Science in the News Quiz.

Directions: Read the late-breaking science news stories in our Science News section on pages 4-7. Then, test your knowledge by answering the questions below. Circle the correct letter.

1. In March, pilots Bertrand Piccard and Brian
Jones set a world record for

   a. flying around the world in a plane.
   b. reaching the highest altitude in a balloon.
   c. circling the globe nonstop in a balloon.
   d. breaking the sound barrier in a balloon.

2. To accomplish their goal, Piccard and Jones
rode the jet stream, which is a wind current
that

   a. planes use as a highway in the sky.
   b. moves from west to east.
   c. travels at speeds up to 322 km/h.
   d. both b and c.

3. The Breitling Orbiter 3, Piccard and Jones'
transport, is a combination of a hot-air and
helium balloon.

   a. true
   b. false

4. The Julia Creek dunnart is a marsupial,
which means

   a. it hops on its hind legs like a kangaroo.
   b. the mother carries its young in a pouch.
   c. the newborn behaves like an amphibian.
   d. none of the above.

5. A newborn dunnart is so small, it

   a. doesn't require too much oxygen.
   b. is only as big as a grain of salt.
   c. can be seen only through a microscope.
   d. needs help breathing.

6. The newborn dunnart is the only mammal
known

   a. to live in its mother's pouch for more than
   a month.
   b. to swim like a tadpole.
   c. to breathe through its skin.
   d. to grow fur in one day.

7. Lyme disease is a threat only in northeastern
states.

   a. true
   b. false

8. The state that reported the most cases of
Lyme disease in 1997 is

   a. Texas.
   b. New York.
   c. California.
   d. Connecticut.

9. This number of states reported more than
1,000 cases of Lyme disease in 1997.

   a. 1
   b. 2
   c. 3
   d. 4

10. A giraffe etching found in the Sahara
Desert may be the world's

   a. oldest work of art.
   b. largest prehistoric work of art.
   c. most endangered piece of art.
   d. most valuable piece of art.