English

A compilation of newsTickerarticles and exercises

February, 2010

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AUTHOR J D SALINGER DIES...............................................3MOON EXPLORATION PLANS SCRAPPED ...............................5DESTRUCTIVE VOLCANOES .................................................7GROUNDHOG DAY..............................................................9ALICE IN WONDERLAND ................................................... 11VENICE CARNIVAL............................................................ 13TROUBLE BREWING AT TEA PARTY..................................... 15NEW JUDGE..................................................................... 17RARE CREATURES ............................................................ 19RED ROSES AND DIAMONDS............................................. 21NATIONAL FLAG OF CANADA DAY ...................................... 23MARDI GRAS ................................................................... 25CALIFORNIA SURF CONTEST ............................................. 27TUTANKHAMUN................................................................ 29

CONTENTS

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AUTHOR J D SALINGER DIESBut his masterpiece lives on

American writer J D Salinger wrote'The Catcher in the Rye', a onceextremely controversial literaryclassic that has been studied inclassrooms for decades. It has soldmore than 65 million copiesworldwide.

Salinger died aged 91 of naturalcauses. The writer had lived as arecluse for many years and alwaysrefused interviews. He admitted in1980 that: "I love to write and I assure you I writeregularly. But I write for myself, for my own pleasure.And I want to be left alone to do it."

His most famous book, 'The Catcher in the Rye', waspublished in 1951 and is a story of rebellion andalienation. It also explores themes of identity andbelonging. The protagonist Holden Caulfield is a teenrebel. Along with Huckleberry Finn, Caulfield is one ofthe most famous anti-heroes in American literature.

The book is also famous for being quoted by the manwho shot and killed John Lennon. Mark Chapman cited'The Catcher in the Rye' as his inspiration for shootingthe adored and peace-loving Beatle.

01/02/2010

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1. What do you know about J D Salinger? See whatyou can find out! Where was he raised? When didhe start writing? How many works did he havepublished?

2. Salinger was drafted into the US army in 1942.Where did he fight?

3. Salinger corresponded with Ernest Hemingwayafter they met during the war in Paris. Who wasErnest Hemingway and for what is he famous?

4. Salinger's character Holden Caulfield is an anti-hero. What is an anti-hero in literature? Can youthink of any other examples?

5. Holden Caulfield is also an unreliable narrator.This means that the reader hears only Holden'sversion of events and is told that he may notalways tell the truth. What effect does this have?Does it make the narrative more interesting or justmore complicated? Discuss in groups.

6. Write a short story or poem based on one ofSalinger's themes: alienation, teenage rebellion, orbelonging.

EXERCISE

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MOON EXPLORATION PLANSSCRAPPEDObama attempts to sort US deficit

Barack Obama has revealedthat 120 US governmentprogrammes will be cut back.His aim is to help control theUS deficit. Amongst theseplans is one for a NASA humanlunar mission.

The 'Constellation Programme' was set out by George W.Bush in 2004. It plans a human return to the moon by2020 and an eventual human landing on Mars.

The sad state of the US economy has led Obama toshelve the programme. He wants to address theproblems of high unemployment levels and debt and sohas cut NASA funds. Obama said America must stopspending dollars "like Monopoly money". It is thoughtthat the White House will propose boosting cooperationwith commercial companies to develop rockets that couldtake astronauts to the International Space Station.

NASA officials and former astronauts have previouslycomplained about their lack of funding and have arguedthat the technology used in space exploration hasmassive industrial benefits. It seems that for now theywill have to wait.

02/02/2010

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1. What does the acronym NASA stand for?

2. What do you know about NASA? Are there otherspace administrations in the world? If so, whichcountries are they in?

3. See what you can find out about the following:a. The Apollo missions to the Moon.b. The Skylab space station.c. The Space Shuttle.d. The International Space Station.

4. The following is NASA's mission statement:"To improve life here, To extend life to there, Tofind life beyond". Discuss this mission statement.For example, how might space exploration improvelife here?

5. Write a poem or short story with the theme of'Life Beyond' or draw a cartoon involving a moonmission.

6. In groups, discuss Obama's decision to cut NASAfunding. Do you think he is wise to sort outAmerica's financial troubles before allowing spaceprogrammes to go ahead? Or has he got hispriorities all wrong?

EXERCISE

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DESTRUCTIVE VOLCANOESWiped out a third of marine life?

Scientists have been studyinghow volcanoes elimated 27%of marine life almost 100million years ago. They namesulphate as the likely culprit.During the Cretaceous period(which followed the Jurassicperiod) there were episodes ofvery low oxygen levels in the oceans. These had terribleconsequences for marine life.

Previous studies suggest that magma was responsiblefor these 'anoxic' events. But now researchers atNorthwestern University in Illinois suggest thatvolcanoes released lots of sulphate into the Cretaceousseas. This sulphate enhanced the recycling of nutrientsin the seas and more life grew in surface waters. Thebodies of surface plankton sank to the depths and fedlife below. But this boom in marine life did not last. Theanimals used up all of the oxygen, making the deep seaa dead zone. The surface plankton thrived, however, andits remains accumulated on the seabed.

It is thought that today's oceans may face a similar fallin oxygen levels because of global warming and the useof fertilisers, which are washed into the ocean.

03/02/2010

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1. What is a volcano? Why do volcano eruptionsoccur?

2. What else can you find out about the Cretaceousperiod? What exactly does the word 'Cretaceous'mean?

3. Write a short description for each of thefollowing words. Be as accurate as you can.a. Marineb. Nutrientc. Planktond. Seabede. Fertiliser

4. See how many adjectives you can find in thenewsticker.

5. See how many nouns you can find in thenewsticker.

6. See how many pronouns you can find in thenewsticker.

7. How many volcanoes can you name? Where arethey located in the world?

EXERCISE

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GROUNDHOG DAYAnnual weather predictiontakes place

On the 124th Groundhog Day, which fell on the 2nd ofFebruary 2010, the famed weather predicting groundhogmade his annual prediction. Co-handler John Griffithsheld the groundhog, known as Punxsutawney Phil. Theritual took place in Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania. Thetradition is that if the groundhog sees his shadow, therewill be six more weeks of winter. If he doesn't, springwill arrive early. This year, he saw his shadow.

The tradition dates back to 1887 and its origins areunclear. It is said to have originated from ancientEuropean weather lore in which a badger or a sacredbear predicts the weather. There may also be religiousorigins, as the ritual is similar to Candlemas Day, whichis also on February the 2nd.

Rather amusingly, States that do not have groundhogsare choosing their own weather predictors. Texas chosethe armadillo, which is also its state mammal, for its first'Armadillo Day'. A 1993 film starring Bill Murray drewattention to 'Groundhog Day' and since then 30,000visitors have gone to the tiny hill in Pennsylvania wherethe ceremony takes place.

04/02/2010

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1. Have you ever heard of Groundhog Day, or haveyou ever seen a groundhog? If not, find out moreabout them! How big is a groundhog, what colouris it, and where does it live?

2. The newsticker mentions European weatherlore, where a badger or a sacred bear predicts theweather. What else can you find out about theseEuropean traditions?

3. Candlemas day is a medieval Catholic holiday.What happens on Candlemas day?

4. In Pennsylvania, Groundhog Day is celebrated inGroundhog Lodges with 'fersommlinge'. What are'fersommlinge'?

5. Why is there a German dialect in Pennsylvania?

6. Have you seen the 1993 film 'Groundhog Day',starring Bill Murray? In it, the main characterwakes up every day to relive February the 2nd. Heexists in a time loop. In pairs, write a short filmscript on the same theme.

EXERCISE

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ALICE INWONDERLANDNew Walt Disney film by Tim Burton

Tim Burton has recreated the storyof Alice in Wonderland in film forDisney. The fantastical director hascast his wife Helena Bonham Carterand Johnny Depp in the roles of the Red Queen and theMad Hatter. It is thought that even more tourists thanusual will be inspired to visit the city of Oxford afterseeing the film.

Author Lewis Carroll lived in Oxford and his 'Alice'sAdventures in Wonderland' and 'Alice Through theLooking Glass' were set in the city. Lewis Carroll was apseudonym for Charles Lutwidge Dodgson. Dodgson wasa lecturer in mathematics at Christ Church College,Oxford University. His character Alice was based on AliceLiddell, the daughter of the college dean. In the story,Alice pursues a white rabbit that takes her toWonderland.

Oxford already has an Alice trail, which highlights keylocations featured in the book. Oxford city officials areoptimistic that tourists will enjoy the historic tour, whichincludes the treacle well in Binsey village and thefireguards in Christ Church dining hall. The Jabberwockytree, which the real Alice and her sisters could see fromtheir home, is still standing.

05/02/2010

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1. Can you think of any other films that Tim Burtonhas directed? What style are they? Can you thinkof ten words that describe his style?

2. Have you ever read 'Alice in Wonderland'? If so,discuss your impression or memory of it withothers who have read it. If not, see what else youcan find out about it!

3. 'Alice in Wonderland' tells the story of a girl whofalls down a rabbit hole into a fantasy world full ofpeculiar creatures. It is said to belong to the'nonsense' genre. Have you ever read any similarstories, full of nonsense and fantasy? Do you likethem? Explain your answer.

4. Either on your own on in pairs create a conceptfor a new 'nonsense' book or film. What kind offantasy world will you construct? What sort ofcharacters will be in it? Will there be a moral to thestory?

5. In 'Alice in Wonderland' there is a Mad TeaParty. Be creative and see if you can design amovie set to fit this scene. What props will therebe? What colours will you use? Who will attend?What will their costumes look like? What will therebe to eat and drink? Be as wacky as you like!

6. Find the 'Alice in Wonderland' movie traileronline and discuss your impressions of it. What doyou think the style of the film is? What stands out?

EXERCISE

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VENICE CARNIVALMasked balls and music

Now is the time of year whenVenetians celebrate theirannual carnival. Visitors fromaround the world arrive in thecity each year to experiencethe famous event. The city is amagical place, with its lights,canals, gondoliers andsplendid architecture. But in February every year itbecomes even more magical, as Venetians and visitorsalike dress up in fancy costumes and elaborate masksand celebrate in the beautiful squares.

For ten days people will stroll around the city, whichbecomes in effect a huge stage. Revellers will weareighteenth-century style costumes and enjoy a numberof events including concerts, parades, street theatre,circus and dance exhibitions.

The carnival will begin when the starting gun is fired.This year it will be fired in the Piazza San Marco, themost famous square in the city, by a famous Italiantheatre actor playing Harlequin. This year's theme is'Sensation: 6 senses for 6 neighbourhoods'. The city's 6districts are each associated with a sense and will playhost to shows representing that sense.

08/02/2010

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1. How is Venice described in the newsticker?What impression do you get of the city?

2. List the adjectives in the newsticker and write adefinition for each one.

3. How many words can you find that relate tocelebration or parties? Write a definition for eachone.

4. What do you know about Venice Carnival? Whatis its history? Why does it take place in February?Find out more!

5. Where else in the world are there annualcarnivals? What do they celebrate and what makesthem different to/the same as Venice Carnival?

6. This year's Venice carnival has the theme of thesix senses. What are the six senses?

7. Imagine you are planning this year's VeniceCarnival and you must plan events that you canstage in each district, according to the six senses.What would you organize to fit the theme?

8. Create some posters and advertisements for theVenice Carnival. Be imaginative and research thecostumes, masks and traditions first so that theylook authentic!

EXERCISE

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TROUBLE BREWINGAT TEA PARTYSarah Palin appears at politicalgathering

In a speech delivered to the firstnational Tea Party Convention inNashville, Sarah Palin warned theUSA Republican establishment not tomarginalise the activists who had come to listen to her.The former Alaska Governor also stated "America isready for another revolution!"

In her speech she declared the primacy of the TenthAmendment in limiting government powers and urgedher listeners to back conservative challengers incontested primaries. She made several digs at PresidentObama, describing him as a "law professor at a lectern"and criticizing decisions he has made, including somerelating to national security. She has previously admittedthat she has limited national security experience and sohas been called 'hypocritical' by a Democrat spokesman.

Palin, aged 45, was Senator John McCain's chosenpresidential campaign running mate. She is, according topolls, the top Republican presidential candidate for 2012.When asked if she would run, she replied: "I would, if Ibelieved that that was the right thing to do for mycountry and for my family." She claims her Tea Partyspeaker's fee, of 100,000 dollars, will go back into "thecause".

09/02/2010

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1. Do you know where the village of Cow Ark is?What kind of an area is it in? Find out more!

1. Who is Sarah Palin? What political party doesshe represent? What other roles has she hadduring her career? Find out more!

2. Palin was chosen by Senator John McCain as hisvice-presidential candidate in the 2008 USelections. Who else campaigned that year? Whowon?

3. What do you know about the Tea Partymovement? Discuss what you know in groups. Or,find out more!

4. The name 'Tea Party' is a reference to theBoston Tea Party. What was the aim of the BostonTea Party? When did the event take place? Whatmade it an iconic event? What linked it to issuesinvolving the British Empire?

5. The Boston Tea Party has become a symbol ofprotest. Can you think of any other famousprotests? Can you think of any other symbols ofprotest?

6. What political issues are most important to you?What would you be most likely to protestfor/against? Environmental issues? Nationalsecurity? Education? Healthcare? Transport?Discuss reasons for your choice.

EXERCISE

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NEW JUDGEFor America's Next Top Model

The hit reality show 'America'sNext Top Model' has welcomeda new judge to its panel. Thisjudge really knows aboutfashion. He is Andre LeonTalley, the editor-at-large forAmerican Vogue. He joins TyraBanks, photographer NigelBarker and a weekly guestjudge on the panel. Talley has signed up for threeseasons of the model competition.

60-year-old Talley has been a regular at internationalfashion shows for 25 years. He works closely withlegendary American Vogue editor Anna Wintour. Duringhis career, the flamboyant fashionista has mentoredyoung designers, artists and musicians. He has alsoappeared in cameo roles on 'The Hills' and 'Sex and theCity'. In 2008 he introduced Michelle Obama to designerJason Wu. The First Lady subsequently wore a Wu gownto her husband's inauguration.

Talley says that Anna Wintour had 'no hesitation at all'about him featuring on the show. His co-hosts, however,are rather intimidated by the fashion legend. They havebeen making sure their outfits and hairstyles are perfectduring the shoots!

10/02/2010

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1. Reread the article, highlighting the differenttypes of words you find, including:a. Nouns (person, place, thing, abstract idea)b. Adjectives (describing words that modify a nounor pronoun)c. Prepositions (such as the word 'on' in thesentence 'the cat sleeps on the sofa')d. Pronouns (replace a noun, e.g. each, some, you,she, themselves)e. Verbs (denotes an action, occurrence or state ofbeing)f. Adverbs (describes and modifies the verb, e.g. Itype fast)g. Conjuntions (join two parts of a sentence e.g.and, or, not, for, but)

2. Write a definition for each adjective youhighlighted.

3. Try rewriting the article entirely in the pasttense or the future tense.

4. How many words can you find that fall into thespecific category of fashion or beauty?

5. Find out 5 facts about Andre Leon Talley, 5 factsabout Anna Wintour and 5 facts about Voguemagazine.

6. Get into groups and set a timer for 3 minutes.See how many English words related to fashionand modelling you can come up with in that time.

EXERCISE

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RARE CREATUREEfforts to preserve theAfrican white lion

A wildlife park in Al Ain, inthe United Arab Emirates, has brought white lions to itscompound. The white lion is a genetic rarity. It is uniqueto one endemic region of the globe: the Timbavati regionof South Africa. White lions were once thought of assacred and a figment of legend. Now all white lions arein captivity and there is an urgent need to preservethem.

The last white lion was seen in the wild in 1994. Afterthat time they were technically extinct in the wild. It issuspected that the white lions cannot survive in the wilddue to a lack of camouflage. However, this theory hasnot been proven. Experts say that the African lion ingeneral is in catastrophic decline. There were once450,000 lions across the continent. Now there are just20,000. Many conservation groups are working to savethem.

The lions in the Al Ain park are there to be showcased.The park wants to raise awareness of the danger thewhite lion is in. The lions arrived three months ago andhave been acclimatised by trainers. The trainers havegained their confidence and built relationships with themby handfeeding and sitting with them.

11/02/2010

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1. Write a definition in English of 'endangeredspecies'.

2. Many iconic species like the white lion are indanger of becoming extinct. The WWF workstowards helping the following species (and more):African Elephant, African Rhino, Bonobo,Chimpanzees, Giant panda, Gorilla, Marine turtles,Orangutan, Polar Bear, River Dolphins, Tigers, TreeKangaroos, Whales.

Divide into groups, select three of these examplesand find out why they are endangered and whattheir extinction would mean for the planet.

3. What is an ecosystem? How might animalextinction affect a particular ecosystem?

4. What kind of destructive human activities leadto the endangering of animals? What could bedone to stop these activities?

5. Create a poster that raises awareness of theplight of one of the endangered species listed here.

EXERCISE

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RED ROSES ANDDIAMONDS?The true meaning of Valentine's Day

Saint Valentine's Day is an annualholiday held on February the 14th. Itcelebrates love and affection. Thename Valentine comes from one ormore early Christian martyrs. Onelegend has it that Valentine was a third-century Romanpriest who performed marriages in secret. Anotherlegend claims Valentine sent the first 'valentine' greetinghimself, while in prison.

The day first became associated with romance in theHigh Middle Ages. This was when the tradition of courtlylove reached its peak. St Valentine's Day containselements of both Christian and ancient Roman tradition.

On Valentine's Day, people express their love for oneanother by giving gifts and making special gestures.Gifts of a single stem red rose or a dozen red roses aretraditional. Other typical gifts are jewellery andconfectionery. Greetings cards are known simply as'Valentines' and can be sweet, romantic or funny. TheU.S. Greeting Card Association estimates that one billionvalentines are sent every year across the world. WrittenValentines didn't appear until after 1400 and the oldestknown card is on display at the British Museum.

12/02/2010

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1. What does Valentine's Day mean for you? What doyou associate with it? Write a paragraph explaining youranswer.

2. Who or what is Cupid? Why is Cupid associated withValentine's Day?

3. What are some traditional symbols of Valentine's Day?

4. You have probably heard of the following poem:Roses are red,Violets are blue,Sugar is sweet;And so are you.Many different variations (often funny) of this poemhave been written. Try making up a variation of yourown. Here is an example:Roses are red.Violets are blue.Cashews are nuts.And so are you.

5. Valentine's Day is a day when couples declare theirlove. List as many famous couples from history as youcan in 3 minutes.

6. Valentine's Day is not celebrated in every country.However, some countries that do not celebrate it havesimilar days that represent love and affection. See if youcan find out about similar holidays. Does your countrycelebrate Valentine's Day? If so, how? If not, does itcelebrate something similar?

EXERCISE

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NATIONAL FLAG OF CANADA DAYCommemoration of flag inauguration

National Flag of CanadaDay is observed each yearon the 15th of February. Itis marked in various ways.The maple leaf flag is flown,there are occasional publicceremonies, andschoolchildren study itshistory. The flag wasinaugurated in 1965 byGovernor General Georges Vanier. The flag replaced theCanadian Red Ensign, which had been used since 1868.The House of Commons passed the new flag onDecember the 15th, 1964. Two days later, it wasapproved by the Senate. Afterwards, Elizabeth II, Queenof Canada, proclaimed that the new flag would be in usefrom February the 15th 1965.

There has been a great deal of discussion about whetherNational Flag of Canada Day should become a publicholiday. Many Canadians believe the day should be aholiday, especially because there are so few publicholidays early in the year. When the flag celebrated its40th anniversary in 2005, public opinion became evenclearer. This year, Giant Tiger retailer in DowntownPembroke is hosting Flag Day. It is encouraging thepublic to sign a flag that will go to Canadian troops inAfghanistan.

15/02/2010

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1. Find a picture of the Red Ensign online andcompare it to the current national flag of Canada.What are the differences? Which do you prefer?Explain your answer.

2. What is your country's flag like? Can you drawit? Do you know if your country has had anyprevious flags? Find out more about the history ofyour national flag!

3. How many national flags do you know? How dothey differ?

4. How important do you think flags are? Explainyour answer as fully as you can. Do they give asense of identity and belonging?

5. Do you think there should be a national holidayin Canada to mark the inauguration of the flag?List your reasons.

6. What other items or symbols can be importantin forming a sense of national identity? See howmany symbols you can list that represent yourcountry.

7. Imagine that you are in charge of designing anew flag for your country. What colours would youchoose, and what symbols or patterns would therebe upon it?

EXERCISE

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MARDI GRASTradition and celebration

'Mardi Gras' means 'Fat Tuesday' in French. The holidayis also referred to as 'Shrove Tuesday' or 'Pancake Day'.It marks the carnival celebrations beginning on or afterthe Epiphany and ending the day before Ash Wednesday.The 'Fat' in the name refers to the practice of eating richfoods before the start of Lent. Lent is traditionally aperiod of ritual fasting and abstinence. The date of MardiGras varies, because it depends on the dates of Easter.Easter is a moveable feast based on moon cycles.

Shrove Tuesday is an important festival in CatholicEuropean nations. In the UK and Ireland, 'shrovetide' isthe week before Ash Wednesday. The word 'shrove'comes from the verb 'shrive'. It means to obtainabsolution for sins by confession and doing penance.Pancakes are eaten on this day, because the ingredients(sugar, fat and eggs) were traditionally forbidden duringLent.

The day is also observed in the English-speakingcountries of Canada, Australia, New Zealand and theUSA. Many other countries worldwide have a similarholiday and celebration. Mardi Gras traditions includewearing costumes, dancing and holding parades. Citiesfamous for their celebrations include Rio de Janeiro,Quebec City, Mazatlan and New Orleans.

16/02/2010

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1. Have you ever celebrated Mardi Gras or been toa Mardi Gras carnival? If so, describe what you didand discuss what you think of the tradition. If not,find out more about the holiday and discuss whatyou think about it.

2. Do some research to see what other countriescelebrate on this day. What do their celebrationsinvolve? To get you started, you might want tolook at Iceland's 'Sprengtidagur' (Bursting Day) orSweden's 'Fettisdagen' (Fat Tuesday). Discuss thesimilarities and differences between celebrationsin the different countries you have studied.

3. What do you know about Ash Wednesday,Epiphany, Lent and Easter? Get into groups,research one of the above and then discuss yourfindings all together in one big group.

4. Create a poster to advertise the carnival in Riode Janeiro. Think about what kind of colourfulcostumes, props and scenery there would be in thecity during the Mardi Gras celebrations.

5. Just about every country in the world has itsown version of the pancake. There are crepes andgalettes in France, necci in Italy and blinis inRussia. What types of pancakes have you eaten?How many different types of pancakes can you findout about?

EXERCISE

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CALIFORNIASURF CONTESTUnexpected monsterwaves hurt spectators

The Mavericks Surf Contest in California needs bigwaves. But not as big as it had this week. Spectators ofthe competition got swept away by two huge waves ataround 9.00 am on Saturday the 13th of February. A fewhundred people were on the seawall at Pillar Point whenthe waves came.

A huge swell pushed the waves to a height of 30 to 40feet. Fans ended up with broken bones and otherinjuries. Thirteen people were hurt. Two were taken tohospital. The waves managed to break throughscaffolding, upon which broadcasters and commentatorswere standing.

The winner of the contest was South African surfer ChrisBertish. He won 50,000 dollars. Shane Desmond camesecond and Anthony Tashnick won third place. However,the minds of the spectators and surfers were stilloccupied by the shocking events that took place earlierin the day.

Spectators were warned before the contest to keep asafe distance from the ocean. Rip currents and ruggedcliffs make the seawall a dangerous place in normalcircumstances. But nobody expected the giant waveswould arrive and sweep spectators off their feet.

17/02/2010

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1. Surfing was a central part of ancient Polynesianculture. Find out more about this early part of itshistory.

2. Which countries do surfers head to mostfrequently? What continents are they on? Why arethey popular surfing destinations?

3. Write a description of surfing in 20 words.

4. Get into groups and have a competition. Seehow many words related to surfing you can comeup with in two minutes.

5. What other watersports can you think of? Howmany of them are surfing-related?

6. There is now a whole culture based aroundsurfing. Do you know what any of the followingterms mean?a. the Woodieb. boardshortsc. sidewalk surfingd. wipeoute. tube ridingf. hanging ten / hanging five

7. Surfing is a sport that has lots of potentialdangers. What do you think is dangerous about thesport? See how many dangerous factors you canlist.

EXERCISE

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TUTANKHAMUNNew research on king's familytree

History teachers all over theworld tell their pupils about howKing Tutankhamun had a cursethat touched all those involvedin discovering his tomb. Now,though, new research suggeststhat he was also under a cursehimself. The first ever DNAstudy of his remains has been carried out. Scientistsclaim that he had a curse embedded in his DNA.

The boy king had a weak constitution, which may haveled to his early death. Previous studies have suggestedthat Tutankhamun was murdered, thrown from hischariot or perhaps attacked by an animal. This newresearch proposes instead that the pharoah was a sicklyadolescent. He may have died, they suggest, fromcomplications following a bout of malaria. Tutankhamundied aged 19 in 1324 BC, nine years after becomingking.

The scientists are from Egypt, Italy and Germany. Theyused DNA testing techniques, such as CT scans, geneticfingerprinting and blood group tests. They discoveredthat a degenerative bone condition was passed downthrough Tutankhamun's family. This helps explain how130 walking sticks were found in his tomb in 1922.

18/02/2010

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1. Who was Tutankhamun? Find out more!

2. How was Tutankhamun's tomb discovered?

3. What is archaeology? See if you can explain itclearly in 20 words.

4. What do you know about Ancient Egyptian Art?Before you research it in groups, discuss what youthink it is and what features it might have. Whatcolours and materials are used? What kind ofartefacts are common in Egyptian art? Once youhave found some examples of Ancient Egyptian artonline, see how close your impressions andthoughts were to the real thing! Check:http://www.tutsanfrancisco.org/education/images

5. Harry Burton was the official photographer forthe excavation team working on the uncovering ofTutankhamun's tomb.Look at:http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:The_Moment_Carter_Opens_the_Tomb.JPG and examinethis picture and note down what you see in it.What can you see of Egyptian culture? Whatimpression does it give of the task of thearchaeologist? What questions does it make youwant to ask? How can this picture be helpful tohistorians?

EXERCISE