Jodie Duvall, age 13, of Overland Park, Kan., for her question:

WHO WAS LAWRENCE OF ARABIA?

A famous British soldier and writer named Thomas Edward Lawrence came to be known as Lawrence of Arabia. He was one of the most adventurous personalities of World War I.

Born in 1888, he studied at Oxford University and was working as an archaeologist for the British government in Egypt when the war started. He headed a military intelligence and later, as a colonel, helped to organize the Arab revolt against Turkey. He became passionately devoted to the Arab cause.

Lawrence won honors for his success as a leader of daring guerrilla raids. His military and diplomatic genius led to the defeat of the Turks.

Lawrence described his spectacular exploits in Arabia in a book called "The Seven Pillars of Wisdom" published in 1926.

Lawrence was killed in a motorcycle accident in England in 1935.