Questions for discussion

Antarctica1. Briefly explain the BtN story to another student.2. What is unique about Antarctica?3. Where is it in relation to Australia?4. What lies beneath the ice in Antarctica?5. How is it different to the North Pole?6. Name three countries that have claimed a part of Antarctica.7. Describe Australia’s involvement in Antarctica.8. How do ice core samples help us understand climate change?9. What impact could rising sea levels have on coastal areas?10. How has your thinking about Antarctica changed since

watching the BtN story?

`Should mining be allowed in Antarctica?’ Vote in the online poll.

Kids Helpline1. Explain what the Kids Helpline does.2. How many calls do they receive each year?3. Why do you think some young people would prefer to speak to

someone they don’t know?4. What sorts of things do young people talk to the counsellors

about?5. What is cyber bullying?6. Why have incidents of it increased in recent times?7. Complete the following sentence: A recent report found at

least…kids had experienced cyber bullying.8. What is the Helpline doing to address the issue?9. What do you think should be done to deal with cyber bullying?10. Describe the importance of counselling services like Kids

Helpline.

Send a message or tell us what you think on the BtN Guestbook.

Memory marvel1. Write down as many facts as you can remember from the BtN

story.2. Describe Jill’s ability to remember things?3. How old was she when she started remembering facts?4. Why is it important to do something with the information?5. What strategies can people use to help them remember?

© ABC 2009

EPISODE 8

7TH APRIL 2009

6. Why do experts think Jill’s memory is so extraordinary?7. What are the different types of memories?8. What strategies do you use to remember things?9. What do you understand more clearly about memory since

watching the BtN story?10. Discuss with other students strategies they use to help them

remember things.

Investigate why most humans can’t remember anything from the first few months or years of their lives.

Sugary inventions1. Summarise the BtN sugar story.2. Why is the sugar industry trying to make a new sugar product?3. Where in Australia is most sugar cane grown?4. In your own words, explain the process of making sugar.5. What has happened to the industry in the past few years?6. What makes the new sugar product different?7. What effect does it have on the body?8. How successful do you think the new product will be? Explain

your answer.9. Why do you think new inventions are made from products that

have been around for a long time?10. Brainstorm as many examples as you can.

Test your knowledge in the online quiz.

Footy host families1. Retell the BtN story.2. Describe how young people drafted by an AFL club might feel

about moving away from home.3. How does the AFL support young players?4. Describe the role of the host family. 5. In your own words, describe the importance of their support.6. What sort of food do football players need to eat?7. Why is a healthy diet essential to sports people? 8. How does Anthony feel about having Tom living with their

family?9. Use three adjectives to describe an AFL player.10. How did this story make you feel?

Create a profile of your favourite AFL or NRL player. Display it in an interesting way.

© ABC 2009

AntarcticaAntarctica is one of the coldest, driest and windiest continents in the world. But even in these harsh conditions, some scientists are conducting research with amazing results.

Focus Questions

11. Briefly explain the BtN story to another student.12. What is unique about Antarctica?13. Where is it in relation to Australia?14. What lies beneath the ice in Antarctica?15. How is it different to the North Pole?16. Name three countries that have claimed a part of Antarctica.17. Describe Australia’s involvement in Antarctica.18. How do ice core samples help us understand climate change?19. What impact could rising sea levels have on coastal areas?20. How has your thinking about Antarctica changed since

watching the BtN story?

Antarctica – choose your own adventureStudents will deepen their understanding of Antarctica by completing some of the following activities. Negotiate with students how many activities they will need to complete.

Remember and understand Generate an A-Z list of `Antarctica’ words. Include topics

such as animals, climate and research. Link the words on a mind-map.

List 10 things you would never find in Antarctica.

Apply and analyse

Investigate the impact of rising sea levels on coastal cities in Australia. Using a contour map, students show what would happen if sea levels rise by 60 metres. Draw an artist’s impression of how this would affect your closest coastal city.

© ABC 2009

EPISODE 8

7TH APRIL 2009

Learning AreaScience, Society and Environment

Key learningStudents will develop a deeper understanding of Antarctica and its connection to climate change.

.

Interview two people to find out what they think should be done to reduce the possible effects of climate change. Ask them to reflect on what can be done on a personal, local and global level. Compare their responses with your own thoughts and opinions.

Evaluate and create Over 200 million years ago, Antarctica was the centre of a

supercontinent known as Gondwana. Explore the role of plate tectonics in the formation of Antarctica by creating a Gondwana supercontinent jigsaw. The following countries need to be included: Antarctica, Australia, New Zealand, Afric, South America and India. To see the continents move over time, go to the following animation http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/eden/media/stt.html

Investigate what sort of accommodation people working in Antarctica stay in. Design, draw and label an ideal house for Antarctica.

Create a story or picture book about Antarctica.

ReflectionWhat do you understand more clearly about Antarctica since completing the investigation?

8 Related Research Links

ABC Foreign Correspondent –What lies beneath?http://www.abc.net.au/foreign/content/2009/s2506516.htm

Australian Antarctic Division – Ice cores and climate changehttp://www.aad.gov.au/default.asp?casid=1760

Nova Online – Stories in the ice and Ice core timelinehttp://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/warnings/stories/

Children’s BBC – Antarctica quizzeshttp://news.bbc.co.uk/cbbcnews/hi/world/newsid_3456000/3456315.stm

© ABC 2009

Memory marvelThe brain is an extraordinary organ responsible for performing many complex functions, including memory.

Focus Questions

11. Write down as many facts as you can remember from the BtN story.

12. Describe Jill’s ability to remember things?13. How old was she when she started remembering facts?14. Why is it important to do something with the information?15. What strategies can people use to help them remember?16. Why do experts think Jill’s memory is so extraordinary?17. What are the different types of memories?18. What strategies do you use to remember things?19. What do you understand more clearly about memory since

watching the BtN story?20. Discuss with other students strategies they use to help them

remember things.

Brain powerStudents will be investigating how the brain works – the different functions of the brain and explore ways to train their brains to retain more data in their short term memory. Begin by asking students to recall their earliest memory. Why do they think they remember this particular event? Functions of the brainAsk students to investigate the following parts of the brain and the functions they perform:

21.Cerebrum22.Cerebellum23.Brain stem24.Pituitary gland25.Hypothalamus26.Hippocampus27.Cerebral cortex

Which parts of the brain are responsible for memory? How memories are stored and retrieved (long and short-term memory)? Students can represent their learning in one of the following ways:

Poster or graphic

© ABC 2009

EPISODE 8

7TH APRIL 2009

Learning AreaScience

Key learningStudents will explore the functions of the brain and how they and how they relate to memory.

.

Model Web page

Training the brainStudents will explore ways to improve their memory using different techniques. Ask students to share techniques they currently use to remember things. Research and practise a variety of memory techniques. Before students practise, ask them to predict which technique will be the most effective and why. The following web links have information about memory techniques http://news.bbc.co.uk/cbbcnews/hi/newsid_3650000/newsid_3655800/3655814.stm and http://www.mindtools.com/memory.htmlTeach the memory technique you think is most effective to another student.

Further investigations

Create a brain quiz with true or false answers. Give it to another student in your class to try.

Investigate why most humans can’t remember anything from the first few month or years of their lives.

Investigate the importance of nutrition and sleep in healthy brain function.

8 Related Research LinksABC Catalyst – Unforgettable memorieshttp://www.abc.net.au/catalyst/stories/2519406.htm

Howstuffworks – How your brain workshttp://health.howstuffworks.com/brain.htm

Kids Health - Memory mattershttp://kidshealth.org/kid/health_problems/brain/memory.html#a_What_Is_Memory_

ECH Website - The Virtual Bodyhttp://www.ehc.com/vbody.asp

Focus Education website – Food for thoughthttp://www.focuseducation.com.au/Webzine/Food_for_Thought.pdf

Children’s BBC – Memory techniqueshttp://news.bbc.co.uk/cbbcnews/hi/newsid_3650000/newsid_3655800/3655814.stm

Mind Tools – Memory Improvement Techniqueshttp://www.mindtools.com/memory.html

© ABC 2009

BtN: Episode 8 Transcripts 7/04/09

On this week's Behind the News:

Phone a friend - what is the Kids helpline? Why are scientists racing each other in Antarctica And the woman who can't forget.

Hi I'm Nathan Bazley welcome to Behind the News.

Also on the show today - what it's like if your family adopts a footy star.

Those items later but first to our top story.

Kids HelplineReporter: Nathan Bazley

INTRO: If you've been watching closely over the last term, you'd know it's certainly been an eventful few months news-wise!

There's been natural disasters, economic crashes and attacks of a few kinds out there for you to deal with each week. On top of that, you might have your own problems too.

Sometimes it seems like you have so many things you're worried about, but no one to talk to. However there is an organisation just for kids that could help.

© ABC 2009

Adults don't always understand that kids can have a lot on their minds.

After all that, it's no wonder some kids can end up feeling pretty stressed and alone.

NATHAN BAZLEY, REPORTER: You might remember during the Victorian bushfires, we told you that calls to a telephone counselling service had gone up a whole lot. THANIA (February): We've had callers talking about guilt for having survived and having their loved ones perish in the fires; not having their clothes, their belongings, not being able to sleep in their own bed which is really really difficult.

A lot of kids contacted us - asking who these guys were and what they're all about.

Well they're called Kids Help Line!

THANIA, KIDS HELP LINE COUNSELLOR: We're a counselling service Australia wide for children and young people between the ages of 5 and 25. And we do telephone counselling, email counselling and web counselling.

"Hello, Kids Help Line."

THANIA: Per year we get 300,000 calls from children and young people.

NATHAN BAZLEY: Kids Help Line was set up entirely to let kids have their say. They have over 100 counsellors just like Thania who are here to listen to you, at any time, for any reason.

You might be wondering - why call someone you don't know?

© ABC 2009

Well these guys won't ask your name if you don't want to, and they won't tell anyone what's up, so you can feel comfortable telling them things you might be too embarrassed to tell your parents or friends about.

THANIA: They can call for pretty much anything they want - they might be having problems at home, at school, with their friends, with their partners and relationships, they might just be feeling really down, they might be worried about study, so really anything at all they want to talk about. There is no problem too small that they can't ring up about.

One issue kids seem to be ringing up about a lot recently is cyber-bullying.

But what is that?

Well cyber-bullying is anyone using the internet or mobile phones to give you a hard time and with all of us using heaps more facebook, myspace and texting, cyber-bullying is on the rise!

A recent report said at least 1 in 10 kids your age had experienced cyber-bullying.

And the big problem is it can happen anywhere!

Because you can access the internet at home and you have your phone on you all the time, the people giving you a hard time electronically don't have to stop, even when you're in your bedroom at home.

It's become such a big issue for kids around Australia that Kids Help Line has set up an online survey to find out from you guys exactly what's happening.

© ABC 2009

They're hoping to use the information to work out the best ways of dealing with it, as well as informing the websites themselves exactly how much it's worrying you!

So get onto the website, have your say; and we'll bring you the results, plus some tips on how to deal with cyber-bullying, after the holidays!

PresenterAnd there's more details about Kids Helpline on our website.

Time to catch up with some of the week's headlines. Here's Catherine.

The Wire

Updating you on the G20 which we told you about last week.

The leaders have agreed to spend 1.4 trillion dollars to try to get the world economy going again.

They've also agreed to bring in laws to stop risky financial practices.

But while they were doing that protestors were calling on them to do more to help poor countries.

**************

Meanwhile you might notice your school getting a bit of a facelift over the next few months.

That's because the Aussie government's stimulus spending package is starting to come into effect.

© ABC 2009

Under it, lots of schools will get new buildings and renovations.

***************

Aussie tourists going to Bali have been warned to keep away from animals.

A deadly disease called rabies has been found on the island and it's spread by animals’ bites.

Five people have died already after being bitten by infected dogs.

However don't worry if you're in Australia, the disease isn't found here.

**************

And Madonna has been told she can't adopt a child in the African country of Malawi.

The four year old girl is an orphan but a court has said Madonna can't adopt her because the pop star doesn't live in Malawi.

The judge said she opposed celebrity adoptions.

Quiz

Thanks Catherine. Let’s move onto a quiz now.

Which is the driest continent on earth?

© ABC 2009

1. Australia2. Antarctica3. Africa

Answer: Antarctica

They work that out by rainfall and while there is frozen water everywhere it doesn't actually rain that much in Antarctica. If you're wondering what the driest inhabited continent is - well it's us - Australia!

But we'll stay down in Antarctica for our next story.

AntarcticaReporter: Sarah Larsen

INTRO: It's a very beautiful place but it's not really a great area to live.

It is so cold it's got hardly any plants and only a few animals can survive.

So if that's the case, why are increasing numbers of scientists heading down there to do research?

Sarah's discovered it's all to do with saving the planet.

SARAH LARSEN, REPORTER: Want wide open spaces, unspoilt beaches, luxury accommodation, friendly locals? Then come to Antarctica!

REPORTER: OK, so it's not your typical holiday destination.

© ABC 2009

Antarctica is the coldest, driest, windiest place on earth. It's technically a desert because there's so little rain, almost no plants can survive and temperatures sometimes get down to minus 80 so if you're unprepared, the weather can kill you.

It's so harsh humans have never lived here full time. All in all, you'd say it's not the most welcoming place on earth unless you're a scientist.

For lots of them it's the coolest place on earth and right now they're coming here from all over the world. How come? Well first, let's find out more about this wide, white land.

Now you know where it is; that icy patch way down on the southern pole of the planet. While the North Pole is just ice, Antarctica is a continent. Which means underneath kilometres of ice are rocks and mountains and a stretch of land twice the size of Australia.

But it's not a country so you won't find an Antarctic flag or a national anthem. Nobody really owns it but these countries have claimed parts.

Australia has the biggest chunk of territory. It runs three permanent stations down there and this is one of them.

There are scientists, engineers, technicians, cooks, doctors and more. Some stay for months at a time. They do all sorts of research.

These guys are using sonar to chart great mountains and valleys, even lakes, hidden beneath the ice.

But why is everyone so interested? The answer is climate change. 90 percent of the world's ice is locked up here.

© ABC 2009

DR JACK HOLT: This, east Antarctica, here we're standing has an ice core which if it melted the sea level would go up 60 or 70 metres.

And there are secrets in the ice which could help us understand climate change. You see, ice isn't just water. When it freezes it also traps air bubbles with other particles that are in the atmosphere.

Deep down there's ice from thousands and thousands of years ago. If you drill down you get a year by year record of what the climate used to be like.

Scientists reckon they might even be able to get ice from a million years ago and the race is on to find it.

The prize will be finding out how the earth's temperature has changed in the past and that could help us understand more about what the climate is doing now.

Online Poll

One of the interesting things about Antarctica is there is a treaty that says countries should only go there for peaceful purposes like scientific research.

But with so many countries sniffing around down there, some environmentalists are getting worried that they might want to start doing things like mining. So we've decided to make that this week's poll.

The question is 'Should mining be allowed in Antarctica?'

If you want to vote go to our website at abc.net.au/btn

© ABC 2009

Sugary InventionsReporter: Nathan Bazley

INTRO: OK let's talk sugar. It's generally thought that too much of the sweet stuff is pretty bad for you right?

No surprises there but what if there was a way to make it a little less unhealthy?

Well some researchers reckon they have achieved that and a few other tricks. All in a bid to help out a struggling Aussie industry.

Did you know cola was originally sold as a medicine, before it became a popular drink?

Peanuts weren't all that exciting, until peanut butter was thought up!

And after low fat milk was invented, many more people bought it, than full cream!

NATHAN BAZLEY, REPORTER: People are always looking for ways to make something new out of a product they've already got. It could be to make it seem more tasty, change its texture, or make it healthier. Well researchers in Australia have now turned their attention towards plain old sugar - and the results could help revive their industry!

Australia is one of the largest producers of sugar cane in the world and most of it is grown up here, in northern Queensland.

Each year, farmers harvest 35 million tonnes which is then transported to mills.

© ABC 2009

Once there the cane is shredded, and treated until raw sugar crystals are made.

White sugar is made by bleaching the sugar cane juice before the crystals are made.

Most years more than 4 million tonnes of sugar is produced. Yum!

But lately, sugar cane hasn't been all that sweet. The last few years have seen low sugar prices around the world, so it's getting harder for the farmers to make any money.

That's why a few groups decided to think outside the square a little - and they came up with healthier sugar!

What makes it a little better for you is its low glycemic index.

Wait. It's whatty what what?!?! NATHAN BAZLEY, REPORTER: The term 'low glycemic' is used to describe foods which take a long time to release energy into your body, rather than all at once.

That means your body feels full of energy for longer, rather than just for a short time after eating, so you won't get hungry as quickly.

On top of that, this new type of sugar is said to have other healthier things in it too.

Now this doesn't mean you can go out and eat as much sugar as you like. Too much sugar is still very bad for you, but its manufacturers say it gives people a healthier choice.

© ABC 2009

And in a world struggling with increasing diabetes and obesity, healthier foods can be big business!

The inventors say it'll be a big boost for the farmers.

But this isn't the only new sugar invention looking to help the industry.

Sprinkling some sugar in your coffee is one thing, but what about drinking it straight?!

Well that's the idea this lady has come up with - it's called sugar cane juice!

It's already a popular drink in some Asian countries and she hopes it could replace apple juice which is used in lots of products in Australia.

She says it tastes the same and has lots of vitamins and minerals.

Both ideas have just started out, but already they're impressing a lot of people.

Because whether it's making super sugar, or a sweet slurpee, new inventions from old products can do amazing things for an industry.

Quiz 2

Alright let’s test your brains with a quiz about your... um... brain.

Which species has the largest brain?

© ABC 2009

1. Bottle nosed dolphins2. Humans3. Elephants

Answer: Elephants

The average elephant brain weighs almost 5 thousand grams, the dolphin is about 1 thousand five hundred and a human brain is about 1 thousand four hundred.

BUT a human brain is the largest as a percentage of bodyweight.

Memory MarvelReporter: Catherine Ellis

Now imagine if you had a super powerful memory. A memory so good that when it came to sitting tests for any subject at school you could get full marks and top the class!

Well, did you know there are people who have extra-ordinary memories? And Catherine's about to introduce us to one of them.

CATHERINE: Hurry up!

NATHAN: I can't remember where I put my mobile phone.

CATHERINE: I bet you he forgets something.

SARAH: He'd forget his head if it wasn't screwed on.

NATHAN: Alright I'm ready.

CATHERINE: Oh no you forgot your head!

© ABC 2009

Okay people don't really forget their heads, but we do forget lots of stuff.

There's a lady in California however who has scientists baffled because she has a memory that can't forget.

Jill can remember every day for the last 30 years of her life like it was yesterday.

JILL: I'm sitting here talking to you and I'm in the present but I have this kind of split screen, this looping of just random memories always kind of flashing into my head.

As soon as someone says a date or she sees it written somewhere she automatically sees that day and it's been happening since she was about eight.

REPORTER: When was the Iraq war? JILL: The first Iraq war? January 16 1991. REPORTER: When was the second Iraq war? JILL: March 19th 2003. REPORTER: When did Elvis Presley die? JILL: August 16th 1977 and I was coming back from the orthodontist and I was driving in the driveway.

Jill decided to head to a memory expert to find out what's going on, but he'd never seen anything like it. He set out to find an explanation.

Before we look at that, let's look at how memory works.

Memory specialist Anne's big tip is to pay attention.

ANNE: A lot of the time when we say we forget things you haven't really forgotten them, we just haven't got them into

© ABC 2009

memory storage in the first place because we were thinking about other things.

Doing something with the info, like drawing or writing it down helps to process it more deeply.

Or shorten stuff - for example to memorise the order of the colours of the rainbow, just remember ROYGBIV.

CATHERINE: Another way is to use a familiar setting. For example to remember a shopping list place the bananas on the slide, some milk on the bridge, some bread on the swings then when you’re at the shops, just cast your mind back through the landscape and you'll remember the items.

There are different types of memories. Some people are really good at remembering facts and figures, others are good at remembering how to do things like drive a car and there are our personal memories - stuff we've experience and consider important They're the ones Jill's really good at.

But why is she good at them?

Jim thought maybe parts of her brain were bigger than normal but scans showed that wasn't the case.

Now he thinks maybe Jill's ability to remember isn't any different to ours - he thinks maybe it's her ability to forget that's different.

While our brains filter memories - store some in a big file in our brains and get rid of others - her brain keeps them all!

Jim will go on studying her, but in the meantime Jill will have to continue living with her memories both good and bad.

© ABC 2009

PresenterYeah real funny Catherine. Can you please bring my body back?

Catherine?!? Oh she's going to pay for this!

While she's hiding, Sarah has the score.

The Score

In league it's been a terrible start to the year for the reigning premiers Manly who lost against Newcastle.

They've lost all four games this year and are bottom of the table.

********

Seven rugby came to Oz on the weekend but it was bad news for the home team.

South Africa won the tournament in Adelaide and strengthened its position at the top of the world series.

Australia lost to England in the minor final.

************

After a successful start last year, the Trans Tasman netball championship has begun again.

The comp includes five teams from Australia and five teams from New Zealand.

© ABC 2009

************

And if you feel like you need a bit of a challenge - how about this.

Seventeen year old Mike has stopped over in Tasmania as he tries to become the youngest person to sail around the world alone.

Footy Host FamiliesReporter: Catherine Ellis

INTRO: Staying with sport and the footy season has kicked off for 2009 and is already attracting record crowds as the stars again show what they're made of.

But as well as the big names kids are joining clubs for the first time.

Some are only teenagers and have had to move thousands of kms away from family and friends for their footy careers.

So how do they cope? Catherine went out to meet some to find out.

CATHERINE ELLIS, REPORTER: It's a dream for thousands of Aussie kids to be selected by an AFL team and making the cut is hugely exciting. But for those who have to move a long way from home to a whole new city, it can be tough!

So what the AFL does is set the young players up with host families - like the Ruggieros in Adelaide.

They took on 18-year-old Tom Lee from Western Australia when he got the call up to play for the Crows this year.

© ABC 2009

TOM LEE, ADELAIDE CROWS: When I did get drafted I shifted here two days after or a day after or something so it was quick.

The idea is Maria, Sav and son Anthony provide Tom with lots of support and look after him with meals and stuff so he can focus on his footy - and it stops players getting homesick.

TOM: It's pretty good for me because I've never lived out of home before. Like the longest I've ever been away from home is probably about a week so I probably wouldn't have survived very long.

And it helps when you like your host mum's cooking!

CATHERINE: You're obviously a pretty good cook.

MARIA, HOST MUM: I try to be. I try to be healthy for the boys.

She has to make sure Tom gets lots of high energy foods like pasta and bread - and lots of healthy vegetables.

MARIA: Takes a bit of time to get them to open up and say let me know if you don't like a particular dish I watch them and think oh he doesn't like that so I won't cook that next time.

CATHERINE : So Anthony do you find that you miss out on a bit of attention because Tom's around?

ANTHONY: Nah I've found it good because I don't really have much stuff to do when I'm by myself around the house so having someone else like closer to my age - takes a bit of boredom away.

© ABC 2009

TOM: I don't have brothers at home. I have two sisters so it's a change and he's a pretty funny kid so it's all fun and games when we're around the house.

The Ruggieros are huge Crows fans and they're excited about watching Tom progress and play his first game.

As for Tom he can't wait for that moment when he gets to run out on to the field of a big Aussie stadium with some of the country’s best AFL stars.

TOM: Even last week I was defending Andrew Macleod, Nathan Bock and Simon Goodwin and they were all coming at me and I had to concentrate on what I was doing but at the same time I’m thinking wow I'm defending these guys. It's surreal I couldn't believe it.

Another great thing about being a host family is you can have a proper kick of the footy in the back yard!

TOM: What's this? CATHERINE: That's mine, I was hoping you could show me a few things. TOM: Give it a shot then, see where it goes. CATHERINE: Okay ready Anthony. TOM: I think you need some practice!So we had a practice and... TOM: It's gone over the fence.

PresenterBelieve it or not Catherine actually plays footy, though you'd never know it from that. Let's do a sport quiz.

Quiz 3

© ABC 2009

Cyling legend Lance Armstrong's bike was recently stolen. What internet site did he use to retrieve it?Answer: TwitterHe posted a twitpic on his page and the bike was handed in to police.

Twitter Closer

Now we've also set up a twitter page so if you want the inside goss on what we get up to each week - do a search for 'Behind the News.'We're taking a break for the holidays now so we'll catch you in a couple of weeks. See ya then!

© ABC 2009

End of term quiz

1. Flooding occurred earlier this year in which state?a. Northern Territoryb. Queenslandc. Western Australia

2. A meteorologist studies…a. Meteorsb. Oceansc. Weather

3. What do weather forecasters use crystal balls for?a. Predicting the futureb. Measuring sunshinec. Measuring wind speed

4. The Great White Shark is a protected species in Australia.a. Trueb. False

5. What is the main cause of shark numbers declining?a. Overfishingb. Diseasec. Rising seas

Term 1 2009

© ABC 2009

6. The Government hopes that people receiving the stimulus package will save the money.a. Trueb. False

7. Where did a group of West Australian students go to work as volunteers when they finished school?a. New Zealandb. East Timorc. Poland

8. How did Gizmo the cat survive the Victorian bushfires?a. Stayed under a carb. Ran into bushlandc. Went into the underground shelter

9. Animals affected by the bushfires havea. Been injuredb. Had problems finding foodc. Had their habitat destroyedd. All of the above

10.What does the word orang-utan mean?a. Animal of the jungle b. Orange monkeyc. Person of the forest

11.Why are the jungles of Borneo and Sumatra disappearing?a. Clearing and loggingb. Insect infestationc. Orang-utans are destroying them

12.Which country manufactures a lot of clothing?a. Canadab. France

© ABC 2009

c. China

13.Recently, a group of sports people were attacked in Pakistan. Were they?a. Footballersb. Cricketersc. Swimmers

14.What is the official language of Pakistan?a. Englishb. Urduc. Punjabi

15.Which surfer has won 9 world titles?a. Teale Vannerb. Sunny Garciac. Kelly Slater

16.The Archibald Prize is a famous…a. Portraiture prizeb. Sporting prizec. Science prize

17.Name the desert where mummies have been found?a. Atacamab. Chihuahuac. Simpson

18.Maremma dogs are protecting penguins from…a. Sharksb. Foxesc. Wolves

19.Maremma dogs are native to Australia?a. True

© ABC 2009

b. False

20.Dengue Fever is a disease carried by…a. Mosquitoesb. Fliesc. Crocodiles

21.What gas is causing the ocean to become more acidic?a. Oxygenb. Hydrogenc. Carbon dioxide

22.Perjury is lying…a. To your parentsb. In courtc. To your friends

23.Recycled stormwater is cleaned by wetlands.a. Trueb. False

24.Mnemonics are…a. Electronic devicesb. Robotics c. Memory techniques

25.What does GI stand for?a. Glucose intolerantb. Glycemic indexc. General interest

Answers on the following page

© ABC 2009

Answers1. b. Queensland2. c. Weather3. b. Measuring sunshine4. a. True5. a. Overfishing6. a. True7. b. East Timor8. a. Stayed under a car9. d. All of the above10. c. Person of the forest11. a. Clearing and logging12. c. China13. b. Cricketers14. a. English15. c. Kelly Slater16. a. Portraiture prize17. a. Atacama18. b. Foxes19. b. False20. a. Mosquitoes21. c. Carbon dioxide22. b. In court23. a. true 24. c. Memory techniques 25. b. Glycemic index

© ABC 2009