what contrary images of life and death do you find in the poem On killing a tree ?

The poem On Killing A Tree, by Gieve Patel, presents vivid images of the resilience of trees and describes how difficult it is to kill them.

By using so many descriptions of life and juxtaposing them with the darker images of death, Patel is able to explain to the reader that trees take significant effort to kill. They cannot be taken down by "a simple jab of the knife."

It has grown
Slowly consuming the earth,
Rising out of it, feeding
Upon its crust, absorbing
Years of sunlight, air, water,
And out of its leperous hide
Sprouting leaves.

This part of the first major stanza describes the flourishing of the tree, how it has been given life by the earth around it. The words such as "grown," "feeding," and "sprouting" all carry positive connotations and create images of life and health. These images are directly juxtaposed with the following stanzas that detail exactly how to take that life away.

The following stanza begins "So hack and chop / But this alone wont do it." The description of the bark "healing" and the green twigs rising from the ground emphasizes the life that exists within the tree, despite trying to chop it down.

The next two stanzas explain that if you want to kill a tree, you must pull it out by the roots.

Then the matter
Of scorching and choking
In sun and air

This image directly contrasts with the stanza I mentioned above, where the tree is shown flourishing and healthy. At the end of the poem, the tree "chokes" and dies. However, it is important to remember that the images of death and dying still elicit thoughts of life, because how can something die if it never lived?

Hope this helps!

How would you describe Octavius Caesar in Antony and Cleopatra by William Shakespeare?

Octavius Caesar is self-assured and cunning, so he is able to take advantage of the weaknesses of others.

Octavius Caesar lived up to his name.  As the promising young heir to Julius Caesar, Octavius was involved in politics and military life at a high level from a teenager.  Caesar’s untimely death catapulted him to power, because he was able to take advantage of his position and his intelligence.

In the beginning, Octavius needed Mark Antony.  He formed a triumvirate with Antony and Lepidus, a man both considered irrelevant.  It did not take Octavius long to eliminate Lepidus.  That left Antony as his only barrier to power.

One of Octavius’s greatest strengths is that he understood people.  He realized that Antony was ruthless and ambitious, but not nearly as intelligent or capable.  It was relatively easy for Octavius to outmaneuver him.  He used Antony’s weaknesses, such as his pride and his lust, against him.

A good example of Octavius’s manipulation of Antony is Octavia’s marriage.  Octavius arranged a political marriage between his sister and Mark Antony, even though he knew that Antony had a thing going with Cleopatra.  Octavius figured that Antony would either be loyal to him because of his sister, or he would have a strong reason to move against Antony if he stayed with Cleopatra.  The people of Rome were intolerant of Antony’s affair with a foreigner and didn't want him to take the relationship too seriously.

When Antony had a public ceremony with Cleopatra and their children, Octavius used it against him.  He also read his own will and Antony’s will to the people of Rome.  Antony’s will, which Octavius stole from the Vestal Virgins, was very embarrassing for him.  It gave Roman territory to Cleopatra’s children.  The Roman people considered this an outrage.

In military campaigns, Octavius was successful because he had good leaders.  Agrippa was a genius at naval battles, an area where Antony had little experience.  Antony’s men also deserted him in droves, not anxious to get into a civil war between Octavius and Antony.

As Antony is falling apart, Octavius remains collected.  Antony tries to irritate him and send a message by whipping his messenger, but Octavius sees it as a sign of weakness.  Antony offers to fight him, and Octavius laughs it off.

OCTAVIUS CAESAR

He calls me boy; and chides, as he had power
To beat me out of Egypt; my messenger
He hath whipp'd with rods; dares me to personal combat,
Caesar to Antony: let the old ruffian know
I have many other ways to die; meantime
Laugh at his challenge. (Act 5, Scene 1)

Octavius realizes that he has nothing to prove to Antony.  Antony is on the way down, and all he has to do is stay the course and then move in and pick up the pieces.  He gains strength as Antony loses it.

Octavius’s ruthless and cunning nature is demonstrated by Cleopatra’s reaction to seeing him.  Octavius successfully defeated Antony, who killed himself rather than be captured.  Cleopatra saw in Octavius an enemy.  She could not seduce him as she had done Julius Caesar and Mark Antony. 

CLEOPATRA

He words me, girls, he words me, that I should not
Be noble to myself: but, hark thee, Charmian. (Act 5, Scene 2) 

She killed herself.  She knew that she had no other options, because Octavius would march her in triumph through Rome.  In the end, he did still have her three children with Antony, although he killed her son with Caesar.  With Antony out of the way, he was free to become Augustus, the first emperor of Rome.

In Shakespeare's The Merchant of Venice, how does Antonio describe his sad mood in Act 1, Scene 1?

The Merchant of Venice opens by describing Antonio's sadness, and indeed, his melancholic state becomes a recurrence throughout the rest of the play. Antonio describes his sadness as a mystery - he claims not to know why he is sad - but close examination of the play's language and Antonio's motivations throughout the play may reveal the source of his melancholy.

To illustrate, consider the opening lines of the play, in which Antonio states,

"In sooth I know not why I am so sad.It wearies me, you say it wearies you;
But how I caught it, found it, or came by it,
What stuff 'tis made of, whereof it is born,
I am to learn..." (1.1.1-5)

In these first lines of the play, Antonio states that he is sad and does not know why. It is important that Shakespeare inserts these lines as the first in Act 1, Scene 1, as they establish that Antonio is a melancholy character and that his sadness will come to define much of his character as the play continues. Furthermore, although Antonio does not know why he is sad, his friends think they have an answer: Solanio thinks his "affections" are with his "hopes abroad," (1.1.16-17) or in other words, that Antonio is worried about his mercantile ventures. As Antonio is the play's titular "Merchant of Venice," it might make sense that he is worried about his monetary ventures, and indeed, his friend Salerio agrees that "Antonio / Is sad to think upon his merchandise" (1.1.39-40).

However, Antonio denies that he is worried about his money, as his "ventures are not in one bottom trusted" (1.1.42); in other words, he has many ships abroad and does not need to worry about the fate of any one particular ship. To this rebuttal, Solanio responds that the only other explanation is that Antonio is in love, to which Antonio replies "Fie, fie!" (an expression of disgust or outrage, here meant to imply denial) (1.1.47).

Of course, as with many of the characters' statements in the play, we must take Antonio's statements with a grain of salt. His denial of being in love is immediately contrasted with his avowals of love for his friend Bassanio later in the scene, when Bassanio seeks a loan from Antonio in order to court a woman, Portia. To Bassanio's request, he says, "My purse, my person, my extremest means / Lie unlocked to your occasions" (1.1.138-139). In other words, Antonio "loves" Bassanio, and is willing to do anything for him; and in this case, Antonio is willing to help Bassanio acquire a large loan to court Portia, even if it means losing his best friend to marriage. Indeed, many critics have identified this loss of Bassanio's love as the source of Antonio's sadness.

So in summary, Antonio opens the play by saying he is sad, but does not know why. This fact is important for Antonio's characterization, as he remains a melancholic character in the play. Furthermore, Solanio and Solerio suggest Antonio is sad about his ships, or that he is in love, but Antonio denies both accusations. However, it is likely that the true source of his sadness is that Bassanio is seeking a wife, and Bassanio's eventual marriage will erode the close friendship between the two men.

A ball is thrown upward with an initial velocity of 9.8 m/s. How high does it reach before it starts descending? Choose only one from the...

To solve, apply the third formula.

`v_(fy)^2 = v_(iy)^2+2gd_y`

Take note that when the ball reaches the maximum height, its velocity is zero. So plugging in the values 

`v_(iy)=9.8` m/s

`v_(fy) = 0`

`g=-9.8` m/s^2

the formula becomes

`0^2= 9.8^2 + 2(-9.8)d_y`

`0=96.04 - 19.6d_y`

`19.6d_y = 96.04`

`d_y=96.04/19.6`

`d_y=4.9`

Therefore, the maximum height of the ball is 4.9 meters.

What are the environmental and social effects of deforestation in the Amazon Rain Forest?

Deforestation is the reduction of vegetation in forested areas. The reduction of vegetation, usually trees, may be a partial or complete removal of existing flora in the region. In the Amazon Rain Forest, deforestation is occurring at an alarming rate. The consequences of deforestation are both environmental and social, and both local and global.

Environmental Consequences

• On a local scale, the Amazon Rain Forest is host to a diverse ecosystem. The destruction of that ecosystem results in loss of both plants and animals, some of which live only in the Amazon and will become extinct if deforestation continues at its current rate. 


• On a global scale, the Amazon is a large carbon sink: it captures carbon and keeps that carbon out of the atmosphere. The Amazon Rain Forest is also home to a large quantity of plants that are valuable photosynthesizers that convert carbon dioxide to oxygen. Simultaneous loss of those two processes will result in much higher levels of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere, and atmospheric carbon dioxide gas increases global warming through the greenhouse effect.

Social Consequences

• On a local scale, Amazon deforestation negatively impacts local communities that reside there. Should deforestation continue, groups of people who have made their home in the Amazon will no longer have a home. Often, their livelihood will also cease to exist, as many local people subsist off local resources provided by the rainforest.


• On a global scale, Amazon deforestation affects the entire human population. Not only do we lose the invaluable aesthetic beauty of the Amazon, we also lose the environmental services it provides us as a carbon sink and large body of photosynthetic organisms. Global warming has negative consequences for all organisms on large and small scales, including humans.

In Born on the Fourth of July by Ron Kovic, what type of treatment was given to Kovic at the veteran's hospital?

In Born on the Fourth of July, Ron takes offense to the treatment he receives at the VA hospital. 

When Ron arrives at the hospital for physical rehabilitation, he is paralyzed. He lost control of his lower body when a bullet pierced his spinal cord while he was out in the field.  He still believes in the mission and his service when he says that his paralysis is "ok because I did it for democracy." 

The first time when Ron senses a disconnect between his beliefs and the reality around him is when he arrives at the VA hospital.  Ron expected that the facility would be sanitary. However, Ron finds filth and squalor in the hospital.  He starts his mornings with group showers and public enemas, exercises that chip away at his dignity as a returning veteran.  The people attending to him look at their work in a banal way.  They do not empathize with Ron as a veteran.  They do not address him or treat him as someone who has sacrificed more than most citizens can or would. Rather, they look at tending to him as a "job."  This hurts Ron because he never looked at his service in such terms.  The equipment designed to help his rehabilitation is faulty and malfunctions frequently.  

As a result, Ron has a difficult time reconciling what he feels he is due as a veteran and what he experiences in the hospital.  The treatment Ron receives is one of the first instances where he begins to question his sacrifice and raise questions about the way that Vietnam Veterans are treated in America.

What are the most important to write about when it comes to the Revolutionary Period (1764-1789)?

There are several important items to consider when writing about the Revolutionary War period from 1764-1789. I will outline some of these items in a bulleted format.

• I would write about causes of the American Revolution. I would include an explanation of why the colonists were unhappy with unpopular laws such as the Proclamation of 1763 and the Quartering Act. I would write about why the colonists were displeased with the tax laws including the Stamp Act and the Townshend Acts. I would also discuss the Boston Massacre, the Boston Tea Party, and the Intolerable Acts. I would conclude this section with some of the battles that occurred before the Revolutionary War began.

• Next, I would write about the American Revolution. I would start with the Declaration of Independence and explain what it meant. Then I would write about critical battles such as the Battle of Saratoga, the Battle of Fort Vincennes, and the Battle of Yorktown. I would explain what happened in these battles and explain why they were important. I would explain the main points of the peace treaty ending the Revolutionary War.

• My final area I would cover would be to write about the two plans of government that we have had. I would explain the main points of the structure of the government created by Articles of Confederation. I would also explain about the problems that existed under the Articles of Confederation and why a new plan of government was needed. This would lead me to write about the Constitutional Convention. I would explain the issues that had to be resolved. Then, I would give a brief overview of the structure of the government created by the Constitution. I would explain why some people strongly believed in the Constitution while other people had some concerns about it.

These would be the main topics I would cover in giving a summary of this time period.

What school did Robert “Bob” Sheldon go to in The Outsiders?

S.E. Hinton never reveals the name of the high school that Robert "Bob" Sheldon attends in the novel The Outsiders. Bob Sheldon was Cherry Valance's Soc boyfriend who died after Johnny stabbed him out of self-defense. In Chapter 11, Ponyboy is looking through Sodapop's old high school yearbook and comes across Bob's sophomore picture. The reader knows that Bob attended the same high school as the Curtis brothers, but the specific title of the high school is never given.

In the mid-1960's Hinton attended Will Rogers High School located in Tulsa, Oklahoma, which is the assumed setting of the novel. The Outsiders was inspired by two rival gangs who continually battle throughout Hinton's hometown. The reader can assume that Bob Sheldon attended Will Rogers High School, which was Susan Hinton's alma mater because the setting of the novel was based on her experience in high school.

Did King Duncan have a banquet in Macbeth's castle before he died?

Yes, after the battle in which Macbeth shows his bravery and becomes Thane of Cawdor, Duncan and his men come to Macbeth's castle for a banquet. This gives the Macbeths the perfect opportunity to kill Duncan, who is completely unsuspecting, and it adds greatly to the horror of the act. In that time and place, the hospitality code was highly valued and meant a host was under an active obligation to protect his guests. To murder Duncan when he was under the Macbeths' care was a double violation of the loyalty they owed the king, both as monarch and as guest. Lady Macbeth, when she contemplates this, asks the spirits to "unsex" her and fill her with "direst cruelty," in part, we may imagine, because she knows it's wrong to murder a guest under her roof. Macbeth himself will say that his role as host means he should shut the door against anyone who is trying to murder Duncan, not murder him himself. The fact that the Macbeths would wine and dine Duncan in their own home with smiles and welcome and then kill him highlights their ruthless ambition.

African elephants weigh approximately 13,000 pounds. They eat about 340 pounds of food per day and need nearly 26 gallons of water per day. If a...

The elephant herd would run out of water first in about 17.5 days.  They would have enough grass forage to last for about 21.8 days.  If the herd arrived at this location on March 18, they would need to begin looking for a new spot on April 4.  

To solve these questions, you need to figure out the needs of the entire herd and how long the area can sustain those needs.  

Each elephant eats 340 pounds of food/day.  340 pounds/day times 22 elephants means the entire herd consumes 7480 pounds/day.  There are 163,000 pounds available, so 163,000 pounds divided by 7480 pounds/day equals 21.8 days worth of food for the entire herd.

Each elephant drinks 26 gallons of water/day.  26 gallons/day times 22 elephants means the entire herd drinks 572 gallons/day.  There are 10,000 gallons available, so 10,000 gallons divided by 572 gallons/day equals 17.5 days worth of water for the entire herd.

Using March 18 as day 1 because that is when they begin to eat and drink in the new area, April 4 is the 18th (since that is technically day 17 and a half) day.  On that day the elephants are out of water and need to move.

What if Macbeth had not acted upon his wife's advice?

If Macbeth's wife had not goaded him into committing the murder, it seems unlikely that he actually would have gone through with it.  After he considers the myriad potential consequences of killing Duncan, he tells her, "We will proceed no further in this business" (1.7.31).  He has considered the fact that he is Duncan's subject, kinsman, host, and friend; he is supposed to protect him against attackers, not wield the murder weapon himself.  He has also considered the fact that simply killing Duncan will not make him king, there will be other deceptions he will have to carry out.  Further, he knows that Duncan is such a great leader and a good person, and this makes it even harder for him to commit to the deed.  It isn't until his wife calls him a "coward" who is "green and pale" and tells him that she will no longer think of him as a man if he refuses to go forward with their plan that he finally agrees. Therefore, had she not wounded his pride and insulted his masculinity, it seems unlikely that Macbeth would have actually committed the murder, although his marriage would likely have declined in trust and love (although, it seems to do that anyway, even when he takes her advice).

What two card games does George play in Of Mice and Men?

In chapters two and three of Steinbeck's Of Mice and Men, George plays solitaire. In chapter three he plays the game of euchre with the laborer Whit. In chapter two, he is described as shuffling and dealing hands of solitaire, a card game played by one person in which the player tries to collect all the cards from each suit into separate piles starting with the ace as the first card. The playing seems to suggest George's loneliness, one of Steinbeck's main themes. George obviously likes to play cards but doesn't usually have a partner because card games are most certainly too complicated for Lennie. Lennie even questions why cards are made with "Both ends the same." While George plays, he is listening to Candy as the old swamper tells him about Curley and his wife. George is afraid that Lennie will end up fighting Curley and he warns his friend to stay away from Curley.

In chapter three, while the men ominously wait for the gun shot which will kill Candy's dog, George asks if any of the men would like to play a game of euchre. Euchre is usually a game played by four people involving 24 cards from a standard deck including the ace, king, queen, jack, ten, and nine of each suit. Here, Steinbeck suggests they are playing two handed. Whit is one of the laborers on the ranch and, while he sits at the table with George, he talks about the two different whorehouses in Soledad. He soon becomes bored with the game and George winds up again playing solitaire.

What are some questions you would ask Socrates right before his death?

Socrates was one of the wisest men to ever live. Sadly, he was convicted of political crimes by men who did not like him, so he was forced to commit suicide. The account of Socrates' trial and death is detailed in Plato's Apology, Phaedo, Crito, and Euthyphro. There are many questions I would liked to have asked Socrates had I been able to meet him.

First, I would ask him why he would submit to an unjust sentence. Socrates answered similar questions when his followers attempted to help him escape, but I would like to press the point which St. Augustine would later make, which is that "an unjust law is no law at all." Second, I would ask Socrates to share the key to living a life of wisdom. Finally, I would ask him to share insights which would help me become better at asking good questions.

What is the book Reconstructing Amelia about?

On the surface, Kimberly McCreight's Reconstructing Amelia tells the story of Kate, who is trying to make sense of her daughter's sudden suicide. It begins when Kate receives a call to come down to Amelia's school, though they refuse to say why her daughter is being suspended. When Kate arrives, she finds out why Amelia is being suspended, but that's not all-- Kate has jumped off the school roof and fallen to her death. Amelia had been caught cheating and seemingly could not bear the shame of her actions. Kate receives a chilling text message from a number she doesn't recognize stating that Amelia didn't actually jump... so what happened?

Kate must wade through her dead daughter's emails, text messages, and social media accounts to figure out what really happened to her daughter. Kate's whole world is rocked, not just from grief, but for feeling like she had been so deceived about their relationship. Kate is a single mom, and she and Amelia had always depended on each other. There were no secrets between them, or so she thought. What she finds in Amelia's texts and emails reveals that she was living an entire life, full of stress and even joy, outside of her mother's knowledge.

Major themes in the book are death and grieving, as well as parent-child relationships and the coming-of-age. Being a teenager is tough for everyone, but for Amelia, with just her stressed out mom to depend on, the torments of high school became too much for her. This book prompts both parents and kids alike to question how well they know each other, and what lives our counterparts live outside of our relationships.

`int x/sqrt(x^2 + x + 1) dx` Evaluate the integral

`intx/sqrt(x^2+x+1)dx`

Let's rewrite the integrand by completing the square of the denominator,

`=intx/sqrt((x+1/2)^2+3/4)dx`

Now let's apply the integral substitution,

Let `u=x+1/2`

`x=u-1/2`

du=1dx

`=int(u-1/2)/sqrt(u^2+3/4)du`

`=int(2u-1)/sqrt(4u^2+3)du`

Now apply the sum rule,

`=int(2u)/sqrt(4u^2+3)du-int1/sqrt(4u^2+3)du`

`=2intu/sqrt(4u^2+3)du-int1/sqrt(4u^2+3)du`

Now let's evaluate the first integral by applying the integral substitution,

Let `v=4u^2+3`

`dv=8udu`

`intu/sqrt(4u^2+3)du=int1/(8sqrt(v))dv`

`=1/8intv^(-1/2)dv`

`=1/8(v^(-1/2+1))/(-1/2+1)`

`=1/8v^(1/2)/(1/2)`

`=2/8v^(1/2)`

`=1/4sqrt(v)`

substitute back `v=4u^2+3`

`=1/4sqrt(4u^2+3)`

Now let's evaluate the second integral `int1/sqrt(4u^2+3)du` using integral substitution,

For `sqrt(bx^2+a)` substitute `x=sqrt(a)/sqrt(b)tan(v)` ,

Let `u=sqrt(3)/2tan(v)`

`du=sqrt(3)/2sec^2(v)dv`

`int1/sqrt(4v^2+3)du=int(sqrt(3)/2sec^2(v))/sqrt(4(sqrt(3)/2tan(v))^2+3)dv`

`=int(sqrt(3)sec^2(v))/(2sqrt(3tan^2(v)+3))dv`

`=sqrt(3)/2int(sec^2(v))/sqrt(3tan^2(v)+3)dv`

`=sqrt(3)/2int(sec^2(v))/(sqrt(3)sqrt(tan^2+1))dv`

`=1/2int(sec^2(v))/sqrt(tan^2(v)+1)dv`

Now use the identity:`1+tan^2(x)=sec^2(x)`

`=1/2int(sec^2(v))/sqrt(sec^2(v))dv`

assuming sec(v)`>=0`

`=1/2intsec(v)dv`

Now using the common integral,

`intsec(v)dx=ln((sec(v)+tan(v))`

`=1/2(ln(sec(v)+tan(v))`

Substitute back `v=arctan((2u)/sqrt(3))`

`=1/2[ln{sec(arctan((2u)/sqrt(3)))+tan(arctan((2u)/sqrt(3))}]`

`=1/2[ln{sqrt(1+(4u^2)/3)+(2u)/sqrt(3)}]`

`int(2u-1)/sqrt(4u^2+3)du=2(1/4sqrt(4u^2+3))-1/2ln(sqrt(1+4u^2/3)+(2u)/sqrt(3))`

`=1/2sqrt(4u^2+3)-1/2ln(sqrt(1+(4u^2)/3)+(2u)/sqrt(3))`

Substitute back `u=x+1/2`

`=1/2sqrt(4(x+1/2)^2+3)-1/2ln(sqrt(1+(4(x+1/2)^2)/3)+(2(x+1/2))/sqrt(3))`

`=1/2sqrt(4(x^2+1/4+x)+3)-1/2ln(sqrt(1+4/3(x^2+1/4+x))+(2/sqrt(3))(2x+1)/2)`

`=1/2sqrt(4x^2+1+4x+3)-1/2ln(sqrt((3+4x^2+1+4x)/3)+(2x+1)/sqrt(3))`

`=1/2sqrt(4x^2+4x+4)-1/2ln(sqrt((4x^2+4x+4)/3)+(2x+1)/sqrt(3))`

`=1/2sqrt(4(x^2+x+1))-1/2ln((2/sqrt(3))sqrt(x^2+x+1)+(2x+1)/sqrt(3))`

`=sqrt(x^2+x+1)-1/2ln((2sqrt(x^2+x+1)+2x+1)/sqrt(3))`

add a constant C to the solution,

`=sqrt(x^2+x+1)-1/2ln((2sqrt(x^2+x+1)+2x+1)/sqrt(3))+C`

How does Lady Macbeth's character change throughout the play?

Lady Macbeth's character changes remarkably throughout Shakespeare's Macbeth. At first, she seems more confident in the murderous scheme than her husband, goading him to kill Duncan and staying calm when Macbeth panics. Then, afterwards, it seems Lady Macbeth is responsible for keeping up appearances, as she reins in Macbeth when he begins to express feelings of regret or remorse. As confident as she is, however, Lady Macbeth's conviction eventually fades, and by the end of the play she has become a shade of her formerly ferocious self. Indeed, the guilt of her deeds eventually drives Lady Macbeth mad and, by the end of the play, she commits suicide. Thus, the evolution of Lady Macbeth's character is a dramatic one, as she effectively crumbles under the strain of her own ambition. This evolution can also be contrasted with Macbeth's own progression, as he seems to regret his part in the murder of Duncan more immediately than his wife.

In The Giver, what was the unidentified aircraft at the beginning of the story?

The unidentified aircraft that flew over the community was a jet plane.

One day a “needle-nosed single-pilot jet” flies over the community.  This causes fear in Jonas and everyone else, because planes are not allowed to fly over the community.  The Speaker orders everyone to stop what they are doing and seek shelter immediately. 

He had seen it both times. Squinting toward the sky, he had seen the sleek jet, almost a blur at its high speed, go past, and a second later heard the blast of sound that followed. Then one more time, a moment later, from the opposite direction, the same plane. (Ch. 1) 

The pilot-in-training is released for his error.  He flew over the community by accident.  The community is very intolerant of error, especially when it causes fear or discomfort for everyone.  The Elders considered shooting the plane down, but The Giver urged them to be cautious and wait for more information. 

The plane might have been a search plane.  When Jonas and Gabe escape, they are dogged by planes who are searching for them, looking for their heat signature.  Jonas is terrified of getting caught.  He uses the memories to hide their body heat, making them both cold. 

He knew they were search planes. They flew so low that they woke him with the noise of their engines, and sometimes, looking out and up fearfully from the hiding places, he could almost see the faces of the searchers. (Ch. 21) 

Eventually, the planes give up when they do not find Jonas and Gabe.  The plane Jonas remembers in the beginning of the book foreshadows this later trouble.  Jonas is convinced that he will be released if the search planes find him.  He has already broken too many rules and caused too much trouble.

How do Max and Kevin meet?

In Rodman Philbrick's novel Freak the Mighty, Max is the main character. The novel is told from his point of view. The novel is about the symbiotic friendship that Max forms with Kevin, and their adventures together. 

Max and Kevin first meet at a young age (though the author doesn't give the exact age) in daycare. In chapter one, entitled "The Unvanquished Truth," Max describes their first meeting in the following quote: 

"That's when I got my first look at Freak, that year of the phony hugs. He didn't look so different back then, we were all of us pretty small, right? But he wasn't in the playroom with us everyday, just now and then he'd show up."

Max and Kevin meet again in the summer after Max's seventh-grade year. Kevin and his mother move into the other side of the duplex where Max lives with his grandparents, Gram and Grim. Max and Kevin's first conversation takes place in chapter two which is entitled "Up from the Down Under." Max decides to go outside into the backyard where he sees Kevin. He says:

"Then the strange little dude jerks himself around and he catches sight of me and he lifts a crutch and points it at up my heart and he goes, 'Identify yourself, earthling.'"

Max doesn't know how to respond to such a greeting at first. Then he recognizes Kevin as the "weird little robot kid from daycare," and thinks that Kevin must recognize him as "Kicker." Their friendship gets off to a rocky start as Kevin pulls the "trigger" on his crutch and says, "Then die, earthling, die!"

Later, in gym class, bullies roll a ball at Kevin so that he will fall, and blame Max for the deed. This further alienates the two boys. Kevin becomes Max's reading tutor, and that is when their friendship starts to blossom. They become Freak the Mighty, with Kevin as the brains and Max providing the brawn.

What happened in Belgium in 1831?

The year 1831 was an important year in the history of Belgium. Belgium used to belong to the United Kingdom of the Netherlands. This action occurred at the Congress of Vienna in 1815. However, the people in the southern regions of the Netherlands weren’t pleased with King William I. The Catholics who lived in the South didn’t like the involvement of William I in their religious matters.

The revolution in Belgium began in 1830. William I sent troops to quell the uprising, but they weren’t successful in doing so. Belgium broke free from the Netherlands in 1830. A constitution was adopted in 1831. The first king of Belgium was Leopold I who ruled from 1831-1865. His son, Leopold II, took over in 1865 and ruled until 1909. Belgium grew economically during this time.

How is Nick Carraway arrogant in The Great Gatsby?

Nick is somewhat arrogant because he seems to believe, despite his father's advice to the contrary, that he is qualified to judge everyone in the story. He believes that "a sense of the fundamental decencies is parcelled out unequally at birth." In other words, some people are just simply more decent than others, and there are some who are, frankly, not good people; obviously, Nick thinks of himself as one of the good ones. He admits, early on, that Gatsby initially "represented everything for which [he has] an unaffected scorn." He admits to judging Gatsby harshly -- he says that he "disapproved of [Gatsby] from beginning to end" -- but comparing Gatsby to the likes of Tom and Daisy Buchanan, and even Jordan Baker, makes him seem so much better than they are. Nick tells Gatsby that they (the Buchanans and their friends) are a "rotten crowd" and that Gatsby is worth the whole bunch of them put together.  

Then, when no one can be bothered to come to Gatsby's funeral except for his own father and the owl-eyed man, Nick cannot help but think of the fact that "Daisy hadn't sent a message or a flower."  In the end, Nick says that the Buchanans were

"careless people [...] -- they smashed up things and creatures and then retreated back into their money or their vast carelessness, or whatever it was that kept them together, and let other people clean up the mess they had made...."  

Therefore, Nick's belief in his own virtues and his simultaneous willingness to judge others for their lack of those virtues could be perceived as somewhat arrogant.

Is 2NaOH + CuCl2 = 2NaCl + Cu(OH)2 a redox equation? If it is, what is the element that is oxidized and the element that is reduced?

A redox equation is one in which some species get oxidized, while another gets reduced. Oxidation and reduction means that electrons are gained or lost and the oxidation number of a molecule or atom or ion changes. More specifically, oxidation reaction involves loss of electrons and reduction reaction involves gain of electrons. In the case of the former, the oxidation number increases by one, while in the case of reduction, the oxidation number decreases by one.

The given chemical reaction is:

`CuCl_2 + 2NaOH -> 2NaCl + Cu(OH)_2`

The oxidation number of copper is +2 on both sides of the equation, while that of sodium is +1 on both sides of the reaction. Similarly, the oxidation numbers of chloride, oxygen and hydrogen are also the same on both sides of the equation. 

Hence, this reaction does not represent a redox reaction and no species are reduced or oxidized.

Why are people afraid of Hannah Tupper in The Witch of Blackbird Pond?

In The Witch of Blackbird Pond, Hannah Tupper is forced to live a life of tremendous isolation, with her cottage located at the edge of the swamp on the outskirts of town.

The people of Wethersfield are afraid of Hannah because she is not like them; Hannah is a Quaker who does not believe in the Sacraments and will not go to the weekly Meetings that the rest of the Puritan community attends.

This fear leads the townspeople to believe Hannah is a witch and ostracize her even more. This tension escalates once a illness begins to afflict the town. Thinking that Hannah's "witchcraft" is the cause of this scourge, a mob burns down Hannah's home in an effort to kill her. She is clearly not a welcome presence in the community.

What are 12 components of non-verbal communication?

People communicate in both verbal and non-verbal manners. In fact, most communication is non-verbal and can come in a variety of forms. In order to learn to recognize the different forms of non-verbal communication, it may help to study an interaction and ask yourself the following questions:

1. 
   Spatial proxemics: How does a person use the space around them? Do they sit close/far away from people? Do they gravitate to the center of a room or hang out near a wall?


2. 
   Interpersonal proxemics: Does a person stand close to other people? Do they maintain a large distance?


3. 
   Gestures: Do they wave with an open hand? Do they use head nods or bows?


4. 
   Posture: Does a person slouch in their seat? Stand tall in conversation? Lean to one side toward or away from other people?


5. 
   Non-verbal voice cues: Does a person speak with a monotone voice? Are they animated? Do they speak loudly or softly? Fast or slow?


6. 
   Non-verbal sounds: Does a person sigh or grunt? Do they giggle or hum?


7. 
   Interpersonal touch: Does a person touch other people when they communicate? Do they touch people without words?


8. 
   Intrapersonal touch: Does a person touch their face or hair when they talk? Do they fidget with their own hands? Do they play with their clothing?


9. 
   Facial Expressions: Is the person intentionally expressive? Subtly expressive? Do they smile and frown or are they stoic?


10. 
    Eye contact: Do they maintain too little eye contact? Too much? Do they have trouble looking at or away from people?


11. 
    Objects: Does a person use objects in communication? Do they hold an object as an extension of themselves (for instance, a phone or a cane)?


12. 
    Use of body: Does a person clap, snap, or pop their joints? Do they use sound to communicate?

How did life in the South begin to change for African Americans after the Civil War?

The first, and most obvious, way that life changed for African-Americans after the Civil War was that slavery came to an end. Millions of people that had been the property of Southern planters were now freed by the end of the war and the Thirteenth Amendment. While "black codes" passed shortly after the war placed severe restrictions on their newfound freedoms, the US Congress quickly instituted reforms as part of its Reconstruction efforts that contributed to still more changes. The Freedmen's Bureau, for example, created schools throughout the South to serve the black community, and many African-Americans, through churches and voluntary organizations, created their own educational institutions. While most black men struggled to obtain land, and were forced to enter into sharecropping arrangements with white landowners, they were granted the right to vote by the Fifteenth Amendment. Just a few years after slavery's end, black politicians sat in state legislatures across the South. A handful were even elected to Congress during Reconstruction. Ultimately, these changes were only temporary. After the end of Reconstruction, laws in the South established a regime of white supremacy that would last until after World War II. But the changes that emerged after the Civil War laid the foundation for black political activism.

What was the course of the Mexican-American war?

The Mexican-American War started over a boundary dispute dealing with Texas. Mexico believed the boundary was at the Nueces River. If this was the boundary, Texas would have been much smaller than we said it was. We believed the boundary was at the Rio Grande River.

The United States wanted to resolve the issue. We sent John Slidell to Mexico to negotiate. We were prepared to offer Mexico $30 million for California and for New Mexico. We also wanted the border with Texas and Mexico to be at the Rio Grande River. However, Mexico wouldn’t meet with us. When Mexico attacked our troops in the disputed territory, the Mexican-American War began.

The United States was very successful in this war. We were able to capture New Mexico with little opposition. General Zachary Taylor defeated Santa Anna at Buena Vista. This secured the border with Mexico at the Rio Grande River. General Winfield Scott landed at Veracruz and later captured Mexico City.

As a result of the Mexican-American War, the United States got much of the land Mexico controlled in what is now the southwestern part of our country. We also established the border between Texas and Mexico at the Rio Grande River. We paid Mexico $15 million. This was part of the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo.

The Mexican-American War was a huge success for the United States.

What are examples of Jem and Scout learning how to behave in society in Harper Lee's To Kill a Mockingbird?

Many examples of Scout and Jem learning to behave in society can be found all throughout Harper Lee's To Kill a Mockingbird. Since each published version of the book will vary in page numbers, only approximations of locations in the book can be given.

One example of Scout learning to behave concerns learning to control her temper. Since Atticus knows she will be faced with more and more ridicule due to his decision to defend Tom Robinson, he also knows she must not make matters worse by picking fist fights every chance she gets. Atticus gives her the following warning in the beginning of Chapter 9:

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 it does resist learning. (Ch. 9)

By Chapter 11, we see that Scout has taken Atticus's advice to heart and learned her lesson. In Chapter 11, when the children are severely antagonized by Mrs. Henry Lafayette Dubose, ironically, Jem, who is normally very calm, flies off the handle, destroying all of the camellia flowers in Mrs. Dubose's garden, whereas Scout remains calm. Scout notes the irony of their change in temperaments in the following passage found within the first four pages of the chapter:

In later years, I sometimes wondered exactly what made Jem do it, what made him break the bonds of "You be a gentleman, son," and the phase of self-conscious rectitude he had recently entered. Jem had probably stood as much guff about Atticus lawing for niggers as had I, and I took it for granted that he kept his temper--he had a naturally tranquil disposition. (Ch. 11)

Hence, one way in which Scout learns to behave is by learning to control her temper. In contrast, Jem's temper becomes more severe the more he endures hearing his father ridiculed.

While Jem's temper does increase, Jem also learns a lesson in behavior in this same chapter. As recompense for destroying Mrs. Dubose's flowers, Jem is told to read to Mrs. Dubose each afternoon. The more he has to listen to her rant and rave, the more he is able to take his father's lesson of being a gentleman to heart. Jem behaves like a gentleman by always responding to Mrs. Dubose respectfully, no matter how much she antagonized him. Scout notes Jem's change in behavior in the following passage found approximately two to three pages near the end of the chapter:

Jem's chin would come up, and he would gaze at Mrs. Dubose with a face devoid of resentment. Through the weeks he had cultivated an expression of polite and detached interest, which he would present to her in answer to her most blood-curdling inventions. (Ch. 11)

Hence, Jem learns to behave like a gentleman through always treating others with respect, just as Atticus does.

How is the joy of friendship portrayed in Boyne's The Boy in the Striped Pajamas?

In Boyne's The Boy in the Striped Pajamas, Bruno is a typical boy who loves to play with his friends. His best friends in Berlin are Karl, Daniel, and Martin. What Bruno finds most joyful with these friends can be described in the plans he wants to fulfill in the following passage:

[The plans] included causing a lot of chaos, especially in a few weeks' time when school finished for the summer holidays and they didn't have to spend all their time just making plans but could actually put them into effect instead (8).

Unfortunately, Bruno must move with his parents to Auschwitz, and he becomes lonely without his friends. Bruno finds joy in a new companionship when he meets Shmuel, who lives in the concentration camp there. The friendship is different, however, because he can't make the same plans with Shmuel as he did with his other friends. Therefore, Bruno and Shmuel find joy in their friendship in non-traditional ways. First, they make plans to meet on certain days by the fence to talk. They may not get to play ball or tag with each other, but these meetings give each of them something to look forward to. They also bear each other's burdens by listening to each other. Bruno explains his friendship with Shmuel to his sister as though he had an imaginary friend, but the joy of it comes through as follows:

We talk about everything. . . I tell him about our house back in Berlin and all the other houses and the streets and the fruit and vegetable stalls and the cafes. . . and about Karl and Daniel and Martin and how they were my three best friends for life. . . He tells me about his family and the watch shop that he used to live over and the adventures he had coming here and the friends he used to have (157-158).

Even though the two boys don't have a way to play games together, they do find peace and joy confiding in each other. When the boys finally decide to dress Bruno up in "pajamas" so he can help Shmuel look for his father, both become excited, as shown in the following passage:

Both boys went home in high spirits that afternoon. Bruno imagined a great adventure ahead and finally an opportunity to see what was really on the other side of the fence before he went back to Berlin. . . and Shmuel saw a chance to get someone to help him in the search for his papa (199).

Finally, the boys both feel joy at a chance to be together on one side of the fence. Unfortunately, they die together in a gas chamber, but at least they first experience the joy of friendship during a very difficult time in their lives.

Describe how the setting in "Lamb to the Slaughter" helped Mary Maloney.

Mary commits her crime right in her own house. The murder weapon is easily available because she uses a frozen leg of lamb she takes right out of her big freezer in the cellar. If she had killed her husband with a more conventional weapon she would have had more trouble disposing of it. She has a kitchen where it is easy to pop the leg of lamb in the oven, and the kitchen is spacious enough for four policemen to sit down and eat it. The grocery store is in close walking distance. She goes there to establish an alibi, because she has to be out of the house when the murder by an unknown assailant supposedly occurs. Sam the grocer knows her well. He can testify if necessary that she spent some time there that evening. In any other setting, there would be some danger of Patrick Maloney's body being discovered. But no one can discover the body in the privacy of the Maloneys' home, and there cannot be any witnesses to what occurred. The police never think of a frozen leg of lamb as a murder weapon. They are looking for something like a heavy metal tool of some sort. The setting is perfect for giving the impression that some enemy of Patrick's had been watching the little house and had slipped in and committed a revenge-murder when Mary went to the grocery store.

How does the setting affect the plot's development in To Kill a Mockingbird?

The setting of southern Alabama in the 1930's is essential to the verisimilitude of the plot of To Kill a Mockingbird.

Details Essential to Characterization

• With the Depression as a backdrop for the narrative, the people of Maycomb live rather simple lives, walking places, owning few cars or other valuable possessions. Neighborhoods are composed of people who are similar and who share similar interests. It is certainly realistic that the sharecropper Mr. Cunningham pays his debts to Atticus Finch with produce. 
  Scout describes her world:

There was no hurry, for there was nowhere to go, nothing to buy and no money to buy it with, nothing to see outside the boundaries of Maycomb County.

• The 1930's is a time before the industrialization of the South, and so most of the families who have been there remain, while few, if any people immigrate from other parts of the country. Old attitudes continue.

[Maycomb] grew inward. New people so rarely settled there, the same families married the same families until the members of the community looked faintly alike. There is "a caste system in Maycomb," also, much as it was in the Old South.

• Miss Caroline comes from Winston County, a county that sided with the North during the Civil War (which in the novel is not in such a distant past; also, this war's bitter memory is kept alive in the Deep South); consequently, Miss Caroline is not well-received, nor does she understand the culture of Maycomb, which is a long ways from Winston County. 

Details Essential to Themes and Historical Setting

• Jim Crow Laws are in effect; that is, racial segregation exists in Maycomb County. Blacks cannot enter restaurants, hotels, and other places. They are relegated to entering through back doors and working menial jobs and living in separate areas.
  (During this time African-Americans had few, if any, rights in the South. This is why Tom Robinson is considered guilty without any hard evidence.)


• Religious fanatics are not unusual as Maycomb is in the Bible Belt. Miss Maudie explains the mind-set of the "footwashing Baptists," who take the Bible literally and abuse others with their narrow interpretations.


• Since it is a rather closed society, Maycomb suffers from what Atticus calls its "usual disease"; that is, people are very opinionated and do not wish to change their perspectives on their social strata and other things. Consequently, Mr. Dolphus Raymond is a social pariah because he does not adhere to the social mores of Maycomb; Mr. Radley is deprecated for his radical ways with Arthur Radley and his failure to work; Bob Ewell is despicable because he is a drunkard, slovenly, neglectful of his family, and lazy and ignorant--he is considered "white trash."

The interaction of these different facets of Maycomb's society and setting move the plot since many of the complications and thematic meanings develop from them. 

What are the three ways characters commit suicide in My Antonia? Why do you think Cather includes these examples?

Part of the power of Cather’s novel is her acknowledgement that the immigrant experience could be a harsh one. Mr Shimerda’s suicide is an example. Antonia’s father is profoundly unhappy in Nebraska—he cannot speak the language, his position as head of household is usurped by his wife, his skill as a musician, a source of much prestige in Bohemia, is unvalued. Ultimately, he takes his own life, shooting himself with a shotgun.

The other death is Wick Cutter’s murder/ suicide. Cutter shoots his wife through the heart while she is sleeping, then mortally wounds himself in he neck. His plan is to foil any plan his wife might have to gain control of his money; he purposely wounds himself in a way that will allow him to explain to those who find him that since he has survived his wife, any will she might have made was null and void.

Both shootings are essentially caused by greed. Mr Shimerda finds that he has sacrificed his self respect to his wife’s greed and determination to accumulate land and good marriages for her children. Cutter’s actions are motivated by his determination to keep control of his own money. Far from romanticizing the immigrant experience, Cather shows in these two episodes how grasping after money can lead to tragedy.

Why does Miss Franny Block finally allow Winn-Dixie into the library in Kate DiCamillo's Because of Winn-Dixie?

It is in chapters 6 and 7 of Kate DiCamilla's Because of Winn-Dixie that Miss Franny block, the tiny old librarian in Naomi, Florida, makes friends with both Opal and Winn-Dixie and decides he is welcome to visit the library any time.

In Chapter 6, Opal brings Winn-Dixie with her to the library and teaches him to stand on his hind legs so he can see through the window to watch her as she picks out books, which keeps him from feeling lonely. When Miss Franny sees Winn-Dixie through the window, she mistakes him for a bear she once saw in the library long ago and grows terrified. Opal must comfort her and assure her that Winn-Dixie is just her dog, but she is also very curious about the story of the bear and asks to hear it. When Miss Franny says it is a long story, Opal says she likes long stories and asks permission to bring Winn-Dixie in to hear the story too since he'll get lonely if Opal is gone a long time. Before Miss Franny can reply, Opal brings him inside.

As soon as Opal brings him inside, Winn-Dixie "came in and lay down with a 'huummmppff' and a sigh right at Miss Franny's feet." When she pats him, he wags his tail and nuzzles her feet. In Chapter 7, he sits quietly through the whole story of the library being built when Florida was still rugged and wild, of the bear wandering into the library, and of the bear running off with the book War and Peace. Miss Franny ends her story by saying, "I imagine I'm the only one left from those days," and recalling that all of her friends from that time period are now dead.

Winn-Dixie, having been lonely himself, is very quick to recognize loneliness in others such as in Opal and in Miss Franny. As soon as he recognizes Miss Franny's loneliness, he raises his head and looks "back and forth between [Opal] and Miss Franny" to show he recognizes they share loneliness in common, and smiles at Miss Franny. As soon as he smiles at her, Opal suggests they can all three be friends. It's at this point that Miss Franny agrees to let Winn-Dixie into the library any time.

What are some good metaphors Ayi Kwei Armah uses in The Healers? I need some quotes that express metaphors throughout The Healers.

In his novel, Armah develops his vision of a return to the unified, united way of life of Africa's ancient times, before divisiveness engendered separate kingships and disunity. Armah sees the great ill of African peoples as disunity and, in The Healer, works out the prose of the novel through an extended metaphor of healing. Consequently the individual metaphors Armah uses in The Healer often employ the language of healing or of growing (Nwahunanya, "The Writer as Physician").

Armah's vision is an end to "division," the beginning of "seed time" and the future "harvest," with a restoration, as Khondlo Mtshali says, of "individual, social and divine purposes" ("Psychopathology and Healing"). Some individual metaphors from The Healer follow.

Damfo teaches Densu that there are "two forces, unity and division. The first creates. The second destroys; it's a disease, disintegration." This is a metaphorical statement of Armah's vision that disunity through division causes disintegration within individuals, societies and cultures.

Damfo says to Densu about Asamoa, who is serving the Asante royaly, that "royalty is part of the disease ... whoever serves royalty serves the disease" and that "kings and chiefs suck their power" from the divided people. Carrying the disease metaphor further, Armah compares ruling families to a symptom of disease by which he means that after division is driven in, individuals set themselves as kings because disunity and disintegration allows for the usurpation of authority. Obedience to these rulers furthers the disintegration. He also means that kings and chiefs have no innate power but that they dishonestly take power from weakened people who are disunified.

Ababio says to Densu "we shall be left by the roadside ... they will grind us ... [to be] less than grains of bad snuff...." The first metaphor compares the conquered people to something worthless left by the side of a road. It gives the picture of the African people as completely valueless and expendable. The subsequent metaphors compare the Asante, awaiting imminent defeat by the British, to grains being ground down to powder, and not to grains valuable for food but to grains of rotted ground tobacco, "grains of bad snuff."

Damfo says of the time ahead of them, "This is seed time, far from harvest time" and "In the future there will be the harvest." He means that with the departure of the British and with the unintentional congregation of African peoples in one spot--dancing a "new dance," each moving to the music in his own way--the renewal of unity and creation can begin; the reclaiming of the traditions of the people can begin. Yet the metaphorical "harvest," the sought after relationship with the way of the ancients, will be generations away.

Why are the people in Reverend Hooper's congregation confused?

The people in Reverend Hooper's congregation are confused because their minister's face is almost entirely obscured by a black veil. The veil appears to consist of two layers of crepe, which conceals everything but his chin and mouth.

As the people have never before seen their minister's face covered in such a way, they are perturbed, confused, and uneasy. To add to his congregation's discomfort, Reverend Hooper performs the morning and afternoon services without an explanation for his appearance. The people can't decide whether Reverend Hooper has gone mad or whether he is grappling with some unseen, malevolent presence. More than one woman leaves the congregation during the services.

Reverend Hooper's sermons about secret sin are alarming; furthermore, his solemn manner as he presides over a funeral and a wedding ceremony leave the people confused and frustrated. They collectively think that he is pronouncing some ominous judgment on them all. A 'deputation' of parishioners soon make their way to visit Reverend Hooper and to ascertain the cause of his disturbing appearance. However, the visit is far from illuminating, and the congregation begins to understand that Reverend Hooper will never show his face to them again for the rest of his life.

What developments in Spain had just taken place as Columbus set sail?

One significant event that occurred right before Columbus set sail into the Atlantic was the completion of the Reconquista. This was a series of long and bloody wars between Christian kingdoms and Muslim peoples originally from North Africa who had established a presence on the Iberian peninsula 700 years earlier. In 1492, the Christian kingdoms of Castile and Aragon won a final victory over Muslim forces in Granada, permanently uniting the Iberian peninsula under their control. This was a major step on the path to creating Spain as a kingdom-state, albeit one that was very diverse ethnically. The other important event, one which actually made the final Reconquista possible, was the marriage of Ferdinand of Aragon to Isabella of Castile in 1479. Castile and Aragon were the two most powerful Christian kingdoms on the Iberian peninsula (except perhaps Portugal) and their marriage united these kingdoms. 

These two developments contributed to Spanish exploration and empire-building overseas in several important ways. First, they created Spain as a powerful kingdom with the finances and the ambition to support overseas exploration. Second, the Reconquista in particular gave rise to a warrior class of inferior nobles who sought opportunities to expand their power and influence through warfare. After the conquest of Spain was complete, they wanted new opportunities for power, riches, and glory. It also aroused in Spain a crusading spirit that they carried to the New World, one which had devastating consequences for Indian peoples there. So Columbus set sail on behalf of a kingdom that was just emerging as a European power, one which was aggressive, ambitious, and newly unified. 

What are five things that are important to Jonas in The Giver by Lois Lowry?

Five important things to Jonas are freedom, individuality, emotions, knowledge, and truth. 

Jonas finds his life too restrictive, as there are many rules, some of which seem ridiculous. For instance, children are not allowed to ride bicycles before the age of nine. This is a rule that is not taken seriously as many older children teach their siblings to ride before nine. However, whenever there is a rule that people want changed, a committee studies the idea. But, there is a Catch-22 to this: If a committee studies something, nothing ever comes of this study.

There are other restrictions in his community. For instance, words must be chosen carefully, and each day Jonas must reveal what he has dreamed, what he has thought, etc. In addition, there are only certain words that he can use to describe his feelings and experiences.

Further, when Jonas has "stirrings" as he enters puberty, he must take a pill to control these sensations, sensations that he has found pleasurable. Being denied these natural feelings, as well as being mandated to reveal his dreams and other feelings causes Jonas much consternation.

• Individuality

Jonas enjoys activities classified as "volunteer" because he can choose these himself. While he finds his eye color and his ability to see colors and watch things change a bit disconcerting, he is not bothered that he has unique qualities. He also finds the control of the Elders upon choices unappealing.

When he begins his training with the Giver, Jonas's individuality becomes quite apparent as he tells his mentor,

"Sir,...I would be very interested to hear the story of your life, and to listen to your memories."

As he experiences physical sensations and learns from the Giver, Jonas makes independent decisions about these experiences. Certainly, his decision to run away and to take Gabriel with him in the hope of saving his life demonstrates Jonas's independent thought and individuality.

After he begins his training with the Giver and Jonas receives the memories of pain, pleasure, suffering, and many sensory experiences, his emotions are awakened. Consequently, he becomes more passionate about his beliefs and feelings. He also becomes more sensitive to pleasurable experiences, to beauty and to happiness. Indeed, his feelings of love for his family deepen as, for instance, he becomes more attached to Gabriel. So, when he witnesses his father's "release" of a twin because only one is allowed to live, Jonas is emotionally shaken and appalled that his father could perform such an act:

He killed it! My father killed it! Jonas said to himself, stunned at what he was realizing.
....Jonas felt a ripping sensation inside himself, the feeling of terrible pain clawing its way forward to emerge in a cry.

Jonas has a strong desire for knowledge, but much of what he learns disturbs him, such as the knowledge of what "release" truly is.

When his training first begins, Jonas wishes to know what the function of the Giver is, and he is surprised to learn that this one individual holds the history of man in his mind and heart while all the others in the community have had such memories eliminated so that everyone can be content. Nevertheless, the more that he learns, the more Jonas feels he must know and understand.

In his eagerness to learn, Jonas desires the truth. However, he is often disappointed when he learns it. For one thing, Jonas is amazed that people are so desensitized to things because the emotional experiences have been virtually eliminated in order to keep them safe and content. The Giver tells Jonas that the people cannot help what they do.

"It's the life that was created for them. It's the same life that you would have, if you had not been chosen as my successor."
"But he [his father] lied to me!" Jonas wept [as he refers to the release of a twin].
"It 's what he was told to do, and he knows nothing else."

It is this tragic truth that motivates Jonas to escape the community. For, he cannot bear to think that there is a world outside this community in which one can truly live and experience all that is human and he cannot reach it. Therefore, he flees the restrictive world in which he has lived and takes little Gabriel with him.

How do the female characters in Shakespeare's Macbeth influence the male characters?

In Macbeth, female characters do exert considerable influence on the male characters. The most prominent example is when Lady Macbeth and the witches motivate Macbeth to follow through with his plan of taking the throne.

Although Macbeth himself is chiefly motivated by his unrestrained ambition to take the throne, the witches' prophecy awakens Macbeth's suppressed desire to pursue what is unlawful and wicked. When he realizes that one part of the witches' prophecy has come true, he decides to act:

The Prince of Cumberland! that is a step
On which I must fall down, or else o'erleap,
For in my way it lies. Stars, hide your fires;
Let not light see my black and deep desires.

In addition to the witches' prophecy, Macbeth is also encouraged by Lady Macbeth, his wife, whose eloquence persuades Macbeth to go after what he wants. Lady Macbeth wants Macbeth to summon his courage and suppress all doubts and fears that he has in order to succeed in murdering king Duncan.

Lady Macbeth is represented as a manipulative and evil character, atypical of women that lived during Shakespeare's time. She is strong-willed and dominant, unlike most women at that time, defined by their deference and obedience. She does manage to make Macbeth fulfill his wish, but the murder of Duncan only marks the beginning of her descent into irrationality and death. 

How does Romeo respond when Juliet says in line 16, “Therefore stay yet: thou need’st not to be gone” in Act III, Scene 5?

Act III, Scene 5 is the morning after Romeo and Juliet's honeymoon night and the aftermath of the tragic events in Scene 1 in which Mercutio and Tybalt are killed. When Romeo prepares to leave, Juliet declares that it is the nightingale, symbol of the night, singing outside her window and that they still have time to be together. Romeo disagrees, identifying the bird as the "lark, herald of the morn." When Juliet insists that it was the nightingale and that Romeo should stay, Romeo counters by saying, "Let me taken, let me be put to death./ I am content, so thou wilt have it so." He is referring to the fact that if he is caught in Verona he will be put to death because he killed Tybalt. Essentially, Romeo is indicating that he would just as soon die as part company with Juliet. His words echo previous references to his death: in Act I, Scene 4, when he talks about a dream which seems to forecast his death; in Act II, Scene 6, he says he would be happy to die after he and Juliet are married; and finally in Act III, Scene 3, he complains to Friar Laurence that he would rather die than not be in Verona with Juliet.

`y = log_5sqrt(x^2-1)` Find the derivative of the function

`y=log_5 sqrt(x^2-1)`

Before taking the derivative of the function, express the radical in exponent form.

`y = log_5 (x^2-1)^(1/2)`

Then, apply the logarithm rule ` log_b (a^m) = m* log_b(a)` .

`y = 1/2log_5 (x^2-1)`

From here, proceed to take the derivative of the function. Take note that the derivative formula of logarithm is `d/dx [log_b (u)] = 1/(ln(b) * u) * (du)/dx` .

Applying this formula, the derivative of the function will be:

`(dy)/dx = d/dx[1/2log_5 (x^2-1)]`

`(dy)/dx = 1/2 d/dx[log_5 (x^2-1)]`

`(dy)/dx = 1/2 *1/(ln(5)*(x^2-1)) * d/dx(x^2-1)`

`(dy)/dx = 1/2 *1/(ln(5)*(x^2-1)) *2x`

`(dy)/dx = (2x)/(2(x^2-1)ln(5))`

`(dy)/dx = x/((x^2-1)ln(5))`

Therefore, the derivative of the function is `(dy)/dx = x/((x^2-1)ln(5))` .

What could be the possible advantages of the insularity of Great Britain? Please give a citation for your answer because I need to cite my answers.

One advantage of the insularity of Great Britain is that is has been hard to attack Great Britain. The island location creates many logistical problems for a potential invader. Germany tried to invade Great Britain in World War II and failed. Napoleon talked about an invasion, but that never occurred. Being surrounded by water requires an amphibious invasion. This is more difficult to achieve. Thus, one advantage of being insular is that is has helped keep Britain independent.

Another advantage of British insularity is that it has helped Great Britain develop a culture that is unique to Great Britain. The British are known for being reserved. They have been able to absorb different groups of people into Great Britain. However, they still have been able to maintain a uniquely British perspective as well as their own culture. This has allowed Great Britain to remain fiercely independent, and not necessarily be so tied to activities in Europe. The recent Brexit vote is an example of this independence from European activities and influences.

Why is Mrs. Sappleton self-absorbed in Saki's story "The Open Window"?

It does not seem as though Mrs. Sappleton is necessarily self-absorbed so much as Mr. Nuttel catches her at an inopportune time. Mr. Nuttel has letters of introduction from his sister to give to people who live in the area where he will be staying during his relaxing retreat. Since he has never met the Sappletons before, and he bears with him a letter of introduction, it can be inferred that he has dropped in on the household without an appointment. Mrs. Sappleton is preparing for the return of her husband and brothers who have been hunting, and she is worried about the following:

"I hope you don't mind the open window . . . my husband and brothers will be home directly from shooting . . . they'll make a fine mess over my poor carpets. So like you menfolk, isn't is?"

From Mrs. Sappleton's concerns, it seems as though she feels she must be prepared for the men when they come home because of the mess they will make if she does not intervene. For example, she may want to help them with their muddy boots before they walk into the house. Furthermore, Framton notices that while he is speaking about his situation, Mrs. Sappleton's eyes do wander from him to the window often. However, calling Mrs. Sappleton self-absorbed might not be the right word because Framton has caught his hostess at a time when she is busy with preparing the house for her family members who are coming home soon. Therefore, Mrs. Sappleton seems more distracted than she is self-absorbed because she wants to keep her carpets from being soiled when the men come back. 

Two incidents were encountered by each character of the novel "Three Men in a Boat." What were they? Please help me with this question, please!

Each of the characters has at least two stories associated with them. Each story reveals or confirms key personality traits of the character.

J., the narrator -- In Chapter I, it’s his tale of going to the British Museum, looking up all of diseases in the medical book, and realizing that he has symptoms for all but one of them. This story shows his sensitive nature and possible hypochondria, in addition to his huge sense of humor. In Chapter IV, we hear about the time he helped a friend out by personally transporting some smelly cheese from one place to another. This one shows his politeness and commitment to friendship, and again, his sense of humor.

George – In Chapter XI, George retells a time when his watch once stopped, and he found himself on the street on his way to work at 3 a.m. when he thought it was 9 a.m. George is dedicated, but he doesn’t always pay attention to what’s going on around him. He’s not always good at problem solving, either. In Chapter XIV, we hear about his failing attempts to learn how to play the banjo. Again, he’s dedicated, but is not always successful.

Harris – In Chapter VI, Harris tells the story of the time he got lost in the Hampton Court maze. As usual, he thought he was prepared, and he thought he knew what he was doing – enough to even offer confident help to others in the same situation. But he turned out not to know after all, and he had to be “saved” by someone else. In Chapter XI, Harris attempts to cook scrambled eggs for the group for breakfast. This endeavor does not end well. Again, he thinks he knows what he’s doing, and he obviously doesn’t.

Montmorency – In Chapter II, J. explains Montmorency’s origins, and the fact that he looks like an innocent dog, but that he has a nasty history of fighting behind him. (Since J. is the one telling this story, we’re not sure if we should believe him, since he often exaggerates for effect.) In Chapter XIII, however, Montmorency runs after but is stared down by a street-savvy cat. The dog isn’t as tough as he – or J. -- thinks he is.

How would I approach writing a news article about the mad dog incident in To Kill a Mockingbird? You are a Maycomb reporter and just witnessed...

A newspaper article focuses on answering basic questions and providing information.  Who was there? What happened and when did it happen?  Where did it happen? Why did it happen? How did it happen?  In this case, you probably want to focus on answering these questions because you only have two paragraphs to write your article.  Pretend that you are actually there, witnessing the event.

What happened, when and why: A rabid dog threatened Maycomb.  The dog, Tim Johnson, had contracted rabies and was seen walking down the street.  It is unusual to see a mad dog in February, and everyone is nervous.  The mad dog is contagious to people.  Sheriff Heck Tate is called.

Where it happened: The incident occurred on Maycomb’s main residential street.  The dog was finally confronted and shot in front of the Radley house.

Who was there: The main players in this event are Atticus Finch and Heck Tate.  Atticus is the one who shot the dog, and Heck Tate is the one who insisted he do it.  A good newspaper article might include a quote, such as what Heck Tate said to Atticus.

“Mr. Finch, this is a one-shot job.”

Atticus shook his head vehemently: “Don’t just stand there, Heck! He won’t wait all day for you—”

“For God’s sake, Mr. Finch, look where he is! Miss and you’ll go straight into the Radley house! I can’t shoot that well and you know it!” (Ch. 10)

A human-interest angle would also be good to include.  You might want to mention that Mr. Finch’s two children, Atticus and Jem, were watching their father shoot the dog.  The children and everyone else in the street were in danger. 

All of the neighbors were watching too, including Miss Stephanie Crawford and Miss Maudie.  The trash man, Zeebo, collected the dog afterward.  He made sure no one else touched it, because a mad dog is just as dangerous dead as alive.

What does Jack from Lord of the Flies feel? What/who does Jack love? What does he share?

Several passages in Lord of the Flies allow the reader to know what Jack is feeling. When the boys call for a vote for chief in the beginning, Jack feels confident he should be the group's leader, and when Ralph is elected instead, he blushes with "mortification." When he has failed to kill a piglet caught in the brush, he feels ashamed for not having the courage to spill its blood, and then he feels determined to not let his squeamishness embarrass him again. Hunting exhilarates him, but when he lets the fire go out, he feels humiliated and takes it out on Piggy in anger. When Ralph declares they will look for the beast, Jack is afraid: "For the first time since he had first known Jack, Ralph could feel him hesitate." He gets angry at Ralph for implying Jack's "hunters are no good" against the beast, and his anger and jealousy cause him to call for a vote of no confidence in Ralph. When the vote doesn't go his way, Jack feels humiliated and leaves the group to start his own tribe. During the feast, Jack feels proud. When Ralph visits him at Castle Rock, Ralph senses the hatred Jack and the other boys feel for him and his group.

Jack loves two things primarily, and they are related: power and hunting. Hunting makes Jack feel powerful, not only over the animal he kills, but also because providing meat gives him high status among the other boys. He uses meat and hunting to draw the other boys away from Ralph's tribe at last so that he can be chief as he has wanted to from the beginning.

As mentioned, Jack shares his meat with the other boys as a way of gaining their loyalty. At his feast he even shares with Ralph and Piggy, who have refused to join his tribe.

Should small states have the same influence in government as large states?

This is, of course, a matter of personal opinion.  If you believe that the United States is a country made up of states, then the answer should be “yes.”  If you believe that the US is a country made up of individual people, then the answer should be “no.”  It is partly for this reason that the Constitution sets up a system where the small states do have the same amount of power in the Senate but do not have the same amount of power in the House.

Some people feel that our country is a union of states.  They say that the states came together to create the United States and that therefore the states should be important political entities.  We Americans tend to believe that everyone should be equal.  You would not have a student body government where the people with the best grades, or the athletes and cheerleaders, got more say than other people.  You would not have a town government where the richest people got more votes than the poorer people.  The same, then, goes for states.  If the states get together to form a union, then all the states are equal.  They should all be treated the same just as all people in your student body should have the same amount of influence on the government.  In this view, the states are almost sovereign political units and should have equal amounts of influence regardless of the size of their population.

On the other hand, we can note that the Constitution begins “We the people,” not “we the states.”  We can say that the US is a country of individuals who came together to become one.  In this case, states are just a convenient way of splitting up the administration of our country.  Our country, in this view, is made up of people and every person should have the same amount of influence on government.  In this view, it would be unfair to give Wyoming the same amount of influence on government as California has when California’s population is something like 70 times larger than Wyoming’s.  If we gave the two states equal influence, Wyoming’s people would be 70 times more powerful than California’s on a person-by-person basis.  This is clearly unfair.

Thus, it is possible to argue this question either way.  What do you think is the correct answer?

What is the function of female characters in A Tale of Two Cities?

The three main female characters (Lucie Manette, Miss Pross, and Madame Defarge) have widely different functions. Lucie is the innocent “Madonna,” a static character who does not really change. She moves smoothly through the roles of daughter, wife, and mother, the three main roles that were allowed to women during the Victorian era. Her inner strength never changes though it is often tested. She does not break in the face of any possible tragedy. Her emotions are muted and generally controlled.

Miss Pross is the comic relief. Despite the seriousness of the tone of the novel, Miss Pross is a type of “fool,” humorous yet capable of presenting the true view of things. This is a common character in Shakespeare's plays, and Dickens uses this type in many of his novels. Like Lucie, however, Miss Pross is capable of great heroism, such as her protection of her “lady bird.” She stands up to Madame Defarge in the end, even to the point of losing her hearing when the gun goes off and kills Madame Defarge.

Madame Defarge is the antagonist. She symbolizes “Lady Liberty” of the French Revolution: she stands for “liberty, equality, fraternity,” yet achieves this only through violence. As such, she is stronger and more aggressive than her husband. Her mindless hate for all the nobility justifies her actions. All she wants is revenge. In a twisted version of Lady Justice (blindfolded holding a pair of scales), Madame Defarge dispenses justice blindly, but blinded by her own hate.

How did Helen Keller's family become acquainted with the Perkins Institute?

It may seem odd to answer a question about how Helen Keller’s family became acquainted with the Perkins Institute by introducing Alexander Graham Bell, a man we all know best as the inventor of the telephone. Bell had a deep personal history with the deaf community; his mother had been almost completely deaf, which led his grandfather and father to undertake extensive research on deafness and the voice. Bell apprenticed under his father and later moved to Boston, using a set of symbols called Visible Speech invented by his father to teach deaf children. He also married one of his former pupils whose hearing had been destroyed by illness when she was a child.

In 1886, Helen Keller’s parents took her to see an oculist in Baltimore, MD in an attempt to improve her quality of life. Although the oculist could not improve Helen's sight, he did believe she could be educated and referred her to Dr. Alexander Graham Bell, who was working at the time with deaf children in Washington, D.C. Bell met with Helen and her parents shortly after, and later, Helen would write that “she felt he understood her and that she ‘loved him at once’” (Blatty, 2015). Bell referred Helen and her parents to the Perkins Institute, and Captain Keller wrote a letter to Director Dr. Michael Anagnos requesting a teacher for his daughter. Anagnos sent Anne Mansfield Sullivan, who moved in with the family in March 1887 and worked with Keller at home until May 1888, when they both moved to the Perkins Institute. Keller’s education was a success, and she eventually graduated cum laude, the first deaf-blind student to receive a bachelor's degree from Radcliffe College. Afterwards, Keller and Sullivan became suffragettes, traveled the world, met presidents, made a movie, played on vaudeville, published books, and began working with the American Foundation for the Blind. Through it all, Alexander Graham Bell, the man who helped Helen connect with the Perkins Institute and the man to whom she dedicated her memoir The Story of My Life, remained Helen's close friend until his death in 1922.

What kind of narrator does James Thurber use in "The Secret Life of Walter Mitty"?

In the story, and this includes Walter's daydreams, the author uses a third person narrator. Using this point of view, the narrator refers to each character as he, she, it, they, etc. "I" is used in first person narration and "you" is used in second person narration. 

Using third person narration, the author has the position of being outside the story. He (the narrator) has a privileged position in that he can describe events from any perspective. He can also describe things in a particular character's mind. This is clearly what is going on with Walter Mitty. 

The narrator is able to go back and forth in describing events in the external world and Walter's daydreams. It would be interesting to consider this story from Walter's perspective (first person), but that might not work because Walter prefers the life of his own mind. In other words, had the story been told by Walter, he could have eliminated any external events or even the nagging of his wife. So, it is possible that Thurber chose third person narration to make the transitions from external to internal (Walter's mind) more significant and pertinent to the story. We need to see how Walter absentmindedly goes through his life as he is distracted by his own daydreams, and this is effectively shown with the narrator's distance from the world of the story.

Why did the United States retreat in the Vietnam War instead of staying back to fight with South Vietnam? I feel like if the United States had...

There are several reasons the United States abandoned the war in South Vietnam in the 1970s, most of all due to growing opposition in the US, coupled with limited success in prosecuting the war.

North Vietnam and their Viet Cong allies in the South showed great resolve in the defense of their county in the face of massive American involvement in the way of troops, air and naval power, and military materiel. Vietnamese partisans had initiated opposition to their colonial overlords, the French, for years, and showed even greater resolve when the Americans began to replace French troops in the late 1950s.

Another reason America abandoned the war was due to international condemnation. After WWII, it became increasingly unpopular for major world powers to justify meddling in the affairs of other countries as blatantly as they had for decades (and at times, centuries). The post-war years saw the dismantling of many colonial holdings of the British, French, Dutch and others, as the call for universal freedom from colonial rule became overwhelmingly urgent.

As nations like India and nations throughout Africa either rebelled violently or achieved freedom from colonial oppression rather peacefully, the notion of a great power employing widespread violence, especially on such a large scale as was perpetrated in Vietnam, to suppress the national will of another nation, became morally unsupportable.

What's the rhyme scheme of "Lord Randal"?

The rhyme scheme is actually AABB, but it's an issue that's open to interpretation.

If you speak American English, then when you read "Lord Randal," a Scottish ballad poem, it will seem to you to have no rhyme scheme at all. Every stanza has four lines, and those lines end in the same words every time: "son," "man," "soon," and "down." Read those aloud and hear how they don't exactly rhyme, although there's a similarity among the words that will feel like a rhyme is trying to slip in there somehow. Here's the first stanza, so you can see what I mean:

“O where ha’ you been, Lord Randal, my son?

And where ha you been, my handsome young man?”

“I hae been at the greenwood; mother, mak my bed soon,

For I’m wearied wi’ huntin, and fain wad lie down.”

Each stanza after that has different words as it continues telling the poem's story, yet each still has lines ending in the final words "son," "man," "soon," and "down."

Because "son" and "man" look alike and do end in the same final consonant sound, even though they don't share a vowel sound, we'll call them "slant rhymes," which are almost rhymes. 

If you happened to have a Scottish accent, then when you say "down," it would sound just like "dune." So imagine also that "soon" rhymes with "down."

Now you can see why some folks would label this poem's rhyme scheme as AABB. "Son" nearly rhymes with "man," and "soon" nearly rhymes with "down," especially if you pronounce the vowels the way a Scottish person would.

What are the advantages and disadvantages of genetic profiling and DNA analysis?

Genetic profiling and DNA analysis refers to the processes used to test an individual’s genetic material in an effort to determine their identity as well as disease susceptibility. It is common in the fields of medicine and criminal justice where it is utilized as a forensic technique.

Advantages include:

• Genetic profiling and DNA analysis can be used in the identification of criminal suspects during investigations.


• Genetic profiling and DNA analysis can be used to screen for certain risk factors or genetic diseases.


• Genetic profiling and DNA analysis can be easily applied to any individual’s sample provided it contains cells with nuclei. Such human samples include urine, hair, semen and saliva.


• Genetic profiling and DNA analysis are extremely sensitive serological tests that can be carried out by use of samples that may be too small when carrying out other serological tests.

Disadvantages include:

• Genetic profiling and DNA analysis only offer the probability in terms of statistics rather than the absolute certainty.


• The DNA results stored as data on computers are vulnerable and can be easily exploited. This may lead to an invasion of privacy.

In Gathering Blue, why could Matt not help Kira build her new cott? What gossip had he heard?

When Kira returns to the village from the Field of Leaving after her mother has died, she sees Matt, a boy of about eight or nine years old, who has always been friendly toward her. She knows she will need to rebuild her cott, which was burned down to prevent the spread of her mother's sickness. Matt is busy gathering kindling for his fire at home, and she asks him if he'd be willing to help her gather the materials she needs and construct the cott. Because of her disability, it will be hard for her to complete the project herself, and she has no one else to assist her. She can't pay Matt, but she offers to tell him stories.

Matt says he can't help her, saying he'll get whipped by his mother if he doesn't get back with the firewood. But he then confides to Kira what his real reason for saying no probably is. He tells her that the other women don't want Kira to rebuild. They want her location for a pen to keep their children and chickens in. Since Kira's mother, who had advocated for her during her life, is no longer there to defend her, the women want to drive Kira away from the community. In fact, they want to euthanize her, leaving her in the Field for the beasts to eat--a fate that normally would have been hers at infancy when she was born with a deformed leg. 

What is Virginia's reaction towards the Canterville ghost?

At the beginning of the story, Virginia does not really react towards the ghost. She does not try to interfere with his ghostly duties, for example, nor does she play tricks on or humiliate him, like her brothers. When she comes face to face with the ghost in Chapter Five, however, she instantly feels sorry for him because he looks so depressed and miserable:

Indeed, so forlorn, and so much out of repair did he look, that little Virginia…was filled with pity, and determined to try and comfort him.

This reaction changes, however, when she learns of his earthly exploits, especially the murder of his wife, Lady Eleanore. While the ghost calls this a "family matter," Virginia is quick to point out the immorality of taking a life:

"It is very wrong to kill anyone," said Virginia.

But her reaction undergoes another change when she finds out that the Canterville ghost was starved to death and has spent the last three hundred years unable to sleep. These revelations make her feel sympathetic towards the ghost and inspire her to help him in his quest to enter the Garden of Death. 

What two incidents in "A Devoted Son" reflect the sense of bonhomie seen among the villagers?

"Bonhomie" is defined by Merriam-Webster Dictionary as "a feeling of friendliness among a group of people."

In the story, two incidents that reflect the bonhomie among the villagers are when visitors come to share in the happiness of Rakesh's accomplishments and when old neighbors visit Varma during his malaise.

The first incident of bonhomie occurs after Rakesh is listed as having earned first place in his country's medical entrance examinations. The text tells us that for a whole day, visitors come to congratulate Rakesh (and his parents) and to present the successful scholar with gifts. The atmosphere is joyous and euphoric, and all the villagers enthusiastically join in the revelries as if they are celebrating a major festival.

The second incident of bonhomie occurs when old neighbors visit Varma to commiserate about his life under Rakesh's draconian rule. Old Bhatia especially enjoys conversing with Varma while taking a bath in his yard. Sometimes, he even manages to venture onto Varma's property so that the two can socialize and comfort each other through the trials of their old age. In all, the bonhomie and camaraderie among villagers are clearly demonstrated in Desai's thought-provoking story.

Why is titanium more expensive than steel?

Titanium is a lustrous, low-density, high-strength metal which is highly resistant to corrosion in sea water and able to withstand high and low temperatures. Titanium is significantly lighter and stronger than steel. These physical attributes make it preferable to steel, which is corrosive and rusts much more easily.

Additionally, titanium is physiologically inert, so the human body tolerates its use very well in a variety of biological applications such as orthopedic implants, medical prosthesis, and dental implants. Titanium is therefore valued more — and therefore more expensive — than steel.

Titanium is preferred by industries that alloy the metal with other metals to produce strong, lightweight alloys used in the manufacture of aircraft, spacecraft, missiles, naval ships, and pipes for power plants.

Titanium is particularly useful in the manufacture of the bladed impeller disk of the jet engine, where the high strength and light weight of the metal is critical. Titanium must be cast under inert atmosphere, though, so this makes it more expensive.

What is the diffrence between equations and expressions?

Equation and expression differs since an equation equates two values: a=b while an expression is a representation of a numerical value like "a"  or "1" without any equated value. An expression does not have equal sign (=).

For a word problem application, when we are translating a "sentence", we set up an "equation". When we are translating part of sentence or phrase, then we are setting up an "expression".

Example:

Four less than a quotient of ten and a number is phrase that can be translated to an expression: `(10/x)-4`

Given as a sentence: Four less than a quotient of ten and a number is one, we can translate this into `(10/x)-4 =1`

The "is" indicates the location of the equal sign.

Another difference is that we can evaluate a equation with True or False, which is not applicable for an expression. This is the case since we can compare the values of each side of the equation while an expression is just as single mathematical representation.

Name a predominantly white community that has a street or building named after an African.

A small historic town in the eastern part of West Virginia has a street named after Nelson Mandela. Mandela, of course, fought against the system of apartheid in South Africa. The town's name is Shepherdstown, West Virginia and is a part of Jefferson County. Shepherdstown is home to Shepherd University and is the oldest town in the state of West Virginia, chartered in 1762. The name of the road is Mandela Road. According to the 2010 Census, Shepherdstown is home to around seventeen hundred residents. The Census recorded the racial makeup of the town as 85.5% white and 9.5% black. The town's population is growing.

There are over 120 roads around the world named after Nelson Mandela according to the article linked below. In the United States, ten roads are named after this great African humanitarian.

DNA and RNA are composed of nucleotide sub-units. How do the nitrogenous bases nucleotides differ in DNA and RNA?

A nucleotide contains a phosphate group and a five- carbon sugar and one of four nitrogenous bases. In DNA, the components of a nucleotide include the sugar deoxyribose and the base can be one of the following four-adenine, guanine, cytosine or thymine.

A nucleotide in RNA contains a different sugar called ribose and one of the following four nitrogenous bases-either adenine, guanine, cytosine or uracil.

DNA and RNA are known as polynucleotides because they are built from nucleotides that are linked together to form a macromolecule.

DNA is a double -stranded molecule arranged as a double helix with its nitrogenous bases linked together in the center in complementary base pairs- adenine to thymine and cytosine to guanine. The sides of the molecule are the sugar and phosphate groups.

RNA is a single stranded molecule. 

I have included a link comparing DNA and RNA.

Why don't the pigs like the pet raven Moses' stories about Sugar Candy Mountain?

Moses is Farmer Jones' "especial pet" and is a spy. So, to start with, the pigs mistrust the raven because of this. Most of the animals hate Moses because he does not work and talks too much. But the allure of Sugar Candy Mountain is convincing to some animals. Knowing that Moses is a spy and confidant to Mr. Jones, the pigs suspect that tales of Sugar Candy Mountain are meant to convince the animals to accept their difficult lives under Farmer Jones. If they have this heavenly reward waiting for them, it would be easier to endure such difficult lives. The pigs don't want the animals to fall into this way of thinking because they might then prefer Jones to rule the farm again.

Note that the pigs represent the Communist Revolution in Russia. Stalin (Napoleon in the novel) allowed the continuance of the Russian Orthodox Church, but he eventually became an atheist. This would also become the official Communist party line. The pigs allegorically follow this trajectory in the novel. They feel that the notion of Sugar Candy Mountain is a strategy used by Jones to keep the animals ever hopeful in a final reward, despite their struggles in life. The pigs want to eliminate this notion from the animals' minds. They feel it is more important to focus on their own revolution rather than this potentially false promise of Moses/Mr. Jones.

Choose two words from this group that are related.a. shout b.carefully c. create d. laugh

There are at least two ways to answer this question. This is because it is not clear exactly what it means for two words to “be related.”

First, you could say “create” and “carefully” are related. These are related because they could be used together. When a person creates something, he or she might do so carefully. Because you might create something carefully, the two words are, in a sense, related.

Second, you could say “laugh” and “shout” are related. I would say this is the better answer. These two words are related in two ways. They are related because they are both verbs. They are also related because they are both actions people can do with their own bodies. People can, without anything or anyone else, shout or laugh.

These are two options for this answer. I prefer the second option because those two words are connected to one another in two different ways.

What are X and Y in the chemical equation Y NO2 + H2O -> X HNO3 + NO?

The coefficients X and Y can be found by balancing the given chemical equation.

Y NO2 + H2O -> X HNO3 + NO

In this equation, nitrogen dioxide (NO2) reacts with water (H2O) to form nitric acid (HNO3) and nitrous oxide (NO). A well balanced chemical equation is one in which the number of atoms of each species are same on both sides of the equation.

Let us calculate the number of atoms of each species on both sides of the equation:

Nitrogen (N): reactant : Y, product: X + 1

Oxygen (O) : reactant: 2Y + 1, product: 3X + 1

Hydrogen (H): reactant: 2, product: X

The balanced equation can be written as:

3 NO2 + H2O -> 2 HNO3 + NO

Thus, X = 2 and Y = 3.

One can check the number of atoms of each species on both sides of this equation to check that it is well balanced. 

What can we infer about the girls based on what they want for Christmas?

Well, all of the girls except Beth grumble about being so poor, and Jo even feels that Christmas won't seem very Christmas-y without gifts to exchange. Apparently, Marmee thinks that presents seem like a trivial concern when there is such a terrible war going on and their father is away, serving the troops and in danger. Meg, Jo, and Amy's responses are, at first, somewhat materialistic, and they seem to indicate a certain lack of maturity. 

The girls, at first, decide to buy themselves gifts: Jo wants to buy a book that she's coveted for a long time, Beth will buy new piano music, Amy wants some drawing pencils, and Meg "[thinks] regretfully about all the pretty things she [wants]." These desires tell us a bit about each girl's personality and tastes: Meg is somewhat vain and cares a great deal about her appearance; Jo doesn't care at all about her appearance, only her mind, and she lives to read and write; Beth is the sweet homebody whose desire for herself is actually something that will brighten the household for everyone in it, music; and Amy is rather self-centered, sort of a stereotypical artistic type. The girls aren't evil or mean or selfish to a fault. Rather, they just seem to lack the perspective granted older folks who've witnessed tragedy and felt pain, but the girls do seem to develop perspective quickly as they turn their attention toward treating Marmee and the Hummels generously.