1.
Somnambulism , or sleepwalking , is a condition in which a person who is asleep engages in complex motor activity—such as walking, eating, or even cooking—without conscious awareness. Sleepwalkers are generally harmless; however, there is one type of somnambulism that is characterized by extreme or even violent behavior. People suffering from this condition, which has also been described as homicidal somnambulism or sleepstabbing , may punch, kick, or try to strangle their bedmates as they act out events occurring in their dreams. They might also commit murder. One well-known case was documented in 1994 by clinical neurologist Roger Broughton in the article "Homicidal Somnambulism." In May 1987, Kenneth Parks of Toronto fell asleep on his couch, and then—while still asleep—got up and drove his car fourteen miles to his in-laws? home, where he beat his father-in-law unconscious and killed his mother-in-law by beating her with a tire iron and then stabbing her five times. During his trial for murder, the defense convinced the jury that violent sleepwalking was the only possible explanation for Parks? actions, so he was acquitted of the charges. (Source of information: Jeff Stryker, "Sleepstabbing," Salon , July 8, 1999, http://www.salon.com/health/feature/1999/07/08/sleepwalking)
Primary Pattern:
a. definition
b. sequence of dates and events
c. comparison and contrast
2.
Like the basketball used for 35 years until 2006, the NBA?s new official game ball is manufactured by Spalding. However, the new ball—a result of eight years of research and development—differs in many ways from the old ball. For one thing, the old ball was made of leather, ranging in color from orange to dark brown. Leather is a natural material that responds differently to handling than the material of the new ball, a microfiber composite in a uniform color known as "NBA-heritage orange." The number of panels in the two balls differs, too. The old ball was composed of eight panels, but the new ball is made up of only two cross-shaped panels. According to Spalding, this new design will give players better grip on the ball. The new ball is also ready to use immediately; in contrast, the old ball required a break-in period of one to two months. In addition, the new ball is more durable. Whereas the old ball was good for about 70,000 bounces, the new ball will last for 80,000 bounces. But the innovations come at a higher price. The retail price of the old ball was $37.50 while the new ball costs $99.99. (Source of information: Ranald Totten, "Sizing Up the NBA?s New Basketball," USA Weekend , Nov. 17-19, 2006, p. 14)
Primary Pattern:
a. cause and effect
b. sequence of dates and events
c. comparison and contrast
3.
The three types of courts in the legal system of United States are trial courts, appellate courts, and supreme courts. Trial courts are responsible for resolving disputes between two parties. In some trial courts, a jury decides the case. In other trial courts, however, a judge has that responsibility. Appellate courts are composed of a panel of judges. The job of the panel is to hear appeals brought by plaintiffs or defendants who did not like the decision made in a trial court. After reviewing the evidence presented in a particular case and deciding if the proceedings were legally sound, the appellate court can affirm, modify, or reverse the lower court?s decision. An appellate court can also call for a re-trial. The highest level of appellate court is the state supreme court , which can review and override decisions made in lower appellate courts. The federal Supreme Court is the court of last resort. Supreme Court rulings are final and cannot be challenged, although later Supreme Court rulings can set new precedents, or examples, for the court to follow.
Primary Pattern:
a. classification
b. definition
c. comparison and contrast
4.
The first Thanksgiving in America was observed in the 17th century. However, Thanksgiving Day did not actually become an official national holiday until the 19th century. In 1621,members of the Plymouth, Massachusetts colony celebrated their first harvest with a feast, but their first true thanksgiving did not occur until 1623, when they held a church service to express gratitude for rain after a period of drought. By the mid-17th century, an annual Thanksgiving holiday was observed after the harvest. However, the celebration took place on different days in different colonies. During the 18th and early 19th centuries, various presidents occasionally declared a Thanksgiving Day. For example, in December 1777, during the American Revolutionary War, General George Washington proclaimed a Thanksgiving Day in gratitude for colonists? defeat of the British at Saratoga. In 1789, the first national day of thanksgiving was established by Congress and celebrated on November 26 of that year; however, the holiday did not become an annual celebration until President Abraham Lincoln proclaimed it one. In 1863 Lincoln declared that the last Thursday of November would always be observed as "a day of Thanksgiving and Praise to our beneficent Father who dwelleth in the Heavens." In 1939, President Franklin D. Roosevelt changed Thanksgiving Day to the second-to-last Thursday in November in an attempt to stimulate the economy with a longer period of Christmas shopping. In 1941,Congress established that Thanksgiving would always occur on the fourth Thursday of November, and the holiday is now observed by Americans on that particular day each year. (Source of information: "Thanksgiving in North America: From Local Harvests to National Holiday", Encyclopedia Smithsonian , http://www.si.edu/resource/faq/nmah/thanks.htm)
Primary Pattern:
a. cause and effect
b. classification
c. sequence of dates and events
5.
According to scientific studies, being fluent in two languages seems to prevent mental decline as people age. In 2004, researchers at York University in Toronto, Canada, had monolingual and bilingual adults participate in a test of fluid intelligence , or the ability to stay focused and react both quickly and appropriately in new situations. Because fluid intelligence is believed to deteriorate as people get older, researchers tried to determine what might affect the decline. Participants in a research experiment watched flashing squares on a computer screen and were asked to press a specific key when they saw a square in a certain part of the screen. As the task continued, the number of square increased. The researchers then introduced distractions and measured the amount of time subjects needed to respond when the complexity of the task increased along with the distractions. What they found was that both younger and older subjects who had been bilingual since childhood consistently responded faster and were better able to maintain their attention while ignoring irrelevant information. As a result of their experiment, researchers concluded that lifelong experience with managing two different languages prevents some of the decline in fluid intelligence. Researchers think that learning a second language, especially during childhood, strengthens the brain?s ability to stay focused and respond quickly and correctly despite distractions. (Source of information: American Psychological Association, "Being Bilingual Protects Against Some Age-Related Cognitive Changes, Says New Research," APA Press Release, June 13, 2004, www.apa.org/releases/bilingual_aging.html)
Primary Pattern:
a. process
b. cause and effect
c. definition