Verizon Wireless is proud to sponsor this ebook for GGGGiiiiggggaaaappppeeeeddddiiiiaaaa....oooorrrrgggg Verizon Wireless proudly sponsors free books for free minds. Click here to learn more about CAST Grt Bk of Q_A_pb_cap.qxd:Grt Bk of Q&A's_pb_cap 2/7/07 15:30 Page 1 The Great Book of Questions and Answers is a comprehensive, fact-packed reference book for children aged 8 and over. Full of intriguing questions that appeal to curious young minds, The Great Book of Questions and Answers covers a wide range of subjects, including science, history and the natural world. Clear, informative text is accompanied by eye-catching photographs, maps and diagrams throughout. Including questions like What is a black hole? Do earthquakes only occur on land? Why do people fall ill? and How did cinema develop? The Great Book of Questions and Answers is perfect for school projects and for browsing by children and also by adults during free time. The Great Book of Questions and Answers features: (cid:129) Eight subject areas packed with facts (cid:129) Colour photographs, maps and diagrams (cid:129) ‘Quick Questions’ panels for bite-sized facts (cid:129) ‘Try these too’ cross-reference boxes (cid:129) A comprehensive index for easy navigation This ebook licensed to GGGGiiiiggggaaaappppeeeeddddiiiiaaaa....oooorrrrgggg . Unauthorized reproduction or distribution of this ebook is illegal. GrBigBk_Q_A 001-003 Foul 21/5/07 12:11 pm Page 1 GrBigBk_Q_A 001-003 Foul 21/5/07 12:11 pm Page 2 Arcturus Publishing Limited 26/27 Bickels Yard 151–153 Bermondsey Street London SE1 3HA Published in association with foulsham W. Foulsham & Co. Ltd, The Publishing House, Bennetts Close, Cippenham, Slough, Berkshire SL1 5AP, England ISBN: 978-0-572-03335-4 This edition printed in 2007 Copyright © 2007 Arcturus Publishing Limited All rights reserved The Copyright Act prohibits (subject to certain very limited exceptions) the making of copies of any copyright work or of a substantial part of such a work, including the making of copies by photocopying or similar process. Written permission to make a copy or copies must therefore normally be obtained from the publisher in advance. It is advisable also to consult the publisher if in any doubt as to the legality of any copying which is to be undertaken. British Library Cataloguing-in-Publication Data: a catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library Printed in China Created by: Q2A Media Editors: Ella Fern and Fiona Tulloch Cover design: Q2A Media/Steve Flight GrBigBk_Q_A 001-003 Foul 21/5/07 12:11 pm Page 3 GrBigBk_Q_A 004-005 Content.qxd 21/5/07 12:10 pm Page 4 Contents Universe 6-25 Hoofed Animals 53 Galaxies 6 Odd-toed Mammals 54 Stars 8 Odd Mammals 55 The Sun 10 Whales 56 The Planets 12 Other Marine Mammals 58 The Hot Planet 14 Seabirds 60 The Earth’s Twin 15 Birds of Prey 61 The Red Planet 16 Songbirds 62 The King of Planets 17 Waterfowl 63 The Last Planets 18 Flightless Birds 64 Dwarf Planets 19 Penguins 65 The Moon 20 Fish 66 Comets and Asteroids 22 Friends and Enemies at Sea 67 Humans in Space 24 Sharks and Rays 68 Life of a Fish 70 Planet Earth 26-41 Reptiles 72 Earth’s Atmosphere 26 Lizards 73 Seasons and Climate 28 Turtles 74 Mountains, Valleys and Caves 30 Snakes 75 Other Landforms 32 Venomous Snakes 76 Oceans 34 Constrictors 78 Volcanoes 36 Crocodilians 80 Earthquakes and Tsunamis 38 Amphibians 82 Hurricanes and Tornadoes 40 Insects 84 Insect Life 86 The Living Planet 42-101 Origin of Life 88 Monkeys 42 Dinosaurs 90 Apes 44 Armoured Dinosaurs 91 Big cats 46 Plant-eating Dinosaurs 92 Bears 48 Meat-eating Dinosaurs 93 Canines 50 Other Prehistoric Animals 94 Elephants 52 Plant Life 96 Food for Plants 98 Trees and Shrubs 99 Aquatic Plants 100 Climbers and Creepers 101 Human Body 102-109 External Body Parts 102 Bones and Muscles 103 Digestion and Excretion 104 The Heart and Circulation 106 The Brain and the Senses 107 Reproduction and Birth 108 Falling Sick 109 GrBigBk_Q_A 004-005 Content.qxd 21/5/07 12:10 pm Page 5 Continents, Countries and People 110-123 Forces and Motion 190 North America 110 Communication and Satellites 192 South America 112 Land Transport 194 Australia and Oceania 114 Water Transport 196 Europe 116 Air Transport 198 Africa 118 Asia 120 World Map 200-201 The Poles – The Arctic and Antarctica 122 Index 202-208 World History 124-163 Ancient Mesopotamia 124 Ancient Egypt 125 Ancient India and China 126 Ancient Greece 128 Ancient Rome 130 Ancient Americas 132 Native Americans 133 Medieval Europe 136 Medieval China and Japan 138 Mughal India 140 Incas and Aztecs 141 The Renaissance 142 Discovery of New Lands 144 The British Empire 146 The Industrial Revolution 148 Scientific Revolution 150 The American Revolution & Civil War 152 The French Revolution 154 Napoleonic Wars 156 The World Wars 158 The World after World War II 160 Computer Revolution 162 The New Millennium – 21st Century 163 Art and Culture 164-177 Architecture 164 Art and Artists 166 Music 168 Theatre 170 World of Sports 172 World of Movies 174 World Religions 176 Science and Technology 178-199 Matter 178 Light 180 Sound 182 Heat 184 Electricity 186 Magnets 188 GrBigBk_Q_A 006-025.qxd 21/5/07 12:13 pm Page 6 Universe Galaxies The universe is a huge open space made up of billions of galaxies and an even larger number of stars. Our galaxy is called the Milky Way. Our solar system, including the Sun, the planets and their moons, forms just a tiny part of the Milky Way. Q Quick Q’s: How was the universe formed? 1. What is the Big A Bang theory? The universe was born more than The Big Bang theory 15 billion years ago. It is believed that the suggests that the universe as we know universe began as a small ball of fire. This Early universe it today was created fireball grew larger and larger until one day it Scientists think that the early universe was a dense after a huge explosion cluster of matter, that has kept expanding from the exploded, to form the universe that we know. or ‘bang’. Georges Big Bang until now and is continuing to expand. Lemaitre proposed the theory of the Q Q Big Bang in 1927, and How big is the universe? What is a galaxy? in 1929 Edwin Hubble A A expanded on his work. No one knows how big the universe A galaxy is a group of billions of stars, really is. There are at least 100 billion dust and gas bound together by gravitational 2. Which is the largest galaxy? galaxies that we know of. However, this force. A galaxy can either be on its own or in Scientists do not know number keeps growing as better telescopes a cluster. Galaxies come in different shapes exactly. The largest are developed and we see more and more and sizes. Scientists have divided them into galaxies we know of are galaxies. On top of that, the galaxies are three categories based on their shapes – spiral, giant elliptical (oval) galaxies located in moving away from each other, causing the elliptical (oval) and irregular (no shape). the middle of a whole universe to expand. Some scientists believe group of galaxies. Expanding universe that the universe will never stop expanding, One of the largest Scientists think that stars and other elements in the is in the central while others think that one day it will begin universe are continuing to move away from each other galaxy in the cluster to shrink until it becomes a fireball again. due to the force of the original Big Bang. Abell 2029. 3. How big is the Milky Way? The Milky Way is huge. It takes the Sun about 250 million years to orbit once around the centre of the Milky Way. 4. What is Messier Object 31? The Andromeda Galaxy is also known as Messier Object 31, or M31. This galaxy is more than twice the size of Milky Way. But it is still not the largest galaxy we know of. 66 GrBigBk_Q_A 006-025.qxd 21/5/07 12:13 pm Page 7 Galaxies Q A galactic crash How did the Milky Way get its name? A Sometimes, galaxies crash into one another due to the force of In ancient Greek and Roman myths, it was gravity. But the stars in them are too far apart to cause any real believed that the goddess Hera (Juno) spilt damage. Our own galaxy is on a collision course with its neighbour milk across the sky and called the white streak Andromeda. The collision will take place in about five billion years it left a ‘river of milk’. The Romans called it and the two will merge to form an elliptical (oval) galaxy. Via Lacteaor a ‘road made of milk’. This is how our galaxy came to be named the Milky Way. Q Is the Milky Way a part of a cluster of galaxies? A The Milky Way and three of its neighbouring galaxies are part of a larger cluster known as the Local Group (because they are closest to Earth). The neighbouring galaxies in the Local Group are called Andromeda, and the Large and Small Magellanic Clouds. Of the 35 galaxies in the Local Group, only these three can be seen with the naked eye. Milky Way An artist’s impression of our galaxy, the Milky Way, based on observations made by modern telescopes. Our Sun is a small star on one arm of the galaxy. Try these too… Stars (8–9), The Sun (10–11), The Planets (12–13), Comets and Asteroids (22–23), Scientific Revolution (150–151) 7