Monthly V SHINE International February 2014 with interesting stuff

FEBRUARY 2014

International

Printed by Ayesha Printers Published by Najeeb Ahmed HanfiRegistration No. MC-1360

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Assalam-o-AlaikumHope your doing well. This world and everything in it is a great gift of Allah for us. Water is one such bounty. We don’t even realise that how important water is. We cannot imagine life without water.Water is used for numerous purposes like cooking, drinking, bathing and cleaning. It is true that two-third of the Earth is covered with water but out of this, only 3% is suitable for drinking while the other part is salty water.Perhaps we can survive without coal or wood or oil, but water is a basis for life. Also the purifying role of water in the form of ablution before prayer or during pilgrimages is very important. Humans, animals, and the environment require water to survive.We should not waste water and must understand that fresh water has now become a vulnerable resource. The holy prophet (peace be upon him) did not like his companions to waste water even during ablutions for prayers. You definitely don’t need water running while brushing your teeth. Just wet the toothbrush and turn off the tap. Once done with brushing, you can open it again to wash and rinse your mouth and the toothbrush.It is really alarming that there are an estimated 884 million people who lack access to safe drinking water and more than 2.6 billion people do not have access to basic sanitation. Access to water is a fundamental precondition for the enjoyment of human rights like the rights to life, adequate housing, education, food, health, work and cultural life.So, next time when you wash your face or brush your teeth, turn off the facet to save this precious gift.

With LoveEditor

Editor-In-ChiefNajeeb Ahmed Hanfi

Director MarketingSaad Shah

EditorNazim Hussain

Sub-EditorUmair Safdar

DesignerSufyan Nasir

IllustratorFurkan Wahab

Educational ConsultantsDr. Iftikhar AhmedDr. Shagufta Naqvi

Training ConsultantM. Farid Hanfi

WebsiteSyed Fahad ShahabM. Abdus Samad KhanM. Wajahat Khan

Administration/CirculationImad Islam

Advertisement & SalesSyed Talal AliUsama Sheikh

Pakistan Office A-1, Shamoonabad, Block-13, Gulshan-e-Iqbal, Karachi, Pakistan.Phone: +92.21.34810875 Cell: +92.333.3440293

UK Office 202 North Gower StreetLondon, NW1 2LYTel: 0207 387 2157

KSA+966 503655640

E-mail [email protected]

Website www.vshineworld.com

FEBRUARY 2014Volume 4, Issue 2www.vshineworld.com

5 I Need A camel, Not A calf…

6 Dear Editor

7 Poems

8 Ask Uncle Shine

9 Boring Naz Appa

10 The Horrible Maths

12 V SHINE Kitchen

13 Hidden In Sight

13 Jokes

14 India

16 Haughtiness Is A Curse

17 History At A Glance

18 The Snake With A Rattle

20 V SHINE Lab

21 Fantastic Sports Facts

22 Let’s Scrap!

24 Mixed Bag

26 Nine Crazy Questions

28 Young Writers

30 Mind Game

31 Word Search

32 Robot Went Wrong

33 Maze

34 Word Box

By Humaira Khatoon

“I had requested you for a camel and you are offering me a calf,” said the old lady angrily.

“But all I have can you as a gift is only a calf,” the holy prophet (peace be upon him) replied smilingly.“I need a grown up camel for riding and carrying load. What will I do of a calf?” she replied worriedly.“You will ride on it and it will carry your load as well,” he said and asked the old lady to wait. The holy prophet (peace be upon him) went inside a stable and came out holding the rope of a full grown-up strong and beautiful camel.“See, isn’t it a calf of a camel?” he said while presenting the camel to her. Everybody present on the occasion smiled and enjoyed the good sense of humor of the holy prophet (peace be upon him).Prophet Muhammad (peace is upon him) had a great sense of humor. He possessed a pleasant and lively disposition. This lady was Brkata. Her nickname was Umme-e-Antiba but she was famous as Umm-e-Aiman. She was a maid of Abdullah bin Abe Abdul Mutalib. When he got married, she was become maid of his wife Amna bint Wahb, the mother of Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him).When Amna visited her tribe in Yathrib (Madinah) with her little child, Brkata accompanied her. They stayed with the family of Bani Najjar.On their way

back at Abwa, a place between Makkah and Yathrib, Amna fell seriously ill and later passed away. Umm-e-Aiman took special care of the little child and carried him back to his grandfather Abdul Matalib safely.When Muhammad (peace be upon him) grew up, she become his maid but he freed her and she got married to Ubaid bin Zaid. She had a son named Aiman and thus was called Umm-e-Aiman.Once Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said:“If someone wants to make Nikkah with the lady of Paradise, he does it with Umm-e-Aiman.”After hearing that Zaid bin Harisa made Nikkah with Umm-e-Aiman. The youngest commander of Islamic Army, Osama bin Zaid, was their son.Umm-e-Aiman is among the first group of people who embraced Islam. She migrated to Habsha (Abyssinia) and then to Madinah. This great lady also nursed injured during wars. Her husband Zaid bin Harisa was martyred in the battle of Mutah.She often kept visiting Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him). He always greeted her and was happy to see her.

He used to call her “My Mother”.

Once he presented her a beautiful strong camel on

her demand. Umm-e-Aiman was very pious, virtuous and

God-fearing lady. She died during the Caliphate of Uthman bin Affan (may

Allah be pleased with him).

He joked with his companions. He smiled

and laughed with them. The holy prophet had a dignified sense of humor and everybody enjoyed light moments with him.

FEBRUARY 2014 | V SHINE 5

STORY

V SHINE is my favourite magazine.

It is a treasure of activities and information. “Iqbal, the poet of the East ” was amazing.

Keep it up! (Laiba Maqbool, Rawalpindi, Pakistan)

I will be very grateful if you can clear

that the poem “Monster Flies” was posted by my younger sister

Rihab Talha and not by me. She uses my email account. Her poem was submitted in Young Writers corner in October 2013. (Abir Talha,

United Arab Emirates)

I love V SHINE very much. The cover page

of December’s Issue was superb! I have been reading your magazine for a year. The Mazes & Dot to dot game was too difficult but I made it. Your magazine is rocking.

(Imtesal Ameena, Lahore, Pakistan)

V SHINE is an interesting magazine and

I liked the article on macaw. Stories were nice. Please publish about writers and great thinkers.

(Uzair Ahmed, New York, USA)

I love your magazine. Keep it up. I

want to be a scientist so please add more science projects. After all you rock! (Sadiya Malik, Tabuk,

Saudi Arabia)

I love your magazine, it is really

interesting specially the poems and stories. The V SHINE Lab contains

awesome experiments. The V SHINE Kitchen brings tasty treats for us which are easy to cook. I must appreciate all the efforts of

your team and hard work, keep rocking. (Syed Hasan Akbar, Multan,

Pakistan)

I read jokes and find things in Hidden

in Sight first. I have asked a question to Uncle Shine. Please publish that in magazine.

(Huma Farooq, Dubai, UAE)

I have been reading your magazine for

the last one year and I found it really interesting and informative! I really like the Mixed Bag. Good effort. Keep it up! (Momina Khalid,

Taxila, Pakistan)

Snowball I made a snowball

As perfect as could beAs white as a fluffy cat

It belongs to meSoon it will melt,In the fierce glowing sunAnd I’ll lose my snowball fighting fun.By Kaunain Asfi

Oh God!When I get in trouble,

And try to solve it lonely...People make it double,

And there He comes onlyWhen everyone refuse me,And my heart weeps,There’s always He who helps me,His help, Oh! It sweeps!To recite His greatness,My vocabulary is concise

Oh God! To thank you,This poem should be resized!

By Maleeha Junaidi

My GlassesThey are on my nose

They hold my earsWhat a perfect pose

They are my glassesPurple and whiteThey help me see thingsIn my sightI keep my glassesNeat and cleanSo that everythingCould be easily seenI love my glassesVery much

I won’t give them to youEven for a touch

By Huda Mohsin


LETTER BOX


POEMS

Watching sportsI am fond of watching football matches while my

brother who is one year older than me, watches cricket and I do not like it. How can I keep remote

control for myself because he grabs it just before the start of a football match? (Taha Sheikh, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia)

Dear Taha,Does he not allow you to watch TV altogether? If it is the case, ask your mother. She will help you. We live together and we should also respect the likes and dislikes of each other. A cricket match lasts longer so your brother should let you watch

football match. However, you people are not supposed to waste your time in

quarreling for remote control. Restrict your TV hours.

A backbiter friendI have a friend. She is a real backbiter.

She keeps feeding bad things about me to the class teacher. I am really worried! Help!

(Ellina Fatima, Faisalabad, Pakistan)

Dear Ellina,First of all, you must limit your conversation with her. This is a precautionary step. If there is no communications between you two, she will have no issues about you to discuss. Forgive her and do not take any revenge. Pray for her. Do not worry. Soon everything will be alright.

I drop catchesWhen I am playing cricket, I drop catches. Please tell me how to take a good catch? (Saim Ahmed, Karachi, Pakistan)

Dear Saim,Catching with the fingers in downward position is the most commonly used method for taking a ball in your hands safely. In this method a fielder joins the fingers of both of his hands to give it a shape of a cup. The enjoined palms are in up position with fingers downward. Always keep your eyes on the ball. This has more relevance to catch a skier. Do not fear that the ball is going to hit you. Use cap to block sunlight in your eyes. Ask for protective wear whenever you feel like. Keenly observe how the best players have taken catches. Learn from an expert and practice it.

By Lead Pencil

A pleasant aroma drifted in the living room as I slung my school bag on the sofa. I scuttled to

the kitchen.“Oh’ Mum, you’re baking a cake!”Mum smiled. “Naz Appa is coming today. She’ll stay with us for some days.”“Naz Appa, that old fashioned, geek villager!” I grimaced.“Fari, mind your language!” Mum frowned. “You know about your cousin’s wedding in Lahore. She’ll take care of you and the house while we’ll be away.”“I can stay at my friend’s house.”“No.”“Who will help me in the school photography contest?” I nearly yelled.“Naz can, she’s creative.”I sighed. How could an uneducated lady be creative?In the evening Naz Appa arrived, just as I expected, with clanking earrings and bangles, tight oily plait dazzling with paranda full of mirrors. Dressed in shimmering orange shalwar kameez, and matching fancy flip flops, even in this cold!She hugged me tight and bestowed a kiss on my both cheek, thanks for no lipstick.She wasn’t the only one rattling around. Her trunk entered the same way, as a maid dragged it inside.The next day, mum and dad went to Lahore and I was left alone with boring Naz Appa. With a camera slung around my neck, I walked out of the house looking for some photography ideas.Meow…! A cat crossed the street. Animal photos! I thought for a second, then shuffled the idea aside as Shanza’s whole group was interested in animal photography. I needed something unique.Most of the boys were talking about cars. I stared at Uncle Uzair’s car.

No, boring stuff.I squatted by the hedge lining Aunt Laila’s house. I might be lucky enough to find any colourful beetle. I combed through tough hedge. But it was too cold for any beetle.I would have enjoyed more if I had stayed at my friend’s house. I sighed. Together we could have generated some brilliant idea. Depressed, I shuffled back home.“Food’s ready,” Naz Appa called from the kitchen.“It’s dinner, not food,” I said entering the kitchen.And to my surprise, the dinner table was laid with plates and serving dishes—golden biryani, crisp dark brown kababs, rich green mint chatni, red and green salad. Awesome colours combined with new embroidered placemats and napkins. Never in my life had I seen such a rich cultured dinner table at home. It was picturesque.I stood dumb.“Now will you hurry, bring your camera,” Naz Appa said, shaking me.“Camera?”“Your mother asked me to help you with your contest,” she said. “I can cook well. So I thought about food photos like in recipe books.”“Food photography!” I said. “O’ that’s a unique idea.”Naz Appa standing next to me, right now, was far from the old fashioned geek as I thought. How wrongly I judged. She, indeed, was creative in her own way!And now was my time, Click, Click!

FEBRUARY 2014 | V SHINE 8 FEBRUARY 2014 | V SHINE 9

STORY

By Faraz Ahmed

Do many people don’t like maths?It is quiet understood that not many people like math. People make mistakes that could easily be remedied by reviewing their answers. However, even the worst math performance could be turned around into a successful endeavor by adopting better attitudes for success. Mathematics is important in engineering, business, science, medicine and thus in every walk of life. Modern mathematics has advanced greatly thanks to the incredible computing power of today’s computers.

Help yourselfHere are some few things that you can do to help yourself right now...

Pay attention in class. If you’re sitting at a place where you can’t see, hear, or concentrate, ask your instructor if you may move to a different seat.

You’ll be looking at your notes to study, so write clearly and neatly.

Review the math tables, concepts and process that you need.

Try some practice problems on the internet or in your math book to solve.

Have a good night sleep. After a certain period of time with no sleep, no new information can be retained.

Survive maths test Eat a healthy breakfast. Make your work neat. Make your numbers

clear so they won’t look like another number. Be confident. Say in your mind, “I can do this”,

or “I’m going to get an A on this test”. Check your answers. Even if you think you got

everything right, you could have easily made a silly mistake.

Don’t wait until the night before to study.

Make a Mobius stripMobius strip is named after a German mathematician. Cut a strip of paper, give the strip a half twist and tape together both ends. Take a pen and starting at any point, draw a line along the middle, without lifting your pen, continuing all the way until you reach your starting point again. The paper has only one side!

Funny MathsWhy was the maths book sad?Because it had too many problems.What’s the king of the pencil case?The ruler.Heard about the mathematical plant?It has square roots.What is 67 + 35 + 99 + 136 + 84?A headache.

Interesting Facts The word ‘mathematics’ comes from the

Greek máthema, which means learning, study, science.

Among all shapes with the same perimeter a circle has the largest area.

Dyscalculia means difficulty in learning arithmetic, such as difficulty in understanding numbers.

The = sign (“equals sign”) was invented by 16th Century Welsh mathematician Robert Recorde, who was fed up with writing “is equal to” in his equations.

Search tutorial videosYou can’t stop and rewind the teacher in the classroom, and most kids are too shy or embarrassed to put their hand up and ask a question. What if you could get the teacher to go over things again, in a friendly and easy to understand way? Search for maths tutorial videos and download what you like.

Net Surfing and Online GamesHere are some website addresses to surf on Internet for kids. More you search on your own.coolmath4kids.comkidsmathgamesonline.compbskids.org/games/mathmath-exercises-for-kids.com

Algebra Tips We always want to get the letter on one side of

the equals sign all by itself. Longer algebra problems are just as easy as the

shorter ones. Work what’s inside of parenthesis first,

multiplication and division second, and addition and subtraction last, working left to right each step.

You can rearrange addition or multiplication problems, but NEVER rearrange them if they are both together.

Word problems!Look at what is being asked (the last sentence, almost all of the time). Choose an operation to solve the problem. Will you add? Subtract? Multiply? Divide? Look for key words, such as “more than”, “product”, and “divide”. Then solve the problem.

Microsoft MathematicsIt is a downloadable free educational software, designed for Microsoft Windows, that allows users to solve math and science problems.

Is maths making you miserable? Are you frightened by figures? But don’t worry and get ready to discover new ways to help solve your problems. Here you find interesting stuff about maths and much more…


COVER STORY


What does “Maximum” mean?A very big mother!

Teacher: If I had ten flies on my desk and I swatted one, how many would I have left?Pupil: One, the others would have flown away!

Science teacher: Can you tell me one substance that conducts electricity?Amna: Why er...Science teacher: Wire is correct.

Teacher: Rameez, I hope I didn’t see you copying from Daniyal’s work.Rameez: I hope you didn’t too!

Teacher: You copied from Fahd’s exam paper didn’t you?Pupil: How did you know?Teacher: Fahd’s paper says “I don’t know” and you have put “Me, neither”!

What is a skeleton?Bones, with the person off!

Mother: How did you find school today?Daughter: I just got off the bus and there it was!

Teacher: Bilal, please don’t whistle while studying.Bilal: Oh, but I’m not studying – just whistling!

What kind of fish can’t swim?Dead ones!

Find these items in the big picture

By Tabassum Khalid

Ingredients. Small bananas: 2. Sugar: ¼ teaspoon. Milk: 1 ½ cup

Method1. Mash bananas and sugar together in a bowl. Place on medium heat and cook until bananas begin to brown.2. Stir constantly for 5 minutes.3. Gradually mix 1 cup milk into bananas and heat until mixture begins to steam.4. Stir honey until it dissolves.5. Pour banana mixture into a blender no more than half full. Cover and hold lid down, until it get smooth.6. Blend remaining ½ cup milk into mixture until creamy.

Enjoy hot and delicious shake.

A hot banana milk shake sweetened with the benefits honey and served hot makes a nice winter treat.

A chicken nugget is a chicken product made from either meat or chicken breast cut to shape, breaded or battered, then deep fried or baked.Ingredients. Chicken breast: 2-3 pieces. Plain flour: 1/2 cup. Bread: 4 slices

. Corn flakes crumbs: 1/3 cup

. Eggs: 2

Method1. Tear bread into pieces and whiz in a food processor to get fine bread crumbs.2. Slice chicken breast into pieces put the flour on a large square of baking paper.3. Whisk eggs in a bowl, mix bread crumbs, corn flakes in a bowl. Coat the chicken pieces in flour, dust off dip in egg then coat in crumbs.4. Place them on a baking paper and refrigerate for 30 minutes.5. Deep fry till golden brown.

Enjoy your nuggets with French fries and ketchup.

By Saleha Perwez


V SHINE KITCHEN

HistoryAryan tribes are believed to have invaded the area after they migrated into the Indian subcontinent from the northwest. During the 3rd century BC, the Mauryan Empire came into power in India. Throughout subsequent periods Arab, Turkish and Mongol peoples entered India and in 1526, a Mongol Empire was established. The first British colony was established in 1619 with English East India Company. By the 1850s, most of India was controlled by Britain. India got independence on 15 August, 1947. Mohandas Gandhi is the founding father of India.

LandscapeThe barren, snow-capped Himalaya rises along its northern border. South of the Himalaya, the low, fertile Ganges Plain is India’s most populous region. The Great Indian Desert lies in the west, but eastern India receives some of the highest rainfall in the world during the monsoon season (June to October).

WildlifeIndia is home to lions, tigers, antelope and Indian elephants. There are also many reptiles including the king cobra, pythons, crocodiles, and monitor lizards.

Agriculture and industriesMajor agricultural products include rice, wheat, oilseed, cotton, jute, tea, sugarcane, and potatoes. Major industries include textiles, telecommunications, chemicals, pharmaceuticals, steel, mining and software.

CuisineIndian food is heavily influenced by religious and cultural traditions. Mughals influence added to the already diverse Indian cuisine. Biryani (made with spices, rice and meat or vegetables) is very popular.

Islam in IndiaIslam is the second largest religion in India. India has a rough estimate of 176 million Muslims. Islam first came to India with Arab traders as early as 7th century CE to coastal Malabar, Sindh and Bengal.

Some city nicknamesMumbai: Gateway of IndiaHyderabad: City of PearlsBangalore: Silicon Valley of IndiaLucknow: City of NawabsJamshedpur: Steel city of India

Interesting Facts It is illegal to take Indian currency out of India. Cows are considered sacred. India has the largest postal network in the world. The largest employer in India is the Indian Railways. 35% of people in India live below the poverty line.

Fast FactsOfficial name: Republic of IndiaCapital: New DelhiNumber of states: 28Official languages: Hindi, EnglishOther languages: Bengali, Telugu, Marathi, Tamil, and Urdu. Currency: Indian rupeeReligion (2001): Hinduism (80.5%), Islam (13.4%),Christianity (2.3%), Sikhism (1.9%), Others (1.9%)

India is a large country with the second biggest

population (over 1.2 billion) in the world and many

different languages, cultures, religions and climates.

School kids in cheerful mood. India has the world’s largest child population but a large number don’t go to school.

The Jama Masjid of Delhi is the largest mosque in India.

The most popular sport in India is cricket. Indian team won Cricket World Cup 2011.

Ramanathaswamy Temple is a famous Hindu temple located on the island of Rameswaram in the state of Tamil Nadu, India.

The Ganges River rises in the western Himalayas and empties into the Bay of Bengal. It is the most sacred river to Hindus.

By Umair Safdar


COUNTRY PROFILE


Maize MountainBecause corn was Mayan people’s main food,

their most important god was the corn god. A popular Mayan story was the story of the Maize Mountain. Maya people liked to tell a story about how people first got corn to eat. There were a lot of different versions of this story, but they mostly had the idea that at one time all the corn was hidden inside a mountain, and then the gods sent a bolt of lightning down to split open Maize Mountain so people could get in and find the secret of growing corn.

Ibn Rushd’s workIbn Rushd (Averroes) was born in Cordoba, in Islamic Spain, in 1126. As he grew up, he studied and prayed in the great mosque at Cordoba. Ibn Rushd couldn’t read Greek, but he had copies of Aristotle’s and Plato’s books translated into Arabic that he could read. After he had read Aristotle and Plato, and also read what Avicenna and al-Ghazali had to say about Aristotle, Ibn Rushd wrote his own book about Aristotle’s philosophy.

An old mapIslamic geographers made maps of the world, as the Romans had before them. Can you see how this map represents Europe, Asia, and Africa? North is toward the bottom of the map. The big land mass at the top is Africa. Under Africa to the right is the Mediterranean Sea, and below that is Europe. Under Africa to the left is the Indian Ocean, and between them the Arabian Peninsula. At the far left are India and China. You compare this map to a modern map.

Knights of the Round TableAfter the end of Roman control in Britain, Danes and the Anglo-Saxons (from Germany) began to invade. There is a story, that at this time there arose in England a famous king, King Arthur, who had a famous magician helper named Merlin, and whose Knights of the Round Table fought off the Anglo-Saxons and the Danes. It is hard for historians to say definitely whether Arthur really existed. By the 600s, England had been taken over by the Angles and the Saxons.

“Oh wow… That’s such a fat nose! That guy sure does look funny,” Saad said with a

chuckle about someone on TV. He and his family were having their evening tea in the living room.“How many times do I have to tell you not to make fun of people for their appearances?” his mom said sternly.“Yeah… Yeah whatever mom,” Saad said and left the room.Saad was a 13-year-old boy and the kind of a kid that parents were proud of, teachers never stopped mentioning and fellows admired. His only problem was that he had great regard for physical appearance. It was how he judged others: only making friends with people who had fair skin colour and good looks. He always strived to be in the good books of good-looking people. This had earned him lots of lectures from his grandma, parents as well as teachers.“Looks don’t matter, Saad,” his grandma would say, gently putting a hand over his heart. “It is what’s inside that does.”Though he nodded his head a few times to show that he had understood, in reality he paid no heed. On the contrary, the fact that he was slightly better looking than most of his fellows made him even haughtier.One school morning a new boy Hamza came to class. As he was introducing himself to the rest, Saad whispered in a friend’s ear.“Dude, check out that ugly wart on his face. Looks like he hasn’t washed it in months,” Saad said trying hard to control his laughter.Thus, the teasing began. Every other day or so, Saad would find a way to bring up the new kid’s appearance while conversing with friends and if Hamza was within earshot, he

would laugh it off with others.Then one day Hamza couldn’t take it any longer. In a frustrated and tight voice he admonished Saad.“Fear that day friend, when God might take away all that you’re proud of. Because what you think makes you superior is nothing but insignificant. We weren’t there when He, Allah, was shaping what we

would look like, were we?” Hamza said.“So we have absolutely no

power over our appearance. Besides, it’s our character that we’ll be judged on and not petty things like

looks.”With that, he walked away. And all that this little speech did to Saad was cause a little twinge in his heart but he soon forgot about it and did nothing to change

himself.Come winter, something

awful happened to Saad. As he struck a match

to light up the gas heater, the flame suddenly rose too high. He hadn’t realised it but his

face was too close to the heater. Before

he could get it a considerable distance away, the damage was done. More than half of his face had burnt.Now, while dabbing cream onto the affected area that would heal it but a few marks would still be left, Saad’s ears were ringing with the warning voices and his eyes were wet with tears. But it was too late.

By Kanza Naeem


STORY


T hough snakes have bad reputations, they are reptiles. A rattlesnake can produce the sound

of a rattle from its tail. It uses this “rattle” to work as an alarm to keep away predators and lure birds and other prey animals.

Three layersRattlesnakes have three layers of skin. The bottom layer contain colour, the second layer contain scales, and the upper layer is thin which cover the eyes and still allow it to see. The third layer is shed several times a year to allow for growth. Rattle snake is an amazing creation of Allah in the vast animal kingdom.

Did you know?Baby rattlesnakes are more dangerous than adults because they have less control over the amount of venom they inject.

How do rattlesnakes rattle?The sections at the end of a rattlesnake’s tail are hollow and loosely connected to each other. A rattlesnake vibrates its tail when it is disturbed, causing the loose sections to rub together which we hear as the characteristic rattle.

How do they hunt in darkness?A rattlesnake’s triangular head contains a hollow spot between the eyes and nostrils called a pit. This pit is actually a sensory organ that helps rattlesnakes hunt in darkness by detecting body heat.

Fun facts A rattlesnake rattle is made of the

same material as your hair and fingernails (keratin which also makes a rhino’s tusk)

Rattlesnakes grow continuously. New segment is added each time snake shed its skin.

Rattle snakes sometimes bite without releasing the poison. These types of bites are known as “dry bites”.

Rattlesnakes are excellent swimmers.

The heaviest and the smallestEastern diamondback weigh up to 20 pounds and are up to 8 feet long while the smallest is pygmy rattlesnake which is only about 18 inches long.

In winterRattlesnakes prefer dens where they stay during winter season. If they do not find out a den before winter, they would die.

They are predatorsThese snakes quickly attack their prey with a venomous bite and do not squeeze their victims to death.

Storage of waterLike camels, Allah has made the body of rattlesnakes in such a way that they can store water in their body for long which helps in desert living.

1: Stay calm. By becoming agitated, the will heart beat faster and thus increasing

2: Let the initial wound naturally bleed out. More blood will come out at first.

3: Do not wash the wound. If you wash the wound, the hospital will not be able to identify the snake species.

4: Do not make “X” incisions over the fang injuries or suck out the toxin. It will cause excessive bleeding.

5: Remove tight clothing and jewelry because bites from venomous snakes cause swelling.

6: Do not use a tight encircling band or tie a piece of cloth around the affected area.

7: Do not put any ice or cold substance on the bite.

8: Tie a bandage, loose enough to fit one finger in, 2-4 inches above the bite.

By Javeria Ashraf


WILDLIFE


An astrolabe is a device used for measuring altitude, including the height of objects in the sky. For

many centuries, it was used by both astronomers and navigators, and explorers who used it to determine latitude, longitude, and time of day.

You will need. Piece of cardboard. Piece of string 12 inches. Small weight. Plastic straw

The high jump method of jumping head first and landing on the back is called the Fosbury Flop.

It takes 3,000 cows to supply the NFL with enough leather for a year’s supply of footballs.

Golf is the only sport played on the moon. On February 6th, 1971, Alan Shepard hit a golf ball.

The original basketball basket was closed at the bottom; a ladder was needed to recover the ball.

Michael Jordan was once one of the best high school pitchers in North Carolina.

Among all sports, only American football causes more injuries.

Most NASCAR teams use nitrogen in their tires instead of air.

Horse racing is one of the most dangerous sports as 2 and 3 jockeys are killed each year.

Olympic Badminton rules say that the birdie has to have exactly 14 feathers.

The two most common causes for pausing or suspending a cricket game are rain and bad light.

The referee tossed a jump ball after every basket in basketball until 1937.

Steps to be taken

1. Make a drawing of astrolabe on a piece of paper and glue it to a piece of cardboard. Cut the astrolabe out with scissors.2. Using a paper hole-puncher, carefully make a small notch at each of the lines marked along the curved edge of the astrolabe.3. Cut a drinking straw to the same length as the sides of the astrolabe.4. Tape the drinking straw to the edge of the astrolabe.5. Carefully poke a small hole through the astrolabe, pass the string through it, and tape it there.6. Tie the small weight to the opposite end of the string as shown.7. You have now constructed an astrolabe!

Measuring the Altitude of the Sun. Hold the astrolabe so that the straw points in the direction of the Sun. Do not look through the straw. Do not look directly at the Sun.. Aim the straw so that you see the shadow of the straw on your hand. Move the straw slightly until a small circle of light forms on your hand. The straw is now pointing directly at the Sun.. Ask someone to read the Sun’s altitude (in degrees) where the string crosses the scale. Take note of the time of day the reading was made.

One day a week, at the same time each day, measure the altitude of the Sun with your astrolabe and record them in the chart provided. Is the altitude increasing or decreasing? The changes you notice will be different depending on the time of year. In the spring, the altitude of the Sun increases. In the Fall, you should notice a decrease. The cause of the change in altitude (ie the location of the Sun) is the tilt of the Earth’s axis, which causes the Earth to face the Sun at an angle of 23 degrees.


V SHINE LAB


SPORTS

Who amongst us doesn’t love to keep precious items safely and see them often to savor the treasured memories? Scrapbooking is one visually creative and emotionally rewarding way of doing so. Scrapping has thus become a hugely celebrated pastime across the globe. Let’s learn a bit about scrapbooks and try making some ourselves.

We gather up pictures and bits of our pastand scrapbook them into a gift that will last.

(Kimberly Rinehart: Scrapbooker’s Verse)

By Anum KhanWhy do it?Scrapbooking is valued as a productive educational tool and a fulfilling activity. It is a form of artistic expression that allows an outlet to our imaginative minds. We can experiment with colours, add notes to pictures, stick add-ons and do all possible decors to bring our photos, printed media and artwork to life. There is no reason why we should not invest time in scrapping to cherish our special memories in our special ways.

Scrapbooking goes digitalScrapbooking has gone digital with technological advancements. Many scrapbooking ideas/projects are available online with step-by-step guidance. Multiple professional templates can be printed and used for scrapping easily. Not just this, countless scrappers publish their digital scrapbooks on the internet and get online feedback from the public. There are many softwares designed to create layouts and albums for digital scrapbooks, allowing freedom to add personal touches in them.

Scrapbook Facts Almost 4 million women in USA consider

themselves to be scrapbookers by trade. Scrapbooking is the third largest craft industry

in the world. Mark Twain was a devotee of scrapping and in

1872, he even marketed his ‘Mark Twain’s Patent Scrapbook’.

Thomas Jefferson, ex-president of USA, was an avid scrapbooker who filled his albums with newspaper clippings of his presidency for future reference.

The scrapbooking industry doubled in size between 2001 and 2004 to $2.5 billion and has been increasing ever since.Scrapbooking is timeless - it has survived centuries and makes us realize that every person’s story is special and needs to be documented. Scrapping is actually about scraps of life that deserve compilation. Let us get on with it responsibly and preserve the past for the future. Really, all we need is papers/book, photos/cut-outs, glue and a pen! Let your creativity speak and watch the memories come to life.

Showcase your favourite quotes!We all have collections of valuable quotations, stamps or coins. Let’s use our creativity to make a scrapbook for our favorite quotes.You’ll need:1. Empty album/diary.2. Printed quotations.3. Pictures of personalities.4. Colourful scrap paper/ribbons.6. Embellishments (beads, stickers, etc.)7. Colours/glitter/pens.8. Adhesive.Method:1. First, entitle your scrapbook (eg ‘Wisdom Bank’) using colourful pens. Border it using ribbons or embellishments. 2. Design the layout of your scrapbook. Decide if you want one quote or more on each page with the pictures of those who said them.3. Start sticking your quote and the picture one by one uniformly. You can write a personal footnote using colourful ink.4. Spill some creativity on your scrapbook: make borders, draw abstract art, stick colourful papers and add flowers and stickers.Do not act too messy. Your scrapbook should portray your collection in your unique way. Once ready, show it off to friends, read it often and of course, keep adding more quotes to it!

Limitless ideas!Scrapbooks mostly focus on an event, such as travel, birthday or wedding. Scrapping is also done on individual biographies and can tell a story in an illustrated manner. Scrapbooks are made for gifting purposes too. Many scrappers save their precious recipes, clippings, certificates and even funny incidents in their scrapbooks. Almost everything can be placed in a scrap book if we have an artistic eye!

Birth of scrappingIn 15th century, people loved keeping commonplace books and diaries. This hobby gradually morphed the origin of scrapbooks when embossed covers, engraved locks, pressed flowers and feathers were extensively used in 18th century. Time has refined scrapping to such a level that today, more than 1600 stores specially sell scrapbook supplies.

What is scrapbooking?The word ‘scrapbook’ – first used in late 18th century - comes from ‘scraps’ which are leftover pieces that people initially decorated their albums with. Scrapbooks are personalised albums made to preserve collected items, eg photographs, clippings, cards, keepsakes etc, in a logically interesting order. Scrapbooking involves a personal touch by sticking/drawing interesting stuff that makes the scrapping experience artistically wholesome.

It’s about colours and designs!Scraps are widely used but using anything can make scrapbooking fun. We can play with colours and textures. Colourful inks can be used in handwriting with various fonts/sizes. Chalk, pencil, pastel, charcoal –everything goes well. Even spare gift wraps, buttons, stickers and flowers can be added as embellishments in scrapbook to make it more engaging.


You are now the best people brought forth for (the guid-ance and reform of) mankind. You enjoin what is right and forbid what is wrong and believe in Allah. Had the People of the Book believed it were better for them. Some of them are believers but most of them are transgressors. (Surah Al-i-Imran, Ayah 110)

“Righteousness is good morality, and wrongdoing is that which wavers in your soul and which you dislike people finding out about.” (Muslim)

The slip of the tongue is more dangerous than the slip of the feet. (Uthman ibn Affan)

Whoever when you please him says about you what is not in you, when you anger him will say about you what is not in you. (Imam Shafi‘i)

Patience is that the heart does not feel anger towards that which is destined and that the mouth does not complain. (Ibn Qayyim)

You can fool all the people some of the time, and some of the people all the time, but you cannot fool all the people all the time. (Abraham Lincoln)

If you tell the truth, you don’t have to remember anything. (Mark Twain)

Success consists of going from failure to failure without loss of enthusiasm. (Churchill)

Amr bin Thabit became a Muslim during the battle of Uhud, and died as a martyr in the same battle. When asked about him, the holy prophet (peace be upon him) said that he was from the People of Paradise, even though he had not offered a single prayer.

Mix a box of mixed biscuits with a boxed biscuit mixer.

Flee from fog to fight flu fast! A pleasant place to place a plaice

is a place where a plaice is pleased to be placed.

The crow flew over the river with a lump of raw liver.

If one places a tiny amount of liquor on a scorpion, it will instantly go mad and sting itself to death.

The planet Venus does not tilt, so consequently, it has no seasons. It is the only planet that rotates clock-wise.

The liquid inside young coconuts can be used as a substitute for blood plasma.

Oak trees do not produce acorns until they are fifty years of age.

The letter J does not appear anywhere in the periodic table of the elements.

If you weighed all the electrons used to store the information on the internet, it would weigh less than a chicken’s egg.

Peanuts are one of the ingredients of dynamite.

Fingernails on a chalkboard Baby crying Train scraping on tracks Person chewing food with an

open mouthWould do you think more…?

Go to www.google.com and type in your name. At the top there will be a number – the number of times people who share your name are mentioned on the internet across the world!

1. The sun setting against the horizon makes Cairo seem magnificent. (Flower)2. Asad decided to jump in, knowing the water would be cold. (Colour) 3. Look, I will be there in few min-utes. (Fruit)4. As the mug was full, I very care-fully added the cream. (Body organ)5. When you are through with wash-ing the dishes, you may go and play. (Texture)Answers upside down

In the name of Allah, the Most Kind, the Most Merciful

Sayings of Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him)

Fascinating FactsSome Annoying Sounds

Google Yourself…

Stickers at Boys’ Doors

Find hidden words in sentences

Quotes

A Martyr of Uhud Tongue Twisters

Rose, Pink, Kiwi, Liver, Rough

Keep out!

I hate pink

Boys rule

Genius @ work

Tough enough

No girls

allowed

Let’s rock


Why Don’t People Ride Zebras?Zebras are wild animals and therefore, they do not allow humans to ride them. They are vicious, unpredictable.

Is “Humpty Dumpty” based on a real life character?Far from being an egg, a theory is that Humpty Dumpty represented King Richard III, called the “humpbacked king”. It was said that his horse was named “Wall” or his men, who abandoned him. The king fell off his horse and was supposedly hacked to pieces on the field.

What is the toughest creature on earth?Cockroaches could withstand a nuclear explosion but the water bear is the toughest known creature on earth which is no larger than about a millimeter. It could survive extraordinary temperatures and high radiation.

Enjoy these crazy and cool questions answered!

Do cats are right or left handed (paw) like humans?Cats are typically right pawed or left pawed. The majority of domestic cats are right pawed (50%), 10% of them are ambidextrous, and the remaining 40% favour their left paw.

What are the things money can’t buy?Few are a full driving license, a planet (there’s an international agreement that prohibits any country or individual from buying one), and Nobel Prize.

How come birds sit on high voltage wires?Birds do not get electrified if they do not touch more than one wire. If a bird touches two wires at the same time, the bird is toast. (Danger: Never try to touch even a single electric wire of an electric pole or any exposed wire)

Why detectives are called “Private Eyes”?In 1850, Allan Pinkerton opened up the America’s first private detective agency. The logo he devised was a big, all-seeing eye.

How did they get the stripes in stripe toothpaste?Different colours are kept in separate compartments in the tube and the tubes contain a nozzle system that forces the coloured bits out of the tube at the same time as the white stuff.

Why can’t we tickle ourselves?Cerebellum (an area at the back of the brain) can predict sensations when your own movement causes them but not when someone else does.


FruitsBy Malaika Imran, 4th, Middle East International School, Riyadh, Saudi ArabiaI don’t like applesI don’t like peachesBut to be good in healthI have to eat them allTo eat the chunks of fruitsNo matter what I like.

The Five PrayersBy Syeda Sadia Maryam, Grade 8I said a little prayer just before dawn,And then another at the end of the morn.Along came Asr as school ended for the day,Then Maghrib came as the sun went away.Isha came as the moon rose high,Then I jumped into my bed and closed my eyes.

Ship WreckedBy Rija ZaidiI was excited as it was the first time I was going alone with my friends on a ship. My father had warned me to come back early. I told my friends about the warning of my father. We discussed and decided to go back because we could not take any risk. Suddenly the rain drops touched my nose and then a wave of the sea broke our ship into pieces. When I was awake, I was on a dirty island where I am right now waiting for someone to come and help me.

The Legendary KeystonesBy Ahmad Akhtar Mahdee, 5th, Silver Oaks School System, Rawalpindi, PakistanAli, Rafay, and Immad were three friends. One day they saw a bottle floating in the sea. They swam and grabbed the bottle. After coming to land they opened the bottle and they found a map. They couldn’t understand its wordings so they went to a wise old man who told them that it was a map to find keystones of legends. Ali, Rafay, and Immad decided that they would find the keystones of legend. They kept following the map. They came to some old looking ruins. They went in there and found a path. The path led to the keystones but they had to fight a dragon. They made an attack together and killed the dragon. Each of them took one keystone and put them on their gloves. It was amazing. Immad could make thunder and Rafay could make ice and Ali had the powers of a superman.

Oh! MotherBy Hassan Shakeel, 5-B, Star Links School, Karachi, PakistanTeach me good and badMake me happy whenever I am sadHome is not with youHome is a heaven with youHeaven is under your feetYou keep the house neatYou work the whole dayMay you live a very long life.

GodBy Talha Rabbani, 8th, Fauji Foundation Model School, Sheikhupura, PakistanThe One Who has made sunIs the God whose partner is noneHe is the Lord of everythingGreater than Him is nothingEverything that is water or treeThe Creator of everything is HeWe should be thankful to HimFor His blessings that have no rim.

I wishBy Ahmad Haaroon, 5th, Bahria College Karsaz, Karachi, PakistanI wish I become a scientist,And invent something too.I wish I go to Arabia,And perform hajj with cool.I hope Allah will fulfill my wish,And help me too.

Treasure mapBy Saad Bajwa, 7th, Bahria Foundation College, Islamabad, PakistanOnce I found a treasure mapIn the mouth of my catI wore my treasure hatAnd took out the map.I sailed on the sea,I climbed on the treesBack home I was licking creamAfter all it was a dream!

RabbitsBy Mohammad Abubakr, Karachi, PakistanRabbits are very sweet,They like carrots to eat,They jump very high,And reach up to the sky,Everyone like rabbits,And rabbits like to eat carrots.


E G A Y E Z E A Q I G S N E N J G R I O H A M B S L C R Z G O N S D S O D S P U I F B S U D L I G P E L E T H E S E N M E P O M S T E S L I C N E P E M N M G N C O R Y R E N E C S A N N N E M H S U R B E T G F J S D I H T Z I G Z T I E K E M Z M D D O R L S R U O L O C R E T A W E R D J E R O X L I P F A H D G F N R W H A U X F U N A S M S O V M B O D G A O D H W E E C E P Z S P W C R O H L S O M T R T E Q T L E O G H O L O L T L M I P I B L P S N O Y A R C E T L Z E R H H B S A G S N G R A B O I T T A O Z

Let’s find drawing stuff in this crisscross!

Brush CrayonsColoursMarkersOutlinePencilsWater ScenerySheetShading

K ids! Here is your chance to win lots of prizes. Just answer the following questions and mail us at our postal address or email at [email protected] with your complete name and address by February 28, 2014.All entries with correct answers will be picked for draw to select five winners.Answers mailed twice with the same name and address will not be accepted.

1. Complete the series51 48 42 33 21 ?

2. Odd one out

4. Write three differences. (Differences are required only in written form so don’t tear out the page)

5. Hidden among the words of this sentence below is a word relating natural phenomenon. Find it.

We found the cup and saucer, both under the bed.

3. Unscramble the anagram to discover a word relating a school subject.

R E G P Y H A O G

Winners December 2013Prizes would be delivered February 28, 20141. Rehan Atif (Riyadh, Saudi Arabia)2. Abdul Wahid (Lahore, Pakistan)3. Junaid Zia (Doha, Qatar)4. Ayesha Farrukh (Islamabad, Pakistan)5. Aeman Khalid (Texas, USA)

Answers December 20131. 792. a3. Restaurant4. Line under nose, Nobita’s mouth, ear invisible.5. Tiger

(a) (b) (c)


WORD SEARCH

Follow this platypus through the murky Australian stream it calls home.

Help this mouse find his way through the mess in the basement to the other side of the room, where there’s cheese at the door -- before the cat chases him!

Y es! I had finally built it! It took me so long and so many failures but I had now successfully

built it. I couldn’t believe my eyes. The robot, version CN-55 had opened its artificial eyes.The robot could do anything. Its microprocessor or brain could process 10 times the data a human brain could process, in a millisecond. It had all the latest weaponry and my own, hand-built anti-matter engine; its heart. It only needed a few grams of its special fuel to let it work for a century at the least. Perhaps it was invincible.It could only be shut down by saying a code in my

voice.The robot was now walking steadily towards me. It was observing the laboratory painted white, my unfinished work and my notebooks on the desk. The room was artificially lighted and all the windows were closed. My assistant stood beside me observing the robot which was now standing in front of us. I quickly instructed the CN-55, “Pick up that apple over there.” It grabbed the apple and presented it to me, “Here you go doctor”, it said in its human-like voice. Its motor controls were working properly, and response time and eye co-ordination was also working.I took dozens of other tests and then told my assistant to place the robot in the lab to its resting place. I was now making some notes and trying to perfect a slight defect in the CN-55 when all of a sudden my assistant appeared panting and frightened.He quickly told me in a fast paced tone, “Doctor! The robot… something happened to it after I reprogrammed a code in its database, it flew out of the lab with all the weaponry locked at fire mode!”

”Whoa! Slow down, and what was the code that you reprogrammed?” I asked him.

I was worried. He handed me a piece of paper with the code written on it. I

read the code and as I identified it, I jumped out of my seat and said, “Oh

no! The code must have changed its purpose.”

We quickly tracked it down and reached where

the robot was present. It was firing bullets. I yelled out of the microphone of the car the shutdown code and it immediately fell to the ground. I lifted the robot’s body with help of my assistant. We took it to the lab and after some thoughts I dismantled it, because it was dangerous.

By Muhammad Usama


STORY


MAZE

Words Page No. Type Meanings

Virtuous 5 Adjective Having good moral qualities and behaviour

Landscape 14 Noun All the visible features of an area of land

Sacred 15 AdjectiveRegarded with great respect and reverence by a particular religion,

group, or individual

Haughty 16 AdjectiveUnfriendly and seeming to consider yourself better than other

people

Altitude 20 Noun Height above sea level

Embellish 23 VerbTo make something more beautiful or interesting by adding

something to it

Plaice 24 Noun A sea fish with a flat, circular body, or its flesh eaten as food

Enthusiasm 24 NounA feeling of energetic interest in a particular subject or activity and

an eagerness to be involved in it

Liquor 25 Noun Strong alcoholic drink

Acorn 25 NounAn oval nut that grows on an oak tree and has an outer part

shaped like a cup

Magnificent 25 Adjective Very good, beautiful, or deserving to be admired

Withstand 26 VerbTo bear or not be changed by something, or to oppose a person or

thing successfully

Radiation 26 NounA form of energy that comes from a nuclear reaction and that can

be very dangerous to health

Vicious 26 AdjectiveDescribes people or actions that show an intention or wish to hurt

someone or something very badly

Wrecked 28 Adjective Very badly damaged

Keystone 29 NounThe middle stone in the top of an arch that has a special shape

and holds all the other stones in position

Dismantle 32 VerbTo take a machine or something complicated apart, usually to

make it unable to work

Invincible 32 Adjective Too powerful to be defeated or overcome

Murky 33 Adjective Dark or cloudy

Stream 33 Noun A small river that flows on or below the surface of the ground
