Many people in Dover work for the state
government.
In 1682 William Penn took control of
the colony of Delaware. A year later he
ordered a new town to be created. The
town was not actually built until 1717.
It was named after Dover, England.
Dover replaced the city of New Castle as
the capital of Delaware in 1777.
#More to explore
Delaware • Penn,William
Down Syndrome
Down syndrome is a disorder, or
unusual condition, that can cause delays
in a child’s development. About 1 in
800 babies is born with Down syndrome.
Down syndrome happens when
an infant’s cells have 47 instead of 46
chromosomes. (Chromosomes are tiny
structures in a cell that carry information
about people, such as what color
eyes and hair they will have.)
Having an extra chromosome can cause
developmental disabilities. This means
that people with Down syndrome may
have trouble learning or taking care of
themselves. They may have certain
medical problems, too. Some of the
most common problems are heart
defects and problems with hearing,
vision, digestion, and the thyroid gland.
Most people with Down syndrome get
special medical care from the time they
are babies.
In the past many children with Down
syndrome lived in special homes apart
from their families. Today most people
with Down syndrome grow up in their
parents’ homes. They make friends, go
to school, and play sports. As adults
many people with Down syndrome have
jobs. They often live in group homes or
apartments.
#More to explore
Child Development • Chromosome
• Disability
Dragon
#see Animals, Legendary.
Dragonfly
Dragonflies are flying insects with two
pairs of see-through wings, huge eyes,
and long bodies. Dragonflies live near
lakes, streams, and ponds throughout
most of the world. There are about
2,500 species, or types, of dragonfly.
A girl with Down syndrome plays the guitar.
BRITANNICA STUDENT ENCYCLOPEDIA Dragonfly 69
The insects vary greatly in color. They
also range widely in size. The smallest
dragonflies have wingspans about 0.8
inch (20 millimeters) across. The largest
ones have wingspans about 6 inches (15
centimeters) across. Dragonflies’ wings
stand out sideways from their bodies
even when they are resting.
Adult dragonflies feed mostly on other
insects, and their bodies make them
deadly hunters. Dragonflies fly faster
than most other insects. They can also
instantly change the direction of their
flight and hover like tiny helicopters.
Their large eyes allow them to spot prey
above, below, in front, behind, and on
both sides of them.
Dragonflies hatch from eggs in or near
bodies of freshwater. They hatch as larvae,
or undeveloped forms that do not
look anything like the adults. Dragonfly
larvae live in water. They are fierce hunters
and use a pair of fanglike pincers to
catch worms, tadpoles, and small fish.
The larvae grow quickly and shed their
skin several times. During this time they
develop adult features. Eventually, the
larvae crawl out of the water. They shed
their skin one last time and fly away as
adult dragonflies.
#More to explore
Insect
Drake, Francis
The navigator Sir Francis Drake helped
to build up England’s power during the
reign of Queen Elizabeth I. He opened
the Pacific Ocean to English ships. He
also helped defeat the Armada, the fleet
(group of ships) that Spain sent to conquer
England.
Francis Drake was born in about 1540.
At about age 13 he first worked as a
sailor. In his early 20s he joined a slavetrading
fleet. Off the coast of Mexico,
the Spanish attacked the fleet. Drake
disliked the Spanish from that time on.
A brightly colored dragonfly pauses for a
rest.
Francis Drake
70 Drake, Francis BRITANNICA STUDENT ENCYCLOPEDIA
Dramas are commonly called plays.
Other forms of literature, such as novels
and short stories, are meant to be read
by individuals. But through staged productions
dramas are shared with many
people at once.
Elements of Drama
A person called a playwright, or a dramatist,
writes the play’s text. The major
elements of a play, or drama, include the
characters and the plot. The characters,
or the people in the story, often come
into conflict with each other over something.
For example, they may desire the
same throne, princess, or treasure. The
plot is what happens during the play
and how the conflicts are settled.
In a play the characters use their words
and movements to tell the story. Often
the characters talk to each other. The
words of their conversations are known
as dialogue. Sometimes, however, a character
will make a speech while alone
onstage or with the other characters
silent. This creates the illusion that the
audience can hear the character’s
thoughts. That kind of speech is called a
soliloquy. Occasionally a character will
speak directly to the audience. That is
called an aside.
A playwright might write dialogue that
sounds natural, or how people of a particular
time and place actually talk. Or
the dialogue may be very formal. For
instance, sometimes the characters’
words are written in poetry. In some
dramas the characters may sing or chant
their words.
The playwright also writes short instructions,
called stage directions, in the text.
