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Vol. 76 No. 12 ISSN 0736-0592

January 13, 2014Edition 4

Remembering Nelson MandelaPage 2

Olympic Torch RelayPage 6

Mummy Mystery

UNWRAPPED?

www.scholastic.com/sn4

Watch a Video “Digging Up the Past”

A scientist thinks he’s figured

out what killed Egypt’s famous

boy ruler, King Tut.

Page 4

King Tut’s golden coffin

Fighting for FairnessMandela was a leader in the

fight to end apartheid. That was a brutal system in South Africa that kept black people and white people segregated. In a country that was mostly black, only whites were allowed to vote. Blacks couldn’t socialize with whites or even leave their own neighborhoods without the government’s permission.

By fighting to end apartheid, Mandela became a target of the government. In 1964, after being accused of trying to help overthrow the government, he

2

People around the world are still mourning the death of Nelson Mandela.

The civil rights hero and former President of South Africa died last month at age 95. For years, Mandela had fought to end segregation in his country.

“I am one of the countless millions who drew inspiration from Nelson Mandela’s life,” said President Barack Obama.

A Heroic LifeSouth African civil rights leader Nelson Mandela is remembered worldwide as a champion of equality

SCHOLASTIC NEWS EDITION 4 • JANUARY 13, 2014

was sentenced to life in prison. But even from his prison cell on Robben Island, Mandela fought for justice. He wrote repeatedly to South Africa’s President F. W. de Klerk. Mandela convinced de Klerk to secretly meet with him and other black leaders to discuss how to solve South Africa’s problems.

Finally, in 1990, de Klerk began taking steps toward ending apartheid. After 27 years in prison, Mandela, then 71 years old, was a free man.

In 1993, Mandela, de Klerk, and other leaders wrote a new constitution that guaranteed equal rights for all South Africans. Mandela was elected President the following year, when black South Africans were allowed to vote for the first time. He served as South Africa’s first black President from 1994 to 1999.

After he left office, Mandela continued to speak out against injustice in his own country and abroad. To many, he will always be a symbol of peace and equality.

Word to Know

segregation (seg-ruh-GAY-shun) noun. the practice of keeping groups apart, often because of race

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Nelson Mandela cheers a crowd of

his supporters in 1999.

scholastic.com/sn4Watch a Video

South Africa has three capitals, one for each branch of its government.

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Giant African land snails are no ordinary snails. They’re the size of rats,

and they leave behind a thick layer of slime as they move. But the gross-out factor isn’t the reason officials in Miami, Florida, don’t want the species around. The snails eat more than 500 types of native plants, including farmers’ crops. They can also carry diseases in their slime that can be harmful to humans. Now, wildlife officials are training dogs to help them sniff out the pests.

Giant African snails are an invasive species—an animal or a plant that moves into an area and harms native species. The snails were first spotted in Florida about two years ago. Experts say they were probably brought there illegally from Africa as pets. Some snails likely escaped and quickly

multiplied. Thousands of these slow-moving creatures are now loose in and around Miami.

Luckily, the snails leave a smelly trail with their slime. That makes it easy for dogs like Labrador retrievers to help Florida officials by sniffing the snails out. Since 2011, Florida has spent about $6 million to get rid of the pests. State officials think they now have the giant snails confined to the Miami area. They also say the snails’ numbers are dropping.

“We are confident we will win this fight,” says Florida wildlife official Adam Putnam.

confined (kuhn-FINED) verb. kept within a certain area

Word to Know

Sniffing for

Dogs are the newest weapon in Florida’s fight against a giant snail

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3 www.scholastic.com/sn4

How do you make a sandbag with no sand? It

sounds like a trick question. But 12-year-old Peyton Robertson invented a sandless sandbag that could save lives and property during floods.

Before hurricanes and heavy rainstorms, people often stack sandbags to form barriers to help prevent flooding. But the bags are heavy and hard to carry. Plus, water can seep through the gaps between stacked bags.

So Peyton, a sixth-grader from Fort Lauderdale, Florida, decided to create a better bag (below). It’s filled with a mixture of chemicals and salt instead of sand. When it’s dry, the bag is much lighter than a regular sandbag. When it gets wet, the mixture expands, keeping out water more effectively. Peyton’s design earned him the top prize at the 2013 Discovery Education 3M Young Scientist Challenge.

“I like to use science to solve problems in the world,” Peyton says.

It’s in the Bag

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Death of a Boy KingA scientist thinks he’s

solved one of history’s greatest mysteries

King Tut was just 9 years old when he became the ruler of Egypt about 3,300 years ago. The

boy king, whose full name was Tutankhamen (TOO-tahn-KAH-men), died just 10 years later.

British archaeologist Howard Carter stumbled upon King Tut’s tomb in 1922. Scientists have since learned a lot about the teen pharaoh, or ancient Egyptian king. But one thing has remained a mystery: How did he die?

Now Chris Naunton, director of the Egypt Exploration Society, says he may have finally solved the puzzle. After studying

Words to Know

archaeologist (ar-kee-OL-uh-jist) noun. a person who learns about the past by digging up old buildings and objects

simulate (SIM-yoo-layt) verb. to re-create an event or a process, often using a computer

nearly 100 years’ worth of evidence, he has come up with his answer: The boy king was killed in a chariot accident.

A Golden DiscoveryNot much was known about

King Tut before his tomb was discovered about 90 years ago. It was the most well-preserved ancient Egyptian tomb ever found. At the center was a gold coffin containing Tut’s mummy. The ancient Egyptians preserved people as mummies because they believed they would need their bodies in the afterlife.

Over the years, history buffs and scientists have come up with many theories about the cause of Tut’s death, including an infection and a blood disease. But Naunton wasn’t convinced that the answer had been found.

In 2012, Naunton decided to try to crack the case. He began

4 SCHOLASTIC NEWS EDITION 4 • JANUARY 13, 2014

King Tut’s gold coffin

Chris Naunton with the mummy of King Tut at the Egyptian Museum in Cairo

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Death of a Boy King

5 www.scholastic.com/sn4

by looking back at Carter’s notes. “We [wanted] to see if there

was anything in there that might be worth following up,” Naunton says.

Mummy MysteryCarter’s notes show that Tut’s

mummy wasn’t prepared like most other mummies. For one thing, his chest had been stuffed with linen and other materials.

That led Naunton to examine X-ray images of Tut’s skeleton that had been taken over the years. They showed that the young pharaoh’s heart and some of his ribs were missing. Naunton thought that Tut’s ribs and heart must have been so badly damaged that they were removed from his body before his burial. He thinks that’s why

Tut’s chest was stuffed with linen—to keep it from collapsing. The question was: What could have caused that much damage?

Case Closed?Ancient Egyptian rulers often

rode in horse-drawn chariots while hunting or during battles. In the past, some experts

suggested Tut may have died in a chariot crash. Naunton had the same idea. To test his theory, he asked a group

of car-crash investigators to use computers to simulate a series of chariot accidents. They determined that if a chariot had struck Tut in a certain way, it would have crushed his ribs and heart. Naunton believed he had his answer.

However, many archaeologists don’t agree. Some say Tut’s ribs weren’t crushed. They think Carter’s team removed the ribs to make it easier to carry Tut’s mummy out of the tomb. They also point out that Tut wasn’t the only pharaoh to be buried without a heart.

Still, Naunton stands by his claim. But, he adds, “I wouldn’t want to think that this discussion is completely over.”

—by Joe Bubar

The ancient Egyptians took about 70 days to prepare a

body as a mummy. Only rulers and wealthy people got the full treatment. Here are the basics.

uRemove the organs. The Egyptians usually left in the heart, believing that a pharaoh would need it in the afterlife.

v Add salt. Workers used a type of salt called natron to fill and completely cover the body.

w Wrap it up. After 40 days, workers rubbed scented oils on the body to keep the skin soft. Finally, they wrapped the body in strips of linen and placed it inside a sarcophagus (a coffin).

A chariot found in King Tut’s tomb

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6 SCHOLASTIC NEWS EDITION 4 • JANUARY 13, 2014

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1. The torch will travel the most miles in Russia by ___.A carB boatC plane D train

2. The torch left from ___ to head to the North Pole. A MagadanB KhabarovskC Novosibirsk D Murmansk

3. The torch traveled ___ after it left Olympia, Greece. A northeastB southeastC northwestD southwest

MAP QUIZ Use the map to answer the following questions.

The 2014 Olympic torch relay has been a wild one

ARCTICOCEAN

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2014 Olympic Torch Relay

RUSSIA

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Record-Setting Relay

Word to Know

monumental (mon-yoo-MENT-uhl) adjective. of great importance, extent, or size

September 29The relay starts when the torch is lit in Olympia, Greece. That was the site of the first Olympics nearly 2,800 years ago.

The 2014 Winter Olympics are set to kick off next month in Sochi (SO-chee), Russia. The Olympic torch is on its way there now. The

torch relay is an Olympic tradition, and this year’s is the longest in the history of the Winter Games. About 14,000 torchbearers are taking turns carrying the flame across Russia, the

world’s biggest country. The torch’s journey has also included its first visit to the North Pole and a trip into outer space! On February 7, the final torchbearer will light the Olympic cauldron in Sochi, signaling the start of this year’s Games.

Here’s a look at some of the monumental moments of the torch relay so far.

October 6 The torch arrives by plane in Moscow, Russia’s capital. (The torch isn’t lit during air travel.)

November 9Astronauts on the International Space Station take the torch on its first-ever space walk.

POSTAL INFORMATION: SCHOLASTIC NEWS Edition 4 (ISSN 0736-0592) is published weekly during the school year except holidays and midterm, 22 issues, by Scholastic Inc., 2931 East McCarty St., P.O. Box 3710, Jefferson City, MO 65102-3710. Periodical postage paid at Jefferson City, MO 65102 and at additional mailing offices. POSTMASTERS: Send notice of address changes to SCHOLASTIC NEWS Edition 4, 2931 East McCarty St., P.O. Box 3710, Jefferson City, MO 65102-3710. Copyright ©2014 by Scholastic Inc. All Rights Reserved. Printed in the USA

7 www.scholastic.com/sn4

YOUR TURN

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CLA��ROOM PLAYHave you ever used an iPhone, an iPad, or any other Apple product? Have you ever wondered how those gadgets were created? Then you should read Steve Jobs: Thinking Differently by Patricia Lakin.

It’s a biography about Steve Jobs, the man who helped create the Apple computer. He was also a co-founder and chairman of the Apple company.

But Jobs didn’t start out on top. In fact, he was fired from one of his first jobs. This book is full of facts about his childhood, company, and inventions, and how he turned his failures into success.

— Skye L., New York

Steve Jobs: Thinking Differently

BOOK REVIEWBOOK REVIEW

Cole is in math class the day before a big exam. His teacher asks if anyone has any last-minute questions about the equations. None of the students raise their hands. Cole doesn’t understand some of the material, but he is too embarrassed to ask for help.

What should Cole do? Send us your response! We’ll publish some of our favorite entries online. For details, visit www.scholastic.com/sn4.

7 www.scholastic.com/sn4

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Write a review of one of your favorite books, and we may publish it! Send your review to:

Scholastic News 4 Attn: Book Reviews557 BroadwayNew York, NY 10012

NOTE: We get so many book reviews that we can’t respond to every submission.

Should Everyone Get a Trophy?A youth football league in Keller, Texas, stopped giving trophies to

all of its players this season. Instead, only the league champions were rewarded. League officials say that in the real world, people aren’t rewarded just for participating. But many people argue that trophies for participation boost kids’ self-esteem and encourage them to keep playing. Here’s what two of our readers think.

Everyone should get a trophy for playing a sport. It is important to reward kids for doing their best and being part of a team. Plus, getting trophies makes kids feel good. Kids should be rewarded for meeting their own goals and showing good sportsmanship, not just for winning games.

Not everyone who plays a sport should get a trophy. If kids get trophies just for participating, they won’t learn that sometimes they have to do more than just show up to succeed in life. Also, if everyone gets a trophy, the kids on

winning teams may think their trophies are less special.

Cedric Moxey, Nebraska

Aiesha Abdulla, California

scholastic.com/sn4Vote Online

DEBATE

Yes No

�TICKY �ITUATION

News IQ: pages 4-5News IQ: pages 2-3

name

4. What does Chris Naunton believe was the cause of King Tut’s death? a kick from a horse C an infection a chariot accident D a blood disease

5. The author writes that Naunton wanted to “crack the case.” He means that Naunton wanted to ___. break open King Tut’s coffin work with car-crash investigatorsC solve the mystery of King Tut’s death D accept an assignment to study Tut’s

mummy

6. According to the article, how did King Tut’s mummy differ from other Egyptian mummies? Tut’s chest was stuffed with linen. None of Tut’s organs were removed.C Tut’s body was covered with salt. D Tut’s body was placed in a sarcophagus.

7. Study the map. Tut’s tomb is closest to which place? Alexandria C Luxor the Sinai Peninsula D Cairo

1. Which of the following events in Nelson Mandela’s life occurred first? He was elected President of South Africa. He was sentenced to life in prison.C He helped write a new constitution for

South Africa. D He convinced South Africa’s president to

meet with him and other black leaders.

2. Which words from the article best help you understand what apartheid was? segregation, injustice segregation, overthrowC civil rights, equality D government, free

3. “Sniffing for Slime” is mainly about ___. how dogs are being used to help get rid of

African snails in Florida how African snails can carry

harmful diseasesC the amount of money

Florida has spent to remove African snails

D how African snails ended up in Florida

News Graph1. Which Olympics shown had

the longest torch relay?

________________________

2. The distance traveled during the torch relay was closest during which two Olympic Games?

________________________

________________________

3. How many more torchbearers will the Sochi Olympics have compared with the most recent Summer Olympics?

________________________

This page is interactive! • www.scholastic.com/sn4 • Go online for more quizzes!

8 SCHOLASTIC NEWS EDITION 4 • JANUARY 13, 2014

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The 2014 Olympic torch relay is the longest in the history of the Winter Games. Some Summer Olympic relays were even longer, however. Here’s how the torch’s trip to Sochi stacks up against other recent torch relays.

Recent Olympic Torch Relays

Year Season Site Distance of Torch Relay

Number of Torchbearers

2014 Winter Sochi, Russia 40,000 miles 14,000

2012 Summer London, England 8,000 miles 8,000

2010 Winter Vancouver, Canada 28,000 miles 12,000

2008 Summer Beijing, China 85,000 miles 22,000

2006 Winter Torino, Italy 7,000 miles 10,000

2004 Summer Athens, Greece 48,000 miles 11,000 Source: Olympic.org

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