The War of the Spanish Succession was fought mostly between countries in a. Europe b. Asia c. Africa
A “privateer” was someone who a. used military funds to hire pirates b. enlisted in the military to hunt down pirates c. attacked foreign merchant ships to help their country’s military
The island of Nassau was important during the Golden Age because a. there was often buried treasure there b. there was a military outpost there c. a group of pirates formed a government there
Discussion/essay questions
In 1883, Scottish author Robert Louis Stevenson published Treasure Island, a pirate adventure novel. Many common pirate tropes are inspired by his work. Why do you think people like to read about pirates? Can you think of some other popular pirate stories?
Transcript
In the early 18th century, several European countries, including Spain, Portugal, France, and Britain, fought in the War of the Spanish Succession. Many of these countries disputed each other’s control over colonies in the Americas and the Caribbean. During the war, militaries often hired independent sailors, or “privateers,” to attack merchant ships from other countries. When the war ended, privateers lost their source of income. Piracy allowed them to use their skills to steal riches for themselves. During the Golden Age, a group of pirates even formed their own government on the island of Nassau. Many tropes of pirate legends, such as the Jolly Roger flag, come from the Golden Age. Piracy became much less common in the 19th century, but pirates still operate around the world today.
Fingerprints develop a. when DNA first forms b. in the womb, while skin is still growing c. a few days after birth
To change your fingerprint, you would need to damage a layer of skin called a. the epidermis b. the dermis c. the hypodermis
A very small percentage of people a. have matching fingerprints b. have fingerprints that change naturally c. have no fingerprints
Discussion/essay questions
Many cell phones now allow people to use their fingerprints to secure their personal information. Some people find this concerning. Unlike a password, it is very difficult to change your fingerprint. Do you think it is a good idea to secure your information with a fingerprint? Why or why not?
Transcript
Unlike most physical features, fingerprints are not genetic. The patterns on our fingers develop in the womb, while skin is still growing. For this reason, no two people have the same fingerprints, even identical twins. The ridges of a fingerprint are the same through multiple layers of skin. This is why fingerprints stay the same after cuts or scrapes heal. To permanently change your fingerprint, you would need to destroy all of the skin’s outer layers and damage the inner layer, which is called the dermis. Since the early 20th century, many law enforcement agencies have used fingerprints to identify people. They are more accurate than earlier identification techniques, such as measuring body proportions. However, fingerprints are not a foolproof way to find someone. Some diseases and medications can cause people to lose their fingerprints. A very small percentage of people are even born without them. This can make it difficult to get legal documents, enter different countries, and apply for certain jobs.
On November 24th, 1971, a from Portland to Seattle was hijacked by a man named Dan Cooper, who had brought a bomb on board. He demanded that the flight crew get him four parachutes and $200,000 in . Once Cooper received the ransom, he asked the to take him to Mexico City. In the middle of the flight, he jumped out of the with the money. He was never seen again. Although he had used the alias “Dan Cooper”, a misinterpretation caused the to call him “D. B. Cooper”, the name that most people know him by today. In 1980, some bills from Cooper’s ransom were found near a river, which caused many people to believe that he didn’t survive the jump. However, the case is still unsolved.
Comprehension questions
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Discussion/essay questions
Do you know of any other unsolved mysteries?
D. B. Cooper’s case quickly drew the attention of the public. Why do you think people are so interested in unsolved cases?
Transcript
On November 24th, 1971, a flight from Portland to Seattle was hijacked by a man named Dan Cooper, who had brought a bomb on board. He demanded that the flight crew get him four parachutes and $200,000 in cash. Once Cooper received the ransom, he asked the pilot to take him to Mexico City. In the middle of the flight, he jumped out of the plane with the money. He was never seen again. Although he had used the alias “Dan Cooper”, a misinterpretation caused the media to call him “D. B. Cooper”, the name that most people know him by today. In 1980, some bills from Cooper’s ransom were found near a river, which caused many people to believe that he didn’t survive the jump. However, the case is still unsolved.
Prohibition was a period of time when alcohol was banned in the United States. It came about because of the protests of temperance unions, which believed that banning alcohol would reduce poverty and crime. The American government outlawed the sale of alcohol in 1920, but this ban was not very effective. Secret bars called speakeasies began to appear throughout the country, where people could order alcohol by speaking in code. Prohibition also gave gangs an opportunity to profit from the illegal sale of alcohol. People known as rum-runners would smuggle alcohol across the Canadian border in order to sell it in the U.S. By 1933, it became clear that the ban had failed, and the government passed a new law allowing the sale of alcohol once again.