Society
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Siblings matter more than parents, say experts
Are siblings more important than parents? Some scientists say that your friendship with your brothers and sisters teaches you how to act towards others and shapes you more than anything else.
- Society
- Reading Band 5
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Scientists plan oxygen factory on the Moon
The European Space Agency has announced that it is working on a scheme to support human settlements on the Moon. It aims to build an oxygen plant to make rocket fuel and breathable air.
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Toughest man in Japan bursts into tears
Last week, a top sumo wrestler burst into tears of joy and relief when he won the famous Emperor’s Cup. It sparked a debate about whether athletes should try harder to hide their feelings.
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JiffPom tops list of cutest social media stars
This cuddly creature is the most popular animal on Instagram in Britain. We human love our furry friends to bits. But some people say we should give more attention to humans in need.
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The cat who decided to move house
Ozzy the cat had a perfectly nice home. But a friendly neighbour offered him love, food and warmth, so he decide to move in with her. She was delighted – but his owners were furious.
- Chosen by you
- Society
- Reading Band 5
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A new national anthem – for Mars!
Does Mars need a national anthem? An opera singer has just performed his latest musical piece, Rise to Mars! Will it inspire people to head to the Red Planet?
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Cave painting could be ‘oldest-recorded story’
Is this picture the world’s oldest recorded story? Dating of a painting on the wall of a cave in Indonesia has revealed it to be 44,000 years old. Does it tell the story of a buffalo hunt?
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Flat-Earth conspiracy spreads around the globe
Is it sinister to believe the Earth is flat? Thousands do. In fact, flat-Earthers have recently held huge meetings in Brazil and Italy. But experts fear this strange belief has a dark side.
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Billions to be spent in Black Friday spree
Do we care too much about presents? The busiest shopping day of the year is here. People are rushing to buy Christmas gifts. However, many believe that Christmas is about more than presents.
- Society
- Reading Band 5
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Calls to give six-year-olds the vote
Should children get the vote? The United Kingdom is getting ready for a general election. You must be 18 or over to vote, but one professor thinks the age limit should be lowered to six.
- Society
- Reading Band 8
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Kaboom! Calls for a ban on noisy fireworks
Should fireworks be silent? You may have heard lots of noisy explosions this week. They can be scary for animals. Luckily, we have invented fireworks that do not make any noise at all.
- Society
- Reading Band 5
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Animal rights victory as fur bans sweep USA
Should fur products be banned? After California became the first US state to ban the sales of fur, US department store Macy’s has announced it will no longer sell fur clothing.
- Society
- Reading Band 11
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Happy birthday modern China, 70 this week!
Is China the world’s most important country? It certainly has the most people. And for most of history it has also been the richest — the inventor of paper, gunpowder and the compass…
- Society
- Reading Band 11
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Archie the adorable charms the world
Why do we love babies so much? Prince Harry and his wife Meghan are on a royal tour of South Africa, but there is no doubt that it is four-month-old baby Archie who is stealing the show.
- Society
- Reading Band 5
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The woman who can see into the future
Is Margaret Atwood a prophet? She seems to have predicted recent attacks on women’s rights, President Trump, and the climate crisis. Yet she insists she sees only the present, not the future.