¹It is common knowledge that The Titanic, that unsinkable ship launched in 1912, did indeed sink. ²The horror of what the passengers experienced has been explored in books, on film, and on the stage. ³Some did live to recount that dreadful day when the queen of the seas hit an iceberg near Newfoundland and a hole was sliced in the hull of the magnificent craft. ⁴Could the accident have been prevented? ⁵Could the lives of the passengers and crew who were lost have been saved by having a more watchful first mate? ⁶Recent diving explorations to the remains of the ship revealed some startling news: the ship was not destined to sink despite hitting the iceberg. ⁷The findings suggest the real cause of the sinking of The Titanic was due to faulty rivets, or bolts, holding the sea doors shut. ⁸When the ship hit the iceberg, the rivets loosened and permitted water to enter the hull, very likely causing the ship to sink.

¹For many years, researchers have examined possible reasons for the overall poor educational achievement of students from America's working-class families. ²The language in the home environment of these families may be a factor. ³The home environment often differs from the school environment which the children must later enter. ⁴The manner in which language is used in working-class homes affects how children write and respond to questions in school. ⁵Children from poorer homes often do not use complex sentences to communicate; instead, they use short, direct sentences and responses and a simple vocabulary. ⁶Some families are more authoritarian in nature, and children in these homes are not encouraged to speak freely or express their ideas through language. ⁷To do so would be to challenge the authority of the parents. ⁸Therefore, when these children are encouraged to speak and to write freely in school, they are not comfortable. ⁹They have been conditioned to believe their ideas are not important. ¹⁰Conversation and language use are quite different in schools, and even if children do engage in more elaborate language use, they may have little opportunity to practice their new language skills in their home environment.

¹Making the decision to purchase a car is an important one. ²There are many factors to consider, and it is wise to follow some important steps to insure that you are buying the car that is right for you.

³The first step in the car-buying process is to decide how much you want to spend and what types of cars you can afford. ⁴Remember that even after the initial cost, maintenance and gas are expensive, so be sure to consider all additional costs in your budget. ⁵Make a plan for yourself based on your income, loans you might need, and how much you can afford for monthly payments. ⁶After you have a budget, decide what type of car is right for you: the model, make, features, and color you prefer. ⁷To help make these decisions, use car-buying guides, study safety reports, and visit dealerships. ⁸After you have narrowed your choices, start shopping. ⁹Newspaper ads are a great place to look for new and used vehicles, as is visiting selected dealerships. ¹⁰The Internet is one of the best places to look since it provides listings from dealers and individual sellers. ¹¹The last step is actually buying the car you have found.

¹²Buying your own car, especially if it is your first one, can be an exciting and rewarding experience. ¹³However, it can also be an expensive one; so it is smart to give careful thought to what buying a car involves before actually making your purchase.

¹Each new year brings the Super Bowl, an American tradition. ²This tradition began on January 15, 1967 when the National Football League's Green Bay Packers romped over the American Football League's Kansas City Chiefs 35-10 in Memorial Coliseum in Los Angeles. ³The championship game boasted over 60,000 people in attendance, and it seemed to spark a competitive flame in Americans. ⁴Americans loved football!

⁵The event, thanks to television, has now become an American cultural icon. ⁶Those not lucky enough to be in attendance for week-long pre-game parties throw their own Super Bowl parties and stay glued to giant-screen television sets at home. ⁷Americans gladly spend freely for Super Bowl merchandise, and advertisers spend millions for precious advertising time during the game. ⁸The ads themselves have even become cultural icons: each year the companies buying air time for this event find their ads previewed and rated by loyal fans. ⁹The ads have now become the topic of pre and post-game television talk shows.

¹⁰That first game in 1967 between two leagues was more than a championship football game. ¹¹That first game set in motion a merchandising and marketing super event, one that Americans seem to have institutionalized.