>> welcome to "teen kids news." i'm veronique. let's begin with our top story for this week. there's an old saying that the more things change, the more they stay the same. well, when it comes to the new sat, that may not be true. amelia tells us more. >> while there are two types of standardized tests for students looking to go to college -- the sat or the act -- in this report, we're only focusing on the sat. that's because the sat has made some changes. to learn more about that,

we're joined by rob franek. he's with the college-prep company called the princeton review. welcome! >> thank you. good to be here. >> so, what's changed? >> there are four big changes that have happened for the sat, and these big changes happened in march 2016. the four changes are the sat will no longer be testing on obscure vocabulary words. one of the most difficult things that i'd have for a princeton review student is to give them 500 words that they'll probably never use again to study for the sat, so that fear goes away. number two is that we've eliminated one full answer choice on the sat. so, previous to march 2016, there were five answer choices for each of those questions on the sat. now there will be four answer choices. number three is that the writing section, which was required for the sat before march 2016, is now optional. and number four -- and this is so important. number four is that there is no guessing penalty, which means that for every wrong answer that

you get, there are no points off. on the previous sat, before march 2016, you were penalized a quarter of a point for every incorrect answer that you submitted. those are the four changes. >> are there any other changes, or is that it? >> those are the only changes that have affected the sat for this year. now, it's been 10 years since the sat changed, so i think that these changes are going to stick for quite a while. >> are students going to find this new sat easier or harder than the old sat? >> well, it's certainly going to be different from the old sat. scores just recently have come out for that march administration of that sat, and we're going to be following this along over the next year of time, but students are tending to do about the same or a little bit better on that new exam, but i think that we'll have a full lens to look into about how students are doing, certainly over the next couple of months. if you want to go to college, do you have to take one of those tests? >> that's a good question.

the truth is that out of the 4,000 schools that are in our universe of four-year colleges and universities, about 900 of those schools are test-optional, which means that you don't have to submit the sat or the act scores for academic admission. so an admissions counselor won't require to look at them on your college application. however, many of those schools may look towards those sat and act scores combined with your high-school gpa for financial aid, but there are some lucky students that won't have to submit the sat or act scores for academic admission. >> can you take both tests? >> absolutely. students can take both the sat or the act. and here's the thing -- and this is so important for students to remember -- is that admissions teams at schools large and small will treat the sat and the act exactly the same, so you could submit either of the exams or both. >> is there a limit to how many times you can take either of the exams? >> no, there's no limit to the amount of times that you can take the exam and offer those scores up to college-admission teams, but the truth is that what we've seen at the

princeton review is that students tend not to do better after the third administration of the exam, but they tend to do dramatically better between that first exam and that third exam. >> great information. thanks, rob. >> you're welcome. thanks for inviting me. >> whether you plan to take the sat or the act, one thing hasn't changed, and that's the fact that you shouldn't obsess over the test. your test score is only one of the many factors colleges take into consideration. for "teen kids news," i'm amelia.

>> visiting a zoo or aquarium is a great way to learn about the many species of animals that share our planet. scott got a first-hand look. >> here at the national aquarium in baltimore, an exciting transformation has taken place. sea creatures that have been here for years were carefully transported to safety. then the aquarium was drained and a coral reef was created. add 250,000 gallons of salt water, exotic sea life from halfway around the world, some really cool lighting, and what do you get?

the amazing blacktip reef -- a unique museum experience. with 65 different underwater species, it's as close as you can get to seeing a south pacific coral reef without going to the south pacific. >> coral reefs are like the cities of the ocean. it's an ecosystem that's all balanced. >> to re-create that balanced ecosystem, all the sea life was carefully selected. the only thing that's not really from the pacific is the coral. it had to be man-made. >> coral is actually a living animal. it looks like rock. and it's related to jellyfish, and it actually forms a limestone cavity around itself, so it's basically like the outer edge of the coral is living and building on the limestone skeletons of its ancestors. and the coral in this exhibit, however, is re-created. real coral has to have intense sunlight, so it's also very fragile. >> you can actually step into the reef at the underwater viewing level. and there's a lot to view.

there's more than 700 fascinating marine animals. one of the crowd favorites is calypso, the giant sea turtle. when she was found, she had a badly hurt fin. after some delicate surgery, it was decided that calypso wouldn't be able to survive in the ocean, so blacktip reef became her new home. the exhibit also has plenty of sharks, particularly the kind it's named for -- the blacktip reef shark, what's called an apex predator. so, what is an apex predator? >> an apex predator is a top predator in an ecosystem -- for example, lions in africa, sharks in the ocean. these are the top of the food chain. these are the animals that all the small fishes eventually work up and are food for these larger fishes. >> sharks are part of the circle of life. without these predators, fish would eat up all the coral. that would kill the reef, as well as the marine animals that depend on the reef for survival.

so, don't be taken in by the movie hype. >> hollywood has done an incredible disservice to sharks, making everyone afraid -- movies like "jaws" and all the take-offs of that movie. they really create an irrational fear of sharks. sharks are an important part of the ecosystem, and, actually, sharks have more to fear from us. >> this guy has something to fear? he sure does, because humans are the biggest apex predators of all. >> some cultures actually have something called shark fin soup, and what happens is that people actually catch these sharks, cut the fins off, and throw the sharks right back in, only using those fins, which is not only wasteful but quite cruel. >> especially cruel because sharks can't replace their population fast enough to keep up. >> sharks have a very long time until they're actually mature enough to reproduce. a lot of times it's not until they're 15 years old until they can have pups. so, taking sharks out of the ocean generally is not considered sustainable. >> "sustainable seafood" is a

term the national aquarium would like you to know. it means becoming aware of fishing methods that hurt other creatures. it also means not eating seafood that may be in danger of extinction. >> and there's actually a free app you can get called seafood watch. you can go on your smartphone and download it for free, and what you actually do -- you simply type in the type of seafood or sushi that you enjoy, and it'll tell you what the best kind to buy is. >> of course, pollution and climate change threaten all creatures great and small, including the coral. this exhibit is meant to be educational and inspirational so we all do what we can to help. >> one thing we want to do is to, first of all, show people a very special aquatic treasure of the planet, and that is the indo-pacific reef. >> it was really cool seeing all the different kinds of fish and the different colors. >> it was really cool seeing, like, all the animals interacting with each other.

>> and what did you learn from it? >> that the animals can be with each other and not hurt them. >> visiting an aquarium is a special kind of sightseeing. you can call it "seasighting." at the national aquarium in baltimore, for "teen kids news," i'm scott. >> next on "teen kids news," a tip that will brighten your homework habits in this week's "make the grade" report. we'll be right back. >> it's time for "make the grade." here's christin. >> when it comes to good study habits, many of us are in the dark, especially with regards to proper lighting. let's start with the right bulb. we're all familiar with the tried and true incandescent bulb. it gives good, even, white light. but leds are becoming more popular. they last longer and use less energy. they also don't get as hot as halogens, nor do they contain mercury, like cfl bulbs do. whatever bulb you choose, you want one that's not so bright that it'll give you a headache and not so dim that it'll cause

eye strain. brightness is measured in lumens. the experts recommend a bulb that gives off about 1,100 lumens. that's equivalent to a traditional 75-watt bulb. you can check out the lumens on the package. next is the position of your light source. if you're using a desk lamp, don't put it alongside the hand you write with. instead, put it on the opposite side. and be sure it doesn't cause glare on your computer screen. now, if someone could come up with a light that could actually make us smarter, that would be a bright idea. i'm christin, here to help you make the grade. >> every state has one, but most of us don't know why they look the way they do. here's eric with "flag facts." >> maine stretches further east than any other u.s. state. it's also our least densely populated eastern state.

almost 90% of maine is covered by forest, which is why it's called "the pine tree state." but maine is also known for its long, rugged coastline. in fact, it competes with florida for having the most shoreline along the atlantic ocean. maine's first state flag appeared in 1901. it was a very simple design. then, in 1909, a new flag was created. it was much more complex. but not everyone saw it as an improvement. >> maine is an interesting flag in that, in recent years, there have been two attempts to return it to its former, simpler design, which was just a pine tree and the north star. what they have now is the state coat of arms, which features still, the pine trees, still the north star, but also a moose resting beneath the pine tree. to the left of this image, you have a farmer, and that's in reference to all the agriculture in maine. maine is known for its blueberries and potatoes. to the right, you see a sailor.

>> the sailor symbolizes maine's connection to the sea, including its fishing and shipbuilding industries. the north star has served as a guiding light for sailors since ancient times. just below the star is the state motto -- "dirigo," latin for "i lead." a knotted fringe of yellow silk gently surrounds the state seal. unlike other states, maine's first european explorers were probably not british, spanish, french, or italian. it's believed that nordic sailors arrived here almost 600 years before columbus. we know these seafaring adventurers by a more familiar name -- vikings. with "flag facts," i'm eric. >> if you've been trying to watch your weight, try watching the salt. studies show that when a food is salty, we tend to eat more of it. one reason may be that the salt interferes with the chemicals released by our stomach. those chemicals are supposed to tell our brain that we're full.

but if they're inhibited by salt, then we don't get the message that we're full, and so we want to keep eating. to help maintain a healthy weight, try to shake the salt habit. >> we've got to take a short break, but don't go away, because "teen kids news" will be right back. >>joe: hi.this is pennsylvania state treasurer

joe torsella. our state treasury is proud to launch the pa able program, a savings plan for people with disabilities, including erin. open a pa able account today by visiting our website at paable.gov.

>> ever wonder why parents are always saying how important it is to brush your teeth? well, jacelyn has the answer. >> you'd think that if you don't brush correctly, you'd just end up with dirty teeth and bad breath -- not true. dr. gerry curatola is a dentist and professor at new york university. hi. >> hi. thanks for having me. >> our pleasure, doc. so, what's one of the problems poor brushing can cause? >> well, as you said, it's more than about dirty teeth -- it's really about getting diseases in your mouth, and not just tooth decay and gum disease, but it could be far worse.

>> so, give me an example of how a problem that starts in your mouth can actually cause a problem for your whole body. >> well, studies have shown that diseases in your mouth can increase your risk of a heart attack by 10 times. it can increase your chance of getting adult-type diabetes by seven times. and if you're a young pregnant woman, it can have very bad effects on the term of your pregnancy. >> wow. you know, i'd love to ask you a few more questions, doctor, but i think i'd better go and brush my teeth. see you later. >> [ laughs ] that's a great idea. ♪ >> here's another crazy law that's still on the books. if you own a lion, you can't take him to the movies -- at least not in baltimore, where it's against the law. for some reason, maryland lawmakers didn't think bringing a tiger to the movies should

also be illegal. if it were up to me, i'd make it illegal to bring a giraffe, for obvious reasons. hey! down in front! >> it's time for another important message, brought to you by the national road safety foundation. ♪ [ indistinct conversations ] >> cool party! >> what do you guys want to drink? >> can i have a head-on collision with a concussion twist? [ tires screech, crash ] >> make mine a fatal accident with no survivors. [ tires screech, sirens wailing ] >> and you? >> a designated driver, please -- you know, just a bottle of water. >> awesome! >> you're a lifesaver! ♪ >> it looks and sounds like a fancy dessert, but i'll show you just how simple it is to make a...apple tart, next on "teen kids news."

>> from one of the best cooking schools in the world to your

kitchen, here's another fun recipe from the culinary institute of america. >> if you want to impress your friends the next time you hang out, this recipe is an easy way to do it. today we're making puff pastry apple tarts. let's get started. i've picked out this granny smith apple here, but you can use red or delicious, ginger gold, whichever apple is your favorite. granny smiths that i use in this puff pastry tart are nice and tart and gives it kind of an acidic crunch. ♪ takes a little practice. gonna cut the apple directly in half, just on the side of the stem. you'll see how close i got to the seeds. seeds here, no seeds here. the way we want to cut this apple is to cut in very thin slices. of course, with the help of your parents, you, too, can do this.

make slices about a quarter an inch thick. a little bruising is fine on your apple. it just means it's a little sweeter. you want to put all of your apple slices into a bowl with water and lemon juice. this will keep them from turning brown. once your apples are cut, you can start with the puff pastry dough. you can find this at your local grocery store, supermarket, wherever you go to find puff pastry dough. they come in big long rolls just like this one, but we're only gonna use about half. can use the other half for later. you want to cut the puff-pastry dough into rectangles. i use a pizza cutter. it's safer than using a knife. you want to cut right down the middle of the puff pastry, making two halves, and then cut those halves into thirds. that makes six rectangles.

you want to take these and move them over to your parchment-lined baking sheet. i line my baking sheets with parchment paper. it's easier to clean up. from there, our next step is to add the apples. you want to take the apples out of the water mixture and make sure to keep the excess off. once you have the excess water shaken off, you want to take the apples and lay them individually, shingled, which means one over the other, like a roof onto the puff-pastry dough, just like this.

once you have your apples laid out, the next step is brush the entire pastry, including the dough and the apple, with butter. i've melted about a half a stick of butter in a dish. and you just paint just like you're painting a picture. you want to coat the entire pastry evenly so that it browns evenly once we cook it. the next step is my favorite. i have about 2 tablespoons of white sugar. i'm just gonna sprinkle it over the apples and the puff pastry. this will create kind of a crust and make the apples a little sweeter. this is definitely a dessert you want to show your friends. once the apples are coated in butter or sugar, it's time for them to cook.

i'm going to place them in an oven at about 350 degrees for about 15 to 20 minutes, or until they're golden brown. now our apple tarts are done, and they're cool, and they smell great. don't they look delicious? at the culinary institute of america, for "teen kids news," i'm fletch. >> wow. that looks really good. you can find the full recipe on our website. "teen kids news" will be back next week. you won't want to miss it. bye for now. ♪

they said their tanning rays were less likely to cause a sunburn. what you need to know is, uv light from indoor tanning... can cause premature aging. and even worse, uv light can increase your risk of skin cancer... including melanoma, the deadliest form of skin cancer. in fact, current estimates are that 1 in 5 americans develops skin cancer... and one person dies from melanoma about every hour. i don't want to be one of them. this message brought to you by the american academy of dermatology.

alex paen: the following program contains actual video of real animal emergencies and is suitable for family viewing. coming next... a blind horse falls into a muddy ravine. the equine is hurt and struggles to get out. will rescuers save her? [captioning made possible by telco productions, inc.] this is "animal rescue."