An unidentified flying object, often abbreviated UFO , is an unusual apparent anomaly in the sky that is not readily identifiable to the observer as any known object. Originally referred to popularly as "flying saucers" during the late 40's, the term UFO became more widespread during the 50s at first in professional literature, but later in popular language. UFOs garnered considerable interest during the Cold War, an era associated with a hightened concern for national security. Various studies, both governmental and civilian, have concluded that the phenomenon does not represent a threat to national security nor does it contain anything worthy of scientific persuit, although there is disagreement. Culturally, the phenomenon has often been associated with extraterrestrial life or government-related conspiracy theories, and thus has become a popular theme in fiction.
Studies have established that the majority of UFO observations are misidentified conventional objects or natural phenomena—most commonly aircraft, balloons, noctilucent clouds, nacreous clouds, or astronomical objects such as meteors or bright planets with a small percentage even being hoaxes.[7] After excluding incorrect reports, however, most investigators have acknowledged that between 5% and 20% of reported sightings remain unexplained, and therefore can be classified as unidentified in the strictest sense. Many reports have been made by such trained observers as pilots, police, and the military; some have involved simultaneous radar tracking and visual accounts.[8] Proponents of the extraterrestrial hypothesis suggest that these unexplained reports are of alien spacecraft, though various other hypotheses have been proposed.

Atlantis is a legendary island first mentioned in Plato's dialogues Timaeus and Critias, written about 360 BC. According to Plato, Atlantis was a naval power lying "in front of the Pillars of Hercules" that conquered many parts of Western Europe and Africa 9,000 years before the time of Solon, or approximately 9600 BC. After a failed attempt to invade Athens, Atlantis sank into the ocean "in a single day and night of misfortune".
Scholars dispute whether and how much Plato's story or account was inspired by older traditions. In Critias, Plato claims that his accounts of ancient Athens and Atlantis stem from a visit to Egypt by the legendary Athenian lawgiver Solon in the 6th century BC. In Egypt, Solon met a priest of Sais, who translated the history of ancient Athens and Atlantis, recorded on papyri in Egyptian hieroglyphs, into Greek. Some scholars argue Plato drew upon memories of past events such as the Thera eruption or the Trojan War, while others insist that he took inspiration from contemporary events like the destruction of Helike in 373 BC[1] or the failed Athenian invasion of Sicily in 415–413 BC.
The possible existence of a genuine Atlantis was discussed throughout classical antiquity, but it was usually rejected and occasionally parodied by later authors. Alan Cameron states: "It is only in modern times that people have taken the Atlantis story seriously; no one did so in antiquity".[2] The Timaeus remained known in a Latin rendition by Calcidius through the Middle Ages, and the allegorical aspect of Atlantis was taken up by Humanists in utopian works of several Renaissance writers, such as Francis Bacon's New Atlantis and Thomas More's Utopia. Atlantis inspires today's literature, from science fiction to comic books to films. Its name has become a byword for any and all supposed advanced prehistoric lost civilizations.

C 6
January 6th, it was half past eleven, the Manor House in Birlstone, a gun shot was fired and Mr. Douglas was dead; as told by Cecil Barker. The Douglas family had only two members, the husband and the wife. The only outsider who was a welcome visitor was Cecil Barker. At the time of murder, Barker was in his bedroom. On hearing the fire, he rushed down the staircase and after him came Mrs. Douglas on hearing the same sound. C Barker’s immediate reaction was to stop Mrs. Douglas from seeing the dead body. The door was open, as told by C Barker. Also the draw bridge was raised at 6 o’clock and was up all the night. So, if anyone came from outside, he/she must have got across the bridge before six and had been hiding ever since. The person was waiting and shot Douglas when he/she could. As Barker said, the diamond panned window was open to its full extent. He speculated that it was not a suicide; the murderer probably escaped by the window and wadded across the moat. It is hard to point out anyone from the House or if it was a burglar who broke into and killed Douglas. Investigation is still going on.

B3 children Name | Shravan | Narendra | Age | 13 years | 13 years | Parents | He is an orphan. His father died of a stroke and his mother fell ill and died a couple of years ago. | His father is a dedicated police officer. His parents are very supportive and encourage him to paint. | How he spends a typical day | His day begins when most other people’s ends. He starts working around seven in the evening. He prepares samosas, tea and coffee and carries these to several press offices. Then he does the dishes and collects the money from everywhere. Then around six in the morning, when all the newspapers are dispatched and all the press employees leave for their home he prepares his food and then takes bath and goes to sleep. | During afternoon after he reaches home from school, he likes to paint or play. Health conscious, he plays tennis and swims regularly in evening. He studies before dinner and goes to bed at 10 O’clock. | Recreation/hobbies | Cinema is his favourite form of entertainment. He even wakes up early to watch the noon show. He misses the time when he used to play gully danda and marbles in his village. | He loves to paint. He recently received Soviet Land Nehru Award for drawing and painting. However, he does not intend to become an artist as he says, “Drawing and painting are just hobbies, which give me a great deal of pleasure.” | Hopes/dreams/ambitions | He wants to fulfil his mother’s dream to own a big shop. Also, he dreams of getting back the land his father mortgaged in his village. His brother and he have already paid back the loan of 8000, now only the interest is left to be paid. | He aspires to become a police officer, just like his father. He has been observing his father and other police men for a very long time. Very confidently he confirms that he possesses the qualities of a good police officer. He is physically fit and mentally alert. A member of a local sports club, he plays tennis in the evening and also swims regularly. | Your assessment of his future | Shravan is a young son of his deceased parents, trying to survive in the big city. He is trying to make a living out of the little he has. His future is lost in bewilderment. Although he is better than what he used to be; however, not good enough like other children at his age. At 13, he is working, serving samosas, tea and coffee, staying up late, working through the night. His childhood is burdened by debt and his dead mother’s dream to fulfil, of owning a shop of his own; he has to restore the land his father mortgaged in their village before he died. At the mercy of his fate, he survives and tries to make an identity of himself. | Narendra is a boy who is bestowed with a well to do family. He has received all the basic amenities and good education. Well focused, he is concerned about his future; he has a goal and a plan. Life is not that tough for him as compared to Shravan. He has loving and supportive parents. All this makes it quiet easier for him to accomplish his goals. He is not just good at sports and chases his hobbies, but also is serious about the career he wants to pursue. If all goes smoothly the way it is, if he stays focussed and passionate about his ambitions and dreams, he has a very bright future. |

D3 Features | As we see ourselves | As our parents see us | How tidy we are | Quiet tidy, as we perceive ourselves | We are just not up to the mark! We need to take hygiene classes! And we do not maintain our room with neatness and tidiness. | The types of clothes we wear | Fashionable, latest in trend, what makes us look catchy and flashy | We make ourselves appear fools by following every latest fad. We do not have the true sense of style, which is sober and elegant. | How courteous we are | Oh very much! We know how to behave ourselves and we respect all the much we should. To say precisely, we are courteous enough. | We do not know how to act and behave in front of our elders. We are argumentative and aggressive. We should learn what is mannerism and etiquette. | How much we study | Oh well, ya may be not too much according to what elders say. But we do try the much we can, as per our ability. | We do try but not up to the mark. We need to work more hard and only then we will know what hard work is. Study more and play less to make something out of ourselves. | How independently are we allowed to express our opinions | We are not at all allowed to act independently; elders, especially parents, always tell us what to do and what not to do, as if we are kids. We do possess some radical notions, but then we are young blood! | We do not ask for it, we just take it, and for granted, of course! We do not know what to say when and where. We are blunt and out spoken. |

D4 As we see ourselves | As our parents see us | Yes, we are young and we speak. However, it is considered aggressive and blunt. | We are inexperienced and act immature and are outspoken. | We perceive and learn from the world around us. | We are naive and do not bother about our surroundings and learn little from what goes on around us. | The society has changed and we act accordingly. | Our experience will always be little as compared to our parents and other elders. | We are the latest and the best natural resource. We have the energy but we do not waste it diligently. | We are lazy and do not work hard enough. We look for short cut, which can never be a key to success. | We do not hang on to emotions and relations. Life is fast and the world is competent. | We have little respect for the emotions and relations. |

D6

My parents don't give me any pocket money. This embarrasses me when I'm with my friends. | Kid 1: Why do not you persuade them to fix an amount as your pocket money?Kid 2: You can try staying at home more or move out more with your parents rather.Kid 1: I would advise you to be with those friends that accept you the way you are. Moreover, you are not that grown up now that you will spend so much money hanging out with such frivolous kids.Kid 2: I think you should discuss it with your parents and let them decide. | I stole some money from my mother's purse. I feel very guilty, and I don't know what to do. | Kid 1: Why do not you confess it to you mother? She will definitely understand and will forgive you.Kid 2: You can try giving a sorry card to your mother and promise to her to never to repeat it.Kid 1: I would advise you to never ever repeat what you did and for now you must talk to your parents about it and make a clean breast of it.Kid 2: I think you should tell your father. Maybe he will make your mother understand and also fix an amount as your pocket money. | I lied to my friend. This has spoilt our friendship. I would like to make amends, but I don't know how. | Kid 1: Why do not you try to speak to him/her and apologise for what happened?Kid 2: You can try explaining her/him for why you lied, maybe he/she will forgive you.Kid 1: I would advise you to never back stab a friend and take a lesson from this.Kid 2: I think you should make an honest confession to her/him and win her/him back her/his trust by doing something special. |

D7

You are on the editorial board for the column 'Your Problems' in The Teenager magazine. You have received these two letters asking for your advice. (They appear to have come from the same family.) Dear Helpful AvantiMy fifteen year old son is crazy about film music. He seems to be wasting all his pocket money on these meaningless CDs. He cannot even study without this noise. Though he is good at studies, I remain disturbed about this new obsession. There are all kinds of strange-looking posters on the walls of his study and he always wears those gaudy T-shirts and faded patched jeans. Also, he is very fond of Junk-food. I fear he is breaking all links with our culture.What shall I do?A bewildered father | junk-food = eatables like burgers, chaat papri, etc! Dear Helpful AvantiI love film music and I have bought a lot of CDs from my pocket-money allowance. But whenever I switch on my CD-player, my father frowns and orders me to switch off the 'jarring noise'. He calls it 'cheap' and 'uncivilised' stuff. It is not that I do not like classical music, but when I am with my friends, we listen to film music.I like Indian clothes and food too. But I also like to wear western clothes sometimes and to eat western food occasionally. I do not like to disobey my parents, but I do not want to give up my music etc.What shall I do?A Hurt Son |

7 a2
Name: Koneru Humpy
Father's Name: Koneru Ashok
Born on: March 31, 1987
Place of Birth: Gudivada, Andhra Pradesh
Trained by: Koneru Ashok
First achievements: * Stood 4th in the Indian under 8 championship in 1995 * Won the World Girls' Championship under 10 * Won the World Girls' Championship under 12 * Won the World Girls' Championship under 14 * Won the World Girls' Junior Championships * Acquired IM title in 1999 * Achieved 3rd GM Norms in Elekes Memorial Grandmaster Tournament in Budapest. * Won the world junior Girls Chess championship in 2001
Recent achievements: * From 2002 to 2008, held record for the youngest woman ever to become a grandmaster. * Received Arjuna Award in 2003 * Received Padmashri Award in 2007 * Received Raja Lakshmi Award in 2008.