Q2. Mostly it’s about hot air — for without that, balloons are just big empty bags with baskets on the
bottom. The Montgolfier brothers had great hopes when they made the first manned flight. They thought
balloons would take off as a viable means of commercial flight. Instead, they have remained the province
of sport, adventure and enjoyment. Yet they still retain the essential characteristics which make them so
attractive.
Q3. Many people still think that to get the chance to go to space you have got to try to become an
astronaut. Unfortunately, the chances of succeeding are tiny, simply because there are so few astronauts
and there is no prospect of a lot more being employed. However, you need not despair because you will be
able to go as a visitor. But the first thing you should do is to save up because the demand is expected to be
strong and prices will be high.
Q4. The natural cautiousness is usual in herons. They prefer to spend the day in areas where they can hunt
for fish in peace. They seldom allow close approach and are quick to take to the air when they sense
humans are about. Such nervousness is understandable, given that they have suffered from persecution
from fish farmers.
Q5. Crop circles are large circular patterns which have been turning up mysteriously in cornfields all over
southern England, and in other parts of the world, since the 1980s. Many people believe they could not
have been done by human beings — they say only visitors from outer space could have created such
circles. Although scientists are trying to solve this mystery, the scientific explanation has not been found
yet.
Q6. Teachers are used to asking students to turn off their mobile phones but soon they could be a major
classroom aid for teaching and learning. Three schools in the Richmond area are taking part in an
innovative project in which students will use their mobile phones. Students can use the phones to get
access to learning materials as more phones nowadays have links to the Internet.