Monday’s Marauder
Crow
Many Indian houses have their own regular winged visitors – the crow. These small black birds are commonly seen and also make their presence felt with their loud squawking. Belonging to the Corvus genus of birds, they are found in all temperate continents except South America. Every region has its own superstition or myth related to these birds, which are thought to be among the most intelligent of creatures. They are omnivorous and eat fruits, nuts, molluscs, earthworms, seeds, frogs, eggs etc. They also eat whatever we give them. What do you feed the crow which comes to your house?
South America
South America is a continent which will be in the news a lot in the coming months, as Brazil will play host to major sporting events like the FIFA Football World Cup and the Olympics in 2016. The other major countries in the continent are Argentina, Bolivia, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, Guyana etc. Most of the continent lies in the tropics, and is home to the Andes mountains, and many river basins, including the Amazon. Evidence suggests that it has been inhabited since 9000 BC when squashes, beans and chili peppers were thought to be cultivated in the Amazon basin.
Chili Pepper
Indian food is known to spicy and foreign tourists often find it difficult to enjoy some of our delicacies because of the spice. One of the major ingredients used to add spice to dishes is the chili pepper or chilli pepper. The fiery red chillies are made spicy by a substance called capsaicin. They are thought have to originated in the Americas, and were used as both food and medicine. Today, India is the largest producer, consumer and exporter of chili peppers in the world, and Andhra Pradesh is one of the leading producers. Eating a chili can be like a roller coaster, and induces feelings like pain and fear, according to one psychologist.
Roller Coaster
Who doesn’t love roller coasters? An exciting ride, these are the most sought after in amusement parks. The first roller coaster was built in 1885, and today they are popular all over the world in all shapes and forms. The two major types are the steel roller coaster and the wooden roller coaster. While the ride is fun, a lot of mechanics and science goes into creating them, and making them safe. With the summer holidays approaching, it’s time to visit a nearby amusement park and take a ride on the coasters and enjoy the experience
So the path that we have traversed today is:
Crow —> South America —> Chili Pepper —> Roller Coaster
Three clicks! Hop over. It’s time for the next question:
Tuesday’s Traveller
>Seal —> >Satellite
Send in your paths for the abossve to school@thehindu.co.in with the subject “Qwikipedia”. Do include your name, class and school!
