How many liters of O2 gas at STP is equivalent to 14g of O2?

To answer this question, you must use the ideal gas equation:P V = n R T"P" stands for pressure, "V" stands for volume, "n" stands for number of moles, "R" stands for gas constant, and "T" stands for temperature.The problem mentions that this scenario occurs at STP, which stands for standard temperature and pressure. This automatically gives us two important pieces of information: (1) the temperature in the scenario is 273 K & (2) the pressure in the scenario...

To answer this question, you must use the ideal gas equation:

P V = n R T

"P" stands for pressure, "V" stands for volume, "n" stands for number of moles, "R" stands for gas constant, and "T" stands for temperature.

The problem mentions that this scenario occurs at STP, which stands for standard temperature and pressure. This automatically gives us two important pieces of information: (1) the temperature in the scenario is 273 K & (2) the pressure in the scenario is 1 atm.

It's also given to us that there are 14 g of O2 present in the scenario, which can help us to calculate the number of moles!  By looking at the periodic table, we can see that 1 mole of oxygen has a mass of 15.999 g.  Since 1 mole of O2 is composed of 2 moles of oxygen, we can find that 1 mole of O2 has a mass of 31.998 g.

`2 xx (15.999 g) = 31.998 g`  

We then use the molar mass of O2 to find the number of moles:

`(14 g)/(1) xx (1 mol)/(31.998 g) = 0.44 mol`

The gas constant -- "R" -- is a constant, and we choose which ones to use based on the other units in our scenario.  Since this scenario deals with atm, K, and mol, we will use the following for "R":

Now we can put everything we know into the ideal gas equation & solve for volume:

`(1 atm) xx V = (0.44 mol) xx (0.08206(L atm)/(mol K)) xx (273 K)`

`V = 9.9 L`

In O. Henry's "The Gift of the Magi," is Della's character dynamic or static?

A static character is one who does not change his or her mind or opinion throughout a story. A dynamic one does. Characters usually undergo a dynamic change when they learn a lesson that contradicts what they believed in the beginning. Della is a dynamic character because she learns a valuable lesson about the price of love.

Della is a young newlywed who feels the weight of her husband's salary being cut from $30.00 a...

A static character is one who does not change his or her mind or opinion throughout a story. A dynamic one does. Characters usually undergo a dynamic change when they learn a lesson that contradicts what they believed in the beginning. Della is a dynamic character because she learns a valuable lesson about the price of love.

Della is a young newlywed who feels the weight of her husband's salary being cut from $30.00 a week to $20.00. Della only has $1.87 to spend on a Christmas gift for Jim, which she does not feel is not sufficient to buy a proper gift for her husband. As a result, she cuts and sells her hair to buy him a more expensive gift—a gold chain to match his gold watch. She discovers her husband sold his watch to buy her tortoise shell combs with bejeweled rims for her hair. Jim reacts by saying,

"'Dell,' said he, 'let's put our Christmas presents away and keep ’em a while. They're too nice to use just at present. I sold the watch to get the money to buy your combs.'"

The irony in this scene provides a setting for Della to learn Jim loves her more than he cares for expensive gifts. He doesn't get angry; he chuckles. By selling his watch to buy the beautiful combs, Jim proves he is willing to sacrifice material objects for Della's happiness. He values Della's happiness more than his prized possession. Therefore, Della is a dynamic character because she learns she didn't have to sell her hair to obtain money to buy her husband an expensive gift—their love for each other is enough.

What drove Mark Twain to become a cub-pilot on a Mississippi riverboat?

In Chapter Four, Mark Twain tells us he always wanted to be a steamboat pilot; it was his childhood ambition for as long as he could remember.

He tells us that, as time progressed and all his boyhood friends grew up, many heeded the call of the river by working as ship engineers, mud-clerks (general workers who performed the dirtiest jobs on a steamboat), and pilots on the Mississippi River. Mark Twain asserts that a...

In Chapter Four, Mark Twain tells us he always wanted to be a steamboat pilot; it was his childhood ambition for as long as he could remember.

He tells us that, as time progressed and all his boyhood friends grew up, many heeded the call of the river by working as ship engineers, mud-clerks (general workers who performed the dirtiest jobs on a steamboat), and pilots on the Mississippi River. Mark Twain asserts that a steamboat pilot's pay was in itself a great lure; every pilot was paid between $150 and $250 a month, a "princely salary" at the time. Additionally, the steamboat pilot never had to pay for board, and his salary easily eclipsed that of a preacher's. To become a steamboat pilot, one had to train as a cub-pilot. This is partly why Mark Twain was driven to become a cub-pilot; without the training, he would never have realized his ambition of becoming a steamboat pilot.

Mark Twain also liked the idea of traveling on the water; such an adventure exhilarated him and gave him a profound sense of well-being and vigor. On a ship bound for New Orleans, he wrote,

When we presently got under way and went poking down the broad Ohio, I became a new being, and the subject of my own admiration. I was a traveler! A word never had tasted so good in my mouth before. I had an exultant sense of being bound for mysterious lands and distant climes which I never have felt in so uplifting a degree since. I was in such a glorified condition that all ignoble feelings departed out of me, and I was able to look down and pity the untraveled with a compassion that had hardly a trace of contempt in it.

So, basically, Mark Twain was driven to become a cub-pilot because of a boyhood ambition to work as a steamboat pilot and a desire to reap the material benefits from such an occupation. Additionally, he also viewed a life on the water as one replete with adventure and excitement.

Why should we study political theory?

Defenders of the study of political theory would point to several reasons why it should be studied. One is that political theory deals on one level with ideal types. In other words, political theorists think seriously about the ways in which society can best be organized to achieve justice, liberty, and other desirable ends. No society can be perfect, of course, but thinking about the theoretical underpinnings of a political society can help us focus...

Defenders of the study of political theory would point to several reasons why it should be studied. One is that political theory deals on one level with ideal types. In other words, political theorists think seriously about the ways in which society can best be organized to achieve justice, liberty, and other desirable ends. No society can be perfect, of course, but thinking about the theoretical underpinnings of a political society can help us focus on what is important in society. Another related reason is that political theorists think and write about the proper goals of government. This is a question that is easily translated into real-world politics. If, for example, you think economic equality is a goal that should be fostered by a good government, then you might support policies and politicians that aim to bring about this end. If you think that protecting liberty is the main purpose of government, as some political theorists have argued, then you may oppose such measures, even if they can be justified on humanitarian grounds. In short, political theory engages with timeless questions about the proper relation between people and government as well as with each other. It forces us to think about power, authority, morality, and liberty (among other things) and the ways these concepts shape real-world government. 

According to Elie Wiesel, what was his purpose in writing Night?

Eli Wiesel tells us in an interview that he wrote Night partly to speak for the dead, and for the survivors who could not speak of the atrocities. He told the story of his survival experience with a sharp honesty that would help those of the future also have an accurate representation.

He witnessed and experienced some of the harshest experiences possible for a child of his age, and although the writing is from the...

Eli Wiesel tells us in an interview that he wrote Night partly to speak for the dead, and for the survivors who could not speak of the atrocities. He told the story of his survival experience with a sharp honesty that would help those of the future also have an accurate representation.

He witnessed and experienced some of the harshest experiences possible for a child of his age, and although the writing is from the memories of an adult author, the voice is still strikingly innocent. In this way, Wiesel communicates the memories of those who shared his experience.

His observations, descriptions of the struggles of those around him, and description of the actions of Nazi soldiers and guards all work together to document historic events, preserve the memories of himself and those around him, and serve as a warning to future generations about the harsh reality of genocide.

He did not seek to be seen as a hero, or martyr of any sort. Rather, he wrote to preserve the truth, speak for a generation, and give the future something to consider.

How would you respond to the assertion that, before the Europeans colonized Africa, the continent had no literature?

I would say that that assertion is completely false.

When we think of literature, we often fail to realize that our understanding of it is rooted in Western ideas of learning and storytelling—that is, stories and verse written and transmitted to the masses through print. Though it is true that certain Asian cultures also had writing—paper was, in fact, invented in China around 100 BC—the act of telling stories and recording them for posterity is deemed a Western tradition.

Epic narratives, fables, and other tales did exist among other peoples on other continents, however, including Africa. Let's consider how this tradition existed in West Africa, for example.

Sunjata, a tale told among the Mandingo people (from what is now Mali), is one of the best-known African epics. The story was passed down by generations of griots since the thirteenth century. A 'griot' is similar to the troubadour of medieval Europe in that he was skilled in oral performance, reciting histories as epic poems or narratives. The griot differed from the troubadour in the sense that he remained rooted to his tribe and community, while the troubadour traveled from place to place transmitting poems and tales. Also, the troubadour's main function was to entertain. Storytelling was often accompanied with music. On the other hand, the griot's main function is "to preserve, record, and transmit the history of their people" (Hill 35). Finally, griots still exist in some West African communities, whereas troubadours ceased to exist after the invention of the printing press around 1440.

Sunjata is similar to the French and English courtly romances told during the same period. Sunjata was a real person. He was a Mandingo warrior-king who led a revolt against Ghana, a declining empire, in 1200 CE. Ultimately, he united Mali's twelve kingdoms, creating one of the most powerful empires the continent has ever known.

Though this tale is rooted in history, it is regarded as literature because every griot who has told the tale through the ages has improvised its details. There are, in fact, four published versions of the epic and all of them are different. Moreover, as with all epic tales, there are mythical elements to Sunjata. For example, our hero is born crippled and, from birth, is threatened by mortal enemies. The antagonist in the epic is an evil sorcerer king named Sumanguru, or "Soumaoro Kante" in other accounts. Ultimately, Sunjata defeats Sumanguru by attacking his protective life force, a crowing white cock, with a magical counterforce, "a cockspur in a poisoned weapon (arrow or gun)" (Hill 36). 

This narrative deals with some of literature's ageless themes: good vs. evil, heroism, justice vs. injustice, and overcoming adversity. In terms of form, it follows the patterns we see in other literary traditions. There are characters, including a protagonist (main character) and an antagonist (an enemy, or someone who works against the protagonist). There is also a fixed setting and a plot which introduces a situation, brings that situation to a climax, and then provides a clear conclusion/resolution. 

Thus, Sunjata, like Western narratives, is a work of literature. The only difference is that griots did not write it down until very recently.

Source: Hill, Patricia Liggins. Call and Response: The Riverside Anthology of the African American Literary Tradition. Boston and New York: Houghton Mifflin Company. 1998. Print.

In which of the following species is the central atom an exception to the octet rule?`NH_4^+` `I_2` `NH_3` `SF_6`

The octet rule is a heuristic, or "rule of thumb," about how electron configurations usually work in chemical bonds. It says that elements tend to gain or lose electrons until they have an octet, eight electrons, in their valence, or outermost, electron shell. Like any heuristic, it is usually, but not always, true. It has some important exceptions.`NH_4^+` is a positive ion of one nitrogen atom and four hydrogen atoms. Nitrogen has five electrons...

The octet rule is a heuristic, or "rule of thumb," about how electron configurations usually work in chemical bonds. It says that elements tend to gain or lose electrons until they have an octet, eight electrons, in their valence, or outermost, electron shell. Like any heuristic, it is usually, but not always, true. It has some important exceptions.

`NH_4^+` is a positive ion of one nitrogen atom and four hydrogen atoms. Nitrogen has five electrons in its valence shell, so we would expect it to take on three electrons to fill the octet. Hydrogen has only one valence electron, but the first shell only allows two electrons, so we expect it to accept or give one electron. Yet if each hydrogen atom gives one electron to the nitrogen atom, the nitrogen atom would now have nine electrons, not eight. However, since this is a positive ion, one of the electrons is actually missing, so the central nitrogen atom must actually only have eight electrons, which means it is not an exception to the octet rule.

`I_2` is a molecule formed between two iodine atoms. Iodine has 7 valence electrons, so we would expect each to take on one electron—but that can't happen. So this is an exception to the octet rule. (In fact what happens is the two atoms share two electrons in a covalent bond.)

`NH_3` is a molecule of one nitrogen atom and three hydrogen atoms. By similar reasoning with NH_4^+ we see that the three hydrogen atoms each give one electron to the nitrogen atom, totaling eight. Therefore this is not an exception to the octet rule.

Finally, `SF_6 ` is a molecule of one sulfur atom and six fluorine atoms. Sulfur has 6 valence electrons, while fluorine has 7. Fluorine is more electronegative, so we expect the fluorine atoms to each take one of the 6 electrons from the sulfur atom. This obeys the octet rule.

Therefore, the answer is (B) `I_2`. All the other molecules obey the octet rule, while this one does not because it is a covalent molecule.

What was the name of the conference at which the United States and United Kingdom promised the Soviet Union that they would invade France?

The conference at which the United States and the United Kingdom finally committed to invading Occupied France (and at which they set a general date for it) was the Tehran Conference.  This conference was held from November 28 to December 1, 1943 in Tehran, Iran.  The main result of this conference was the promise to open a western front in the European Theater of World War II.

Since Germany invaded the Soviet Union in June...

The conference at which the United States and the United Kingdom finally committed to invading Occupied France (and at which they set a general date for it) was the Tehran Conference.  This conference was held from November 28 to December 1, 1943 in Tehran, Iran.  The main result of this conference was the promise to open a western front in the European Theater of World War II.

Since Germany invaded the Soviet Union in June of 1941, the great bulk of all land fighting in the European Theater was done by the Soviets.  They suffered terrible casualties and devastation as they fought off the German invasion.  Because they were so hard-pressed, they badly wanted the Western Allies to invade Occupied France and open another front.  If the Allies would do this, it would significantly ease the pressure on the Soviets in the east.  However, the US and UK were reluctant to do this until they were sure the invasion would succeed.  They wanted to take the time to make sure they had enough men and materiel stockpiled on Britain to successfully invade the continent.  At the Tehran Conference, they committed to doing so and they set May of 1944 as the date for the invasion. 

Thus, the correct answer to this answer is the Tehran Conference.

What is the significance of the title, Fahrenheit 451?

As we can see from Bradbury's addendum to the novel, the title refers to the temperature at which book-paper burns. The significance of this title becomes apparent once the novel begins: Montag, the main character, is employed as a fireman but, in the society of Fahrenheit 451, it is his job to start fires, not to put them out. Specifically, the firemen are responsible for burning books because their society is highly-censored and emphasises...

As we can see from Bradbury's addendum to the novel, the title refers to the temperature at which book-paper burns. The significance of this title becomes apparent once the novel begins: Montag, the main character, is employed as a fireman but, in the society of Fahrenheit 451, it is his job to start fires, not to put them out. Specifically, the firemen are responsible for burning books because their society is highly-censored and emphasises entertainment over learning.

In addition, this title is also significant because it is the first reference to fire, one of the novel's most potent symbols. In Fahrenheit 451, fire is a symbol of destruction and censorship: the firemen wear the number "451" on their uniforms, for example. But it also symbolises the death of one way of life and the beginning of a new one, as shown by Montag's transformation from committed fireman to social outsider.

What are some 3 personality traits of Oberon from Midsummer Night's Dream by Shakespeare. [Please support the 3 personality traits with 3 quotes...

In a Midsummer Night's Dream, Oberon is the King of the fairies, who is able to disguise himself as a human being. In some ways he bridges the world of humans and the fairy world.

Oberon's Personality Traits

• Jealous husband/lover

When he first appears in the play in Act II, Oberon, who is married to Titiana, engages in a love quarrel with her much like that of human beings as they resurrect old infidelities. When he first sees his wife, Titiana declares that she will no longer share her bed with him. 

TITA. What, jealous Oberon?—Fairies, skip hence.

I have forsworn his bed and company. 

OBE. Tarry, rash wanton, am I not thy lord? (2.1.47-49)

Enraged, Oberon demands his rights as a husband. But, the real reason for his jealousy is the fight over the changeling boy that Titiana holds because he wants the boy for his own. Titania refuses, insisting that she was friends with the human mother who died giving birth to the boy. Angered, Oberon devises a plan to capture the child: He sends Puck to search for a certain flower that has juices which makes people fall in love with the next creature they see after it is sprinkled on them. While Titania is under the spell, Oberon plans to steal the changeling by 

streak[ing] her eyes" with magic juice "and make her full of hateful fantasies" (2.1.257-58). 

After Titania is treated with this magical flower, she awakens and finds Bottom, whose head has been changed to that of a donkey because of the mischief of Puck; then, instantly, she falls in love with him. While Oberon has not intended this situation to occur, he has hoped that Titania will wake and fall in love with "some vile thing" (3.2.34).

• Power-hungry and selfishly destructive

The power struggles between Oberon and Titania are so violent that they have caused great disruptions in the weather. Titania chides him for his selfishness which has effected great seasonal changes and harm to cattle and sheep:

But with thy brawls thou hast disturbed our sport.
Therefore the winds, piping to us in vain,
As in revenge, have sucked up from the sea
Contagious fogs, which falling in the land
Have every pelting river made so proud
That they have overborne their continents. (2.1.72-77)

• Sympathetic to the human lovers

After having sent Puck to find the flower that will make Titania fall in love with the first creature she sees when she awakens, Oberon observes Helena in pursuit of Demetrius, who cruelly dismisses her. The fairy king decides to use the same flower Puck finds for Titania to help Helena. He instructs Puck to search for a man who wears Athenian garments (meaning Demetrius) and sprinkle this man with the flower. However, Puck mistakenly anoints Lysander's eyes. So, the world of the humans becomes as confused as that of the fairies.

Nevertheless, Oberon finally manages to set things right as he ensures that the proper lovers are paired with each other. He has Demetrius remain in love with Helena, and he ensures that Lysander forgets about what has occurred with Helena, believing it was all a dream. As a result, Lysander's love is again directed toward Hermia.
Oberon also fixes things in the fairy world by removing the spell from Titania, although he steals the changeling boy before doing so and then removing "the imperfection from her eyes" regarding Bottom. 

But first I will release the fairy queen.
Be as thou wast wont to be;
See as thou wast wont to see:....
Now, my Titania; wake you, my sweet queen. (4.1.55-58)

Truly, Oberon is a complex character as he seems to have two sides. On the one hand, he is the jealous, demanding husband and a selfish being who does not care that he has disturbed the weather with all his marital quarrels and jealousies; on the other hand, he is romantic and concerned about the human beings, ensuring that Helena captures Demetrius and the other humans are paired as they should be.

What is one very important relationship in the film adaptation of Into the Wild? How does this relationship positively or negatively influence one...

One important relationship shown in the film adaptation of Into the Wild is the relationship between Chris McCandless and Ronald Franz.  

The film makes some definite changes from the book, and the film includes multiple scenes that Krakauer did not write about in his book about McCandless.  For example, the scene with McCandless and Franz on some random desert mountain top talking about God, forgiveness, and love is not in Krakauer's account; however, the...

One important relationship shown in the film adaptation of Into the Wild is the relationship between Chris McCandless and Ronald Franz.  

The film makes some definite changes from the book, and the film includes multiple scenes that Krakauer did not write about in his book about McCandless.  For example, the scene with McCandless and Franz on some random desert mountain top talking about God, forgiveness, and love is not in Krakauer's account; however, the scene does add depth to the relationship between McCandless and Franz.  

Both the book and the film stress the importance of the relationship between McCandless and Franz.  Both stories show that the relationship was beneficial to both people.  In McCandless, Franz finds another "son" to take under his wing.  McCandless finds the sort of father figure that he wishes he had.  What the film shows very well, especially in that mountain top scene, is that Franz deeply loves McCandless and encourages him to follow his dream.  When Franz says "I wish I could go with you," that is the equivalent of his blessing on McCandless's travels.  McCandless equally encourages Franz.  He encourages Franz to further simplify his life and look beyond relationships with people.  By doing this, Franz will be able to further find pleasure, harmony, and the meaning of life (according to McCandless).  

I've attached a link to that scene.   

How would you describe the musical quality of "The Brook" by Alfred Lord Tennyson?

Tennyson's "The Brook" has a musical quality that imitates a flowing stream. The alternating lines rhyme, creating a musical sense, and many of the words that end the lines are repeated, such as "flow" and "go." The repetition of words and rhymes creates the lyrical quality of a brook that is constantly running and that has a repetitive quality in the sound of its water moving downstream. 

In addition, the lines in the poem are...

Tennyson's "The Brook" has a musical quality that imitates a flowing stream. The alternating lines rhyme, creating a musical sense, and many of the words that end the lines are repeated, such as "flow" and "go." The repetition of words and rhymes creates the lyrical quality of a brook that is constantly running and that has a repetitive quality in the sound of its water moving downstream. 

In addition, the lines in the poem are very short, running to three or four syllables rather than to the ten syllables that many of the poems used at the time. This creates the kinds of quickly moving sounds that a brook might make as it tumbles downstream. In addition, many of the lines in the poem use alliteration, or the repetition of sounds at the beginning of words, such as "sudden sally" and "men may." These sounds imitate the rushing sound of water in the brook. 

How does the adaptation of producing a huge number of plants help in the survival of a certain plant?

Living things have the ability to produce more offspring than can possibly survive. This was noted by Charles Darwin in his theory of Natural Selection.

Organisms are subject to outside pressures that affect their ability to survive, including competition for space, mates, and resources, as well as the risk of becoming prey.

If a certain plant has a potential to produce a large amount of offspring, there is a greater chance or probability that more...

Living things have the ability to produce more offspring than can possibly survive. This was noted by Charles Darwin in his theory of Natural Selection.

Organisms are subject to outside pressures that affect their ability to survive, including competition for space, mates, and resources, as well as the risk of becoming prey.

If a certain plant has a potential to produce a large amount of offspring, there is a greater chance or probability that more of them will survive to adulthood and reproduce themselves. When an organism successfully survives and reproduces, it is deemed to be "fit". Thus, if a plant can release many seeds, which are actually tiny embryos with a food supply, there will be a greater chance some will survive and thrive, creating the next generation.

Seeds are contained within fruits. Fruits are ripened ovaries that provide a certain amount of protection for the seeds they contain. When seeds are released from fruits, they have the ability to sprout into new plants. Animals which eat fruits can help spread seeds in their feces. These can then grow into the next generation. There are other adaptations for seed dispersal, including seeds dispersed by wind.

It is important to note that, since fruits and seeds can both be consumed as food for many animals, a plant producing a greater amount of fruits and seeds will lead to a higher probability some will survive to form mature offspring.

How is the government depicted at the time of the setting of To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee?

The setting of To Kill a Mockingbird is the 1930's during the Great Depression when Franklin D. Roosevelt was president. 

Roosevelt instituted his New Deal, which brought some relief to people with the Works Progress Administration (WPA). This program put to work thousands of unemployed and unskilled men. Bridges and highways were constructed, schools, and even parks. Most people who needed a job were eligible for employment with the WPA.

In Harper Lee's novel, Mr. Walter Cunningham refuses a job with the WPA because his farm would go to ruin if he left it. Bob Ewell is hired by the WPA, but he is fired, although almost no one is actually fired from the WPA.

While the Federal Government was characterized by the New Deal, which was a socialized program, the state government of Alabama had no such programs. Alabama began to lose much of its income beginning in the 1920's with the decline in agriculture. Because the farmers could not purchase things, the few industries in Alabama had to reduce production. Consequently, workers were fired. Unemployment was at least 25 percent throughout much of the 1930's.

In cities, too, unemployment was high, especially in Birmingham, where iron and steel mills closed. President Roosevelt in 1934 described this city as the "worst hit town in the country."

Textile mills stayed in business, but fewer workers were employed and made to work longer hours for lower wages. After a while, a massive strike was started in Gadsden, a city north of Birmingham. This strike, begun in 1934, spread to mills on the East Coast as workers protested against the owners of the mills who sought to avoid adhering to new regulations effected during the New Deal. 

Economic conditions for blacks in the North were so bad that some returned to farms in Alabama, hoping to live off the land, but so much of the soil had been overworked that it was stripped of nutrients. In addition, the Jim Crow Laws were in effect, so social conditions for African-Americans were deplorable. Segregation extended to all facets of life. There were separate schools, churches, restaurants, restrooms, drinking fountains--all of which were inferior to those for whites. Some African-Americans became Communists in their efforts to achieve better treatment and obtain jobs, but their efforts did not go far, as the KKK posted warnings against joining the Communist Party.

How has Constantine helped Skeeter grow up in The Help by Kathryn Stockett?

Eugenia “Skeeter” Phelan grew up in the white high-society Southern culture of the 1950s and 1960s. Constantine was the black maid who served the Phelan family at the Longleaf estate. She basically raised Skeeter and her brother Carlton. She also became a confidant and friend to Skeeter. The young girl knew she couldn’t share her problems, dreams, or opinions with her own mother or father because they would wave off her worries or tell her...

Eugenia “Skeeter” Phelan grew up in the white high-society Southern culture of the 1950s and 1960s. Constantine was the black maid who served the Phelan family at the Longleaf estate. She basically raised Skeeter and her brother Carlton. She also became a confidant and friend to Skeeter. The young girl knew she couldn’t share her problems, dreams, or opinions with her own mother or father because they would wave off her worries or tell her they were unimportant. Skeeter could share anything with Constantine, though, and she knew she would receive support and decent, applicable answers. Skeeter reveals their relationship most in Chapter 5. When Skeeter once cried because classmates called her “ugly,” Constantine boosted her spirit and self-esteem. She made sure the girl knew she was a worthwhile person in her own right. When Skeeter began smoking cigarettes as a teenager behind her parents’ backs, Constantine quietly disapproved but warned her if her mother was approaching. Constantine even wrote to Skeeter when she went away to college at Ole Miss. They shared secrets with one another. They were friends, in spite of the way their culture expected them to behave. Skeeter was devastated to come home from college and find out Constantine had left the estate for good. She was the one person who would have understood Skeeter’s current dilemmas. The last line of the chapter reads: “I had to accept that Constantine, my one true ally, had left me to feud for myself with these people.” So from this point on, Skeeter has to draw from what she thinks Constantine would tell her if she were still here. In a way, the maid is still teaching her about life.

In Shakespeare's The Merchant of Venice, why is a certain casket chosen by the Prince of Morocco and another by the Prince of Arragon while the...

In Act 2, Scene 7, the prince of Morocco chooses the golden casket for he truly believes that Portia's image is contained therein. He says:

But here an angel in a golden bed
Lies all within. Deliver me the key:
Here do I choose, and thrive I as I may!

He first refuses the lead casket because he believes, in terms of its inscription, that the fact that the man who chooses it should hazard all he has is not a worthwhile exercise. Lead has no value and the other two metals would be much more rewarding choices, since they are more valuable. He also states that it is gross to even think that Portia's image would be immured in lead, for it is such a base metal.

He expresses similar sentiments with regard to the silver casket and says that the promise stated by the inscription that the one who chooses it shall get as much as he deserves, means that he deserves Portia. He is her equal in birth, rank, title and wealth, but he wants more than just those. He also deserves her love. He is suggesting that if he should stop choosing and decide on the silver casket, he might not get anything. Added to that, he also sees silver as unworthy when it is compared to gold. It is worth ten times less and it would be a sin and an insult if he should choose it, and, therefore, he decides to give it a miss.

In Scene 9, the Prince of Arragon states that he will assume nothing, but he chooses the silver casket because he agrees with the inscription that, 'Who chooseth me shall get as much as he deserves.' Prior to making his choice, the prince goes into a lengthy speech about the merit of one getting 'as much as he deserves.' It is as if he is giving a sermon about the value of integrity and honor.

He juxtaposes these with corruption, stating that if every person should get what he deserves, many would stand naked, for they would have acquired whatever they have either by deceitful means or favor. Although he is uncertain, he must somehow believe that he deserves Portia and, therefore, chooses the silver casket.

The prince displays his arrogance when he rejects the lead casket because it requires one 'to give and hazard all he hath.' He quips that Portia 'shall look fairer' before he would hazard anything. This may mean that she should either be more beautiful or have a lighter complexion. Whichever meaning one chooses, his remark is clearly an insult. 

He refuses the gold casket because he does not want to be associated with what he calls 'the fool multitude' who tend to be impressed by the glitter and not what is truly inside. In a further display of supercilious pride, he states:

I will not choose what many men desire,
Because I will not jump with common spirits
And rank me with the barbarous multitudes.

He certainly has a very high opinion of himself. His reference to the common folk as 'barbarous multitudes' is an obvious indication that he ranks himself higher than everyone else.

In both these instances, the princes exhibit a haughtiness that Portia would well do without. Fortunately for her, both are unsuccessful and she, in both instances, expresses relief when they fail. 

How can I write a thesis statement for my presentation on tropical ecology and the Blue Footed Booby?

Your thesis statement, sometimes also called a topic sentence or "big idea" of your paper, should convey to your audience what your paper or presentation will be about. Though the thesis statement is introduced in the introduction of your paper--or during the introduction portion of a spoken presentation--it is sometimes the most difficult part of an essay to write! Consider this: what is the main idea of your presentation? In one or two sentences, what...

Your thesis statement, sometimes also called a topic sentence or "big idea" of your paper, should convey to your audience what your paper or presentation will be about. Though the thesis statement is introduced in the introduction of your paper--or during the introduction portion of a spoken presentation--it is sometimes the most difficult part of an essay to write! Consider this: what is the main idea of your presentation? In one or two sentences, what information are you hoping to present and support? If you had just one minute to tell someone very quickly the subject of your paper, what might you say?

Your thesis statement should be related to the body of your essay or presentation. The thesis statement may contain or summarize important points about tropical ecology and the Blue Footed Booby--use the body of your paper to expand upon and support these ideas. For example, if the main food source for the Booby was at risk, you might tell us in your introduction that this is the case and that it is important to conserve the food source. Then, in the body of your paper, you could tell us why it is important to conserve the food source and how it can be done. (This is just an example idea.)

You should re-visit your thesis statement in the conclusion of your essay or presentation. In the introduction, the purpose of your thesis statement is to give us an idea of what we should learn from your presentation. The body then supports this idea. In the conclusion, the thesis statement should remind us of what we have just learned from the presentation and tie it all together. If you have a hard time limiting your thesis statement to just one or two sentences, you can try writing a full paragraph or more about the main idea and then revise it. Go through your draft and ask yourself what information can be removed while preserving the big idea? 

The ratio test to solve

The series in the problem is `sum_(n=1)^oo (2 +(-1)^n)/1.25^n`

To determine the convergence of the series let us use the comparison test. If there are two series `S_a` and `S_b` with terms `T_a` and `T_b` and `T_b >= T_a` , if the series `S_b` converges, `S_a` also converges.

Now, `(-1)^n` can be either positive or negative and this is dependent on whether n is even or odd.

Let `T_b = (2 + 1^n)/1.25^n` . If...

The series in the problem is `sum_(n=1)^oo (2 +(-1)^n)/1.25^n`

To determine the convergence of the series let us use the comparison test. If there are two series `S_a` and `S_b` with terms `T_a` and `T_b` and `T_b >= T_a` , if the series `S_b` converges, `S_a` also converges.

Now, `(-1)^n` can be either positive or negative and this is dependent on whether n is even or odd.

Let `T_b = (2 + 1^n)/1.25^n` . If `T_a = (2 +(-1)^n)/1.25^n` , `T_b >= T_a`

To determine the convergence of `S_b` we use the ratio test.

First we find the value of L = `lim_(n=oo) |T_(n+1)/T_n|`

`T_(n+1) = (2 +(1)^(n+1))/1.25^(n+1)`

= `(2 + 1^n)/(1.25*1.25^n)`

L = `lim_(n=oo) |T_(n+1)/T_n|`

= `lim_(n=oo)|((2 + 1^n)/(1.25*1.25^n))/((2 +1^n)/1.25^n)|`

= `1/1.25`

As 1.25 is greater than 1, `1/1.25` is less than 1.

By the ratio test, the series `S_b = sum(2 + 1^n)/1.25^n` converges.

As `S_b` converges, the series `S_a = sum (2 +(-1)^n)/1.25^n` also converges.

The given series `sum_(n=1)^oo (2 +(-1)^n)/1.25^n` converges.

What is an analysis of the poetic devices used in "London" by William Blake?

The first two lines of "London" feature repetition, a literary device Blake uses several times in this poem. The word "charter’d," meaning "mapped," is repeated, showing that the city is mapped out in a way that is characteristic of urban life. This type of restriction is in contrast to the freedom of the countryside. In the next two lines, the word "mark" is repeated three times as a means of emphasizing the way in which...

The first two lines of "London" feature repetition, a literary device Blake uses several times in this poem. The word "charter’d," meaning "mapped," is repeated, showing that the city is mapped out in a way that is characteristic of urban life. This type of restriction is in contrast to the freedom of the countryside. In the next two lines, the word "mark" is repeated three times as a means of emphasizing the way in which the polluted city marks its inhabitants. In the following stanza, the word "cry" is repeated (and "cry" also appears in the third stanza), as is the word "every." The repetition of the word "cry" emphasizes the suffering of both adults and children in London. The repetition of the word "every" is a form of anaphora, which is the repetition of a word at the beginning of phrases that follow each other, and it serves to emphasize how this suffering characterizes everyone the poet sees in the city. Many phrases in this stanza also start with "in," another example of an anaphora. 

In the third stanza, the words "Church" and "Palace" are synecdoches--the substitution of part of something for its whole. For example, "Church" stands for religion, while "Palace" stands for the monarchy. Both of these institutions are oblivious to the cries of the people around them.

In the last stanza, the phrase "Marriage hearse" is a kind of oxymoron, or a joining of contrasts. The idea behind this phrase is that the infant is born to a mother who is a prostitute and curses her newborn child. The child's birth is both a marriage, or the result of a sexual union, and a death sentence, as the woman has a plague. Therefore, even birth brings with it the taint of death in "London." 

How can I justify that the play Merchant of Venice ends in tragedy for Shylock?

Events in Shakespeare's The Merchant of Venice ultimately become tragic for Shylock the father, Shylock the usurer, and Shylock the Jew.

--Shylock the father

Shylock's tragic losses, which are due mostly to his selfishness, begin with the betrayal of his daughter Jessica. She steals much of the family jewels, runs off with a Christian who is a close friend of his enemy Antonio, and even converts to Christianity because she hates her father's conduct and associates much of his behavior and attitudes to his being a Jew:

Alack, what heinous sin is it in me
To be ashamed to be my father's child?
But though I am a daughter to his blood,
I am not to his manners. O Lorenzo,
If thou keep promise, I shall end this strife,
Become a Christian and thy loving wife. (2.3.16-21)

Further, Jessica squanders the family heirlooms on frivolous things, such as trading her mother's turquoise ring for a monkey, an act which adds "insult to injury" for her father when he is informed of his daughter's betrayal and actions.

--Shylock the usurer

During the time of the setting of the drama, the Catholic Church forbids usury, so none of the Venetian merchants or moneylenders are allowed to practice this form of lending. On the other hand, Shylock's greed for money motivates his usury, and, as a Jew, he can charge interest. Therefore, in his avarice, he loans his mortal enemy money with the diabolical scheme of extracting flesh in payment, a scheme which backfires on him. For, Portia, who is disguised as a doctor of law, points out that the agreement between Antonio and Shylock does not allow for the spilling of blood in the extraction of payment if the loan is not met. Therefore, Shylock cannot collect on the debt, and is later punished for his usury.

--Shylock the Jew

Considered a heathen by the Venetians, Shylock is reviled and when the opportunity presents itself, the Duke punishes him severely, according to the Venetian law:

If Shylock takes a drop of Christian blood from Antonio, then the law of Venice states that the Republic of Venice can confiscate his land and goods because he is a foreign national. According to another Venetian law, if a foreign national such as Shylock seeks the life of a Venetian citizen, whether directly or indirectly, and is found guilty, he then forfeits half of his wealth to his intended victim, with the other half going to the state (4.1.344-359). The personal fate of the guilty national then is up to the ruler.

If Shylock were a Venetian and not a Jew and a foreign national, the tragic results of the trial would not have occurred as they do.

What are some of the main themes explored in Art Spiegelman's graphic novel, 'Maus'?

Maus is an iconic graphic novel by Art Spiegelman that chronicles the tale of Vladek Spiegelman, a Jew who survived Nazi Germany. Vladek is Art Spiegelman's father, and the story is narrated by Art as Vladek tells him his story.

The book can be considered a historical memoir, and many of the themes in the book lean on history to derive meaning. The tale not only tells Vladek's story, but also the story of the...

Maus is an iconic graphic novel by Art Spiegelman that chronicles the tale of Vladek Spiegelman, a Jew who survived Nazi Germany. Vladek is Art Spiegelman's father, and the story is narrated by Art as Vladek tells him his story.

The book can be considered a historical memoir, and many of the themes in the book lean on history to derive meaning. The tale not only tells Vladek's story, but also the story of the father-son relationship between Art and Vladek. Spiegelman uses historical plot structures of World War Two history and the father-son relationship to craft a few main themes throughout the work.

Alienation between humans; Racism

With much of the story set in Nazi Germany, it is not surprising that racism is a central theme in Maus. Spiegelman anthropomorphizes various animals to represent different ethnic races. For example, people of German descent are drawn as cats, those of Polish descent are drawn as pigs, and those of Jewish descent are drawn as mice. This representation is a tool Spiegelman uses to show the fundamental lack of understanding between humans during that time. Though in reality humans are all in the same species (homo sapiens), he draws them as entirely different creatures. Spiegelman's choice to draw his characters this way demonstrates the distance that opened between different ethnic groups during WWII as a result of the Nazi regime. 

Intergenerational familial misunderstanding

Throughout the novel, Vladek's story pauses and readers get a glimpse into the relationship between Art and Vladek. Often fraught with tension and disagreement, their relationship is frequently one of conflict. This narrative tension is juxtaposed with the very basis of the book: Art is choosing to write his father's story and clearly loves his father. Despite Art's deep love for his father, misunderstanding remains between them.

The interplay of memory and guilt

Two important characters die in Maus. Anya, Vladek's wife, and Richieu, Vladek and Anya's first son. Both of these characters ground Vladek's entire narrative. Within Vladek's story in Germany, they motivate and give him hope throughout his suffering in Nazi concentration camps. Later, as Vladek tells Art his story, they are conspicuously absent.  Both Vladek and Art suffer tremendous guilt over the death of these two family members. Both Anya and Richieu died due the Nazi regime and its repercussions. Art and Vladek did not cause their deaths, but still feel guilty. The particular kind of guilt they feel may be categorized as a type of survivor's guilt for making it through while their family members did not.

What change does Raina notice in Bluntschli's appearance when she meets him for the second time?

When Raina first meets Bluntschli, he looks terrible, and presents a striking visual contrast with Sergius's heroic appearance in the portrait. The stage directions tell us he is unwashed and unkempt, and  

"…in a deplorable plight, bespattered with mud and blood and snow, his belt and the strap of his revolver-case keeping together the torn ruins of the blue tunic of a Servian artillery officer."

Furthermore, his nerves are on edge. He...

When Raina first meets Bluntschli, he looks terrible, and presents a striking visual contrast with Sergius's heroic appearance in the portrait. The stage directions tell us he is unwashed and unkempt, and  

"…in a deplorable plight, bespattered with mud and blood and snow, his belt and the strap of his revolver-case keeping together the torn ruins of the blue tunic of a Servian artillery officer."

Furthermore, his nerves are on edge. He is starving and hasn't sleep for 48 hours. He is running from soldiers who intend to kill him. So this contributes to the visual impression he makes on Raina, and it isn't one that she would expect from a man worthy of her romantic interest.

Once she gets over her initial shock and distaste, she begins to show protective feelings towards him. She overcomes her prejudices, and when he tells her he is too dirty to take her hand, she even grants that he has the manners of a gentleman. At the end of the scene, when she finds him sleeping, she tells her mother to leave him alone:

Don't, mamma: the poor darling is worn out. Let him sleep.

So she has taken stock of his wretched appearance, and been touched by his vulnerabilities.

When Raina next sees Bluntschli, he is, according to the stage directions, "clean, well brushed, smartly uniformed, and out of trouble." She asks him about it, and he replies:

RAINA: You look ever so much nicer than when we last met. [He looks up, surprised]. What have you done to yourself?

BLUNTSCHLI. Washed; brushed; good night's sleep and breakfast. That's all.

Bluntschli is guilty of minimizing the crucial emotional differences -- what the stage directions called being "out of trouble." He is no longer under extreme stress, no longer running from death, no longer in hiding. He has freely chosen to come to this place, and for a romantic reason. As we learn later, he did so because he wanted to see Raina again. His changed emotional state and mood will have doubtless influenced his looks.

What is the twist in the story "The Last Leaf"?

The twist, or surprise, in O. Henry's story "The Last Leaf" comes at the very end. Johnsy has been expecting to die when the last ivy leaf fall off the vine attached to the brick wall of a neighboring building. It seems likely that she actually will die when this happens because she believes in it so firmly. Johnsy is described as small and frail. 

A mite of a little woman with blood thinned by...

The twist, or surprise, in O. Henry's story "The Last Leaf" comes at the very end. Johnsy has been expecting to die when the last ivy leaf fall off the vine attached to the brick wall of a neighboring building. It seems likely that she actually will die when this happens because she believes in it so firmly. Johnsy is described as small and frail. 

A mite of a little woman with blood thinned by California zephyrs was hardly fair game for the red-fisted, short-breathed old duffer.

If Mr. Pneumonia can kill much stronger people by the hundreds, why should he be expected to spare little Johnsy? The reader is practically convinced that the last leaf will fall any moment and that Johnsy will really pass away when that happens. 

But somehow the brave leaf clings tenaciously to its place on the denuded vine. If we believe that Johnsy can will herself to die when the leaf falls, then we can believe that she will decide to recover, and will recover, when the leaf doesn't fall. The actual "twist" in the story does not come when the leaf doesn't fall, but when Sue reveals that it couldn't fall because it had been painted on the wall in the middle of the night.

“Mr. Behrman died of pneumonia to-day in the hospital. He was ill only two days. The janitor found him on the morning of the first day in his room downstairs helpless with pain. His shoes and clothing were wet through and icy cold....Didn't you wonder why it never fluttered or moved when the wind blew? Ah, darling, it's Behrman's masterpiece—he painted it there the night that the last leaf fell.”

It should be noted that O. Henry takes considerable pains to keep the reader from suspecting that Old Mr. Behrman might get the idea of painting a fake ivy leaf on the brick wall in order to keep Johnsy alive and inspire her to recover. The author makes Behrman an old man. He is a heavy drinker. He has given up painting and only models for other artists. And he expresses extreme skepticism about the idea of anybody dying when a leaf falls off a vine.

“Vass!” he cried. “Is dere people in de world mit der foolishness to die because leafs dey drop off from a confounded vine? I haf not heard of such a thing." 

How does Dillard's meditation in Holy the Firm on seemingly senseless destruction complicate the coherency of morality and ethics emanating from...

Dillard's Holy the Firm suggests that the coherency of morality and ethics emanating from the divine is not simple.  Its complexity is the reason why seemingly senseless destruction can be embraced.

Dillard's mediation offers a nuanced view of the divine world.  She feels that since the divine created us, its universal plan might lie outside of our understanding:  We did not create this world and do not understand all of its aspects:

We sleep to time's hurdy-gurdy; we wake, if ever we wake, to the silence of God. And then, when we wake to the deep shores of time uncreated, then when the dazzling dark breaks over the far slopes of time, then it's time to toss things, like our reason, and our will; then it's time to break our necks for home.

Reflecting on the "silence of God" enables us to see the world as beyond human comprehension.  It spans "to the deep shores of time uncreated."

Violence and destruction have a role in this configuration. Dillard argues for their purpose in a complex design. The moth's dying and Julie's disfigurement are seemingly pointless acts of horrific violence.  Yet, Dillard argues that violence and hurt brought on by destruction are essential "materials" that the divine "artist" uses to create our world.   Dillard suggests that such realities are not senseless, but real parts of divine creation:

The pain with the millstones' pitiless turning is real, vaulting, insofar as it is love, beyond the plane of the stones' sickening churn and arcing to the realm of spirit bare. And you can get caught holding one end of a love, when your father drops, and your mother; when a land is lost, or a time, and your friend blotted out, gone, your brother's body spoiled, and cold, your infant dead, and you dying: you reel out love's long line alone, stripped like a live wire loosing its sparks to a cloud, like a live wire loosed in space to longing and grief everlasting.

Our response to painful realities defines our place in the world.  Dillard argues that solely focusing on these "senseless" acts of destruction causes us to live in pain, "like a wire loosed in space to longing and grief everlasting."

However, Dillard offers another path.  When we see hurt as a part of the divine understanding, a connection emerges.  Dillard argues that this link is the bedrock of faith:  "Faith would be, in short, that God has any willful connection with time whatsoever, and with us. For I know it as given that God is all good. And I take it also as given that whatever he touches has meaning, if only in his mysterious terms, the which I readily grant."  The moth that died provided the wick for Dillard to read.  She believes that its purpose was essential because "when the candle is out [and] the world is without light," the result is "wasteland and chaos."  In this construction, a "life without sacrifice is an abomination."  At the same time, she recognizes that the suffering of the little girl compels her to action.  She will sacrifice for Julie:  "So live. I'll be the nun for you. I am now."  In both instances, violence created the opportunity for new links to the divine to emerge.

Dillard argues that in our darkest moments, when we turn towards the divine, our connection increases.  We develop greater capacity for loving God and the divine plan, thereby ensuring that we are never alone: "Held, held fast by love in the world like the moth in wax, your life a wick, your head on fire with prayer, held utterly, outside and in, you sleep alone, if you call that alone, you cry God." When we "cry God," Dillard argues that we see the universe in its true form.  We view it as something we did not create, but was created for us.  Violence is not senseless in this universal understanding.  While complicated and intricate, the coherence of morality and ethics in this world remains quite intact.

In Martel's Life of Pi, what life-changing decision does Pi's father make at the end of Part One?

Due to India's political and financial instability during the mid-1970s, Pi's father decides that it is best to sell the Pondicherry Zoo and move his family to Canada. Mr. Patel can't sell all of the animals to one zoo in particular, though. He has to sell off different animals to different zoos, which turns out to be a huge international project. By the end of Part One, the Patel family, along with most of the...

Due to India's political and financial instability during the mid-1970s, Pi's father decides that it is best to sell the Pondicherry Zoo and move his family to Canada. Mr. Patel can't sell all of the animals to one zoo in particular, though. He has to sell off different animals to different zoos, which turns out to be a huge international project. By the end of Part One, the Patel family, along with most of the zoo animals, boards the Japanese ship Tsimtsum on June 21, 1977. For the Patel family, they are not just moving; they are changing cultures. They are moving away from their ancestral country to a new home in an unfamiliar country. At the end of Part One, Pi says the following:

"I wildly waved goodbye to India. The sun was shining, the breeze was steady, and seagulls shrieked in the air above us. I was terribly excited.

"Things didn't turn out the way they were supposed to, but what can you do? You must take life the way it comes at you and make the best of it" (91).

Unfortunately, only Pi will survive the voyage and make it to Canada, which becomes an even more life-changing saga in the next part of the book. 

What is a line by line explanation of "There Will Come Soft Rains" by Sara Teasdale?

Sara Teasdale's "There Will Come Soft Rains" explores the notion of human extinction and the natural world's reaction to the absence of humans. Let's examine the poem line by line, as you requested. The original lines of the poem are bolded and italicized, while my explanation is in plain text.

There will come soft rains and the smell of the ground,

The speaker is setting the scene of the poem's opening by describing the gentle rainfall and the smell of rain rising from the earth.

And swallows circling with their shimmering sound;

Above, small birds fly in circles and chirp happily.

And frogs in the pools, singing at night,

Frogs are singing from their shallow puddles of water.

And wild plum trees in tremulous white,

Plum trees are blossoming with delicate white flowers.

Robins will wear their feathery fire,

Robins still look the same, with bright orange feathers on their chests.

Whistling their whims on a low fence-wire;

The robins are singing on a fence.

And not one will know of the war, not one

Nature--neither plants nor animals--will have any knowledge of war.

Will care at last when it is done.

They won't care when war is over.

Not one would mind, neither bird nor tree,

If mankind perished utterly;

No animal or plant would care that humans have destroyed themselves in battles against other members of the human race.

And Spring herself, when she woke at dawn,

Would scarcely know that we were gone.

Even Spring wouldn't mind that humans have vanished.

Essentially, Teasdale is commenting on the destructive, reckless nature of humans and the havoc they wreak upon the planet. Thus, the collapse of humanity here seems to be a good thing for the natural world, as nature will finally be set free from the danger of human life. This poem--like much of Teasdale's work--also alludes to the eternal quality of nature, which trumps mankind's mortality and inevitable doom.

In “Through the Tunnel,” how does Jerry show growing maturity as he prepares for the swim through the tunnel?

Once Jerry sets his mind to swimming through the tunnel like he saw the big boys do, he practices holding his breath and staying under water day after day.  This kind of meticulous practice provides evidence of his growing maturity.  After several days of going to the wild bay to practice, "He did not ask for permission [...] to go to his beach."  Children ask permission and wait for adults to grant it; however, Jerry...

Once Jerry sets his mind to swimming through the tunnel like he saw the big boys do, he practices holding his breath and staying under water day after day.  This kind of meticulous practice provides evidence of his growing maturity.  After several days of going to the wild bay to practice, "He did not ask for permission [...] to go to his beach."  Children ask permission and wait for adults to grant it; however, Jerry begins to exercise his new maturity and independence by acting without asking his mother -- as he has in the past -- if he can go to his own beach and not accompany her to their old, "safe beach." 

Further, Jerry is developing the ability to delay gratification of his wishes.  Earlier, he couldn't wait for his mother to purchase the goggles he needed, and he pestered her until she took him, and then snatched them from her hand, like a child.  But now, he thinks, "if he tried, he could [probably] get through the long tunnel, but he was not going to try yet.  A curious, most unchildlike persistence, a controlled impatience, made him wait."  Jerry's growing maturity makes it possible for him to delay gratification of his desires, and he waits to attempt the feat until he is more sure of his ability. 

Discuss any three events in which the Canterville ghost successfully frightened people.

While the Canterville ghost fails to frighten the Otis family, he has enjoyed far greater successes during his long career. In the opening chapter of the story, for instance, Lord Canterville talks about one of the ghost's most famous hauntings: that of his aunt, the Dowager Duchess of Bolton. The ghost appeared to the Duchess by placing his "skeleton hands" on her shoulders as she was getting ready for dinner. When she saw his hands in the mirror, she was understandably "frightened into a fit."

Similarly, in Chapter Two, the Canterville ghost remembers his haunting of Madame de Tremouillac. He appeared to her as a skeleton seated in an armchair and reading her diary. She was so terrified that she suffered an "attack of brain fever" which confined her to bed for six weeks. When she recovered, she was "reconciled to the Church" and ended her "connection with that notorious sceptic, Monsieur de Voltaire."

Finally, in this same chapter, the reader learns about "the beautiful" Lady Stutfield whom the ghost tried to strangle. The ghost's fingers left burn marks on her neck, forcing the lady to always wear a "velvet band" around her neck to hide them. Later, she committed suicide by drowning herself in a pond.

As these incidents show, the Canterville ghost has committed some wicked deeds to the residents of the house. The arrival of the Otis family, however, brings this career to an abrupt halt. 

Why do we feel sleepy after having lunch?

When food is ingested, it is masticated in the mouth and transferred to the stomach where further digestion of the food takes place. Once the food settles in the stomach, it triggers a neural response which informs the parasympathetic nervous system to initiate the various processes involved in digestion.

The splanchnic vessels supplying blood to the gastrointestinal tract then open up to allow for an increase in blood flow to the intestines in preparation for...

When food is ingested, it is masticated in the mouth and transferred to the stomach where further digestion of the food takes place. Once the food settles in the stomach, it triggers a neural response which informs the parasympathetic nervous system to initiate the various processes involved in digestion.

The splanchnic vessels supplying blood to the gastrointestinal tract then open up to allow for an increase in blood flow to the intestines in preparation for the increased level of activity which occurs during the process of digestion. The parasympathetic nervous system also increases the motility of the gastrointestinal tract and stimulates production of digestive secretions from the pancreas and the liver into the tract.

This re-routing of blood supply into the splanchnic circulation during digestion leads to a reduction in the amount of blood available to the brain. This causes a relative cerebral ischemia, giving rise to drowsiness, especially following a heavy meal. This phenomenon is physiological and perfectly normal. The usual pattern of blood distribution returns once the process of digestion is substantially completed.

Does Harrison demonstrate personal responsibility in the story "Harrison Bergeron"?

Harrison Bergeron demonstrates personal responsibility because he initiates action to take individual control of his life.

Interestingly, the last name of this character--Bergeron--is formed from the surname of Berger, used in both German and French. This surname is the occupational name for a shepherd. Significantly, then, Harrison seeks to lead the "sheep" of his society as emperor. While his attempt to overthrow the compulsory mediocrity of his society enforced by the Controller...

Harrison Bergeron demonstrates personal responsibility because he initiates action to take individual control of his life.

Interestingly, the last name of this character--Bergeron--is formed from the surname of Berger, used in both German and French. This surname is the occupational name for a shepherd. Significantly, then, Harrison seeks to lead the "sheep" of his society as emperor. 
While his attempt to overthrow the compulsory mediocrity of his society enforced by the Controller of this standard, Diana Moon Glampers, and his purpose is idealistically sound, Harrison's actions become tyrannical and his actions reckless.

So, in the end, he is like the shepherd who fails to watch his sheep and they leap into the abyss under Harrison's corruptive power. For, as he revels in his take-over of the television station, Harrison dances and leaps with his empress while the Handicapper General has time to load a double-barreled ten-gauge shotgun and blow them out of the air as they defy gravity. Thus, she restores the low standards that meet her level because Harrison has exceeded his level of personal responsibility. 

When did the Great Depression begin?

The Great Depression began right after the stock market crash on October 29, 1929. It lasted for about ten years from 1929 to 1939, which takes us to the beginning of World War II. So, why did the Great Depression happen?

Generally, the stock market crash was a big factor, although it wasn't the only one. During the era of the roaring twenties, many people bought stocks in order to make money. Others bought stocks...

The Great Depression began right after the stock market crash on October 29, 1929. It lasted for about ten years from 1929 to 1939, which takes us to the beginning of World War II. So, why did the Great Depression happen?

Generally, the stock market crash was a big factor, although it wasn't the only one. During the era of the roaring twenties, many people bought stocks in order to make money. Others bought stocks on the margin, meaning that very little was put down (about 10%-20%) for the costs; the remainder (80-90%) was borrowed. Investors gambled on the fact that, once stock prices rose, they could sell the stocks, pay off their debts, and reap a nice profit from the sale. So, many investors borrowed substantial amounts of money in order to reap potential profits.

On the surface, the stock market was performing admirably in the roaring twenties. However, the truth was that the stock market was being fueled by speculation and consumer expectation rather than market fundamentals (meaning that public consumption of products was not keeping up with production). When shares began dropping in value on October 24th (Black Thursday), people began to get worried. They commenced selling their shares, hoping to cash in on any profits they could make. Eventually, others began to sell their shares as well. This began an avalanche of selling that eventually caused the stock market to crash.

So many stocks lost their value that companies were forced to lay off their employees. Almost 15 million people became unemployed during the height of the Great Depression. Many unemployed families also lost their homes, which caused a domino effect: as families defaulted on their mortgages, banks began to fail. Since deposits were uninsured at the time, this means that many people lost the money in their checking accounts. So, the less money people had, the less they could buy. It was a vicious cycle, and the United States didn't see any relief until President Roosevelt instituted some fiscal and social changes in the country and the second of the world wars began.

For more on the Great Depression, please refer to the links below.

What observations help us determine whether a chemical reaction has taken place?

There are several observations that can be made to determine if a chemical reaction has occurred. The first is a change in temperature. Heat can be absorbed (endothermic reaction) or released (exothermic reaction) which results in a temperature change. This can be noted with a thermometer. Reactions can also have a color change. A change in color represents a chemical reaction. Another observation is if there is a smell or odor after the reaction takes...

There are several observations that can be made to determine if a chemical reaction has occurred. The first is a change in temperature. Heat can be absorbed (endothermic reaction) or released (exothermic reaction) which results in a temperature change. This can be noted with a thermometer. Reactions can also have a color change. A change in color represents a chemical reaction. Another observation is if there is a smell or odor after the reaction takes place. When a reaction takes place, gases can sometimes be removed from the system. This can be observed by the formation of bubbles. Another observation is the formation of a precipitate. This is a solid that forms out of solution. When a solute is dissolved in a solution, a chemical reaction took place. Lastly, if there is a change in pH a chemical reaction took place. This will need to be tested with pH strips.

What are some positives and negatives in such chapters as 15 through 31 in Harper Lee's To Kill a Mockingbird?

In Chapter 15 of Harper Lee's To Kill a Mockingbird, Atticus is warned by Sheriff Heck Tate and a group of other men that the Cunninghams of Old Sarum are threatening to form a lynch mob. Hence, one negative is that Atticus is placed in the position of needing to defend Tom Robinson's lifeso that Robinson can make it to his trial. Due to racial prejudices, Atticus knows that Robinson's chances of being...

In Chapter 15 of Harper Lee's To Kill a Mockingbird, Atticus is warned by Sheriff Heck Tate and a group of other men that the Cunninghams of Old Sarum are threatening to form a lynch mob. Hence, one negative is that Atticus is placed in the position of needing to defend Tom Robinson's life so that Robinson can make it to his trial. Due to racial prejudices, Atticus knows that Robinson's chances of being given a fair trial are extremely slim, yet Robinson's chances of receiving a fair trial are nonexistent if Robinson is killed before his trial. Therefore, Atticus knows that the only way to preserve justice is to defend Robinson's life.

When the sheriff and other men gather outside the Finch house to talk to Atticus, Jem begins to worry about his father's safety. As a result of worry, Jem, Scout, and Dill sneak out of the house to find Atticus and see what he is up to the night Atticus leaves to protect Robinson. One positive in the chapter is that Scout, unwittingly, behaves bravely and breaks up the lynch mob by reminding Walter Cunningham of his humanity. She reminds him of his humanity by asking him to say "hey" to his son Walter Cunningham Jr., who is in her class at school, and asking him, "How's your entailment getting along?" She further reminds him that Atticus once told Mr. Cunningham he and Mr. Cunningham would "ride [his entailment] out together," thereby reminding Mr. Cunningham of Atticus's goodness and how much respect Mr. Cunningham has for Atticus. As soon as Scout reminds Mr. Cunningham of these things, Mr. Cunningham tells the mob members to clear out, breaking up the mob.

Multiple negatives and positives can also be seen in Chapter 16. One negative is that Aunt Alexandra reveals she holds racist views when she tells Atticus not to say things like "Braxton Underwood despises Negroes" right in front of Calpurnia, because Aunt Alexandra feels that reminding "Negroes" of hatred and social injustices only "encourages them" to protest. The positive is that Atticus rebukes Aunt Alexandra's racist views by calling Calpurnia a member of the family and saying, "Anything fit to say at the table's fit to say in front of Calpurnia." He further rebukes Aunt Alexandra's racist views by saying that if they didn't give the African Americans so much to rebel against then maybe "they'd be quiet."

What are some examples of repetition in the monologue "Seven Ages of Man" from Shakespeare's As You Like It?

Jacques's monologue from As You Like It is an example of dramatic poetry, and as such, repetition of words and ideas is employed for emphasis and to intensify effect.

Here are some examples of this repetition:

• Words: plays, player
  

Jacques uses the forms of the word play in order to emphasize and remind his listeners that he is using the extended metaphor of people's being actors on the stage of life.

First, he states...

Jacques's monologue from As You Like It is an example of dramatic poetry, and as such, repetition of words and ideas is employed for emphasis and to intensify effect.

Here are some examples of this repetition:

• Words: plays, player
  

Jacques uses the forms of the word play in order to emphasize and remind his listeners that he is using the extended metaphor of people's being actors on the stage of life.

First, he states that "all the men and women [are] merely players" (line 2) and each man in his life "plays (line  4) many parts." Then, after Jacques describes these various parts which are the stages of life, he concludes, "And so he plays (line 19) his part." 

• Words: part, parts
  

Jacques refers to people as actors on the stage of life, who assume different roles, or "parts," as he calls them, during the various phases of their lives.

He contends that in his lifetime, each man plays many "parts (line 4)." 

Then, after describing five of the roles/parts of man, Jacques makes a summation: "And so he plays his part" (line 19).

• Words: age(s)

Jacques describes people's roles in life as "seven ages" (line 5). Later, he again uses the word as he mentions the "sixth age" (line 19)

• Ideas: The idea of man's assuming different roles throughout his life is repeated with the descriptions of these roles and with the ideas introduced by such words as acts, age, scene
  

Jacques states that man is involved the "acts" of seven ages (line 5), and he describes these various ages and the roles played as though they are scenes on a stage. He concludes, "Last scene of all..." (line 25). 

What type of salt is formed when a weak acid and a weak base are mixed?

A strong acid and a strong base will ionize completely, therefore when they are mixed, they will react together to form salt and water. However, weak acids and weak bases only ionize partially. Therefore, when they are mixed, it generally results in a reversible reaction with the formation of a conjugate acid and a conjugate base as products instead of salt and water.

When a weak acid reacts with a weak base the weak acid...

A strong acid and a strong base will ionize completely, therefore when they are mixed, they will react together to form salt and water. However, weak acids and weak bases only ionize partially. Therefore, when they are mixed, it generally results in a reversible reaction with the formation of a conjugate acid and a conjugate base as products instead of salt and water.

When a weak acid reacts with a weak base the weak acid will lose a proton and the species formed is called a conjugate base. The proton lost by the weak acid is accepted by the weak base to form a conjugate acid. So, a conjugate base is what is left after a weak acid has donated a proton in the reaction.

The reaction that occurs can be depicted as follows:          

weak acid + weak base ⇌ conjugate base + conjugate acid. A common example is the reaction between ammonia (weak base) and water (weak acid).

What are the internal and external conflicts faced by main characters in book The Lightning Thief ?

In The Lightning Thief, Percy Jackson faces many external conflicts, primarily from Zeus, who believes that he is involved with the theft of Zeus’s lightning bolt. The other gods who side with Zeus try to hinder him at every step. Medusa, who resents Percy for his father Poseidon’s rejection of her, tries to turn him into stone to become part of her collection. In St. Louis, Percy battles the Chimera in the Arch. Hades...

In The Lightning Thief, Percy Jackson faces many external conflicts, primarily from Zeus, who believes that he is involved with the theft of Zeus’s lightning bolt. The other gods who side with Zeus try to hinder him at every step. Medusa, who resents Percy for his father Poseidon’s rejection of her, tries to turn him into stone to become part of her collection. In St. Louis, Percy battles the Chimera in the Arch. Hades accused Percy of stealing his Helm of Darkness. Percy eventually discovers that it is Ares, the god of war, who has the stolen items. These conflicts require Percy’s ingenuity to battle them and retrieve the lightning bolt.

Percy’s inner conflicts stem from his discovery that his father is Poseidon, who had abandoned Percy’s mother soon after Percy was born. He resents Poseidon’s desertion, leaving him to be raised by his mother and his odious step-father. It is his task to come to accept his position as a Half-Blood, even though it means his father will not always be readily available. Percy’s ADD and his dyslexia are caused by his half-god ancestry. These have caused him to have constant trouble in school. By accepting this “handicaps,” Percy learns to use them as his strengths against the outer conflicts that he faces.

How would you compare and contrast the characters of Roger and Mrs. Jones in the short story "Thank You, M'am"?

Both Mrs. Jones and Roger are denizens of Harlem and, as such, have shared some of the same experiences. However, Mrs. Jones is an adult who has profited from her experiences and is now wiser than the young Roger.

After she resists his attempts to steal her purse and captures him, Mrs. Jones tells Roger to pick up her purse, then asks him, “Now ain’t you ashamed of yourself?" He replies that he is, although...

Both Mrs. Jones and Roger are denizens of Harlem and, as such, have shared some of the same experiences. However, Mrs. Jones is an adult who has profited from her experiences and is now wiser than the young Roger.

After she resists his attempts to steal her purse and captures him, Mrs. Jones tells Roger to pick up her purse, then asks him, “Now ain’t you ashamed of yourself?" He replies that he is, although it may be out of fear that he answers. Nevertheless, from his next responses to Mrs. Luella Bates Washington Jones it becomes apparent that Roger learns to respect this woman. Then, after she takes him home and feeds him, Roger certainly acquires gratitude for her kindness to him.

Here, then, are some comparisons and contrasts between the two characters:

--Comparisons

• Both are from the inner city and have not lived a comfortable, stable life.


• Both have done things that are illegal.

“I have done things, too, which I would not tell you, son—neither tell God, if he didn’t already know," Mrs. Jones reveals to Roger.

• Both have learned respect for others. Mrs. Jones tells Roger, “You ought to be my son. I would teach you right from wrong."
  Only later on does Roger speak very respectfully, and he makes sure that she knows he is not looking at her purse nor is he near it.

• Both demonstrate concern for the welfare of others. Mrs. Jones takes Roger home; Roger tries to be helpful.

--Contrasts

• Mrs. Jones is a trustworthy, hard-working, and compassionate woman. However, Roger has no consideration for her when he tries to steal her purse; instead, he merely pursues his selfish desire for a pair of shoes. Whereas Mrs. Jones no longer believes in breaking the law, Roger defies it.


• Early in the narrative, Mrs. Jones treats Roger kindly, offering to take him home and wash his face [which implies more than is said]. On the other hand, Roger selfishly preys on her, and after he is stopped, he simply wants to get away.


• Mrs. Jones displays a respect for Roger as a person early on; later, she offers to feed him and directs him to wash his face and clean up before eating while he is in her rooms. Roger's respect is merely given out of fear at first. But, after learning to respect Mrs. Jones, he is concerned about her, offering to run errands:

“Do you need somebody to go to the store,” asked the boy, “maybe to get some milk or something?"

Also, Roger even thanks her as he departs.

• Roger only learns from his experience with Mrs. Jones to respect people; Mrs. Jones already displays sympathy for others.


• Where she lives, Mrs. Jones has people with whom she can interact. Alone at home at night, Roger is deprived of parental attention and guidance.

For a mock trial, what strong points or evidence could be used to make Jem seem as if he is guilty of the murder of Bob Ewell, and not Boo Radley...

Part of what Scout has told Sheriff Tate, along with the condition of her costume, may help to implicate Jem in a mock trial after Bob Ewell is killed.

When Heck Tate questions Scout about the death of Bob Ewell, she tells him what happened prior to Ewell's death. During her recounting of the events, Scout says that she and Jem heard someone, but they just thought it was Cecil Jacobs, who had already scared...

Part of what Scout has told Sheriff Tate, along with the condition of her costume, may help to implicate Jem in a mock trial after Bob Ewell is killed.

When Heck Tate questions Scout about the death of Bob Ewell, she tells him what happened prior to Ewell's death. During her recounting of the events, Scout says that she and Jem heard someone, but they just thought it was Cecil Jacobs, who had already scared them that night. 
The person who knocked Scout down was not Cecil, however. Jem yelled, and she heard footsteps that stopped whenever she and Jem stopped.

"Then all of a sudden somethin' grabbed me an' mashed my costume....heard a tusslin' under the tree sort of...they were bammin' against the trunk.... Jem found me and started pullin' me toward the road....Mr. Ewell yanked him down, I reckon. They tussled some more and then there was this funny noise--Jem hollered...
"Anyway, Jem hollered and I didn't hear him any more and the next thing...Mr. Ewell was trying to squeeze me to death...Then somebody yanked Mr. Ewell down. Jem must have got up. That's all I know." (Ch.29)

From Scout's recall of the events, she believes that Jem must have jumped on Mr. Ewell while he was on top of her. 
Judging from the appearance of the frame of Scout's costume that is severely bent, and the "shiny, clean line" that stands out on the dull wire, Ewell meant to harm or even kill Scout because he must have had a knife or something similar.
Also, that Jem wrestled with Ewell while he was on Scout is apparent from the little holes that were in Jem's sleeves and the puncture marks on his arms to match the holes.

Why does William Wordsworth say "stop here, or gently pass" in "The Solitary Reaper"?

This apparently simple poem is more complex than it seems at first glance. By using the imperative in the first two stanzas, Wordsworth introduces ambiguity into the opening lines: is he addressing us as readers or is he talking to himself in the lonely Highlands vale—or is he doing both? It is up to the reader to decide, but the deep interiority of the poem and the switch to the first-person pronoun in the last...

This apparently simple poem is more complex than it seems at first glance. By using the imperative in the first two stanzas, Wordsworth introduces ambiguity into the opening lines: is he addressing us as readers or is he talking to himself in the lonely Highlands vale—or is he doing both? It is up to the reader to decide, but the deep interiority of the poem and the switch to the first-person pronoun in the last two stanzas supports an interpretation of Wordsworth addressing both the reader he invites into the scene and himself. Like Frost in "The Road Less Traveled," the narrator in this line is at a moment of decision: should he "stop" in his journey or "gently [quietly] pass" by the reaping woman? That this is an important decision to him (perhaps as in "The Road Less Traveled" the narrator has places to go?) is indicated by the exclamation point at the end of the line.

By the next stanza, the narrator has clearly made his decision (or had it made for him by the beauty of the arresting, melancholy song), for he writes the following:

Alone she cuts and binds the grain, 

And sings a melancholy strain; 

O listen! for the Vale profound 

Is overflowing with the sound. 

The narrator has made his choice. He has stopped, and invites—nay, implores and commands us—to join him, to "listen!" The solitary reaper's song is now, for this moment, the most important thing in the world to the narrator: that he is deeply emotionally riveted to the spot is emphasized by the "O" before listen and the second exclamation point after the phrase, which stops us as the song has stopped the traveler.

Where is the following quote from Homer's The Odyssey located?"I am Laertes' son Odysseus. Men hold me formidable for guile in peace and war:...

This quote is taken from Book IX, lines 7-9; Odysseus acknowledges that he is widely known by mortals and gods both, and he is admired and respected for his intelligence and many skills.

At this point Odysseus is the only remaining member of the contingency that he took to Troy. He has spent eighteen days at sea after parting from Calypso and heads toward Scheria, the island of the Phaeacians. But, Poseidon, who hates Odysseus because...

This quote is taken from Book IX, lines 7-9; Odysseus acknowledges that he is widely known by mortals and gods both, and he is admired and respected for his intelligence and many skills.

At this point Odysseus is the only remaining member of the contingency that he took to Troy. He has spent eighteen days at sea after parting from Calypso and heads toward Scheria, the island of the Phaeacians. But, Poseidon, who hates Odysseus because of what he has done to his son the Cyclops, has been angered at the help the other gods have given Odysseus. So, he creates a maelstrom that nearly drags Odysseus under the sea. Fortunately, he is rescued again by the goddess Ino.  Odysseus continues until he finds a river where he can swim into its waters. He walks onto the shore and rests in a covered area.

The next day, the Phaeacian Princess Nausica discovers Odysseus while she and her handmaidens wait for their clothes to dry. She provides him clothes and has Odysseus walk alone to the palace and instructs him on what to say when he arrives.

Book IX, then, relates the time that Odysseus is a guest of the Phaeacian king and queen, Alcinous and Arete. Alcinous calls an assembly that votes to provide their foreign guest with a ship so that he can return home.

Later, there is a feast and games in honor of the guest, but when Odysseus hears a bard sing of the "quarrel" between Odysseus and Achilles at Troy, he is overcome with sorrow, and he weeps. Nevertheless, at dinner Odysseus asks the bard to sing his song again about Odysseus at Troy, and once again, he cries. So, King Alcinous has the music stopped. Further, after the celebratory games, he asks Odysseus to reveal his identity. Odysseus does, and then he is asked to reveal where he is from and where he wants to go. He begins,

 "I am Laertes's son Odysseus. Men hold me formidable for guile in peace and war: this fame has gone abroad to the sky's rim."

How can you tell the differences between reliable and unreliable health information, products and services?

The best way to protect yourself from health scams and frauds is to know how to find reliable sources of information so that you can research individual products and services and get unbiased information.

In general, websites run by government agencies, reputable non-profit organizations, hospitals and universities are good sources of information while commercial sites that are trying to sell you their products are not reliable. Some of the best websites for finding reliable information...

The best way to protect yourself from health scams and frauds is to know how to find reliable sources of information so that you can research individual products and services and get unbiased information.

In general, websites run by government agencies, reputable non-profit organizations, hospitals and universities are good sources of information while commercial sites that are trying to sell you their products are not reliable. Some of the best websites for finding reliable information include:

• Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: http://www.cdc.gov/


• Mayo Clinic: http://www.mayoclinic.org/


• American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons: http://www.orthoinfo.org/


• American Heart Association: http://www.heart.org/HEARTORG/


• Columbia University Go Ask Alice: http://www.goaskalice.columbia.edu/

In the United States, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration has responsibility for monitoring health claims for products and services. It helps consumers find reliable information and products several ways:

• Consumer Videos: The FDA has produced several short informative videos you can watch about how to detect health frauds. 


• Website: You can look up individual products on the FDA website to see if they have been approved or flagged for violations.


• Regulations: The FDA tests and regulates products sold in the US to ensure safety and efficacy.

How did militarism in Italy and Japan cause the Second World War?

Militarism is often a cause of wars and it certainly did help to bring about WWII.  Militarism can be defined in two parts.  First, it is the belief that a country should have a large military and should aggressively use that military to pursue its interests.  Second, it is the belief that the military is somehow superior to civilians, which leads to the military being respected excessively and even glorified.  Militarism was clearly present in...

Militarism is often a cause of wars and it certainly did help to bring about WWII.  Militarism can be defined in two parts.  First, it is the belief that a country should have a large military and should aggressively use that military to pursue its interests.  Second, it is the belief that the military is somehow superior to civilians, which leads to the military being respected excessively and even glorified.  Militarism was clearly present in all of the Axis powers, helping to bring about WWII.

In Japan, militarism drove Japanese foreign policy.  The military dominated the government and pushed hard for foreign expansion.  For example, it was the military that forced the government to invade China, not the other way around.  It was the military that pushed for the Pearl Harbor attack.  No other institution in society had anywhere near the prestige that the military had, which made it easy for the military to get its way.  Thus, militarism drove Japan to take aggressive actions that helped cause WWII.

In Italy, militarism was part of Mussolini’s drive to make Italy great again.  He wanted to increase Italy’s military strength to make it a major power in Europe.  A major step that Mussolini took due to militarism was his invasion of Ethiopia in 1935.  This did not lead directly to WWII in the way that Japanese militarism did, but it weakened the League of Nations and emboldened Germany.  Because Italy could get away with invading weaker countries, the Nazis felt it was more likely that they could use their own military power to get what they wanted as well.

Militarism often leads to wars because militarism encourages countries to use military force to get what they want.  Germany, Japan, and Italy all did this, causing WWII to begin.

Electricity costs 6 cents per kilowatt hour. In one month one home uses one mega watt of electricity. How much will the electric bill be? (Kilo to...

An important clarification:

A home cannot "use" one Megawatt of electricity because a Megawatt is a unit of Power, not a unit of electricity. Instead, we would say that the home uses one Megawatt hour (MWh) of electricity. A Megawatt, like a Watt, is a measure of power, not electricity used. Power is the rate at which (electrical) energy is consumed or work is performed; think of a 100 W lightbulb. This lightbulb uses electricity...

An important clarification:

A home cannot "use" one Megawatt of electricity because a Megawatt is a unit of Power, not a unit of electricity. Instead, we would say that the home uses one Megawatt hour (MWh) of electricity. A Megawatt, like a Watt, is a measure of power, not electricity used. Power is the rate at which (electrical) energy is consumed or work is performed; think of a 100 W lightbulb. This lightbulb uses electricity at a rate of 100 Joules per second, or 100 Watts.

One Megawatt is equivalent to 1,000,000 Watts or 1,000,000 Joules/second, and one Megawatt hour is equivalent to 1,000 kilowatt hours.

Assuming a home uses 1 Megawatt hour of electricity in a given month, however, they are using

  `1 MWh * (1,000 kWh)/(1 MWh) = 1,000 kWh`

Paying at a rate of $.06 per kWh, the home pays:

`($0.06)/(kWh) * 1,000kWh = $60.00`

Therefore, the home pays $60.00 for the month in which they used 1 Megawatt hour of electricity.

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Which parts of the human circulatory system are xylem and phloem most similar to?

The xylem and phloem of plants are most similar to veins, arteries, and capillaries.

In a plant, xylem are used to transport water, while the phloem are used to transport nutrients via sap. Xylem are deep into the plant, around the core of a branch, while the phloem are near the surface behind the bark. Inside the circulatory system, arteries and veins are deep in the body, beneath layers of protective flesh, whereas capillaries are...

The xylem and phloem of plants are most similar to veins, arteries, and capillaries.

In a plant, xylem are used to transport water, while the phloem are used to transport nutrients via sap. Xylem are deep into the plant, around the core of a branch, while the phloem are near the surface behind the bark. Inside the circulatory system, arteries and veins are deep in the body, beneath layers of protective flesh, whereas capillaries are found closer to the surface in many areas, such as the surface of skin and the surfaces of organs. Here, I would compare the xylem to arteries and veins, and the phloem to capillaries.

In the circulatory system, however, there is no system that distributes just water. Rather, all parts of the system distribute blood. In this sense, xylem are completely unlike the circulatory system. Even the sap that flows in a tree has no transport cells like red blood cells and white blood cells; it is a fluid containing loose sugars and nutrients.

Finally, I would comment on how the circulatory system uses the heart to pump blood through the body. Xylem and phloem use gravity, transpiration, and root pressure to move things through the plant, expending no energy in the process.