Level E Reading

(1) One of the easiest ways to track the passing of time is to just look at the prices of products on the shelves of your local grocery store. Every year, inflation drives up the prices of the things you regularly buy. It’s this very idea that inspired US Representative Jim Kolbe to introduce radical legislation in 2001. The legislation didn’t pass, but the debate remains. What was Kolbe’s radical idea? Get rid of the penny.

(2) Think about it. Imagine a penny sitting on the side of the road as you walk by. Is it even worth your trouble to pick it up? Most Americans wouldn’t take the time to pick up a penny off the street. If people don’t even think the penny is worth picking up off the ground, it clearly doesn’t hold much worth to them.

Figure 1: Survey taken of 350 Americans between 18 and 24. Each was asked, “Would you pick up a penny if you saw it on the sidewalk?”

(3) Those who would like to see the penny go the way of the half dollar argue that getting rid of pennies would save people time, save the government money, and get rid of clutter. A study done by the National Association of Convenience Stores estimated that pennies add an extra 2.5 seconds to each cash transaction (on average). That’s not a big number, but multiply it by the number of cash transactions a cashier sees each day, then multiply it by the number of cashiers at a store, then multiply it by the number of stores, and that number is considerably higher.

(4) Keeping the penny in circulation also costs the government money. According to one former Deputy Assistant Secretary at the Treasury Department, Aaron Klein, keeping the penny in circulation could cost the US Government almost $2 billion in losses over the next 30 years. That’s a lot of money for a little piece of copper that no one seems to value.

(5) Getting rid of the penny could have important consequences, though. The penny could be one of the things that keeps inflation from getting out of hand. Abolishing the penny might cause prices to soar even higher to account for the lack of a cent piece. Additionally, to accommodate people paying in cash, transactions would have to be rounded off to the nearest 5 cents, which could affect low-income families who rely on every penny to survive. Beyond that, most Americans don’t want to say goodbye to the penny yet. In a Harris Poll taken in 2004, only 23% of Americans surveyed favor abolishing the penny, with 59% of people opposing it. Without more opposition from American citizens, the penny may be here to stay, but for how long?

(1) One of the easiest ways to track the passing of time is to just look at the prices of products on the shelves of your local grocery store. Every year, inflation drives up the prices of the things you regularly buy. It’s this very idea that inspired US Representative Jim Kolbe to introduce radical legislation in 2001. The legislation didn’t pass, but the debate remains. What was Kolbe’s radical idea? Get rid of the penny.

(2) Think about it. Imagine a penny sitting on the side of the road as you walk by. Is it even worth your trouble to pick it up? Most Americans wouldn’t take the time to pick up a penny off the street. If people don’t even think the penny is worth picking up off the ground, it clearly doesn’t hold much worth to them.

Figure 1: Survey taken of 350 Americans between 18 and 24. Each was asked, “Would you pick up a penny if you saw it on the sidewalk?”

(3) Those who would like to see the penny go the way of the half dollar argue that getting rid of pennies would save people time, save the government money, and get rid of clutter. A study done by the National Association of Convenience Stores estimated that pennies add an extra 2.5 seconds to each cash transaction (on average). That’s not a big number, but multiply it by the number of cash transactions a cashier sees each day, then multiply it by the number of cashiers at a store, then multiply it by the number of stores, and that number is considerably higher.

(4) Keeping the penny in circulation also costs the government money. According to one former Deputy Assistant Secretary at the Treasury Department, Aaron Klein, keeping the penny in circulation could cost the US Government almost $2 billion in losses over the next 30 years. That’s a lot of money for a little piece of copper that no one seems to value.

(5) Getting rid of the penny could have important consequences, though. The penny could be one of the things that keeps inflation from getting out of hand. Abolishing the penny might cause prices to soar even higher to account for the lack of a cent piece. Additionally, to accommodate people paying in cash, transactions would have to be rounded off to the nearest 5 cents, which could affect low-income families who rely on every penny to survive. Beyond that, most Americans don’t want to say goodbye to the penny yet. In a Harris Poll taken in 2004, only 23% of Americans surveyed favor abolishing the penny, with 59% of people opposing it. Without more opposition from American citizens, the penny may be here to stay, but for how long?

(1) One of the easiest ways to track the passing of time is to just look at the prices of products on the shelves of your local grocery store. Every year, inflation drives up the prices of the things you regularly buy. It’s this very idea that inspired US Representative Jim Kolbe to introduce radical legislation in 2001. The legislation didn’t pass, but the debate remains. What was Kolbe’s radical idea? Get rid of the penny.

(2) Think about it. Imagine a penny sitting on the side of the road as you walk by. Is it even worth your trouble to pick it up? Most Americans wouldn’t take the time to pick up a penny off the street. If people don’t even think the penny is worth picking up off the ground, it clearly doesn’t hold much worth to them.

Figure 1: Survey taken of 350 Americans between 18 and 24. Each was asked, “Would you pick up a penny if you saw it on the sidewalk?”

(3) Those who would like to see the penny go the way of the half dollar argue that getting rid of pennies would save people time, save the government money, and get rid of clutter. A study done by the National Association of Convenience Stores estimated that pennies add an extra 2.5 seconds to each cash transaction (on average). That’s not a big number, but multiply it by the number of cash transactions a cashier sees each day, then multiply it by the number of cashiers at a store, then multiply it by the number of stores, and that number is considerably higher.

(4) Keeping the penny in circulation also costs the government money. According to one former Deputy Assistant Secretary at the Treasury Department, Aaron Klein, keeping the penny in circulation could cost the US Government almost $2 billion in losses over the next 30 years. That’s a lot of money for a little piece of copper that no one seems to value.

(5) Getting rid of the penny could have important consequences, though. The penny could be one of the things that keeps inflation from getting out of hand. Abolishing the penny might cause prices to soar even higher to account for the lack of a cent piece. Additionally, to accommodate people paying in cash, transactions would have to be rounded off to the nearest 5 cents, which could affect low-income families who rely on every penny to survive. Beyond that, most Americans don’t want to say goodbye to the penny yet. In a Harris Poll taken in 2004, only 23% of Americans surveyed favor abolishing the penny, with 59% of people opposing it. Without more opposition from American citizens, the penny may be here to stay, but for how long?

(1) One of the easiest ways to track the passing of time is to just look at the prices of products on the shelves of your local grocery store. Every year, inflation drives up the prices of the things you regularly buy. It’s this very idea that inspired US Representative Jim Kolbe to introduce radical legislation in 2001. The legislation didn’t pass, but the debate remains. What was Kolbe’s radical idea? Get rid of the penny.

(2) Think about it. Imagine a penny sitting on the side of the road as you walk by. Is it even worth your trouble to pick it up? Most Americans wouldn’t take the time to pick up a penny off the street. If people don’t even think the penny is worth picking up off the ground, it clearly doesn’t hold much worth to them.

Figure 1: Survey taken of 350 Americans between 18 and 24. Each was asked, “Would you pick up a penny if you saw it on the sidewalk?”

(3) Those who would like to see the penny go the way of the half dollar argue that getting rid of pennies would save people time, save the government money, and get rid of clutter. A study done by the National Association of Convenience Stores estimated that pennies add an extra 2.5 seconds to each cash transaction (on average). That’s not a big number, but multiply it by the number of cash transactions a cashier sees each day, then multiply it by the number of cashiers at a store, then multiply it by the number of stores, and that number is considerably higher.

(4) Keeping the penny in circulation also costs the government money. According to one former Deputy Assistant Secretary at the Treasury Department, Aaron Klein, keeping the penny in circulation could cost the US Government almost $2 billion in losses over the next 30 years. That’s a lot of money for a little piece of copper that no one seems to value.

(5) Getting rid of the penny could have important consequences, though. The penny could be one of the things that keeps inflation from getting out of hand. Abolishing the penny might cause prices to soar even higher to account for the lack of a cent piece. Additionally, to accommodate people paying in cash, transactions would have to be rounded off to the nearest 5 cents, which could affect low-income families who rely on every penny to survive. Beyond that, most Americans don’t want to say goodbye to the penny yet. In a Harris Poll taken in 2004, only 23% of Americans surveyed favor abolishing the penny, with 59% of people opposing it. Without more opposition from American citizens, the penny may be here to stay, but for how long?

(1) One of the easiest ways to track the passing of time is to just look at the prices of products on the shelves of your local grocery store. Every year, inflation drives up the prices of the things you regularly buy. It’s this very idea that inspired US Representative Jim Kolbe to introduce radical legislation in 2001. The legislation didn’t pass, but the debate remains. What was Kolbe’s radical idea? Get rid of the penny.

(2) Think about it. Imagine a penny sitting on the side of the road as you walk by. Is it even worth your trouble to pick it up? Most Americans wouldn’t take the time to pick up a penny off the street. If people don’t even think the penny is worth picking up off the ground, it clearly doesn’t hold much worth to them.

Figure 1: Survey taken of 350 Americans between 18 and 24. Each was asked, “Would you pick up a penny if you saw it on the sidewalk?”

(3) Those who would like to see the penny go the way of the half dollar argue that getting rid of pennies would save people time, save the government money, and get rid of clutter. A study done by the National Association of Convenience Stores estimated that pennies add an extra 2.5 seconds to each cash transaction (on average). That’s not a big number, but multiply it by the number of cash transactions a cashier sees each day, then multiply it by the number of cashiers at a store, then multiply it by the number of stores, and that number is considerably higher.

(4) Keeping the penny in circulation also costs the government money. According to one former Deputy Assistant Secretary at the Treasury Department, Aaron Klein, keeping the penny in circulation could cost the US Government almost $2 billion in losses over the next 30 years. That’s a lot of money for a little piece of copper that no one seems to value.

(5) Getting rid of the penny could have important consequences, though. The penny could be one of the things that keeps inflation from getting out of hand. Abolishing the penny might cause prices to soar even higher to account for the lack of a cent piece. Additionally, to accommodate people paying in cash, transactions would have to be rounded off to the nearest 5 cents, which could affect low-income families who rely on every penny to survive. Beyond that, most Americans don’t want to say goodbye to the penny yet. In a Harris Poll taken in 2004, only 23% of Americans surveyed favor abolishing the penny, with 59% of people opposing it. Without more opposition from American citizens, the penny may be here to stay, but for how long?

(1) One of the easiest ways to track the passing of time is to just look at the prices of products on the shelves of your local grocery store. Every year, inflation drives up the prices of the things you regularly buy. It’s this very idea that inspired US Representative Jim Kolbe to introduce radical legislation in 2001. The legislation didn’t pass, but the debate remains. What was Kolbe’s radical idea? Get rid of the penny.

(2) Think about it. Imagine a penny sitting on the side of the road as you walk by. Is it even worth your trouble to pick it up? Most Americans wouldn’t take the time to pick up a penny off the street. If people don’t even think the penny is worth picking up off the ground, it clearly doesn’t hold much worth to them.

Figure 1: Survey taken of 350 Americans between 18 and 24. Each was asked, “Would you pick up a penny if you saw it on the sidewalk?”

(3) Those who would like to see the penny go the way of the half dollar argue that getting rid of pennies would save people time, save the government money, and get rid of clutter. A study done by the National Association of Convenience Stores estimated that pennies add an extra 2.5 seconds to each cash transaction (on average). That’s not a big number, but multiply it by the number of cash transactions a cashier sees each day, then multiply it by the number of cashiers at a store, then multiply it by the number of stores, and that number is considerably higher.

(4) Keeping the penny in circulation also costs the government money. According to one former Deputy Assistant Secretary at the Treasury Department, Aaron Klein, keeping the penny in circulation could cost the US Government almost $2 billion in losses over the next 30 years. That’s a lot of money for a little piece of copper that no one seems to value.

(5) Getting rid of the penny could have important consequences, though. The penny could be one of the things that keeps inflation from getting out of hand. Abolishing the penny might cause prices to soar even higher to account for the lack of a cent piece. Additionally, to accommodate people paying in cash, transactions would have to be rounded off to the nearest 5 cents, which could affect low-income families who rely on every penny to survive. Beyond that, most Americans don’t want to say goodbye to the penny yet. In a Harris Poll taken in 2004, only 23% of Americans surveyed favor abolishing the penny, with 59% of people opposing it. Without more opposition from American citizens, the penny may be here to stay, but for how long?

(1) One of the easiest ways to track the passing of time is to just look at the prices of products on the shelves of your local grocery store. Every year, inflation drives up the prices of the things you regularly buy. It’s this very idea that inspired US Representative Jim Kolbe to introduce radical legislation in 2001. The legislation didn’t pass, but the debate remains. What was Kolbe’s radical idea? Get rid of the penny.

(2) Think about it. Imagine a penny sitting on the side of the road as you walk by. Is it even worth your trouble to pick it up? Most Americans wouldn’t take the time to pick up a penny off the street. If people don’t even think the penny is worth picking up off the ground, it clearly doesn’t hold much worth to them.

Figure 1: Survey taken of 350 Americans between 18 and 24. Each was asked, “Would you pick up a penny if you saw it on the sidewalk?”

(3) Those who would like to see the penny go the way of the half dollar argue that getting rid of pennies would save people time, save the government money, and get rid of clutter. A study done by the National Association of Convenience Stores estimated that pennies add an extra 2.5 seconds to each cash transaction (on average). That’s not a big number, but multiply it by the number of cash transactions a cashier sees each day, then multiply it by the number of cashiers at a store, then multiply it by the number of stores, and that number is considerably higher.

(4) Keeping the penny in circulation also costs the government money. According to one former Deputy Assistant Secretary at the Treasury Department, Aaron Klein, keeping the penny in circulation could cost the US Government almost $2 billion in losses over the next 30 years. That’s a lot of money for a little piece of copper that no one seems to value.

(5) Getting rid of the penny could have important consequences, though. The penny could be one of the things that keeps inflation from getting out of hand. Abolishing the penny might cause prices to soar even higher to account for the lack of a cent piece. Additionally, to accommodate people paying in cash, transactions would have to be rounded off to the nearest 5 cents, which could affect low-income families who rely on every penny to survive. Beyond that, most Americans don’t want to say goodbye to the penny yet. In a Harris Poll taken in 2004, only 23% of Americans surveyed favor abolishing the penny, with 59% of people opposing it. Without more opposition from American citizens, the penny may be here to stay, but for how long?

(1) One of the easiest ways to track the passing of time is to just look at the prices of products on the shelves of your local grocery store. Every year, inflation drives up the prices of the things you regularly buy. It’s this very idea that inspired US Representative Jim Kolbe to introduce radical legislation in 2001. The legislation didn’t pass, but the debate remains. What was Kolbe’s radical idea? Get rid of the penny.

(2) Think about it. Imagine a penny sitting on the side of the road as you walk by. Is it even worth your trouble to pick it up? Most Americans wouldn’t take the time to pick up a penny off the street. If people don’t even think the penny is worth picking up off the ground, it clearly doesn’t hold much worth to them.

Figure 1: Survey taken of 350 Americans between 18 and 24. Each was asked, “Would you pick up a penny if you saw it on the sidewalk?”

(3) Those who would like to see the penny go the way of the half dollar argue that getting rid of pennies would save people time, save the government money, and get rid of clutter. A study done by the National Association of Convenience Stores estimated that pennies add an extra 2.5 seconds to each cash transaction (on average). That’s not a big number, but multiply it by the number of cash transactions a cashier sees each day, then multiply it by the number of cashiers at a store, then multiply it by the number of stores, and that number is considerably higher.

(4) Keeping the penny in circulation also costs the government money. According to one former Deputy Assistant Secretary at the Treasury Department, Aaron Klein, keeping the penny in circulation could cost the US Government almost $2 billion in losses over the next 30 years. That’s a lot of money for a little piece of copper that no one seems to value.

(5) Getting rid of the penny could have important consequences, though. The penny could be one of the things that keeps inflation from getting out of hand. Abolishing the penny might cause prices to soar even higher to account for the lack of a cent piece. Additionally, to accommodate people paying in cash, transactions would have to be rounded off to the nearest 5 cents, which could affect low-income families who rely on every penny to survive. Beyond that, most Americans don’t want to say goodbye to the penny yet. In a Harris Poll taken in 2004, only 23% of Americans surveyed favor abolishing the penny, with 59% of people opposing it. Without more opposition from American citizens, the penny may be here to stay, but for how long?

(1) There are lots of plants for you to see when you play outside. Trees are plants, flowers are plants, and even grass is a plant. When we think of plants, these are the types of things we think about. Animals have mouths that eat, but plants get their food from the sunlight. But can you imagine what it would look like if a plant had a mouth like animals do? There’s no need to imagine because there is one plant with a mouth, and it’s called the Venus flytrap.

(2) Unlike most plants, the Venus flytrap is carnivorous, which means it eats meat. It doesn’t eat burgers and chicken like humans do, instead it eats flies and other insects. The Venus flytrap was named after the Roman goddess of love Venus, for the way it lures its prey into its mouth before eating it. The plant sits still waiting for its food to come along. When an insect, unaware of the type of plant it has landed on, climbs into the mouth of the Venus flytrap, it’s dinner time!

(3) The Venus flytrap has small hairs on its “mouth” that are sensitive to the touch. When pressure is applied to these hairs, the “mouth” snaps shut around the plant’s prey. This kind of quick movement is not very common in plants. If the insect is too stuck to get out and get away, the mouth seals itself and becomes a sort of stomach that digests the insect.

(4) The Venus flytrap’s “mouth” is very sophisticated. The hairs that are designed to sense when an insect has fallen into the trap, are also designed to tell the different between an insect and something smaller, like dust or pollen. The “mouth” of the Venus flytrap only snaps shut if two or more of the pressure-sensitive hairs are triggered. This keeps the “mouth” from shutting every time a piece of dirt touches it and makes the plant more effective at catching insects.

(5) The Venus flytrap is a pretty rare plant, so don’t expect to see it in the woods behind the school. Venus flytraps like wet, swampy areas, so they live near bogs. In the United States, they only naturally live in the coastal bogs of the Carolinas. Venus flytraps have also been successfully brought to other areas, but the Carolinas are their only naturally home in the United States. There’s no need to be afraid if you see one, though, just keep your hands away from their “mouths,” unless you want to be plant food.

(1) There are lots of plants for you to see when you play outside. Trees are plants, flowers are plants, and even grass is a plant. When we think of plants, these are the types of things we think about. Animals have mouths that eat, but plants get their food from the sunlight. But can you imagine what it would look like if a plant had a mouth like animals do? There’s no need to imagine because there is one plant with a mouth, and it’s called the Venus flytrap.

(2) Unlike most plants, the Venus flytrap is carnivorous, which means it eats meat. It doesn’t eat burgers and chicken like humans do, instead it eats flies and other insects. The Venus flytrap was named after the Roman goddess of love Venus, for the way it lures its prey into its mouth before eating it. The plant sits still waiting for its food to come along. When an insect, unaware of the type of plant it has landed on, climbs into the mouth of the Venus flytrap, it’s dinner time!

(3) The Venus flytrap has small hairs on its “mouth” that are sensitive to the touch. When pressure is applied to these hairs, the “mouth” snaps shut around the plant’s prey. This kind of quick movement is not very common in plants. If the insect is too stuck to get out and get away, the mouth seals itself and becomes a sort of stomach that digests the insect.

(4) The Venus flytrap’s “mouth” is very sophisticated. The hairs that are designed to sense when an insect has fallen into the trap, are also designed to tell the different between an insect and something smaller, like dust or pollen. The “mouth” of the Venus flytrap only snaps shut if two or more of the pressure-sensitive hairs are triggered. This keeps the “mouth” from shutting every time a piece of dirt touches it and makes the plant more effective at catching insects.

(5) The Venus flytrap is a pretty rare plant, so don’t expect to see it in the woods behind the school. Venus flytraps like wet, swampy areas, so they live near bogs. In the United States, they only naturally live in the coastal bogs of the Carolinas. Venus flytraps have also been successfully brought to other areas, but the Carolinas are their only naturally home in the United States. There’s no need to be afraid if you see one, though, just keep your hands away from their “mouths,” unless you want to be plant food.

(1) There are lots of plants for you to see when you play outside. Trees are plants, flowers are plants, and even grass is a plant. When we think of plants, these are the types of things we think about. Animals have mouths that eat, but plants get their food from the sunlight. But can you imagine what it would look like if a plant had a mouth like animals do? There’s no need to imagine because there is one plant with a mouth, and it’s called the Venus flytrap.

(2) Unlike most plants, the Venus flytrap is carnivorous, which means it eats meat. It doesn’t eat burgers and chicken like humans do, instead it eats flies and other insects. The Venus flytrap was named after the Roman goddess of love Venus, for the way it lures its prey into its mouth before eating it. The plant sits still waiting for its food to come along. When an insect, unaware of the type of plant it has landed on, climbs into the mouth of the Venus flytrap, it’s dinner time!

(3) The Venus flytrap has small hairs on its “mouth” that are sensitive to the touch. When pressure is applied to these hairs, the “mouth” snaps shut around the plant’s prey. This kind of quick movement is not very common in plants. If the insect is too stuck to get out and get away, the mouth seals itself and becomes a sort of stomach that digests the insect.

(4) The Venus flytrap’s “mouth” is very sophisticated. The hairs that are designed to sense when an insect has fallen into the trap, are also designed to tell the different between an insect and something smaller, like dust or pollen. The “mouth” of the Venus flytrap only snaps shut if two or more of the pressure-sensitive hairs are triggered. This keeps the “mouth” from shutting every time a piece of dirt touches it and makes the plant more effective at catching insects.

(5) The Venus flytrap is a pretty rare plant, so don’t expect to see it in the woods behind the school. Venus flytraps like wet, swampy areas, so they live near bogs. In the United States, they only naturally live in the coastal bogs of the Carolinas. Venus flytraps have also been successfully brought to other areas, but the Carolinas are their only naturally home in the United States. There’s no need to be afraid if you see one, though, just keep your hands away from their “mouths,” unless you want to be plant food.

(1) There are lots of plants for you to see when you play outside. Trees are plants, flowers are plants, and even grass is a plant. When we think of plants, these are the types of things we think about. Animals have mouths that eat, but plants get their food from the sunlight. But can you imagine what it would look like if a plant had a mouth like animals do? There’s no need to imagine because there is one plant with a mouth, and it’s called the Venus flytrap.

(2) Unlike most plants, the Venus flytrap is carnivorous, which means it eats meat. It doesn’t eat burgers and chicken like humans do, instead it eats flies and other insects. The Venus flytrap was named after the Roman goddess of love Venus, for the way it lures its prey into its mouth before eating it. The plant sits still waiting for its food to come along. When an insect, unaware of the type of plant it has landed on, climbs into the mouth of the Venus flytrap, it’s dinner time!

(3) The Venus flytrap has small hairs on its “mouth” that are sensitive to the touch. When pressure is applied to these hairs, the “mouth” snaps shut around the plant’s prey. This kind of quick movement is not very common in plants. If the insect is too stuck to get out and get away, the mouth seals itself and becomes a sort of stomach that digests the insect.

(4) The Venus flytrap’s “mouth” is very sophisticated. The hairs that are designed to sense when an insect has fallen into the trap, are also designed to tell the different between an insect and something smaller, like dust or pollen. The “mouth” of the Venus flytrap only snaps shut if two or more of the pressure-sensitive hairs are triggered. This keeps the “mouth” from shutting every time a piece of dirt touches it and makes the plant more effective at catching insects.

(5) The Venus flytrap is a pretty rare plant, so don’t expect to see it in the woods behind the school. Venus flytraps like wet, swampy areas, so they live near bogs. In the United States, they only naturally live in the coastal bogs of the Carolinas. Venus flytraps have also been successfully brought to other areas, but the Carolinas are their only naturally home in the United States. There’s no need to be afraid if you see one, though, just keep your hands away from their “mouths,” unless you want to be plant food.

(1) There are lots of plants for you to see when you play outside. Trees are plants, flowers are plants, and even grass is a plant. When we think of plants, these are the types of things we think about. Animals have mouths that eat, but plants get their food from the sunlight. But can you imagine what it would look like if a plant had a mouth like animals do? There’s no need to imagine because there is one plant with a mouth, and it’s called the Venus flytrap.

(2) Unlike most plants, the Venus flytrap is carnivorous, which means it eats meat. It doesn’t eat burgers and chicken like humans do, instead it eats flies and other insects. The Venus flytrap was named after the Roman goddess of love Venus, for the way it lures its prey into its mouth before eating it. The plant sits still waiting for its food to come along. When an insect, unaware of the type of plant it has landed on, climbs into the mouth of the Venus flytrap, it’s dinner time!

(3) The Venus flytrap has small hairs on its “mouth” that are sensitive to the touch. When pressure is applied to these hairs, the “mouth” snaps shut around the plant’s prey. This kind of quick movement is not very common in plants. If the insect is too stuck to get out and get away, the mouth seals itself and becomes a sort of stomach that digests the insect.

(4) The Venus flytrap’s “mouth” is very sophisticated. The hairs that are designed to sense when an insect has fallen into the trap, are also designed to tell the different between an insect and something smaller, like dust or pollen. The “mouth” of the Venus flytrap only snaps shut if two or more of the pressure-sensitive hairs are triggered. This keeps the “mouth” from shutting every time a piece of dirt touches it and makes the plant more effective at catching insects.

(5) The Venus flytrap is a pretty rare plant, so don’t expect to see it in the woods behind the school. Venus flytraps like wet, swampy areas, so they live near bogs. In the United States, they only naturally live in the coastal bogs of the Carolinas. Venus flytraps have also been successfully brought to other areas, but the Carolinas are their only naturally home in the United States. There’s no need to be afraid if you see one, though, just keep your hands away from their “mouths,” unless you want to be plant food.

(1) There are lots of plants for you to see when you play outside. Trees are plants, flowers are plants, and even grass is a plant. When we think of plants, these are the types of things we think about. Animals have mouths that eat, but plants get their food from the sunlight. But can you imagine what it would look like if a plant had a mouth like animals do? There’s no need to imagine because there is one plant with a mouth, and it’s called the Venus flytrap.

(2) Unlike most plants, the Venus flytrap is carnivorous, which means it eats meat. It doesn’t eat burgers and chicken like humans do, instead it eats flies and other insects. The Venus flytrap was named after the Roman goddess of love Venus, for the way it lures its prey into its mouth before eating it. The plant sits still waiting for its food to come along. When an insect, unaware of the type of plant it has landed on, climbs into the mouth of the Venus flytrap, it’s dinner time!

(3) The Venus flytrap has small hairs on its “mouth” that are sensitive to the touch. When pressure is applied to these hairs, the “mouth” snaps shut around the plant’s prey. This kind of quick movement is not very common in plants. If the insect is too stuck to get out and get away, the mouth seals itself and becomes a sort of stomach that digests the insect.

(4) The Venus flytrap’s “mouth” is very sophisticated. The hairs that are designed to sense when an insect has fallen into the trap, are also designed to tell the different between an insect and something smaller, like dust or pollen. The “mouth” of the Venus flytrap only snaps shut if two or more of the pressure-sensitive hairs are triggered. This keeps the “mouth” from shutting every time a piece of dirt touches it and makes the plant more effective at catching insects.

(5) The Venus flytrap is a pretty rare plant, so don’t expect to see it in the woods behind the school. Venus flytraps like wet, swampy areas, so they live near bogs. In the United States, they only naturally live in the coastal bogs of the Carolinas. Venus flytraps have also been successfully brought to other areas, but the Carolinas are their only naturally home in the United States. There’s no need to be afraid if you see one, though, just keep your hands away from their “mouths,” unless you want to be plant food.

(1) The United States of America experiences more tornadoes than any other country in the world, so it is important for Americans, especially those living in high-risk areas, to be able to identify the warning signs. A tornado can cause an enormous amount of damage and threaten the lives of anyone in its path. If people better understand how to recognize when a tornado is going to touch down, a lot of lives will be spared.

(2) It is first important to understand how and why a tornado is formed. There are specific weather patterns that bring about a tornado. Basically, a tornado forms when the air temperature is instable, often caused by warm and humid temperatures low near the ground and cooler temperatures higher in the air. Tornadoes also rely heavily on wind conditions. There needs to be a lot of wind shear, or changes in the direction of the wind, for a tornado to form. Once a tornado forms, it will touch ground for no more than 20 minutes, but a tornado can do a lot of damage even in only a few minutes.

(3) So, how do people prepare themselves for a potential tornado? It’s all about noticing the warning signs. One thing people can look for is any noticeable and sudden shifts in the clouds and the sky. When the sky darkens and takes on a greenish color, for example, it could signal an approaching tornado. Similarly, an approaching cloud of debris could be a sign of a potential tornado forming, as well as the appearance of a “wall” of clouds. Sometimes, instead of debris, hail will begin to fall. Additionally, many people have described an eerie silence and stillness preceding a tornado. This is a prime example of the cliched phrase, “the calm before the storm.”

(4) Educating yourself on the warning signs of tornadoes, especially if you live in an area that experiences them often, can give you the precious moments you need to find shelter from the destruction. Tornadoes still baffle meteorologists because they are so difficult to predict. Meteorologists have gotten very good at detecting potential tornado threats, but even their best efforts won’t give you a lot of time to prepare if a tornado is on its way. It’s best to be able to pick up on the signals yourself and be as prepared as possible for if/when a tornado hits near your home.

(1) The United States of America experiences more tornadoes than any other country in the world, so it is important for Americans, especially those living in high-risk areas, to be able to identify the warning signs. A tornado can cause an enormous amount of damage and threaten the lives of anyone in its path. If people better understand how to recognize when a tornado is going to touch down, a lot of lives will be spared.

(2) It is first important to understand how and why a tornado is formed. There are specific weather patterns that bring about a tornado. Basically, a tornado forms when the air temperature is instable, often caused by warm and humid temperatures low near the ground and cooler temperatures higher in the air. Tornadoes also rely heavily on wind conditions. There needs to be a lot of wind shear, or changes in the direction of the wind, for a tornado to form. Once a tornado forms, it will touch ground for no more than 20 minutes, but a tornado can do a lot of damage even in only a few minutes.

(3) So, how do people prepare themselves for a potential tornado? It’s all about noticing the warning signs. One thing people can look for is any noticeable and sudden shifts in the clouds and the sky. When the sky darkens and takes on a greenish color, for example, it could signal an approaching tornado. Similarly, an approaching cloud of debris could be a sign of a potential tornado forming, as well as the appearance of a “wall” of clouds. Sometimes, instead of debris, hail will begin to fall. Additionally, many people have described an eerie silence and stillness preceding a tornado. This is a prime example of the cliched phrase, “the calm before the storm.”

(4) Educating yourself on the warning signs of tornadoes, especially if you live in an area that experiences them often, can give you the precious moments you need to find shelter from the destruction. Tornadoes still baffle meteorologists because they are so difficult to predict. Meteorologists have gotten very good at detecting potential tornado threats, but even their best efforts won’t give you a lot of time to prepare if a tornado is on its way. It’s best to be able to pick up on the signals yourself and be as prepared as possible for if/when a tornado hits near your home.

(1) The United States of America experiences more tornadoes than any other country in the world, so it is important for Americans, especially those living in high-risk areas, to be able to identify the warning signs. A tornado can cause an enormous amount of damage and threaten the lives of anyone in its path. If people better understand how to recognize when a tornado is going to touch down, a lot of lives will be spared.

(2) It is first important to understand how and why a tornado is formed. There are specific weather patterns that bring about a tornado. Basically, a tornado forms when the air temperature is instable, often caused by warm and humid temperatures low near the ground and cooler temperatures higher in the air. Tornadoes also rely heavily on wind conditions. There needs to be a lot of wind shear, or changes in the direction of the wind, for a tornado to form. Once a tornado forms, it will touch ground for no more than 20 minutes, but a tornado can do a lot of damage even in only a few minutes.

(3) So, how do people prepare themselves for a potential tornado? It’s all about noticing the warning signs. One thing people can look for is any noticeable and sudden shifts in the clouds and the sky. When the sky darkens and takes on a greenish color, for example, it could signal an approaching tornado. Similarly, an approaching cloud of debris could be a sign of a potential tornado forming, as well as the appearance of a “wall” of clouds. Sometimes, instead of debris, hail will begin to fall. Additionally, many people have described an eerie silence and stillness preceding a tornado. This is a prime example of the cliched phrase, “the calm before the storm.”

(4) Educating yourself on the warning signs of tornadoes, especially if you live in an area that experiences them often, can give you the precious moments you need to find shelter from the destruction. Tornadoes still baffle meteorologists because they are so difficult to predict. Meteorologists have gotten very good at detecting potential tornado threats, but even their best efforts won’t give you a lot of time to prepare if a tornado is on its way. It’s best to be able to pick up on the signals yourself and be as prepared as possible for if/when a tornado hits near your home.

(1) The United States of America experiences more tornadoes than any other country in the world, so it is important for Americans, especially those living in high-risk areas, to be able to identify the warning signs. A tornado can cause an enormous amount of damage and threaten the lives of anyone in its path. If people better understand how to recognize when a tornado is going to touch down, a lot of lives will be spared.

(2) It is first important to understand how and why a tornado is formed. There are specific weather patterns that bring about a tornado. Basically, a tornado forms when the air temperature is instable, often caused by warm and humid temperatures low near the ground and cooler temperatures higher in the air. Tornadoes also rely heavily on wind conditions. There needs to be a lot of wind shear, or changes in the direction of the wind, for a tornado to form. Once a tornado forms, it will touch ground for no more than 20 minutes, but a tornado can do a lot of damage even in only a few minutes.

(3) So, how do people prepare themselves for a potential tornado? It’s all about noticing the warning signs. One thing people can look for is any noticeable and sudden shifts in the clouds and the sky. When the sky darkens and takes on a greenish color, for example, it could signal an approaching tornado. Similarly, an approaching cloud of debris could be a sign of a potential tornado forming, as well as the appearance of a “wall” of clouds. Sometimes, instead of debris, hail will begin to fall. Additionally, many people have described an eerie silence and stillness preceding a tornado. This is a prime example of the cliched phrase, “the calm before the storm.”

(4) Educating yourself on the warning signs of tornadoes, especially if you live in an area that experiences them often, can give you the precious moments you need to find shelter from the destruction. Tornadoes still baffle meteorologists because they are so difficult to predict. Meteorologists have gotten very good at detecting potential tornado threats, but even their best efforts won’t give you a lot of time to prepare if a tornado is on its way. It’s best to be able to pick up on the signals yourself and be as prepared as possible for if/when a tornado hits near your home.

(1) The United States of America experiences more tornadoes than any other country in the world, so it is important for Americans, especially those living in high-risk areas, to be able to identify the warning signs. A tornado can cause an enormous amount of damage and threaten the lives of anyone in its path. If people better understand how to recognize when a tornado is going to touch down, a lot of lives will be spared.

(2) It is first important to understand how and why a tornado is formed. There are specific weather patterns that bring about a tornado. Basically, a tornado forms when the air temperature is instable, often caused by warm and humid temperatures low near the ground and cooler temperatures higher in the air. Tornadoes also rely heavily on wind conditions. There needs to be a lot of wind shear, or changes in the direction of the wind, for a tornado to form. Once a tornado forms, it will touch ground for no more than 20 minutes, but a tornado can do a lot of damage even in only a few minutes.

(3) So, how do people prepare themselves for a potential tornado? It’s all about noticing the warning signs. One thing people can look for is any noticeable and sudden shifts in the clouds and the sky. When the sky darkens and takes on a greenish color, for example, it could signal an approaching tornado. Similarly, an approaching cloud of debris could be a sign of a potential tornado forming, as well as the appearance of a “wall” of clouds. Sometimes, instead of debris, hail will begin to fall. Additionally, many people have described an eerie silence and stillness preceding a tornado. This is a prime example of the cliched phrase, “the calm before the storm.”

(4) Educating yourself on the warning signs of tornadoes, especially if you live in an area that experiences them often, can give you the precious moments you need to find shelter from the destruction. Tornadoes still baffle meteorologists because they are so difficult to predict. Meteorologists have gotten very good at detecting potential tornado threats, but even their best efforts won’t give you a lot of time to prepare if a tornado is on its way. It’s best to be able to pick up on the signals yourself and be as prepared as possible for if/when a tornado hits near your home.

(1) The United States of America experiences more tornadoes than any other country in the world, so it is important for Americans, especially those living in high-risk areas, to be able to identify the warning signs. A tornado can cause an enormous amount of damage and threaten the lives of anyone in its path. If people better understand how to recognize when a tornado is going to touch down, a lot of lives will be spared.

(2) It is first important to understand how and why a tornado is formed. There are specific weather patterns that bring about a tornado. Basically, a tornado forms when the air temperature is instable, often caused by warm and humid temperatures low near the ground and cooler temperatures higher in the air. Tornadoes also rely heavily on wind conditions. There needs to be a lot of wind shear, or changes in the direction of the wind, for a tornado to form. Once a tornado forms, it will touch ground for no more than 20 minutes, but a tornado can do a lot of damage even in only a few minutes.

(3) So, how do people prepare themselves for a potential tornado? It’s all about noticing the warning signs. One thing people can look for is any noticeable and sudden shifts in the clouds and the sky. When the sky darkens and takes on a greenish color, for example, it could signal an approaching tornado. Similarly, an approaching cloud of debris could be a sign of a potential tornado forming, as well as the appearance of a “wall” of clouds. Sometimes, instead of debris, hail will begin to fall. Additionally, many people have described an eerie silence and stillness preceding a tornado. This is a prime example of the cliched phrase, “the calm before the storm.”

(4) Educating yourself on the warning signs of tornadoes, especially if you live in an area that experiences them often, can give you the precious moments you need to find shelter from the destruction. Tornadoes still baffle meteorologists because they are so difficult to predict. Meteorologists have gotten very good at detecting potential tornado threats, but even their best efforts won’t give you a lot of time to prepare if a tornado is on its way. It’s best to be able to pick up on the signals yourself and be as prepared as possible for if/when a tornado hits near your home.

(1) The United States of America experiences more tornadoes than any other country in the world, so it is important for Americans, especially those living in high-risk areas, to be able to identify the warning signs. A tornado can cause an enormous amount of damage and threaten the lives of anyone in its path. If people better understand how to recognize when a tornado is going to touch down, a lot of lives will be spared.

(2) It is first important to understand how and why a tornado is formed. There are specific weather patterns that bring about a tornado. Basically, a tornado forms when the air temperature is instable, often caused by warm and humid temperatures low near the ground and cooler temperatures higher in the air. Tornadoes also rely heavily on wind conditions. There needs to be a lot of wind shear, or changes in the direction of the wind, for a tornado to form. Once a tornado forms, it will touch ground for no more than 20 minutes, but a tornado can do a lot of damage even in only a few minutes.

(3) So, how do people prepare themselves for a potential tornado? It’s all about noticing the warning signs. One thing people can look for is any noticeable and sudden shifts in the clouds and the sky. When the sky darkens and takes on a greenish color, for example, it could signal an approaching tornado. Similarly, an approaching cloud of debris could be a sign of a potential tornado forming, as well as the appearance of a “wall” of clouds. Sometimes, instead of debris, hail will begin to fall. Additionally, many people have described an eerie silence and stillness preceding a tornado. This is a prime example of the cliched phrase, “the calm before the storm.”

(4) Educating yourself on the warning signs of tornadoes, especially if you live in an area that experiences them often, can give you the precious moments you need to find shelter from the destruction. Tornadoes still baffle meteorologists because they are so difficult to predict. Meteorologists have gotten very good at detecting potential tornado threats, but even their best efforts won’t give you a lot of time to prepare if a tornado is on its way. It’s best to be able to pick up on the signals yourself and be as prepared as possible for if/when a tornado hits near your home.

(1) The United States of America experiences more tornadoes than any other country in the world, so it is important for Americans, especially those living in high-risk areas, to be able to identify the warning signs. A tornado can cause an enormous amount of damage and threaten the lives of anyone in its path. If people better understand how to recognize when a tornado is going to touch down, a lot of lives will be spared.

(2) It is first important to understand how and why a tornado is formed. There are specific weather patterns that bring about a tornado. Basically, a tornado forms when the air temperature is instable, often caused by warm and humid temperatures low near the ground and cooler temperatures higher in the air. Tornadoes also rely heavily on wind conditions. There needs to be a lot of wind shear, or changes in the direction of the wind, for a tornado to form. Once a tornado forms, it will touch ground for no more than 20 minutes, but a tornado can do a lot of damage even in only a few minutes.

(3) So, how do people prepare themselves for a potential tornado? It’s all about noticing the warning signs. One thing people can look for is any noticeable and sudden shifts in the clouds and the sky. When the sky darkens and takes on a greenish color, for example, it could signal an approaching tornado. Similarly, an approaching cloud of debris could be a sign of a potential tornado forming, as well as the appearance of a “wall” of clouds. Sometimes, instead of debris, hail will begin to fall. Additionally, many people have described an eerie silence and stillness preceding a tornado. This is a prime example of the cliched phrase, “the calm before the storm.”

(4) Educating yourself on the warning signs of tornadoes, especially if you live in an area that experiences them often, can give you the precious moments you need to find shelter from the destruction. Tornadoes still baffle meteorologists because they are so difficult to predict. Meteorologists have gotten very good at detecting potential tornado threats, but even their best efforts won’t give you a lot of time to prepare if a tornado is on its way. It’s best to be able to pick up on the signals yourself and be as prepared as possible for if/when a tornado hits near your home.