Some readers interpret this story as a comment on the misuse of technology. Which quotation from the story best supports this interpretation?

On one of his nightly walks, Leonard Mead begins to wonder what is going on in the dark houses he passes each night.  He says it is like walking through a graveyard and that the people cast “phantom” shadows on the walls of their home caused by the illumination of the television sets they are watching.  He ponders what the people are doing in the following quotes.

“Hello in there”, he whispered to every house on every side as he moved.  “What’s up tonight on Channel 4, Channel 7, Channel 9?  Where are the cowboys rushing and do I see the United States Cavalry over the next hill to the rescue?”

“What is it now?” he asked the houses, noticing on his wrist watch.  “Eight-thirty P.M.?  Time of a dozen assorted murders?  A quiz? A revue? A comedian falling off the stage?”

“In ten years of walking by night or day, for thousands of miles, he had never met another person walking, not once in all that time.”

These quotes suggest that the people in this society are so obsessed with being entertained and watching TV cowboy shows (popular in the 50’s when the book was written), quiz shows, and comedies that they have ceased to live life.  They stay in their homes like ghosts watching programs and TV and don’t enjoy life.  They don’t even participate in a simple walk at night.  Technology has definitely taken over their lives, and it has gotten so out of control that Leonard Mead is considered insane for not conforming to this zombie-like past time of the people in this society.

What were some short term and long term impacts of the Industrial Revolution?

One of the short term impacts of the Industrial Revolution was that jobs that were formerly done by skilled craftsmen and women working at least somewhat autonomously were increasingly done by less-skilled workers, using machines, in a far more disciplined factory setting. Weaving, for example, was a craft that carried considerable prestige in England until the early nineteenth century, when new inventions made it possible to mechanize the process. This led to the outbreak of a series of violent protests led by disaffected weavers known popularly as "Luddites." Over time, industry after industry witnessed a process known as "proletarianization," as formerly autonomous workers and small farmers were drawn into factories by economic forces largely beyond their control. This process happened quite quickly, and was not, as the Luddite example suggests, uncontested by workers. 

One long term effect of the Industrial Revolution is still with us today. The Industrial Revolution was founded on carbon-based energy--first coal, then petroleum products. The effect of burning these fossil fuels is only now becoming evident to us. The consensus of climate scientists is that human activity that began with the Industrial Revolution has led to climate change--"global warming." We are only beginning to understand the impacts of this development that is a direct consequence of the Industrial Revolution.

Each period of the periodic table begins with an element from which family?

Periods of the periodic table are the horizontal rows. Families, which are also called groups, are the vertical columns. Properties of elements increase or decrease moving across a period and tend to be similar within a family.

Each period begins with an element in Group 1, called the alkali metals.

The alkali metals are lithium, sodium, potassium, rubidium, cesium and francium. They share the properties of being soft, malleable solids with low densities and low melting points compared to other metallic elements. They react violently with water to produce hydrogen gas and hydroxide ion, a base. Reactivity of the alkali metals increases going down the group, and as a group they're the most reactive of the metals. The alkali metals have one valence electron which is lost in chemical reactions, forming a 1+ ion. The results in ionic compounds such as NaCl, LiF and K2O.

In Julius Caesar, how has Brutus been feeling at the beginning of the play and how does this open the door for Cassius to draw him into his plot?

Cassius is the first to notice that Brutus is in a perturbed state and comments on his mood in Act 1, scene 2:

Brutus, I do observe you now of late:
I have not from your eyes that gentleness
And show of love as I was wont to have:
You bear too stubborn and too strange a hand
Over your friend that loves you.

Brutus replies:

Cassius,
Be not deceived: if I have veil'd my look,
I turn the trouble of my countenance
Merely upon myself. Vexed I am
Of late with passions of some difference,
Conceptions only proper to myself,
Which give some soil perhaps to my behaviors;...

...Nor construe any further my neglect,
Than that poor Brutus, with himself at war,
Forgets the shows of love to other men.

Cassius believes that Brutus has an issue with him but Brutus assures him that although he is troubled, it is an issue that he has to resolve within himself. He is, in essence, in a quarrel with himself and has, therefore, forgotten to show courtesy to others.

Cassius perceives that Brutus is disturbed and thus easy fodder for his manipulation. He apologises for being wrong and immediately starts complimenting him, softening him up. He, for example, mentions that many esteemed Romans except Caesar have wished that Brutus could see himself through their eyes, suggesting that they see much good in him, something that he can't quite seem to quite notice himself. 

It is apparent that Cassius wants to paint a negative image of Caesar early in their conversation because he wishes to later ask Brutus to join his conspiracy. He mocks the general by referring to him as 'immortal' and saying that Caesar is not one of those who see the good in Brutus. Brutus, though, is aware of what Cassius is attempting and asks him:

Into what dangers would you lead me, Cassius,
That you would have me seek into myself
For that which is not in me

Cassius then mentions that he will hold a mirror to Brutus and inform him about his inner goodness and that if Brutus should know him as a mere flatterer who later turns against those whom he complimented, then he should see him as dangerous. He is clearly attempting to manipulate Brutus.  

When they hear shouting and Brutus expresses fear that the populace wishes to choose Caesar as king, Cassius pounces and asks if Brutus fears it and he suggests that, therefore, he does not welcome it. Brutus agrees and wants to know what Cassius wants of him. He asks if what Cassius is getting at is for the general good then he could offer him both honour and death and he would be indifferent to both. He further mentions that he loves honour more than he fears death. This means that he is prepared to sacrifice his life for the honour and good of Rome.

Cassius knows that Brutus is ready for his suggestion of a plot and he goes into a long discussion about Caesar's weaknesses, contrasting his frailty with their strengths. He expresses fear that Caesar might abuse his power if he should gain more status. He ends his entreaty with another flattering comment about Brutus:

O, you and I have heard our fathers say,
There was a Brutus once that would have brook'd
The eternal devil to keep his state in Rome
As easily as a king.

Brutus retorts by saying that he will consider what Cassius has said, but asks him not too work himself up too much. He gives him the following instruction:

...my noble friend, chew upon this:
Brutus had rather be a villager
Than to repute himself a son of Rome
Under these hard conditions as this time
Is like to lay upon us.

Brutus is evidently not prepared to allow Rome to fall under 'hard conditions,' as he calls it, that may ensue if Caesar should become its emperor. Thus the scene is laid for the conspiracy to progress and plot its bloody mischief. 

How does Jem develop empathy and tolerance when he witnesses the Tom Robinson trial in Harper Lee's To Kill a Mockingbird?

In Harper Lee's To Kill a Mockingbird, at first, witnessing Tom Robinson's trial, especially hearing the verdict after seeing that all of the evidence points to Robinson's innocence, only serves to make Jem bitterly angry, angry to the point of tears. However, as he continues to work through his feelings, Jem develops a better understanding of people that shows he has developed a sense of empathy and tolerance. Jem's sense of empathy and tolerance can especially be seen towards the end of Chapter 23.

In Chapter 23, Scout's announcement that she plans to invite her schoolmate Walter Cunningham home for lunch once school starts up draws some very bitter comments from her Aunt Alexandra. Aunt Alexandra denies Scout permission to invite Walter home, saying that the Cunninghams are "not our kind of folks" and even going so far as to call Walter "trash." Aunt Alexandra's comments make Scout so angry that she wants to attack her aunt and bursts into tears. Jem takes his sister into his care and tries to console her. While consoling her, Jem explains some new revelations he has acquired about people.

As he explains to Scout, when he was younger, Jem used to think the same thing as Scout--that all people were the same. However, witnessing the prejudice that caused an innocent man to be convicted and sentenced to death has led Jem to try and develop some new conclusions about people. As Jem explains to Scout, he has become forced to ask himself the question, "If [people] are all alike, why do they go out of their way to despise each other?" (Ch. 23). Jem further explains to Scout that people in different social classes have different education levels, and it's lack of education that breeds hatred.

Seeing that all people have differences in education allows Jem to look compassionately at all people--he sees that they cannot help what they do due to their education levels. For this reason, he is even able to view his aunt with compassion and empathize with her disdain for others. He empathizes with her because he agrees that the Finches are, luckily, more educated than people like the Cunninghams and the Ewells, and that education level places the Finches in a greater, more important position in society. Yet, Jem also sees his aunt as being less educated than Atticus; therefore, he understands why his aunt is able to show less tolerance of others than Atticus--she can't help it. Hence, because Jem has developed this newfound understanding that people cannot always help what they do due to education levels, he is able hear his aunt speak negatively of others without being angered, whereas Scout is still very much angered by it. His ability to hear his aunt speak out against people shows he has developed a sense of compassion and empathy he is able to extend to even his aunt.

What effect does the anonymity have on the people who receive Miss Strangeworth's letters?

Miss Strangeworth's anonymous letters seem intended to create the impression in the recipients' minds that the matter is common knowledge and that one member of the community has decided to take the initiative in bringing it to the recipients' attention out of kindness. A good example of such a letter is the one she sends to Mrs.Harper.

After thinking for a minute, she decided that she would like to write another letter, perhaps to go to Mrs. Harper, to follow up the ones she had already mailed. She selected a green sheet this time and wrote quickly: Have you found out yet what they were all laughing about after you left the bridge club on Thursday? Or is the wife really the last one to know?

This letter suggests that Mrs. Harper's husband is having an adulterous relationship with some woman in the community. It is ingenious because it can make Mrs. Harper suspicious of her husband and also of many women, including her own friends, who might be involved with him. The above extract shows that Miss Strangeworth is probably sending multiple letters to the same individual or to the same household. This could enhance the fears and suspicions, because the recipients would be living in dread of receiving future letters containing more bad news.

Miss Strangeworth does not think she is tormenting people but warning them of the possibility of evil in their lives. However, she is probably secretly enjoying being able to create painful feelings while remaining completely anonymous and invisible. In other words, she is concerned about evil in other people but is evil herself. The theme of the story might be found in a familiar passage from the New Testament.

3 And why beholdest thou the mote that is in thy brother's eye, but considerest not the beam that is in thine own eye?

4 Or how wilt thou say to thy brother, Let me pull out the mote out of thine eye; and, behold, a beam is in thine own eye?

5 Thou hypocrite, first cast out the beam out of thine own eye; and then shalt thou see clearly to cast out the mote out of thy brother's eye.

                                                   Matthew 7:3-5 (King James Version)

Judging from the violent retribution teken by Don Crane in destroying all of Miss Strangeworth's prize roses, she has sent either him or his wife more than one letter. They may have made him and his young wife feel anxious before, but when he receives another one and accidentally finds out who wrote it, he becomes enraged. That is why Miss Strangeworth's letters have to be anonymous. Everybody thinks she is a nice, sweet old lady, but they would all hate her if they knew what she was doing.

The effect of Miss Strangeworth's letters is that they come from a public-spirited person speaking for the community as a whole about subjects well known to the community. This has a ring of truth because Miss Strangeworth thinks of herself as representing her community for the dommunity's best interests.

What techniques does the author use to establish mood in various scenes in "The Scarlet Ibis"?

Mood is the way the reader feels while reading the story and the author's word choice, portrayal of imagery and descriptive language all help to create it. First, Hurst's chooses to open his story with words and phrases associated with nature and death, such as: "summer was dead," "rotting brown magnolia petals," "the last graveyard flowers were blooming," and "speaking softly the names of our dead." These examples all seem to create a mood of death and gloom as the narrator notices such things and chooses to point them out for the reader.

Next, imagery is the presentation of mental images using one or more of the five senses. Hurst uses many concrete, visual images to create an intense and depressing mood in the following passage:

"There is within me (and with sadness I have watched it in others) a knot of cruelty borne by the stream of love, much as our blood sometimes bears the seed of our destruction, and at times I was mean to Doodle. One day I took him up to the barn loft and showed him his casket, telling him how we all had believed he would die. It was covered with a film of Paris green sprinkled to kill the rats, and screech owls had built a nest inside it."

The above passage makes the scene feel disgusting and creepy seeing a baby's casket "sprinkled" with powdered poison and an owl's nest inside. It's also very depressing and sad.

Finally, the use of descriptive language not only encompasses imagery, but figures of speech as well. Hurst uses similes and metaphors to help drive home the feeling of gloom and doom behind the idea he is presenting. For example, when Brother tells about Doodle's real name, he compares it to a kite:

"They named him William Armstrong, which was like tying a big tail on a small kite. Such a name sounds good only on a tombstone."

The connection between Doodle's real name and the kite helps the reader to feel the discrepancy between a big name for a little boy to live up to. And the possibility of Doodle's death makes the name seem too big for the boy to ever completely grasp with a long or eventful life. Then Brother ties the name to a tombstone which leaves no question as to the boy's eventual doom and a feeling of sadness dominates the scene.

What are three examples of imagery in Acts I-II of Julius Caesar?

Like in all of his writing, Shakespeare uses a plethora of figurative language to bring Julius Caesar to life for audiences orally, as well as physically on the stage. Imagery specifically refers to how people interact with the world using their five senses. Any words or phrases that describe how something feels, smells, sounds, looks, or tastes is imagery, from the crisp cinnamon-scented air, to the dandelions that tickle my ankles as I run through a field. As with all figurative language, the purpose of imagery is to bring a scene to life with just words, making audiences feel as though they are in the world of the story. 

Some examples from the play include:

1. In Act 1, Scene 1, Marullus chastises tradesmen who are out on the street awaiting Caesar's return. Marullus is angry that the tradesmen are disloyal to Pompey, who previously co-ruled with Caesar and whose sons Caesar has just defeated. Marullus recalls a past when the commoners used to celebrate Pompey as much as they are now celebrating Caesar: 

   "And when you saw [Pompey's] chariot but appear,
   Have you not made universal shout
   That Tiber trembled underneath her banks,
   To hear the replication of your sounds
   Made in her concave shores?"

   The imagery Marullus is using suggests the strength of the commoners' passion for Pompey – so much that their cheering caused the Tiber river itself to tremble. 



2. In the second scene of Act 1, Cassius uses figurative language to describe the changes he has seen in Brutus's personality and countenance lately, saying:

   "Brutus, I do observe you now of late:
   I have not from your eyes that gentleness
   And show of love as I was wont to have:
   You bear too stubborn and too strange a hand
   Over your friend that loves you."

   Cassius's descriptive imagery of Brutus's eyes that lack gentleness is just the beginning of a conversation that showcases Cassius's attempts to manipulate Brutus in to joining the conspirators. 



3. Another instance of imagery occurs later in that conversation, as Cassius tells Brutus about a fever Caesar had while they were in Spain:

   "And when the fit was on him, I did mark
   How he did shake: 'tis true, this god did shake;
   His coward lips did from their color fly,
   And that same eye whose bend doth awe the world
   Did lose his lustre: I did hear him groan"

   Here Cassius is using dramatic imagery to paint a picture of a weak, pathetic Caesar for Brutus. Cassius wants to convince Brutus that Caesar is unfit to rule Rome, and is using figurative language to help him do it. 

What did McCandless do when he returned to the U.S.?

This question is potentially huge, because I believe that you are referring to McCandless's return to the United States after paddling his canoe into Mexico. The reason the answer could be huge is because that event happened early in McCandless's wanderings. I would like to limit my answer to what McCandless did soon after coming back to the United States.  

For the first night back in the United States (January 18), McCandless spent the night in jail for attempting to re-enter the country without an ID. During the next six weeks, McCandless wandered aimlessly. He went as far east as Houston and as far west as the Pacific Ocean. His journal states that he got a job and an ID in Los Angeles sometime during late January or early February. By February 9, McCandless was camping at the bottom of the Grand Canyon. Then, on February 27, McCandless arrived in Las Vegas. He lived with other vagrants in Las Vegas until May 10. Then he left the city and went back to his wandering. 

On May 10, itchy feet returned and Alex left his job in Vegas, retrieved his backpack, and hit the road again,. . . 

Why does Jamie’s family need to leave Shanghai?

Empire of the Sun by J. G. Ballard tells the story of experiences in China after its invasion by the Japanese during World War II.  It is very closely based on Ballard's own experiences at that time.

The main character is a boy, Jamie Graham, who is enrolled in school in the prestigious  Shanghai International Settlement.  His family is an upper-class British family who is used to a decadent life of entitlement.

After the bombing of Pearl Harbor, the invasion of surrounding countries by Japanese soldiers finds the Graham family in need of leaving their opulent home and surrendering to the lifestyle of refugees.

Unfortunately, Jamie is separated from his parents during their hasty departure. He returns to the house hoping that his mother, at least, will return and ferry him away to safety.  However, that is not the outcome that awaits him.

What is an explanation of the cause of the feud between the families of Ulrich von Gadwitz and George Znaeym?

Despite a court ruling, the Znaeyms have never accepted the judgment that a particular strip of forestland is no longer theirs, and is, instead, the property of the von Gradwitz family.

The feud that has locked the families of von Gradwitz and Znaeym for generations began over a particular strip of woodland belonging to the von Gradwitz family that was wrested from the unlawful possession of the Znaeym family in a famous lawsuit. However, the Znaeym family has never relented in their claim that the land belongs to them. As a result, the von Gradwitz family has continued to vehemently accuse their foes of poaching on their woodland. In fact, these quarrels have embittered the two families for three generations. Now, with Ulrich von Gradwitz as the head of his family, the quarrels have become extremely personal between him and his boyhood enemy Georg Znaeym, whom he views as "a tireless game snatcher and raider of the disputed border forest." Certainly, the vitriolic hatred between these two men has perpetuated the feud.

...as boys they had thirsted for one another's blood, as men each prayed that misfortune might fall on the other....

Therefore, each night that the wildlife might be moving about, von Gradwitz and his men patrol this famous strip of woodland in the hopes of ensnaring the poachers.

What central theme is reflected by the lessons Candide has learned? How does this theme help Voltaire achieve his purpose for writing?

Voltaire's aim in Candide is to disprove the philosopher Leibniz's optimism. This held that our world is the best of all possible worlds and also suggests that any tragedies in this world in some way work toward some greater good. Voltaire believed there was simply too much corruption, hardship, and tragedy in the world around him to justify such a positive perspective. In Candide, Voltaire has his title character travel across continents and experience the foibles of multiple societies in order to prove that this "best of all possible worlds" simply does not exist.

Pangloss, the young Candide's tutor and thus his only source of education, is meant as a caricature of Leibniz. Throughout the novel, Pangloss repeats his belief that we live in the best of all possible worlds, regardless of circumstances that seem to show quite the opposite. Pangloss himself suffers tremendously and sees others die and suffer needlessly, but he blindly repeats his philosophy independent of those events. Candide, for a time, also repeats this philosophy, but he eventually matures a bit through both what he witnesses firsthand and through his exposure to another philosopher, Martin, who is a pessimist (but in the world of the novel, seems to have a much more reasonable take on the world than does Pangloss). At the end of the novel, Pangloss is still spouting his theory, but Candide has changed his tune: he now only wants to "tend the garden," believing that productive work in the only way to function in this nonsensically violent and corrupt world. Candide learns that "the best of all possible worlds" does not exist, so it may be best to avoid the outside world as much as possible. 

How is the setting used to explore the theme of prejudice?

The setting of the novel To Kill a Mockingbird takes place in a small town in Alabama during the 1930's. During this period, Jim Crow laws were enforced to segregate African Americans and Caucasians throughout the South. Jim Crow laws restricted many civil rights by mandating that African Americans use separate public facilities. Racism was prevalent throughout the white population during this period, and discrimination against African Americans was commonplace. African Americans occupied the bottom rung of society and were treated with contempt by the majority of the population. Harper Lee chooses the fictional town of Maycomb to explore the theme of prejudice by creating characters who hold views similar to those of real Southern citizens following the period of Reconstruction. This setting allowed Harper Lee to devise situations that illuminate the Southern prejudice of the 1930's. Maycomb is an isolated, nostalgic country town that is resistant to change. Community members reminisce about the Confederacy and hold racist views. African American's rights were not fully realized until the passing of the Civil Rights Act in 1964. Harper Lee distinctly chose an instrumental time period and place to present the important precursor to the Civil Rights movement.

At the beginning of the third stave, how does Scrooge know he should open the door and enter the other room?

Early in the third stave, while Scrooge is waiting for the arrival of the next ghost, he sees a bright light shining. It look as though this light is coming from the "adjoining room" so Scrooge gets up and walks over to the door. As he put his hand on the lock, he hears a strange voice and call his name and tell him to enter the room. Scrooge obeys and this leads to his meeting with the Ghost of Christmas Present. 

Given Scrooge's nature, it seems odd that he would obey the ghost's request and open the door. This is, perhaps, evidence that Scrooge's character is starting to change and that he is beginning to work with people, instead of fighting against them. It also suggests, then, that he is committed to this process of change and has become a willing participant in his own reformation. 

I am writing a final essay about Germany and need some details on the following question: There is strong evidence that Germany has a stable,...

An authoritarian government is one not answerable to the will of the people, as a democratic government is. Authoritarian governments, which usually take the form of dictatorships, place severe restrictions on civil liberties, including speech, press, and others. They allow no real criticism or debate, and often use state police and intelligence organizations to discipline and punish offenses against the state, which are often held to be treasonous. The totalitarian government of Nazi Germany under Adolf Hitler is one of the most extreme examples of authoritarianism. Hitler's regime was based on terror and violence, and it used radio and other techniques to push itself into the lives of its subjects. While by definition anti-democratic, plenty of other authoritarian states have not been as brutal, ruthless, and aggressive as Nazi Germany, however. It is also the case that the type of a government is best understood on a continuum--some democratic governments are more authoritarian than others. That said, the disadvantages to this style of government should be clear. Not only does it not protect the liberties of the people, but it is to some extent founded on its opposition to these liberties. While people may favor the order they provide in some chaotic circumstances, the brutality with which many authoritarian systems impose order often defeat the purpose.

So it is a matter of debate whether Germany could return to an authoritarian government. Someone who argued that this was possible could point out that Germany had basically no history of democratic government before World War II, with the weak and ineffectual Weimar Republic quickly succumbing to authoritarianism. Authoritarian governments usually rise to power in response to crises, and there are of course no guarantees that some financial or political crisis could not inch Germany in the direction of authoritarianism. However, German government today is firmly democratic, and its culture has come to place a high value on tolerance. Germany has a relatively healthy social welfare system that is broadly supported by most of its people, and it seems unlikely at this point that it would take serious steps toward authoritarianism. 

The Louisiana Purchase had great geographic significance for the United States because it ______?

There are a number of possible answers to this question.  Given the way you have worded the question, it appears that you are probably expected to give one specific answer, probably from your book.  Therefore, I suggest that you check your book in addition to reading this answer.

One possible answer is that the Louisiana Purchase increased the size of the United States tremendously.  In fact, the land area of the US was roughly doubled by the purchase.  This was significant because it made the US so much bigger and included so much more land that was full of resources within the country.

A second possible answer is that it helped make the US more secure.  Before the purchase, a foreign country could conceivably have colonized North America as far east as the Mississippi River.  This could have put a hostile country on what is now the border of Illinois or Kentucky. By purchasing Louisiana, the US ensured that any foreign presence on the North American continent would be farther away from the main US population centers.

A final possible answer is that the purchase made the interior of the US much more economically viable by assuring US access to the Mississippi River.  In those days, it was very hard to move goods by land so most long-distance transportation was by water.  The farmers of the interior had to rely on water transport to get their goods to market. If the US did not own the Mississippi River, a foreign country could block Americans from using that river, thus cutting the interior off from the ocean. The Louisiana Purchase, then, was important because it secured the economic viability of the American interior.

One of these answers is most likely the one you are asked to provide.  I suggest that you consult your book to find out which one your teacher wants to see.

A ball is allowed to fall a height of 15 m. Calculate the velocity with which it strikes the ground. To what height will the ball re-bounced if it...

Hello!

The speed of a falling ball is `g*t`  downwards, where g is the gravity acceleration. The height of a falling ball is

`H(t)=H_0-g(t^2)/(2),`

where `H_0` is the initial height.

A ball strikes the ground when H(t)=0, so

`t_1=sqrt((2H_0)/g),`

and the speed will be `V_1=t_1g=sqrt(2H_0g) approx 17(m/s).` This is the answer to the first part.

The kinetic energy before the strike is `mV_1^2/2,` at the end of the re-bouncing it will be zero. The change of the potential energy will be `mgH_1` , where `H_1` is the maximum height after the re-bouncing. So

`mgH_1=0.4m(V_1)^2/2,` or

`H_1=0.4(V_1)^2/(2g)=0.4H_0=6(m).`

This is the answer for the second part.

That said, the first part could be solved quickier using energy considerations (potential energy becomes kinetic), and the second - considering the potential energy before the fall :)

About 95 percent of the world’s population lives outside the united State, but many U.S. companies, especially small businesses, still do not...

Most companies around the world are not involved in international trade.

There are two basic reasons for this; one is rational, the other less so.

The rational reason is trade costs. It can be expensive to set up the sort of logistics and distribution networks that are necessary to get involved in world trade. Particularly for very small businesses, these costs could be prohibitive. In fact, many very small businesses only work with customers over a very narrow geographical area (such as within the same city, or even the same neighborhood) because expanding beyond that is so costly.

The less-rational reason is home bias. There is a well-documented bias in trade patterns around the world, which has been called the home bias in trade puzzle. Most countries only trade a small portion of their economy, and trade most with countries that are nearby and very similar to them. With modern distribution networks, it's implausible that trade costs are actually that high, especially for large corporations; and worse, comparative advantage should be largest with countries that are more different, not countries that are more similar.

Behavioral economics gives us some insight into this problem. The best evidence we have so far suggests that people basically identify more with those who are more similar to them, as well as those whom they have more contact with---for example Americans identify most of all with Americans, and to a lesser extent with Canadians and Europeans, and much less so with people in China or India. People are more comfortable trading with people they identify with, and are more willing to trust them (and remember, almost all transactions require some degree of trust). As a result, most trade happens between countries that are very similar to each other, because those are the countries people feel most comfortable trading with. Even if there would be economic advantages to trading with unfamiliar countries, people are simply less willing to try it.

Who was the informant on Montag's home?

In Part III, Montag finds himself at his house with Beatty and the firemen. Beatty is lecturing him and places him under arrest. Montag supposes that Mildred saw him hide the books in the garden. Finally, he asks Beatty if it was Mildred who turned him in and signaled the alarm. Beatty nods that she did, but adds that Mildred's friends turned him in first. Beatty scolds him again for quoting poetry "free and easy like that." This shows the extent of repressed freedom in this society. Montag could not even quote poetry in his own home. His mistake was doing so in front of Millie's friends.  

Recall that in the previous section, Montag decided to have a more meaningful discussion with Millie's friends. First, he brings up politics. Then poetry comes up and Montag reads "Dover Beach" by Matthew Arnold. In this poem, the speaker talks about how the world is changing and how the future could be wide open and wondrous. Millie's friends are overcome with emotion and don't know how to handle it. Montag is trying to get them to feel something real, rather than the passive pacification they get from the parlour shows. To drive his point home, Montag particularly scolds Mrs. Bowles, trying to make her think about the real emotional experiences from her real life: 

Go home and think of your first husband divorced and your second husband killed in a jet and your third husband blowing his brains out, go home and think of the dozen abortions you've had, go home and think of that and your damn Caesarian sections, too, and your children who hate your guts! Go home and think how it all happened and what did you ever do to stop it? 

It is quite possible that Mrs. Bowles turned him in after this tirade. 

What made Mr. Otis write a letter to Mr. Canterville informing him that the ghost had gone away ?

In Chapter Four of "The Canterville Ghost," Mr Otis writes a letter to Lord Canterville in which he conveys his family's belief "that the ghost has gone away." The Otises believe this because they have not seen the ghost on his "nocturnal expeditions" for some time. 

What Mr Otis does not realise, however, is that the ghost is simply in hiding. He has been humiliated and defeated by the Otises at every turn. On his last appearance, for example, the ghost was making his way to the library to check on the blood stain when the twins leapt out at him, "waving their hands wildly" and shouted "Boo!" The ghost ran away in the direction of the staircase, only to find Washington Otis waiting for him with a large "garden syringe." The ghost, "hemmed in all sides" was forced to retreat into a fireplace and the incident left him feeling in a "terrible state of dirt, disorder, and despair."

The ghost thus felt unable to fulfill his duty of scaring the residents of Canterville Chase. This prompts him to remain in hiding, for fear of another assault by the Otises. Of course, the ghost is still at Canterville Chase, unbeknownst to the family, and is simply nursing his wounded pride. He will only leave Canterville Chase when the prophecy is fulfilled and he receives redemption for his sins. 

What did Aunt Alexandra tell Scout?

Aunt Alexandra has numerous conversations with Scout throughout the novel, and they are typically regarding Scout's attire or her 'tomboy' lifestyle.

In Chapter 9, Scout comments that Alexandra was fanatical regarding her attire. Scout says that Alexandra told her,

"I could not possibly hope to be a lady if I wore breeches; when I said I could nothing in a dress, she said I wasn't supposed to be doing things that required pants." (Lee 108)

Aunt Alexandra is the quintessential Southern Bell and believes that a female should wear dresses, stay inside the house, and socialize with other women. She is austere and follows the strict gender roles of the Antebellum Period. Her views on femininity often clash with Scout's personality as she attempts to teach Scout how to become a "model young lady."

In Chapter 23, Scout wants to play with Walter Cunningham. Aunt Alexandra tells her that she cannot invite Walter over to the house. When Scout asks why she can't play with Walter, Alexandra says,

"Because---he---is---trash, that's why you can't play with him. I'll not have you around him, picking up his habits and learning Lord-knows-what." (Lee 301)

Scout mentions that Aunt Alexandra is also obsessed with heredity. Alexandra comes from a wealthier family and believes that Scout should not play with people from lower social classes. Alexandra displays her prejudiced beliefs by forbidding Scout to play with her friend, Walter Cunningham. But Scout was raised to respect individuals regardless of their age, race, religion, gender, or social class.

Explain why Animal Farm is considered to be an example of satire.

Satire is a genre of literature that mocks people, organizations, and society, often in a humorous way, and often with the goal of improving the world at large. Animal Farm is an excellent example of this. The characters in this play are an allegory of the failed communist revolution in in Soviet Union. It shows the hypocrisy of the pigs, who overthrow the humans only to become even worse themselves. This mimics the communists leaders, who overthrew the oppressive Tsar only to become equally or more oppressive themselves. Many moments in story are perfect representations of this revolution, such as the rise of Napoleon's resemblance to the rise of Joseph Stalin. It is also, however, a wider look at the nature of oppressive politics and the pitfalls of communism. It aims to persuade the reader to reconsider his or her political and social opinions and take a more more astute look at leaders' promises of a better world.

Who is the father of the victim in the story "The Ransom of Red Chief"?

The kidnappers needed two thousand dollars to pull off a dishonest scheme they had planned in the Western Illinois.  They figured an easy way to get the money was to kidnap the child of a prominent citizen of Summit.  They would demand a two thousand dollar ransom, and get the money easily.  They chose the only child of a mortgage and foreclosure financier named Ebenezer Dorset.  The man was older, the child was his only child, and the child was ten years old, so he would be easy to handle. Because he was an only child, the kidnappers felt that Ebenezer would

“…… melt down for a ransom of two thousand dollars to the cent” (pg 1)

However, Ebenezer was not that easy.  He knew his child was a living terror.  He negotiated a settlement with the kidnappers in which he would take the child back if the kidnappers paid him two hundred and fifty dollars.  They capitulated eagerly. 

What is the relationship between Nelly and Catherine Earnshaw like in Wuthering Heights from chapter 11 to when Catherine dies?

From chapter 11 until Catherine's death, Nelly and Catherine have a strained relationship, characterized by Nelly turning against Catherine. Nelly, by her own testimony, has been alarmed by Heathcliff's return. As Nelly explains at the end of chapter 10, her heart "cleaved to the master's," ie. to Edgar Linton. She doesn't trust Catherine's principles or emotions. She wants Heathcliff to go away, calling his presence "a continual nightmare." She feels "an evil beast [Heathcliff] prowled," and so she feels justified in interfering in events. She is angry at Catherine for encouraging Heathcliff.

After Edgar and Heathcliff have a confrontation, Catherine insists a "thousand smith's hammers are beating in my head!" She wants Nelly to tell Edgar that she, Catherine, is in danger of being "seriously ill." Nelly doesn't believe her and doesn't pass on the message. When Edgar visits Catherine soon after, and she passes out, Nelly whispers to Edgar that Catherine simply wants to manipulate him. As Catherine gets sicker and sicker over the next three days, Nelly still doesn't tell Edgar. When he finally sees Catherine, who by this time is losing her mind, he's shocked at "haggardness" of her appearance, he scolds Nelly for her withholding. 

Nelly, angered that she is being blamed when she thinks the whole fault is Catherine's, tells Edgar that Heathcliff has been paying visits, at which point Catherine calls her a "traitor." 

When Catherine is dying, Nelly, at Heathcliff's insistence, acts as a go-between, arranging for the two to meet one last time. At the same time, when Catherine once again faints after her visit from Heathcliff, Nelly thinks that it would be better for everyone "that she [Catherine] should be dead, than a lingering burden and a misery-maker."

Although Nelly does her best to justify her behavior, we wonder whether she didn't hasten Catherine's death by refusing to communicate how ill she had become. Her hostility to Catherine also leads readers to question if Catherine is quite the selfish, aggressive person Nelly makes her out to be. Nelly, through her own words, shows herself to be hard-hearted and lacking in compassion toward her mistress. 

Which of the following is false about writing academic essays? A) The content should be general and focus on summary B) Topic sentences should...

A is, indeed, the correct answer.

Because an essay is a rather short work, it will not be general. It also does not summarize works; instead, it has a specific purpose. Here are main purposes of an essay:

•  to inform about various topics


•  to persuade readers to certain viewpoints or actions


•  to explain a process or situation


•  to entertain readers

Essays also conform to a specific, not general, structure. They do not summarize.

• Essays have an introductory paragraph that contains a motivator or hook relevant to the main purpose of the essay. 
  This introduction contains a thesis statement. This is the main idea of the essay, and this thesis statement  is a single idea, and is a precise opinion. This thesis statement contains a "blueprint" of the rest of the essay. The blueprint is the pattern that the essay will follow. Blueprints can answer "Why?" "How?"and  "When?"

• 
  Topic sentences are formed from the blueprint of the essay. These begin the main body paragraphs of the essay.


• A conclusion restates the main points introduced in the blueprint and developed in the body. It also has a "clincher" sentence that invites thought about the content of the essay as it concludes ideas.
  Therefore, a conclusion reminds the reader of the main point (thesis) of the essay, and it provides the reader a sense of finality.

Why did Caroline move into a new apartment building before April arrived?

Caroline is April's grandmother. When April lived with her mother, she had visited her grandmother in a different apartment--a one-bedroom apartment. When April comes to stay with Caroline because her mother, Dorothea, is "on tour," Caroline has moved into a different apartment building, the Casa Rosada. It is a rather old-fashioned building, which to April is much more appealing than the "tiny supermodern apartment" Caroline had lived in before. The reason Caroline moved is so that April could have her own bedroom. This perturbs April because she doesn't think she'll be staying long enough with Caroline to need a room of her own. April's mother had told her she'd only be staying with her grandmother "for a little while." The fact that Caroline moved to a larger apartment in order to accommodate April foreshadows that April will be staying there longer than Dorothea has told her daughter, which turns out to be the case. Readers understand that Dorothea had probably told Caroline something different than she told April. This foreshadows to readers that Dorothea is not honest with April and doesn't really want to have April back with her anytime soon. 

What are some adjectives that describe Julius Caesar?

Julius Caesar, who was born in Rome in 100 BC, is best known as a Roman general and statesman who helped establish the Roman Empire. Based on the details we know about Caesar's life, some of the adjectives that might be apt to describe him include:

Ambitious: Caesar made a specific effort to align with Rome's nobility as a young man. This early effort set the tone for the power he would obtain during the rest of his life.

Shrewd: When Caesar was kidnapped by pirates seeking ransom, he convinced them that they should be asking for more. When Caesar sent his associates to gather the additional money, he also had them organize a counter-attack. Caesar got his money back and saw to the execution of the pirates.

Impatient: As a general, Caesar was well known as an individual who would make a decision and go with it—even if this meant moving forward more quickly than his supply lines. This sometimes was a detriment to military maneuvers.

Who accompanies the great sculptor's (Harvey Merrick) body? (Not his name but his relationship to Harvey)

Henry Steavens, an apprentice and great admirer of the sculptor Harvey Merrick, accompanies the body of his mentor to the small Kansas town of Merrick's youth.

When the train carrying Merrick in his casket and Steavens arrives at the depot, there are a group of men waiting. None of these men, who engage in meaningless small talk, seem to Steavens to resemble Merrick at all. Later, after he arrives at the home of the Merricks, Steavens is amazed at the histrionics of the tall, corpulent mother, who rushes from the house, flinging herself upon the coffin, wailing, "My boy, my boy! And this is how you've come home to me!" and, then, suddenly calm, she addresses the mortician, telling him the parlor has been made ready.

It is after observing the mother, father, and sister of Harvey Merrick and the petty, materialistic townsmen, that Steavens begins to understand the meaning of that wry smile that the introverted Merrick possessed.

How does Henry change throughout Gary D. Schmidt's novel Trouble?

Henry changes in Gary D. Schmidt's Trouble by realizing his father's philosophy about trouble is all wrong. While growing up, Mr. Smith taught his family the principle, "If you build your house far enough away from Trouble, then Trouble will never find you" (p. 6). However, by the time Henry, Chay, and Sanborn are attacked by two fishermen at the base of Katahdin in Chapter 22, Henry has come to realize his father is all wrong; instead, "[y]ou have to live where Trouble is" (p. 264).

In saying the above, Henry means that you have to be willing to embrace trouble in order to do what's right. He also means that you can only make a difference in the world if you embrace trouble, not shy away from it.

Henry has two realizations the night the fishermen approach their camp that help him understand the need to embrace trouble. First, he comes to realize exactly how much Chay has suffered for having innocently fallen in love with an American girl, Henry's sister Louisa. If Chay had not wrongly been driven out of his home for having fallen in love with Louisa, Chay would not have run away, heading north; would not have encounteredthe two fishermen who were Vietnam War veterans in the chowder house in Portland, Maine; and would not have been wrongly attacked by the two fishermen, who mistook him for Vietnamese. In other words, Chay would not have encountered even more trouble as a consequence of having been made to suffer for falling in love. Henry's realization that so many wrongs have been heaped upon Chay help Henry reach his second realization, that Chay is innocent of Franklin's death since his death was only an accident. Because Henry sees Chay's innocence, he is able to see that Chay deserves to be defended against the unjust trouble the fishermen are bringing Chay in wanting to attack him. In being one of the first to take a stand and defend Chay against trouble, Henry is able to make a difference in Chay's life.

What question did Gilmer ask Heck Tate?

Mr. Gilmer asks Heck Tate to describe the scene that he saw at Bob Ewell’s house the night Ewell called to report Mayella Ewell’s rape. 

Heck Tate is the sheriff in Maycomb.  He testified at the trial of Tom Robinson, a black man accused of raping a white woman named Mayella Ewell.  Mr. Gilmer was the prosecutor, meaning that his job was the convince the jury that Tom Robinson was guilty.  Atticus Finch’s job was to convince them that Robinson was innocent. 

Mr. Gilmer asks Heck Tate to describe who called him. 

Mr. Tate said, “I was fetched by Bob—by Mr. Bob Ewell yonder, one night—”

“What night, sir?”

Mr. Tate said, “It was the night of November twenty-first. … Mr. Ewell came in, very excited he was, and said get out to his house quick, some nigger’d raped his girl.” (Ch. 17) 

He also asks Mr. Tate to describe what he found.  He describes how he found Mayella Ewell lying on the floor beaten up.  When he asked her who hurt her, she said it was Tom Robinson.  The judge, Mr. Taylor, expected Atticus to object to this testimony, but he did not, so Tate continued. 

“—asked her if he beat her like that, she said yes he had. Asked her if he took advantage of her and she said yes he did. So I went down to Robinson’s house and brought him back. She identified him as the one, so I took him in. That’s all there was to it.” (Ch. 17) 

After a witness testifies, the defense attorney can cross-examine the witness.  Atticus asks Sheriff Tate, whom he knows well, if he called for a doctor.  He establishes that no one has called for a doctor.   Atticus also asks him to describe her injuries in detail, including where the injuries were on her face.

How much energy do the most productive stars make?

We use the Stefan-Boltzmann law to calculate the total power output of a star. The law states the following for a black body (an idealized object in physics that absorbs all incoming light):

`Power = \sigma A T^4` 

Where `sigma` is a constant, A is the surface area of the black body and T its temperature. Since luminosity is proportional to the power output of a star, all we have to do is look for the most luminous stars in the universe.

Doing a quick search, we can find a list of such stars (in the references). In the first place is the star R136a1 with a power output of around 1.73x10³³ Watts! This is around 10^7 times the power output of the Sun! In second place is M33-013406.63, with a power output of around 1.612x10³¹ Watts (this value seems to be associated with a high uncertainty, so it could be even higher than it seems)!

So the most productive stars in the universe produce around 10³² Joules per second! For comparison, humans use a total of 10^20 Joules per year! So, in less than a second, those stars would produce enough energy to power all human activities for a year!

How does Kit feel about William in the beginning of The Witch of Blackbird Pond?

Kit Tyler's relationship to William Ashby is a complex one that initially operates around the social and socioeconomic customs of the time. Before we dive into this relationship, it's important to remember that Kit's experience of Puritan New England requires significant adjustment on her part after leaving behind her luxurious life in Barbados. Kit--who was used to the privileges that came with financial security in a non-religious environment--must entirely change her lifestyle, from learning how to dress pragmatically and modestly to becoming used to doing her own chores. Thus, when William--the wealthiest unmarried man in Wethersfield--shows interest in her, she chooses to be open to the courtship. Although she does not find William to be an interesting suitor or one with which she could develop any true romance, she does consider marrying him for the social and financial perks that he could provide: an elevation from her average station in life, a reprieve from physical labor, and a chance to regain some aspects of the lifestyle she had lived in Barbados.

Ultimately, Kit does not end up with William (a smart move after he abandons her when she is put on trial for being a witch!), but her evaluation of him as a potential husband is still a reasonable and significant component of her character's growth over the course of the novel. 

I'm having trouble with a synthesis question. The sentence given is: The wall was beautifully decorated. It made my day. The synthesized answer...

The beautiful decorated wall made my day would be fine, as a sentence, if you added a comma after beautiful.  However, in this situation it is unnecessary to change the adverb into an adjective when synthesizing this sentence.  If you choose to do so, I would recommend keeping the word decorated, in order to maintain all the major elements of the original sentences.

A better option would be to maintain all elements of the original phrases exactly as they are.  This means that instead of changing “beautifully” to “beautiful,” you should maintain the adverbial form.  So, instead of eliminating the –ly and having The beautiful, decorated wall made my day, you can get rid of the confusion by keeping the –ly:  The beautifully decorated wall made my day.  By doing this, there is no possibility of deleting “decorated” in the first place, because the adverb must modify a verb or adjective.  It cannot modify wall, which is a noun, and so you would need to keep the adjective decorated to have the sentence make sense.

In Romeo and Juliet, what is Romeo's mood? How does this contrast to the opening scene of the play?

Romeo's mood would be difficult to pin down.  As Romeo is given to very strong emotions (and can, likewise, be described as both emotional and passionate), his mood vacillates wildly throughout the play.  At times, he is brooding and incredibly low.  His mood prior to the Capulet party, for example, when he longs to see Rosaline, is sullen and sad.  On the other hand, on the occasion of meeting Juliet, Romeo soars to new emotional heights and a near-euphoric mood.  He plunges headlong into despair once more after he kills Tybalt and is subsequently banished from Verona.  And on it goes -- from peak to valley with little emotion in between -- throughout the play.

One contrast we can make with the opening scene, however, is that Romeo is not necessarily violent.  While the opening scene is full of fighting, Romeo is more of a lover than a fighter.  While he does ultimately kill Tybalt, he is motivated only by revenge and by a sense of honor to avenge Mercutio's death.  One does not sense that Romeo would have otherwise committed murder.

In economics, when is the buyer said to have demand for a good?

In economics, the amount of a good or service that customers will purchase is called demand. Demand is not only the consumer's desire to own but also their ability to purchase the item. For this reason, price plays a significant role in the demand for a product. When the price of a good is higher, people may be less willing to buy the product. Additionally, a larger group of people may not be able to afford to purchase at a higher price. For this reason, high prices mean lower demand for a good or service.

For some products, the price does not have an effect on demand. These goods are said to have inelastic demand. Gasoline is an example because it is a commodity that is so important to the consumer that demand will not be affected at higher prices.

A truck is traveling at a constant velocity of 20m s^-1 (72 km.h^-1) when the driver sees a child 50 m in front of him, on the road. He hits the...

Speed of the truck = 20 m/s

distance to the child = 50 m

Acceleration = -1.25 m/s^2

Reaction time = 0.5 s

During the 0.5 seconds, that the driver takes to hit the brakes, the truck will travel 10 m ( = 20 m/s x 0.5 sec).

Using the equation of motion, relating initial and final velocity, acceleration and distance traveled: v^2 = u^2 + 2as

we can calculate the distance traveled by assuming final velocity to be zero.

thus, s = (v^2 - u^2)/2a = -(20x20)/(2x-1.25) = 160 m.

Thus, the truck will travel a total distance of 170 m (= 10 m + 160 m) before it stops. Since the child is only 50 m in front of the truck, the truck will (unfortunately) hit the child, before it stops.

Hope this helps. 

How does the reader reaction to Brutus's death in Julius Caesar?

Brutus killed himself when Antony and Octavius’s armies were moving in on him.

Brutus died an honorable death, by Roman standards.  Rather than allow himself to be captured, he killed himself.  Suicide was considered a noble alternative to being paraded through Rome in a triumph.  When all seemed lost, Brutus took his life. 

Antony makes very celebratory comments about Brutus when they find his body.

This was the noblest Roman of them all:
All the conspirators save only he
Did that they did in envy of great Caesar;
He only, in a general honest thought
And common good to all, made one of them.
His life was gentle, and the elements
So mix'd in him that Nature might stand up
And say to all the world 'This was a man!' (Act 5, Scene 5)

Why did Antony consider Brutus so noble?  Unlike some of the other conspirators, Brutus did what he did for the good of Rome.  He did not desire power or wealth.  He was already an important senator and from a rich family.  There was nothing ambitious about Brutus.  He took part in the conspiracy to kill Caesar because he thought that Caesar was a tyrant.

Brutus often acted foolishly, it is true.  He was naïve about how the people would react to the conspirators’ actions.  He cared more about image than about fact.

Let us be sacrificers, but not butchers, Caius.
We all stand up against the spirit of Caesar;
And in the spirit of men there is no blood:
O, that we then could come by Caesar's spirit,
And not dismember Caesar! But, alas,
Caesar must bleed for it! And, gentle friends,
Let's kill him boldly, but not wrathfully … (Act 2, Scene 1)

Brutus made some bad decisions, including allowing Antony to speak at Caesar’s funeral instead of killing him like he probably should have.  Taking their armies to Philippi was also a bad idea.  He should have listened to Cassius, who had more experience.  However, Brutus believed that his cause was the right one.  He died doing what he thought was honorable.

Why did Mayella falsely accuse Tom Robinson of rape?

Mayella Ewell accused Tom Robinson of assaulting and raping her in order to protect her reputation and father. Mayella made sexual advances towards Tom Robinson, which was considered a taboo in her community. Mayella's father, Bob Ewell, witnessed her kissing Tom Robinson and violently beat her. In order to protect her father, Mayella told the authorities that Tom Robinson beat and raped her. During Atticus' closing remarks, he mentions that Mayella felt guilty about breaking a "time-honored code of society." She tried to seduce a black man and realized she had to cover up her offense. The only possible way of covering up her offense was to fabricate a story about how Tom Robinson assaulted and raped her. As soon as Mayella realized she broke the "code," she knew the only way to save her reputation was to destroy Tom Robinson. 

What is the Cyclops's lifestyle like in The Odyssey?

After Odysseus and his crew made their way from the land of the lotus eaters, they arrived in the land of the Cyclops. The Cyclops were remarkably huge beasts who led an unconventional lifestyle as described by Odysseus.

According to Odysseus the Cyclops were lawless brutes. They never tended their fields and only relied on the naturally growing plants and the goats they kept for sustenance. The Cyclops had no social meetings or gatherings and their association with each other was restricted to emergencies. Their focus was only confined to their immediate family. They established no laws to govern themselves. They lived in exclusion and order was only maintained in their homes, which were situated on the mountain peaks. The Cyclops did not travel outside their territory and thus were not equipped in ship building or sailing.

We sailed hence, always in much distress, till we came to the land of the lawless and inhuman Cyclopes. Now the Cyclopes neither plant nor plough, but trust in providence, and live on such wheat, barley, and grapes as grow wild without any kind of tillage, and their wild grapes yield them wine as the sun and the rain may grow them. They have no laws nor assemblies of the people, but live in caves on the tops of high mountains; each is lord and master in his family, and they take no account of their neighbors.

What is the satirical art of Maupassant's work?

An excellent example of de Maupassant's satire can be found in his short story The Necklace. In the story, Mathilde constantly complains of being poor and feels she deserves more because she is so beautiful. She thinks she married below her, even though her husband has a good job, they have a nice home, and even have a servant. She borrows a necklace from her wealthy friend, loses it, and consequently ruins their lives when they are forced to replace it.

In the story, which I recommend you read, he is satirizing a few things. One is the wealthy, and how unaware they are of how lucky they are. Mathilde has a nice home, a loving husband, and a decent life, yet constantly complains of feeling poor. She has no idea what poor is until she loses the necklace and they replace it, putting them into poverty. After that she is forced to work, cook for herself, live in a small, dirty apartment and haggle for every penny at the market.

1) A boy throws a stone up with a velocity of 60 m/s. How long will it take to reach the maximum height ( g = -10 m/s2 ) 2) A certain...

Hello!

1. The speed will decrease uniformly under the gravity force. The speed of decrease is g, i.e. the speed `V` will be `V(t)=V_0-g*t,` where `V_0` is the initial speed and `t` is a time in seconds (`g` is positive here).

The maximum height will be reached when the speed becomes zero. After that a stone will begin to fall down. The speed will be zero at `t=V_0/(g)=60/10=6(s).`

2. If a particle is in rest, then its weight is equal to gravity force, `mg.` So the mass of a particle is `30/9.8 approx 3.1 (kg).`

A mass remains unchanged regardless of the gravity force or other forces. As long as a particle remains the same (the same matter in the same quantity), its mass is preserved.

However, the weight due to gravity will be zero (no gravity = no force).

How do you find displacement?

There are two types of displacement you could be referring to in science. One is a measure of how far away an object ends up from where it started out. You will use this in physics problems when you are calculating velocity. Velocity is the displacement from its origin of an object, divided by the time; it is therefore a vector quantity, because the direction matters. This is different from speed, which is distance traveled divided by time. You can see the difference by picturing yourself running around a 400 meter track and back to the start. You will have a speed of 400m divided by however many seconds you ran; if 400 seconds, then 400m/400s for a speed of 1m/s. Your velocity, however, is zero because your displacement is zero--you ended up at your starting point. 

The other use of "displacement" in science refers to measuring the volume of an object by seeing how much liquid it displaces when it is submerged. For example, if you fill a large graduated cylinder to a volume of 600 ml, and found that after you submerged your object the total volume went up to 750 ml, you would know your object's volume was 150 ml. This is a useful way to find the volume of an oddly shaped object.

Does Abraham Lincoln deserve credit as "the Great Emancipator"? Why or why not?

Abraham Lincoln was opposed to slavery both publicly and privately. His opposition to slavery led to the secession of a number of Southern states after his ascension. He, however, was obliged to save the Union above all else. He had to initiate a balanced strategy to achieve the end of slavery and maintain the structure of the Union. He suggested Compensated Emancipation, where slave owners within the Union would free their slaves and in exchange, be compensated by the government.

He believed the end of slavery would be achieved through amendments and proclamations entrenched and protected by the Constitution. This introduced conflict between the President and extreme abolitionists, who wanted an immediate and complete end to slavery during the war. However, the conflict ceased after the Emancipation Proclamation. The Emancipation Proclamation was issued during the Civil War and sought to free all the slaves who were on the run from the Confederate territories or were in rebellious states. The proclamation which was an executive order was followed by the 13th Amendment to the Constitution that legally abolished slavery in America.

In this regard, Abraham Lincoln deserves credit as the “Great Emancipator” for the role he played in ending slavery.

I do oppose the extension of slavery, because my judgment and feelings so prompt me; and I am under no obligation to the contrary. (Lincoln, In a letter to Joshua Speed)

As I would not be a slave, so I would not be a master. This expresses my idea of democracy. Whatever differs from this, to the extent of the difference, is no democracy. (Lincoln on democracy)

What is the narrative technique of "And of Clay We Are Created?"

In the short story “Of Clay We are Created,” Isabel Allende uses a reliable first person narrator, Eva Luna. This story is a work of realistic fiction recounting the plight of a young girl during a volcanic eruption in Columbia in 1985, and the man who attempts to rescue her. Eva Luna is the companion of the story’s protagonist, Rolf Carlé, and she recounts his experiences with the young girl buried in clay, Azucena Lily.

The author uses a backstory to give the details of the villagers decision to continue living in their homes despite the warnings of the impending eruption, and the disastrous aftermath. There is also evidence of foreshadowing in this section when Eva describes the scene. The world’s eyes are strained upon the scene as the cameras project the event.

And every time we saw her on the screen, right behind her was Rolf Carlé,who had gone there on assignment, never suspecting that he would find a fragment of his past, lost thirty years before.

The story continues through the narrator’s eyes as she watches from a far away newsroom. She is able to see the nuances in Rolf’s face and changes in his demeanor, which she describes in detail. From the look in his eyes, she is aware when he has an epiphany. While staying with the young girl buried in clay, he has flashbacks to his own childhood. Through this experience, he confronts his childhood demons and comes home a changed man. The narrator explains all of this from her perspective.

How do we know the climate of a particular place?

When we talk about the climate of an area, we generally mean parameters such as temperature, rainfall and/or snow, humidity, etc. For scientific purposes, we also talk about factors such as atmospheric pressure, particle count (particulate matter), UV index, etc. One point to note here is that climate gives us an idea of the long-term behavior of these parameters. That is, how much rainfall or snow a region generally gets, what the average, minimum and maximum temperatures are during particular months, etc. Climate is determined by taking long duration data (a few years worth, at the very least) from a meteorological department and other related agencies and deriving conclusions from such data. 

For a layman (especially while planning travel), we can check the climate of a region in terms of simple parameters (such as temperature, rainfall, etc.) online. There are a number of websites where the typical climate patterns are available for tourists and travelers.

Hope this helps. 

What are four main events leading to the Civil War? List them and explain their importance.

There are many important events that led up to the Civil War.  Let us look at four of them.

1. Mexican-American War. This war added a great deal of territory to the United States.  The slave states and free states then came into conflict over this territory, with each side wanting it for themselves.  This conflict helped drive the two regions apart and bring about the Civil War.


2. Kansas-Nebraska Act.  This law overruled the Missouri Compromise, opening up the possibility of slavery in areas north of the line drawn in that compromise.  This brought about the violence in “Bleeding Kansas” and made for more conflict between the North and South.


3. Dred Scott Decision.  This barred Congress from making any laws about slavery in the territories, which prevented any further compromises on the issue of slavery.


4. Election of Abraham Lincoln.  Lincoln was elected with no votes from the South.  This proved to the Southerners that they had no power in the country anymore and led them to secede.

All of these events helped create conflict between the North and the South.  This conflict made war more likely.

In the Great Gatsby when introduced, what does Meyer Wolfsheim think Nick wants?

In Chapter Four when introduced to Nick Carraway, Meyer Wolfscheim assumes that Nick is looking for "a business gonnection," but Gatsby tells him that he has mistaken Nick for someone else and that he is just a friend. 

This mention of a business connection, a euphemism for a job with the underworld, informs Nick that Jay Gatsby is not the gentleman that he portrayed himself as earlier in this same chapter. In fact, this association with Meyer Wolfscheim, a man who has human molars for cufflinks, and who is rumored to have been involved in the "fixing" of the 1919 World Series, certainly casts doubts upon Gatsby's character. Further, Nick begins to think that the rumors of Gatsby's connection with bootlegging may be true because when Nick asks Gatsby why Wolfscheim is not in jail for the fraudulent scheme of "playing with the faith of fifty million people," Jay Gatsby replies nonchalantly, "They can't get him, old sport. He's a smart man." 

Who is responsible for Macbeth's downfall and his death?

Macbeth is wholly responsible for his destiny. He should take the blame for whatever happened to him. The fact that he was driven by ambition was a choice he made. 

When we meet him, we hear about a soldier who is loyal and courageous. A man who was driven to defeat his country's enemies and utterly destroy them, whatever it took. He receives generous praise and is rewarded for his noble actions. 

We soon learn, however, that he harbours a pernicious desire to achieve the Scottish throne by illegitimate means. He admits that he is driven by 'vaulting ambition' which clearly indicates that he does not wish to ascend by having to follow the natural rules of succession. His desire is to become king as soon as possible, by hook or by crook. When he and Banquo meet the witches and they greet him by a new title as well as inform him that he will be 'king hereafter', he is sceptical until Ross and Angus arrive.

When Ross informs him that he has been awarded the title thane of Cawdor as the witches predicted he says, in an aside:

Glamis, and thane of Cawdor!
The greatest is behind.

This clearly indicates Macbeth's intent. He believes that he has now overcome one of his greatest hurdles. Being bestowed with such a great title brings him closer to the throne. This is emphasised in a later aside:

Two truths are told,
As happy prologues to the swelling act
Of the imperial theme ...

Macbeth's statement makes it obvious that he sees the witches' accurate predictions as an indication that destiny favours him. The idea of being king grows ever stronger. It is significant how he and Banquo differ in their perceptions of the witches. Whilst Banquo remains sceptical and expresses his cynicism, Macbeth is 'rapt', overwhelmed by what has happened.

Since he now believes that he is destined to be liege (thou shalt be king hereafter) Macbeth begins to plot his ascension. He informs Lady Macbeth of the good news and on his arrival back at his castle, he and his wife begin plotting King Duncan's murder. Macbeth expresses doubt about their plan to assassinate the king on a few occasions but is easily persuaded by his malevolent and ruthless wife to press on. If he had refused, the murder would not have happened.

Even though Macbeth is anxious and under great emotional and mental strain about the terrible deed he is about to commit, he does not stop. He eventualy cold-bloodedly murders king Duncan in his sleep and implicates his guards by planting evidence. He later murders them as well, completely removing any chance that he might be implicated.

Duncan's sons, Malcolm and Donalbain, flee in fear of their lives and suspicion for the murder falls on them. Without a closer relative to succeed to the throne, Macbeth is crowned at Scone. 

Once he gains the title, Macbeth goes on a murderous rampage. He kills his friend and confidante, Banquo by sending murderers after him, suspecting that Banquo is a danger. The assassins, however, fail to kill his son, Fleance, who escapes. Macbeth then consults the witches again who, by using paradoxical and equivocal statements and predictions, warn him about Macduffe and encourage him. Their assertions that he will not be harmed by one of woman born and that he shall not be vanquished until great Birnam Wood come to Dunsinane, inspires Macbeth. He feels invincible and sets out to destroy Macduff. He sends his assassins to Macduff's castle where they murder his entire family as well as his servants.   

We read about Macbeth's paranoia and his ruthless attempts to execute all those he sees as a threat. He becomes so 'steeped in blood' that he acknowledges that there is no turning back and, therefore, continues with his murderous rampage. Malcolm has, in the interim, obtained the assistance of the English king, Edward, to overthrow Macbeth and he is joined by Macduff who is later outraged when he learns about his family's brutal and senseless murder. He swears revenge.  

In the final act, Macbeth is at first, informed by a messenger that Birnam Wood was moving towards his castle. This is true since Malcolm's troops were disguising their numbers by each bearing a branch in front of him. Macbeth slowly realises that the witches had tricked him. When he is confronted by Macduff, he shockingly learns just how malevolent they had actually been, for Macduff tells him that he was 'from his mother's womb untimely ripped' and thus not, in the true sense of the word, 'of woman born'.

Macduff kills Macbeth in battle and beheads him. The tyrant has been vanquished. Macbeth had become a victim of his own ambition, gullibility and malice. He made the wrong choices and believed the wrong people. He alone was responsible for his downfall and eventual death.

What is a group of atoms with a positive or negative charge called?

A group of atoms that has a positive or negative charge is called a polyatomic ion. The atoms that make up a polyatomic ion are covalently bonded, and the ion tends to behave as a single particle that stays intact during most chemical reactions.

Most polyatomic ions are negatively charged. Some examples are the nitrite ion, `NO_2-` , nitrate ion, `NO_3-` , the sulfate ion, `SO_4^(2-)` , and the carbonate ion, `CO_3^(2-)` . The sulfate and carbonate ion both have two negative charges:

`SO_4^(2-)` and `CO_3^(2-)`

Each ion contains more electrons than the total number of protons in its atoms. For example, the nitrite ion has 18 electrons and a total of 17 protons in the nitrogen and oxygen atoms. 

Ammonium is a common positive polyatomic ion. It has the formula `NH_4+` , and has one less electron than it does protons.

There are many common salts (ionic compounds) that contain polyatomic ions. Here are a few that you might recognize:

`KNO_3` , potassium nitrate, used in gun powder

`NaNO_3` , a food preservative

`CaCO_3`, calcium carbonate, in limestone, chalk and antacids

`NH_4Cl` , ammonium chloride, used in chemical cold packs to treat injuries

`MgSO_4` , magnesium sulfate, also known as Epsoms salts

Linnaeus classified all organisms into two ___________?

Linnaeus classified organisms into two kingdoms, plants and animals. This division goes back to the ancient Greeks. Linnaeus also grouped minerals as a third kingdom.

Carolus Linnaeus (Carl von Linné) devised the first modern system for classifying living organisms, known as taxonomy. Classifying organisms makes it easier for scientists to study similarities and differences, and to place newly discovered organisms into the correct categories. Linnaeus is responsible for the further, organized divisions grouping organisms within a kingdom so that more general groups of like organisms could be subdivided. His classification divided kingdoms into class, order, genus and species. Scientists have since added additional levels of classification such as phylum and family. There are currently six kingdoms; we no longer include minerals in this system. Linnaeus is also responsible for using the genus and species of an organism as universal scientific names; this system is called binomial nomenclature.

How does Atticus symbolize a mockingbird?

In the book "To Kill A Mockingbird,", Atticus Finch is portrayed and described as an honest innocent man.  He is a lawyer by trade and has represented Maycomb county in the state legislature.  Atticus is considered by most in the town to be an honest and virtuous man.  The book reaches an important zenith in this character portrayal when Atticus is assigned to defend Tom Robinson, a black man, accused of raping a white woman.  One of the important quotes in the book has to do with Jem and Scout receiving air rifles for Christmas.  Atticus tells them "Shoot all the blue jays you can; but don't kill a mockingbird, it would be a sin."  Mockingbirds are considered innocent, making a living by imitating all the other birds in their general locale.  The entire book is a work portraying innocence:  innocence as a virtue, as a characteristic of age, and the loss thereof by growing up and seeing the contrasting values of other people within our society.  Thus, it is fitting to symbolize Atticus with the imagery of the mockingbird itself.

`2x + 2z = 2, 5x + 3y = 4, 3y - 4z = 4` Solve the system of linear equations and check any solutions algebraically.

You may use the substitution method to solve the system, hence, you need to use the first equation to write x in terms of z, such that:

`2x + 2z = 2 => x + z = 1 => x = 1 - z`

You may now replace 1 - z for x in equation `5x + 3y = 4,` such that:

`5(1 - z) + 3y = 4 =>5 - 5z + 3y = 4 =>  - 5z + 3y = -1`

You may use the third equation, `3y - 4z = 4` , along with `-5z + 3y = -1 ` equation, such that:

`3y = 4 + 4z`

Replace 4 + 4z for 3y in equation -5z + 3y = -1, such that:

`-5z + 4 + 4z = -1 => -z = -1 - 4 => -z = -5 => z = 5`

You may replace 5 for z in equation `3y = 4 + 4z:`

`3y = 4 + 4*5 => 3y = 24 => y = 8`

You may replace 5 for z in equation `x = 1 - z:`

`x = 1 - 5 => x = -4`

Hence, evaluating the solution to the given system, yields `x = -4, y = 8, z = 5.`

`sin(2x)sin(x) = cos(x)` Find the exact solutions of the equation in the interval [0, 2pi).

`sin(2x)sin(x)=cos(x) ,0<=x<=2pi`

`sin(2x)sin(x)-cos(x)=0`

`=2sin(x)cos(x)sin(x)-cos(x)=0`

`=cos(x)(2sin^2(x)-1)=0`

`=cos(x)(sqrt(2)sin(x)-1)(sqrt(2)sin(x)+1)=0`

solving each part separately,

`cos(x)=0 , (sqrt(2)sin(x)-1)=0 , (sqrt(2)sin(x)+1)=0`

General solutions for cos(x)=0 are,

`x=pi/2+2pin , x=(3pi)/2+2pin`

solutions for the range `0<=x<=2pi`  are,

`x=pi/2 , x=(3pi/2)`

`(sqrt(2)sin(x)-1)=0`

`sin(x)=1/sqrt(2)`

General solutions are,

`x=pi/4+2pin , x=(3pi)/4+2pin`

solutions for the range `0<=x<=2pi`  are,

`x=pi/4 , x=(3pi)/4`

`sqrt(2)sin(x)+1=0`

`sin(x)=-1/sqrt(2)`

General solutions are,

`x=(5pi)/4+2pin, x=(7pi)/4+2pin`

solutions for the range `0<=x<=2pi`  are,

`x=(5pi)/4 , x=(7pi)/4`

Combine all the solutions,

`x=pi/2 ,x=(3pi)/2 , x=pi/4 , x=(3pi)/4 , x=(5pi/4) , x=(7pi)/4`

How does an imperialistic past impact the world today?

An imperialist past affects the world today. A good example of this can be seen in Latin America. The United States was heavily involved in Latin America beginning in the late 1800s or early 1900s. We indicated that we wanted Latin America to be free to develop on its own and to remain independent. Thus, we intervened in Latin American countries when we perceived there was a threat of European involvement on the horizon in Latin America. We went into the Dominican Republic and Nicaragua in the early 1900s to maintain order. When the Latin Americans understood that our involvement was mainly to protect the interests of the United States, the Latin American nations began to resent us. This resentment continues to exist today. There is a belief in Latin American countries that the United States acts as a big brother to supposedly protect them while, in reality, protecting our interests.

The imperialism of the past certainly affects the course of events today.

If a bank has a deposit of $500,000 and holds reserves of $100,000 and the central bank requires a reserve of 5%, what is (a) the excess reserve...

a) If Central Bank requires a reserve ratio of 5%, we first need to calculate the required the first required reserves. This is calculated as follows: 

Required Reserves = Deposit x Reserve Ratio 

First lets convert the reserve ratio from percentage to decimal form as follows: 

`5% = (5/100) = 0.05`

Required Reserves = `$500 000 xx 0.05 = $25 000`

Now we know the value of the required reserves, we can now determine the excess reserves: 

Excess Reserves = Total reserves - Required reserves 

Excess Reserves = `$100 000 - $25 000 = $75 000`

b) In order to determine the money supply increase, we first need to determine the multiplier. 

Multiplier = 1/(reserved ratio)

Multiplier = `1/0.05 = 20`

Money supply increase = Excess reserves x Reserved ratio 

Money supply increase = `$75000 xx 20 = $1 500 000`

SUMMARY: 

a) Excess Resevers = $75 000

b) Money Supply Increased by $1 500 00

How do you know that flammability is a chemical property ?

By definition, chemical properties are properties of a substance that can only be observed during a chemical change. Chemical changes are reactions that convert one or more substances into new substances. Therefore, chemical changes change the composition of the reactants.

Flammability is a chemical property because it can only be observed or measured during a chemical change known as combustion. Combustion is a chemical reaction that occurs when a fuel reacts with oxygen to produce light and heat.

Heat of combustion, pH, being corrosive, oxidation, and electronegativity are other examples of chemical properties.

On the other hand, physical properties of substances describe characteristics of physical states of substances. Density, melting point, boiling point, hardness, malleability, and solubility are examples of physical properties.  

When does Atticus say wise words to Scout in To Kill a Mockingbird? What are some quotes?

Whenever Scout goes to her father with a problem, he gives her wise advice.  He is consistent in his desire to instill a spirit of empathy and kindness toward others in his daughter.  Scout sometimes gets angry and wants to fight other children.  Atticus always advises her against this.

When Scout is mad at Miss Caroline because she had gotten in trouble at school for defending Walter Cunningham, Atticus encourages empathy.  He does not want his daughter to be angry with her new teacher.  He tells Scout that she should look at the situation from Miss Caroline's perspective:

Atticus said I had learned many things today, and Miss Caroline had learned several things herself.  She had learned not to hand something to a Cunningham, for one thing, but if Walter and I had put ourselves in her shoes we'd have seen it was an honest mistake on her part (To Kill a Mockingbird, Chapter 3).

Later, Scout expresses her anger toward students at school who criticize her father.  They insult Atticus because he is defending Tom Robinson, who is a black man.  Scout tries fighting them.  Atticus tells her that he does not want her to fight, and instead gives her advice:

No matter what anybody says to you, don't you let 'em get your goat.  Try fighting with your head for a change… it's a good one, even if it does resist learning" (Chapter 9).