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Structures and vocabulary are more challenging. Below is a sample of articles that were taken from Northwest News editions in 2004/2005. Because we request use of photos from the Seattle Times for publication, we do not have permission, at this time, to use one of their photos on this website to demonstrate a one-star vocabulary list.

Fog on water (A two-star article that accompanied a picture of a ferry crossing the Sound in a fog.)

A ferry is sailing from Seattle. It is crossing Puget Sound. The ship goes through the fog. Fog is covering the water. The Olympic Mountains rise in the background. The sky is clear. It is a sunny day. Spring weather invites us outdoors.

Mount St. Helens awake (A three-star article that also accompanied a picture of Mt. St. Helens. Usually three-star articles do not have pictures.)

Mount St. Helens is not sleeping anymore. The volcano has erupted several times since last month. These eruptions were relatively mild. They blew only steam and ash. They didn’t release magma. So these recent eruptions didn’t threaten life or property. The last major eruptions of Mt. St. Helens occurred on May 18, 1980. It wasn’t so mild. In that eruption, a massive mushroom of ash blew 19 kilometers in the sky. It carried about 490 tons of ash across 57, 000 square kilometers of the western United States. The eruption killed 57 people.

Scientists are observing St. Helens’ activity very closely. They have much to learn. Usually the volcano’s eruptions follow several earthquakes. However, last month, one eruption occurred after a period with minimal earthquake activity. The unexpected eruption worries some. One reason they worry is that many excited visitors have come to see the volcano. They are drawn to the unusual natural spectacle. They can view eruptions from the Johnston Ridge Observatory. It is just five miles away.

Mt. St. Helens is the most active volcano in the Cascade Mountain Range. St. Helens is a relatively young volcano, just 40,000 years old.

Internet TV coming soon (A four-star article written by Jing Feng, one of the students who attended the Northwest News class last year. It has a slightly higher reading level than the 3-start article above.)

Microsoft wants people to watch TV on their computers. The company is developing technology to make it possible to send TV programs through the Internet.

This is good news for immigrants. They will be able to watch their native country’s programs by Internet.

The plan has other advantages. People will be able to fast-forward to pass commercials, to watch videos, and to see many programs on their screens at the same time. Also, there will be an Internet search engine to find program schedules and descriptions of programs and movies. For example, people will be able to search for programs with specific movie stars.

In order to get TV and movies by Internet, people must have a broadband connection. Broadband can send a lot of data at one time. It can send more than a telephone line.

Microsoft is working with other companies on this project. One of these companies is Alcatel, the world’s largest producer of broadband Internet equipment. The companies are now testing the product in Italy. There, Alcatel is building a broadband network. Together with network operators, it will provide Internet service to 18 million homes. By 2008 the people in these homes will be able to watch TV on their computers.