What significant event took place on October 5,1957? How did that event affect the people from Coalwood?

On October 4, 1957, the Soviet Union began the space race by launching the satellite Sputnik. The next day, it orbited over the continental United States. In October Sky, the movie based on Sputnik's launch, the residents of Coalwood went out and watched it from their yards and wondered what it meant. This was during the height of the Cold War, and some people thought the Soviet Union could drop nuclear bombs from the satellite. Others wondered why the Soviets were able to launch something into space that America could not do yet.  

In the movie, the launch of the Soviet satellite made the boys work harder on their own rocket plans and inspired them to make aeronautical science their future careers. In the America of that time period, politicians spent more money on science and technology in an effort to beat the Soviets. Sending an American into space and putting a man on the Moon became an American priority. John F. Kennedy was able to harness this spirit in his inaugural address when he promised an American would walk on the Moon before the end of the 1960s.

What is Grim's opinion of Maxwell's father in Freak the Mighty?

Some of the first things the reader hears about Max's father come from the character of Grim. Grim, of course, is the nickname Max gives to his grandfather who has taken him in. Grim's opinions about Max's father all revolve around fear of Killer Kane as a dangerous criminal.

First, Grim says that Max's father's name is “too scary to say.” As the plot moves on to the rising action, the reader learns that Max's Father (Killer Kane) is being released from prison. As a result, Grim reacts further. Grim wants to obtain a gun, but Gram is against it. Finally, Grim's opinion of Killer Kane is confirmed when Grim obtains a restraining order against Kane.

If [Killer Kane] does try to come here, they’ll send him back to prison. ... Everything is going to be okay.

Although this statement is designed to make Max feel safe, Grim still insists that Max stay inside for days. Of course, Grim's opinions are confirmed when Max's dad shows up and ties Max to a boiler.

When did the Olympics begin?

The Olympic Games of antiquity date back to 776 BC in Greece. There are written documents supporting the date of the first Games, which were held in the southern region of Greece known as the Peloponnese, in the city of Olympia. This region of Greece is located on a peninsula of the same name. The city of Olympia is located in the western part of the region. A stadium which held thousands of people was located there, along with other ancient structures, which accommodated large numbers of people every four years when the Olympic Games were held. Temples in honor of the Greek god Zeus and the goddess Hera stood near the Olympic stadium.

History and mythology become intertwined when the origins of the games are discussed. Most of the myths provide evidence of the Games being held in honor of the Greek god Zeus. Young men came together each Olympiad to demonstrate their prowess in ancient athletic endeavors.

What is true of risk-takers?

Risk-taking behavior is closely linked with "sensation seeking." Most risk-takers seek new experiences, are easily bored, and tend to enjoy intense experiences that push physical, social, or personal limits. Some risk-taking behavior is physical, such as extreme sports, while other types of risk-taking can involve drinking, gambling, using drugs, engaging in unsafe sexual practices, and committing crimes. 

Risk-taking tends to peak in a person's teens and twenties and decline as people get older. A higher proportion of males than females display extreme risk-taking traits. Many risk-taking behaviors tend to be present in the same person, with alcohol, drugs, unsafe sexual practices, and driving accidents all correlating strongly with a similar demographic. 

Risk-takers tend to demonstrate high impulsiveness, a low ability to tolerate boredom, and a desire for new, intense sensations. They tend to be more aggressive and more sociable than the general population. 

According to Guns, Germs, and Steel, under what kinds of conditions does technology develop? How and why did technology development differ from one...

For Jared Diamond in Guns, Germs, and Steel, there are several necessary preconditions for the development of technology. The single most important of these in an increase in food production by means of domestication of plants and animals. In settled communities that have undergone the neolithic transition one finds a virtuous cycle of food production increasing population and the population then increasing food production. 

Because agriculture is significantly more efficient than hunter and gathering, it creates a food surplus that allows people to engage in activities not directly related to food production such as developing various forms of technology. 

The final precondition for technological development is relatively easy access to raw materials. For example, easily accessible metal deposits allow for the development of metallurgy. Being located in areas where there are efficient trade routes allows cross-fertilization of ideas, something that also fosters technological development. 

How would one write an internal monologue of Mr. Cunningham's thoughts when he is at the jail with the lynch mob in Harper Lee's To Kill a...

To write an internal monologue for Mr. Walter Cunningham while he is heading the lynch mob at the jail in Harper Lee's To Kill a Mockingbird, you must consider Mr. Cunningham's emotions and thoughts at that moment in time. You especially wants to consider the ways in which he feels self-conflicted. You should then be able to write his thoughts up in dialogue form as a monologue.

Mr. Cunningham feels self-conflicted at this moment in time because he is being pulled by two opposing natures within himself.

One of his natures guides him to be racist, along with much of Maycomb's society. As a racist man, he feels it is unjust for Tom Robinson to stand trial when his guilt is obvious due to the color of his skin. Since a trial would be unjust, especially if Robinson was acquitted, Mr. Cunningham wants to do all he can to prevent such an injustice by taking matters into his own hands, which is to give Robinson the execution he so richly deserves. Mr. Cunningham is especially willing to take matters into his own hands because he feels threatened by Atticus's abilities as a lawyer and knows that, with Atticus defending Robinson, Robinson at least stands a tiny chance of being acquitted, which is not a risk Mr. Cunningham is willing to take; in Mr. Cunningham's mind, due to his racial prejudices, Robinson should not be acquitted.

On the other hand, as Atticus phrases it, Mr. Cunningham is "basically a good man" (Ch. 16). As a generally good man, the other half of his nature is to be loyal, respectful, and a generally decent citizen. Mr. Cunningham has a great deal of respect for Atticus because he is helping Mr. Cunningham with his entailment, and Mr. Cunningham feels very loyal towards Atticus due to this help. The Cunninghams, as a family as a whole, are very loyal people. Atticus describes their loyalty when he explains to Jem, "[O]nce you earned their respect they were for you tooth and nail" (Ch. 23). Mr. Cunningham particularly demonstrates his loyalty by paying Atticus for his legal help through whatever means he can such as bringing firewood and products from his farm.

Since Mr. Cunningham is such a loyal person, Scout was able to remind him of his loyalty when she very politely asks him how his entailment is going, saying, "Well, Atticus, I was just sayin' to Mr. Cunningham that entailments are bad an' all that, but you said not to worry, it takes a long time sometimes ... that you all'd ride it out together" (Ch. 15). The moment Scout says this, she reminds Mr. Cunningham of the respect he has for Atticus and of his loyalty to him. Since he respects Atticus, he would not do anything to pose a threat to Atticus. Therefore, he breaks up the lynch mob and sends everyone home, regardless of the feelings he has due to his racial prejudices.

What is a quote supporting additional problems the brothers faced after Ponyboy returned in The Outsiders by S.E. Hinton?

When Ponyboy returns from hiding after Johnny kills Bob, the main issue the brothers face is Pony’s legal problem.  They fear that he might be put in prison or that he and Soda might be taken away from Darry.  Pony isn’t injured as seriously as Johnny, but he is badly shaken.

Things are complicated when Pony returns.  The gang is preparing for a rumble against the Socs, and Johnny and Dally are in the hospital from their injuries at the church fire.  Pony participates in the rumble even though he was somewhat injured in the fire, too, and is not as good at fighting to begin with.

When Randy comes to see him, Pony explains to him that he is worried about their family being broken up.

"My parents are dead. I live here with just Darry and Soda, my brothers." I took a long drag on my cigarette. "That's what's worrying me. If the judge decides Darry isn't a good guardian or something, I'm liable to get stuck in a home somewhere. …” (Ch. 11)

At his hearing, Pony is terrified to speak to the judge.  He feels a little mixed up about the events in the park, even thinking that he was the one who killed Bob instead of Johnny.  The judge is aware of this, and doesn’t really ask Pony any serious questions.

All the judge did was ask me if I liked living with Darry, if I liked school, what kind of grades I made, and stuff like that. I couldn't figure it out then, but later I found out what the doctor had been talking to the judge about. (Ch. 12)

Pony is acquitted, so he has no jail time.  He has to figure out how to get his life on the right track.  Johnny told him to stay gold.  He decides to call his English teacher and use his assignment to write a book about his life experiences as a kind of therapy, so he can move on with his life.

What does Austen mean by "sense" and "sensibility"?

The terms “sense” and “sensibility” are used to describe the personalities of Elinor and Marianne Dashwood, the two sisters who serve as protagonists in the novel. “Sense” refers to common sense. Elinor is the level-headed one of the two, keeping her emotions in check. She maintains this control throughout the course of the novel, as she watches the man she loves, Edward Ferrars, stay true to Lucy, the woman he is secretly engaged to. Though he has fallen in love with Elinor, he is a man who keeps his promise, putting aside his own feelings, which makes him an ideal companion for Elinor.

“Sensibility,” which describes Marianne, is closer to our current usage of the word “sensitivity.” Marianne’s emotions are worn proudly on her sleeve. She falls in love easily but unwisely with the dashing Willoughby. He breaks her heart, choosing instead to marry a wealthier woman.

Both Elinor and Marianne must take on some of the characteristic of the other in order to resolve their relationships. In the end, Elinor marries Edward (after Lucy marries his brother), while Marianne marries the more stable Colonel Brandon.

Why is Portia regarded as the hero of the play The Merchant of Venice by Shakespeare?

Portia is often seen as the hero of Shakespeare's The Merchant of Venice for several reasons. First, she offers to cover Antonio's debt to Shylock with her considerable funds. When Shylock refuses, Portia disguises herself as a lawyer and outsmarts Shylock in court, forcing him to abandon his claim to a pound of Antonio's flesh and to give up a considerable sum of money in the process. In many respects, Portia saves the day single-handedly. 

If one is to regard Portia as a hero, however, it's important to see the potential drawbacks to her character. While Shylock's intention to extract his pound of flesh from Antonio is undeniably cruel, it's hard not to empathize with him, as he endures a substantial barrage of anti-Semitism from Antonio and others throughout the play. Thus, when Portia humiliates Shylock in court, it's hard to see her actions as entirely "heroic," and it's particularly troubling that she shows little mercy to Shylock directly after giving a truly profound speech on the benefits of mercy.

That's not to say that Portia is not heroic at all. Rather, it's simply important to take her heroism with a grain of salt, as her many virtuous qualities come along with some suggested prejudices that are uncomfortable and troubling. 

Is scientific or Biblical theory more accurate in presenting evidence of the earth's origin?

The key to answering this question is to understand what we mean by accuracy and to realize that there are different types of truth. One type of truth is scientific, and deals with measurable empirical facts. Another type of truth is spiritual and deals with inward meanings. The Bible (and other religious texts) are not works of science, but religious works. To read it as a scientific work is in a sense to secularize it, confusing a religious document with a science textbook. 

A scientific account of the origin of the earth looks at information such as the geological record, the formation of other planets in our solar system, radioactive decay, and a wide range of astronomical data. As all of this evidence is empirical, it provides quite a reliable scientific record of the history of the universe. Because light travels at a fixed speed, as astronomers look at distant galaxies, they are actually seeing light that originated many billions of years ago.

The Biblical account was not intended as a scientific work. Instead, most theologians understand it as a spiritual narrative intended to reveal the relationship between God and humanity. As with most sacred tales that were originally transmitted orally, it presents this understanding in a narrative form. The point of Genesis is not, though, that it was intended as a science handbook, but rather that it is meant to convey a close and caring relationship between humanity and the divine. 

What is the Ceremony of Loss in The Giver by Lois Lowry?

The Ceremony of Loss is conducted when a person dies by accident.  This is different from release, which the people of Jonas’s community do not actually understand to be death.  The Ceremony of Loss is described as taking place along with the other ceremonies in December.  It is a failure for the community, because almost no one ever dies unintentionally.  

The entire community had performed the Ceremony of Loss together, murmuring the name Caleb throughout an entire day, less and less frequently, softer in volume, as the long and somber day went on, so that the little Four seemed to fade away gradually from everyone's consciousness. (Ch. 6) 

Jonas describes loss of a child as “very, very rare.”  However, once the ceremony is performed, it is like the person never existed. He or she is forgotten.  The Four Caleb fell in the river, his ceremony was performed, and his family was given a new baby named Caleb.  He was replaced, just like that. 

The reason that Jonas’s community conducts this ceremony is that they want to ensure that no one ever has to face real feelings of loss.  The community mimics the grieving process in a flash, so quickly that it is artificially imposed upon them.  People in Jonas’s community wouldn’t know the difference anyway.  They are unable to experience real pain because they know no real emotions.  Emotions have been taken from them in the name of Sameness.  It is the community’s method of controlling everyone. 

When a person is released, there is no Ceremony of Loss.  Release occurs as a result of punishment, when a newchild fails, or when an elderly person has reached a certain age.  Most people in the community never think twice about release.  They know that the person is going to Elsewhere, but they do not understand what that means.  They do not equate Elsewhere with death, just as they do not equate the Ceremony of Loss with death.  They do not know what death is.  This is why it is such a shock for Jonas when he finds out what his father is really doing to the babies when he releases them.  Other than The Giver, he is the only one who would see death as wrong or know what it means.

Comment on the poet's choice of the words 'wrought' and 'unwrought' in Sonnet 14.

Sonnet 14 is structured like a Petrarchan sonnet, which is to say that it's split into two sections: the octave (the first eight lines) and the sestet (the last six lines). The octave's rhyme scheme is abbaabba, and the sestet's is cdcdcd. In Petrarchan sonnets, broadly speaking, the octave poses the problem the sonnet is going to deal with, and the sestet suggests the resolution.

So right away, we know that "wrought" and "unwrought" are going to be a big deal, because they bridge the gap between line 8 and line 9—they mark the transition from the octave to the sestet. And it's clear the speaker's thought process is evolving: in the octave, she lists positive reasons her lover might love her (her smile, her looks, her gentle speaking, the way she thinks), but in the sestet, she focuses on darker reasons (because he pities her). It's clear that she's getting more worried and depressed as the poem goes on (in fact, she acknowledges this explicitly in line 10 by talking about tears on her cheeks). And the trigger that leads her to these darker thoughts is the switch from "wrought" to "unwrought."

If you notice, the speaker never acknowledges that her partner might stop loving her in the octave. She dances around the topic—why else would she be talking about loving her for the wrong reasons?—but the first time she explicitly says that she's scared that her partner might stop loving her is when she says "love, so wrought / may be unwrought so." It's the first time she allows herself to fully come to terms with her own fear.

The choice of the word "wrought" is also significant because it hints at the way she thinks relationships get formed. When something is "wrought," it's made. "Wrought" is often associated with metalwork—the blacksmith wrought the sword. Think about that process: he subjects a chunk of metal to extreme heat so it's malleable, then he whacks it with a hammer over and over. If that's the way to fall in love, I'll pass.

"Wrought" can also mean, more generally, "made by using your skills." The idea you should be getting is that it's a process that takes hard work and craftiness. Now apply that to the process of falling in love. It seems kind of cold and calculating, doesn't it? To my mind, if someone "wrought" love, it seems like they were trying too hard—they worked to manufacture it, rather than letting it happen naturally. Clearly, the speaker is suspicious of love that comes about that way. Ultimately, "wrought" love is the villain in this poem, the antagonist to the speaker's desired "love for love's sake."

As a little side note, that phrase, "so wrought / may be unwrought so," is an example of a rhetorical device called chiasmus. Chiasmus is when you repeat a phrase in reverse word order and structure: so wrought, wrought so. (Shakespeare loved using chiasmus, and it shows up in a lot of great speeches.) It can be a very powerful way to mark a sharp divide or suggest a concept needs to be rethought. And that's exactly what the speaker in Sonnet 14 fears most. After all, it's life-shattering when your partner decides he doesn't love you anymore.

What does segregation say about community values?

While the United States is more diverse than ever, many communities and schools remain segregated. Unlike the 1950s and 1960s, when segregation in many southern communities was the law (referred to as "de jure segregation"), today's segregation is de facto, meaning it occurs by fact. According to a study conducted by the Civil Rights Project in 2012 (see the link below), 43% of Latinos and 38% of African-Americans attend schools in which less than 10% of the students are white.

This type of de facto segregation suggests that many communities are not invested in appreciating and encouraging diversity, but it is also a reflection of the values of our educational system. Many people, for example, choose schools that are reportedly performing better on standardized tests rather than choosing schools that have diverse populations. As poorer schools often have a hard time raising their scores on standardized tests, these choices have a cyclical effect--poorer schools tend to attract poorer, more diverse students, while higher-performing schools tend to attract wealthier, less diverse students. Educational policies tend to reinforce segregation. Therefore, segregation in communities can reflect deeply entrenched beliefs about encouraging sameness and avoiding diversity, and it can also be a reflection of the ways in which educational policies reinforce these ideas. 

What is the summary of the poem "Conversation" by Louis MacNeice?

Louis MacNeice's "Conversation" describes the discrepancy between the outwardly ordinary appearance of some people and the secret "vagrancy" that sometimes surfaces mid-conversation. The secret, socially inappropriate vagrant in the minds of ordinary people typically disappears and hides during conversations, but can momentarily appear in the form of abandonment of common sense, inappropriate emotional intimacy, or swearing. The poem describes this vagrancy as undesirable to the ordinary person: they apologize for it with their eyes, rebuild the common sense in their conversations, and reject the possibility of intimacy that the emergence of the vagrant may have suggested.

MacNeice's poem utilizes an abacbc rhyme scheme in each stanza, and the image of the "vagrant" is an extended metaphor that lasts throughout the poem's three stanzas. The vagrant metaphor conveys the secret and socially unacceptable strangeness and honesty which seemingly ordinary people hide to maintain polite conversation. MacNeice argues that this forbidden "vagrancy" is kept secret but frequently comes out accidentally in polite conversation, only to be rejected and apologized for by the speaker.

In Number the Stars, what are some code phrases the characters use? What does Papa mean when he says "Is the weather is good for fishing?"

Annemarie's Papa and uncle speak in code when referring to Ellen and her family, as well as other Jews.  Uncle Henrik helps Jews escape to Sweden on his fishing boat.  With the help of Papa, Mama, and Annemarie, Ellen and her family are able to escape, too.

One day, Annemarie overhears her father speaking on the phone to her uncle.  Her father's end of the conversation puzzles her.  Papa asks Uncle Henrik if "the weather is good for fishing" (Number the Stars, Chapter 6).  He asks this to see if it is a good time to bring Jews across to Sweden.

Then Papa tells Uncle Henrik that Mama and the girls will bring cigarettes to him.  He also states that there are many cigarettes in Copenhagen.  This is especially puzzling to Annemarie, as cigarettes are no longer available in the stores in Copenhagen.  Cigarettes is code for Jews.  Papa tells Uncle Henrik that there are still many Jews in Copenhagen.  Papa mentions there being one cigarette.  This is code for Ellen.

What is critical appreciation?

A critical appreciation is performed by the reader or audience after reading some form of literature or watching a play. The reader evaluates the strengths and weaknesses of the experienced form based on the plot, style, themes, and language among other variables. The reader will also communicate the impressive and disappointing aspects of the experienced form. It is important for the reader to provide reasons for both the positive and negative claims when conducting a critical appreciation. The critical appreciation may also consider the author and the type of work they develop. In this case, the reader or audience will evaluate the applicability and relevance of the work in real life situations. Thus, a critical appreciation is the reader’s response to the experienced form.

In A Midsummer’s Night Dream by Shakespeare, the reader can appreciate how the plot and subplots have been developed and connected. For instance, the subplot of the four Athenian youths in the forest is blended well with the unraveling subplot of the fairies and the spirits. The author finds a way to connect the fairies and spirits from a mystical realm to the real world of the human beings.

Oberon: … And with the juice of this I'll streak her eyes,
And make her full of hateful fantasies.
Take thou some of it, and seek through this grove:
A sweet Athenian lady is in love(265)
With a disdainful youth; anoint his eyes;
But do it when the next thing he espies
May be the lady. Thou shalt know the man
By the Athenian garments he hath on.
Effect it with some care, that he may prove(270)
More fond on her than she upon her love.
And look thou meet me ere the first cock crow.

How did the multi-ethnic cultures of Balkan led to the country's demise?

The multi-ethnic cultures of the Balkans led to severe conflicts between polarized groups, culminating in wars in 1912 and 1913. Since then, the division of any country into small, hostile units has been known as "Balkanization." The primary reason this led to the destruction of the original country was the impractical division of power. The new political units were too small to effectively unify the region, destabilizing its populace and throwing off the balance of power. The balance between governmental authority and population is a delicate one, and the fact that there was no central government across the region led to irreversible damage.

In addition to the fractured government of the Balkans, the cultural divide became too great to overcome. What was once a relatively cohesive culture was fractured into many smaller parts, creating an environment of harshly competing values. This competition led to various conflicts throughout the region and destroyed any existing sense of cohesion. While many multi-ethnic societies around the world thrive through peaceful coexistence, the political tensions between ethnic groups in the Balkans were too severe to overcome. Due to the vast expanse of the Ottoman empire and the diversity of the members of the Balkan League, those differences resulted in total structural collapse.

It is worth noting that in most multi-ethnic countries, the individual groups have shared geographic proximity for far longer than the groups in the Balkan League. Each of these factors contributed heavily to the Balkan Wars and the collapse of the Ottoman Empire in Europe.

How is the quote below related to prejudice and how prejudice overtakes justice? 3RD JUROR: Yeah, well I've got (a kid). He's twenty. We did...

In the quote above, the 3rd juror is biased in his judgment because of his personal experience with his son. So, we can say that his prejudice effectively clouds his ability to render true justice as a juror.

Basically, the 3rd juror thinks of his son as ungrateful and rebellious, and he's transferred his feelings of frustration and anger to the nineteen-year-old suspect in the case. When the 8th juror argues that the youth of the suspect should be taken into account as they deliberate the case, the 3rd juror maintains that the suspect is old enough to know what he's done. He accepts without question the suspect's guilt.

Also (and here's another indication that his prejudice is apparent), the 3rd juror reiterates what he believes are the facts of the case: the victim was stabbed four inches into the chest by the suspect, his son. Because of his own dysfunctional relationship with his son, the 3rd juror is most focused upon the viciousness of the crime. He's put himself in place of the father who was killed, and his sympathies are weighted on the side of the victim.

Throughout the play, the 3rd juror argues against the suspect. He's emotionally invested in the outcome and doesn't want to entertain any other verdict for the suspect other than a guilty verdict. In fact, during the play, he's most at odds with the 8th juror. He accuses the 8th juror of making up "wild stories" about "slum kids and injustice," and he calls for the suspect to "burn" for his crime against his father. So, the above quote exemplifies the 3rd juror's bias and his lack of impartiality; this in turn explains how prejudice can overtake justice.

What was the difference between Renaissance in continental Europe and England?

It could be said that ideals travel more quickly than material goods, but even so, the Renaissance cultural shift did not reach England until the late 15th century. The European Renaissance is commonly described as beginning in Italy in the 14th century, meaning it took a hundred years (or more) for these ideas of rebirth, scholarship, and the arts to travel from the Mediterranean to the British Isles.

The English Renaissance primarily differs from the continental cultural shifts in terms of the forms of art which really flourished. On the continent, visual arts such as painting and sculpture underwent a production boom, in addition to a number of advances in the sciences. In English, literature, music, and architecture were far more in style- or should I say changing style- in response to popular aesthetics.

Though today the effects of the Renaissance are readily visible in Italy and other continental European nations, the effects in England were later overshadowed by attitudes and work of the Tudor (for literature, music, performance) and Georgian (for architecture) periods.

What movement occurs through the nephron?

The nephron is an excretory unit of the kidney that regulates water concentration and soluble substances by blood filtering, re-absorption of what is required, and excretion of the rest as urine. Filtration is the movement triggered by the blood flow and pressure. Filtration commonly takes place in the Bowman’s capsule and the glomerulus where glucose, water, minerals, amino acids, nitrogenous wastes, hormones and bicarbonate ions are filtered from the blood. Re-absorption is the movement through which required substances from the glomerular filtrate are placed back into the blood. The substances are extracted from the tubular fluid, transported into the connective tissues surrounding the nephron (renal interstitium), and then back into the bloodstream. This movement occurs through active transport, diffusion, and osmosis.

What are the pitfalls of sleeping in the open, as vividly described by the narrator in Jerome's Three Men in a Boat?

This topic is addressed in Chapter II. The three men (J., George, and Harris) have already decided to take a boat trip along the River Thames. Now they have to decide if they should camp out or stay in inns along the way. J. and George vote for camping out. J. paints a restful, bucolic scene of how wonderful it would be to have a camp site where they could cook and eat a leisurely supper, smoke their pipes, and lie there under a bright and beautiful moon. Harris stops him by asking, “How about when it rained?” Well then, the story changes dramatically. Everything is wet, including the food and the tobacco. Two people try to put up the soaked tent in the storm, and they get tangled up in it instead. They finally meet with some success – only to have the tent fall down on all of the sleepers in the middle of the night. Thinking it over, the men decide this time to camp out on good nights and to find an inn on any rainy ones.

Why do you think Jimmy sent the note to Bob in "After Twenty Years"?

Jimmy sends the note to 'Silky Bob' for the same reason that he cannot bring himself to arrest Bob when he recognizes him in the doorway of what used to be 'Big Joe' Brady's restaurant--they once were very close friends.

Some things do not wear away with time, and the friendship between Jimmy and Bob yet has a place in the hearts of both Jimmy Wells and Bob. For instance, when Bob speaks of his friend Jimmy to the policeman--who, ironically is actually Jimmy--he mentions what a "good fellow" he is as well as how faithful he is,"If Jimmy is alive on earth he'll be here by that time."

"Faithful friend" that Jimmy Wells is, he, nevertheless, must put duty first. For this reason, he goes to the police station. However, he does not have the heart to so embarrass and shame his old friend by arresting himself. Therefore, he asks a plain clothes policeman to make the arrest for him. Furthermore, he wants Bob to understand that he has not forgetten his promise to meet Bob twenty years later because he was at the doorway of their favorite restaurant on time. Because of these reasons, Jimmy writes his old friend.

What are some texts related to Steinbeck's Of Mice and Men?

One text related to Of Mice and Men would be Steinbeck's The Grapes of Wrath.  It expands many of the ideas in Of Mice and Men.  The Joad family is similar to George and Lennie.  In both, we see protagonists who have to struggle to realize their dreams.  Both works are very similar in their depiction of people who fight against the crushing reality of poverty.  The antagonists in both works use money and influence as a way to crowd out others.  In addition to this, "sage-like" figures in both works help to provide a moral compass in a world that lacks it.  Slim is very similar to Jim Casy. Finally, both works are similar in that they are sad, but ultimately affirm the power of restoration in a world of condemnation. While The Grapes of Wrath  is considerably longer than Of Mice and Men, it would be a good complement to it because it underscores many of the same themes.

A different, but related read is Tillie Olsen's "I Stand Here Ironing."  This story is about a mother's recollections in raising her daughter during the 1930s.  The Great Depression is a shared setting in both Olsen's work and Steinbeck's novella.  Both works have very distinct approaches to how poverty impacts emotional connection.  One could almost envision a conversation between George and the mother in Olsen's story as they both live in a world where poverty impacts emotions.  Both of them had to take care of someone who required so much more than they could give.  Olsen's and Steinbeck's works both discuss how economic poverty impacts emotional poverty. 

Finally, I'll offer a very different suggestion for the last one.  One of the major themes in Of Mice and Men is how dreams influence individual identity.  Dreams are a significant part of the story.  Everyone has them, from George's and Lennie's shared dream, to Candy joining them, to Crooks, who wishes for a moment to be a part of something.  Even Curley's wife yearns for her dreams of being in "pitchers."  It might be fascinating to contrast the dreams of these people who are poor with the vision of dreams offered in F. Scott Fitzgerald's The Great Gatsby.  While the world of Jay Gatsby is completely different than the "bindle stiff" existence, it is interesting to examine the role that dreams play in both works.  In the end, George and Lennie are unable to accomplish their dream.  Yet, so is Gatsby.  In both settings, the failure of dreams cut across socio-economic lines.  It might be powerful to see how broken dreams can be appreciated by both rich and poor.  Social class cannot prevent the hurt of our failed dreams.

In "Those Winter Sundays" by Sheffey, how does the speaker convey his feelings so powerfully to the reader?

In "Those Winter Sundays," the poet, Robert Hayden, conveys his meaning to the reader using various devices. For example, he uses auditory images, such as the "the cold splintering, breaking." The auditory details capture the sound of the fire and emphasize the way the fire that the father creates warms up the cold house. The author also uses repetition, such as "What did I know, what did I know," in the second-to-last line of the poem, which also emphasizes how little the author understood the ways in which the father sacrificed his comfort for his family. In addition, the author uses word choice, such as "blueblack cold" and "cracked hands." The author creates the new word "blueblack" to refer to that time between darkness and daylight, when it is very cold in winter. The author uses carefully chosen words such as "cracked" to give the reader an image of how hard the father works. 

Was Othello treated better than African Americans were treated before the Civil Rights movement?

I have to admit: I think this is rather a strange question, but maybe helpful in looking at the way in which race is a determinant of how much power and privilege one is allowed to have in certain societies, particularly in the United States.

In Shakespeare's eponymous play, Othello is a Moor living in Venice during the Renaissance. Othello is in a position of significant power and respect. He is a commander, yet he is duped by his ensign and supposed friend, Iago, into believing that his wife, Desdemona, has been unfaithful to him with another soldier, his lieutenant Cassio. Iago resents Cassio for being promoted to lieutenant, despite Cassio's inexperience. He also resents Othello for choosing Cassio over him, and may also resent the fact that Othello, a blackamoor, has the power to make such decisions in the first place.

Prior to Othello, blackamoors were simplistically drawn characters, always associated with villainy. The idea for the play comes out of a collection of tales called The Hundred Tales written by Giambattista Cinzio Giraldi and first published in 1565. Shakespeare includes additional characters, such as Desdemona's father who is opposed to her marriage to Othello. According to Stanley Wells and Gary Taylor, he also includes "military action between Turkey and Venice -- infidels and Christians -- which gives especial importance to Othello's posting to Cyprus, a Venetian protectorate which the Turks attacked in 1570 and conquered the following year" (873). Othello and Desdemona are a happily married couple when they arrive in Cyprus. The clash between cultures and ethnicities that indirectly ensues, however, brings their marriage to a tragic end. Othello, much to his consternation, becomes the brute his enemies have accused him of being all along.

In Othello's story, black people -- in both the pre- and post-Civil Rights Era -- have much with which to identify. Desdemona's father does not approve of his daughter's marriage because of Othello's color. Iago resents Othello's power because of Othello's color. Othello himself has fears of inadequacy because of his color and his strong sense of himself as an outsider in Venice. Black people in the United States have had these feelings as well when considering the nature of their citizenship. 

Othello is in a unique position of power as a commander. However, some blacks in the pre-Civil Rights also had positions of power, though usually in sports, entertainment, and the arts, seldom politics. When in these positions, there was, among some, the gnawing sense that the white majority resented their success or was working against them. Othello has similar feelings.

I would then argue that Othello is neither treated better nor worse, but exhibits feelings of fear and inadequacy that are similar to feelings blacks have had as American citizens. Despite his power, Othello is not free.

Source: Wells, Stanley and Gary Taylor, ed. The Oxford Shakespeare: The Complete Works, Second Edition. Oxford: Clarendon Press, 2005. Print.

In Lee's To Kill A Mockingbird, what scenes show Scout acting courageously? Please provide explanations.

At the beginning of Lee's To Kill a Mockingbird, Scout is an impulsive little girl who isn't afraid to throw a punch to protect her honor; however, acting impulsively isn't necessarily a demonstration of courage. Courage is facing difficult situations with self-control and fortitude. One example of Scout showing courage is in front of a mob of men in chapter 15. For example, when the children find Atticus at the jail on the night before the Tom Robinson trial, they overhear the men talking with him. Scout doesn't completely comprehend what is going on, but she does know that something serious is going on when her father says to the men, "Do you really think so?" This phrase is familiar to Scout because she hears it only when Atticus knows he's right and someone else is wrong. It also makes Scout believe that something serious is about to happen, which she explains as follows:

"This was the second time I heard Atticus ask that question in two days and it meant somebody's man would get jumped. This was too good to miss. I broke away from Jem and ran as fast as I could to Atticus" (152).

As shown above, Scout impulsively runs through the heart of a mob to get a look at the action. She doesn't know the complete seriousness of the situation, but nonetheless, she goes without looking back. Once there, she turns her impulsiveness into something courageous by speaking to Mr. Cunningham about her friendship with his son. She also reminds him of how Atticus helps him with his many legal issues. By continuing to talk about neighborly things, Scout softens Mr. Cunningham's heart, and he calls off the mob. Fortunately, Scout is able to turn an impulsive act into a courageous one that turns out well for everyone involved. 

Another example of Scout demonstrating courage is in chapter 24 during her Aunt Alexandra's tea party. At one point during the party, Scout and Aunt Alexandra are trembling because of they've just found out that Tom Robinson has died. They are also feeling stress and anger because of the prejudiced women in their home. After a little motivation from Miss Maudie, though, Aunt Alexandra and Scout square up their shoulders and confidently walk back into the living room to act as proper hostesses for their guests. 

Rather than cowering in the corner and crying because of the stress, Scout shows that she can maintain control of herself in spite of the public pressure. Scout even says, "After all, if Aunty could be a lady at a time like this, so could I" (237). This quote shows that Scout now understands that being a lady is not just wearing pretty dresses and holding a teacup with the pinky extended. Being a lady means facing the community and stress with confidence and poise. It also means having the courage not to lose one's self-control in front of others.

How are respiration and digestion correlated?

The respiratory and digestive systems provide essential materials that ensure the proper function of cells. The standard function of body cells is in turn necessary for respiratory and gastrointestinal operations. The respiratory system provides oxygen to the cells while the digestive system provides nutrients. The cells need these materials to create energy.

Through respiration, oxygen collects in the lungs and is absorbed into the blood stream. Digestion, on the other hand, breaks down complex molecules into simpler molecules. These molecules are absorbed into the bloodstream. Blood delivers both oxygen and the simpler molecules to the cells. The cells combine the two to produce energy. Thus, the respiratory and digestive systems are connected by the bloodstream. They are also essential in the production of energy for the body.

What is the Ceremony of Twelve, and why is this the most important ceremony in The Giver?

The Ceremony of Twelve takes place each year in December; at this time the Elders select the position that each Twelve will hold in the community. Since this is the final ceremony, it represents a rite of passage into adulthood and is, therefore, the most important ceremony performed for members of the community.

No other ceremonies are performed after the Ceremony of Twelve. Also, this is the occasion on which differences are acknowledged. The Elder tells the soon-to-be Twelves:

"You Elevens have spent all your years till now learning to fit in, ....But, today we honor your differences. They have determined your futures. (Ch.7)

The new Twelves are called one-by-one according to their birth order; then they are given their Assignments, their roles in the community which they will perform for the rest of their lives. The Twelves are assigned roles in the community that the Elders have chosen for them, based upon their observations of each child. After this ceremony age is no longer important, and birthdays are no longer celebrated.

Why was the United Kingdom not willing to be a member nation of the European Union?

This is a complicated issue, but generally, there were three factors, I think.  First, there was a belief in the United Kingdom (UK) that membership in the European Union (EU) was costing the UK money best spent at home, second, there was a misunderstanding about how the EU operated such that some people in the UK believed that they had no representation in the EU's functioning, and third, there has been a rising nationalism rooted in xenophobia in the UK (and other countries), which has been strongly exacerbated by all of the people who are fleeing their war-torn countries and heading for Europe. 

Last year, the UK gave the EU far more than it received back from the EU in benefits, approximately 8.5 billion pounds.  The UK could have used that money for many other government functions, for its national health service, for instance, or for its social safety net.  There was a great deal of resentment on the part of many people in the UK, particularly those who were not doing well financially, and the thought of "subsidizing" other peoples did not sit well with them, a kind of "Charity begins at home" mentality. This might not seem too unreasonable, but the stability and security of the UK is certainly dependent to a large degree on a stable Europe, so draining off that sum of money annually could create problems that would affect the UK. 

As evidenced by the fact that millions of UK people Googled to find out more about the EU (after they had already voted on "Brexit"), many people in the UK believed that the EU had some sort of ruling body that citizens from the UK had no say in choosing.  The fact is that representatives to the EU are elected by their respective countries, so this objection was based on a complete misunderstanding. Nevertheless, this misunderstanding seemed to resonate more strongly than the facts, so this formed another reason to want to leave. 

Immigration that many believe allows terrorists into the EU countries has played a significant role in the UK's wanting to leave, immigration that has nurtured an increase in nationalism and a dislike or even hatred of "foreigners." One of the whole points of an EU was that people could come and go across borders freely, such that in the long run, it would be one big happy family in that part of the world, with ancient enmities dissolving in the mix.  Right now, though, many European countries are overrun with fleeing immigrants, because of the war in Syria, because of ISIS, and because for many people in that part of the world, life is hell.  These people have cultures and religions usually significantly different from those of the western world.  Assimilation has not been smooth.  And the refugees need a great deal of help from the EU countries.  Add to that mix the fact that these people are coming from areas with a terrorist presence, and it is easy to see that anyone even slightly nationalistic and slightly xenophobic is unlikely to be feeling hospitable.  In the opinion of those people, the only way for the UK to really control this problem is to leave the EU. 

I do not want to imply that all of the reasons that people in the UK wanted to leave the EU were unreasonable, but it does seem to me that few people did enough investigation into the situation, to see if their reasons were based in fact or in rabble-roused opinions, and it seems fairly clear now that the vote has been taken, there is a great deal of buyer's remorse. 

What are great books for a 10th grader to read?

It depends to a large extent on the student. Students have a wide range of interests and of reading skills. Students often enjoy stories featuring people of their own age, and thus Lord of the Flies, To Kill a Mockingbird, or The Catcher in the Rye are often included on reading lists.

Students interested in science can enjoy H. G. Wells, Jules Verne, and works such as 1984 or Brave New World. For students in the United States, reading works set in other cultures such as the Arabian Nights, Things Fall Apart, or even the travel and animal-collecting stories of Gerald Durrell can open up new worlds. Traditional epics, such as the Homeric poems and Beowulf, seem also to be popular, though they work best for the more advanced readers in this age group. Many collections of myth, legends, and fairy tales can also be of interest; the Norse sagas will appeal to those students who have enjoyed recent movies and comics based on them. Shorter fables and fairy tales might work well for less advanced students.

History books, especially local histories or stories of Native American culture, can also spark interesting discussions.

Give me some samples of questions that come in exams.

I am going to assume that you mean science exams because the question is in the science category. Unfortunately the question doesn't specify which branch of science the exam questions should focus on. Here are some questions that might appear in a basic physics course exam.

1. Acceleration of an object

     a. decreases as the mass of the object increases.

     b. increases as the force on the object increases.

    c. is in the same direction as the force on the object.

    d. All of the above

2. A ball is dropped from a rooftop. What is the ball's velocity after 3 seconds? (Assume that there is no air resistance.)

       a. 0 m/s        

       b. 9.8 m/s

       c. 19.6 m/s

       d. 29.4 m/s

3. Newton's Third Law of Motion states that if a force is exerted on an object, another force occurs that

      a. is equal in size and opposite in direction.

      b. is in the same direction and size.

      c. is equal in speed and opposite in direction.

      d. is in the same direction and speed.

4. Explain the difference between mechanical advantage and mechanical efficiency.

5.  A dock worker lifts a 375N crate a distance of .5m over his head in 2.3 seconds.  How much work did he do?  What was his power output?

How did the banker and the lawyer strike the bet in "The Bet" by Anton Chekhov?

In "The Bet," the lawyer and the banker strike their "senseless" bet at a dinner party which was hosted by the banker fifteen years prior to the start of the story. The banker and his guests were discussing the death penalty and whether it is more humane to kill a man or sentence him to life imprisonment. The banker and lawyer have contrasting opinions on this topic: the banker thinks it is more humane to kill a man, while the lawyer says it is better to "live anyhow than not at all."

At this point, the banker, being a "spoilt and frivolous" man, offers the lawyer two million rubles to stay in solitary confinement for five years. The lawyer, tempted by such a high amount of money, immediately accepts the bet and extends the term of solitary confinement from five to fifteen years. Evidently, both men are keen to prove themselves right and to profit from the wager. The banker sees this as an opportunity to enhance his reputation, while the lawyer stands to profit from the bet financially. This is how the "senseless" bet comes to be.

How is sexuality performed in drama? How might this performance differ in a play as opposed to a novel? Examine how seduction is written into the...

The experience of seeing a play performed as compared to reading a novel is summed up by the idea that reading text is usually visualized in the reader's mind; but drama bring that vision to life in a live performance. Reading a novel is usually a solitary experience, so we as readers have our own singular interpretation.

A play's performance allows an audience member to see another person's interpretation of the text. The director interprets the playwright's words, but the actors also give their interpretations of characters. Sexuality may be contextualized in the lines of a play on the page, but sex can also be conveyed in a stage performance with body language, physical gestures and facial expressions.

An intimate play like The Glass Menagerie (which only has four characters) owes much of its dramatic potential to individual performances; and how each character portrays sexuality is a part of that. The main example of seduction that occurs is in Jim O'Connor's decision to compliment Laura, to tell her she's pretty, to ask her to dance, and to kiss her. We learn she has liked him since their school days, and so his behavior has a deep impact on her. But Jim is not romantically interested in Laura and is in fact engaged to another girl. He seems to think he is "bringing her out of her shell" but in his efforts to awaken her romantic feelings, he insures she will remain alone and sad.

The performance of this crucial scene relies to some extent on the underlying potential for sexual contact between these characters, the ultimate expression of physical romantic intimacy. But it seems clear this will never happen; and so one strong theme of the play is unsatisfied sexual tension.

Compare and contrast the industrial organization (I/O) and resource-based views (RBV) on competitive advantage.1. How does each develop a...

1. How does each develop a competitive advantage?

Industrial organizational (I/O) views develop a competitive advantage through marketplace analysis and internal organizational adaptation. I/O models are continually changing their internal constructs to compete with a changing external market. Resource-based views are less changeable, as they focus on building a unique and profitable enterprise from the inside out. By comparison, I/O organizations are built from the outside in. I/O models compete by responding while RBV models compete by managing internal resources.

2. What is the focus of each view?

The I/O model focuses on environmental analysis through opportunities and threats. For example, an I/O model might assess a new strategy in terms of the opportunity for profit and the threat of loss it presents.

The RBV focuses on organizing a company according to its strengths and weaknesses. This model takes a thorough account of all resources the company currently possesses, making it highly internal in focus.

3. What are their determinants of profitability?

The I/O model provides above-average returns with a determinant of probability that focuses on the company's external environment. Internal skills are then developed to meet the demands of the external environment. Success in this last step is the primary determinant of profitability in an I/O model.

The primary determinant of profitability for a resource-based model is the number of quality resources the firm possesses. If the firm or company's strengths outweigh its weaknesses, it will be profitable. If the weaknesses outweigh or outnumber the company's strengths, the company will not be profitable. The uniqueness of the company's resources is also a strong determinant of its competitiveness in any given market.

Based on his response to the Cyclops, what can be inferred about Odysseus?

In the ninth book of Homer's Odyssey, Odysseus tells the Cyclops that his name is Noman. 

‘Cyclops, you ask my name and I will tell it you; give me, therefore, the present you promised me; my name is Noman; this is what my father and mother and my friends have always called me.’

This is an example of the keen intelligence for which Odysseus was noted. It was Odysseus who reputedly thought of the idea of building a wooden horse to enable some Greek soldiers to get inside Troy and open the gates for the entire army. This led to victory in the Trojan War after many years of siege. Odysseus knows he cannot trust Cyclops and that his life as well as the lives of all his followers are in extreme danger. He actually has the foresight to anticipate that Polyphemus will be calling his fellow Cyclopes for help after he had blinded him. This turns out to be the case, but when the other one-eyed giants ask what is troubling him, Cyclops shows he has fallen for Odysseus' trick.

“But Polyphemus shouted to them from inside the cave, ‘Noman is killing me by fraud; no man is killing me by force.’"

Because the blinded Polyphemus is left to deal with Odysseus and his men all by himself, most of them manage to escape from his cave. So Odysseus not only had the intelligence to get Polyphemus drunk and to put out his single eye with a heated stake, but he also had the foresight to realize that Polyphemus would asks the other one-eyed giants to help him and that he would have to find some way to escape from the cave when the only exit was blocked by an huge boulder. Odysseus knows that the giant will have to remove the boulder next morning to let his sheep out. He thinks of the ploy of having his men get out with the sheep by hiding them underneath the enormous sheep.

"There was to be a man under the middle sheep, and the two on either side were to cover him, so that there were three sheep to each man. As for myself there was a ram finer than any of the others, so I caught hold of him by the back, ensconced myself in the thick wool under his belly, and hung on patiently to his fleece, face upwards, keeping a firm hold on it all the time."

The blind giant felt each sheep as it passed outside, but he did not touch any of the men, including Odysseus, who were clinging to the thick wool underneath the animals. In addition to displaying Odysseus' cunning and foresight, the episode exemplifies his great courage.

When was the War of 1812?

The War of 1812 was caused by tensions between Great Britain and the newly established United States of America.  These tensions primarily had to do with international trade.  The official declaration of war came from the United States Congress.  The United States officially went to war against Great Britain on June 18th, 1812.  At the time, James Madison was president.  He remained president during the entire duration of the war.  The official end of the War of 1812 was February 18th, 1815.

During the war, both the United States and Great Britain fought with allied Native American tribes.  Today, the war is famous as being the inspiration for "The Star Spangled Banner."  It was also during the War of 1812 that Dolley Madison rescued the famous portrait of George Washington from the attacking British troops.

Why did Islam become the sole religion of the Arabs shortly after Muhammad’s death in 632? What was it about the tenets of Islam that appealed to...

The first issue you should address in studying this is the distinction between faith in a modern sense, which has an element of fervent personal belief, and a more pragmatic ancient sense of "worship" as an outward conformity to the religion of a ruler. While Jews, Christians, and Muslims now have a sense of faith in which outward gestures of worship such as offering sacrifices (or even a pinch of incense) to a deity depended on some degree of deep conviction of the deity's existence and worthiness, in pagan societies, belief systems were much more fluid, admitting the existence of many different gods and taking a fairly pragmatic view of the value of worshiping (i.e. offering prayers and sacrifices) to any gods that might be useful. In the early stages of Islam, acceptance of the religion by pagans in conquered territory did not necessarily require any unique appeal of the belief system, but merely a pragmatic view that participating in the ceremonies of a religion mandated by local rulers was a sensible life choice. In general, conversion gradually followed conquest.

The spread of Islam was in part due to a power vacuum in the Arabian peninsula that resulted when the Persian and Byzantine empires focused on fighting one another. Abu Bakr, as the first Caliph, focused on subduing and uniting the Arabs under the banner of Islam. He succeeded in part due to two factors, wide support among the wealthy merchant classes, and a previous lack of unity among the tribes. Islam became a way for Arabs to unite and express cultural cohesion and identity. The philosophy of jihad also allowed this sense of unity and religious belief to express itself in the desire for conquest. Finally, Islam, with its clearly defined membership, gave fragmented societies a way to develop a sense of participation in a broader and more powerful community. Rather than nomads existing on the fringes of civilization (the great empires nearby), the Arabs, through conversion to Islam, gained a powerful identity of their own. 

Describe the relationship between Sebastian and Antonio in Twelfth Night.

Antonio looks after Sebastian.  He really cares about Sebastian, and wants to protect him.  This is why he stays in Illyria even though his legal history is such that he really should not be seen around there.

Antonio seems to think that since he rescued Sebastian from the shipwreck he should continue to look after him.

SEBASTIAN

O good Antonio, forgive me your trouble.

ANTONIO

If you will not murder me for my love, let me be
your servant.

SEBASTIAN

If you will not undo what you have done, that is,
kill him whom you have recovered, desire it not. … (Act 2, Scene 1)

Antonio gives Sebastian his purse to hold.  They agree to meet up later.  It is all fairly innocent except there is the one problem.  Antonio is a wanted man in Illyria. 

Sebastian ends up in the same place as his twin sister, by chance, having no idea that she is alive or that she is pretending to be a man.  When Cesario/Viola is dueling with Sir Andrew, Antonio steps in.  He feels that helping Sebastian is the right thing to do, since Sebastian is his friend.  Then he gets arrested for his past deeds.

Antonio asks Sebastian for his purse.  Cesario refuses.  Antonio is very upset.  He has been an excellent friend to Sebastian, and in his time of need, Sebastian turns on him and refuses to give him his own money!  Cesario/Viola is confused, offering to give what little money he/she has.

ANTONIO

I must entreat of you some of that money.

VIOLA

What money, sir?
...

ANTONIO

Will you deny me now?

Is't possible that my deserts to you
Can lack persuasion? … (Act 3, Scene 4)

In the end, they get it straightened out that these two are twins, and that Antonio actually gave his purse to one twin and asked for it back from the other.  However, he was still able to offer a valuable service to Viola when he intervened for her in the duel, thinking he was helping Sebastian.  Therefore, he was a friend to both twins.

What is the main conflict and resolution in A Single Shard?

A Single Shard is set in a small village in Korea in the 12th century. The story centers around Tree-ear, a young orphan who lives under a bridge with an old man named Crane-man.

There are, in my view, two main conflicts in this story. The first conflict revolves around Tree-ear's desire to learn how to be a potter.

Min is a potter in their area who creates very fine pottery. Often, Tree-ear surreptitiously watches Min at work, and develops a fantasy of learning how to spin clay like Min can. As a homeless orphan, Tree-ear has practically no way to make this dream come true. One day, he enters Min's yard when no one is around to take a surreptitiously take a closer look at the pottery. He accidentally breaks an expensive piece of pottery, and agrees to work for a furious Min to pay off the debt. After he pays off his debt, he begins to work for Min in exchange for food from Min's wife. Tree-ear hopes that Min will teach him how to become a potter, but when he asks him, Min tells him that the craft is only passed down from father to son.

The second conflict occurs when a royal emissary comes to town to find a potter for a royal commission. Min produces good enough work to merit consideration from the emissary over the other potters in town. However, what the emissary really wants to see Min produce is a revolutionary form of inlay that one of the other potters in town had just created (and received a royal commission for). So Min and Tree-ear go to work to produce vases with the new inlay before the emissary leaves the next day. Due to truly bad luck and no one's fault, the vases all misfire in the kiln, ruining the batch. Fortunately, the emissary understands. He tells Min that if he brings a good sample of his work to the capital, he will consider him for a commission. However, Min is too old to go himself. Out of gratitude for the kindness Min and his wife have shown him and Crane-man, Tree-ear offers to go to the capital in his stead with two precious vases.

What occurs on the journey is the second conflict of the book. While traveling, Tree-ear is robbed by two thieves. When they see that he only has two expensive vases that they can't sell without raising suspicion, they are infuriated. In spiteful rage, they break the vases. Can you imagine how crushed Tree-ear felt? After an entire journey, he had nothing left to show for his efforts. With a last shred of hope, he finds a single shard of pottery on the ground that clearly shows the fine inlay. He brings it to to the capital and finds the royal emissary, successfully procuring the commission. The conflict here was partially internal—Tree-ear felt that all hope was lost. What was the point of struggling to reach the capital if his efforts there might not pay off anyway? But he persevered, and achieved what he came to do.

The first conflict I detailed earlier (Tree-ear's desire to learn the pottery trade) is resolved at the end of the book. Tree-ear returns home elated to share the good news with Min. When he finds Min, he is devastated to find out from him that Crane-man died in an accident in Tree-ear's absence. Min offers to adopt him, and teach him how to be a potter. With his feelings a cocktail of loss and hope for the future, Tree-ear joins Min's household as a son.

Why is it important that the study of behaviour be systematic?

People in general are both consciously and unconsciously students of behavior. We all observe and make judgements about what we see others do. From that, we attempt to interpret their actions and predict what they might do under different circumstances. Because we spend so much time doing this, we tend to make generalizations about other people and their behavior based on our observations. This can be something which negatively affects our ability to understand why people do what they do. That is to say, it influences the development of certain beliefs that fail to help us explain the behavior of others.

A systematic approach to the study of behavior would help us to eliminate the tendency to base our understanding of behavior off of our own intuition. It assumes that there is an underlying pattern to human behavior and that it is not random. This approach to studying behavior will improve our knowledge of facts and form a base from which to make more accurate predictions about behavior. People are not all alike; they have different beliefs and they act according to what they believe to be in their best interest. Through systematic study, we can look at relationships, cause and effect, and scientific evidence that we can then base our conclusions on. 

In a systematic study, data is gathered under controlled conditions, which allow us to control for variables, of which there are many when we are talking about individual people. When we attempt to use our intuition or "gut" to predict the actions or behavior of individual people, we fail to take into account the underlying consistencies that make it easier to accurately predict an outcome. By using a systematic approach, we can interpret data in a more rigorous manner. 

In "How to Talk to Girls at Parties," what do you think Vic sees at the end of the story that upset him so much?

Throughout the story "How to Talk to Girls at Parties," there's a hint that the women at the party are not exactly women— or even human. This idea is foreshadowed early in the story and then the narrator, Enn, explains his run-in with these non-human "women" at the party. This is why we can guess as to what Vic means when he says, "She wasn't a—"

In the story, Enn explains his trouble talking to girls. He says that while Vic could get away with not actually talking to girls because he's good looking, Enn "did not know what to say to girls." The entire story is Enn trying to talk to girls. The first girl he speaks to is named "Wain Wain" and oddly says after a long speech, "Soon I must return to Wain, and tell her all I have seen. All my impressions of the place of yours." The next girl he speaks to calls herself a tourist and that on her last tour she "went to sun, and we swam in sunfire pools with the whales." Finally, the last girl Enn speaks to at the party is named Triolet and she calls herself a poem. She says about her people,

There are places that we are welcomed. . . and places where we are regarded as a noxious weed, or as a disease, something immediately to be quarantined and elimated. But where does contagion end and art begin?

After Triolet recites a poem in Enn's ear, Vic comes into the kitchen in a panic and says they need to leave. When they leave, Enn looks back and sees Stella, who is staring at them. Enn's description of Stella is interesting and explains these non-women:

Her clothes were in disarray, and there was makeup smudged across her face, and her eye—

You wouldn't want to make a universe angry. I bet an angry universe would look at you with eyes like that.

All of these clues lead to only one conclusion: Stella, who Vic was with upstairs, was not human. This frightens him so much that he ends up "sobbing in the street, as unselfconsciously and heartbreakingly as a little boy."

How old is Leigh Botts in Beverly Cleary's Dear Mr. Henshaw?

Beverly Cleary's story in Dear Mr. Henshaw begins when Leigh Botts is younger; however, most of the story spans his whole sixth-grade year, which places his age at about 11 or 12 throughout most of the book.

In the second letter Leigh writes to the author Mr. Henshaw, dated December 3rd, Leigh reminds Mr. Henshaw of a letter Leigh wrote the year before in the second grade. Leigh's second-grade teacher had read Ways to Amuse a Dog to the class, and Leigh liked the book so much that he wrote to the author. Therefore, we know the story opens when Leigh is in the second grade, which makes him about 6 or 7 years old. In the next three letters, Leigh transitions from the third grade to the fourth grade to the fifth grade and writes to tell Mr. Henshaw about class assignments he completed on Ways to Amuse a Dog.

In the letter dated September 20th, we learn Leigh is now in the sixth grade and must write a report on an author, so he writes to Mr. Henshaw to ask him interview questions. We also learn Leigh is now at a "new school in a different town." Along with Mr. Henshaw's answers to Leigh's questions, which come too late for Leigh to include them in his report, Mr. Henshaw asks a list of questions he wants Leigh to answer to get to know him better. The rest of the story is told based on Leigh's diary entries and answers to Mr. Henshaw's questions throughout his sixth-grade year. For example, in one of Leigh's replies, we learn Leigh "used to live in a mobile home outside of Bakersfield," but his parents recently divorced, so his parents sold the home ("November 22"). In the letter dated November 24th, we learn that, after the divorce, he and his mother moved into a very small, run-down cottage in Pacific Grove, California, where Leigh spends his sixth-grade year and stays through the remainder of the book.

How does Achilles act in the Underworld?

Odysseus' meeting with Achilles in the Underworld is perhaps my favorite part of The Odyssey, as it's one of the most thought-provoking moments in the poem. When Odysseus meets Achilles during his visit to the Underworld, the ghost of Achilles tells the king of Ithaca that death is terrible. In fact, Achilles says, he would rather be a living, breathing, normal person than a famous but dead hero. 

This moment is intriguing because Achilles specifically chose a short but glorious life in favor of a long but unremarkable one. Getting what he wished for, Achilles became renowned as the greatest warrior who ever lived, but he also died on the battlefield at Troy. As such, it would appear that Achilles regrets his decision, and that he specifically regrets his decision to value fame and glory over all else. Thus, when Odysseus sees Achilles in the Underworld, the ghostly warrior seems to question the whole enterprise of yearning for a mythological reputation. This notion seems to undermine the whole point of epic poetry (which essentially celebrates the larger-than-life deeds of heroes), and so it serves as a surprisingly subversive philosophical point. Perhaps, Homer seems to suggest, it would be better to avoid idealizing the blustering heroes of The Iliad and The Odyssey, as the life of epic poetry is not as glamorous as it seems.

With regards to Anthropology, what is the difference between the sciences and humanities and how are they interrelated?

Anthropology is a field of study which bridges the interesting gap between the sciences and the humanities. The study of humankind falls into the realm of "social science," or even "soft science," as opposed to what we might call the "hard sciences." The hard sciences are those like chemistry, geology, and biology, where knowledge is gained through rigorous observation and testing. Observation and testing take place in Anthropology as well, but here the results are far less predictable or standardized. The social science of Anthropology is markedly different from something like chemistry because humans introduce so many new variables to any situation. 

In the early days of Anthropology, many natural scientists were interested in learning about people from faraway locations or obtaining exotic artifacts. As Anthropology developed surrounding archaeological digs and intercultural relations, many early anthropologists wanted their studies to resemble the hard sciences. Unfortunately, much of the early study, measurement, and classification of peoples that took place was motivated by racist sentiment. Even today, some people attempt to use antiquated anthropological theories regarding race relations and "natural dispositions." As time and both the soft and hard sciences have progressed, the focus of anthropology passed through a phase of discovering what all people have in common. Though some anthropologists focus on this today, this question has been satisfactorily answered for many, so we turn our attentions towards trying to figure out when we humans came into existence. 

I don't want to be too reductive-- Anthropology covers a wide variety of interests! An anthropologist may study food, emotions, dance, language, gender, sexuality, home building, medicine and health, even how people throw out their trash! What all anthropologists have in common is that they try to incorporate the best of the hard and soft sciences into their studies. The hard sciences offer a quantitative perspective, meaning that an anthropologist may take concrete measurements for their studies. At the same time, the anthropologist considers the qualitative perspective-- why is their subject of study important? Sometimes, we phrase this in terms of the etic (measured by outsider) perspective and the emic (insider reasoning) perspective. Both are important parts of a holistic anthropological approach. 

As an example, a nutritional anthropologist who studies food practices might choose to learn more about how and why food is allocated in a family unit. In some parts of the world, the largest and best portions of food at meals go to the adult males, rather than dividing portions equally among family members. In the quantitative etic perspective, an anthropologist might note that an adult male eats 200g of meat per day, while children and women receive far less. Taking a concrete measurement like this offers insight into the kind of nutrition family members are receiving, but it doesn't tell us why the adult males get more meat. The qualitative emic perspective considers why it is important to families to give more meat to adult males. Perhaps the adult males perform physical labor and need more energy for their work. Perhaps there is a long-standing tradition of feeding fathers the best portions as a sign of respect. There are many possibilities and many variables! Even in two cultures which have similar practices of food allocation within families, their inside reasoning may be quite different. This is why it's so important for every anthropologist to incorporate the emic into their studies. 

How does the setting affect the story in L’Engle’s A Wrinkle in Time?

A Wrinkle in Time takes place on different planets in the universe, including Earth, Uriel, Camazotz, and others. The setting affects the story because it allows the writer to comment on the way humans live on Earth. In the story, the characters' travels through space allow them to see the dark shadow that represents evil. By traveling through the universe, Meg, Charles Wallace, and Calvin gain perspective on the greater forces alive in the universe and on Earth's place in the universe. For example, Uriel, a planet on which they land to rest, is a tranquil paradise with "a garden even more beautiful than anything in a dream" (page 64). Uriel represents a better world than what is present on Earth. On the other hand, Camazotz, where Meg's father is being held, is a place filled with people who act like automatons and where an entity called "CENTRAL central intelligence" controls their minds. By setting the story on different fictional planets, L'Engle can contrast these worlds with Earth and comment on our own society. 

Where does the Nile begin? Where does it run to?

The Nile river is the longest river in the world.  It measures about 4,160 miles in total length, and it travels through a total of ten different countries.  It ends its incredibly long journey in the Mediterranean Sea.  A bit before that though, the Nile splits into two separate branches.  Those branches are the Rosetta and the Damietta, and both of them flow into the Mediterranean Sea. 

As for where the Nile begins, there is not a single location.  There are two starting locations because the Nile has two main tributaries.  The White Nile begins at Lake Victoria in East Africa, and the Blue Nile begins at Lake Tana in Ethiopia. Those two tributaries eventually merge in Khartoum which is the capital city of Sudan.

If the father is A- and mother is A+ then what will the child's blood group be?

The phenotype of type A blood can be produced by the following genotypes-- homozygous AA or heterozygous AO. Since the gene for A is dominant to O, the combination of AO will still result in a person with type A blood. Since we only know the parents blood type is A, if each parent is AA, then the offspring will be type A also. However, if each is type A with the genotype of AO, there is a 1 in 4 chance of producing a child with type O blood. The phenotype of O is produced when two O genes are inherited by the child.

Because the father has Rh negative blood, the only genotype that will produce that phenotype is two Rh negative genes. This is a recessive trait.

The mother has Rh positive blood. This can be produced by either two Rh positive genes, or one Rh positive and one Rh negative gene. Therefore, in this couple, if the father is (--) and the mother is (++), the child will be heterozygous but Rh positive(+-). Or, another possibility is that if the mother is heterozygous (+-) and the father is (--), the offspring will have a 50% chance of being Rh positive (+ ) and a 50% chance of being Rh negative ( -).

If we take into account the blood type and the Rh factor, the offspring of this couple can be type A or O and Rh positive or negative. 

How can I better understand The Merchant of Venice?

To help you better understand Shakespeare's The Merchant of Venice, here is a quick explanation of some of the basic aspects of the text: 

The basic plot of the play revolves around the characters Antonio, Bassanio, Shylock, and Portia. Bassanio asks Antonio for financial help in his quest to woo the wealthy Portia, and Antonio secures a loan from the Jewish moneylender Shylock to help Bassanio. Bassanio wins Portia's love, but Antonio gets into money troubles when he can't pay back Shylock's loan, and he faces the prospect of sacrificing a pound of flesh to the moneylender. Portia saves the day when she shows up in disguise to Antonio's trial in Venice and finds a loophole that prevents Shylock from exacting his revenge. The play ends with weddings, restored fortunes, and Shylock's humiliation.

The play is often referred to as one of Shakespeare's "problem plays." In many ways, it can be seen as a comedy in the older sense of the word (there's a happy ending, with the good characters ending the narrative by marrying and seeing their fortunes restored). The play also deals with some pretty serious themes, however, some of which are not fully resolved. The idea of religious conflict and oppression is probably the most significant of these themes. For instance, while Shylock is undoubtedly the villain of the play, he's also written to fit the anti-Semitic stereotypes of Shakespeare's day. Moreover, he's oppressed by the supposed "heroes" of the play, including the theoretically "virtuous" Antonio. As such, Shylock's end can be seen in some ways as tragic, as his vengeful attitude is a result of the oppression he faces at the hands of his Christian neighbors.

In short, while Merchant can be seen as a comedy, it's also wrestling with deeper, darker themes than a classic comedy normally does, and this fact makes it a tough play to understand.

Describe the relationship between the Native Americans and the English settlers at Jamestown.

The relationship between the Native Americans and the settlers at Jamestown was a mixed one. When the settlers first arrived, the Native Americans weren’t happy. They had a previous experience with the Spanish that was negative. Thus, they attacked the settlers when they first arrived.

However, the relationship eventually improved. The Native Americans offered the settlers food, and they were hospitable toward them. There was some trade between the settlers and the Native Americans.

Eventually, the Native Americans began to believe that the English were no different than the Spanish. There were times when the English forcibly took food from the Native Americans when they couldn’t reach a trade agreement with them. The Native Americans also realized that the settlers intended to stay and generally wouldn’t marry the Native American women. The settlers also weren’t as hospitable toward the Native Americans as the Native Americans were toward them. As a result, the Native Americans began attacking the settlers again. They destroyed their crops and livestock. The settlers responded with attacks against the Native Americans. As the settlement expanded, the people began to take more land from the Native Americans. This also created more bad feelings between the sides. As a result, there generally was a hostile relationship between the Native Americans and the settlers.

 

Who looks sad, dejected, and worried? What does Salerio say about Antonio's sadness?

In the opening scene of the play, Antonio tells Salerio that he is very depressed, worried, and tired. Salerio comments that Antonio is feeling upset because his merchant ships are out on the treacherous sea where he risks losing much of his wealth. However, Salerio doesn't blame Antonio for feeling depressed and dejected because he understands that if his precious ship Andrew were in similar danger, he would be reminded of his potential loss everywhere he went. Salerio mentions that he couldn't imagine the stress that Antonio is under and is sure that Antonio is lamenting about his merchant ships. Despite Salerio's sensible assumption as to why Antonio is depressed, Antonio reassures Salerio that he is not worried about his merchandise because his investments are not all on one ship.

How would you explain the title Trifles with regard to the investigation of the murder in the play?

In regards to the investigation taking place in the play, the so-called "trifles" to which Mr. Hale refers to in the play would be the unimportant details that women presumably love to think about right in the middle of something bigger, more important, and more influential. 

This is the view of the males in the play, anyway. 

SHERIFF: Well, can you beat the women! Held for murder and worryin' about her preserves.

COUNTY ATTORNEY: I guess before we're through she may have something more serious than preserves to worry about.

HALE: Well, women are used to worrying over trifles.

The fact that Mrs. Hale and Mrs. Peters were concerned with Minnie Wright's preserves had less to do with the preserves, and more to do with them wanting to help a fellow woman comply with her duties as a housewife, which was her primary role. The men, however, saw it as a two women who were completely unconcerned with what really mattered. 

The play continues in the same fashion, and following the same pattern where the women would divert their attention to a detail that goes unseen by the men only to realize that such detail is vital to the overall timeline of events of the fateful night when Minnie kills her husband. 

There were:

• the disarrayed stitching- a "trifle" which clearly shows the state of mind of Minnie before the killing


• the empty canary cage- another "trifle" that entails that her only companion was no longer with her.


• the box where the dead canary was found- a "trifle" that points at the motive of the crime. John Wright wrung the bird's neck to spite Minnie, and she snapped after years of abuse. 


• the messy state of the house- another symbol of Minnie's state of mind 

To the men, these things were signs of bad housewifery. To the women, these seemingly small items meant exactly what they did...if one is smart enough to put them in context.