January 11, 2005 The following discussion questions cover the stories featured in today's edition of CNN Student News. First Up: Wild West 1. How have drenching rains during the past several days affected the region of Southern California and the people who live there? How might the geography of this region factor in to the disasters taking place there? * * * 2. What was your reaction to the video of the man being rescued by the Santa Fe Springs Fire Department? How would you describe the images of the rock- and mudslides? How do these scenes make you feel? * * * 3. What might be some of the short- and long-term economic, social and political ramifications of this extreme weather for the people of Southern California? * * * 4. Do you live in a region of the country that faces some form of extreme weather? What federal, state or local agencies offer assistance in preventing and planning for such natural disasters? What lessons, if any, do you think can be learned from witnessing the devastation in Southern California? Explain. * * *
Degrees of Change 1. What is a tsunami? Where did a tsunami take place more than two weeks ago? What was the magnitude of the earthquake that caused the tsunami? * * 2. How do Australian researchers think that the earthquake impacted the Earth's vibration levels? What does this mean? How are the Earth's vibration levels detected? * * * 3. According to scientists, what impact might the earthquake have had on the rotation of the Earth on its axis? How might this change in rotation affect the length of a day? Do you think that this is noteworthy? Why or why not? * * * 3. How do some scientists describe the impact of the earthquake on the location of Indonesia's Sumatra island and other nearby islands? Do you think that this potential shift, as well as the other possible geological impacts of the earthquake, could be significant in the short or long term? Why or why not? * * * 4. What challenges do you think that students in Sri Lanka might face as they begin to return to school? Why do you think that Monday's re-opening of schools in Sri Lanka is newsworthy? Explain. * * *
Elements of Disaster 1. What gas was leaked when a train hit parked railcars in Graniteville, South Carolina last Thursday? What effect did the gas have on people in the vicinity of the crash? What steps did local officials take to prevent more people from getting sick? * * * 2. What is an irritant? What does it mean to say that something is corrosive? How can chlorine inhalation affect the human body? What are some of the physical characteristics of chlorine? What are some common activities in which chlorine is used? * * * 3. According to the story, what are some of the ways to reduce chlorine's effects? If you detect chlorine gas, why should you try to run to higher ground? What natural elements can help to break down chlorine gas? What is the antidote for chlorine gas contamination? * * * 4. Are there any other corrosive gases that, like chlorine, have common uses? What information do you think would be important to know about other gases that could potentially leak as a result of a train or motor vehicle crash? * * * 5. What questions do you think remain unanswered in the aftermath of this tragic accident in Graniteville, South Carolina? * * *
Non Fumare 1. According to the story, approximately how many people in Italy die of smoking-related illnesses each year? What smoking-related law went into effect in Italy yesterday? According to the law, where is public smoking permitted? What is the possible fine for Italians who smoke in public places? What is the possible fine for restaurant or bar owners who permit patrons to smoke?
* * * 2. What are the smoking laws in Ireland? According to the story, how has the ban on smoking in Ireland impacted the number of smokers who quit the habit? How do pub owners in Ireland describe the impact of the smoking ban on their businesses? Do you think that the potential benefits of a smoking ban to some people outweigh the potential detriments of a ban to others? Why or why not? * * * 3. The story reports that one Italian cabinet minister told an Italian newspaper that the restrictions were too severe, that it was "his sacred right to smoke." What are your feelings about the rights of smokers versus the rights of non-smokers? Do you think that a ban on smoking violates individual rights? Why or why not? * * * 4. Do you think that the U.S. government would ever place a ban on smoking in all public spaces in the country? Why or why not? What legislation would you support regarding smoking in public places? Explain. What are your city or state's smoking laws? Do you support them? Why or why not? * * *
Suggested Online Resources Wild West CNN.com Storms continue to batter California (http://www.cnn.com/2005/WEATHER/01/10/storm.rdp.ap/index.html) CNN.com Special Report: Winter Weather (http://www.cnn.com/SPECIALS/2003/winter.weather/) Degrees of Change CNN.com: Earthquakes rearranging Earth's map (http://www.cnn.com/2005/TECH/science/01/10/quake.supercontinent.ap/index.html) CNN.com Special Report: After the Tsunami (http://www.cnn.com/SPECIALS/2004/tsunami.disaster/) Elements of Disaster CNN.com: Workers remove chlorine from leaking railcar (http://www.cnn.com/2005/US/01/10/train.wreck.ap/index.html) Chlorine (http://www.dhfs.state.wi.us/eh/ChemFS/fs/chlorine.htm) Non Fumare CNN.com: Bars balk at Italy smoking ban (http://www.cnn.com/2005/WORLD/europe/01/10/italy.smoking.ban.reut/index.html) CNN.com: Health Library (http://www.cnn.com/HEALTH/library/) CDC: Cigarette Smoking-Related Mortality (http://www.cdc.gov/tobacco/research_data/health_consequences/mortali.htm) BBC: Smoking curbs: The global picture (http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/4016447.stm) American Lung Association: Smoking Policies in the Workplace Fact Sheet (http://www.lungusa.org/site/pp.asp?c=dvLUK9O0E&b=36000)
Keywords Los Angeles, mudslides, San Diego, tsunami, magnitude, earthquake, vibration, millimeter, Indonesia, Sumatra, Graniteville, South Carolina, chlorine, corrosive, irritant, contamination, antidote, dissipate, gasper, ban, proprietors
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