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Quiz Whizz – 19
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Eco-friendly innovations
Paper, sugarcane, chocolate, clay…. what’s your Ganesha going to be made of?
With people becoming increasingly environmentally conscious, Ganesh Chaturthi celebrations are undergoing a change. No more are plaster-of-Paris Ganeshas popular, and people are finding eco-friendly alternatives for their idols.
Scroll through these slides to see some innovative Ganeshas.
Statescan – September 14, 2018
Kolkata tea seller donates all his savings to Kerala CM’s relief fund, Shillong CM urges the youth to uitilise government welfare programmes to increase entrepreneurship, and more. What else is happening around the country? Read on.
Here is an interactive map with this week’s news updates from various states across the country. Click on the hotspots to read more!
Beside and besides
Beside, without the ‘s’, tells us the location of something. Besides, on the other hand, means “in addition,” “in addition to,” “moreover,” or “as well,” depending on context. Can you figure out which goes where in these sentences?
The words ‘beside’ and ‘besides’ cause some confusion. ‘Beside’ is usually used to mean next to or in comparison with, while ‘besides’ is used to mean except or in addition to. See if you can use the words correctly to complete these sentences.
Welcome, autumn
September skies marks the onset of winter in the Northern hemisphere. But there’s more…mystical lights, flying horses and planets on parade.
September skies will light up and it’s more than just the celestial change of seasons. Watch the west to see four bright planets — Neptune, Venus, Jupiter and Mars.
Last week, you would have seen Neptune as it was close to Earth. It was brightest at this time of the year and coupled with a dark sky thanks to the New Moon, made for perfect viewing.
What’s the right word?
The spelling difference between beside and besides is a small one, but their meanings and uses are quite different!
The words beside and besides cause some confusion. Beside is usually used to mean next to or in comparison with, while besides is used to mean except or in addition to. See if you can use the words correctly to complete these sentences.
Tickin’ away
Tick, tick, tick… time and tide wait for none. So, pass your time with this interactive crossword about time. How many can you get right?
Toys from Trash – Cup Centrifuge
Science experiments don’t always have to be made in a lab. Sometimes, all you need are easy-to-find materials. Watch this video for more.
Caught in a flood
The unrelenting monsoon caused rivers in Kerala to overflow, causing unprecedented disaster to people, animals and the land. Let’s take a look at a few major rivers in the state.
Illustration: Sreejith R. Kumar
Every year, Kerala looks forward to the Southwest monsoon. It brings with it hope of relief from the relentless heat of summer, rain that moistens the earth readying it for cultivation and thus ensuring a good harvest and also replenishing the water table. However, this year, the monsoon was more than liberal. Excessive rain caused flooding, untold misery and loss. Almost all 14 districts of the state were placed on high alert. The state has had a similar experience nearly a century ago.
For the first time in the history of Kerala, 35 of the 42 dams in the state were opened. For the first time in 26 years, all five overflow gates of the Idukki Dam were opened.
Given the situation, let’s take a look at the state and its connection to water. First is its position, lying as it does between the Lakshadweep Sea and the Western Ghats. Despite its narrow width, the state can be divided into high mountains, lowlands and the coastal plains. The last is covered by a network of canals, lakes, estuaries and rivers. The largest lake is Vembanad, which lies between Alappuzha and Kochi. The state has 44 rivers, of which 41 originate in the Western Ghats. These comprise around eight per cent of India’s waterways. Among the well-known ones are the Periyar, the Bharathapuzha, the Pamba, and the Chalakudy.
Check out these rivers and get to know them better.
Football fantasy
Football is a good sport for maintaining health, fitness, strength and endurance. You can play with a club, learn through a coaching camp or have a kick around with friends.
England it is, that invented a game of running around kicking a ball in the mid-19th century. They named it football, not because the ball is played with the feet, but because the game is played on foot rather than on horseback.
However, the Chinese played a gamed called Cuju, Tsu Chu or Zugiu which has been recognised by the Fédération Internationale de Football Association (FIFA) as the first version of the game with regular rules.
The health benefits of playing football are many. First and foremost, it is a fun workout. It increases aerobic capacity and cardiovascular health. During the game the player shifts from walking, running and sprinting and thus improves muscle tone, builds strength, flexibility and endurance. By playing this game you also increase muscle and bone strength. It is a non contact sport and helps learn coordination. It helps to increase concentration, persistence and self-discipline.
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