1. DEBATE DONE

The debate between Vice President Kamala Harris and former President Donald Trump last12 Tuesday was watched by 67.1 million people, making it the most-watched moment of the 2024 presidential campaign so far. This was 31% more viewers than the previous debate between Trump and President Biden in June. The debate was hosted by ABC News in Philadelphia, and many people watched on TV as well as online. Younger people, especially those between 18 and 54, helped increase the number of viewers. ABC News had the most viewers, with 19.1 million people watching. The debate was also shown on several other channels like Fox News and CNN. People were especially interested in learning more about Kamala Harris, as she had recently replaced President Biden in the election race. In a debate, a moderator asks the candidates about their views and ideas on different issues. If you were able to ask the two presidential candidates anything, what would you ask? Write at least five questions you would want to ask the future president.

2. WHAT’S IN A NAME?

A new study shows that marmosets, small monkeys from South America, might use names to call each other, just like humans do. These monkeys make different sounds, called "phee calls," to communicate. Researchers found that each marmoset uses a special sound when talking to a specific monkey, similar to how we call each other by name. Scientists studied 10 marmosets and recorded over 50,000 calls. They used a computer to figure out which monkey was being called, and found that the monkeys responded more to the calls that used their "names." This discovery suggests that naming might be common among social animals like monkeys, elephants, and dolphins. Write a summary of this story including at least five facts you learned.

3. COMMUNITY CUB

In a small farming community in Peru called Santa Catalina de Chongoyape, a new spectacled bear cub was born in a rescue center. The bear, who hasn't been named yet, was found by park rangers when they noticed the mother bear, named Lola, wasn't leaving her den. The cub was born in mid-July and is the second bear to be born there after another cub was born six years ago. Spectacled bears are a vulnerable species from the Andes in South America. The community has built a special reserve to protect these bears and other animals, like the white-winged guan. The spectacled bear is also famous because of Paddington Bear, a character from children's books created by Michael Bond. Write a short story or draw a comic strip about this story.

4. TOURIST TROUBLE

Rome might start charging people to visit the Trevi Fountain to help protect it. The Italian city is thinking about requiring a ticket, which would cost about two euros, to manage the large number of tourists. Right now, the fountain gets really crowded, and visitors sometimes leave trash or cause damage. The plan is to have a reservation system where people can book a 30-minute slot to be close to the fountain for photos. The area around the fountain would stay open to everyone, but only those with tickets could get up close. This idea is similar to what Rome did with other famous sites like the Pantheon and Roman Forum, where tickets are now required. The city hopes this will keep the fountain clean and enjoyable for everyone, especially with more visitors expected soon because of a big event called the Jubilee. Write a paragraph about why you think it would be important to protect historic sites from being damaged.

5. SNACKS CAUSING HAVOC

A bag of Cheetos left in Carlsbad Caverns National Park caused a lot of trouble. The Cheetos made the cave floor and nearby cave formations grow mold because of the humidity. Tiny insects and microbes spread the mold, affecting the delicate cave ecosystem. The park rangers found the bag during their daily checks and cleaned up the mess. They used special tools and methods to make sure the cave stayed clean and safe. The park doesn’t allow food inside the caves to prevent problems like this. Carlsbad Caverns, like other national parks, often gets litter from visitors. Rangers and volunteers work hard to keep the parks clean and protect the natural beauty. Visitors are reminded to follow the rules to help preserve these special places. Create a design for a poster that shares with National Parks visitors why it’s important to clean up after yourself and be mindful of your surroundings.