1. Billionaires

There are really _________ ____________ _____ ___________ ___________.  __________________ are rich, ________________ are __________ ______!  However, _______________ _____ _____________ ____________ is not always easy.

_________ ____________ of _____ ________ or _________, for example, is based on _______ ____________ and ____________ of _______ ____________ instead of ________ _____________ _________________ and ______________ of the king or queen.  _________ __________ ___________ and ____________, it is difficult ____ ___________ these kinds of wealth ____________.

_______ _____________ __________ of _____ _____________ ___________ is Prince Alwaleed Bin Talal Alsaud.  _______ _____________ ___________ ________ _____________ in 2003 ______ ______ $______ billion.  Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II ______ often _____________ _____ _______ ________ _____________ ____________ in the world.  However, ________ ________ ___________ ____________ of ___________ _______ _____________ __________, her personal money and property ________ ___________ ____________.  Queen Elizabeth II's ____________ ____________ ______ ______________ in 2003 _____ ______ $_________ ______________.  This was _________ _________ J.K. Rowling, _______ ___________ of the Harry Potter books, _______ ________ _____________ _____ ______ ____________ $________ _____________.

In the United States, ________ _________ _______ people _______________ ____ _____ _________________ in 2003.  _______ ______________ _____ ___________ is Bill Gates, __________ at least $______ ____________, ______ _________ _______ ____________ _____ ________________ ________ ____________ Microsoft.  Mr. Gates was only ____________ years old _________ he _________ ___________ ____ ________ ______ ________ ______________ ______ __________.  He was ____ _______________ by the time ______ _________ __________-________.

Mr. Gates ______ _________ ___________ ______ _____ ____ _________, but other people _________ __________ ____ _______ _____ __________ ____ _______ __________ __________.  Other young people _______ ______ _________ ___ _________ include Jackie Coogan (1914-1984) and Shirley Temple (1928-).  _________ ____ ___________ _________ __________ made over a million dollars __________ _____ ____________ before they were _____________ ________ _______.  However, _______ _____________ ______________ is Albert von Thurn und Taxis of ____________, who, ____ _________, ________________ _____ ___________ _____________ when he turned _____________!

2. Andre Agassi

________ _________-________-______-_______ _____________ __________ Andre Agassi _________ ____ _____ ________ __________ of the U.S. Clay Court Championship ___ ________ __________, he _______ ___ ______ _____________ __________: he became ________ ___________ __________ ever to be number one _____ _____ ____________ ___________ _____________.  It was ________ _____ ________ ______________ ______________ in Agassi's long and ___________ ___________.

Andre Agassi ___________ _____________ ____ ________ at the age of sixteen.  _________ ____________ soon ________ _____, and in 1990, he ___________ _______ ________ ____ _______ _______ _________ Open and the ___________ Open ________________.

_______ _______ _______ ______ _________, Agassi was famous around the world, _____________ __________ _________ _______ an important tennis championship.  Many people thought he was famous more ________ _______ _________ ____________ ________ and _____________ ___________ _____________ than ________ ________ _____________ ___________.  They ____________ ______ if ___________ _________ _______ an important ________________.

_____ __________, Agassi ______________ these people __________ ______ ___________ ________ ____ _________ ____________ ___________ in world tennis---the Wimbledon singles final.  ________ __________ ____________ _____ _______ __________ ______________ had been in 1987, but he _________ _____ ______________ __________.  He then __________ ____ __________ ________ ______ _________________ for the next three years.  He said ________ ___________ ____ _______ ____________ was that _________ ______________ ____________ ____ __________ ________ ______ __________ his colorful shirts, but some people said it was _____________ ______ _________ _______________ ____ ___________.

___________ _________ _______ _______________ _______________, Agassi's luck began ____ __________ _________.  _____ __________, the year of ________ __________ to movie actress Brooke Shields, Agassi's _____________ ________ _____________ ____ ________st in the world.  Many people thought ______ __________ _________ _________.

Agassi and Shields ____________ two years later, and Agassi _________ ____ _______________ with a new ____________, _____ ________ _____________, and ______ _______________.  ____ _________, he won both the French Open and the U.S. Open and ___________ the year back _____ ________ ____________ __________ ______.  _______ ___________, he _______ __________ more than $______ ______________ in __________ money, making him _________ _____ ________ ________ _______________ ___________ __________ of ________ __________.

3. Video Jockeys

DJs (disc jockeys) are _______ ___________ _______ ________ and ___________ _______ on the radio, or _____ ____ ____________.  A VJ (video jockey) is __ __________ _______ ______________ _________ ____________ on television.

VJs were first seen ____ ______________ _____ ________ __________ ___________ when MTV went ____ _______ __________.  As MTV caught on, and ________ ___________ for music videos ________________, ____ ____________ ___ _________ _______ ________ ___________ started broadcasting.  ____ _____________ ___ ________ __________, there were channels ______ __________ who _______ _______ _____________ __________ ____ __________, such as _____________ _______, light rock, and R & B, and all of these channels needed VJs.  ______ ___ _____________, _____________ ________ __________ ____________ like Channel V in Asia and VIVA in Europe _______ _____________.

The VJs for the new international stations _______ ____ ____ __________ ______________.  Although some VJs did shows __________ ____ __________ ______________ and __________ mostly ________ __________, other VJs _____________ ________ ________ ______________ ____________.  These VJs, and _______ _________ they ___________, needed to be popular ____ ___________ _______________ _____________.

________ _____________ _______________ VJ in Asia is Asha Gill.  She is _______ Malaysia, but her parents and grandparents ________ _________ __________, France, and England.  She ____________ _________ _______________ and ______ ________ across Asia, from Japan to the United Arab Emirates.

____________ VJ who ________ ___________ ____ ______ _________ in Asia ______ Lili.  She is ________________ ____ ______________-_______________ VJ ____ MTV ___________.  ______ ___________ ________________ ____________ ____________ ___________ makes Lili __________ __________ __ ____________.  The actress also __________ _____ ________, and ________ _________ can be seen ______ _________ _______________.

When asked _________ ________ ___ ______ _________ ___________, many successful VJs _______ _________ ____________ ______________.  To be good VJ you _________ ____ _________ ____ _______ ___________ __________, you need to be funny, and you _________ _____ __________.

4. Coffee Culture

The ________ Starbucks coffee shop __________ __ ___________ ____ ___________ Seattle, Washington, _____ _____ ______________ ____________.  It was _____ _________ ____________ ____________ that _____________ its own coffee beans.  The coffee shop's business _______ _________, and ______ ___________ there were ________ __________ ________________ ___________ in Seattle.

______________ really began to change ________ ________ _____________ in 1981.  That year, Howard Schultz _________ the three men _________ _________ Starbucks.  Schultz ______________ ______ New York ___________ _____ ____________ that ___________ _____________________ _________________.  He _____________ that Starbucks ______________ _____ _______________ ______________ ______ special coffee makers, and he ____________ __________________ about the company.  Schultz went to Seattle ______ __________ _____________ Starbucks _________, and he liked ___________ _____ __________.  He wanted to become part of the company.  _______ ____________, _______ _____________ _____________ ______________ _______________ Schultz _______ the company's _________ ______ _________________.

______ ___________, Schultz _______________ ______ ___________.  ___________ ____________ _______________ of the espresso bars there _______________ ________ ___________.  To Schultz it seemed that Italians ___________ __________ ___________ _______________ in three places : home, ___________, and _____________ ____________.  ____________ _________________ in Italy gave Schultz ______ ________ _____________ for Starbucks back in Seattle.

Schultz _______________ _____ ________________ for Starbucks coffee shops that ___________ _______________ and __________, and _________________ everywhere seemed to like it.  _______________ ___________ and _____________, Starbucks ______________ ________ new stores--and that was only _________ __________________.  ______ _____ ______________ _____ _____________, by the year 2000, _____________ ______ Starbucks stores _____________ _______________ around the world ___________ _______!

_____________, Starbucks has _________________ _____ ____________, _______________ stores in twenty-six countries.  _________ ____________ that helps make Starbucks _________________ _____ ____________ outside the United States _______ _______ _________ Starbucks _____________ _______ ____________ _____________ and ______________.  By working together with a store already in the city, Starbucks ____________ ____ _________________ ______ ________________ in the city.  __________ _________________ helps Starbucks __________ ______________ ______ ________ ______________ ________________ for their customers.

5. Around the World

________ __________ _____ _____________ _____________, people thought ________ ______________ ________ ____________.  That is, they thought that _______ ________ __________________ far enough _____ ________ ____________, you _____________ ______________ _________ to the edge of the world.  Then, about two thousand years ago, people started _____ _________ ______ ___________ ________ _______________ that ________ ____________ ________ ____________.  This meant that _______ _______________ __________ __________ _____ ____ ______________ ___________, you would ______________ come back _____ ____________ _________ _______________.

It wasn't __________ _________ _________________ ______________ that Ferdinand Magellan's ________________ _____________ ________ ____________ to travel around the world.  ________ _______________ first _____________ _________ form Portugal, around South America, _____________ ________ ____________, before returning around South Africa back to Portugal.  _______________ Magellan ____________ ____________ _______ ______________, one of his captains, Sebastian del Cano, ___________ _____ ________ __________ __________.

In 1872, the French ______________ _________ ___________ Jules Verne _______________ _____ _________ called Around the World in 80 Days.  _________ ___________ was about a man __________ _____________ _____________ ________ _____________, starting from London, ______ ________ ____ ________.

______ ____________, ______ __________________ _________________, Nellie Bly, was sent by her newspaper _______ _______________ _________ ______________ taken by the characters in Verne's book.  She traveled around the world, ____________ _____________ ___________ ____ _________ ________________ about her journey.  She finally arrived back home ____________ _______ ________, _____________ _______ ___________, six hours, eleven minutes, and fourteen seconds _______ ______ ______________ _________ _____________.

_________ ___________ _______________ around the world ____________ _____________ ________ very __________, and __________ ______ __________ in one or two days _____ ___________, people __________ still __________________ ______ ____________ ____________.

__________ _________ ______ ___________, an American, Dave Kunst, ________ _________ ___________ ______________ to walk all the way around the world.  He ________ ___________ twenty-one pairs of shoes _______ _______ __________!  The first airplane _____________ around the world _________ ___________ ______ ____________, completed by Lt. Lowell H. Smith and five other American pilots, and the first solo hilicopter flight around the world ________ _____________ _____ ____ _________________ ____________, Dick Smith, in 1982-83.

______ _______ ____ ______________ _______________ _______________ all the way around the world, this ___________ _______________ ___________ _____________, when Steve Fossett ______________ ________________ ____________ __________ _____________.

6. The Puffer Fish

In 1996, __________ ________ in California __________ _____________ to a hospital _____ ______________ _________________.  They ___________ ___________, _____________ and ___________.  They ______________ ___________, and they ________ _____________ _______________.  The hospital doctors thought the men _________ __________ ________________, but couldn't work out ____________ ________ ____________ ________ ____________.  Then they found out the three men _____________ _______ _________, and they _______ just _____________ _____ _________ ______ fugu.

Fugu, _______ _________________ __________ for the puffer fish, is _________ ______ ___________ ___________________ __________ in the ocean.  The puffer fish _________ _______ ___________ from the way ________ __________ ________________ itself __________ ________________.  _________________ ______ ________ ________________, the fish puffs up (blow up) its body ______ ____________ _______________ ________ _____________ ________!

_________ _____________ the three men were taken to the hospital _______ _____________ the puffer fish _______ _____________ ________________.  _____ ____ _________, if you eat a whole puffer fish, you will probably die.  The three men _______ _____ ___________ ____________, but they all __________________.

_________ ________________ of fugu ___________________ are _____ _______________ ______________ around the mouth and throat, and _______________ _______________.  You can't breathe and your body _________ _________ ___________ ________.  Your brain still ____________ ________________, however, so you know _________ _________ ______________, but you can't speak or do anything about it.

_____________ ________ ______________ _______ ___________ ______________, this strange, ugly, and very poisonous fish is _______________ _____ _________ ________________, and very ______________, kind of food in Japan.  _____________________ __________ up to $200 _____ _________ ______ _________ _____ ___________ __________.  Becaus of the danger, fugu can only be prepared by chefs _________ ____ ____________ ______________ from the government.  These chefs are trained _______ _____________ and _____________ ______ ________________ _________ of the fish.  Most people who die from eating fugu these days _________ ______________ who have tried their hand _____ _______________ ______ __________ _____________.

Fugu ______ ____________ _____ ____ _________ ______________ that it has even started ______ ______ _____________ into Hong Kong and the United States.  Several tons of fugu _______ now ________________ _______ ______________ every year.

7. Getting Married

____________ ____________ in the world has ________________ and _______________ _____________________.  Usually marriages are ______________ one woman (________ __________) ________ one man (_________ ____________).  However, in other parts of the world _____ ________ _______ _________ _____________ ___________, or, as in some areas of Tibet and India, _____ _________ _______ ___________ ________ ____________ _______ _______________.

There are also __________ ________________ _____________ _____ _______________ ____________________ practiced around the world.  ___________ __________________ can be very short and simple, or very ___________ and ____________________.

_________ _____ _________ _________________ and _________ _____________ _______________ ________________ in recent times _______ __________ in Dubai _____ ____________.  The couple tying the knot ____ _________ ___________ were the son of Sheik Rashid Bin Saeed Al Maktoum and Princess Salam.  The wedding ceremony __________ __________ _________ and __________ $44 million.  It was held in a large building ____________ ________ ___________________ ____________ for the ceremony and _______________ _________ ____ ______________.  The bride and groom _____________ ____ ______________ ____________ for their wedding because more than 20,000 guests __________ ________________.

_______ _____________ ________ a man and woman _______ _____________ also __________.  Sometimes they marry _____________ _________ ______ _____ ____________, sometimes they marry someone they meet _____________ ____ ________________, and sometimes they marry ______________ ___________ _________ _________ _______ that they must marry.

________ ______________ ________________ of ____ _____________ _____________ took place in Bangladesh _____ ___________.  The groom was an eleven-month-old boy and _______ __________ _________ ____ ___________-__________-_________ ___________.  They were _________ ________________ ______________ _____________ _________.

The parents of the bride and groom _______________ ________ ________________ as a way of _____________ _____ ______________ between the two families ________ _________ ____________ ______________ over a farm _______ __________ _____________.  Bothe families thought that _________ ____________ ______ ____________, but _____ _________ ___________ ______________.  The fight ended ______ ____________ when the young boy married the young girl.  _______ ______________ __________ _____________, neither family _______ _____________ ____ ____________ __________.  The two families agreed _____ __________ _________ _________ to the young couple.

8. Say it with Flowers

These days ______ _____ _________ _____________ _______ ___________ ________ ______ _________ _____________ to young women when they _________ _____ _________, but this hasn't always been _________ _____________.

In the 1,700s in Turkey, it was quite ____________ ________ ___________ in love ______ _______________ ________ each other ______________ full of strange things.  Usually, an old woman ________ __________ _________________ or ___________ on the street ___________ __________ ______________ beside the door of the person _______________ ____.

These gift baskets ________________ _____ _______________ ____ ________________, such as flowers, stones, _______________, __________, and even charcoal.  Each thing in the basket _________ ____ _______________ ______________ and _____ ______________ _________ _________ ______________ ______________ contained in each item, the person who received the basket ________________ _____________ _________ _____________ ________________ of the giver.

This idea of sending gifts of love with secret meanings quickly ______________ ____ _________________, France, and England.  However, over time, only sending flowers _________________ _______________.

___ ______________ _____ __________________ told young ladies ___________ _______ _________________ ___ ________ _____________ ____ young men.  Each different flower ________ ___ _______________ _________________.  For example, the flowers from an orange tree ____________, "You are beautiful and __________." Pink carnations ___________, "_____ _________ ________ ________ is strong and great."  Yellow roses, ______ _________ ___________ _____________, meant, "I saw you ________ _____________ _______."

Many flower dictionaries ___________ ___________ _____ ____________ young people ______ __________ ______________ _________ ______________ ____ the flowers _________ _______________.  Not all ______ _________ _______________ ____________, however, _____ _________ _____________ ______ _________ ____________, so a person ________ _____ ___________ what flowers they chose to send.  For example, ____________ ______ which dictionary you used, and ____________ _________ ________ __________, a young man's roses could mean, "I love you," "love is dangerous," or eve , "my love _________ ________________."

By the 1880s, __________ ______________ to send messages ________ ____________ _________ _____ _____________, and _______ ___________ ____________ ________ of sending love letters ___________.   Today, flowers _________ _________ ________________ a lovely gift, but the meaning ______ __________ ___________ _____ ______________ __________ ___________ __________.

9. Bollywood

Most people think that __________ _____________ _____ __________ ____________ _________________ is Hollywood, in the United States.  However, ________ __________ ___________ ______________ is Mumbai, in India.  Mumbai ____________ ______ _______ _______________ _____ Bombay, and so _______ _____________ ______________ there is called "Bollywood."  Bollywood ____________ ____________ _____ ___________ _______________ each year as Hollywood--more than 800 films _____ ____________.

The movies from Bollywood ________ __________ ________________ _________ Hollywood movies.  ___________ _________ _____________, Bollywood movies ________ __________ _______________ _________ most Hollywood movies.  Most Bollywood movies _________ _________ ___________ ____________ ____________ ___________, and ____________ singing, dancing, ____________, __________________, _______________, and romance (but usually no kissing).  Because Bollywood films ______________ _______ ____________ __________________ ___________________, this style of film is somtimes called a "Masala" film.  ("Masala is an Indian word _______ ____ _______________ _______ __________________.)

_______________ _______ _____________ between Bollywood and Hollywood movies is __________ __________ __________ ______________ ________ ____________.  It takes much longer _____ ___________ ____ _______________ in Hollywood than in Bollywood.  _______ ____________, filming may begin on a Bollywood movie __________ _______ _____________ ______ ___________ _____________.  The director and writers ________ ____________ ______ __________ _______________ while the film is being made.  Sometimes they will even write the script ______ ____________ _______________ _____ ________________ time ______ _____________ _____.

Bollywood _______________ ____________ very _________________ and some are _____ ____________ ___________ _____________ that they may work ______ ____________ _____________ ____ ________ __________ ____________.  They may even ______________ ______________ for several films on the same day _________ ________ __________ _________________ and ______________.  Since most Bollywood movies ____________ the same kind of story, _______________ _____________ for several films ______ ________ ___________ _____________ is not a big problem _______ _____________ or _______________.  This also helps keep ________ ___________ _______ _________________ _______________ lower than _________ __________ ____ __________________ ______________.  _________ ______________ Bollywood film, __________ ____ _______________ of only two million U.S. dollars, _______________ very _____________ ___________________ ______ _________ __________________ _______________ of sixty million U.S. dollars for a Hollywood film--_____________ _______________ ______ __________!

10. The Nobel Prize

Each year ______ _________________ _______, the world's ________________ __________ _____ Sweden ________ _________ _____________________ of the Nobel Prize winners.  The Nobel Prizes, six prizes given to groups or _______________ __________ really _______________ ___________ in their fields, ____________ _____________ by a Swedish inventor, Alfred Nobel.

Alfred Nobel was _________ _________ _________ ______________ dynamite, ______ _________________ ________________.  During his life, Nobel made a lot of money ___________ _________ ____________, and he decided that he wanted to use his money ______ __________ __________________, _______________, and ___________ _________ _____________ _____ __________ ________________ around the world.  When he died, _______ _________ _________ that the money would be place in a bank, and ________ _____________ the money earned _____________ ______ ____________ __________ as five _____________ ___________ _________________.

The prizes set up by Nobel ___________ __________ _______________ ________ in 1901, and _____________ _________________, __________________, _______________, ___________________, and ______________.  Later, in 1968, the Bank of Sweden _____________ _____ _____________ _____ _________________ to celebrate the bank's 300th year of business.

Each person who receives a Nobel Prize ________ ______________ _____ __________ ____________, a medal, and ____ ________________.  The prize money ________ __________ _______________ is currently worth about a million dollars, and _________ ____________ ______ ___________ _______________ is to allow the winner _______ ____________ _____ _____________ or ___________________ without having to worry about raising money.

The prizes can be given ______ _______________ __________________ or _______________.  Prize winners _____________ Albert Einstein (_______________, ____________), Kenzaburo Oe(literature, _______________), Kim Dae Jung (_______________, _____________), the United Nations (peace, ________________), and Nelson Mandela (peace, ______________).

The prize winner that __________ ___________ _________ ____________ ______________ is the International Committee of the Red Cross.  ___________ ________________ has received _____________ Nobel Peace Prizes (in _____________, ____________, and _______________), and ___________ _________________, Jean Henri Dunant, ___________ ___________________ the first Nobel Peace Prize, in 1901.

11. A Funny Cure

An old English saying says, "_______________ is _________ ___________ _______________."  One person who certainly ______________ __________ ________________ _________ __________ is Norman Cousins.

Norman Cousins was ________ _____________ _____ ____ _________________ called Saturday Review __________ ______________ ____________ _____________.  He also wrote and spoke about _____________ ______________ and ________-______________ and anti-war ________________, traveling to many different countries ______ ____________ ________ _________________.

_______ _________ ________________, after returning to the United States ___________ ______ ____________ and _______________ __________ to Europe, Mr. Cousins __________ ___________.  He discovered he had ______ ____________ ________________, known as ankylosing spondylitis, that caused ___________ _____________ between his bones _____ _____________ __________.

_______ __________ _________ _____ ____________ after he got back, he ________________ ___________ ____________.  Every move that he made ____________ _________________.  He was not able to sleep ______ _______________.  The doctors told Mr. Cousins that they did not know __________ ______ ___________ ________ _______________ and he _____________ never ___________ _____________ _________ _________________.  Mr. Cousins, however, _______________ ______ __________ _______ ___________.

Mr. Cousins thought that the illness could be caused ______ _____________ _____________.  He did not want to take medicine _______ ___________ _______________.  Instead, he felt that __________ _________________ or _______________ might cure ______ _______________.

He began ______ _________________ _____ ____________ while still in the hospital _______ _____________ ___________ ____________ on television.  Mr. Cousins quickly found that _________ __________________ ________ __________ _________________ during the day gave him two hours of _________-__________ _______________ at night.

_______________ that the doctors could not help him, Mr. Cousins left the hospital and ______________ ___________ _____ ________________ _____________ where he could continue his experiments __________ __________________.  ________ _____________ ___________, Mr. Cousins _____________ in the hotel room watching comedy shows _______ ________________, ___________________ _________________ _____________, and sleeping _____________ ______ ____________ _______________.  Within three weeks, he felt well ________________ _______ ________________ ______ _________________ to Puerto Rico where he began running on the beach _______ ______________.

After a few months, Mr. Cousins ________ ______________ _____ _____________ ________ _________ _____________.  He had laughed himself back ______ ________________.

12. Palm Reading

Even for people ________ _________ ________________ _______ _____________ ______________, it can be fun _______ ____________ ___________ what fortune-tellers look at _______ _____ ______________ ____________.

_______ ____________ a person's _________________, a fortune-teller looks at ___________ _____ ____________ ________________________ ________________.  The hand that a person uses ___________ __________________ will show ___________ ________________ the person _________ ___________ ______ ____________, and ____________ __________________ he or she ___________ ________________.  The person's other hand will show __________ __________________ they were born with, and _________________ ______________.

______ ______________ ___________________, most people know that __________________ ______________ on the hand _____________________ ________________ about a person's life.  For example, there are _____________ _______________ _______________ on everyone's hands called _________ _____________ ____________, ________________ _______________, and _____________ ____________.

The head line _____________________ __________________--people with a long head line are said to have _______ _________________ _________________, while those who with a short one ___________ __________ ______________________.  The life line represents _____________, and ____________ _________________ it is, ___________ __________________ someone is.  The heart line represents ______________________ and ________________________--as a rule, ___________ __________________ it is, _________ ______________ _______________________ ______________________ are to that person.

There are also _________ _________________ ___________, but quite a lot of people do not have one or more of the minor lines.  The miner lines represents things such as __________ ____________________ ____________, ____________________, ___________________, __________________ ___________, and children.  Fortune-tellers read these lines _________ _________________ ______ how deep and how long each line is.

_______ _________________, fortune-tellers believe they can read ____________________ ____________ ___________ _________________ of the hand.  Each finger has ______ ______________ ______________ or ___________________ related to it.  ___________ _______________ is related _______ _______________, the index finger ________ __________________, the middle finger _______ ______________, the ring finger ______ ____________ and ______________________, and the smallest finger _________ _______________________.  A fortune-teller will look at _________ ________________ ______ ___________ __________________, how the finger bends, ________ ____________ ______ _____________ _________________, and the shape of the ends of the fingers.

13. Amazing Memory

__________ this memory ___________ _____ ___________.  Mix up the cards ____ ____ _________ of playing cards.  Now look at the top seven cards _______ _____ ____________ each.  Can you remember them ______ _____________?

_________________ at the annual World Memory Championships can.  In fact, the 2002 ________________, Andi Bell, ____________________ ________ ____________________ ________________ of 23 decks of cards (that's 1,196 cards) _______________ ______________ _______ _____________ for only an hour!  _______ ___________ ______________ _____________________, Andi Bell memorized 182 random words ______ ___________________ _____________________, and ______ _______-__________-______________ German girl, Lara Hick, __________________ _______ _________________ and _____________ in fifteen minutes.

___________ ___________ ___________________, another memorizer, Dominic O'Brien (who was __________ _______________-________ in the 2002 event) memorized ________ _____________ _______ ___________ ______________ of cards after looking at each one ___________.  He only ___________ _________ _________________.

In 1987, ______ __________________ _________, Hideaki Tomoyori, _______________ ______ ______________ that his memory was the best in the world _______ ___________________ ______ __________________ pi (π), _____ ______________ ____________ _______ _____________ which starts 3.14159.....  This number never _______________ _____________ or ____________.  He ________________ pi to 40,000 _________________ __________________.  It took the fifty-five-year-old man __________ _________ _______________ ____________ to say the numbers, but he did it _________________ ______________ ______ ______________!

______ __________________ ________, Mr. Tomoyori ____________________ ___________ ________________ into groups of ______ ________________, and _________________ each number with a sound.  He then _______________ ________ ________________ to help him remember the words he made from the sounds.  ________ _____ ______________ _____________ _________ _______________________, he said, "I decided to go ahead and memorize _________ ____________ _______ _____________ _________________ _____________ pi up to one thousand places.  But it wasn't easy--in fact, _______ ______________ _______ three years.  To get to 40,000 decimal places it took me _______________ ________ _________________."

_______________________ for Mr. Tomoyori, _________ ___________ ____________ ________________ in 1995, when another Japanese man, Hiroyuki Goto, memorized pi ______ ___________________ ____________________.

14. Incredible Dogs

_______ ________________ ______ _____________, people ___________ ____________ _________ ____________.  Ancient paintings _____ _________ ____________ ____ ____________ show people living with dogs.  Almost ______ ____________ of the homes in the United States and England have dogs, and these dogs come ______ _____ _____________ _________________ of _____________ and ____________.

The largest dog  in the world was a dog named Zorba.  When Zorba, a mastiff, was seven years old in 1989, he was 94 centimeters (37 inches) tall.  ________ ______________ ____________, Zorba was ___________ ____________ __________ _________ ____________ _____ an adult man.  _____ _________ _________________, Zorba ________________ more than a heavyweight boxer at 156 kilograms (343 pounds).

_______ ________________, _________ __________________ ________ was a Yorkshire terrier ___________ _______________.  This dog was only the size of ______ _________________, measuring 7.1 centimeters (2.8 inches) tall and 9.5 centimeters (3.75 inches) ________ ____________ ____ _________.  The dog __________________ about half ______ ___________ ______ ___________ ___________, and even a young child ______________ _______________ _____________ _____ _______ with one hand.  It _________________ ___________ in 1945 when it was only two years old.

Some dogs ___________ __________________, not for their size, but _________ _______________ _____________.  One _________________ dog is Endal, __________ ___________________ ________ _______ ____________ named Allen Parton who has used _____ ___________________ since a car accident in 1991.

_____ ________________, Parton _________ ___________ _______ _______ ___________ while crossing a road with Endal, and _______________ __________ ______ __________ ______________.  Endal quickly moved Parton _________ _______ ___________________ _______________, covered him ___________ ______ ___________________, and pushed his mobile phone close enough for him to reach.  Then, once he saw that Parton was all right, Endal ran ________ _________ _______________ to a nearby hotel, barking __________ ___________ ___________ ______ ___________.

Endal _________ ________________ ________ _________ __________________ by being awarded a medal, and he has been the subject of a number of TV ______________________.

15. Diamonds

_________________ to London's Millennium Dome building ______ _________ ____________________ of November 7, 2000 ___________ ________ _________ ___________ __________ than they _________ _______________.  The Dome, a building which was built ______ _________________ the beginning of the new millennium, _________ _____ _______________ ________________, called "Money," _____________________ some of the world's most famous diamonds.

_________________ ____________ __________________ ____________, four men _________________ as workmen ______________ a large digging machine ___________ _______________ _____________ at the entrance.  After coming near ____________ ___________________, they put on gas masks and ____________________ ___________ _____________.

______________ _________________ was The Millenium Star, a 203-carat perfect blue diamond, thought to be the most beautiful large diamond in the world, and __________ __________ ________________ ever ___________________.

Unfortunately _______ _________ ________________, the police __________ __________ ________________ ______ ___________ on them for months, _______________ ___________ _______ ______________ ________________ videotaping the diamonds two months earlier.  As the thieves used hammers ______ ________________ ____________ _________ _____________ ____________ containing the diamonds, police officers __________________ ______ _______________ quickly ________________ and _________________ the men.  The police ______ also ________________ the diamonds ________ _____________ a few hours _____________ _______ _____________ ______________.

The gang had planned to get away ________ _________________ along the river ____________ _________ _________________.  The two drivers of the boat were also arrested ___________ ____ _________-_____________ ___________ along the river.  If the robbery attempt __________ _____________________, it _______________ _____________ ____________ _________ _____________________ in history--____________ __________ $500 million.  The thieves were given a total of seventy-one years in prison, with the two main leaders receiving ___________ ________________ each.

Two years later, _____ _______________ ___________, another gang of thieves ____________________ ______ ________________ millions of dollar' worth of diamonds in Antwerp, the diamond-dealing city in Belgium.  They used ____________ ____________ and _____________ _______________ ____________ to get into the area _______________ ________ _______________ on Sunday night.  The robbery wasn't discovered until Monday morning.  The four thieves might have gotten away with the robbery, ____________ _________ ___________ __________________--they ____________ ________________ after they left a garbage bag containing security passes, videotapes, and _______________ ____________ _____________ _____________ on the side of a road.