter r ible
Afr ica 8
In the morning...
Zzz…! Huh?
Snor e…
Hey! Good morning, giraffe! How are you?
Zzz…!
Alexander, wake up! Look, there is a giraffe here!
Zzz…!
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It’s okay. Don’t be afraid giraffe. We’re all friends!
Wow!
Huh? Who is she talking to?
Yawn…
Not now...Maya! I need to pee!
Dad, you’re finally up! Come see the giraffe!
Oh! This is so embarrassing!
Oops! Okay, I’ll pick another spot!
Dad! Not here! Miss Jenny is here! Yeah! A rock! I’ll pee here!
H
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a
a ,h
!
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Pzzzzzz
Huh? That’s weird. I didn’t see this rock here yesterday!
Oh, no! It is a black rhino not a rock!
Ahh…what a relief!
Bell
ow…
Pzzzzzz
… Gr r r ow… Bell Help! Rhino!
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Ha, ha…get in quick! We’re almost home!
H
Ouch! When we get home, take me to the hospital!
a… a…h
Of course!
ha
Tell the doctor that the wound on your backside was caused by a black rhino! Ha, ha, ha!
Ouch! It’s painful! It is not funny!
Vroom!
Yeah! We’re going home!
Vroom! SAS L3 no. 42
Oh! Something is not right!
Vroom! 55
Boom…
Vroom!
Oh, no! When did home become a forest?
The GPS data shows that we’re still in Africa. This is the Congo Rainforest in Central Africa.
Where are we?
I have no idea!
This is weird! Who touched my computer? Look, a few more locations have been set in the system.
What?
Uggh… It must be the pygmy marmoset in my house. It must have done something!
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Oh, no… We’re a long way from home! We have to go through the Congo Rainforest, the River Nile and the Sahara Desert before we can finally get home.
Oh, no! Don’t tell me we have to be in Africa longer than we planned! The Sahara Desert The Nile River
No! I can’t take this! Dr Weird’s destination at the moment. The rainforest in central Congo Basin
The East African savannah
Dr Werid! Do something to get us home!
Come on, Weird, think! What you can do to take us back?
Your time machine is horrible!
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There’s nothing I can do now!
This is such a bad situation we are in!
57
Everybody, keep quiet! Huh?
Miss Jenny, what’s wrong?
There’s something not right about the dead wood in front.
No. You’d better let me do it!
I’m going to get off the car and check it out…
You guys stay in the car.
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To be continued.
Giraffes are the tallest land animals that live in the savannah regions of Africa and feed on leaves. A giraffe has a very long tongue that can avoid the thorns on the outside of a plant and roll up to eat the inner leaves of the plant.
Due to having very long legs, it is not easy for the giraffe to drink. It has to spread its front legs or kneel down on the ground before it can drink some water. Then it becomes easy for other animals to attack the giraffe.
Black rhinoceroses are distributed in the eastern and southern parts of Africa. A black rhinoceros has dark grey and thick skin, with short legs. It has two horns on top of its head and a pointed upper lip that can flex and curl.
When the weather is hot, the black rhinoceros likes wallowing in the mud. Its body has parasites that oxpeckers feed on. Thus, oxpeckers are often found perching on the back of the black rhinoceros looking for food. SAS L3 no. 42
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The spectacled bear from South America is a short-faced bear and one of the most emblematic mammals of the Andes Mountains. Spectacled bears are physically strong and their fur is usually black. Only a small amount of them have deep mahogany fur. Around their eyes they have white or creamy-yellow markings that are unique and extend down to their chests. Spectacled bears are omnivores that enjoy eating fruits, plants and meat. They disperse the seeds that they have eaten through their faeces. They do not hibernate.
â—? A spectacled bear having fun in water
The distribution areas of the spectacled bear includes Bolivia, Peru and Columbia.
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