Tag: grade 8

Environment News

Philippines Hit By Massive Typhoon

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There has been a terrible storm in the Philippines.

The Philippines is a country in southeast Asia.

Because it is an island in the Pacific Ocean, the Philippines often gets very bad weather, including earthquakes, volcanoes and typhoons.

However, Typhoon Haiyan is perhaps the worst natural disaster to ever befall the country.

The typhoon hit the Philippines last Friday.

Its winds of up to 300 kilometres an hour whipped up the ocean waves.

The storm also caused flooding and landslides.

The country’s National Red Cross has launched a huge program to help the people whose houses were destroyed by the typhoon.

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News

Charity Gives Money Directly To World’s Poorest People

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What would you do with a thousand dollars? You can probably think of a lot of fun ways to spend that much money.

But what if your family didn’t always have enough to eat? Or what if you lived in a house with a dirt floor and a thatched roof? A thousand dollars could change your life.

That’s the idea behind a charity called GiveDirectly, which puts money in the hands of poor people and lets them spend it however they choose.

GiveDirectly was founded in 2008 by four American university students. Paul Niehaus, Michael Faye, Rohit Wanchoo and Jeremy Shapiro were studying economics in the developing world. They wanted to find the best way to help the poorest people.

Traditional charities work by raising money from donors and spending it where they think it can do the most good. Charities often support major projects like building schools, hospitals, roads, wells and irrigation pipes, or providing medical care for people in need.

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Environment Science

Pollution Shuts Down Chinese City

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The air pollution was so bad in Harbin, in China, on October 21 that the city was forced to close roads and schools, and to cancel hundreds of flights from its airport.

News reports said the smog (a mixture of smoke and fog) was so thick that people couldn’t see more than 10 or 20 metres in front of them.

According to unofficial reports, people could not even see the person standing next to them.

The city’s website said: “You can’t see your own fingers in front of you.”

Residents said there was a “burning” smell in the air.

Many people covered their noses and mouths with scarves or masks.

The pollution was blamed on several factors.

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News Politics

Three Canadian Senators Suspended – Historic Move By Senate

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In an historic move, three Canadian senators have been tossed from the Senate.

Senators Mike Duffy, Pamela Wallin and Patrick Brazeau have been “suspended” (removed from their jobs for a period of time).

Members of the Senate voted to suspend the three until the next federal election, likely in 2015.

The vote was hotly debated and discussed.

Mike Duffy and Pamela Wallin had made impassioned speeches to the Senate, pleading their case and hoping to avoid being removed.

But in the end, the three senators were suspended.

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Lighter

Regular Exercise Can Help Prevent Depression: U Of T Study

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Just 20 minutes of walking a day can help people improve their mental health.

That’s according to researcher George Mammen, at the University of Toronto (U of T).

He recently co-authored a study of more than 26 years’ worth of research reports.

He says the reports show that someone who is physically active is less likely to become depressed later in their life.

Most scientists agree that regular exercise is important for people’s physical health. It can help prevent diseases like stroke, heart disease and cancer.

And previous studies have shown that exercise can help to treat depression.

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News Sports

Boston Celebrates World Series Victory

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Boston finally has a reason to celebrate–and that’s exactly what Red Sox fans are doing.

Fans took to the streets last weekend to celebrate the fact that their baseball team won the World Series.

The parade made an important detour.

It stopped at the Boston Marathon finish line.

Last April, there was a terrible bombing during the Boston Marathon race, which took the lives of three people.

The city–and people all over the world–were upset by the tragedy.

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News Sports

Raptor Mascot Out For The Season

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One of the most important members of the Toronto Raptors basketball team is injured and won’t be participating this season.

It’s the “Raptor,” the team’s mascot.

Many people think the Raptor–with his athletic moves, edgy attitude and fun-loving spirit–is one of the best mascots in the NBA. Perhaps even professional sports.

He tore his Achilles tendon during a school visit in Halifax before the basketball season started.

People have an emotional reaction to the Raptor mascot–whoever he/she is.

The coach’s daughter cried when she heard the news of his/her injury.

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News

Toronto Landmark, Honest Ed’s, Has Been Sold

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A Toronto landmark has been sold to a builder in Vancouver.

Honest Ed’s discount store, at the corner of Bloor and Bathurst, will close down in two to three years.

Since 1948, the store has grown to take up almost a whole block.

Over the years, the decorations all over the building have become more and more extravagant.

The public can see the store’s neon signs and colourful lights from two blocks away.

The founder of Honest Ed’s was Ed Mirvish.

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News Sports

Cardinals Win Game Three In World Series After Rare Call By Umpires

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On Saturday night, something unexpected happened in an important baseball game.

The St. Louis Cardinals were playing against the Boston Red Sox in the World Series.

The World Series is a best-of-seven series. That means the first team to win four games wins the World Series and is named the best major-league baseball team of the year.

The games are always filled with tension and excitement, but Saturday’s game—game three—had a bit more of both.

It was the bottom of the ninth inning.

The game was tied 4-4.

It was the last chance for the Cardinals to score a point. If they did, they would win the game.

What happened next was very exciting.

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News

Future King Of England, Baby Prince George, Christened

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The tiny heir to Britain’s throne had a big milestone event this week.

Prince George had his christening.

In this case, a christening is a religious Christian ceremony during which a baby is baptized with holy water.

The water used in the ceremony was from the River Jordan. The river has significance to Christians because it is where Jesus was baptized, according to the Bible.

The three-month-old son of Prince William and Kate Middleton is third in line to the British throne. In other words, he could one day be the King of England.

The ceremony took place in St. James’s Palace in England.

There were only 22 people at the christening, but they included some pretty big names.

The Queen was there, as well as the three other people who are next in line to claim her throne.

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