Innholdsfortegnelse for No. 90 i The Week Junior

On 9 August, the leader of North Korea, Kim Jong-un, threatened to attack an island called Guam with missiles. The island is home to thousands of American troops and their families. On 15 August, Kim said he would watch what the US does “a little more” before deciding whether to strike, but tensions between the two nations are still high. Where is Guam? Guam is a small island in the Pacific Ocean with a population of around 160,000. It is 2,100 miles away from Pyongyang, the capital of North Korea. Guam is a US territory and there is a military base on the island. There are around 6,000 US troops in Guam, and many ships and planes stationed there. Why did North Korea threaten Guam? Kim’s government has been testing…

AN ELDERLY DAREDEVIL Bob Hill didn’t do what normal people do on their 90th birthday. Instead of tucking into a slice of cake, he went flying down the fastest zipwire in the world in Snowdonia, Wales. He helped raise £1,000 for charity and said he wanted to do it again. A LOVELY REUNION When Sue Hopkins lost her kitten Hermione in 2004, she thought she would never see her again – but 12 years later she got a lovely surprise. On 1 August, Hopkins was contacted by the RSPCA who said it had found Hermione. The furry feline had suffered hair loss and had fleas, but was nursed back to health. She has now been reunited with Hopkins. A TREASURE HUNTER Chris Newton, 34, was using his metal detector around…

What you need to know ● The US and the UK are both anglophone countries. This means the most common spoken language is English. ● American English and British English have different words and phrases. American-English words and phrases are called Americanisms. ● Over time, English words and spellings have changed, and our language is now full of all sorts of weird words. Lol, which stands for laugh out loud, has been in the dictionary since 2011. ● In France, an organisation called the Académie française limits foreign words entering the French language. English is one of the most widely spoken languages in the world, thanks, at least in part, to the US. British settlers were among the first Europeans to live in the US from the early 17th century,…

Animals have adapted and evolved different body coverings. The presence of fur, or hair, is common in mammal species such as lions, humans and even whales. Birds are covered in layers of feathers to help them fly, keep warm and attract mates, and protection is one reason why reptiles have scales. Do you love animals? ZSL London Zoo’s Junior Zoo Academy is a great way to learn about creatures from all over the world. Find out more at zsl.org/experiences…

Stonehenge In 2014, scientists discovered that Stonehenge may have been part of a network of religious monuments, including a temple, after finding evidence of slabs of rock hidden underground. They did this by using radio waves. If radio waves hit an object, they bounce back, which tells a computer how far away and how big an object is. King Richard III Richard ruled from 1483 until he died in battle in 1485. An archaeologist found his skeleton under a car park in Leicester in 2012. Experts matched DNA from the bones to DNA from a known descendant. A lost city In Honduras in 2012, archaeologists found a lost city. Lasers revealed house outlines and canals that were up to 1,000 years old.…

Even though the weather hasn’t been great in August so far, you still might be lucky enough to squeeze in an ice cream or two. The only problem with ice cream is that it can melt in a matter of minutes – leaving you with nothing but a sticky mess. However, a group of scientists from Kanazawa University in Japan has come up with a cool solution. From strawberries, they extracted a liquid called polyphenol, which stops water and oil from separating, and added it to the ice cream. This raised the melting point. In tests, the cold treat could last three hours at room temperature without melting.…

Great Britain and Northern Ireland won four medals in relay races on the final two days of the World Athletics Championships in London. The success means Team GB picked up six medals at the event, held 4–13 August, with two golds, three silvers and one bronze. Sprinters CJ Ujah, Adam Gemili, Danny Talbot and Nethaneel Mitchell-Blake ran in the men’s 100-metre relay team. The women’s relay teams won silver medals in the 100-metre and 400-metre events, with the men’s team taking bronze in the 400-metres relay. A relay is when four athletes on a team run the same distance and carry a small stick, called a baton, around the track. The runners pass the baton to the next athlete and if the baton is dropped, the team is disqualified. In…

What is the best birthday you have had? The best birthday I ever had was snowmobiling in the mountains of Deer Valley in Utah. It was a thrilling ride in deep, white snow and I even saw a moose. There are brown bears in the mountains, but luckily I didn’t see one. What is the strangest thing you have ever eaten? The strangest thing I have ever eaten is deep-fried pig’s ear. It was served chopped up in a wooden bowl. It looked like a dish that would be on the menu in the Black Lobster tavern in Port Blacksand. Do you prefer trains or planes? I like trains and planes. But I would have to choose planes as they never fail to amaze me. If you could be any…

DiaryZapp Android / iOS (£3.99) Have you been keeping a diary over the summer holidays? DiaryZapp, as you’ve probably guessed from its name, is a way of keeping a record of your daily doings in an app rather than on paper. It’s designed to be used for 10 minutes a day, enabling you to jot down quickly what you’ve been doing, add your photos and customise them with digital stickers. You start by creating your own character – a Zappicon – who’ll explain the app’s features as you go along. After that, you just have to choose photos, add text and stickers, and squiggle drawings using a selection of colours to make each entry perfect. DiaryZapp also provides sharing features, although you’ll need an adult to help you set it.…

What do I need? You don’t need an expensive ventriloquist’s doll to start practising. You can start learning how to say each letter by yourself, and then practise moving the mouth of a puppet at the same time when you begin to improve. There are plenty of options at many different prices. How can I join in? There’s a yearly ventriloquist convention in the UK called Ventarama, for all levels of ability, from beginners to advanced. There are workshops and talks where you can learn tips from the pros, take part in prize raffles and see a show, too. Find out more at albionmagiccompany.co.uk How can I learn? The internet is a quick, easy and free way to find ventriloquism tutorials. You could try this free tutorial at tinyurl.com/TWJ-ventriloquism Learn…

Raising money for Alzheimer’s “ On 16 July, my grandad and I organised a garden party for 15 of our family members. We did this to raise money for the Alzheimer’s Society because my lovely great-grandma has Alzheimer’s. I helped set up tables, chairs and picnic blankets in our garden. I then went to the supermarket with my granddad to buy the ingredients and helped prepare a feast of ham sandwiches, scones with jam and clotted cream, cakes, tea and orange juice. We also had a raffle where people could go up and choose a prize. We raised £120.10 and everyone had a really lovely time. ” What’s going on at your school? Have you taken part in a sporting event, put on a show or done something fun to…

Follow The Week Junior on PopJam @TheWeekJunior You can download the free PopJam app from the App Store or GooglePlay. A blue whale’s heart has been unveiled at a museum in Canada. It’s an enormous 1.5 metres high and 1.2 metres wide. You said... “Imagine how loud the heart beat would be” @thedozysloth “Wow that’s huge” @Frostypaws127 “Gross” @grumpycat4ever In June, a group of people who have received lung transplants reached the summit of Kilimanjaro in Tanzania. You said... “Amazing accomplishment” @luckycat03 “Inspirational. This shows that anyone can do anything they set their minds to” @kellyunicorndream “I wouldn’t be able to do that and I haven’t had a lung transplant” @Buzz_Cool40 “That is amazing” @CreaterG Tell us what you think of this week’s issue. We’ll give you a shout out…

1. What does a cappella mean? a) One or more vocalists performing without accompaniment b) One or more vocalists performing to fast-paced music c) Only one vocalist performing with a saxophone 2. What does decrescendo mean? a) Gradually getting louder b) Gradually getting softer c) Continuous shouting 3. What does allegro mean? a) A slow tempo b) Silence c) A fast tempo…

In June, the people of France elected a new president, Emmanuel Macron. When a president takes office, they aren’t the only one in the spotlight – their spouse is too. Often known as the first lady (or first gentleman, if they’re a man), they offer support to a country’s president, alongside other jobs. In the US, the role of first lady is well established. Alongside hosting important visitors at social events, she is also expected to perform other public duties. This might mean setting up charities, or lending her support to important causes. The previous first lady of the US, Michelle Obama, was a powerful figure who worked hard to champion, among other things, the cause of education for girls, and encouraging children to get more exercise and eat healthier…

Lots of people around the world love and care for the animals they keep, feeding them well and giving them attention. Sadly, some animal owners aren’t so nice, and will cause pain and suffering to their pets. This is known as animal cruelty, which is a criminal offence in the UK. Someone found guilty of animal cruelty in England and Wales can go to prison for a maximum of six months – which is less than anywhere else in Europe. This month, a report revealed that more than 92% of the people who are found guilty of animal cruelty don’t go to jail. Instead, they are given suspended sentences (which means they avoid prison if they don’t reoffend during a certain time); they have to do community service or they…

New UK snake species Scientists have identified a fourth type of snake in the UK. It was previously believed that the barred grass snake was the same species as another grass snake, but it is actually grey instead of olive-coloured and does not have the similar bright yellow collar. Chantek the orangutan On 7 August, an orangutan called Chantek, who was one of the first apes in the world to communicate using sign language, passed away at the age of 39. He had lived at Zoo Atlanta, in the US, for the past 20 years, where he was being treated for heart disease.…

In the summer of 1977, two spacecraft – Voyager 1 and Voyager 2 – blasted off from Florida, US to explore the planets Jupiter and Saturn. Forty years later they are still going strong; what was meant to be a five-year mission turned into the longest space exploration in history. This year marks the Voyager mission’s 40th anniversary. After the two spacecraft completed their original tasks, Nasa decided to see how much further they could go. Today, Voyager 1 is in interstellar space – the region between star systems – exploring an area where no human-made spacecraft has gone before. Voyager 2 is on its way into interstellar space now. Travelling at a speed of 38,000mph, Voyager 1 is about 13 billion miles from Earth and Voyager 2 is about…

In the interactive Fighting Fantasy series, you become the hero of the story. Set out on a perilous quest across the magical land of Allansia, from the depths of Darkwood Forest to Port Blacksand. There’s treasure to find, puzzles to solve, and a terrifying villain to defeat. As you step into the shoes of the main character, it’s down to you to make decisions, turning the pages to determine which path your hero will follow, and the choices they will make. Guide them as they solve problems, avoid tricks and traps, and meet both friend and foe. Can you predict the consequences of your choices? Will your hero triumph, or will your story have a tragic ending? Exciting and addictive, this is a different kind of reading experience that fans…

It’s hard to imagine now, with all four corners of the Earth mapped and almost every country easily accessible by aeroplane, but in the 19th century a lot of the world was still undiscovered. With faraway countries reachable only by boat, intrepid explorers made it their business to plot new routes around the globe, opening up avenues for trade, and finding the best way of navigating between continents. Among the most important was the Northwest Passage, a route that many thought would provide an easy way of connecting the Atlantic, which separates North America from Europe, with the Pacific. The route was important for merchants, who believed that it would offer an easier way to get to Asia. Many tried to find a way through the cruel and icy landscape…

Stormbreaker (2006) iTunes, Google Play, Amazon, DVD A new James Bond film was recently announced, although it won’t be in cinemas until November 2019. It’ll probably have a 12A certificate too, and unlikely to be the most family-friendly of films. It was a reminder, however, that a 007-style adventure for younger viewers was made more than 10 years ago. Based on the books by Anthony Horowitz, Stormbreaker tells the story of a 14-year-old who joins MI6, the intelligence service. Alex Pettyfer played the lead role of Alex Rider. Horowitz had written a script for a sequel, but it was never made. Instead, the character lives on in the hugely successful books. WOW! Even though Anthony Horowitz has penned a James Bond novel, he’s always resisted the idea that the character…

If you’ve been watching Britain’s Got Talent over the past few years, you might have noticed a stream of professional ventriloquists making everybody laugh by having their puppets tell jokes as they keep their mouths absolutely still. The art of ventriloquism is all about speaking out loud without moving your face or mouth. Ventriloquists usually have a puppet or doll, whose mouth they move while they are talking in a different voice. “Ventriloquism is fun,” says Tom Crowl, executive director of the International Ventriloquist Society. “It takes work to master, but when an audience buys into the illusion of life, there is no other art like it! You’ll need persistence to become good. Practising will help you discover the reward of working toward a goal, and performing in front of…

Create mind-bending op art What you need ● Felt-tip pens ● Pencils ● Paper Instructions You can create optical illusions with just a pen and some lines. Start by making a dot in the middle of your paper (1). It does not have to be white paper, it could be any colour. Draw some lines out from the dot around the paper (2). You can use a pencil and go over the lines with a felt tip afterwards if you are not that confident drawing with pen immediately. Draw some lines that are curved towards you in one section like in the picture (3). In the next section, draw lines that are facing inwards away from you (4). Repeat this around the shape so each section goes in and out…

Forty years ago, Nasa’s Voyager mission blasted off into the skies to travel great distances and reveal the secrets of the universe. One incredible photo taken by Voyager 1 shows Earth as a tiny, gleaming dot, billions of miles away – a reminder of the magnitude of the universe and how minuscule our planet is in comparison. On board both spacecraft, scientists included the Golden Record, time capsules intended to communicate the story of life on Earth to any extraterrestrials who might stumble across them. The capsules hold recordings of sounds, including wind, thunder, birds and whales, greetings in different languages and snippets of music. Carl Sagan, the astronomer responsible for the Golden Record, explained that it says “something very hopeful about life on this planet”. If you had to…

Brand new house is a tight squeeze If you were to fork out millions of pounds for a home, you would like to think you’d be getting a fairly spacious property in return. However, plans approved by Westminster Council reveal that a new luxury five-storey house is to be built in a three-metre-wide alleyway on Euston Road in London – and it will be worth millions when it goes up for sale. Nicknamed the Skinny House, the property will be squished between a pub and an office block. It will have three bedrooms, two bathrooms, its very own courtyard and a fancy roof terrace. Anyone interested? Rubber chicken trains cadets Training to become a police officer requires candidates to be physically and mentally fit, able to outsmart and outrun criminals.…

The shoe shop, Clarks, has withdrawn some of its girls’ shoes after it was accused of sexism. Sexism is when girls or boys are treated unfairly. The girls’ shoes are called “Dolly Babe”, whereas the boys’ shoes are called “Leader”. The issue was first raised by Miranda Williams, a councillor from London. She said, “The idea that we should be bringing up a generation of boys to aspire to become leaders, while the best hope for girls is to be Dolly Babes, is just grim.”…

Tuscany, Italy Mayor refused at restaurant On 9 August, the mayor of Viareggio in Tuscany, northern Italy, was asked to leave a restaurant because he was wearing shorts. Giorgio Del Ghingaro was dining with friends when a waiter approached and informed him that he was not following the dress code. The restaurant’s rules state that men must wear long trousers. Ghingaro said that the incident was “a bit humiliating” but enjoyed dinner elsewhere. Charlottesville, US Violent clashes between protesters On 12 August violent clashes broke out between protesters at a white supremacist rally in the US city of Charlottesville, in Virginia. White supremacists are racists who believe that white people are better than people of different races. A man drove a car into a crowd of anti-racism protesters, killing one…

Finished in about 2560BC, the Great Pyramid of Giza has been a wonder of the ancient world for more than 4,500 years. It is part of a complex of three pyramids located in south-west Cairo, Egypt. After all that time, you would think archaeologists had found out everything there is to know about the pyramid, but new research suggests there could be more secrets to uncover. Using special technology, a team of international archaeologists believe they have found a cavity inside the Great Pyramid. Some people believe it could be a hidden chamber, although the team won’t know for sure until they do more research. The cavity was spotted in October last year, after a team called Scan Pyramids used scientific technology to penetrate the stone. The technology included 3D…

National pride Citizens of Pakistan carry a giant flag to mark the country’s independence day, on 14 August. Perfect plumage This hummingbird shows off its beautiful symmetrical markings while it grabs a beakful. Brave balloonists A fleet of hot-air balloons takes off into the skies at Bristol International Balloon Fiesta. Mo fear! Athletics champion Sir Mo Farah celebrates his retirement from the top of the London Eye. Feel the heat Contestants at a chilli-eating competition in China sit in a tub of water while they guzzle the spicy vegetables. In your face Manchester United’s Marouane Fellaini is hit by a ball during a match against Real Madrid. Celestial fireworks All the stars and meteors visible in the sky over almost two hours, during the Perseid meteor shower.…

Monkey Life Week 4pm, weekdays from 21 August, Pick This year marks 20 years of Monkey Life, the behind-the-scenes look at the UK’s largest primate sanctuary, Monkey World in Dorset. Catch episodes all week, ahead of an hour-long special, to see the adorable baby primates get up to no good in the nursery, and the antics of the adult chimps, orangutans and gibbons. The Nut Job 2: Nutty by Nature Showing at cinemas nationwide. Certificate U When Oakton’s mayor decides to redevelop Surly and the gang’s Liberty Park, it’s up to the animals to try to get their home back. With the animal-control squad on patrol and Precious dognapped by the mayor’s daughter, can the group come together to save the park? Lego Masters 8pm on 24 August, Channel 4…

“I found out about ventriloquism when I started reading the Goosebumps books. I liked the sound of being able to make a puppet talk so I asked my mum if she could show me YouTube videos of it. I like doing different voices with my puppets, making people laugh and being able to talk without moving my mouth. I find it hard to say words with the letter P in them, and sometimes the letters M and B can be tricky. I can’t say “pick a pepper”! If you want to try ventriloquism, try your best and never give up. Practice makes perfect, and watch other acts on YouTube to get good tips.”…

1Where have scientists just discovered around 91 hidden volcanoes? a) Asia b) Antarctica c) Africa 2Many fences in London served what purpose during the Second World War? 3Why was an Italian mayor asked to leave a local restaurant? a) He ate too much on his last visit b) He was wearing shorts c) He didn’t have any money 4True or false? Americans call lifts elevators. 5Country-music star Glen Campbell was one of how many children? 6What should you do when you make a wish at La Table des Pions in Guernsey? a) Walk around the circular monument three times b) Close your eyes and count to 10 c) Stand on your head 7True or false? Voyager 1 and 2 both blasted off from Texas, US, in 1977. 8Where were the…