Why does Margot act the way she does? For example, why doesn't she play with her classmates and why does she react so strongly to the shower?

Author Ray Bradbury created the character Margot in "All Summer in a Day" as one who is different from the other children living on Venus. Though the story is written in the voice of a narrator, much of Margot's thinking is described in terms such as her description of the children as people who could not remember anything but rain and more rain for years on end. The rest of the children are foreign to...

Author Ray Bradbury created the character Margot in "All Summer in a Day" as one who is different from the other children living on Venus. Though the story is written in the voice of a narrator, much of Margot's thinking is described in terms such as her description of the children as people who could not remember anything but rain and more rain for years on end. The rest of the children are foreign to her, of a different culture. Margot has only lived on Venus for five years, she remembers living on Earth. Margot remembers the sun shining, a sight the other children have never seen. The rest of the children have lived on Venus their entire lives.

The other children sense that Margot is different. The constant sound of the rain showers bothers Margot but to the other children, since it is all that they know, the sound is normal. For Margot though, the constant rain showers are a reminder of the lack of sun, the sun that she remembers and will never regularly see again since on Venus the sun shines so rarely and so briefly.

Margot remembers the sun and warmth and light. She attempts to describe it to the children, which only dissociates herself from them further. Whether they are jealous or just sense that she is too different than they are and are afraid of her, the other children treat Margot with hostility and this causes her to draw away from them.

How can I connect media works (a poem, film, or painting) to this passage from The Boy in the Striped Pajamas? "Those people ....well... they're...

This is a very interesting assignment.  I have found some interesting sites for you to investigate.  As far as paintings are concerned, there are two paintings that I think will support the passage that you have chosen.  One is "Arrival at Birkenau" and the other is "In the Gestapo Cellar".  Both paintings are by Ella Liebermann-Shiber.  I found them at the web http://art.holocaust-education.net/home.asp?langid=1site (Listed below)  There is other art there also.  I went into explore and...

This is a very interesting assignment.  I have found some interesting sites for you to investigate.  As far as paintings are concerned, there are two paintings that I think will support the passage that you have chosen.  One is "Arrival at Birkenau" and the other is "In the Gestapo Cellar".  Both paintings are by Ella Liebermann-Shiber.  I found them at the web http://art.holocaust-education.net/home.asp?langid=1site (Listed below)  There is other art there also.  I went into explore and then into the Auswitz site.  You may want to do some more exploring to see if you find something more to your liking. 

Poetry was found on another site.  The poems I thought would support your passage are "Holocaust" by Barbara Sonek and another titled "Holocaust" by Sudeep Pagedar.  I found these at http://www.auschwitz.dk/id6.htm. (See below) 

For films, you might look at Life is Beautiful, a 1997 film in which a Jewish father tries to make a game out of their imprisonment for his young son.  This could be used as a comparison of the two boys.  The other one you might look at is Auswitz, which was made in 2011 and chronicles the short period of time Auswitz was in existence.  

What are the challenges faced by small animals?

Small animals face the biggest challenges in terms of competition for resources and predation by larger predators. Animals need resources such as food, water, light, habitat, etc. and they are in constant competition with other larger and smaller animals for such resources. For example, smaller herbivores live on plants, grass, etc. The same food is also eaten by larger herbivores and hence there is competition. Smaller animals are also under constant threat of predation by...

Small animals face the biggest challenges in terms of competition for resources and predation by larger predators. Animals need resources such as food, water, light, habitat, etc. and they are in constant competition with other larger and smaller animals for such resources. For example, smaller herbivores live on plants, grass, etc. The same food is also eaten by larger herbivores and hence there is competition. Smaller animals are also under constant threat of predation by larger animals. For example, a rat is under threat from foxes and other similar predators. One can also think of food being out of reach of smaller animals if it is on taller plants. 

Another challenge for smaller animals is traffic by cars. A large number of smaller animals are killed by cars, trucks and other vehicles every year. In comparison, larger animals face a lesser traffic threat. 

Hope this helps.

What is the conflict in the statement "for nothing pleased him so much as to make the crooked straight and crush down uneven places"?

The king seems to prefer when things are going wrong so that he can fix the problem.

Although the king claims that his kingdom runs smoothly, he runs it in a completely autocratic way.  Everything runs smoothly because he is the one making all of the decisions and no one dares defy him or they will get thrown into the amphitheater.

When every member of his domestic and political systems moved smoothly in its appointed course, his nature was bland and genial; but, whenever there was a little hitch, and some of his orbs got out of their orbits, he was blander and more genial still …

The king seems to actually enjoy trouble, because it gives him something to do.  He is not just a little bit sociopathic.  His trial system is a perfect example.  He created what he considers a perfectly fair system, and it is fair because he says it is fair.  He believes that the outcome is ruled by fate.

This vast amphitheater, with its encircling galleries, its mysterious vaults, and its unseen passages, was an agent of poetic justice, in which crime was punished, or virtue rewarded, by the decrees of an impartial and incorruptible chance.

The reason the system is so perfect, in his mind, is that a person has to choose a door.  He believes the innocent will choose the lady and the guilty will choose the tiger.  Actual evidence of innocence or guilt matters nothing to him and has no place in the trial.  He believes he is right, and his system is just, so that should be enough for everyone.

Semi-barbarism seems to mean that the king likes to toy with his subjects.  He has created a source of amusement not just for himself but for them.  The spectacle of the trial demonstrates this.  As much as the king claims to want things to run smoothly, he clearly prefers drama.

What do you “say” when you come to an arrow in a food chain?

Living things require energy which enters ecosystems as light and exits for the most part as heat. A food chain or web is a diagram that shows feeding relationships among members of a community.

In any food chain, arrows point up to the next trophic or feeding level. Therefore, arrows indicate that the food chain is progressing from one organism to the next in a feeding relationship. Look at the food chain below:

grass--> grasshopper-->frog-->...

Living things require energy which enters ecosystems as light and exits for the most part as heat. A food chain or web is a diagram that shows feeding relationships among members of a community.

In any food chain, arrows point up to the next trophic or feeding level. Therefore, arrows indicate that the food chain is progressing from one organism to the next in a feeding relationship. Look at the food chain below:

grass--> grasshopper-->frog--> snake-->hawk 

The autotroph or producer is the grass, a green plant capable of capturing energy from the sun and converting it to the organic compound glucose which is chemical energy.

The grass will be eaten by a primary consumer or herbivore which is the grasshopper, a plant eater. The grasshopper will be consumed by a secondary consumer, a frog which is a carnivore. A snake can eat the frog--it is a third level consumer and a hawk can eat the snake--a fourth level consumer. It is assumed that all levels will eventually have the matter in their bodies returned to their basic elements via the action of decomposers which are bacteria and fungi and return to the environment.

For your question, when you see an arrow, it indicates the organism that the arrow is pointing to feeds on the organism BELOW it, so you'd say "feeds on."

List the conflicts in Ender's Game.

In literature there are generally considered to be two main types of conflict: external and internal conflicts. External conflicts are issues that happen between the main character and outside forces; internal conflicts occur within the character. While this book certainly contains a lot of action, it is the internal conflict that gives it staying power. Here are a few conflicts of each type.

External Conflicts

• Ender's efforts to remain safe from bullies. This includes Bonzo, Peter, and other characters.


• The human race and its war with the Formics. This is the war that becomes the central external conflict of the novel.


• Ender's struggle to make friends despite his commanders' attempts to isolate him.


• Ender's struggle to win battles and progress through battle school.

Internal Conflicts

• Ender's fight to remain a child and hold onto his innocence after all the violence and conflict he endures.


• Ender's struggle to remain a good and caring person while also defending himself. He worries that all the fighting will force him into becoming more like Peter.


• Ender's struggle to forgive himself for what he is forced to do to the Bugger species.

In Night, what did author Elie Wiesel need to survive his experience of the Holocaust?

In Night by Elie Wiesel, Eliezer needed to stay as healthy as possible and to have a lot of luck in order to survive the Holocaust. Many others were not so lucky. Entire families were destroyed by the Nazi killing machine. Elie was fortunate because he first of all survived the initial selection when he arrived at Auschwitz. Secondly, Elie was lucky to get into a working unit at Buna where the work was relatively...

In Night by Elie Wiesel, Eliezer needed to stay as healthy as possible and to have a lot of luck in order to survive the Holocaust. Many others were not so lucky. Entire families were destroyed by the Nazi killing machine. Elie was fortunate because he first of all survived the initial selection when he arrived at Auschwitz. Secondly, Elie was lucky to get into a working unit at Buna where the work was relatively easy. Many other prisoners were worked to death building walls, digging trenches for graves, and doing all kinds of manual labor with little food. Many others gave up and died. Elie had his father to think of, so he kept hope alive for both of them. Without that hope of someday finding freedom, he may have well died, too. He also had luck on his side when he was able to have the operation on his foot. The Nazis often sent the sick and injured straight to the gas chambers. There seemed to be no rhyme or reason for who lived and who died. It was really just luck and a little hope that made the difference for Elie. 

How is Great Expectations by Charles Dickens a timeless work of literature?

Great Expectations is a classic for the reason that, for generations, people have found in the novel some part of themselves and their own struggles. It is a coming-of-age tale, of someone who wants to be more than he is. The struggle of youth to find who they really are and who they are meant to be is something that is common through all the years.

In the monotype of the hero’s journey, the protagonist...

Great Expectations is a classic for the reason that, for generations, people have found in the novel some part of themselves and their own struggles. It is a coming-of-age tale, of someone who wants to be more than he is. The struggle of youth to find who they really are and who they are meant to be is something that is common through all the years.

In the monotype of the hero’s journey, the protagonist is born in humble circumstances. This certainly describes Pip. The hero is called to an adventure, usually by someone who serves as a mentor or guide. Pip is presented with his dream of becoming a gentleman, aided by his unknown benefactor (Magwitch/Provis). With the help of companions, such as Herbert and Joe, Pip follows his quest, which includes the “rescue” of a damsel in distress (Estella). His quest does not turn out exactly as he had anticipated, but he still manages to find out who he was truly meant to be.

It is this quest that strikes in the heart of many people. They see this as a guide on their own journey, with potholes and mistakes to avoid. Wisdom is found in learning from your mistakes; it is even greater wisdom to learn from the mistakes of others, even those found in books or movies (think Star Wars or Harry Potter). That is what makes a classic.

In the book Johnny Got His Gun, why does Joe like America?

Through flashbacks and soliloquies, Joe Bonham reflects on his life before, during, and after his involvement in World War I. In these flashbacks, we learn that Joe was an average boy living a pretty average life before he decided to join the military. He has memories of fishing with his best friend, when he first made love to his then-girlfriend, and even some tender moments of his mother's home-cooking.These moments, alongside others, help us...

Through flashbacks and soliloquies, Joe Bonham reflects on his life before, during, and after his involvement in World War I. In these flashbacks, we learn that Joe was an average boy living a pretty average life before he decided to join the military. He has memories of fishing with his best friend, when he first made love to his then-girlfriend, and even some tender moments of his mother's home-cooking.
These moments, alongside others, help us understand Joe as a patriotic young man who wants to join the military in order to serve his country. Here is where we first recognize his love for America.

Book 2 of the novel sees Joe recalling his experience in the war and how he is hit by an exploding shell, which causes him to lose his limbs. Here is when we begin to see his love for America wane.

However, it is much later in the novel where we finally see his love for America dissipate completely and become replaced with rage. When Joe is finally able to communicate with the nurses caring for him, he requests that he display his body for others to see so that they can see the ramifications of war and the pain that it causes; he wants his reality to serve as the reality of war versus the myths often propagated. Unfortunately, his request is denied and he is left to his silent anger as faceless military officials pin a military medal to him.

Give examples of firms that have a pure competition market structure.

Strictly speaking, there is no such thing as a perfectly-competitive market in the real world. The formal definition of perfect competition requires an infinite number of firms with perfect substitution and zero market power. That doesn't happen in real life.

However, there are some industries that get fairly close to perfect competition, where there are a very large number of firms, with very similar products, who operate at very small profit margins.

A good example is farmers. For most agricultural products, ranging from corn to soybeans to tomatoes, there are a large number of individual farms, each of which produces a very small portion of the global market. Each farmer has very little say over what price they can charge for their harvest; there is a market price they have to meet, and if they don't, no one will buy. As a result, farmers have very low profit margins, and it is not uncommon for farmers to have a bad year or two and be driven to bankruptcy.

Another example is gold. While gold itself is very expensive, gold mining is actually not a very profitable business, because there are so many different companies selling gold, all trying to undercut each other's prices. Gold markets are also so closely linked to financial markets that we can watch the global price of gold rise and fall minute-by-minute.

But perhaps the closest we ever actually get to perfect competition in the real world is currency. Currency exchange markets are constantly trading back and forth---dollars for Euros, Euros for yen, yen for yuan, yuan for dollars. Billions of dollars change hands every second. Theoretically it would be possible to make a profit by buying currencies when they are cheap and selling them when they are expensive (speculation) or by exploiting inconsistencies in the prices of different currencies (arbitrage).

Theoretically, it could turn out that $1 buys 0.8 Euros or 7 yuan, but 0.8 Euros buys only 6 yuan, so you could buy yuan with dollars, then buy Euros with yuan, then buy dollars with Euros and make a profit. But in practice, competition in the currency market is so fierce---and so fast---that these kinds of inconsistencies disappear in milliseconds.

Profiting from arbitrage in currency exchange is only possible if you are one of the few companies that has access to high-frequency-trading systems that can actually make trades in that short a time. Thus, currency exchange is almost perfect competition: Prices are the same for everyone, nobody has power over the price, and profits are zero.

What are some metaphors in part 2 of the book Tangerine?

A metaphor is a figure of speech that makes a comparison between two unrelated things. Unlike similes, metaphors usually don’t use “like” or “as” to make a comparison. Examples of metaphors in everyday life (not Tangerine, yet!) include “My best friend is a lifesaver” and “My mother is an angel.”

1. “Getting Mom to ditch my paperwork was beyond luck; it was another miracle.” Ditching Paul’s IEP paperwork isn’t actually a miracle. A miracle is an...

A metaphor is a figure of speech that makes a comparison between two unrelated things. Unlike similes, metaphors usually don’t use “like” or “as” to make a comparison. Examples of metaphors in everyday life (not Tangerine, yet!) include “My best friend is a lifesaver” and “My mother is an angel.”

1. “Getting Mom to ditch my paperwork was beyond luck; it was another miracle.” Ditching Paul’s IEP paperwork isn’t actually a miracle. A miracle is an event that cannot be explained by science or logic. However, Paul’s newfound lack of an IEP shares the unexpected joy of a miraculous occurrence.


2. “I was in the far goal again. I may as well have been in Houston.” Paul compares being in the far goal during the Tangerine Middle School soccer practice to being as far removed from the game as Houston is from Florida.


3. "Lake Windsor—that team's a joke, man." Tino compares the Lake Windsor team to a joke to make the point that both are laughable. In this case, the Lake Windsor Soccer team’s skills are so far below Tangerine’s skills that the Tangerine players can only laugh at them.


4. “And mixed in with it, I could hear a sound, a predator's sound. It was the sound of Arthur Bauer's Land Cruiser on the other side of the back wall.” Paul compares Arthur Bauer’s Land Cruiser’s roar to the sound of a predator because both signal  a dangerous and potentially life-threatening arrival. Arthur and Eric are like predators because they prey on the weak and show no mercy.


5. “Of course, it wasn't really a game. It was a war.” Paul uses this metaphor to describe how the game against Palmetto Middle School because both the game and a war are brutal contests.

What is the mood in John Green's The Fault in our Stars?

On the top of the cover of the book, in blue hand-written looking text, there is a quote by Jodi Picoult that actually describes the mood perfectly: "Electric. . . Filled with staccato bursts of humor and tragedy." This is a wonderful description of the story as well as life. Green captures the human condition perfectly because even though people do face life-threatening illnesses, which is tragic, life can still be filled with love and humor around every corner. The mood reflects the themes and lessons of life, no matter how short that life may be.

One example of a scene in the book that shows both humor and tragedy all in one is when Hazel first watches Isaac and Gus play video games in the basement. Isaac is going through a breakup, so he is vulnerable, but the relationship between Gus and Hazel is just beginning. All three characters face life-threatening illnesses. But do they sit around moping about their plight? Well, maybe Isaac does, but he's more upset about the loss of his girlfriend than his eyesight. Gus has the best attitude of all and it is reflected in his speech.

"Isaac, I feel a growing concern about our position. If you agree, head over to that power station, and I'll cover you" (57).

Augustus is full of funny dialogue aligned perfectly with compassionate will-power. At the end of this scene, for instance, Isaac bursts into a temper tantrum and Gus, like the best friend ever, is right there by his side encouraging him. Isaac even breaks basketball trophies and Augustus tells him to "Get it!"

"Augustus stepped toward him and looked down. 'Feel better?' he asked.

'No,' Isaac mumbled, his chest heaving.

'That's the thing about pain,' Augustus said, and then glanced back at me. 'It demands to be felt'" (63).

This is a great example of life and the human experience. We can be faced with the most traumatic and devastating futures, but we can also have positive attitudes in the present if we choose. Readers are in for a definite emotional roller coaster in this book.

What event marked the beginning of the French Revolution ? Add this point to the time line

Prior to the Revolution, France had fallen into a terrible debt due to several poor harvests and their involvement in the American Revolution and the Seven Years' War. The government tried to remedy this by imposing a number of tax schemes, at the displeasure of the common people. In May of 1789, the King called for a meeting of the Estates-General. This was a meeting of the three classes of French society- the clergy, the...

Prior to the Revolution, France had fallen into a terrible debt due to several poor harvests and their involvement in the American Revolution and the Seven Years' War. The government tried to remedy this by imposing a number of tax schemes, at the displeasure of the common people. In May of 1789, the King called for a meeting of the Estates-General. This was a meeting of the three classes of French society- the clergy, the nobility, and "everyone else." The Third Estate was made up of "everyone else," the commoners and laborers of society. The intention of the Estates-General was to discuss the financial state of France, but the Third Estate lead the debate and instead focused on the structure of the French government. The declared themselves the National Assembly and quickly gained a following with the intent to overthrow the monarchy and establish a republic. 

Later that year, on 14th of July, the French people stormed the Bastille, a prison fortress and a symbol of the Ancien Regime. While the Estates-General and the establishment of the National Assembly are the formal beginning of the French Revolution, the storming of the Bastille marks the beginning of practical efforts to overthrow and attack the monarchy.

What role do the witches and Lady Macbeth have in triggering Macbeth's mental unhinging?

Although Macbeth is having qualms about killing King Duncan, knowing it means crossing a line that can never be crossed again, Lady Macbeth's ambition and relentless goading and pushing of him to do the act influences him to do what, in his heart of hearts, he knows is a terrible mistake. She uses language—rhetoric—about her own strength of mind and ability to harden herself and act like a man that causes Macbeth to feel he...

Although Macbeth is having qualms about killing King Duncan, knowing it means crossing a line that can never be crossed again, Lady Macbeth's ambition and relentless goading and pushing of him to do the act influences him to do what, in his heart of hearts, he knows is a terrible mistake. She uses language—rhetoric—about her own strength of mind and ability to harden herself and act like a man that causes Macbeth to feel he would be unmanly if he didn't go through with the murder. He can't let his wife be more manly than he is.

The witches also use language in ways that lead to Macbeth's demise. Most importantly, they lead him to believe the prophecy that he will become king of Scotland. Later, when they offer more prophecies, such as that he will not be defeated until Birnam woods move to Dunsinane and that he will not be defeated by any man born of woman, he also believes them. 

In Lady Macbeth's case, her rhetoric is just that—words. In the end, she goes mad from guilt over the murders: she wasn't as tough as she thought. In the case of the witches, their words trick and trap Macbeth because they meant something different from the way Macbeth interpreted them: MacDuff was born by C-section, and the Birnam woods move when MacDuff's men cut branches to disguise themselves.

How does the author describe the Canterville ghost? What was the expression on the ghost's face?

The Canterville ghost appears in various forms.  The story even mentions that the ghost takes on the form of "Headless Earl" to frighten residents of the house.  That makes it difficult to describe a single form and look of the ghost.  It also makes it difficult to describe the expression on the ghost's face without knowing exactly which scene in the story that you are referring to.  I have a feeling that you are asking about the author describes the ghost's first appearance to the Otis family.

The ghost, Sir Simon, makes his first appearance at the beginning of section two, and he only appears for Mr. Otis.  The text says that it was exactly one in the morning.  The entire Otis family is asleep, but Mr. Otis is woken up by a strange noise out in the hall. Spooky.  

Some time after, Mr. Otis was awakened by a curious noise in the corridor, outside his room. It sounded like the clank of metal, and seemed to be coming nearer every moment.

  So, being the man of the house, Mr. Otis gets up to investigate the strange noises.  Mr. Otis opens his bedroom door and is immediately face to face with the ghost of Sir Simon.  Despite the fact that the story is a comedy, the description is terrifying.  

. . . an old man of terrible aspect. His eyes were as red burning coals; long grey hair fell over his shoulders in matted coils; his garments, which were of antique cut, were soiled and ragged, and from his wrists and ankles hung heavy manacles and rusty gyves.

That's scary.  Burning eyes of coal!  I'd run.  But not Mr. Otis.  He calmly tells Sir Simon to stop making so much noise and then proceeds to hand the ghost a bottle of oil to lube up his chains, so they don't make any more noise.  Then Mr. Otis turns around and goes back to bed.  

The text doesn't explicitly describe what Sir Simon's facial expression was, but the text does indicate that he just stood there in a dumbfounded stupor.  Just stood there!  I imagine his expression was a mixture of just complete blankness with a hint of incredulity.  Maybe his jaw hung open just a bit.  Then he ran down the hall in a sort of angry "pity party" for himself.  

For a moment the Canterville ghost stood quite motionless in natural indignation; then, dashing the bottle violently upon the polished floor, he fled down the corridor, uttering hollow groans, and emitting a ghastly green light.

What are the techniques used in The Bear by Anton Chekhov?

One of the major techniques used in Chekhov's The Bear is that it is a farce, meaning it is a play with comedy. It combines many different kinds of humor, which makes the play interesting.

As a play, it does have some slapstick comedy much like television shows like The Three Stooges or movies like Dumb and Dumber. Smirnov, called "The Bear" by Elena, keeps trying to sit in chairs only to have them break....

One of the major techniques used in Chekhov's The Bear is that it is a farce, meaning it is a play with comedy. It combines many different kinds of humor, which makes the play interesting.

As a play, it does have some slapstick comedy much like television shows like The Three Stooges or movies like Dumb and Dumber. Smirnov, called "The Bear" by Elena, keeps trying to sit in chairs only to have them break. He curses out the furniture, wondering what could possibly be wrong with it.

And overly dramatic servant also adds to the humor. He is told to get rid of Smirnov, but cannot because he is afraid of the angry man. Other humor includes the relationship between Smirnov and Elena. They hate each other, and yet somehow through that hate fall in love as could only happen in a comedy. He realizes it when he is thinking of shooting her. "She is a woman! That's the sort I can understand! A real woman! Not a sour-faced jellybag, but fire, gunpowder, a rocket! I'm even sorry to have to kill her!" (Chekhov).

Obviously one of the more comedic scenes is when Smirnov is insulted and challenges Elena to a duel, which she accepts. In those days, it would be unheard of for a woman to duel, let alone duel against a man. She agrees to the duel, and then says "Here are the pistols.... But before we fight you must show me how to fire. I've never held a pistol in my hands before" (Chekhov).

The fact that Smirnov is there to collect money owed for the oats he sells is also used as humorous. When Elena realizes why he wants money, she calls for the servants to give her horse extra oats, thus rubbing it in. But in the end, when they have gone from hate to love, she calls to the servant, "Luka, tell them in the stables that Toby isn't to have any oats at all to-day" (Chekhov).

For more information, check out the link.

What are some quotes that show how the conch lost its power in the middle of the novel or later in the book Lord of the Flies?

The conch loses its power when Jack and the hunters break off, leaving civilization for savagery.

The conch is symbolic.  When the boys first gather together, it is because Ralph blew the conch.  From that point on, it holds a sort of mystical quality.  Since it had the power to bring them together, they think that it can keep them together.  This is why they choose Ralph as leader, even though Jack is a more natural choice.  Ralph’s qualifications begin and end with holding and conch.

They boys use the conch to take turns when speaking, acknowledging its power and granting it further power.  The conch becomes symbolic of civilization, and control.  Whoever has the conch controls the conversation.

“…I’ll give the conch to the next person to speak. He can hold it when he’s speaking.”

“But–”

“Look–”

“And he won’t be interrupted: Except by me.” (Ch. 2)

However, not everyone on the island wants to be civilized.  From the beginning, Jack and his choir exhibit signs of savagery.  They are assigned as hunters, which means that they will kill.  Soon there are war dances, war chants, and even war paint.  As the hunters splinter off from the main group, their behavior gets more and more primitive.  Soon there are the hunters and the others.  Ralph no longer has the control he once had, and neither does the conch.

“I got the conch,” said Piggy indignantly. “You let me speak!”

“The conch doesn’t count on top of the mountain,” said Jack, “so you shut up.”

“I got the conch in my hand.” (Ch. 2)

Eventually, the conch has essentially no power, because there is no one left to follow Ralph.  His attempt to keep the boys civilized has failed.  Jack’s way is more enticing.  No one follows Ralph’s summons except the littlest kids.

Jack seems to exist outside the control of the conch, because he threatens Ralph’s authority.  When Jack talks, even if he doesn’t have it, the boys listen.  Jack’s way of ruling is much less democratic.

“Conch! Conch!” shouted Jack. “We don’t need the conch any more.  We know who ought to say things. What good did Simon do speaking, or Bill, or Walter? It’s time some people knew they’ve got to keep quiet and leave deciding things to the rest of us.” (Ch. 6)

Jack continues asserting that the conch doesn’t count.  He establishes himself on the opposite end of the island, on an outcropping of rock, and tells Ralph that the conch “doesn’t count at this end of the island” (Ch. 9).  Ralph maintains that it counts everywhere, but he is outnumbered.  By Chapter 10, the conch is described as “fragile.”

It is no coincidence that Piggy’s death coincides with the death of the conch.  Piggy has been the voice of reason.  He thinks like an adult, making him a link to civilization and society.  His death eliminates the last vestiges.

The rock struck Piggy a glancing blow from chin to knee; the conch exploded into a thousand white fragments and ceased to exist. (Ch. 10)

The conch is gone.  There is no order.  The conch’s power existed in the boys giving it power, and as its power diminished, so too did their control over one another diminish.  Soon, they were reduced to a savagery and disorder.

The conch’s symbolism is rampant throughout the book.  As the boys show less and less regard for Ralph, who represents order, they show less and less response to the conch.  By the time it is destroyed, Ralph has no power at all.

I'm in 10th grade and we just finished our first-semester finals. Will taking a regular English class one time affect the way a college looks at me?

Taking one non-Honors English course, especially if is simply is not offered at your school, will not adversely affect your ability to get into a good college. Looking at the totality of the coursework and elective and extra-curricula activities listed, it would appear that your academic record will be just fine, assuming you continue on in this manner. You still have all of your junior year and at least the first semester of your senior...

Taking one non-Honors English course, especially if is simply is not offered at your school, will not adversely affect your ability to get into a good college. Looking at the totality of the coursework and elective and extra-curricula activities listed, it would appear that your academic record will be just fine, assuming you continue on in this manner. You still have all of your junior year and at least the first semester of your senior year of high school to build upon the record you have constructed up to this point. More important than whether you are unable to take an honor's course that is not offered at your school will be your grade point average (GPA) at the time you apply to universities, your scores on college entrance exams, and your record of extra-curricular activities. Band and Junior ROTC, in fact, will both weigh in your favor with many college admissions officers, especially if you intend to enroll in ROTC at the college level, which presumably is the case. (You should, by the way, look into the possibility of applying for a ROTC scholarship, which could pay your entire way through college, plus provide a modest stipend for additional living expenses, in exchange for a commitment to serve in the military, either on active duty or in a reserve component.)

College admissions officers look at the totality of an applicant's record, including extra-curricular activities and college entrance exam scores. There is no reason to believe that the inability to take a single honor's course will hurt your chances at attaining admission to a good university. 

What does Odysseus talk about his gifts? How is this foreshadowing?

When Odysseus and his men find Polyphemus's cave, the crew just wants to take some food and go, but Odysseus refuses.  Instead, he wants to stick around until the Cyclops returns home in the hopes that Polyphemus will offer Odysseus a gift.  Odysseus might expect a gift because of the Greek notion of hospitality.  They believed that Zeus protected travelers, and so everyone had a responsibility to be hospitable, and this often included the host...

When Odysseus and his men find Polyphemus's cave, the crew just wants to take some food and go, but Odysseus refuses.  Instead, he wants to stick around until the Cyclops returns home in the hopes that Polyphemus will offer Odysseus a gift.  Odysseus might expect a gift because of the Greek notion of hospitality.  They believed that Zeus protected travelers, and so everyone had a responsibility to be hospitable, and this often included the host giving the guest some kind of a gift.  This is why Odysseus would speak of gifts here.

One way in which his speech foreshadows what is going to happen is that Odysseus says that, rather than refusing his crew's request, it would have been "far better had I yielded [...]."  This lets us know that the outcome of his decision is negative because he would, knowing what he knows now, have wished to avoid it.  Before he even tells us the story of the men's time there, he says that it would have been better for him to have taken his crew's advice.

What is the significance of the title The New England Nun by Mary E. Wilkins Freeman?

Actually, the title is "A New England Nun," and I have moved the question to the appropriate topic as a result.  This being said, the significance of the title is in the last line:

Louisa sat, prayerfully numbering her days, like an uncloistered nun.

Further, we can learn more about the main character, Louisa Ellis, and why the title refers to her. It is about a woman who lives in New England and lives alone. ...

Actually, the title is "A New England Nun," and I have moved the question to the appropriate topic as a result.  This being said, the significance of the title is in the last line:

Louisa sat, prayerfully numbering her days, like an uncloistered nun.

Further, we can learn more about the main character, Louisa Ellis, and why the title refers to her. It is about a woman who lives in New England and lives alone.  Louisa has made a very happy and solitary life for herself as she waits for her beau, Joe Dagget, to return from Australia after fourteen years.  When he finally returns, the two are awkward and no longer in love.  Further, Joe Dagget has fallen in love with Lily Dyer (who is currently taking care of Joe's mother).  Louisa releases Joe from his engagement.  Now Joe is free to be happy and marry Lily. 

Even though religion isn't necessarily prominent in this story, Louisa has many qualities that befit a nun's life.  She lives in self-afflicted isolation.  She is a woman.  She is a virgin.  She prays every day.  Apart from these general truths about Louisa, there are specific things she does as well that resemble a nun's life.  Louisa is absolutely set in her ways after living without Joe for so long.  She is obsessed with cleanliness.  We know this because Louisa gets mad when Joe tracks dirt all over the floor, puts her books away in different places, and clumsily knocks over her knickknacks. 

In conclusion, the irony is that Louisa is not a nun, but she might as well be.  The simile quoted above which is the last line of the story as well as the similarities to Roman Catholic nuns indicated by Louisa's behavior are the best proof.

Why do the economic questions how, what, and for whom have to be answered?

The three basic economic questions have to be answered because we human beings have unlimited wants but we only have limited resources with which to try to fulfill those wants.  This situation is also known as “scarcity.”  Because of scarcity, we have to make choices.  Those choices include the three basic economic questions.

Each economy has to decide which things it will produce. No economy has enough resources to produce every kind of good and...

The three basic economic questions have to be answered because we human beings have unlimited wants but we only have limited resources with which to try to fulfill those wants.  This situation is also known as “scarcity.”  Because of scarcity, we have to make choices.  Those choices include the three basic economic questions.

Each economy has to decide which things it will produce. No economy has enough resources to produce every kind of good and service that we can imagine. We have to decide, for example, whether we will spend money on manned missions to Mars.  We have to decide how many luxury yachts we are going to produce and how many main battle tanks.  We do not have enough money, workers, or other resources to produce everything, so we have to decide what things will and will not be produced.

Each economy has to decide how it will produce things. There are typically different ways to produce the same things.  For example, we could produce agricultural products using a lot of machinery and only a little bit of human labor or we can produce crops using a great deal of human labor and very little machinery.  Each economy has to decide what way of producing things makes more economic sense given the resources that it has.

Finally, each economy has to decide who will get the products that are made because we cannot produce enough for everyone to have everything.  We cannot produce enough so that every American can have a luxury yacht, an expensive car, a Rolex, a vacation home in Hawaii, and other things that people might want.  Because everyone cannot have everything, choices have to be made. We have to have a way of deciding which people get which goods and services.

All of these choices have to be made because of the basic economic problem of scarcity.

In Jane Eyre, what does Jane like about the bird book? Does this tell us something about her character?

In Chapter One of Jane Eyre, we find Jane reading Bewick's History of British Birds. On one level, Jane likes this book because of its "certain introductory pages" which she cannot "pass a blank." Strong images of birds and ideas of faraway places, like Norway, Iceland, Siberia, and the Arctic appeal strongly to Jane. She forms her own impressions of these places in her mind which are "shadowy," yet "impressive." 

But it is not...

In Chapter One of Jane Eyre, we find Jane reading Bewick's History of British Birds. On one level, Jane likes this book because of its "certain introductory pages" which she cannot "pass a blank." Strong images of birds and ideas of faraway places, like Norway, Iceland, Siberia, and the Arctic appeal strongly to Jane. She forms her own impressions of these places in her mind which are "shadowy," yet "impressive." 

But it is not just the book's aesthetic qualities which Jane appreciates. This book offers Jane an escape from the realities of life with Mrs Reed and her cousins. She is an outsider in their home and the victim of all manner of abuses. This leads her to an important conclusion in Chapter Two: "I was a discord in Gateshead Hall; I was like nobody there; I had nothing in harmony with Mrs. Reed or her children, or her chosen vassalage."

Bewick's book, then, tells us much about Jane through its escapist qualities. Like a little bird, Jane wishes to fly away from Gateshead Hall and escape her outsider status. This sets the stage for her removal to Lowood School and her new life as the governess in the home of Mr Rochester. 

From The Gift of the Jews by Thomas Cahill, what is the significance of the "Law" (the Torah) and the "giving of the Law" through Moshe (Moses) for...

For Cahill, the significance of the Torah lies in its "oneness." The Torah shows, Chaill writes, "that the Jews were the first people to develop an integrated view of life and its obligations." "Law" and "wisdom" were not divided, as was the case among other ancient peoples, but, instead, "all of life, having come from the Author of life," sprang from a "single outlook." In other words, the Torah put every aspect of life under...

For Cahill, the significance of the Torah lies in its "oneness." The Torah shows, Chaill writes, "that the Jews were the first people to develop an integrated view of life and its obligations." "Law" and "wisdom" were not divided, as was the case among other ancient peoples, but, instead, "all of life, having come from the Author of life," sprang from a "single outlook." In other words, the Torah put every aspect of life under one set of laws.

With the Torah, we move from Abraham's covenant with "one God" to the idea that "God is one," and with it the idea that the intellectual, the material, the spiritual and the moral life all root in one source. These aspects of life do not war with each other in Judaism: the Jews will not have warring gods in the heavens, as do the Greeks.

Because Moses is not making a personal covenant with God, as Abraham did, but a covenant with all of the Israelite people, Moses has a much more difficult task. He is both representing God to the people and the people to God. (Abraham, as leader, simply made a deal and imposed it on his tribe.) It is Moses' humility, Cahill argues, that allows him to broker the deal between God and the people. "There is," Cahill writes of Moses, "no pride or quirk of personality ... to distort God's message." Both Abraham and Moses, different as they might be, are the correct men for the tasks God has assigned them. 

What do use scientists use to support a scientific explanation?

Science means "to know" and scientists actively seek to explain natural phenomena using observations, inductive reasoning and logic.

A logical way to find out the answer to a question or problem is by using the scientific method of problem solving.

First, a scientist poses a well-constructed question about something he or she would like to learn the answer to.

Next, a scientist will conduct research on what is already known about this topic. Using observations...

Science means "to know" and scientists actively seek to explain natural phenomena using observations, inductive reasoning and logic.

A logical way to find out the answer to a question or problem is by using the scientific method of problem solving.

First, a scientist poses a well-constructed question about something he or she would like to learn the answer to.

Next, a scientist will conduct research on what is already known about this topic. Using observations and prior knowledge, the scientist will try to formulate an answer to the question or problem which is known as a hypothesis. It is an explanation that needs to be supported by evidence.

A good hypothesis is one that can be tested by a controlled experiment. The information gathered during an experiment is known as data. Data can be qualitative, which uses descriptive terms like "on day 2, the plant grew" or quantitative which involves careful measurements--the length of the plant on day 2 was 6.2 cm. 

It is data that can support or refute a hypothesis or scientific explanation. If the data supports the hypothesis, the experiment should be repeated many times with large numbers of subjects to increase the chances that the results are valid. If the data doesn't support the explanation which happens often in science, it is a learning experience and a chance for the scientist to formulate a new hypothesis to be tested.

`int sin(ln(x)) dx` First make a substitution and then use integration by parts to evaluate the integral

We need to make a substitution then use integration by parts.

Let us make the substitution:

`ln(x) = t,` so:

`x = e^t`

therefore `dx = e^t dt`

so our equation can be changed. `int sin(ln(x))dx = int e^t(sin(t)) dt`

Now use integration by parts.

Let `u = sin(t) and dv = e^tdt`

`du = cos(t) and v = e^t`

`int e^t sin(t)dt = e^tsin(t) - int e^tcos(t) dt`

We will call that equation 1.

...

We need to make a substitution then use integration by parts.

Let us make the substitution:

`ln(x) = t,` so:

`x = e^t`

therefore `dx = e^t dt`

so our equation can be changed. `int sin(ln(x))dx = int e^t(sin(t)) dt`

Now use integration by parts.

Let `u = sin(t) and dv = e^tdt`

`du = cos(t) and v = e^t`

`int e^t sin(t)dt = e^tsin(t) - int e^tcos(t) dt`

We will call that equation 1.

Now we need to evaluate that second integral with integration by parts again.

`int e^t cos(t) dt = e^t cos(t) - int e^t (-sin(t))dt`

`int e^t cos(t) dt = e^t cos(t) + int e^t sin(t)dt`

Now let us plug this result for int e^t cos(t) dt back into equation 1.

`int e^t sin(t)dt = e^tsin(t) - (e^t cos(t) + int e^t sin(t) dt)`

add `int e^t sin(t) dt ` to both sides:

`2 int e^t sin(t) dt = e^t sin(t) - e^t cos(t)`

sub back in our original `t = ln(x)` or `e^t = x.`

`2 int sin(ln(x)) dx = xsin(ln(x)) - xcos(ln(x))`

divide both sides by 2 and add the constant of integration. And were done!!!!

`int sin(ln(x)) dx = (xsin(ln(x)) - xcos(ln(x)))/2 + c`

What is the plot diagram of Fahrenheit 451?

Exposition: The setting of the novel is in a dystopian society where firemen burn books instead of putting out fires. Montag is a fireman who meets his new neighbor Clarisse McClellan. Clarisse is a 17-year-old girl who becomes the catalyst of Montag's self-awareness. She asks Montag if he is happy with his life. Montag begins to think and evaluates his life.

Conflict: During a routine call, Montag witnesses a woman commit suicide by lighting a match and burning to death with her books. He instinctually takes a book from her house. It is illegal to own books and Montag hides the book under his pillow.

Rising Action: Captain Beatty suspects Montag has stolen a book and lectures him on the necessity of destroying books. Beatty is knowledgeable regarding literature despite the society's censorship rules. He gives Montag 24 hours to look through the book to prove literature is void of meaning. He contacts a former English professor, Faber, in hopes of understanding literature.

Climax: Montag reads the poem "Dover Beach" to his wife and her friends. The poem makes Mrs. Phelps cry, and the ladies storm out of his house. Montag's wife, Mildred, calls the fire chief to report that her husband is hiding books.

Falling Action: When Montag is told to burn his books, he sprays the flamethrower at Beatty and kills him. Montag goes on the run and flees the city. He travels down the river and follows the railroad tracks until he meets a group of "hobo" intellectuals.

Resolution: The group of intellectuals teaches Montag how to recite books from memory in hopes of one-day reproducing written works. Jets fly overhead and drop a nuclear bomb on the city. Montag begins to walk towards society to eventually rebuild a literate civilization.

What did Great Britain want from India during imperialism?

The British used colonial India as a source of raw materials and a market for their manufactured goods. First, India supplied the British Empire with profitable natural resources such as spices, tea, and cotton. These items could be acquired in India and sold in England or her other colonies at huge profits.

Second, Great Britain used India as a market for manufactured goods. Britain was influenced by mercantilism, an economic philosophy which advocates minimizing imports...

The British used colonial India as a source of raw materials and a market for their manufactured goods. First, India supplied the British Empire with profitable natural resources such as spices, tea, and cotton. These items could be acquired in India and sold in England or her other colonies at huge profits.

Second, Great Britain used India as a market for manufactured goods. Britain was influenced by mercantilism, an economic philosophy which advocates minimizing imports and maximizing exports. Britain loved to use her colonies (including America) as markets for her manufactured goods, in part because she could sell them there without dealing with foreign tariffs. Moreover, India--with several hundred million residents--colonial India provided Britain with a huge market in which to sell her products.

Which lines represent exposition in "The Story of an Hour" by Kate Chopin?

Exposition introduces the characters, setting, and overall background to set up the story. Within the first line of “The Story of an Hour,” author Kate Chopin introduces both the protagonist and the conflict: Mrs. Mallard’s husband has just died, and those close to her must break the news “as gently as possible” since Mrs. Mallard is “afflicted with a heart trouble.” Other characters include her sister Josephine and Mr. Mallard’s friend Richards who first heard...

Exposition introduces the characters, setting, and overall background to set up the story. Within the first line of “The Story of an Hour,” author Kate Chopin introduces both the protagonist and the conflict: Mrs. Mallard’s husband has just died, and those close to her must break the news “as gently as possible” since Mrs. Mallard is “afflicted with a heart trouble.” Other characters include her sister Josephine and Mr. Mallard’s friend Richards who first heard the news.

The setting of the story is on a spring day in the Mallards’ home. Action primarily takes place in Mrs. Mallard’s room as described in the fifth paragraph where she looks onto “the open square” outside her window, watching “the tops of trees that were all aquiver with new spring life,” smelling the “delicious breath of rain,” and listening to “a peddler […] crying his wares [….] notes of a distant song […] and countless sparrows […] twittering in the eaves.” The tranquility of the scene outside serves as a backdrop for Mrs. Mallard’s reawakening.

In terms of historical setting, the story was published in 1894 and was meant to take place in its turn-of-the-century, “male-dominated world” that Chopin (and many other female writers) found to be inherently “degrading to women” even if they were in happy marriages (). The story’s themes were particularly scandalous at the time, so much so that The Century editor Richard Watson Gilder “refused to publish the story […] because he regarded it as immoral” ().

Given the seemingly sickly protagonist, spring setting, and historical time period, Chopin’s story sets up the struggle of women to reconcile their love for their husbands with their desire for freedom.

What was the Estates-General in France?

The Estates-General was a body with representatives of each of the three "estates," or socio-legal orders, in France under the Bourbon monarchs. It was convened most famously by Louis XVI in 1789 in a last-ditch attempt at achieving some type of reform to address the growing fiscal crisis that confronted the kingdom. It had not been previously convened in more than two hundred years, a fact which shows how urgent this crisis really was. The...

The Estates-General was a body with representatives of each of the three "estates," or socio-legal orders, in France under the Bourbon monarchs. It was convened most famously by Louis XVI in 1789 in a last-ditch attempt at achieving some type of reform to address the growing fiscal crisis that confronted the kingdom. It had not been previously convened in more than two hundred years, a fact which shows how urgent this crisis really was. The delegates to the Estates-General were chosen by local elections, and instructed by what were known as cahiers, similar to petitions, which expressed grievances of ordinary people. A fatal problem to the 1789 Estates-General was the seating of delegates by order, which ensured that the reforms that Louis XVI sought would be impossible to achieve--the First and Second Estates (the Catholic clergy and the nobility) would generally vote together against the Third Estate (everyone else in French society). Eventually the Third Estate left the Estates-General, forming what became known as the National Assembly. This act is often seen by historians as the beginning of the French Revolution.

What does Sodapop tell Ponyboy about his plans for Sandy and himself?

At the end of Chapter 1, Sodapop is lying in bed next to Ponyboy. Ponyboy asks him why he dropped out of school and Sodapop tells Pony that he dropped out of school because he's dumb. He laughs it off and says that he plans to marry his girlfriend, Sandy, after she gets out of school and he gets a better job. Later on in the novel, we find out that Sandy left town to...

At the end of Chapter 1, Sodapop is lying in bed next to Ponyboy. Ponyboy asks him why he dropped out of school and Sodapop tells Pony that he dropped out of school because he's dumb. He laughs it off and says that he plans to marry his girlfriend, Sandy, after she gets out of school and he gets a better job. Later on in the novel, we find out that Sandy left town to live with her grandmother in Florida. Steve says that her parents didn't approve of her marrying Sodapop, so they made her leave town. In Chapter 12, it is implied that Sandy had gotten pregnant, and that was the reason her parents made her move to Florida. In the 1960s, premarital relations were frowned upon and Sandy's parents probably wanted to keep her pregnancy a secret. Regardless, Sodapop is devastated that the girl he plans on marrying has moved to Florida.

What are the exciting elements of Rules by Cynthia Lord?

It sounds like you are writing a paper on the book Rules by Cynthia Lord, or perhaps your teacher has asked you to consider the book for class discussion. The author does not explicitly say what the exciting parts of her book are meant to be, so deciding what's exciting is up to you.

When you read the book, what did you find exciting? When Kristi moved into the house next door, did you share...

It sounds like you are writing a paper on the book Rules by Cynthia Lord, or perhaps your teacher has asked you to consider the book for class discussion. The author does not explicitly say what the exciting parts of her book are meant to be, so deciding what's exciting is up to you.

When you read the book, what did you find exciting? When Kristi moved into the house next door, did you share Catherine's excitement at the prospect of a new friend? What about when Catherine made new word cards for Jason to use to communicate? Were any parts of the book particularly stressful for Catherine or other characters?

To answer this question, you may also consider making a plot diagram to describe and organize the events of the story. You may have felt increasing interest or excitement as you got further into the book--this is called the "rising action" of the story's plot. The climax is the most exciting part of the plot. Below I have shared a picture of a plot diagram. I hope it will help you to organize your thoughts about the exciting events in the book Rules.

If women still choose to get married in spite of Wollstonecraft's argument about equality, is it a violation of Wollstonecraft's ideas?

Probably not. Although Wollstonecraft had plenty to say about marriage in "A Vindication of the Rights of Woman," you won't see her saying (or even hinting) that marriage should be avoided entirely.

Her point is that women need to educate themselves, become good citizens, develop morals, be strong, and basically be good people who think rationally. Marriages based on physical attraction and flirtation are pointless, she says, because those things fade with time, while mutual...

Probably not. Although Wollstonecraft had plenty to say about marriage in "A Vindication of the Rights of Woman," you won't see her saying (or even hinting) that marriage should be avoided entirely.

Her point is that women need to educate themselves, become good citizens, develop morals, be strong, and basically be good people who think rationally. Marriages based on physical attraction and flirtation are pointless, she says, because those things fade with time, while mutual respect and friendship can last forever in a marriage.

Interestingly, the answer to this question will be more meaningful if we assign a time period to it.

That is: "If women still choose to get married today, in the year 2016 or later, in spite of Wollstonecraft's argument about equality, is it a violation of Wollstonecraft's ideas?"

In that case, definitely not. Although you could find plenty of support for the idea that men and women have not yet achieved equality today, there are major advances that have been made toward that goal. 

Or: "If women in Wollstonecraft's time still choose to get married in spite of Wollstonecraft's argument about equality, is it a violation of Wollstonecraft's ideas?"

Still, probably not, for the reasons discussed above. To find more meaning here, let's consider some questions that would be a violation of Wollstonecraft's ideas in any time period:

1. If women aim to snag their husbands solely by looking hot and acting flirty, in spite of Wollstonecraft's argument about equality, is it a violation of Wollstonecraft's ideas? Yes.

2. If women enter marriage thinking that passionate love and romance are everlasting and that these will keep the marriage strong until the couple reaches old age, in spite of Wollstonecraft's argument about equality, is it a violation of Wollstonecraft's ideas? Yes.

3. If women decide to leave college early or skip it entirely because they already found a man, so what's the point, in spite of Wollstonecraft's argument about equality, is it a violation of Wollstonecraft's ideas? Yes.

4. If women keep quiet about their own ideas, avoid becoming physically stronger through exercise, and/or dress in clothes so tight they hurt or high heels that injure their feet, especially for the purpose of attracting a husband... all in spite of Wollstonecraft's argument about equality, is it a violation of Wollstonecraft's ideas? Yes.

How does Jim bet on his mare in "The Celebrated Jumping Frog of Calaveras County"?

Jim enters his mare into races, fooling others into thinking she can't possibly win, and he places bets on her.

Because the mare looks very slow and sickly, people don't believe she'll win. (When others are very confident that your horse will lose, then you actually get more money when your horse wins than if your fellow betters had more confidence in your horse.) So, his mare looks very ill and starts off going very...

Jim enters his mare into races, fooling others into thinking she can't possibly win, and he places bets on her.

Because the mare looks very slow and sickly, people don't believe she'll win. (When others are very confident that your horse will lose, then you actually get more money when your horse wins than if your fellow betters had more confidence in your horse.) So, his mare looks very ill and starts off going very slowly in the races. Her unfortunate appearance and gait have earned her the nickname "the fifteen-minute nag," meaning it takes her fifteen minutes to go once around the track. (In other words, since the track is 1/4 of a mile long, she only goes one mile an hour.)

So, Jim's mare is such a poor competitor that she even gets to have a head start in the races. At first, as the race begins, she does horribly. The other horses pass her by as if she never had the head start.

But then suddenly, toward the very end of the race, she puts on a burst of speed and makes this awkward, messy, loud bolt for the finish line--and then she wins, just barely beating the other horses.

The man who retells this story, Simon Wheeler, says that Jim is just lucky and that's why he wins his bets a lot. But as readers, we know a bit better. Jim is tricky. He lets people think that his mare is not a good competitor; he places the bets, and then he collects his winnings. He did the same thing, basically, with his dog (entering him in fights) and his frog (entering him in jumping contests).

`x/(16x^4 - 1)` Write the partial fraction decomposition of the rational expression. Check your result algebraically.

`x/(16x^4-1)`

Let's factorize the denominator,

`16x^4-1=(4x^2)^2-1`

`=(4x^2+1)(4x^2-1)`

`=(4x^2+1)(2x+1)(2x-1)` 

Let `x/(16x^4-1)=A/(2x+1)+B/(2x-1)+(Cx+D)/(4x^2+1)`

`x/(16x^4-1)=(A(2x-1)(4x^2+1)+B(2x+1)(4x^2+1)+(Cx+D)(2x+1)(2x-1))/((2x+1)(2x-1)(4x^2+1))`

`x/(16x^4-1)=(A(8x^3+2x-4x^2-1)+B(8x^3+2x+4x^2+1)+(Cx+D)(4x^2-1))/((2x+1)(2x-1)(4x^2+1))`

`x/(16x^4-1)=(A(8x^3-4x^2+2x-1)+B(8x^3+4x^2+2x+1)+4Cx^3-Cx+4Dx^2-D)/((2x+1)(2x-1)(4x^2+1))`

`x/(16x^4-1)=(x^3(8A+8B+4C)+x^2(-4A+4B+4D)+x(2A+2B-C)-A+B-D)/((2x+1)(2x-1)(4x^2+1))`

`:.x=x^3(8A+8B+4C)+x^2(-4A+4B+4D)+x(2A+2B-C)-A+B-D`

equating the coefficients of the like terms,

`8A+8B+4C=0`        ----- equation 1

`-4A+4B+4D=0`     ----- equation 2

`2A+2B-C=1`            ----- equation 3

`-A+B-D=0`             ------ equation 4

Now we have to solve the above four equations to find the solutions of A,B,C and D.

From equation 1,

`4(2A+2B+C)=0`

`2A+2B+C=0`

Subtract equation...

`x/(16x^4-1)`

Let's factorize the denominator,

`16x^4-1=(4x^2)^2-1`

`=(4x^2+1)(4x^2-1)`

`=(4x^2+1)(2x+1)(2x-1)` 

Let `x/(16x^4-1)=A/(2x+1)+B/(2x-1)+(Cx+D)/(4x^2+1)`

`x/(16x^4-1)=(A(2x-1)(4x^2+1)+B(2x+1)(4x^2+1)+(Cx+D)(2x+1)(2x-1))/((2x+1)(2x-1)(4x^2+1))`

`x/(16x^4-1)=(A(8x^3+2x-4x^2-1)+B(8x^3+2x+4x^2+1)+(Cx+D)(4x^2-1))/((2x+1)(2x-1)(4x^2+1))`

`x/(16x^4-1)=(A(8x^3-4x^2+2x-1)+B(8x^3+4x^2+2x+1)+4Cx^3-Cx+4Dx^2-D)/((2x+1)(2x-1)(4x^2+1))`

`x/(16x^4-1)=(x^3(8A+8B+4C)+x^2(-4A+4B+4D)+x(2A+2B-C)-A+B-D)/((2x+1)(2x-1)(4x^2+1))`

`:.x=x^3(8A+8B+4C)+x^2(-4A+4B+4D)+x(2A+2B-C)-A+B-D`

equating the coefficients of the like terms,

`8A+8B+4C=0`        ----- equation 1

`-4A+4B+4D=0`     ----- equation 2

`2A+2B-C=1`            ----- equation 3

`-A+B-D=0`             ------ equation 4

Now we have to solve the above four equations to find the solutions of A,B,C and D.

From equation 1,

`4(2A+2B+C)=0`

`2A+2B+C=0`

Subtract equation 3 from the above equation,

`(2A+2B+C)-(2A+2B-C)=0-1`

`2C=-1`

`C=-1/2`

From equation 2,

`4(-A+B+D)=0`

`-A+B+D=0`

Now subtract equation 4 from the above equation,

`(-A+B+D)-(-A+B-D)=0`

`2D=0`

`D=0`

Now plug in the values of C in the equation 3,

`2A+2B-(-1/2)=1`

`2A+2B+1/2=1`

`2A+2B=1-1/2`

`2(A+B)=1/2`

`A+B=1/4`       ----- equation 5

Plug in the value of D in the equation 4,

`-A+B-0=0`

`-A+B=0`      ---- equation 6

Now add the equations 5 and 6,

`2B=1/4`

`B=1/8`

Plug in the value of B in the equation 6,

`-A+1/8-0`

`A=1/8`

`:.x/(16x^4-1)=(1/8)/(2x+1)+(1/8)/(2x-1)+((-1/2)x)/(4x^2+1)`

`x/(16x^4-1)=1/(8(2x+1))+1/(8(2x-1))-x/(2(4x^2+1))`

In "Charles" by Shirley Jackson, what are the problems that Laurie and his parents experience as he makes the transition from nursery school to...

Laurie has a difficult time controlling his impulses into socially unacceptable behavior as he makes the transition from nursery school to kindergarten, causing problems for himself and his parents.

The problems Laurie experiences in his start in kindergarten are rooted in a lack of impulse control.  His problems escalate from the first behavior of "being fresh" with the teacher.  He hits both teachers and students, is disobedient, yells during quiet time, stamps on the...

Laurie has a difficult time controlling his impulses into socially unacceptable behavior as he makes the transition from nursery school to kindergarten, causing problems for himself and his parents.

The problems Laurie experiences in his start in kindergarten are rooted in a lack of impulse control.  His problems escalate from the first behavior of "being fresh" with the teacher.  He hits both teachers and students, is disobedient, yells during quiet time, stamps on the floor, and throws chalk. Laurie also encourages other students to get in trouble, as evidenced in how he was able to convince another student to say a "bad word."  Laurie is unable to control his impulses. This means that he does whatever he feels like doing and does not pause to consider how his actions will impact others or if they are socially appropriate.

A problem Laurie's parents are experiencing is how to react to the disruptive behavior about which they hear so much.  Laurie convinces his parents that a student named Charles is responsible for the poor behavior.  As a result, both the father and mother simply dismiss it as "someone else's child."  His parents' problem is that they never address the problems with Laurie.  They fail to acknowledge the "teachable moment" they have with their son.  They lack the communication skills to talk to Laurie about what he is observing. The mother displays concern, while the father's interest is superficial, almost like idle conversation.  Neither one of them speak to Laurie about how such behavior should be seen as unacceptable.  Their inability to talk with their son makes the revelation at the end of the story more startling.

In Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet, how does Romeo deal with prejudice? What example can prove that?

Romeo is a lover, not a fighter. For example, he gets upset at Benvolio in Act I when he sees blood on the ground and deduces that Benvolio was involved in another fight. The feud between the Montagues and Capulets creates prejudice between the two families, and since Romeo doesn't like the feuding, he would also hate the coinciding prejudice.

One example of Romeo facing prejudice is with Tybalt Capulet. Romeo offends Tybalt by crashing...

Romeo is a lover, not a fighter. For example, he gets upset at Benvolio in Act I when he sees blood on the ground and deduces that Benvolio was involved in another fight. The feud between the Montagues and Capulets creates prejudice between the two families, and since Romeo doesn't like the feuding, he would also hate the coinciding prejudice.

One example of Romeo facing prejudice is with Tybalt Capulet. Romeo offends Tybalt by crashing a Capulet party on the night he meets Juliet. Since there is a standing feud, Romeo and his friends make sure to keep their masks on during the party, but Tybalt overhears Romeo speaking and would have killed him right then if Capulet himself had not intervened. Capulet tells Tybalt to stand down because he does not want his party to be ruined by Tybalt killing a Montague. Tybalt withdraws until another time.

That other time comes after Romeo has married Juliet--Tybalt's cousin. This gives Romeo even more reason to befriend Tybalt in the face of prejudice. Unfortunately, Tybalt is determined to fight Romeo for crashing his family's party. Romeo tries to dissuade Tybalt by saying the following:

"Tybalt, the reason that I have to love thee

Doth much excuse the appertaining rage

To such a greeting. Villain am I none.

Therefore, farewell. I see thou knowest me not" (III.i.57-60).

Romeo does his best to defend himself with words before the argument turns to blows. He also tries to explain to Tybalt that there is no reason for fighting even though he cannot disclose the reasons at that time. Some would argue that Romeo should have just told Tybalt he married Juliet at that time to diffuse the situation; but there's no guarantee that would have worked. In fact, Tybalt probably would have become more upset had he known about the marriage. Either way, Romeo was faced with Tybalt's prejudice against him as a Montague and there was no way out. Romeo does his best to end the fight, but in the end, Romeo kills Tybalt after Mercutio dies defending him.

Nick Carraway is the narrator of The Great Gatsby, but is he a good observer or is he an "unreliable narrator"?

I find that Nick Carraway in F. Scott Fitzgerald's The Great Gatsby is not as reliable as he would have readers believe. Nick's biased perspective becomes obvious within the first two chapters of the text. First, Nick is narrating a series of events in which he remains largely detached from the action. He is merely an observer to the events that surround him. One interesting point that draws attention to Nick's unreliable nature is when he gets drunk in Chapter 2:

"I have been drunk just twice in my life, and the second time was that afternoon; so everything that happened has a dim, hazy cast over it, although until after eight o'clock the apartment was full of cheerful sun" (30).

He admits that the events are "hazy," yet he still narrates.

Next, Nick admires Gatsby openly, and therefore the way in which he frames events should be questioned. He considers Gatsby a hero, and his deep regard and curiosity for the eccentric character shows in his initial description in Chapter 1:

"If personality is an unbroken series of successful gestures, then there was something gorgeous about him, some heightened sensitivity to the promises of life.... It was an extraordinary gift for hope, a romantic readiness such as I have never found in any other person and which it is not likely I shall ever find again" (8).

This is the first mention of Gatsby. Nick places Gatsby on a pedestal, and this renders his perspective questionable.

Moreover, any first-person narrator should immediately be considered suspect by readers because he or she naturally has a subjective perspective. No matter how fair or objective first-person narrators seem, they tend to show bias in some respects. For more information on unreliable narrators, consult Wayne C. Booth's The Rhetoric of Fiction and William Riggan's Pícaros, Madmen, Naīfs, and Clowns: The Unreliable First-person Narrator.

In the final analysis, how and why did the parents, the child, and the doctor use force in "Use Of Force"?

In Williams' story "The Use of Force," a worried family pays for a doctor to make a house call to examine their young daughter. They are a poor rural family, for whom even the doctor's modest fee is a major financial strain. It is obvious that they genuinely care for their daughter and are worried about her. The doctor is also portrayed as an essentially decent man, sympathetic to his patients and their families. The...

In Williams' story "The Use of Force," a worried family pays for a doctor to make a house call to examine their young daughter. They are a poor rural family, for whom even the doctor's modest fee is a major financial strain. It is obvious that they genuinely care for their daughter and are worried about her. The doctor is also portrayed as an essentially decent man, sympathetic to his patients and their families. The child is scared, ill, and hysterical. 

In the narrative, the child does not want her throat to be examined, and physically struggles to prevent it, and thus uses force. Similarly, the doctor, with the aid of the parents, holds the girl down and forces her mouth open so that he can examine her throat to see if she has diphtheria. This is necessary because diphtheria can badly harm or even kill children if not treated promptly. 

The most important element of the story is the doctor's reflections and emotions. He is not just uncomfortable with the need to use force, but even more uncomfortable with the way in which he and the parents become increasingly frustrated and angry. While intellectually, they know that they are doing this for the child's own good, using force starts a cycle of irrational anger, a visceral feeling for which the doctor eventually feels shame when it recedes.

What is the difference between Aeneas, Achilles and Odysseus?

Aeneas, Achilles and Odysseus are heroes mentioned in Homer's epic poem The Iliad. It is the story of the ten year Trojan War and the eventual fall of the city of Troy.

Aeneas, a Trojan warrior allied with with his cousin Hector, the great Trojan prince, is only mentioned sparingly in the tale. At one point he briefly fights the Greek warrior Achilles, but, since that warrior is virtually invulnerable, Aeneas is saved from...

Aeneas, Achilles and Odysseus are heroes mentioned in Homer's epic poem The Iliad. It is the story of the ten year Trojan War and the eventual fall of the city of Troy.

Aeneas, a Trojan warrior allied with with his cousin Hector, the great Trojan prince, is only mentioned sparingly in the tale. At one point he briefly fights the Greek warrior Achilles, but, since that warrior is virtually invulnerable, Aeneas is saved from the fight by the god Poseidon.

Aeneas appears again as the main hero in the Roman poet Virgil's epic The Aeneid. After escaping the crumbling walls of Troy when that city is conquered by the Greek invaders (who used the famed Trojan horse to gain entrance), Aeneas sets sail for Italy, where it has been foretold by the oracles that he will found a new and great city. This city is Rome. On the way he has many adventures in Carthage, Sicily and Tuscany. Like Achilles and Odysseus he has divine ancestry and is the son of the goddess of love, Aphrodite.

Achilles is considered the greatest of the Greek warriors who invade Troy. He has been rendered nearly immortal by his goddess mother Thetis who dipped him in the River Styx. Achilles main deed in The Iliad is the killing of the Trojan prince Hector after the Trojan kills Achilles' best friend Patroclus. The death of Achilles after the Greeks invade Troy is not documented in The Iliad but later sources say that Hector's brother Paris killed Achilles with an arrow to the ankle. When Thetis dipped Achilles into the river she held him by the ankle, hampering Achilles with his only weakness and the ultimate cause of his death.  

Odysseus is the king of the Greek city Ithaca and fights for the Greeks in the Trojan War. In The Iliad he is known for being one of the shrewdest and wisest of the Greek generals and, while not as formidable as Achilles, a very brave and cunning fighter. He is also credited with devising the idea for the Trojan Horse, but this story is not included in The Iliad. That epic poem ends with the funeral of Hector. Odysseus is most famous for Homer's sequel to The Iliad, The Odyssey, which tells the story of Odysseus's long journey back to Ithaca after the war. As with the above two heroes, he has a divine heritage as his great grandfather was the messenger god Hermes, who was the son of Zeus.  

There's a question in my homework on That Was Then, This is Now that asks how has Bryon's feelings toward Cathy changed? And why? I answered he...

I think that Bryon's change towards Cathy reflects the challenges of growing up in That Was Then, It Was Now.

Let's start off by tracing what might be Bryon's feelings towards Cathy.  We know that he does have strong feelings for Cathy.  These feelings cause him to become different than Mark.  One way he is different than Mark is because he develops empathy.  An example of this would be how he feels bad for M&M,...

I think that Bryon's change towards Cathy reflects the challenges of growing up in That Was Then, It Was Now.

Let's start off by tracing what might be Bryon's feelings towards Cathy.  We know that he does have strong feelings for Cathy.  These feelings cause him to become different than Mark.  One way he is different than Mark is because he develops empathy.  An example of this would be how he feels bad for M&M, something Mark does not feel.  The feelings that Bryon feels for Cathy play a large part in his separation from Mark.  

When Bryon has to call the police on Mark, it represents one of the most difficult things he has to do.  He is filled with guilt over what he has done.  As a result, he is not entirely certain that he has done the right thing.   When he testifies against Mark, it cuts the bond between them and Mark will never be able to forgive Bryon.  

Bryon's feelings towards Cathy have helped him develop an emotional identity that he did not have before.  However, as a result of these feelings, he has broken off from the life he once knew.  In many ways, Bryon breaks up with Cathy "to get even for Mark."  Perhaps, we can make the argument that he breaks up with Cathy as a way to show some loyalty to Mark, while he struggles with the fact that he committed the greatest act of disloyalty by turning him in.  

As you can see, little is clear here. Growing up is shown in a very complex manner.  I would say that Bryon still has feelings for Cathy, but he cannot bring himself to loving her because of the pain he harbors for what he has done to his brother.  In this case, hurt is stronger than love.  The emotions he felt for Cathy played a major role in why he did what he did to Mark, so continuing to feel love for her is like a further act of betrayal against Mark.  Feelings like happiness and joy are in the past for Bryon, representative of the "that was then, this is now" idea in his life.

In Fahrenheit 451, why did Montag think that Beatty wanted to die?

Beatty wanted to die because he felt that life was not worth living.  In Montag’s world, people committed suicide constantly.  Beatty was more intelligent and more aware than most.  He knew that the world was pointless.  He had read the books. He taunted Montag with them.  He knew what was happening, and did not try to stop it.  When Mildred called an alarm in on Montag, Beatty took a kind of sadistic glee in it. ...

Beatty wanted to die because he felt that life was not worth living.  In Montag’s world, people committed suicide constantly.  Beatty was more intelligent and more aware than most.  He knew that the world was pointless.  He had read the books. He taunted Montag with them.  He knew what was happening, and did not try to stop it.  When Mildred called an alarm in on Montag, Beatty took a kind of sadistic glee in it.  He did not try to evade Montag when he turned on Beatty.

Although Montag was broken up about turning his flamethrower on Beatty and killing him, he realized that Beatty had wanted to die, just like everyone else.  This is why he did not try to stop Montag.

Beatty had wanted to die. He had just stood there, not really trying to save himself, just stood there, joking, needling … How strange, strange, to want to die so much that you let a man walk around armed and then instead of shutting up and staying alive, you go on yelling at people and making fun of them until you get them mad, and then .... (Part III) 

Knowing that Beatty had wanted to die and had goaded him does not make Montag feel much better.  He never wanted to kill a man.  Montag feels that there is more to life.  He reacts differently to the emptiness than the people who commit suicide.  He decides to seek out the book people and find out what more the world has to offer. (He has to outrun the Mechanical Hound first.)  He makes it just in time, because just after he gets out his city is bombed.

Who is Sanaubar? How is she contrasted to Amir's mother?

In The Kite Runner, Sanaubar is the wife of Ali and the mother of Hassan.  Amir's mother is Sofia Akrami.  Sofia makes no appearance in the story, since she died in childbirth with Amir, but Sanaubar does make a brief appearance toward the end of the story.  They are certainly in sharp contrast to one another but have a few things in common. 

Sofia was a Pashtun and a Sunni, a member of the ruling class in Afghanistan. She came from a royal family, and was,

...a highly educated woman universally regarded as one of Kabul's most respected, beautiful, and virtuous ladies (Hosseini 15).

Sanaubar, on the other hand, was a Hazara and a Shi'a, part of the underclass in Afghanistan.  While she was considered attractive, with "brilliant green eyes and impish face" (8), it appears that it was her sexiness that made her memorable, sending "men to reveries of infidelity" (8), which led her to have a very bad reputation.  When Hassan was born, with his harelip, she ran away, leaving Ali to raise Hassan on his own, eloping with "a band of singers and dancers" (210).  

She resurfaces after Hassan and his wife have settled in with Rahim Khan, sick, old, feeble, and regretful over all the years she has been gone.  Hassan and his wife nurse her back to health, and she lives long enough to deliver her grandchild, Sohrab, and to see him reach the age of four, when she dies quietly in her sleep.

So, we have two women, both beautiful in their own ways, from opposite ends of the socioeconomic spectrum. Both have had a relationship with Baba, one marital and one adulterous, and both die sadly, one's life cut off far too soon, while the other's life was clearly shortened by the life she has led. 

What is the purpose of photosynthesis?

All organisms need energy to survive. Animals receive energy by consuming food. Conversely, plants do not eat, and cannot absorb all the energy they need from the soil. Thus, plants have evolved another means of obtaining energy - they make use of energy from the sun. However, plants cannot use the sun energy directly - they must capture the light and convert it into chemical energy.

Photosynthesis is the process by which plants convert the energy...

All organisms need energy to survive. Animals receive energy by consuming food. Conversely, plants do not eat, and cannot absorb all the energy they need from the soil. Thus, plants have evolved another means of obtaining energy - they make use of energy from the sun. However, plants cannot use the sun energy directly - they must capture the light and convert it into chemical energy.

Photosynthesis is the process by which plants convert the energy of sunlight into carbohydrates (sugars). These sugars are then stored and consumed when the plant requires energy. Photosynthesis takes place in the chloroplasts of the plant cells. Note that some bacteria are also capable of conducting photosynthesis.

Thus, we can say that the purpose of photosynthesis is to convert sunlight into a useable form of energy.

What are the different types of traditional drama?

Setting aside the categories of historical theatre and drama based on historical periods, such as Elizabethan, Restoration, Victorian, etc., we start with Aristotle’s division of drama into tragedy and comedy. Then there were expressionistic, impressionistic, surrealistic, etc. drama. Today, let us say since Modernism, drama divides itself into more subtle categories (mostly via advertising, publicity, reviews, etc.) – the term “drama” refers to serious, sober, intense story-telling with strong characters resolving real social and psychological...

Setting aside the categories of historical theatre and drama based on historical periods, such as Elizabethan, Restoration, Victorian, etc., we start with Aristotle’s division of drama into tragedy and comedy. Then there were expressionistic, impressionistic, surrealistic, etc. drama. Today, let us say since Modernism, drama divides itself into more subtle categories (mostly via advertising, publicity, reviews, etc.) – the term “drama” refers to serious, sober, intense story-telling with strong characters resolving real social and psychological conflicts. Comedy now refers to humorous laugh-filled story-telling with little serious conflict or danger to the protagonist, attended for immediate entertainment rather than insightful observation about human nature. It is further divided into such subtler types as farce (broad humorous commentary on human imperfections), slapstick (physical humor), sentimental (maudlin actions designed to bring the audience into humorous rapport with a slightly troubled protagonist), romantic (love “bumps in the road”), and the like. Post-modern drama features experimental stage language (settings, non-realistic situations, non-real actions, etc.) whose themes are often philosophical, and which make use of a two-act structure rather than the traditional beginning-middle-end structure of the three-act play. Then there are such “types” as musicals (where songs are inserted into the story),, extravaganzas (featuring unusual and difficult stage business, in which the audience delight comes from the large stage action), etc.; of course, this is only one way to taxonomize this complex and varied art.

Why did the Japanese choose the date and time for the attack on Pearl Harbor?

The Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941, a Sunday, for several reasons. First, the Japanese had been expanding their empire for several years, including into China in 1937. They had signed a pact with the other Axis powers (Germany under Hitler and Italy under Mussolini), and they had taken over French Indochina in 1941. In reaction, the United States froze Japanese assets and embargoed petroleum and other products going to Japan. Hence, the...

The Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941, a Sunday, for several reasons. First, the Japanese had been expanding their empire for several years, including into China in 1937. They had signed a pact with the other Axis powers (Germany under Hitler and Italy under Mussolini), and they had taken over French Indochina in 1941. In reaction, the United States froze Japanese assets and embargoed petroleum and other products going to Japan. Hence, the Japanese wanted to retaliate against the United States. Second, the Japanese wanted the U.S. out of its way as it pursued further expansion in the Pacific.

The Japanese chose December 7 for the Pearl Harbor attack partly because it was a Sunday--a day when many of the troops would be resting or attending religious services. The first dive bomber arrived at Pearl Harbor just before 8 am, and the battleships in the harbor were open targets because the American planes were grounded at that time. A private in the U.S. Army had noticed the Japanese aircraft on his radar system, but he was told that the planes were American, as the Americans were expecting the arrival of planes. The early morning raid was also conducted on a clear day, so the weather helped the Japanese in their aims. In the attack, more than 2,300 Americans were killed, and the Pacific fleet took a large hit, as several battleships were sunk and 180 aircraft were destroyed. On December 8, 1941, the U.S. declared war on Japan, and President Franklin D. Roosevelt called the attack "a day which will live in infamy."

What are the most important studies that dealt with dominance theory and difference theory by Lakoff (1975)?

In 1975 Robin Lakoff wrote a book entitled Language and Woman's Place. In a related article called "Woman's Language," she talked about tactics women often use in conversation that men do not use as often, such as saying "kind of" or being overly polite. This implied that women are sociologically inclined to use insecure or less authoritative speech.

In the same year, a study was done by Don Zimmerman and Candace West UC Santa Barbara. This...

In 1975 Robin Lakoff wrote a book entitled Language and Woman's Place. In a related article called "Woman's Language," she talked about tactics women often use in conversation that men do not use as often, such as saying "kind of" or being overly polite. This implied that women are sociologically inclined to use insecure or less authoritative speech.

In the same year, a study was done by Don Zimmerman and Candace West UC Santa Barbara. This study was the inspiration for "dominance theory," and concerned the number of interruptions in conversation clips using both men and women. The high number of male interruptions and low number of female interruptions implied that men "dominate" conversation.

"Difference theory" came from a study by Deborah Tannen in which she suggested that women and men prioritize contrasting values, instead of the idea that men have stronger values than women. For instance, men prioritize independence while women prioritize intimacy.

A study by Janet Holmes in 1992 showed women using tag questions because they wanted to maintain a discussion, rather than because they were uncertain.

A study by Betty Dubois and Isobel Crouch in 1975 showed that men used even more tag questions, but this study never suggested that men were less confident because of this.

In reaction to Lakoff's article and book, William O'Barr and Bowman Atkins conducted a study in 1980 on language within a courtroom. They connected Lakoff's characteristics of female speech to those used by lower-class men as well. They determined that gender was not the deciding factor, but instead it was power.

Finally, another related study was conducted by Koenraad Kuiper (1991). Kuiper studied only males, only rugby players on one team. He determined that men use insults to create a team feeling of solidarity. This was intended to contrast with the idea that women use politeness and welcoming behavior to create solidarity.

How does Esperanza distinguish herself from Nenny in the story?

Esperanza and Nenny are two sisters in The House on Mango Street by Sandra Cisneros. The vignettes in the book are narrated by Esperanza, and each little scene involves Esperanza's observations about people and personal experiences in her neighborhood. Esperanza and Nenny appear to be not very far apart from one another in age since they play together with another pair of sisters in multiple chapters of the book. Esperanza describes differences between herself and Nenny in multiple vignettes, both in terms of each girl's appearance and in the way they think.

The first mention of their differences is in the vignette "Hairs". On page 6 Esperanza says that everybody in her family has different hair. Her own "is lazy" and "never obeys barrettes or bands", while Nenny's "is slippery-- slides out of your hand". Their hair looks different not only from one another's but everyone else's in the family too.

The second time she gives a comparative clue about herself and Nenny is in the vignette "Boys & Girls". On page 8 Esperanza says, "Nenny is too young to be my friend. She's just my sister and that was not my fault". She feels that Nenny is her responsibility as the younger sibling who comes right after Esperanza. Esperanza likens this relationship between them to herself being a "balloon tied to an anchor" (9). The implied message is that the age difference between them does make a difference to Esperanza.

The third instance of comparison is in the vignette "Laughter". On page 17 Esperanza's first statement is "Nenny and I don't look like sisters... not right away". Unlike their friends Rachel and Lucy who physically look related, Esperanza and Nenny do not share similar facial features. The ways that she and Nenny are the same is in how they laugh and certain other things Esperanza says she cannot explain. For instance, they both think of Mexico when they look at a certain house that reminds Esperanza of houses she had seen there in the past.

The fourth time Esperanza mentions a difference is in the vignette "Gil's Furniture Bought & Sold". She says that Nenny asks Gil a lot of questions, while Esperanza has only talked to him once during a purchase in his store. Esperanza refers to Nenny on page 20 as "Nenny, who is stupider" when she describes Nenny asking Gil how much the music box costs. Esperanza describes herself as being quieter and having to pretend she does not care about the music box, while "Nenny who thinks she is smart" talks freely with old Gil.

A fifth comment about their differences occurs in the vignette "Hips" on page 50. Esperanza feels superior to Nenny, Lucy, and Rachel because she knows some scientific things about what hips are for. When Nenny chimes in with what Ezperanza feels is an ignorant comment, Esperanza explains that Nenny thinks this way because of her age and makes the remark "She is stupid alright, but she is my sister". In spite of feeling like she is smarter than Nenny, Esperanza nevertheless feels protective of her and hopes that neither Lucy nor Rachel will point out that Nenny's comment was stupid.

The final example of Esperanza's distinction between herself and Nenny is on page 88 in the vignette "Beautiful & Cruel". Esperanza says that she herself is an ugly daughter that nobody comes for, but that Nenny has pretty eyes and optimism that she will get to pick and choose details about her future. "It's easy to talk that way if you are pretty," remarks Esperanza. Esperanza then resolves to grow up to be beautiful and cruel so that she too will have her own power and not have to give it away to the men she has driven crazy.

To summarize, the specific differences Esperanza points out between herself and Nenny are in their hair, faces, ages/maturity, intelligence, introversion vs. extroversion, and level of physical beauty. There are a fair number of ways she says they are also similar to one another. The differences mentioned show a gradual deepening of how Esperanza thinks about their relationship. At first her observations have to do mainly with appearances, then about responsibility and protectiveness for one's sibling. As times goes by, Esperanza expresses critical thoughts about her sister's shortcomings, and eventually a seemingly resolved sort of longing to be more like her sister as they both consider what the future will hold for them.