EXPLORE THE ANIMAL CEL:

Have you ever wondered what will happen to a cell, if one of its functions

were missing? Well… here is a great opportunity for you to find out!

So, come here to explore all the interesting bits and pieces that make up

the animal cell!

The first feature we will look at is the Nucleus. The nucleus is covered with a cell membrane. Without a nucleus, the cell will go chaos, or it will not be able to control itself. The second organelle we see is the vacuole. Most vacuoles look like small sacs filled with fluid. If there were a lack of vacuoles, the cell will not have a place to store necessary items, such as water, food, and wastes. The next organelle looks like little round grains, these are ribosomes. With no ribosomes, the cell would not be able to develop, and it would not get enough proteins. Moving on, we see the cytoplasm. The cytoplasm is the gel-like material, which does most of the work in a cell. Devoid of the cytoplasm, the cell’s structure would collapse. Now we see what is called the cell membrane. The cell membrane is a thin layer made up of proteins and lipids. Without the cell membrane, materials will not be able to pass in and out of the cell, thus the cell will not be safe. After the cell membrane, comes the cytoskeleton. The cytoskeleton is made up of series of fibers. If an animal cell contains no cytoskeleton, then the cell will eventually become weak. Another structure of the animal cell is the lysosomes. Lysosomes have an easy job-they recycle. Therefore, if a cell does not contain a lysosome, the cell will be filled up with broken down particles, moreover, waste products. Furthermore, now we see the mitochondria. The mitochondria is like a rod shape organelle, surrounded by two membranes. Without this very important structure, the cell will not get enough energy. Next, we see the Golgi Body. You can think the Golgi Body as a packaging machine. Without the Golgi Body, the cell will not get enough materials. Finally yet importantly, we reach the Endoplasmic Reticulum (or E.R.). The Endoplasmic Reticulum is like a chain of tunnels that transport proteins. Without the ER, cells will not be able to communicate.

AS YOU CAN SEE, ALL THESE FUNCTIONS/ORGANELLES ARE VERY IMPORTANT TO AN ANIMAL CELL. IF ONE OF THESE ORGANELLES WERE MISSING, OR WERE DESTROYED, THE CELL WILL HAVE A POSSIBLE CHANCE OF DYING.

Book Review

Second Book Report

In the book Rules by Cynthia Lord, twelve-year-old Catherine has a brother (David) with Autism. She loves him very much, but she is afraid of his embarrassing behaviors. She thinks David needs to learn discipline, so she makes him a list of rules (for example: “You can hug mom, but not the clerk at the video store,” or “Keep your pants on in public,” even “no toys in the fish tank”). One day, Kristi, the new neighbor moves in. Catherine has always wished for a friend, ever since her other best friend moved away to California. Catherine tries to hide David from Kristi, and tries to make sure David avoids Kristi. Catherine is embarrassed that David will embarrass her, as well as Kristi not becoming her friend. Soon Catherine and Kristi become good friends, without David finding out.

Since David has autism, he has to go to the doctors once (or twice) a week. As Catherine goes to the clinic with David, she meets Jason. Jason was in a wheelchair and was shy. He was quiet and he carried this thick book wherever he went. One day, in the clinic, Catherine sketched a picture of Jason when he wasn’t looking. She was almost done with the sketch, when Jason’s mother came up to her and started yelling about how Jason was disabled, and how she thought Catherine was not treating him with all due respect. Catherine was just stunned and speechless. She did not know that Jason could not talk, so he had to use his “communication book,” so she immediately stopped sketching her picture of Jason.

As days passed, everything went “normal”. At once, Jason told Catherine if she could give him her name in a small-sized index card. After she had made the card, Jason wanted more words. This is how they became friends-Catherine started making him expression words. One day, Jason asked Catherine something unexpected. He asked her how does it feel to be able to run? Catherine responded with a simple answer free, and it is like walking fast. Jason felt the urge to run, so he told Catherine to push his wheelchair fast. Jason felt happy that he could be able to run, and to have a good friend. Soon, it was Jason’s birthday and he was eager to invite Catherine. She also was happy that she was invited, but she was afraid to take David along with her. Catherine knew the perfect gift for Jason…a guitar. During Jason’s birthday party, Catherine was all well dressed and happy. Since Jason wanted her to bring along David, she did. When it was time to eat the cake, David did not use any food utensils, he ate with his fingers. This made Catherine so embarrassed that she thought Jason was not going to be her friend anymore. Conversely, Jason just accepted her for who she was, and he did not mind that her brother was “awkward.”

After the birthday party was over, everyone went home. The next day, Jason asked Catherine to go to a dance. She was stunned. All that was on her mind was what will Kristi think of me? She did not know what to say, so she asked Jason “…how…can…you…dance?” Jason felt bad and he left with no sound. Catherine stopped him, so he said, “I don’t dance, so I like to listen to the music.” Catherine understood, so she said yes. During the dance, Catherine saw Kristi, and she introduced Jason. Kristi was also shocked because she had imagined Jason’s appearance and characteristics to be different from how he really was in real life. Anyway, Catherine did not really dance, but Jason moved his wheelchair back and forth (to make the people around him think that he was kind of dancing). While “dancing”, Jason suspected that Catherine really did not want to dance with him because of his disability-he leaves. For another time, Catherine stopped Jason and she was wondering why he wanted to leave so early. As Jason started explaining, Catherine realized that she had been acting embarrassed, so she apologized to Jason. Without knowing, they both start dancing as well as becoming close friends.

The main characters throughout this story are:

Catherine is a twelve-year-old girl. She is very self-conscious towards herself, and others. She tries to hide her feelings towards her friends. David is Catherine’s eight-year-old brother. He is suffering from autism. He likes to watch this cartoon film called “Frog & Toad.” Jason is Catherine’s friend. He in a terrible condition of paraplegic. He visits Catherine every time she goes to the doctors with David. He likes to play the guitar, and he is very gentle. He can be a little sensitive about what others say about him sometimes.

There were many themes throughout the story, but I believe that the important message the author was trying to give is “accept people of who they are.” In this story, Catherine is always trying to make sure David avoids people. She is always scared and embarrassed of his behavior. I personally think that Catherine is somewhat selfish. I mean, if I had a brother who is suffering autism, I would try to help him. Although sometimes he might humiliate me, I would still try to teach him the right things from the wrong. Catherine still teaches David, but she just makes up a bunch of rules so he catch up. For a fact, I know that children/adults who have autism have a hard time to talk or express themselves with other people, they cannot make connections with people easily, and they have trouble linking words to their meanings…etc... On the other hand, once Catherine meets Jason, she slowly starts to realize that she is “normal”, and sometimes people have to deal with things that they do not like.

This theme does relate to me in a way. Before I read this book, and read about autism, (in elementary school), I used to be “mean”—and I state again, I used to be “a big meanie.” I did not really know that if you make fun of someone, it could hurt him or her deep down--right in the middle of the heart.L Anyway, I thought disabled kids were “weird.” I did not know that they had a hard time doing things. Later on, I tried to put my position in theirs, and feel how people call you not “normal.” As soon as I started “growing up,” I understood that sometimes there isn’t a real treatment (in terms of medicine) for the disability, so the actual cure is care, love, and to be friends. Now, in middle school, I REALLY regret what I had said in the past.

I really enjoyed this award-winning, heart-warming, and ingenious work of fiction. I think this story is realistic in a few ways. First, to have a brother with autism is real-life. Second, trying to make new friends is difficult. Along with third, people can judge others by their disability, looks, or behaviors. I give this book as a “two-thumbs” up because it really dealt with reality, and it was a very meaningful story. I thought the event when Catherine made up certain words for Jason that similarly expressed her daily life was a bit funny. I do recommend this book to any young readers.

THE HISTORY OF SOCCER

…THE HISTORY OF SOCCER…

As we all know, soccer is a well famous know sport. It is a very fun game and it mostly requires energy. However, do we know the real chronicle of soccer? Personally, I love the sport soccer, but I never seemed to have learned the history of it. Anyway, the beginning of soccer started in the late mid-18^th century…

Nobody really knows where soccer originated thus, people are assuming that it started around the Romans, Chinese, or from South America. In the olden times, people used anything as a ball, and sometimes the loser or the winner would be sacrificing each other. Soccer started in Brazil when a few children were playing together. As they were playing, they saw a bucket of soft rubber and turned the rubber into a ball-shape sphere. Therefore, the children would play with each other-but not in the modern way-they would just pass each other the ball without touching it. Slowly, more and more people began to play this. Then they started adding goals, teams, etc.

The first game of soccer was played by Roman soldiers. They used their heads to block their enemy, and to pass the ball to their teammates. This proves why there is a rule against touching the ball with your hands. Later on, soccer came to Europe form the Mexicans. Their playing was a bit different from the Romans, but they were amazingly entertained. After a battle, they would chop off their opponents’ head and use it as a football. Afterward, the head would be taken across to Europe by the Spaniards, Portuguese, Dutch, etc. (the people who invented the ball).

Chinese people also were very skilled in playing soccer. In about 2600 BC, they made a ball that consisted of leather and the goals were about 30 feet high and 20 feet apart. Soccer was usually only played in the celebration of the emperor’s birthday. This mostly happened during the Hun Dynasty.

Soccer was invented by the Mayan’s and the Aztecs Indians in Central America. In the city of Copan, of Maya, they had one of the largest and sturdiest soccer fields ever. The civilization dates went back to more than 10,000 years ago. These people also sacrificed the captain of the winning team. Sacrificing was a way to honor the accomplished soccer players.

In this current time, every 4 years, there is a World Cup based on soccer. Professional players-from their own country, all around the world-play aggressively, until they win. The winning team gets the world cup of the current year, and gets valuable items (such as clothing, vehicles, money, etc.). There are billions of soccer lovers who enjoy watching this live show (including me).

Another official name for soccer is football. Soccer comes from association football; only the U.S.A. and Canada say soccer.

As you can see, soccer is played all around the world in various ways.

Soccer is an athletic game for both boys and girls. When people play soccer, their entire mind is usually focused on competition and wining. In my opinion, I think when you play soccer; you should just try your best, and have fun! =)

...My Name…

...My Name…

Names can represent different people, and they all signify something very special. I have heard of many international names that are very rare and unique. Sometimes people make fun of someone, just because there name sounds weird. However, those who tease others are very selfish and cruel. If you do not know the meaning of one’s name, why waste your time teasing them? Teasing is a very ghastly thing, and it can really hurt.

What my name means...

My name is Dikshya Dhungana. Yes, you might say “what a bizarre and %*&@ name!” but before you say anything, hold your mouth. Dikshya is a one in a million name that no one knows about. The name Dikshya (pronounced dik-shā) means “knowledge, or concentration.” This name comes from the Nepalese. (Nepal is located in Asia, in between China and Tibet). Anyway, my parents choose this name because my generations of ancestors were from Nepal. Most of my friends, or the people who know me, say that since I am from New Zealand, my name should be New Zealandish - I disagree. Your name does not have to connect with where you are from, or your personality or anything like that. Any name expresses one’s personal, cultural identity.

The spitefulness of one’s name...

Now that you know what my name means, you will now step into my shoes. Imagine going to a middle school and every single day, in every class, people make fun of your name. They say “Hey %*&@!, nice name!” When really they do not mean it. On the other hand, sometimes people cut off part of your name to make it sound “wrong” and try to humiliate you. Those people who do that do not know how others suffer. Every now and then, I really hope that the name-calling people will get in loads of trouble, and that they would regret what they had said.

THE END

Author’s note: This is a true narrative story.

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