In act 1 of Importance of Being Earnest, is what happened over the sandwiches funny?

Yes, definitely!  It might not be a laugh-out-loud, rolling-on-the-floor kind of laughter, but it is humorous and allows us to continue to sketch Algernon's character.

First, Algernon tells Jack, "Please don’t touch the cucumber sandwiches.  They are ordered specially for Aunt Augusta," who he is expecting at any moment.  However, he's been eating them, as Jack tells us, throughout their whole conversation, and he eats another one now.  So, he's not willing to share them with Jack, even though he's eaten several himself.  Algy is pretty selfish and cares a great deal for appearances, and based on what he's said, he seems to be saving those sandwiches for his aunt; however, his actions differ from his words and betray his lack of respect for that woman.

Then, by the time Aunt Augusta has arrived, Algernon has actually eaten all of the cucumber sandwiches.  When she asks for one, he "pick[s] up [the] empty plate in horror," and says -- in mock surprise -- to his butler, "Good heavens!  Lane!  Why are there no cucumber sandwiches?  I ordered them specially."  Lane, his butler, is apparently so used to his employer acting in this dishonest manner that he covers for him smoothly, saying, "There were no cucumbers in the market this morning, sir.  I went down twice."  This is clearly a lie, too, because, of course, there were cucumbers in the market and they were used to make the cucumber sandwiches that Algernon already ate.  It's a completely ridiculous situation.  Algernon knew that his aunt preferred cucumber sandwiches, and so he very easily could have not eaten them and avoided this whole situation; however, it conveys quite a bit about his character that he is willing to put on this little show rather than simply deny himself a small pleasure.  Lying comes easily to him, and he is quite willing to do it, especially when he will take pleasure for himself in the process.
 

In your own words, explain how light intensity affect plant growth? -Explain how pH level affect plant growth? -Explain how level of potassium...

It should come as no surprise that, since plants make the majority of their food by photosynthesis, good strong direct sunlight has a direct effect on the amount of growth a plant will experience.  Some plants do better in strong direct light, while others are more light sensitive and require less sunlight.  As far as pH is concerned, most plants experience prime growth when planted in soil that is somewhere between 5.5 and 6.5 on the pH scale.  The pH scale is a scale from 1 to 14, with 7 representing neutral, while less than 7 is acidic and more than 7 is alkaline, or basic.  pH is an abbreviation for the "power of hydrogen", and is specific to how many hydrogen ions are available in the water content of the soil. Plants have a need for potassium as part of their basic nutritional requirement and tend to have increased performance in terms of growth and fruit or vegetable production.

How we can infer which animals are more intelligent than others in Animal Farm?

The pigs are the most intelligent animals because they take control.

An inference is a deduction based on the evidence.  The pigs are clearly very intelligent, and they use this intelligence to take charge of the situation and also to take advantage of the weaker animals.

The work of teaching and organising the others fell naturally upon the pigs, who were generally recognised as being the cleverest of the animals. (Ch. 2)

Of course it is a pig, Old Major, who introduces the whole idea of the rebellion.  The other pigs, mainly Napoleon and Snowball, make it happen.  The other animals go along with it in varying degrees.  Benjamin the donkey seems fairly intelligent.  He is pessimistic, but knows the score.  He can also read as well as the pigs. The horses are loyal but not particularly intelligent.

These two had great difficulty in thinking anything out for themselves, but having once accepted the pigs as their teachers, they absorbed everything that they were told, and passed it on to the other animals by simple arguments. (Ch. 2)

The stupidest animals seem to be the chickens and the sheep.  They are stubborn but not bright, and the tenets of Animalism have to be reduced to “four legs good, two legs bad” for them.  The pigs teach themselves to read and write and manage to instruct a few other animals, including the dogs, but most animals can’t really learn.

Another way we can tell that the sheep and chickens are not very intelligent is that they falsely confess.  They have been carried away by sensationalism.  The dogs can kill them because they are smart enough to know who is in charge now, and they just switch their loyalties from people to pigs.  This is why Napoleon specially trained the litter of puppies to be his secret police.

What are some quotes throughout Lord of the Flies that represent bullying on the island?

There are numerous scenes throughout the novel Lord of the Flies that depict the boys bullying each other. Piggy, the heavy-set character with glasses, is by far the most bullied child on the island. In Chapter 1, Piggy mentions to Jack that he got most of the boys' names, and Jack says, "You're talking too much...Shut up, Fatty." (Golding 21) Throughout the novel, Jack bullies Piggy every chance he gets. In Chapter 2, Jack rudely snatches Piggy's glasses off his face to start a fire, and when Piggy suggests that the boys be more careful the next time they build one, Jack says, "You're always scared. Yah---Fatty!" (Golding 45) Later on, Jack breaks Piggy's glasses by slapping them off his face. Jack continually interrupts Piggy when he attempts to speak during assemblies, and even steals his glasses to start his own fire towards the end of the novel.

However, Piggy is not the only child subjected to bullying. Simon is called "batty" and laughed at by the boys throughout the novel. In Chapter 4, when the boys are eating the pig Jack killed, Simon gives a piece of meat to Piggy. Jack slices off another piece of meat and throws it at Simon's feet and says, "Eat! Damn you!" (Golding 74)

In Chapter 4, Maurice and Roger bully the littluns who are building sandcastles on the beach. Both the hunters run through and destroy the littluns' sandcastles.

"Roger led the way straight through the castles, kicking them over, burying the flowers, scattering the chosen stones. Maurice followed, laughing, and added to the destruction." (Golding 60)

Even the littluns throw sand in Percival's eyes throughout the chapter.

"Henry and Johnny were throwing sand at Percival who was crying quietly again..." (Golding 67)

Jack not only disrespects Simon and Piggy but also bullies his hunters. In Chapter 7, the boys begin to mess around and pretend that Robert is a pig. The boys go too far and begin to stab and hurt Robert. This moment depicts all the hunters bullying one child.

"The circle moved in and round. Robert squealed in mock terror, then in real pain. "Ow! Stop it! You're hurting!" (Golding 114)

Golding conveys the boys' gradual descent into savagery by depicting them bullying one another as the novel progresses. Without boundaries and restrictions, the boys have no respect for one another and bullying becomes prevalent on the island.

I have to write a essay on the strengths and weaknesses of Hamlet in the play "Hamlet". I was thinking that one of his strengths could be his...

I would agree that Hamlet looks at life in a more philosophical manner than most protagonists of revenge dramas. He is also more empirical about deciding whether or not to kill Claudius than the average character in a revenge play. He seeks to confirm that Claudius murdered his father instead of rushing out to kill him on the word of a ghost. Because he thinks so deeply about reality, appearance and death, because he is so self-reflective, Hamlet has sometimes been called the first modern hero. He has also been attacked as indecisive, but one can question whether it is "indecisive" or, instead, prudent, thoughtful and morally sound to ask questions before you kill another person. 

Critic Rene Girard writes eloquently in defense of Hamlet as a character who struggles with and calls into question the whole idea of revenge that the play revolves around. He writes in a chapter entitled "Hamlet's Dull Revenge," in Theatre of Envy that Shakespeare wanted to undermine the revenge tragedy genre. Girard called Hamlet

the most brilliant feat of theatrical double entendre.… he will denounce the revenge theater and all its works with the utmost daring without denying his mass audience the catharsis it demands … (273)

To do this, Shakespeare must make Hamlet a contemplative person, a thinker and questioner of his society. 

Within the play, Hamlet expresses deep questioning, as you note, in his soliloquies, such as in his "what a piece of work is man," or "to be or not to be" speeches, and in act five, scene 1, when he enters into conversation with the grave diggers, as well as when he questions the sincerity of the mourners at Ophelia's grave. He is constantly questioning appearance versus reality, so it should easy to find examples of that in the play: I have provided the link to E-notes quotes from the play below.

What is the significance of Romeo's speech (lines 106-113)?

Please note that when you are asking about specific lines from a Shakespearean play, it is very important to name the act and scene number as well. Lines 106-113 appear multiple times (in different acts and scenes) throughout the text.

In looking at the play, there are only two times when Romeo alone is speaking in lines 106-113. As such, I will address both. The first is in Act 1, scene 4, as Mercutio is trying to convince Romeo to attend the Capulet party. In the lines you cited, Romeo explains that his hesitation in attending the party centers around the fact that he has a bad feeling about a "consequence yet hanging in the stars" (line 107). In other words, Romeo has a bad feeling that the party will bring about misfortune in his life. This is significant because it turns out to be accurate foreshadowing. In reality, Romeo will attend the party and will meet Juliet, which in turn will set into motion the events that will bring about Romeo's death just days later.

The second set of 106-113 lines in which Romeo speaks occurs in Act 5, scene 3, the final scene of the play. Here, Romeo addresses what he believes to be both a dead Tybalt and a dead Juliet in the Capulet tomb. Tybalt is, indeed, dead by Romeo's hand. In the lines you cited, Romeo tells Tybalt that he will avenge Tybalt's death by killing Tybalt's killer. Again, this is significant because it heightens the suspense for the reader. After all, Romeo is Tybalt's killer; thus, it becomes clear (if it wasn't before) that Romeo intends to kill himself in the tomb.  

Romeo next addresses Juliet, remarking that she is still beautiful in death and that she appears so life-like. This set of lines is significant because, in truth, there is a reason why Juliet appears life-like: She is alive, and is just moments from waking up from the potion she took to fake her own death. Romeo, unaware of this, will drink the poison he bought before she can make the truth known to him.

How is love stronger than hate in Romeo and Juliet?

The whole storyline revolves around Romeo and Juliet being “star-crossed lovers,” as they are the children of sworn enemies who love each other anyway. As Juliet describes the situation, “My only love, sprung from my only hate….prodigious birth of love it is to me that I must love a loathed enemy.” (Act 1, scene 5, lines 142-143). For both her and Romeo, their families’ position is surpassed by their affection for each other as individuals. Juliet states, “ ‘Tis but thy name that is my enemy. Thou art thyself, though not a Montague.” (Act 2, scene 2, lines 38-39). The hatred of their respective families is overcome by the strength of feelings for each other. Eventually, the love Romeo and Juliet have for each is recognized by their parents, whose love for their now dead children allows Capulet and Montague to resolve their hatred for each other, as shown in lines 297-304, Act 5, scene 3.

What has Buddy's friend never done?

His "friend," his cousin, has never done a great many things according to page four or five (depending on your edition):

• seen a movie


• eaten at a restaurant


• gone more than five miles away from her home


• read anything, other than comics from the newspaper or the Bible


• received a telegram


• sent a telegram


• worn any make up


• intentionally lied 


• wished harm on anyone


• "let a hungry dog go hungry"

All of this tells us she is a woman who has a very simple, and some might say sheltered, life. She stays close to home and does not experience much outside of her immediate surroundings. Yet, she seems very happy and content. She is also very kind and friendly to others. So, while her experiences may be limited, she is not a recluse who does not interact with anyone. She simply limits her interactions. She also appears to really enjoy the simplicities of life. For example, she says she doesn't need to see a movie, she would rather have Buddy tell her what happens. That means she likes his storytelling over going to the movie - she appreciates him and theme they spend together. From this list, we learn that she is a simple woman.

How did the British and the Native Americans interact?

This is quite a complex question because of the long period of time this encompasses. We are talking about a two hundred year period of interaction that spans from the first English colonies in the early 1600's until the conclusion of the war of 1812. Also, there were hundreds of sovereign Indian tribes that at various tribes had a variety of alliances. When the English first established colonies in America, the relationship with the Indians was one of cooperation mixed with times of stress, conflict, and massacres by both sides. There was certainly a desire by both sides to benefit through trade, but ultimately, the English were visitors to America. Unfortunately, the English colonists did not feel that they were visitors and intended to stay. As it became clear that the English intended to expand at the expense of Native American territory, you can imagine how that caused increased stressed.

Throughout the early part of the Eighteenth Century, the colonists started to identify themselves as separate from the English. Land became an issue for the British, colonists, Indians, and the French. This period saw a war between France and England in which both sides formed alliances with different Indian tribes. The British allied themselves with the Iroquois and were eventually victorious over the French. The British would utilize alliances with Indians in its efforts to thwart colonial rebellion. After the American Revolution, most Native American tribes sided with the British because of the threat that the United States posed to its sovereignty and land. The interaction between Native American tribes and the British essentially ended after the War of 1812.

How can I discuss reputation and honor by exploring the texts The Prince by Niccolo Machiavelli and Julius Caesar by Shakespeare?

In The Prince, Machiavelli argues that a leader's reputation and honor are all important. Perception is reality. A prince doesn't have to be virtuous, but must appear virtuous to the people he is leading. The most effective prince, won't, in reality, possess the qualities that the common people admire and expect, such as mercy, kindness, loyalty and religious faith. On the contrary, he will need to be able to violate those virtues in order to survive: the best prince is, in fact, a pragmatist, who must have the cunning of a lion in avoiding traps. However, his reputation with the common people must remain strong, so that it will more difficult for his enemies to plot successfully against him.

This pragmatism or realism flies in the face of Shakespeare's more conventional notions of good kingship, in which a leader, ideally, possesses the virtues he claims.  In Shakespeare's Julius Caesar, Antony, therefore, is not portrayed as the most admirable character, but he is the most Machiavellian figure in the play. He is the master of rhetoric, of appearing virtuous while not actually being virtuous. Although he characterizes himself as a "plain, blunt man," he is anything but that: he will do whatever he needs to do to get ahead, such as using his skills as a speaker to sway the crowd against Brutus or, on a personal level, using Lepidus as a "creature" or tool. 

In exploring both texts, it is important to look at what ultimately happens to Antony--he loses--and how this might be a way Shakespeare is commenting on the Machiavellian prince figure. 

How long does it take a ball to reach the ground when dropped from the top of a 484 foot building?

Hello!

We'll ignore the air resistance. Also I suppose that "dropped" means that the initial speed is zero.

Then the speed `V` of a ball increases uniformly in magnitude under the constant gravity force, `V=-g*t` (with respect to an upward axis).

The height `H(t)` is `H_0-g*(t^2)/2`  where `H_0` is the initial height and `g=32 ft/s^2` is the gravity acceleration (I think you know this). `t` is for time in seconds.

A ball reaches the ground when its height is zero, so we have to solve the equation `H(t)=0` for `tgt0.` It is simple:

`H_0-g*(t^2)/2=0,`  `H_0=g*(t^2)/2,`  so `t=sqrt(2H_0/g) =5.5 (s).` This is the answer.

In Pico Della Mirandola's "Oration on the Dignity of Man," how does he defend his ability to synthesize all human knowledge?

As a founder of Renaissance humanism, Mirandola made the point in this oration that human beings are not just miraculous but admirable, that we can use philosophy and our intellect to reach higher and become as exalted as angels.

Because his proposed ideas are so vast and detailed, so lofty and ambitious--not to mention that they were also somewhat in conflict with what other philosophers believed at the time—Mirandola has to spend a lot of time in this oration defending himself and his right to even put forth all these ideas, which he presents as a kind of synthesis of all human knowledge.

Mirandola points out that some people have a problem with the fact that he’s just twenty-four years old yet is proposing “a disputation concerning the most subtle mysteries of Christian theology, the most debated points of philosophy and unfamiliar branches of learning.” How could he possibly claim to synthesize all human knowledge and expect to be taken seriously?

He defends himself in a few ways.

First, he claims that he’s not in it for money or fame: that is, he’s not expounding on philosophy for any other reason than it brings him “cultivation of mind and knowledge of the truth.”

Second, he’s done his homework. He mentions a canon made up of seventy books of “cabalistic wisdom,” and he’s read them all from front to back.

Third, he claims that even in proposing nine hundred theses (yes, nine hundred) that he’s not taking on too much. He defends himself against his detractors on this point by saying that others shouldn’t “set limits to another’s efforts” or “desire mediocrity in those things in which the rule should be: the more the better.” (He was quoting Cicero just then on the notion of mediocrity, trying to justify his position with a bit more authority.)

Still, Mirandola humbly says that he’s not learned or accomplished, and admits that he might be completely crushed when people start arguing against his ideas. But he says that even a defeat would help him become a better philosopher: “For the one who is bested receives from his conqueror, not an injury but a benefit; he returns to his house richer than he left, that is, more learned and better armed for future contests.” By showing that he's ready to fail gracefully, he further defends his ability to influence and advance the entirety of philosophy.

What was the name of the pilgrim's ship?

It was the Mayflower ship which brought the Pilgrims to America in 1620. There were 102 passengers aboard the Mayflower when it departed England on September 16 1620, many of whom were escaping religious persecution. For the others, a life in America offered the promise of financial riches and the opportunity to make a new and more successful life. 

The Mayflower's crossing was a difficult one, filled with rough seas and high winds, which blew the ship 500 miles off course. But, after 66 days, the Pilgrims reached the tip of Cape Cod in modern-day Massachusetts. By mid-December, the Pilgrims had found a suitable site across Cape Cod Bay which was called Plymouth and became the first permanent English settlement in New England. 

Does Sir Gawain keep his promises to others?

The most important promise that stands out in Sir Gawain and the Green Knight is the promise that Sir Gawain makes to the Green Knight at the beginning of the poem. His promise to meet the Green Knight in a year to have done to him what he is about to do to the Green Knight (cut off his head) is a tough promise to keep, even for a knight.

When the knight asks Sir Gawain to recount their agreement, Sir Gawain says, “And that I swear to you honestly, by my pledged word” (l. 484: section 18).

By all accounts, yes, Sir Gawain does keep his promise to the Green Knight. He leaves King Arthur’s Court the following year to seek out the Green Knight and the Green Castle to fulfill the Green Knight’s challenge. As the nephew of King Arthur, Sir Gawain will do whatever he needs to do to keep his promise and not disappoint his uncle. He tells Berchilak, “I’d rather die than be doomed to fail” (l. 1090: Section 43).

Remember, King Arthur and the Knights of the Round Table, which also includes Sir Gawain, present many characteristics of chivalry: loyalty, bravery, honor, etc. The important word here is "honor." Since knights are bound by the honor code, they must also keep their promises, even the ones that they make to themselves.

What were the original goals of Apartheid and when was it instituted?! Describe some of the legal restrictions placed on ethnic groups under...

Apartheid is the name given to the system and policies of racial segregation instituted in South Africa after the National Party gained power in South Africa in 1948. These policies enforced complete racial segregation, and black South Africans were forced into separate areas from whites. In addition, laws prevented blacks and whites from using the same facilities or from having much contact. Subsequent laws created racial categories, including white, black, colored, and Asian, and made it illegal for whites and others to have sexual relations or to get married. Blacks mainly interacted with whites as exploited workers.

Racial segregation began to be institutionalized in 1913, when the Land Act was passed; this act, which came into effect three years after South Africa had gained independence, forced black South Africans to live in separate areas, called reserves. Those who opposed the act eventually coalesced into the political group the African National Congress (ANC). 

In 1960, in the black town of Sharpeville, the police shot black South Africans who were part of Pan-African Congress (PAC), a splinter group of the ANC, killing 67 of them and wounding 180. The result was that the ANC and the PAC decided they had to turn to more violent means of resistance, and they both formed militias. 

Nelson Mandela, the head of the military wing of the ANC, was incarcerated after the Sharpeville massacre, and his speeches while facing the death sentence made him a celebrated cause worldwide. The international community began to focus their attention on the evils of apartheid. The United Nations denounced the system of apartheid in 1973, and in the 1980s, countries began to institute economic sanctions, or penalties, on South Africa. In 1989, the government of F.W. de Klerk began to dismantle the policies of apartheid as a reaction to years of international pressure. In 1994, Nelson Mandela became the President of South Africa. 

What attitude did the manager and pilgrims display towards Marlow in the story the Heart of Darkness?

The manager appears essentially indifferent and slightly rude to Marlow. The unnamed manager is the head of the Central Station, keeping his position because he has outlived everyone else and has a knack of making those around him "uneasy." Marlow says, "He was neither civil nor uncivil. He was quiet. He allowed his 'boy'...to treat the white men...with provoking insolence."

His self-absorption makes him ignore the fact Marlow is tired and extremely hungry. The manager just wants to know how long it will take to repair the steamship. But the question is moot because the manager has already decided it should take three months. "Let us say three months. Yes. That ought to do the affair."

The pilgrims are not actually religious missionaries. They are the agents for the Central Station, determined to make as much money as possible through the ivory trade. However, they are not doing a lot of work to really get ahead. Marlow calls them pilgrims because they carry staves and wear loose clothing.

When Marlow first meets the Pilgrims, he realizes the pilgrim he is talking to is pumping him for information. He keeps asking Marlow questions about Europe and the people that sent Marlow to Africa. Marlow doesn't know what information the man wants. Finally the man "covers a gesture of fury with a yawn," and Marlow realizes the man thinks he (Marlow) is a liar.

In Paradise Lost, book one, what general purpose do lines 337-522 serve?

These lines describe the angels who joined Satan in his rebellion against God and were subsequently cast into Hell. Milton asserts that these same fallen angels became the false gods worshiped by pagan cultures before they began to worship the one true God of Christianity. Seeking revenge against God for their defeat, these beings posed as gods to humanity and led them to commit atrocities. For example, lines 477-481

A crew who under Names of old Renown,
Osiris, Isis, Orus and their Train
With monstrous shapes and sorceries abus'd
Fanatic Egypt and her Priests, to seek [ 480 ]
Thir wandring Gods disguis'd in brutish forms
Rather then human. 

Milton identifies the gods worshiped by ancient Egyptians, who often took animal shapes, attributing the decline of the Egyptian civilization to their influence.

In the lines immediately after this passage (lines 480 to 482), Milton turns to events in the Old Testament:

Nor did Israel scape
Th' infection when thir borrow'd Gold compos'd
The Calf in Oreb

When the Israelites are traveling in the desert in order to reach the promised land, some of the people lose faith in their God and build a golden calf to worship as a false idol.

By referring both to events in the Old Testament and the history of various ancient civilizations, Milton attempts to create a synthesis of Christian theology and secular humanist history. He uses many of the same techniques employed in Greco-Roman epics, such as the Iliad and Odyssey. However, he maintains that his epic is far superior to those who came before, because his is in service of the Christian God, next to whom all other deities are both inferior and evil.

How will the profit be affected if the fixed costs rise? How about reduced fixed and variable costs?

Profits will fall if fixed costs (or, for that matter, variable costs) rise.  Profits will rise if fixed costs or variable costs fall.

Fixed costs are those costs which do not change regardless of the level of production.  For example, a motel has fixed costs because it cost a fixed amount of money to build the motel and those costs (assuming they are still paying off a loan for the building) apply regardless of whether they have any guests in the rooms.  Variable costs are costs that change depending on the level of production.  With our motel example, the more guests the motel has, the more it has to pay housekeeping and the more money it spends on things like laundry detergent and food for the continental breakfast.

Profit can be defined as the amount to which revenues exceed costs.  If you take in more money than you expend in making your product, you make a profit.  If costs go down, profits will go up.  If costs go up, profits will go down.  Therefore, an increase in fixed or variable costs will reduce profits while a decrease in fixed or variable costs will cause profits to rise.

A particle goes from point A to B in 1.0 seconds moving in a semicircle of radius 1.0. The magnitude of the average velocity is:

No units for the radius of circle are given. Let us assume that the units are centimeters or cm and hence the radius is 1 cm. The velocity of any body is given as the ratio of displacement to time taken. Mathematically,

Velocity = displacement/time

Here, the particle travels in a semicircle of radius 1 cm. The displacement of the particle is the diameter of circle, that is, 2 cm. The time taken for this displacement is 1 cm. Hence the velocity of particle is:

velocity = 2 cm / 1 s = 2 cm/s.

Kindly note that displacement is used for velocity calculations and is the net distance between initial and final position. The actual distance traveled by the particle is the `pixxr` , where r is the radius of circle. This can be used to determine the particle's speed, as the ratio of distance and time.

Average speed = distance/time = `pixx1/1`

= 3.14 cm/s

Hope this helps. 

How is Aunt Alexandra cold in To Kill a Mockingbird?

Aunt Alexandra can seem quite cold at times. Another word for "cold" in her case is prejudiced. One would think that a sibling of Atticus Finch would be as patient, calm, and reasonable as he is, but not Aunt Alexandra. She considers herself high and mighty because of her "gentle breeding." That is to say, she's been brought up with privileges, education, and manners, so she is expected to behave in a certain way and be a good example in the community. She also wants Scout to behave a certain way and she does not filter what she thinks, either. 

"Aunt Alexandra was fanatical on the subject of my attire. I could not possibly hope to be a lady if I wore breeches. . . I suggested that one could be a ray of sunshine in pants just as well, but Aunty said that one had to behave like a sunbeam, that I was born good but had grown progressively worse every year. She hurt my feelings and set my teeth permanently on edge" (81).

This is one example of Alexandra being cold and not considering how her words might affect a little seven year-old girl. The next time she is really cold is when Scout says that she wants to invite her schoolmate Walter Cunningham over sometime. Aunt Alexandra says the following:

"Don't be silly, Jean Louise. . . The thing is, you can scrub Walter Cunningham till he shines, you can put him in shoes and a new suit, but he'll never be like Jem. Besides, there's a drinking streak in that family a mile wide. Finch women aren't interested in that sort of people" (224).

Jem argues that the Cunninghams are distant kin and to shun them is silly. Aunt Alexandra then puts her foot down and declares that Walter will never set foot in the house. Scout asks why and her response is probably the coldest ever:

"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. You're enough of a problem to your father as it is" (225).

In just a couple of sentences, Aunt Alexandra disrespects a poor family's son and insults Scout again. Her prejudice seems to have no end and she can't see the damage that she is doing to her little niece. 

What systems in the body are affected by the nervous system to keep them running effectively in response to external influences?

It is only a slight exaggeration to say "all of them". The nervous system evolved originally for this function of regulating body systems, and only hundreds of millions of years later did it get co-opted into forming a brain for intelligent behavior.

The nervous system regulates heartbeat, breathing, temperature through panting, sweating, or shivering, pupil dilation, hormones, blood sugar, and even the functioning of the kidneys and the gastrointestinal tract.

Most of this regulation of various organs is done by the autonomic nervous system, which is primarily based in the spinal cord.

The functions of the autonomic nervous system are not under conscious control most of the time. We do have a limited amount of conscious control over some autonomic functions, and training can make people better at it, so that for example some people can hold their breath for a long time or slow down their heartbeat substantially. But the vast majority of the time, the autonomic nervous system is busy regulating our body to maintain homeostasis--conditions of roughly constant temperature and chemical distribution that are optimal for our cells and organs to function. You can think of it as falling back to a default setting when we aren't asserting control; this is why you can hold your breath if you want to, but you never just forget to breathe.

The autonomic nervous system is divided into two broad subsystems, the sympathetic system and the parasympathetic system. The sympathetic system is a stress response system evolved to make us more effective at "fight or flight"; the parasympathetic system is the counterpart that maintains our equilibrium when we are not under stress.

The liver actually has its own subsystem of the nervous system, the hepatic nervous system, which is not well understood. (The best article I could find on it was in fact published in a medical journal, so I apologize if it's too technical). We are still in the process of discovering some of the complex and subtle ways that the nervous system exerts control over the rest of the body.

What are some bad things that happened while Theodore Roosevelt was President?

While Teddy Roosevelt was President, many good things happened to our country. However, there were some events that had some negative consequences for us.

When Teddy Roosevelt was President, we intervened in Latin American affairs several times. We helped Panama become independent from Colombia, which then allowed us to build the Panama Canal. We also intervened in the Dominican Republic to be sure that they paid their debts to Europe. These actions by the United States didn’t sit well with some people in Latin America. The people of Latin America began to view us in negative terms. They viewed us a bossy big brother that looked out only for the best interests of the United States. This feeling continues to exist today in many parts of Latin America.

Big businesses didn’t like Roosevelt’s actions regarding the breaking up of trusts. They felt the government was intervening too much in the affairs of businesses. They also didn’t like the development of government agencies, such as the Bureau of Corporations, which monitored the activities of businesses. From the perspective of some business owners, this government involvement was not a positive development.

There were many good things that happened while Teddy Roosevelt was President. There were a few things that were considered bad by some groups of people.

Describe the social conflicts in seventeenth century France between the nobility, huguenots, middle class, and peasantry.

The Bourbon family who were Huguenots (Protestants) had a major conflict with the Guise family who were Catholics, with both families clamoring for power after the death of King Henry II. The conflict between the two religious groups raged on with major loses on both sides. This continued until Henry of Navarre was crowned Henry IV, but after he had converted from Protestantism to Catholicism. Henry IV, however, issued the Edict of Nantes, which sought to protect the Huguenots' religious freedoms.

Later, Henry IV was assassinated by a Catholic and was succeeded by Louise XIII, but because he was still young at the time, his mother took over leadership responsibilities. She was incompetent and the responsibility of leading France passed on to Cardinal Richelieu. The Cardinal’s objectives brought him in direct conflict with the country’s nobility. He destroyed their castles and disbanded their armies. The movement against the nobility led to the Fronde rebellion. The nobility failed to secure support from the middle class and the peasants and the rebellion was unsuccessful.

The nobility enjoyed many privileges and wielded overwhelming authority over property. The peasants were only accorded an opportunity to work on the land by paying the nobility. In this regard, the nobility would escape paying taxes and this burden would befall the peasants. The peasants who formed the third estate were not involved in the functions of the state and this privilege was a preserve of the first estate and some members of the bourgeoisie (middle class). The bourgeoisie aspired to political power, which brought them in sharp conflict with the nobility. Leading up to the French Revolution, members of the bourgeoisie finally banded together with the peasants to oust the nobility.

From your reading of Act 1 scenes 1 to 3, analyse critically Iago's role in instigating Brabantio against Othello and Othello against Brabantio.

Iago is primarily driven by a desire for vengeance. He feels humiliated by Othello's choice to choose an outsider, the Florentine Cassio, as his lieutenant. Iago has applied for the position and feels that he is more qualified than the young and inexperienced Cassio for the post. He has rendered service to the general but he has, instead, decided to appoint a mathematician to be his second in command whilst Iago has to be satisfied with the lowly position of ancient. Even after three senators had appealed to Othello to appoint Iago, he ignored their recommendations and still chose Cassio.

Furthermore, Iago is clearly jealous of Othello since the general himself is an outsider who now occupies a rank far superior to his own. He is resentful of the fact that he has to bow to his authority. Added to this, Othello is a Moor, which Iago deems a revolting idea. This racist and prejudiced view is displayed in the terms he uses when referring to the general later in his discourse with Brabantio. To cap it all, Othello has eloped with the beautiful Desdemona, Brabantio's daughter, a woman Iago later mentions, he also desired.  

In his conversation with Roderigo, Iago unambiguously states his intent when the aforementioned mentions that if he were in Iago's shoes, he would not still follow Othello:

O, sir, content you;
I follow him to serve my turn upon him:

In saying this he means that he would continue creating the perception that he was loyal to Othello whilst he was, indeed, plotting against him. He obviously wants to harm Othello in some or other way and we soon discover that he and Roderigo are out to blaspheme Othello's good name so that Brabantio, a senator, can take action against him. The purpose is to awaken Brabantio in the dead of night and inform him that Othello has kidnapped his daughter, Desdemona, and was abusing her. Iago hopes that the senator would become so upset that he would seek Othello's dismissal and arrest. The general would obviously be humiliated and Iago would have had his revenge.  

Iago has acquired the help of Roderigo to whom he has pledged his assistance in acquiring Desdemona's affections. Roderigo is besotted with the beautiful young Venetian and would do anything to get her attention. He becomes putty in Iago's hands and does his every bidding.  

 When the two men arrive at Brabantio's home, they cry out to him awakening the angry senator whose rest has been disturbed. They inform him in the most graphic and foul terms of his daughter's supposed abduction by the general.

'Zounds, sir, you're robb'd; for shame, put on
your gown;
Your heart is burst, you have lost half your soul;
Even now, now, very now, an old black ram
Is topping your white ewe. Arise, arise;
Awake the snorting citizens with the bell,
Or else the devil will make a grandsire of you:
Arise, I say.

Iago clearly displays his racism here. He uses animal imagery to emphasize the so-called disgusting aspects of Othello's act. He demonizes the general by associating him with the devil and calling him 'an old black ram.' Iago and Roderigo are relentless and continue peppering Brabantio with the most repulsive and vile terms in order to provoke him into action.

'Zounds, sir, you are one of those that will not
serve God, if the devil bid you. Because we come to
do you service and you think we are ruffians, you'll
have your daughter covered with a Barbary horse;
you'll have your nephews neigh to you; you'll have
coursers for cousins and gennets for germans.

Their strategy works and Brabantio is livid and completely overwrought by the idea of his daughter's supposed abduction and abuse. He is driven into action and raises the alarm, arousing his entire household. 

Strike on the tinder, ho!
Give me a taper! call up all my people!
This accident is not unlike my dream:
Belief of it oppresses me already.
Light, I say! light!

Once Iago is convinced of their success, he takes his leave, telling Roderigo that he has to join Othello to create the impression that he is supporting the general against Brabantio's malice. He leaves Roderigo to further deal with Brabantio and then slips away to Othello. Brabantio is stricken and tells Roderigo that he wished that he, Roderigo, had had Desdemona, considering the circumstances, for he had previously forbidden the young lovesick Venetian access to his house or his daughter. 

Iago's scheme, however, fails miserably in the end for Othello is neither sanctioned nor dismissed and is rather sent on a mission to defend Cyprus against a possible invasion by the Turks. This happens after Desdemona comes to her new husband's defense. Brabantio ends up a bitter man who feels betrayed by his daughter.

What role did politics play in the Industrial Revolution?

Politics played an important role in the Industrial Revolution. Most of the factories in our country prior to the Civil War were located in the North and Northeast. The political parties representing the North and Northeast supported policies that encouraged industrial growth. The Federalist Party and the National Republican Party were examples of political parties that supported the interests of northern businesses. These parties advocated for high protective tariffs and for a program of internal improvements. By protecting our industries, it would help them compete against the European industries. Building roads and canals made it easier for businesses to get their products to the marketplace. The North also supported the idea of having a national bank. The national bank gave businesses a place where they could put their money, and a place where they could get loans.

The Democratic-Republican Party usually represented the interests of farmers in the South. The Democratic-Republican Party supported policies that would help farmers. They opposed the protective tariff because it made it more expensive for farmers to buy the products they needed. The farmers usually could get these products cheaper from Europe, but with the protective tariff, those products were now more expensive. The Democratic-Republican Party was not in favor of internal improvement projects if they raised taxes. Much of the travel in the South was done by river. The Democratic-Republican Party also opposed the national bank. They believed the national bank favored the interests of businesses and not the interests of farmers.

Politics was a factor in the Industrial Revolution. It seemed as if the North and the South were on opposite sides of many issues that dealt with the Industrial Revolution.

What will happen if a producer is eliminated from the food chain?

All the components of the food chain are integrally connected to each other and modification at any level impacts all the other levels as well. The food chain consists of producers (such as plants), primary consumers (typically herbivores, such as deer, etc.), secondary consumers (typically carnivores, such as lion, etc.), etc. If any one of these is added or removed from the food chain, the entire chain will be affected. For example, if a producer is removed from the food chain, there would be less food available for the primary consumers, such as deer. This will result in a lower population of primary consumers or herbivores. This effect will also reflect in the population of carnivores, due to decreased amount of food. Reduced carnivore population will, in turn, require less food and herbivore population will ultimately stabilize to a new equilibrium. 

In the end, a new equilibrium (between various food chain components) will be established (assuming the removed producer was one of the many producers).

Hope this helps. 

What three clues are the most important in the plot of "The Adventure of the Speckled Band"?

The three most important clues are all seen by Sherlock Holmes in the room at Stoke Moran currently being occupied by Helen Stoner, which had been her sister Julia's room when she died two years ago. Holmes notices the ventilator between Helen's room and her stepfather Dr. Roylott's room directly next- door. He also discovers that the bell-rope beside Helen's bed is a dummy and that the bed itself is fastened to the floor with clamps. These three clues suggest an answer to the big question in this so-called "locked-room murder mystery": How could Julia have been murdered in a room with the door locked and the window covered with bolted iron shutters? After the the case has been solved and Dr. Roylott is dead, having been bitten by his own snake, Holmes explains his reasoning to Dr. Watson.

My attention was speedily drawn, as I have already remarked to you, to this ventilator, and to the bell-rope which hung down to the bed. The discovery that this was a dummy, and that the bed was clamped to the floor, instantly gave rise to the suspicion that the rope was there as a bridge for something passing through the hole and coming to the bed. The idea of a snake instantly occurred to me, and when I coupled it with my knowledge that the doctor was furnished with a supply of creatures from India, I felt that I was probably on the right track. 

Holmes puts his theory to the test by staying in Helen's bedroom overnight, accompanied by Watson. The doctor sends the trained Indian swamp adder through the ventilator in the middle of the night while the two men are waiting silently in the dark. They are not aware that the snake is on the bed until Roylott summons it back with a low whistle at around three-thirty in the morning. When Holmes hears the whistle, he lights a candle and begins beating the snake with his cane as it is climbing back up the bell-rope. This enrages the snake and causes it to bite Dr. Roylott who is unprepared for its sudden return through the ventilator. He dies instantly.

Thus Holmes solves the two-year-old mystery of Julia Stoner's death and saves his client Helen Stoner from the same fate.

How will opportunities at Purdue University support your interests, both inside and out of the classroom?

Purdue University is a top-ranked university. It is one of the schools in the Big Ten conference. Purdue offers a wide variety of programs to meet a person’s academic and social interests.

Purdue University offers a wide variety of programs in which a student can major. For students who want to major in a given language, Purdue offers programs in French, Russian, Japanese, and Spanish, among others. A student interested in education has several majors from which to choose. Purdue also has majors in Acting and Theatre. Various majors are available in different sciences, as well as in Economics, Agriculture, and History. Purdue also offers other programs in which to major.

Outside of the classroom, there are many opportunities in which students may participate. There are approximately 1,000 student organizations from which to choose. There are many sporting events to attend, as Purdue is a member of the Big Ten Conference. There are also various club and intramural activities in which students may participate. Purdue has performances in music and theatre that involve their students.

A student who attends Purdue University has many opportunities to pursue their interests both inside and outside of the classroom.

What do you think motivates Dexter to fall in love with Judy in "Winter Dreams"?

Much like F. Scott Fitzgerald himself, Dexter maintains the perception of the rich as possessing some magical quality; thus, he is easily motivated to fall in love with Judy in order to experience such magic.

When he first sees Judy at age fourteen, she is a younger girl, and he notices the "passionate quality of her eyes." Her smile, too. arrests him: it is "radiant, blatantly, artificial--convincing." Later on, Dexter describes this smile to himself as "preposterous." In a way Judy is Dexter's muse; that is, she inspires Dexter to become rich so that he can have a chance with her.

However, because Dexter's vision of Judy is unrealistic, serving only to inspire his own fantasies, his "winter dreams" become illusory and fated as he is "unconsciously dictated to by his winter dreams." While he does attain wealth, the magical quality is lacking, and Dexter is disappointed in his renewed relationship to Judy after he abandons Irene. For, she is

...entertained only by the gratification of her desires and by the direct exercise of her own charm.

Yet, tenaciously Dexter holds his dreams of Judy, and it is only when he learns years later of Judy's loss of beauty and her mistreatment by her husband, that Dexter sadly realizes that she, too, is made of clay. "The dream was gone. Something had been taken from him" when Dexter hears of Judy's mundane life that lacks any animation. Dexter has lost his "winter dreams."

Is Romeo and Juliet a love story?

In part, yes.  It's true that Romeo and Juliet are incredibly young, that they fall in love incredibly quickly, and that they behave rashly and recklessly at times.  I do not, however, think Shakespeare belittles their feelings or implies that their feelings are invalid simply because they are young.  Although some might scoff at their naivety, their feelings for one another feel incredibly real to them, and I think Shakespeare builds tension through his use of dramatic irony so deftly that the audience cannot help but be tugged along through their misfortunes with them.  Dramatic irony is when the audience knows more than the character — its purpose is to build tension in the play — and one of the most important examples of dramatic irony is the final scene, when we know Juliet will wake up at any moment just as Romeo sips the poison that will kill him.  If Shakespeare's intention was to satirize a contemporary obsession with romance, then he's gone to awfully great pains to make us feel the desperation and desire they feel.

Further, Romeo and Juliet are, in many ways, mature.  Romeo is rightfully angered in the beginning when he learns of the street fight, and, though other boys his age are acting aggressively, he does not.  Then, he initially refuses to engage Tybalt, speaking calmly and rationally to him in an attempt to defuse the situation.  Likewise, Juliet is resolute when she makes a decision, exhibiting great bravery in standing up to her parents who don't treat her very lovingly, as well as being willing to fake her own death.  These two aren't characterized as ridiculous; Shakespeare affords them and their feelings a lot of respect in the play.

Why do the people in To Kill A Mockingbird act the way they do around black people and why do they convict Tom after Atticus proves his innocence?...

When reading To Kill a Mockingbird, it's essential that you remember the time period in which the story takes place. Although it was written in 1960, it takes place in the 1930s, which was a difficult era for the United States, particularly in the South and other rural parts of the country.

The story takes place prior to the integration of blacks and whites, meaning that the two lived in very separate worlds, figuratively and literally. In general, many people during this time believed that black people were inferior to whites and treated them as such. There were, however, some people that didn't feel quite this way and made an effort to treat them as equally as they could without violating social expectations. Atticus, Jem, and Scout represent those people that were sympathetic to the black community and tried to treat them well, whereas Atticus' sister and many other characters represent the racist perspective.

Racism is perhaps one of the most complicated aspects of American culture, which is one of the things that Lee attempts to address in To Kill a Mockingbird. Many characters are portrayed sympathetically, even those that have racist feelings. These portrayals are all a part of Scout and Jem coming to realize that people are never just good or bad, but can in fact be both.

This conflict over race is critically important to the outcome of Tom Robinson's trial. Atticus clearly proves that Tom did not and could not have raped Mayella, while also proving that it was her father that attacked her. In the 1930s, the subjects of rape and incest simply weren't discussed the way that they are today and the idea that a father would do that to his daughter was unacceptable to many people. In light of that, the jury (and many townspeople) chose to find Tom guilty because the truth was too difficult to accept.

As for Atticus' wife, Lee is never clear about what happened to her, other than to say that she died. Like the other subjects, people in the 1930s didn't talk so openly about things like they do today and wouldn't have been likely to bring up her death unless there was a good reason.

Describe the events that led to the stranger visiting the village of Ilujinle in "The Lion and the Jewel."

Lakunle plays the role of the "lost traveler" who ends up in the remote village of Ilujinle. The mime scene begins when four girls enter the stage, pretending to be the wheels of a car. Lakunle takes his place in the middle of the girls and pretends to drive the vehicle. Lakunle portrays how the stranger's car breaks down in the middle of the jungle and he abandons it to begin his aimless trek. Before he leaves his car, he takes his helmet, a camera, and a flask of whisky. The forest is ominous, and when Lakunle attempts to rest his head against a tree, a snake slithers by and scares him. The stranger runs and continues to take swigs of his whisky to calm his nerves. Then, a monkey drops down into the middle of the path and quickly scampers off. Lakunle hears a roar and takes another swig, then begins to chug the alcohol. He gets upset at his unfortunate situation and begins to beat the ground until he hears a woman singing. The traveler is convinced he's hearing noises and takes the last drink from his flask before he throws the flask into the jungle. He hears a splash and then the sound of someone screaming as if they'd been hit by the flask. Lakunle walks towards the bushes and peers out through them. He takes his camera out and begins to snap photos. In the midst of taking photos, he carelessly slips and falls into the body of the water. Then, Sidi appears wearing a piece of cloth partially covering her. The traveler loses everything except his camera, and is taken to the center of town in front of the 'Odan' tree. Baroka enters the stage from behind the tree and greets the traveler as the scene ends.

How is a motif different from a theme?

Motifs and themes are deeply interconnected; however motifs can be understood as a literary device that is deployed in order to build or concretize a particular theme—whereby the theme is the central message, motifs are the repetition of specific symbols, images, or ideas. However, it is important to note that not all symbols, images, and ideas are motifs; they may also be a metaphor or used to represent the meaning of some real thing (unrestricted by the context of text)—it is only when they are recurring and allude back to the overarching plot that symbols become motifs. The presentation of motifs can be either in the form of a single object, a collection of related objects, or even a collection of seemingly unrelated objects. 

37.0 gallons of water flow past a given point in Cicero Creek every second. How many milliliters flow past that point each minute?

You need to convert from gallons/second to milliliters/hour. You can do this using a series of conversion factors to go from gallons to milliliters and from seconds to hours. A conversion factor gives the relationship between two units. Start with the given quantity, and multiply it by conversion factors so that the units you've started with cancel out and you're left with the units you want. This method is called dimensional analysis.

You'll need conversion factors that tell you how many milliliters are in a gallon and how many seconds are in an hour. You can use conversion factors that give intermediate steps, for example I know that There are 3.8 liters in a gallon and 1000 milliliters in a liter, so I'll use two conversion factors to convert from gallons to milliliters. Likewise, I'll use two factors to convert from seconds to hours:

37 gallons/second x (3.8 liters/gallon) x (1000 ml/liter) x

(60 seconds/1 minute) x (60 minutes/1 hour)

= (37)(3.8)(1000)(60)(60) milliliters/hour = 5.06 x 10^8 ml/hour 

Gallons, liters, seconds and minutes all canceled out to leave ml/hour. 

Every conversion factor has a reciprocal that used for the opposite operation. If I was converting from liters to gallons I'd use (1 gallon/3.8 liters) so that liters would cancel out and I'd end up with gallons. 

Four glass bottles containing clear, colourless solutions are left on a lab bench with the following labels lying nearby in a jumbled pile; Pb...

We know that bottles 1 and 3 are cations. Cations are positively charged ions. Thus, Pb+2 and Ag+ could be bottles 1 and 3.

Likewise, we know that bottle 2 and 4 are anions. Anions are negatively charged ions. Thus, Cl- and SO4-2 could be bottle 2 and 4.

Precipitates are solids that fall out of a liquid solution that is made from two soluble salts. A salt is composed of a cation and anion. Thus, the following salts are possible in this lab with the reagents that are given. A solubility table was used to determine whether or not each possible salt is soluble or insoluble.

• PbCl2 = Soluble


• PbSO4 =Insoluble 


• AgCl = Insoluble


• (Ag)2SO4 = Slightly soluble

Therefore, some sort of precipitate will form when lead (II) and sulfate are mixed, silver (I) and chloride are mixed, and when silver (I) and sulfate are mixed.

Thus, the bottles can be identified as follows:

• Bottle 1 must be Ag+ because it is found in two of the insoluble products.


• Bottle 3 must be Pb+2 because it is the only other cation that is left.


• Bottle 2 must be SO4-2 because it is the only anion that is involved in the formation precipitate formation.


• Thus, out of the process of elimination, bottle 4 must be Cl-.

This should be sufficient information to complete your table.

`||bbv|| = 7/2, theta = 150^@` Find the component form of `bbv` given its magnitude and the angle it makes with the positive x-axis.

The magnitude of a vector `u = a*i + b*j` , such that:

`|u| = sqrt(a^2+b^2)`

Since the problem provides the magnitude `|v| = 7/2` , yields:

`7/2 = sqrt(a^2+b^2)`

The direction angle of the vector can be found using the formula, such that:

`tan theta = b/a`

Since the problem provides the direction angle` theta = 150^o` , yields:

`tan 150^o = b/a `

`tan 150^o = tan(180^o - 30^o) = (tan 180^o - tan 30^o)/(1 + tan 180^o* tan 30^o) = -tan 30^o`

`tan 150^o = -sqrt3/3 => b/a = -sqrt3/3 => b = -a*sqrt3/3`

Replacing `-a*sqrt3/3` for b in equation `7/2 = sqrt(a^2+b^2)` yields:

`7/2 = sqrt(a^2+a^2/3)=> 7/2 = +-2a/sqrt3 => 4a = +-7sqrt3 => a = +-(7sqrt3)/4`

`b = +-7/4`

Hence, the component form of the vector v can be `<(7sqrt3)/4,-7/4> ` or `<-(7sqrt3)/4,7/4>.`

Was the U.S justified in going to war with Mexico?

The United States went to war with Mexico in 1846 in what is known as the Mexican-American War. I will share both sides of the issue regarding whether the United States was justified in going to war with Mexico. Then, you will be able to make an informed choice.

There were people who believed we were justified in going to war with Mexico. There was a border dispute between the United States and Mexico over the border with Texas. We said the border was at the Rio Grande River, and Mexico said it was at the Nueces River. When we went to negotiate with Mexico, they refused to meet with us. Thus, when the Mexicans attacked our troops that were in the disputed territory, we went to war against Mexico.

The United States was also looking for a way to expand to the Pacific Ocean. We believed it was our duty to expand to the Pacific Ocean. This was part of a general plan our expansion known as Manifest Destiny. We believed we had a responsibility to bring our way of life and our progress and improvement in general to the lands in western part of what is now the United States.

There are people who believed we weren’t justified in going to war with Mexico. These people believed it was wrong to manufacture a war in order for us to spread our way of life to areas by the Pacific Ocean. They believed the concept of Manifest Destiny was a concept that put down other cultures and ways of living. These people didn’t subscribe to the feeling that it was acceptable for us to push our ways onto other people.

Those who believed we weren’t justified in going to war with Mexico believed we provoked the Mexicans by moving our troops into the disputed territory. They believed this was a provocative action toward Mexico that left Mexico with little choice but to attack us. These people believed we could have worked harder at reaching a peaceful solution with Mexico.

Now that you have ideas on both sides of the issue, do you believe we were justified in going to war against Mexico in 1846?

Gladwell points out that Terman's "Termites" could be divided into three groups based upon their success. What factors did the members of group A...

Gladwell refers to the psychological study conducted by Lewis Terman three times. The analysis of the A, B, and C groups appears in Chapter Four, “The Trouble with Geniuses, Part 2.” Beginning in the 1920s, Terman studied 1,470 California children whose IQs averaged more than 140. Because of the researcher’s surname, the “young geniuses” became known as “Termites.” After they reached adulthood, Terman divided the individuals into groups he called A, B, and C, depending on the types of jobs they had and how successful they had become. The people in Group A were the top of the crop. They included doctors, lawyers, and engineers. 90% of them had graduated from college. The majority of them came from homes in the middle and upper class – homes that were filled with books. Terman’s study showed that even the smartest people also needed a supportive community around them in order to advance well in life. Those that didn’t have that family background were more likely to land in groups B or C.

What does Bud think when he sees Mr. Calloway's face in Bud, Not Buddy? What does Lefty Lewis intend to use the papers for in Bud, Not Buddy?

The answers to both questions are fairly simple.  The answer to the first question about what Bud thinks about his father’s face is one word:  old.  Bud has just walked into the nightclub on his own, thinking that his father is inside.  Bud is specifically looking for Herman E. Calloway, which is the name Bud has always treasured because it is on the flyer in his suitcase.  As Bud listens to the members of the band talk, Bud recognizes many similarities between himself and one man whose face is hidden from view.  As the man continues to exaggerate (something that Bud does as well), Bud further convinces himself that this man is Bud’s father.  Bud desperately wants to see his father’s face.  When the man turns around, Bud is very surprised.  Bud says, “My dad’s face was old.”

The answer to your second question is also simple:  Lefty Lewis intends to use the papers to help organize a labor union for Pullman porters (the men who work on trains).  The box that Lefty asks Bud to hide under the seat (when they are stopped by a policeman) contains flyers to help with this endeavor.

What purpose does the dog serve in "To Build a Fire"? How do London's descriptions of the dog reveal its purpose?

Without the dog, the unnamed protagonist would be all alone. That would force the author Jack London to remain inside the man's mind from beginning to end. This could become tedious. The dog offers a diversion. Although the dog cannot talk, it is almost like a conversation between two characters because they have two different points of view. Jack London was very good at interpreting what was going on in dogs' minds, as he did in in his novel The Call of the Wild, although he might have been taking some "poetic license" and did not really know what a dog or any other animal might be "thinking." Here is a good example of how Jack London makes the shift away from the man's consciousness into that of the dog:

The animal was depressed by the tremendous cold. It knew that it was no time for traveling. Its instinct told it a truer tale than was told to the man by the man's judgment. In reality, it was not merely colder than fifty below zero; it was colder than sixty below, than seventy below. It was seventy-five below zero. Since the freezing-point is thirty-two above zero, it meant that one hundred and seven degrees of frost obtained. The dog did not know anything about thermometers. Possibly in its brain there was no sharp consciousness of a condition of very cold such as was in the man's brain. But the brute had its instinct. It experienced a vague but menacing apprehension that subdued it and made it slink along at the man's heels, and that made it question eagerly every unwonted movement of the man as if expecting him to go into camp or to seek shelter somewhere and build a fire. The dog had learned fire, and it wanted fire, or else to burrow under the snow and cuddle its warmth away from the air.

Oddly enough, we learn a great deal from the dog even though it is an animal and can neither think nor speak. It relies on its instinct, but it has a long lineage going back into the prehistoric past. Its ancestors were wolves. Those who survived in this merciless environment passed on the instincts that had enabled them to do so. Ironically, the dog knows a great deal more than the man but is unable to tell him anything. The man would not listen anyway. The dog's other purpose is to show the contrast between instinct and judgment. Every time we find ourselves in the dog's point of view, we invariably feel that the dog is in most respects not only wiser but better than the brutal man. In the end, the man freezes to death in the snow while the dog trots away looking for shelter and warmth. We feel that the dog is lucky not only to have survived, but to have gotten away from such a cruel and selfish master.

In 1951,the Iranian Prime Minister placed the oil industry in Iran under the Iranian government’s control. What was US reaction?

The US Reaction to Iranian Prime Minister Mossadegh's nationalization of the oil industry was to participate in his removal from power.

Upon being democratically elected, Prime Minister Mossadgegh started to make significant moves to nationalize the Iranian oil supply. This was in direct opposition to the British.  The American Secretary of State Dean Acheson remarked Mossadegh's nationalization efforts helped to spur a British approach that was "destructive, and determined on a rule-or-ruin policy in Iran."  British leaders soon employed the help of the United States.

Fearful that Mossadegh's nationalization of oil would move Iran closer to Soviet-style rule, American President Eisenhower supported the British plan to remove the Prime Minister from power.  In a letter written to Mossadegh about a month before the coup, Eisenhower displayed the US reaction to Iranian nationalization of oil reserves:

The failure of Iran and of the United Kingdom to reach an agreement with regard to compensation and handicapped the Government of the United States in its efforts to help Iran.  There is a strong feeling in the United Stats... that it would not be fair to the American taxpayers for the United States Government to extend any considerable amount of economic aid to Iran so long as Iran could have access to funds derived from the sail of its oil...

American reaction to Iranian nationalization was to recognize that its own interests were being threatened.  It is for this reason that American intelligence orchestrated and participated in the Mossadegh's removal from power.   Upon the declassification of documents that reflected such American involvement, President Obama said that "In the middle of the Cold War, the United States played a role in the overthrow of a democratically elected Iranian government."  

What four metaphors does Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. use?

I am assuming that your question is about King's famous "I Have a Dream" speech, delivered August 28, 1963.  King used more than four metaphors in this speech, but I will discuss two for you, and perhaps you can find two more yourself. Remember, a metaphor is a way of expressing something in terms of something else, so that if I say, "My life is all sunshine," I am expressing that my life is filled with warmth and light and probably happiness.

One of the metaphors King uses is a monetary metaphor, introduced by saying he and other African-Americans were at the capital to "cash a check," (para. 4.), a kind of "promissory note" (para. 4) promised to all Americans in the Declaration of Independence. But, King argues, this was "bad check, a check which has come back marked 'insufficient funds'" (para. 4).  King says he refuses to believe that the check is bad, so the time has come to cash it, demanding "the riches of freedom and the security of justice" (para. 5). Thus, a check is a metaphor for our inalienable rights, rights that have been denied to African-Americans, but that should be available upon demand for all. 

King also uses geographical metaphors, specifically valleys and mountains. He refers to African-Americans being in "the valley of despair" (para. 15), and exhorts American to "rise up" (para. 17), to bring equality to all.  Sometimes his geographical metaphor switches a bit, for example, to mean he wants even ground for everyone, for example, saying this,

I have a dream that one day every valley shall be exalted, and every hill and mountain shall be made low, the rough places will be made plain.... (para. 24).

In fact, we have a metaphor we use today that is very similar and not nearly as poetic, when we say we want a level playing field for everyone.  There are other geographical metaphors, too, in this speech.

Metaphors are so important because they allow us to visualize ideas in a concrete way, and King was particularly good at this.  Look for other metaphors in the speech, for example, some weather metaphors and a palace metaphor. This is a great speech to practice metaphor-spotting skills!

Are "Araby" by James Joyce and "La Belle Dame sans Merci" by John Keats two good pieces to do a compare and contrast essay on, and if so, how?

At first I thought that this might not be such a good idea because one is a short story and the other is a poem, but it occurs to me that you might enjoy the challenge of comparing and contrasting the two. What they have in common is the theme of disillusionment, or disenchantment. They also deal heavily in the theme of love. You might compare the characters of the two love objects. The girl in "Araby" is a very young, simple, innocent type; whereas the Lady in "La Belle Dame sans merci" is extremely complicated, sinister, and dangerous. We are not sure she is real or only a spirit. "Araby" is a modern story, whereas "La Belle Dame sans merci" is very deliberately medieval. The narrator of "Araby" is telling his own story. The narrator of Keats' poem is telling the story of another man, a knight at arms, who fell in love with a supernatural woman and was just another one of her many conquests. 

I would assume that your thesis would have to do with the fact that the two pieces were written many years apart and deal with different kinds of love, yet they are similar in evoking strong feelings of disappointment, disillusionment, and disenchantment. Although the narrator of "Araby" is still very young, he is just as much in love with Mangan's sister as the knight was with the Belle Dame sans merci. Both lovers are left "forlorn," to use Keats' word. 

If you feel like writing such an essay, you ought to go ahead with it. You may come up with ideas that will surprise you. Our intuition is often the best guide in choosing topics and developing them.

From Lois Lowry's The Giver, what is the purpose of the morning injections?

There are no injections in Lois Lowry's The Giver. The morning injections, however, are shown in the movie adaptation. The book has everyone take pills each morning, but the movie does show Jonas swiping his wrist over a technological device to receive the injections rather than taking a pill. The injections in the movie offer the same treatment as the pills in the book, though. Both are first administered to young adults as they start to experience the "stirrings." The stirrings are the beginnings of sexual awareness, basically. As each person takes the pill each day, these feelings are suppressed so no one will prefer one person over another. In a world where Sameness is the doctrine for living, if someone preferred to be with one person rather than another, then feelings of differentiation would start to exist--and they can't have that in a society that prohibits living with one's own birth parents.

"Pedaling rapidly down the path, Jonas felt oddly proud to have joined those who took the pills. For a moment, though, he remembered the dream again. The dream had felt pleasurable. . . he thought that he had liked the feelings that his mother had called Stirrings. . . Then, in the same way that his dwelling slipped away behind him as he rounded a corner on this bicycle, the dream slipped away from his thoughts" (39).

As shown above, the pills work very quickly to eliminate the thoughts as well as the feelings that are associated with anything sexual. Jonas isn't down the street for more than a minute before he forgets about the dream he had and the Stirrings go away. This is just another way that the community controls people from a very early age in order to ensure their safety and status quo.

Why did the Drover family leave London?

The Drover family left London to escape the bombings from German planes during World War II. These bombings were called the Blitz. Blitz was short for "Blitzkrieg," which meant "lightning war." German planes dropped bombs over London many times. In 1940, the Germans dropped bombs onto London for almost sixty nights in a row. The citizens of London had to seek shelter every night during this time. Some had backyard or neighborhood shelters. Others found safety in London Underground stations. Many people relocated to the country, boarding up their houses. The Drover family chose to relocate to the country. They hired a caretaker to look after their boarded-up London house.

When Mrs. Drover arrived at her London home, she noticed that "there were some cracks in the structure, left by the last bombing." She found her house dark because the windows were covered with boards. In the street outside her home, Mrs. Drover saw "broken chimneys and parapets." As she walked down the street near the end of the story, "the unoccupied houses opposite continued to meet her look with their damaged stare." There was evidence throughout the story of what London had become. Houses were abandoned and buildings were in ruins. Some were still standing, but damaged. Even though the bombings had stopped for a time by August of 1941, the Drover family stayed in the country. This was most likely to avoid future bombings. It could also have been because of how much destruction had occurred near their home.

How would I argue that the Hobbit book is better than the film in a persuasive essay?

This is totally dependent on your own perspective, but there are many avenues that you could pursue in order to illustrate why you think J.R.R. Tolkien's The Hobbit is better than Peter Jackson's film adaptations that have been artificially stretched across three films. For one, you could mention that Jackson takes liberties with the source material, and that the decision to stretch The Hobbit, the shortest of Tolkien's four books of The Lord of the Rings saga, into three movies was purely for financial gain. Or perhaps you could argue that you find Tolkien's prose more immersive than the directorial style of Jackson. Perhaps you enjoy what you imagine when you read the book over what Jackson presents on the screen. However you decide to approach your argument, what's most important is that you make your point clearly and concisely, and convey a sense of authority. 

What are the functions of earth wire, neutral wire and switches?

In domestic electrical connections, we have three different types of wiring: live or hot wire, neutral wire and earth wire. Each electrical circuit is composed of these wires, each of which is color coded. The live or hot wire is black in color, while the neutral is white and the earth wire is typically green in color. For an electrical appliance to work, the circuit must be complete. This simply means that the current should flow from a source, through the appliance and back to source. The live wire carries the current to the appliance, while the neutral wire carries it back. The earth wire is for our protection, in case the live wire makes a contact with metal casing of an appliance. When this happens, the current will pass to the earth instead of our body, thus saving us.

A switch is used to connect or disconnect (break) a circuit. When a switch is in 'on' position, the current will flow and when it is in "off" position, the current flow ceases.

Hope this helps. 

What is the mood, the author's purpose and the sensory language in "The Veldt?"

The mood in Ray Bradbury's "The Veldt" is one of foreboding. From the opening, in which Mrs. Hadley asks her husband to look at the nursery and he asks what's "wrong" with it, we know that something is amiss in the Happylife Home. Sensory language heightens the reader's unease, especially in the nursery, where the children love to watch scenes of the African veldt. The parents hear screams when they observe the veldt, and Bradbury describes the veldt in rich but disturbing detail:

And here were the lions now, fifteen feet away, so real, so feverishly and startlingly real that you could feel the prickling fur on your hand, and your mouth was stuffed with the dusty upholstery smell of their heated pelts, and the yellow of them was in your eyes like the yellow of an exquisite French tapestry, the yellows of lions and summer grass, and the sound of the matted lion lungs exhaling on the silent noontide, and the smell of meat from the panting, dripping mouths. The lions stood looking at George and Lydia Hadley with terrible green-yellow eyes.

Given the parents' worries about their children and the effect the house is having on them, the sensory language around the house's caretaking qualities takes on a sinister cast. The house might be one that "clothed and fed and rocked them to sleep" but what if all this activity is doing more harm that good?

Bradbury's purpose is to alert people to the dangers of letting technology control their lives and particularly, to be alert to the ways technology can control the minds of impressionable children. 

What is the role of the inquisitor and the Dominican priests in Joan's trial?

In Scene VI, Joan is on trial for heresy; in the ecclesiastical court scene, the inquisitor is named as one Brother John Lemaitre. As an inquisitor, he is a judge, along with the Bishop of Beauvais, Pierre Cauchon. The prosecutor or promoter is Canon John D'Estivet. Dominican priests or monks are also present at the proceedings; they are labeled as 'assessors' or monitors who oversee the trial. During the proceedings, Ladvenu, a Dominican monk, asks whether there can be any harm in a simple girl's religious conviction and attendant sensibilities. He questions the necessity of labeling such a girl a heretic.

The Inquisitor's answer is eloquent but resolute in tone. He warns his fellow monks to refrain from supposing that evil can be easily ascertained from the outward demeanor of the accused.

This girl is not one of those whose hard features are the sign of hard hearts, and whose brazen looks and lewd demeanor condemn them before they are accused. The devilish pride that has led her into her present peril has left no mark on her countenance. Strange as it may seem to you, it has even left no mark on her character outside those special matters in which she is proud; so that you will see a diabolical pride and a natural humility seated side by side in the selfsame soul. Therefore be on your guard.

In 1231, Pope Gregory IX charged both the Franciscan and the Dominican orders with the responsibility of rooting out heretics from the Catholic Church. In due time, the Dominican order of friars who became inquisitors, prosecutors, and assessors during ecclesiastical trials became known as the 'Hounds of God,' a negative appellation. The order was respected for its emphasis on academic purity in matters of theology and its unswerving fidelity in removing heresy from the ranks of the Catholic Church. The Inquisition was most active in France (where Joan was tried) and in Italy. Joan's own trial was on May 30, 1431.

Accordingly, the inquisitor, as the judge, has the right to raise an accusation against anyone. However, he must question the accused before at least two witnesses. During Joan's trial, Dominican monks are present in order to monitor or to assess the proceedings of the court. Meanwhile, the Bishop slyly manipulates the assessors to view Joan's actions as heretical rebellion against the authority of the Catholic Church. Joan does recant and is sentenced to perpetual imprisonment. However, she rebels against the court's decision and is subsequently condemned to be burnt at the stake. Throughout the proceedings, the Inquisitor, with the support of his Dominican brothers, has full authority to decide Joan's fate.

Explain why the early colonies had to "look to the east" rather than "to the west".

Early colonists had to look to the east for a number of reasons. The first was economic. Most colonies, Jamestown for example, depended on the mother country, or more accurately on the companies that founded them, for supplies and financial backing. They also had to become financially lucrative for their backers in England to justify their existence. While some were more explicitly motivated by the desire for profit than others, all of the colonies in their early stages were to some extent business ventures. 

Another reason was political. The colonies owed their legitimacy (even the Massachusetts Bay Colony, whose founders wisely took their charter with them) to the Crown. All of the colonies replicated, in some form or another, English common law, including the courts, local officials, and representative bodies. Before long, most colonies were governed by royal appointees, sent as the Crown's representative. Even the independent-minded Puritans were English subjects, and they thought of themselves in this way.

Still another reason is best described as strategic. The early colonists did not know that the footholds they established in North America would be permanent. They could not count on expanding into the West--in fact, the first generations of colonists were hemmed in by Native peoples for whom "looking (facing) east," as historian Daniel Richter has put it, was a matter of necessity. This brings up another sense (as Richter explains in the book linked below) in which "looking east" was essential for the colonists. They had to immediately involve themselves in the politics and customs of Native peoples, conducting war and diplomacy on their terms, not their own. The early colonists were in no position to dictate or really even alter the realities on the ground in North America. They stepped into complex political and diplomatic situations that they had to learn to navigate in order to survive, trade, and ultimately expand. So this is another sense in which they had to "look East": they had to see things, or at least try to understand things, as American Indians did, or be destroyed. 

On what page does it say how Boo Radley's Father died? Did Boo Radley kill him? Is Boo the youngest son?

One way to remember one Radley from another is by the way Scout refers to each one. Mr. Radley is the father; Mr. Nathan Radley is the older brother; and Arthur Radley is the younger brother whose nickname is Boo. When Scout talks to Miss Maudie or her father about Boo Radley, she either corrects herself or is corrected to call him Arthur Radley and not not by his nickname. The way the names "Boo" and "Arthur" are used interchangeably can cause a reader some confusion.

Mr. Radley's death is explained in chapter one as follows:

"But there came a day when Atticus told us he'd wear us out if we made any noise in the yard and commissioned Calpurnia to serve in his absence if she heard a sound out of us. Mr. Radley was dying. . . He took his time about it" (12).

The passage suggests that Mr. Radley must have been laid up in bed sick before his death because the children needed to be quiet for a long time. Therefore, no one killed Mr. Radley. Arthur (Boo) Radley's brother Nathan then comes to live with his younger brother after Mr. Radley dies. Nathan shouldn't be considered all bad because it is kind of him to come take care of his younger brother after their father passes; but, he is described as being just as mean as his father was.

How does Uri positively influence Misha?

I am always fascinated by the character of Uri each time I read Milkweed because, yes, Uri does certainly influence Misha in a positive way even in the midst of the Holocaust.

Uri's positive role is defined by his actions as father-figure to a group of boys, including Misha.  In fact, the boys are dependent upon Uri for their survival.  Uri is confident not only in how to be a father but how to take care of his little charges.  Uri's main desire is to protect the boys from the truths behind the Holocaust.

Uri's role as father-figure with Misha, though, is particularly intricate.  Not only does Uri give Misha an identity to cling to but also protects him from reality.  One of the ways Uri protects Misha is by dismissing Misha's questions and/or speaking in a very evasive and general way.  In this way, Uri protects Misha from the arrival of the Nazis to their specific area as well as from the action of the Jews being moved to the ghettos.  This serves as protection of innocence for the character of Misha.

Therefore, as you can see, by being a positive father-figure for Misha, Uri certainly does positively influence Misha. Uri does this by protecting Misha's innocence throughout the story.

How does Macbeth's "dagger soliloquy" in Act 2, scene 1 affect the atmosphere in this particular instance?

In order to correctly address this question, one has to understand the concept of atmosphere in its literate context. Atmosphere, in literature, "refers to the feeling, emotion, or mood a writer conveys to a reader through the description of setting and objects" (Gentry, study.com)

In Macbeth's soliloquy, the atmosphere is primarily surreal since it contains elements of the supernatural. Macbeth's dagger soliloquy adds to this atmosphere and emphasizes the demonic purpose of Macbeth's quest, which is to commit murder. One can almost feel the dark forces gathering around to urge him toward his foul deed. When he imagines seeing the dagger before him, one senses the chill of malevolence that he himself is experiencing.

Macbeth questions the dagger's appearance and rhetorically asks whether it is real or just a figment of his imagination, brought about by a 'heat oppressed brain.' Clearly, the commission of his crime is what has been uppermost in Macbeth's mind and he is both anxious and afraid of proceeding to what would be the enactment of a most malicious and treacherous act.

The atmosphere becomes suspenseful when Macbeth notices the dagger leading him to Duncan's chamber. He declares that his eyes are made the fools of the other senses or are 'worth all the rest' implying that either his eyes are deceiving him or that they are better attuned to the circumstances than all the rest of the senses put together. His vision is, therefore, sharper and he can clearly envision the probable outcome of what he is about to do. In this regard then, the dagger provides a premonition of what is to come. 

This idea is affirmed when Macbeth continues seeing the vision but now it displays gobs of blood on its blade which were absent before. Macbeth strives to erase the vision by declaring that it 'is the bloody business which informs thus to mine eyes.' He accedes that it is his mission to murder the king in his bed that is affecting his mind and causing him to hallucinate.  

Macbeth is obviously overwhelmed by the malice of his intended act and he refers to the overwhelming darkness into which he is enfolded, both literally and figuratively. It is a time when evil is afoot and murder has been awakened. He refers to Hecate, the goddess of witchcraft and supreme leader of all witches. He mentions murder, which he personifies, stating that it has been awoken by its sentinel, the wolf, also a creature of darkness, to move secretly through the night towards its target.

These descriptions enhance the foreboding atmosphere and create a mood of malice and pernicious rancor. He alludes to Tarquin, an evil and tyrannical king responsible for the rape of Lucrece. Just as Tarquin moved 'with ravishing strides, towards his design,' does murder now move towards Duncan's chamber to fulfill its fell purpose. Macbeth's allusions are, of course, direct references to himself, for that is exactly what he is about. It is for this reason that he asks:

Thou sure and firm-set earth,
Hear not my steps, which way they walk, for fear
Thy very stones prate of my whereabout,
And take the present horror from the time,
Which now suits with it. Whiles I threat, he lives:
Words to the heat of deeds too cold breath gives.

He does not want to be discovered and asks, by way of an apostrophe, that the earth and the cobblestones not to hear his footsteps, for he fears discovery. The time is ripe for him to commit his foul deed for, as long as he only threatens to kill Duncan, the king lives and it cannot be so. Duncan must die. It is this most foul design that creates an atmosphere of surreal and supernatural foreboding.