What are three primary noise factors that can disrupt workplace communication? How can they be overcome?

In a physical sense, several things might impede workplace communication:

1) People differ in the amount of distraction they are able to manage while working. While one person (A) may be able to work in a bustling coffee shop at a local work co-op, another person (B) may require a silent cubicle in order to be productive. With that in mind, person A might be easily distracted in quieter environments, where a single noise could pull them off-task. On the other hand, person B might be distracted by office chatting, which is their version of "noise." Given that both of these people might be trying to communicate via email, workplace communication is disrupted in both situations.

2) Oftentimes, it's important to take phone calls in a workplace environment. Within an organization that receives a lot of phone calls, it might be distracting to hold a phone conversation while hearing other phones ringing in the background. To solve this, an organization might have a system with a light that lights up when a person is calling, rather than having a phone ring. Computer screen alerts function similarly.

3) Background office noise can also impede communication. If construction is underway while a worker is trying to communicate with their boss, coworkers, or clients, the distraction of background noise might make it difficult to hold conversation. Other distracting background noises might include a loud computer fan, an air conditioning unit, a refrigerator, or a busy street outside.

In a psychological sense, other things can impede workplace communication:

1) Preconceptions about out coworkers might affect the way in which we communicate with them. For example, if person A thinks person B is a lazy worker, they may treat person B with little patience. That attitude might impede the conversation in such a way that makes person B feel inferior or less respected in their environment. In this way, communication is disrupted by the noise of judgment.

2) Similarly, gender issues come to mind regarding psychological noise. Person A (a man) may approach person B (a woman) as if they are less than an equal. Often, this social attitude makes communication difficult between male workers and female workers, both of whom might harbor resentment for the other based on workplace respect, pay, and privilege.

3) Finally, language barriers can introduce "noise" into a communication loop. For example, if person A's first language is French and person B's first language is Arabic, but they are communicating in English, they are both one degree removed from the language in which they are communicating. That means that they are two degrees removed from each others' language and communication styles.  

What is Jonas prohibited from doing in Lois Lowry's The Giver? Why?

In Chapter 9, Jonas discovers the rules he must follow while he is a Receiver-in-training. He becomes visibly dismayed when he realizes he will be prohibited from enjoying certain privileges he has always relished.

Accordingly, he is prohibited from sharing the secrets or events of his training with other members of the community, his parents, or any of the Elders. While in training, Jonas is prohibited from mingling with members of the community. According to...

In Chapter 9, Jonas discovers the rules he must follow while he is a Receiver-in-training. He becomes visibly dismayed when he realizes he will be prohibited from enjoying certain privileges he has always relished.

Accordingly, he is prohibited from sharing the secrets or events of his training with other members of the community, his parents, or any of the Elders. While in training, Jonas is prohibited from mingling with members of the community. According to the Chief Elder, no one can observe or modify Jonas' training. So, the reason for Jonas' seclusion is to prevent any interference from members of the community in Jonas' training.

Jonas is also prohibited from dream-telling, applying for release, or applying for any medication (except for illnesses or injuries unrelated to his training). He cannot apply for release because his selection as the next Receiver of Memory is a rare honor and one he is required to accept. Finally, Jonas must endure "indescribable" pain during his training without pain medication.

As a Receiver-in-training, Jonas cannot apply for medication because he must endure and receive all the painful memories of the past to be successful in his job as the new Giver.

Since Jonas must return to his quarters after Training Hours every day, he must forego his interactions with his friends and refrain from enjoying activities such as playing ball or riding his bike along the river. He definitely feels frustrated that, in his many hours of training, time has not been allocated for recreation.

Who was Chief Joseph of the Nez Perce tribe?

Chief Joseph was, as you say, a member of the Nez Perce tribe who lived in an area that is now made up of parts of the states of Oregon, Washington, and Idaho.  He is best known for having led a faction of the Nez Perce who resisted being pushed onto a reservation.  This faction attempted to make it to Canada, where they thought they could live as they wanted.  However, they were caught by the US Army in Idaho before they could reach Canada.  This was when Chief Joseph allegedly gave a speech that has helped to make him famous, one in which he supposedly said that his heart was “sick and sad” and that he would “fight no more forever.” 

Chief Joseph was born in what is now Northeastern Oregon in 1840.  His real name translates to something like “Thunder Rolling Down the Mountain.”  He was widely known as Young Joseph because his father was called Old Joseph.  His father had this name because he had been baptized at a mission in what is now Northern Idaho a few years before Chief Joseph was born. 

Old Joseph was one of the leaders of the Nez Perce.  As such, he had been very involved in dealing with the white authorities in what was then the Washington Territory.  In 1855, Old Joseph was involved in setting up a reservation for the Nez Perce in what is now Oregon, Washington, and Idaho.  This reservation was quite large and included much of the Nez Perce’s historical lands, including the Wallowa Valley, where Young Joseph was born. 

As was very common in the spread of the US across the continent, American authorities soon wanted to reduce the size of the reservation.  Gold had been found in the area and whites wanted the land for themselves.  In 1863, the American authorities proposed a new, much smaller reservation that did not include the Wallowa Valley and much of the Nez Perce heartland.  In another common historical occurrence, some of the Nez Perce accepted this new reservation and signed a treaty while others did not.  This led to a split in the tribe.

In 1871, Old Joseph died and Chief Joseph took over as leader of his band of non-treaty Nez Perce.  He continued to negotiate with US authorities.  In 1873, he got the government to agree that the Nez Perce could remain in the Wallowa Valley.  Four years later, however, the government changed its mind and the Nez Perce were ordered to leave.  Joseph’s band of Nez Perce was once again divided on the question of whether to go or to fight.  Joseph was inclined to avoid fighting, but others in the band killed a number of white settlers and the whole band decided to flee.

This is when Chief Joseph started to rise to fame.  For more than three months, the band of Nez Perce travelled through parts of Oregon, Washington, Idaho, Wyoming, and Montana, trying to make it to Canada, where Sitting Bull was living with a band of his people.  The US Army pursued the Indians as they went, and many battles were fought.  Chief Joseph is said to have led his people with great skill during this trek, which is often called the Nez Perce War.

Finally, in October of 1877, the Army caught the Nez Perce, who were largely out of supplies and exhausted, about 40 miles short of the Canadian border.  Chief Joseph surrendered, allegedly saying,

Hear me, my chiefs! I am tired; my heart is sick and sad. From where the sun now stands, I will fight no more forever.

However, as with many alleged speeches by Indian leaders, it is not at all clear that Chief Joseph actually spoke these words.  Whatever the truth is, Joseph became famous as the skillful war leader of the Nez Perce and as the eloquent speaker who finally surrendered his people for their own good.

Joseph continued to lead his band after they were captured and sent to Kansas and then to Oklahoma.  He tried to get the government to allow them to return to the Wallowa Valley, but failed.  Eventually, his band was sent to Northeastern Washington, where they lived on a reservation with Indians from other tribes in the region.  Joseph died on this reservation in 1904.

Chief Joseph, then, was a famous Native American leader of the Nez Perce tribe.  He is famous for having led his people on their trek towards Canada and for having fought brilliantly as he did so.  He is famous for the words that he allegedly spoke when surrendering, and he is famous for having constantly worked on behalf of his people until his death.

How does Conan Doyle present London as a mysterious and sinister setting for a mystery in The Sign of Four?

In this second Sherlock Holmes novel, Arthur Conan Doyle uses various locations in and near central London as a setting for a two-fold mystery: what happened to Captain Morstan, and who has been sending his daughter, Mary, a pearl each year since his disappearance.

In Chapter Three, "In Quest of a Solution," Watson describes the London streets Holmes, Watson, and Miss Morstan pass through:

"The yellow glare from the shop-windows streamed out into the steamy,...

In this second Sherlock Holmes novel, Arthur Conan Doyle uses various locations in and near central London as a setting for a two-fold mystery: what happened to Captain Morstan, and who has been sending his daughter, Mary, a pearl each year since his disappearance.

In Chapter Three, "In Quest of a Solution," Watson describes the London streets Holmes, Watson, and Miss Morstan pass through:

"The yellow glare from the shop-windows streamed out into the steamy, vaporous air, and threw a murky, shifting radiance across the crowded thoroughfare. There was, to my mind, something eerie and ghost-like in the endless procession of faces which flitted across these narrow bars of light,—sad faces and glad, haggard and merry... I am not subject to impressions, but the dull, heavy evening, with the strange business upon which we were engaged, combined to make me nervous and depressed."

Here, Doyle uses the gloom of the city on this September evening to deepen the unease that Watson feels; Holmes has pocketed a small revolver before setting out "to an unknown place, on an unknown errand." The trio are made to switch cabs halfway through their journey and glimpse the "broad, silent water" of the Thames before reaching "a questionable and forbidding neighborhood" where they encounter Thaddeus Sholto in his home "in the howling desert of South London," a newly finished and dimly-lighted home in a block of uninhabited terrace houses.

The South London home of Thaddeus's brother, Bartholomew, is forbidding; Pondicherry Lodge is described as having "a very high stone wall topped with broken glass" and "a single narrow iron-clamped door formed the only means of entrance."

Besides the sense of foreboding accomplished with the mysterious trips through sordid London streets to the homes of the Sholto brothers, in chapter seven,"The Episode of the Barrel," Watson describes his journey to the Pinchin Lane taxidermist, Sherman, as moving through "silent gas-lit streets" to his house with live and stuffed animals. 

What are the differences in how public health and private health services are funded, the sources of the funds, who can receive the benefits, how...

The answer to these questions may vary depending on what country the system is based. In general, public health services are funded by the government and function for "nonprofit." Funds are usually limited, especially for developing countries, and may be re-allocated to other sectors such as the private health system. The private health system, on the other hand, is composed of "for profit" institutions and funded by nongovernment organizations.

Public health systems are made accessible...

The answer to these questions may vary depending on what country the system is based. In general, public health services are funded by the government and function for "nonprofit." Funds are usually limited, especially for developing countries, and may be re-allocated to other sectors such as the private health system. The private health system, on the other hand, is composed of "for profit" institutions and funded by nongovernment organizations.

Public health systems are made accessible to the public as much as possible. They are more "community oriented" and usually bring supplies and health professionals together. However, eligibility for public health benefits may have restrictions in some countries such as requirements for citizenship and employment for non-citizens. Private health systems tend to be more costly (in terms of consultation fees, prescribed medicine and additional services that may be arguably unnecessary) and thus restrict access to their services.

A study comparing the two systems in various countries actually showed poorer practices and treatment outcomes in the private system, in general. For the public system, it was found to be less equipped in terms of apparatuses, medicine, and staff as well as slow.

In politics, what is meant by the terms "hawks" and "doves"? How do these positions differ?

The terms "hawk" and "dove," to the best of my recollection, came into frequent use during the late Sixties, when protest against the war in Vietnam began.  These are metaphorical terms that represent people who are pro-war and people who are anti-war.  A hawk is a fierce bird that represents the warring faction, while the dove has always been a symbol of peace and love.  Both had certainly been used prior to the Vietnam War,...

The terms "hawk" and "dove," to the best of my recollection, came into frequent use during the late Sixties, when protest against the war in Vietnam began.  These are metaphorical terms that represent people who are pro-war and people who are anti-war.  A hawk is a fierce bird that represents the warring faction, while the dove has always been a symbol of peace and love.  Both had certainly been used prior to the Vietnam War, even hundreds of years earlier, but began popping up all the time in the media and in regular conversations when large factions began to disagree with one another about this war. The war was meant to avoid a Communist takeover in the area, based on what was called "the domino theory," another metaphor.  Like a line of dominoes, if Vietnam fell to the Communists, all the other countries in the area could as well.  This was during the Cold War, which is yet another metaphor, because politicians in the McCarthy era had stirred up the populace to believe that Communism was an existential threat to America.  Today, I don't see the terms used all that much, but they could be applicable now.  Those who want to go full force with ground troops to fight terrorism or to torture prisoners are hawks, while those who seek diplomatic solutions to problems instead are the doves.  That is, of course, a great oversimplification of the issues involved, but the metaphors still serve fairly well. 

What were the immediate and long-term effects and consequences of the Cuban Missile Crisis?

In October of 1962, President Kennedy announced to the American public that the Soviets had installed medium-range missiles on Cuba, 90 miles off the coast of Florida. He imposed a naval blockade around Cuba and threatened to invade the island. For thirteen tense days, Americans believed that their country was on the brink of nuclear war, until the Soviet leader, Khrushchev, agreed to remove the missiles in return for the American agreement not to invade Cuba....

In October of 1962, President Kennedy announced to the American public that the Soviets had installed medium-range missiles on Cuba, 90 miles off the coast of Florida. He imposed a naval blockade around Cuba and threatened to invade the island. For thirteen tense days, Americans believed that their country was on the brink of nuclear war, until the Soviet leader, Khrushchev, agreed to remove the missiles in return for the American agreement not to invade Cuba. Kennedy also secretly agreed to remove American missiles from Turkey.

Therefore, the immediate consequence of the crisis were the removal of American missiles from Turkey and the supervised removal of Soviet missiles from Cuba. The Americans also agreed not to invade Cuba unless the U.S. was directly provoked into doing so. In addition, Americans (and people around the world) endured the experience of believing that the world was on the brink of a nuclear war, causing great stress. In the long run, the Americans and Soviets decided to open up some avenues of communication as a result of the standoff. For example, the Soviets and Americans established the Moscow-Washington Hotline, a direct communications link so that future misunderstandings could be discussed between them. In addition, the Americans and Soviets signed two treaties to regulate nuclear weapons. Some historians argue that as a result of the crisis, Americans developed a more aggressive foreign policy that led to the Vietnam War. 

What is a good thesis for an essay about obesity?

A thesis statement expresses the main idea of essay. The best way to look at it is this: if you could boil your entire essay down to one sentence and still get your message across, you've got a thesis statement.

Before you can decide on a thesis statement for an essay about obesity, you need to narrow your focus. Obesity by itself is much too broad for an effective essay topic—you could easily fill an...

A thesis statement expresses the main idea of essay. The best way to look at it is this: if you could boil your entire essay down to one sentence and still get your message across, you've got a thesis statement.

Before you can decide on a thesis statement for an essay about obesity, you need to narrow your focus. Obesity by itself is much too broad for an effective essay topic—you could easily fill an entire book with information about such a topic. You need to develop a topic that incorporates a more specific subject. Narrowing a topic makes your essay writing job a lot easier. Here are several suggestions, along with sample thesis statements:

The primary cause of obesity: research and explain the single most important factor in obesity. It could be genetics, or food, or inactivity, or something else. An example of a thesis statement for this essay could be: The primary cause for obesity is the genetic predisposition to gain weight to an unhealthy degree.

Strategies for reducing obesity: An essay could identify and explain the best way for people to overcome obesity. It could be changing eating habits, getting more exercise, having surgery, or taking some sort of medication. An example of a thesis statement for this essay could be: The most successful method for overcoming obesity has been shown to be diet modification.

Social attitudes about obesity: Given the controversy about “body shaming” this would be a good current topic. How do people feel about the obese? Are they discriminated against? Are they misunderstood? An example of a thesis statement for this essay could be: Obese people are not afforded the same opportunities in life that non-obese people are.  

In "Black Beauty" by Anna Sewell, who are all of the owners of Black Beauty?

There are nine owners of Black Beauty recorded in the fictional novel.  However, there are many more who come into contact with him throughout his life and have a dramatic impact upon him.

Black Beauty is born to Dutchess and owned by Squire Gordon of Birtwick Manor.  He lives there until his mistress grows ill and must move away.

Beauty is sold to the Earl of W--- of Earlshall Park, where he is well-tended until...

There are nine owners of Black Beauty recorded in the fictional novel.  However, there are many more who come into contact with him throughout his life and have a dramatic impact upon him.

Black Beauty is born to Dutchess and owned by Squire Gordon of Birtwick Manor.  He lives there until his mistress grows ill and must move away.

Beauty is sold to the Earl of W--- of Earlshall Park, where he is well-tended until Reuben Smith enters the story.  Smith ruins Beauty's knees through careless riding.  The Lady of W--- cannot abide by a horse with such knees in her stables and he is sold again.

His next owner is unnamed and referred to only as the master of livery stables where horses are available for rent.  For the first time in his life, he is subject to continued substandard treatment until bought by a kind-hearted man who rented him once, Mr. Barry of Bath.

Jeremiah Barker, a cab driver, is the fifth owner of Beauty.  Barker treats him quite well and may have owned him throughout his life if not for his catching cold during a long evening wait.  Unable to continue the business, Barker passes Beauty on to another unnamed owner. 

The corn dealer and baker cares little for horses and sells Beauty to Nicholas Skinner, a harsh coachman.  Skinner abuses his horses and nearly kills Beauty with exhaustion and an overloaded coach.  Forced to sell him or allow him ample pasture time to heal, Skinner sells him at a London horse fair.

Farmer Thoroughgood, a kind fellow, and his grandson take a liking to Beauty and purchase him for a good sum.  Beauty is once again on the mend and when healed is brought around to his final home.  He is offered to the Ladies of Birtwick Manor, specifically to Miss Ellen.  The groom, Joe Green, recognizes Beauty's markings and everyone associated with the Manor is happy to see his return.

What was the weak point of the young man's story in "Dusk"?

The young man who sits down on the bench beside Norman Gortsby tells him that he couldn't find his hotel after going out to buy a cake of soap. Since he had left most of his money in his hotel room, he now only had a couple of pennies in his pocket after paying for the soap and a drink at a pub. Then the young man makes his pitch.

"Unless I can find some decent chap to swallow my story and lend me some money I seem likely to spend the night on the Embankment."

Gortsby is accustomed to sitting on these park benches at dusk and, consequently has been approached by many strangers with hard-luck stories. He senses this will be another one of them and has no intention of parting with any money. But he lets the young man tells his whole story because it amuses him and because he is a little sadistic. Then:

"Of course," said Gortsby slowly, "the weak point of your story is that you can't produce the soap."
     The young man sat forward hurriedly, felt rapidly in the pockets of his overcoat, and then jumped to his feet.
     "I must have lost it," he muttered angrily.
     "To lose an hotel and a cake of soap on one afternoon suggests wilful carelessness," said Gortsby, but the young man scarcely waited to hear the end of the remark. He flitted away down the path, his head held high, with an air of somewhat jaded jauntiness.

The young con-man is miffed to realize that he has been wasting his valuable time. It is already dusk, and the park will soon be depopulated. The fact that he hadn't had the foresight to purchase a cake of soap suggests that he is a novice who has just recently thought of an idea which could make him a pound a day rather than the pound a week he would be earning as a typical office clerk. No doubt he would have subsequently bought a cake of soap to have to show his next prospect if he should be asked for proof. But Gortsby has found the cake of soap dropped by his bench by the elderly gentleman, and he has given it to the young apprentice con-artist along with a gold sovereign.

The story had been crafted in such a way that it would suggest that Gortsby was being given an opportunity to make a friend of a young country gentleman who didn't know a soul in London and who might be expected to show his gratitude by inviting him to lunch and perhaps inviting him down to his parents' manor house for a weekend of riding and shooting. The con-man was only asking for a short-term loan. He supposedly had plenty of money but couldn't get at it until tomorrow because he couldn't find his hotel. And meanwhile it was dusk and darkness was closing in. Gortsby, who was something of a connoisseur of hard-luck stories, reflected that the young stranger's pitch was really very good.

"It was a pity," mused Gortsby; "the going out to get one's own soap was the one convincing touch in the whole story, and yet it was just that little detail that brought him to grief. If he had had the brilliant forethought to provide himself with a cake of soap, wrapped and sealed with all the solicitude of the chemist's counter, he would have been a genius in his particular line. In his particular line genius certainly consists of an infinite capacity for taking precautions."

Why did Progressives believe society needed to be reformed?

Progressives believed there were problems in our society that needed to be addressed. They felt certain practices in our country were benefitting a few people while hurting many people.

John Spargo wrote a book that focused on child labor. He wrote about how children were working long hours in dangerous factories instead of going to school. These kids were paid very little. This helped business owners keep costs down. In part because of his book,...

Progressives believed there were problems in our society that needed to be addressed. They felt certain practices in our country were benefitting a few people while hurting many people.

John Spargo wrote a book that focused on child labor. He wrote about how children were working long hours in dangerous factories instead of going to school. These kids were paid very little. This helped business owners keep costs down. In part because of his book, child labor and compulsory school attendance laws were passed to correct this issue.

Lincoln Steffens wrote about how money was corrupting the political system. The common person seemed to be getting shut out of politics. To correct this issue, the initiative, referendum, recall, and direct election of U.S. Senators were reforms made to improve conditions in politics that would help involve the average person more in the political process.

Upton Sinclair wrote about unsanitary conditions in the meat industry. These conditions led to tainted meat being sold. Business owners were also falsely labeling food and medicine to increase profits. The Meat Inspection Act and the Pure Food and Drug Act were passed to help correct these issues.

The Progressives believed there were problems in our society. By drawing people’s attention to these issues, they were able to bring about various changes to correct the abuses they believed existed in our country.

What are the main incidents of Gulliver's Travels?

Gulliver's Travels is a satire that follows the protagonist, Lemuel Gulliver, as he voyages to various exotic fictional locales. Each of the fantastic races he encounters in his travels satirizes some aspect of British life, politics, or religion. Through his encounters with various exotic societies, Gulliver comes to have a clearer and more objective understanding of his own society. The major episodes in the work are voyages to four different lands: 

Lilliputians:Gulliver is captured...

Gulliver's Travels is a satire that follows the protagonist, Lemuel Gulliver, as he voyages to various exotic fictional locales. Each of the fantastic races he encounters in his travels satirizes some aspect of British life, politics, or religion. Through his encounters with various exotic societies, Gulliver comes to have a clearer and more objective understanding of his own society. The major episodes in the work are voyages to four different lands: 

Lilliputians: Gulliver is captured by this race of tiny people and learns about their warlike society and their tendency to have absurdly passionate arguments about such trivia as what end of an egg one should open. He saves the palace from a fire by urinating on it and because of this is accused of treason. He manages to escape.

Brobdingnagians: The Brobdingnagians, a race of giants, are well-governed, with an admirable and practical educational system. Gulliver is kept as a pet and has terrifying encounters with animals such as mice, which in this land are his own size. He eventually escapes.

Laputa: This is a land of philosophers and mathematicians concerned with abstract speculation and having few practical interests. They are technologically advanced.

Houyhnhms: This is a land of intelligent horses who have barbaric primates called "yahoos" as slaves. They are an advanced and wise race who are horrified by Gulliver's descriptions of England, and they expel him from the island.

When does the story of "By the Waters of Babylon" take place ?

The story takes place in the future.  There has been some kind of apocalypse called the Great Burning.  All we know about the Great Burning is that “fire fell out of the sky.”  We do know that John’s world is our world in the future because he lives in the area around what was once New York City.

 It is forbidden to cross the great river and look upon the place that was the Place of the Gods—this is most strictly forbidden. We do not even say its name though we know its name. It is there that spirits live, and demons—it is there that there are the ashes of the Great Burning. 

John’s people think that we were gods.  They are afraid to touch metal, and only priests are allowed to do so.  They are supposedly the only ones who can touch the metal without dying.  John’s father is a priest, and he is training to be a priest.

As part of this training, John goes on a quest to follow a dream to what was once New York City.  He sees the old buildings and technology, and realizes that the gods were once people.  These “gods” are the bodies of dead human beings.  He decides that this is the foundation of a lost civilization, and his society can rebuild it.

We shall go to the Place of the Gods—the place newyork—not one man but a company. We shall look for the images of the gods and find the god ASHING and the others—the gods Lincoln and Biltmore and Moses. But they were men who built the city, not gods or demons.

Like many post-apocalyptic societies, John’s is ruled by fear.  John, the new generation, decides that he wants to change things.  He will not be afraid.  He wants to reunite his people and build on the legacy of the past to renew the former society.

What are the advantages of release in "The Giver"?

In the novel, there appear to be several advantages to release. However, remember that these so-called advantages can only be viewed through the lens of the novel's dystopian world. In reality, since release constitutes state-sponsored violence against individuals, the advantages of release can be said to be ambivalent at best.

Having said that, I would like to highlight the advantages of release, as portrayed by the novel:

a) The old and the infirm need no...

In the novel, there appear to be several advantages to release. However, remember that these so-called advantages can only be viewed through the lens of the novel's dystopian world. In reality, since release constitutes state-sponsored violence against individuals, the advantages of release can be said to be ambivalent at best.

Having said that, I would like to highlight the advantages of release, as portrayed by the novel:

a) The old and the infirm need no longer burden society with their needs. Release will effectively liberate citizens from the responsibility of ensuring the welfare of a large segment of society. As such, the release of an elderly person is considered "a time of celebration for a life well and fully lived."

b) Anyone who breaks the rules three times will be summarily released; this means that there will be virtually no crime to tarnish the peace in this dystopian world.

c) Identical twins can be released without question; usually, the smaller and weaker twin is chosen for release. In this way, society will not need to be burdened with overpopulation.

d) Any "newchild" who does not gain the required weight and who fails to sleep soundly through the night (well enough to be placed with a family unit) can be released. This again means that society will not need to be burdened with the care of children who fail to thrive.

e) Anyone who feels that he/she does not fit in can obtain permission to be released. Those who suffer from extreme  debility can also apply for release. The right to be released allows citizens to decide their fate in the midst of suffering and affliction.

In "A Good Man Is Hard to Find," Flannery O'Connor uses short, simple sentences in order to effect which literary device?

O'Connor employs repetitive syntax, keeping some sentences quite short, in order to impact tone and mood and even help to develop characterization.  Syntax refers to the arrangement of words and phrases in a sentence, and authors can manipulate syntax for a number of reasons.  Short, clipped sentences like some of the ones O'Connor uses tend to affect the tone of the story, making it sound somewhat wry and ironic (which is appropriate given the irony...

O'Connor employs repetitive syntax, keeping some sentences quite short, in order to impact tone and mood and even help to develop characterization.  Syntax refers to the arrangement of words and phrases in a sentence, and authors can manipulate syntax for a number of reasons.  Short, clipped sentences like some of the ones O'Connor uses tend to affect the tone of the story, making it sound somewhat wry and ironic (which is appropriate given the irony of the family's vacation ending in their complete annihilation). 

Short sentences can also tend to sound somewhat petulant, also appropriate given that the grandmother also possesses this quality.  The first line of the story, "The grandmother didn't want to go to Florida," makes her sound rather childish in this way: there is no explanation or elaboration, just a simple statement of her emotional response.  Further, when the grandmother says, "'People did right then,'" to describe the past, the shortness and simplicity of the sentence emphasizes her belief that the past was a simpler time.  It's as though this is all there is to say about the past, and that this "fact" alone completely explains all of the grandmother's dissatisfaction with the present.

Who is the protagonist in "The Machine That Won the War" by Isaac Asimov?

That is a good question.  After thinking about it for a bit and going back through the story, I do not believe that the story has a single protagonist.  I believe that "The Machine That Won the War" has three protagonists.  They are Lamar Swift, Max Jablonski, and John Henderson. The three men get just about equal page time and speaking parts, and the story focuses on the three men talking about their involvement in...

That is a good question.  After thinking about it for a bit and going back through the story, I do not believe that the story has a single protagonist.  I believe that "The Machine That Won the War" has three protagonists.  They are Lamar Swift, Max Jablonski, and John Henderson. The three men get just about equal page time and speaking parts, and the story focuses on the three men talking about their involvement in the war effort against the Denebians.  As they discuss Multivac, and its problems, the men discover that all three of them were more involved in winning the war than they initially thought.  All three men didn't fully trust Multivac, so each man manipulated either the input, output, or final decision of Multivac by his own intuition.  Consequently, the reader realizes that a machine didn't win the war.  The decisions made by all three of these men together won the war.  Because each man is equally important to the final outcome, I feel that each character deserves the label of protagonist.       

How can I compare and contrast The Great Gatsby and Hamlet?

At first glance, it would appear F. Scott Fitzgerald's The Great Gatsby and William Shakespeare's Hamlet are too dissimilar to warrant any kind of comparison. Upon further analysis, however, the two works do have some similarities. The Great Gatsby could be seen as a modern take on Shakespeare's tragic template; just as Hamlet is a member of the Danish royal family, Gatsby is also a member of a kind of royalty, one that draws its...

At first glance, it would appear F. Scott Fitzgerald's The Great Gatsby and William Shakespeare's Hamlet are too dissimilar to warrant any kind of comparison. Upon further analysis, however, the two works do have some similarities. The Great Gatsby could be seen as a modern take on Shakespeare's tragic template; just as Hamlet is a member of the Danish royal family, Gatsby is also a member of a kind of royalty, one that draws its power from wealth and social fame. Therefore, Gatsby becomes a kind of modernist king, and so the arc of his downfall can be seen to parallel the downfall of tragic Shakespearean heroes like Hamlet. There are also reasons why Gatsby's love for Daisy, like Hamlet's love for Ophelia, is not considered a good idea by many of the characters, although the issue in The Great Gatsby is that Daisy is already married, while the concerns about Ophelia and Hamlet's relationship lie in the fact that Hamlet is a prince (Ophelia is not a member of royalty) and his seeming descent into insanity. Additionally, like Hamlet (and Lear, and most of Shakespeare's tragic protagonists), Gatsby possesses tragic flaws (such as an addiction to superficial, material wealth) that ultimately lead to his downfall. The comparison isn't perfect by any means, but it is intriguing to think of Gatsby as Fitzgerald's Americanized version of Shakespeare's tragic heroes. 

It's important to remember, however, that there are still many differences between the two works. Hamlet, for example, is at its core a tale of revenge, while Gatsby focuses on yearning for fulfillment and an exploration of the American Dream. Additionally, the forms of the two works are radically different: Fitzgerald's is a novel, while Shakespeare's is a play written primarily in verse. As such, while it's useful to try comparing the two pieces, it's also important to remember significant differences exist between them.  

How does life change for the animals after the Rebellion?

After the animals overthrow Mr. Jones, their lives change in a number of ways. First of all, as we learn in Chapter Three, Sundays are a day of rest and celebration. The animals do not work, for instance, and have breakfast one hour later. Sundays is also the day of their weekly meeting in which they raise the flag, celebrate the expulsion of Mr. Jones and discuss the coming week's work. Each meeting is then...

After the animals overthrow Mr. Jones, their lives change in a number of ways. First of all, as we learn in Chapter Three, Sundays are a day of rest and celebration. The animals do not work, for instance, and have breakfast one hour later. Sundays is also the day of their weekly meeting in which they raise the flag, celebrate the expulsion of Mr. Jones and discuss the coming week's work. Each meeting is then closed with a rendition of their anthem, Beasts of England.

Secondly, another major change for the animals is the opportunity to educate themselves. Thanks to Snowball, they can learn to read or write or join one of his many committees, like the White Wool Movement for the sheep.

Arguably, of all the animals on the farm, life has changed the most for the pigs. From the text, it is clear that the pigs do less work than before and instead spend their time supervising and directing the others. They also enjoy better rations because they have access to milk and apples. This is significant because it marks the beginning of their ascent to power which will have further, and increasingly negative, implications for the other animals on the farm.

What were the two prized possessions of Della and Jim?

In a more conceptual way, Jim and Della's most prized possessions are one another and the love they feel for each other. While love is not a tangible possession, like a watch or one's hair, it is clearly of greater value to the young couple because they are willing to sacrifice their material possessions in order to buy thoughtful gifts for each other; the reason they are so anxious and desirous to buy thoughtful gifts for one another is because of their shared love. Near the end of the story, the narrator says, 

But let me speak a last word to the wise of these days: Of all who give gifts, these two were the most wise. Of all who give and receive gifts, such as they are the most wise. Everywhere they are the wise ones. They are the magi.

Jim and Della are the most wise, even more so than the wise men who attended Christ's birth, because they realize that their own sacrifice—sacrifices they were willing to make out of love—is ultimately more valuable than anything they might own. In this sense, then, you could even argue that the gifts they buy for one another are their most valuable possessions—not because they have are worth a great deal of money, but because they are symbolic of the love Jim and Della share and their willingness to sacrifice for one another.

Provide an example of a solid based heterogeneous mixture.

A mixture is made by mixing two or more different materials together. Note that there is no chemical combination in the constituents of a mixture. This means that constituents of a mixture can be separated by physical means. A mixture can be either homogeneous or heterogeneous, depending on the uniformity of mixing. If the different constituents of a mixture are uniformly present throughout, such a mixture is known as a homogeneous mixture.

A heterogeneous mixture...

A mixture is made by mixing two or more different materials together. Note that there is no chemical combination in the constituents of a mixture. This means that constituents of a mixture can be separated by physical means. A mixture can be either homogeneous or heterogeneous, depending on the uniformity of mixing. If the different constituents of a mixture are uniformly present throughout, such a mixture is known as a homogeneous mixture.

A heterogeneous mixture consists of constituents which are not distributed uniformly throughout the mixture. A common solid based heterogeneous mixture is trail mix. This is made by mixing dry fruits, nuts, chocolates, grains, etc. The different components of trail mix are non-uniformly distributed in the mixture and can be easily separated into individual components. Note that each individual constituent retains its own properties (taste, color, etc.). 

Some other examples of solid-based heterogeneous mixtures are

• a bowl of fruit loops


• a bowl of oatmeal and raisin cereal


• mixed nuts 

Hope this helps. 

What is Dexter Green's physical description in "Winter Dreams"?

Dexter's characterization throughout the story largely depends on his thoughts and emotions, not on his physical appearance. But we know for certain that he dresses well, and we can infer that he's physically fit and reasonably handsome.

Throughout Parts I and II of the story, we get very little physical description of Dexter aside from the narrator's descriptions of his motions, like when he stands still in awe of Judy, or like when he stretches...

Dexter's characterization throughout the story largely depends on his thoughts and emotions, not on his physical appearance. But we know for certain that he dresses well, and we can infer that he's physically fit and reasonably handsome.

Throughout Parts I and II of the story, we get very little physical description of Dexter aside from the narrator's descriptions of his motions, like when he stands still in awe of Judy, or like when he stretches out on his springboard in his bathing suit after swimming. (We're practically deluged with physical descriptions of Judy, though!) The fact that Dexter is a very capable caddy as a teenager, then a capable golfer as a young adult, does suggest that he has some degree of physical fitness.

However, Part III provides this image of Dexter:

He knew the sort of men they were--the men who when he first went to college had entered from the great prep schools with graceful clothes and the deep tan of healthy summers. He had seen that, in one sense, he was better than these men. He was newer and stronger. Yet in acknowledging to himself that he wished his children to be like them he was admitting that he was but the rough, strong stuff from which they eternally sprang.

From the information above, you can infer that although Dexter isn't quite as good-looking or tan as Judy's other boyfriends, he's still fit and strong. We also find out that Dexter dresses very sharply:

When the time had come for him to wear good clothes, he had known who were the best tailors in America, and the best tailors in America had made him the suit he wore this evening.

Later, in Part IV of the story, Judy comments on Dexter's appearance:

"You're handsomer than you used to be," she said thoughtfully. "Dexter, you have the most rememberable eyes."

Although it makes sense that Judy would only associate with handsome men, meaning Dexter must be handsome, we also can't put much faith in her words. She often says what she doesn't mean, and she's very manipulative.

if y= log{cot(pi/4+x/2)}. find dy/dx

`y=log{cot(pi/4+x/2)}`

Let `u=cot(pi/4+x/2)`

Apply the chain rule,

`dy/dx=d/(du)(log_10(u))d/dx(cot(pi/4+x/2))`

Now apply the common derivative,

`d/(du)(log_10(u))=1/(u ln(10))`

Now let's evaluate `d/dx(cot(pi/4+x/2))` by chain rule,

Let `u=pi/4+x/2`

`d/dx(cot(pi/4+x/2))=d/(du)(cot(u))d/dx(pi/4+x/2)`

Use the common derivative `d/(du)(cot(u))=-csc^2(u)`

and `d/dx(pi/4+x/2)=1/2`

`d/dx(cot(pi/4+x/2))=-csc^2(pi/4+x/2)*1/2`

and `dy/dx=(1/(u ln(10)))(-1/2csc^2(pi/4+x/2))`

Substitute back `u=cot(pi/4+x/2)`

`dy/dx=(1/(cot(pi/4+x/2) ln(10)))(-1/2csc^2(pi/4+x/2)`

`=-1/(2ln(10))(csc^2(pi/4+x/2))/cot(pi/4+x/2)`

We can further simplify as `csc^2(theta)=1/(sin^2(theta))`

and `cot(theta)=cos(theta)/(sin(theta))`

`:.dy/dx=-1/(2ln(10)) 1/(sin^2(pi/4+x/2))(sin(pi/4+x/2)/(cos(pi/4+x/2)))`

`=-1/(2ln(10)sin(pi/4+x/2)cos(pi/4+x/2))`

This can be simplified combining terms.

` -1/(ln(10)2sin(pi/4+x/2)cos(pi/4+x/2)) `

`=-1/(ln(10)sin(2(pi/4+x/2))) `

`=-1/(ln(10)sin(pi/2+x))=-1/(ln(10)cos(x)) `

This is the answer: `(-sec(x))/ln(10) `

`y=log{cot(pi/4+x/2)}`

Let `u=cot(pi/4+x/2)`

Apply the chain rule,

`dy/dx=d/(du)(log_10(u))d/dx(cot(pi/4+x/2))`

Now apply the common derivative,

`d/(du)(log_10(u))=1/(u ln(10))`

Now let's evaluate `d/dx(cot(pi/4+x/2))` by chain rule,

Let `u=pi/4+x/2`

`d/dx(cot(pi/4+x/2))=d/(du)(cot(u))d/dx(pi/4+x/2)`

Use the common derivative `d/(du)(cot(u))=-csc^2(u)`

and `d/dx(pi/4+x/2)=1/2`

`d/dx(cot(pi/4+x/2))=-csc^2(pi/4+x/2)*1/2`

and `dy/dx=(1/(u ln(10)))(-1/2csc^2(pi/4+x/2))`

Substitute back `u=cot(pi/4+x/2)`

`dy/dx=(1/(cot(pi/4+x/2) ln(10)))(-1/2csc^2(pi/4+x/2)`

`=-1/(2ln(10))(csc^2(pi/4+x/2))/cot(pi/4+x/2)`

We can further simplify as `csc^2(theta)=1/(sin^2(theta))`

and `cot(theta)=cos(theta)/(sin(theta))`

`:.dy/dx=-1/(2ln(10)) 1/(sin^2(pi/4+x/2))(sin(pi/4+x/2)/(cos(pi/4+x/2)))`

`=-1/(2ln(10)sin(pi/4+x/2)cos(pi/4+x/2))`

This can be simplified combining terms.

` -1/(ln(10)2sin(pi/4+x/2)cos(pi/4+x/2)) `

`=-1/(ln(10)sin(2(pi/4+x/2))) `

`=-1/(ln(10)sin(pi/2+x))=-1/(ln(10)cos(x)) `

This is the answer: `(-sec(x))/ln(10) `

What is survival of the fittest?

Survival of the fittest is part of Charles Darwin's mechanism for evolutionary changes.  It's part of a larger concept called "natural selection."  It works like this.  Random changes in the genetic code lead to individuals in a species having various adaptations.  A particular adaptation might be good for a particular time and environment, or it might be bad.  Individuals with an adaptation that is not beneficial are more likely to die or be killed.  Individuals...

Survival of the fittest is part of Charles Darwin's mechanism for evolutionary changes.  It's part of a larger concept called "natural selection."  It works like this.  Random changes in the genetic code lead to individuals in a species having various adaptations.  A particular adaptation might be good for a particular time and environment, or it might be bad.  Individuals with an adaptation that is not beneficial are more likely to die or be killed.  Individuals with a beneficial adaptation are more likely to survive.  The ability of an organism to survive and pass on their genes is called "fitness."  In other words, organisms with beneficial adaptations are the fittest organisms within a given population; therefore, the fittest tend to survive.  Survival of the fittest.  

Because the fittest are surviving, they are passing on their genetic traits.  Nature is essentially selecting which traits are getting passed down from generation to generation and which traits disappear from the gene pool.  Hence, natural selection.  I summarize it all for my students with a flow chart that resembles the following:

Adaptation --> increased fitness --> survival via natural selection --> evolutionary changes

How would you describe Red Chief in "The Ransom of Red Chief" by O. Henry?

Red Chief, as Johnny Dorset likes to call himself, is the freckle-faced ten-year-old son of Ebenezer Dorset, one of the wealthiest men in Summit, Alabama. Red Chief is an apt nickname because he has bright red hair, and immediately becomes the "chief" over the two petty criminals who kidnap him. Red Chief is a bully; when he first appears in the story, he is throwing bricks at a cat, and as part of his "during-dinner...

Red Chief, as Johnny Dorset likes to call himself, is the freckle-faced ten-year-old son of Ebenezer Dorset, one of the wealthiest men in Summit, Alabama. Red Chief is an apt nickname because he has bright red hair, and immediately becomes the "chief" over the two petty criminals who kidnap him. Red Chief is a bully; when he first appears in the story, he is throwing bricks at a cat, and as part of his "during-dinner speech," he reveals that he "whipped Ed Walker twice" in the same day. He certainly bullies Bill Driscoll, throwing bricks and rocks at him, forcing him to crawl on his hands and knees across rough terrain while he rides on his back, and nearly scalping him. Johnny is quite physically strong: he puts up a fight when the kidnappers capture him like a "welter-weight cinnamon bear" and he kicks Bill hard, producing plenty of bruises. The boy is loud and loquacious; his war whoops and constant jabbering wear on the men's nerves. He seems to have boundless energy; he stays up half the night and thinks up endless "games" to play with Bill. By his own admission, Red Chief doesn't like school, yet he seems very curious, although he doesn't stop talking long enough to get answers to any of his questions. In short, the boy turns out to be more than the men bargained for, and they end up paying dearly to rid themselves of their "Chief." 

Which moral themes are present in Charles Dickens' A Tale of Two Cities?

One of the moral themes of the story is that love involves sacrifice.  Dr. Manette supports Lucie’s marriage to Charles Darnay despite his family history.  Sydney Carton not only did not pursue the love of his life, but even switched places with her husband so that they could be together.  These are examples of devotion that go beyond the ordinary.

Dr. Manette spent years in prison because of the Marquis St. Evremonde, and the experience...

One of the moral themes of the story is that love involves sacrifice.  Dr. Manette supports Lucie’s marriage to Charles Darnay despite his family history.  Sydney Carton not only did not pursue the love of his life, but even switched places with her husband so that they could be together.  These are examples of devotion that go beyond the ordinary.

Dr. Manette spent years in prison because of the Marquis St. Evremonde, and the experience left him with a severe case of post-traumatic stress disorder.  When he found out that his daughter was about to marry the nephew of the man who sent him to prison, he remained very stoic.  He refused to even discuss the matter.  He made sure that his daughter knew nothing about it, and timed his mental relapse so that it occurred during their honeymoon.  By the time the couple returned, he was more or less back to normal.

It must have been difficult for Dr. Manette to watch his daughter marry the man who was essentially the new Marquis St. Evremonde.  He let her do it because she loved him.  He also said nothing to her because he did not want to hurt her.  He knew that he was fragile, and he made sure that they were not around when he fell apart.

Another example of love and sacrifice is found in Sydney Carton.  He was deeply in love with Lucie, but it was a one-sided love.  He was well aware that there was no way he could be with her, so he found small ways to be in her life.  He just wanted to make her happy. 

The biggest sacrifice he made for her was his life.  When Darnay went back to France (another example of sacrifice, since he did it to save Gabelle), he was arrested and sentenced to death.  Sydney Carton used the coincidence of their similar appearances to trade places with Darnay and go to his death, making the ultimate sacrifice for the woman he loved.  His actions are immortalized in the famous last lines of the novel.

"It is a far, far better thing that I do, than I have ever done; it is a far, far better rest that I go to than I have ever known." (Book 3, Ch. 15)

How does the prohibition of books affect the majority of Montag's fellow citizens?

For the majority of Montag's fellow citizens, the prohibition of books appears to make them happy and contented. This is shown through many of the minor characters in the novel, like Mrs Bowles, who has become so desensitised as a result of censorship that she would rather watch the parlour walls than spend time with her children:

"They'd just as soon kick as kiss me. Thank God, I can kick back!"

Similarly, Mrs Phelps, lets...

For the majority of Montag's fellow citizens, the prohibition of books appears to make them happy and contented. This is shown through many of the minor characters in the novel, like Mrs Bowles, who has become so desensitised as a result of censorship that she would rather watch the parlour walls than spend time with her children:

"They'd just as soon kick as kiss me. Thank God, I can kick back!"

Similarly, Mrs Phelps, lets her husband "do all the worrying" so that she can enjoy her life and focus on entertainment and the pursuit of happiness.

In addition, Mildred beams that she is "happy" as she spends her day in front of the parlour walls, talking with her "family" but, in truth, she is as miserable as Montag. We see this through her suicide attempt early in Part One of the novel. Even Mrs Phelps' happiness is contested: when Montag reads the poem, "Dover Beach," for instance, she sobs "uncontrollably" as she absorbs its message.

By portraying the majority in this way, Bradbury implies that while they appear happy and contented on the outside, censorship has made them miserable deep down.

What beliefs and character traits that typified the Pilgrims enabled them to survive in the hostile environment that greeted them in the New World?...

The Pilgrims were Puritans, and they were given their name because they wanted to purify the Anglican Church. Unlike most of the later Puritans who colonized Massachusetts Bay Colony, the Pilgrims were Separatists, in that they wanted to separate themselves entirely from the Anglican Church rather than purifying it from within. The Pilgrims were persecuted in England, and so they were motivated to immigrate to the New World and to establish a settlement. Their ability...

The Pilgrims were Puritans, and they were given their name because they wanted to purify the Anglican Church. Unlike most of the later Puritans who colonized Massachusetts Bay Colony, the Pilgrims were Separatists, in that they wanted to separate themselves entirely from the Anglican Church rather than purifying it from within. The Pilgrims were persecuted in England, and so they were motivated to immigrate to the New World and to establish a settlement. Their ability to survive the rigors of the New World came in part from their knowledge that England was a hostile environment to them--one they could not easily return to. In addition, the Pilgrims, like other Puritans, believed in predestination--the idea that one's status as saved or not saved was determined before birth. Being successful on earth was a sign that one had received God's favor and was among the elect, or saved, so the Puritans practiced the Protestant work ethic. They were determined to prove their elect status so they worked diligently, surviving in the New World.

Their beliefs also limited them in that they were not open to new cultures, such as the Native Americans, and so they treated them with hostility. They believed the Native Americans were not among the elect, so the Pilgrims were not tolerant of them. The Pilgrims and other Puritans could not tolerate any dissent. 

What type of character is Esperanza?

You probably are referring to Esperanza, the protagonist of The House on Mango Street.She is the source of everything the reader knows in the book, as it's written from her point of view. She is a child when the book starts, but she is teetering on the brink of adolescence. Esperanza is the type of character the reader can trust, as she is very mature for her age. For example, she knows that while...

You probably are referring to Esperanza, the protagonist of The House on Mango Street. She is the source of everything the reader knows in the book, as it's written from her point of view. She is a child when the book starts, but she is teetering on the brink of adolescence. Esperanza is the type of character the reader can trust, as she is very mature for her age. For example, she knows that while her mother tells her the house on Mango Street is only temporary, the family will likely live there for a long time. Esperanza is also a very astute observer of the people around her. For example, she says of Marin that she "is waiting for a car to stop, a star to fall, someone to change her life" (page 27). Esperanza's observations seem far more mature than those of most children. She is also a character that the reader sympathizes with, as she portrays her life with poignancy. When she says at the end of the book that she hope to leave Mango Street one day to live an independent life as a writer, the reader wants her to succeed. 

What does this quote mean? "People have a way of carrying their resentments right into a jury box...."

Atticus means that a racist will be racist in the jury box.

This quote is Atticus’s explanation of why the jury convicted Tom Robinson even though Jem thinks Atticus proved he was innocent.  Atticus says that people are convicted on circumstantial evidence all of the time.  The main reason Tom Robinson was convicted was his race. 

When Atticus says that people carry their resentments into the jury box, he means that people on a jury...

Atticus means that a racist will be racist in the jury box.

This quote is Atticus’s explanation of why the jury convicted Tom Robinson even though Jem thinks Atticus proved he was innocent.  Atticus says that people are convicted on circumstantial evidence all of the time.  The main reason Tom Robinson was convicted was his race. 

When Atticus says that people carry their resentments into the jury box, he means that people on a jury cannot always forget who they are.  If they are racist, they are going to be racist during the trial.  The jury was just not able to overcome the fact that Tom Robinson was black.

“There’s nothing more sickening to me than a lowgrade white man who’ll take advantage of a Negro’s ignorance. Don’t fool yourselves—it’s all adding up and one of these days we’re going to pay the bill for it. I hope it’s not in you children’s time.” (Ch. 23) 

Atticus is trying to explain to Jem why racism affects every aspect of life.  He doesn’t approve of this.  He was hoping that, as he said in his closing statement, a courtroom could be a place where everyone is equal regardless of race.

Atticus does tell Jem that one of the Cunninghams was in favor of acquitting Tom Robinson.  This surprises Jem, because he was one of the men in the angry mob who tried to attack Robinson.  

“Golly Moses,” Jem said reverently. “One minute they’re tryin‘ to kill him and the next they’re tryin’ to turn him loose… I’ll never understand those folks as long as I live.” (Ch. 23) 

Atticus tells Jem that the Cunninghams are good and proud people.  He says it takes “a thunderbolt plus another Cunningham to make one of them change his mind” and that if there had been two Cunninghams on the jury they would have hung it. 

What is the hybridization of BeCl2 in the solid state and above 1200K?

Normally we would assume that BeCl2 would be sp hybridized; the beryllium only has two electrons to share, and the chlorines each need only one, so this should demand a total of two bonds, which is satisfied by sp hybridization. However, in reality, the solid state of BeCl2 involves donation of a pair of electrons from the chlorines to a neighboring BeCl2 molecule at a 45 degree angle, forming a pair of coordination bonds with...

Normally we would assume that BeCl2 would be sp hybridized; the beryllium only has two electrons to share, and the chlorines each need only one, so this should demand a total of two bonds, which is satisfied by sp hybridization. However, in reality, the solid state of BeCl2 involves donation of a pair of electrons from the chlorines to a neighboring BeCl2 molecule at a 45 degree angle, forming a pair of coordination bonds with the central beryllium of each. This means each beryllium is experiencing four bonds, which require that it be sp3 hybridized. If you could somehow isolate a single molecule of solid-state beryllium chloride, then it should have an sp hybridization.

In the gaseous phase, beryllium chloride exists in equilibrium as two compounds; the linear BeCl2 (which is sp hybridized, as previously mentioned) and a dimerized form; (BeCl2)2, where each beryllium is bound to three chlorines, which requires that the hybridization is sp2. Above 1200K, the dimers dissociate, leaving only the linear structure. 

Is crystallization better than evaporation?

A solution is a mixture of a solid component called the solute and a liquid component called the solvent. Crystallization is the process by which the solute is formed into solid crystals and separated from the solution. Evaporation is the process by which the solvent is converted into vapor, leaving the solute component behind. Evaporation is a heat absorbing process requiring energy to take place. Crystallization occurs by letting a heated solution cool and letting...

A solution is a mixture of a solid component called the solute and a liquid component called the solvent. Crystallization is the process by which the solute is formed into solid crystals and separated from the solution. Evaporation is the process by which the solvent is converted into vapor, leaving the solute component behind. Evaporation is a heat absorbing process requiring energy to take place. Crystallization occurs by letting a heated solution cool and letting formed crystals drop off.

The better method would depend on the solution. Generally, crystallization would be better when a solution is saturated but would be less effective if the solution is dilute. Also, solutions containing solvents such as acetone or ether, which evaporate at lower temperatures, would be better separated by evaporation than solutions containing water as solvent which evaporates at a higher temperature.

How does the narrator-lawyer in "Bartleby the Scrivener" show apathy towards Bartleby?

In Herman Melville's "Bartleby the Scrivener," the narrator shows apathy toward Bartleby in a number of ways, although I find the narrator's most remarkable example of apathy to be his passive aggressive refusal to take any real action in forcing Bartleby to leave. He does, of course, tell Bartleby to leave on several occasions. However, he never actually takes any direct action in forcing Bartleby out of the offices. Indeed, rather than calling the police...

In Herman Melville's "Bartleby the Scrivener," the narrator shows apathy toward Bartleby in a number of ways, although I find the narrator's most remarkable example of apathy to be his passive aggressive refusal to take any real action in forcing Bartleby to leave. He does, of course, tell Bartleby to leave on several occasions. However, he never actually takes any direct action in forcing Bartleby out of the offices. Indeed, rather than calling the police to force Bartleby off the premises, the narrator decides to move his business to a new location in order to escape Bartleby. This process, which is undoubtedly time-consuming, costly, and generally arduous, is an absurd excuse for the narrator to avoid dealing with Bartleby. While this isn't apathetic in the lethargic sense of the word, it is apathetic in the sense that the narrator is refusing to actually take decisive action and attack his problem at the source. 

However, if the narrator is somewhat apathetic toward Bartleby, then he's also empathetic. Indeed, if the narrator doesn't actively lay hands on Bartleby and throw him into the street, it's because the narrator feels sorry for the man he employs. Upon closely observing Bartleby's radically isolated existence, the narrator observes "he seemed alone, absolutely alone in the universe. A bit of wreck in the mid Atlantic." You can read this passage in its full context using ' excellent online version of the text but, for now, what you need to know is that this passage exemplifies how sorry the narrator feels for Bartleby, and how he tries to understand the strange man's lonely existence. As such, if the narrator's apathy prevents him from throwing Bartleby out once and for all, then so does his empathy. 

How do the three friends pack for their trip in Three Men in a Boat by Jerome K. Jerome?

The narrator, J., describes the packing challenges in Chapter IV. The three men and Montmorency get together for these preparations on Friday night, the night before they are set to leave on the trip. J. tells us that he had intended merely to supervise the other two men. Instead, he begins the process by example and by packing all of their clothing and personal items in a Gladstone bag. The dictionary defines this as “a...

The narrator, J., describes the packing challenges in Chapter IV. The three men and Montmorency get together for these preparations on Friday night, the night before they are set to leave on the trip. J. tells us that he had intended merely to supervise the other two men. Instead, he begins the process by example and by packing all of their clothing and personal items in a Gladstone bag. The dictionary defines this as “a suitcase with flexible sides on a rigid frame that opens flat into two equal compartments.” But J. forgets a few items and has to open the Gladstone again. Then he can’t remember if he even packed his own toothbrush. Eventually he finds it in a boot.

Harris suggests that he and George should pack the food and cooking utensils in the two hampers, since J. seemed to have problems with the task. But they don’t fare much better. Right away, they break a cup. They make a mess with the butter. And at every turn, Montmorency interferes either by putting his nose or paws into things, or by being an obstacle that must be stepped over and around. The job is not finished until after midnight. This ordeal provides a preview of the action and antics to come, after the boat is finally launched with the four of them upon it.

List difficult words from The Story of My Life by Helen Keller with their meanings.

Helen Keller's Story of My Life was published in 1903, and words that were commonplace at that time have become more obscure as the English language has inevitably morphed and shifted. No doubt in another century, word choices we find completely normal and understandable will seem strange and even incomprehensible to future readers. In fact, Keller does make every attempt to use simple words and convey her story in a natural way, but difficult vocabulary...

Helen Keller's Story of My Life was published in 1903, and words that were commonplace at that time have become more obscure as the English language has inevitably morphed and shifted. No doubt in another century, word choices we find completely normal and understandable will seem strange and even incomprehensible to future readers. In fact, Keller does make every attempt to use simple words and convey her story in a natural way, but difficult vocabulary nevertheless creeps in. Some words from Keller's book that may seem difficult to us now include the following:

soughing: a moaning or whispering noise

multitudinous: a lot, numerous, very many

pinafore: a loose dress without sleeves, similar to a big apron but with a back, worn over clothes to protect them

allurement: attraction, temptation

verbatim: the same exact words

amenities: comforts, desirable features

augmented: increased, made larger

indignant: to be annoyed or to feel put upon

antediluvian: before the great flood described in the Bible

primeval: the earliest periods on the earth

foraminifera: a single-celled animal with a chalky shell

placid: calm 

What happens during the camping out scene in the second chapter of Three Men in a Boat by Jerome K. Jerome?

While the three men are planning their trip, they debate over whether or not they should “camp out” or sleep at inns each night. George and J., the narrator, immediately vote for camping out. This decision is followed by a lengthy and romantic description that imagines what it would be like to make camp. The men would pitch the tent, make supper, light and smoke their pipes, and spend a lovely, leisurely evening listening to...

While the three men are planning their trip, they debate over whether or not they should “camp out” or sleep at inns each night. George and J., the narrator, immediately vote for camping out. This decision is followed by a lengthy and romantic description that imagines what it would be like to make camp. The men would pitch the tent, make supper, light and smoke their pipes, and spend a lovely, leisurely evening listening to the river flow past them, beneath a beautiful full moon.

Then Harris interrupts with the question of what would happen if it should rain. The imagined scene changes abruptly. Suddenly rain is pouring down, their equipment is wet, and the men have all sorts of trouble working together to get the tent up. Their food is wet. Everything has become soup. The tobacco is wet, too. When they finally fall asleep, the tent falls down upon them, and the men end up in a tangled-up pile. Thinking of this possibility, the three decide “to sleep out on fine nights, and hotel it, and inn it, and pub it, like respectable folks, when it was wet, or when we felt inclined for a change.” No full dedication to camping out, for them.

In Death of a Salesman, what did Willy Loman struggle with, and why may he have chosen to end his life this way?

Willy's inner conflict was, essentially, his fantasy world versus his reality. It is evident in more than just the constant hallucinations that he suffers throughout the play.

Throughout his life, Willy forged a philosophy of life, like many of us do, in order to try to make sense of it. His final product, that is, his idea of life, is that success can be acquired quickly and swiftly if one is well-liked and knows how to work a system. 

To Willy, it was better to neglect the true, inner self in favor of an outer shell that would befit the needs of such system. This, in his opinion, was a formula for success. 

Therefore, Willy bypassed the fact that he was an outdoors man, and that he was great at building things, and decided to enter the world of sales instead of following his true calling in life. He figured that he would make money quickly this way, and become successful.

Moreover, he wanted to lead a life similar to that of a man who did exactly what Willy did: Dave Singleton. A man who supposedly died rich and popular, Singleton became Willy's model of existence, even driving Willy as far as trying to make a name for himself, and leading the life of a high-rolling, playboy businessman.

America is full of beautiful towns and fine, upstanding people. And they know me, boys, they know me up and down New England. The finest people....there’ll be open sesame for all of us, 'cause one thing, boys: I have friends. I can park my car in any street in New England, and the cops protect it like their own.

Sadly, Willy ended up believing that he was really that fake person, while encouraging his children to be the same way: shallow, handsome jocks with clever, smart-mouths, and able to get ahead from the rest the easy way. 

Time, however, starts to affect Willy's over-inflated and false sense of pride. He ages broke, nearly unemployed, never achieving a formal, steady salary at the firm, never really making many friends, and never really having the time or dedication to plant roots from which he could sow any benefit for the future. All he had was his life insurance. 

The hallucinations and constant conflict that he endures throughout the play are signs of the clash between Willy's fantasies and reality; between what was, what was not, and what could have been. All of it pointed out at one thing: Willy will die a dissatisfied, frustrated, incomplete man. His sons will go on living until they meet a similar ending, as well. Something has to give: Willy must sacrifice himself and take himself out of the chaotic equation that is his family, and let them cash his life insurance to start a new life over. This is what Willy's rationale was at the time that he made the decision of ending his life. It was a way to give his sons a chance to have a different destiny. 

Why does Leigh read Moose on Toast in Beverly Cleary's Dear Mr. Henshaw?

In the opening letters Leigh Botts writes to the author Mr. Henshaw in Beverly Cleary's Dr. Mr. Henshaw, we learn that Leigh first learned about Henshaw's book How To Amuse a Dogwhen his second-grade teacher read it to his class. In the third grade, Leigh reads it for himself and is so fond of the book that, for the next two school years, Leigh uses the book to fulfill class assignments, including making...

In the opening letters Leigh Botts writes to the author Mr. Henshaw in Beverly Cleary's Dr. Mr. Henshaw, we learn that Leigh first learned about Henshaw's book How To Amuse a Dog when his second-grade teacher read it to his class. In the third grade, Leigh reads it for himself and is so fond of the book that, for the next two school years, Leigh uses the book to fulfill class assignments, including making a diorama of the book in the fourth grade and writing a book report in the fifth grade. Since Leigh has not been reading anything other than How to Amuse a Dog, it is in the fifth grade that Leigh receives a letter from Mr. Henshaw suggesting that Leigh read a new book written by Mr. Henshaw, which is Moose on Toast.

We learn that Mr. Henshaw suggested Leigh read a new book when, in his letter dated November 7, Leigh responds to Mr. Henshaw, saying, "I got your letter and did what you said. I read a different book by you. I read Moose on Toast." Leigh says he liked it almost as much as Ways to Amuse a Dog. He especially thought it was funny that the boy's mother in the story needed to figure out enough ways to cook moose to get through 1,000 pounds of moose meat. However, it's clear that Leigh prefers Ways to Amuse a Dog because he can relate to the story more.

Leigh can relate to the dog story more because he has his own dog named Bandit, and Bandit howls when he hears singing, just like the dog in the story. In contrast, Leigh cannot relate to the moose story because he is uncomfortable with the idea of hunting. But, he pacifies himself by thinking that, since there are so many moose in Alaska, the father in the story was justified in shooting the moose if the family "needed it for for food."

in "The Black Cat," how does Poe develop the character of the narrator to create suspense and tension?

The narrator of Edgar Allan Poe's "The Black Cat" gradually changes from a man of sane, congenial nature to a psychopathic man.

In the beginning of the story, the narrator seems quite genial in nature:

From my infancy I was noted for the docility and humanity of my disposition. My tenderness of heart was even so conspicuous as to make me the jest of my companions.

As a young man, the narrator marries young and finds a wife who makes him happy because she possesses a disposition "not uncongenial with my own." Because she notices how much her husband loves animals, she takes the opportunity to procure several pets for him. He prefers a large and "sagacious" black cat over the others, and Pluto, as he names it, becomes his favorite pet—even a playmate. For several years this cat follows him about the house.
But, when the narrator begins to drink, his disposition alters and he becomes impaired in empathy. While he remains rational, the narrator loses any affection for his pets; in fact, he is abusive and neglectful towards them. He also turns his abuse upon his wife. Still, he restrains himself for awhile around his favorite pet, Pluto. But, one evening when the cat bites him slightly, the drunken narrator describes a flight of his soul from his body:

...a more than fiendish malevolence, gin-nurtured, thrilled every fiber of my frame.

Then, with his pocket-knife, he cuts one of the cat's eyes from the socket. The horror of this act certainly creates suspense and tension in the narrative as the reader wonders what may occur next.

After some time, Pluto recovers, but he flees in terror from the narrator whenever the man gets near him. The narrator states that he feels himself overcome with "the spirit of perverseness." He feels a strong urge to do wrong for "wrong's sake only"; so, one morning he slips a noose around the cat's neck and hangs it.

After his house burns and the cat is found somehow inside the house, although he has hanged it in the garden, the narrator begins to feel not remorse, but some regret for having killed Pluto. Because of this regret, he finds a cat that resembles his first pet. However, he begins to dread the new cat when he realizes that it, too, is missing an eye. At this point, the narrator begins to descend into the darkness of irrationality, and tension is generated in the story.

One day as the narrator goes down the steep stairs of his cellar, the cat follows him and nearly trips him. This act "exasperated [him] to madness." He lifts an ax to strike a blow at the cat, but, instead, his wife arrests his swing. Flying into a rage "more than demoniacal," the narrator embeds the ax in the brain of his wife. Once this happens, the narrator acts with "entire deliberation." Like a psychopath, he remains rational and very aware of his actions: "Many projects entered my mind." The narrator finally decides to bury his wife in a projected area where a false chimney or fireplace may have been, but has been filled up. After having displaced the bricks and placing the corpse inside, he walls her in, but later comments, "The guilt of my dark deed disturbed me but little."

Here, then, the tension definitely increases as the reader wonders what actions are next. When the police come to his house, the narrator "felt no embarrassment whatever." In fact, when the officers can find no evidence of wrongdoing, the narrator observes,

The glee in my heart was too strong to be restrained. I burned to say a word, by way of triumph, and to render doubly sure their assurance of my guiltlessness.

In his boldness, then, which is typical of a psychopath, he raps upon the brickwork where his wife's corpse stands. The tension increases here until "a howl, a wailing shriek" issues from behind the wall. For there atop the wife's head sits the

...hideous beast whose craft had seduced me into murder and whose informing voice had consigned me to the hangman. I had walled the monster up within the tomb!

Still feeling no remorse for his behavior, the narrator exhibits the antisocial behavior of a psychopath in this suspenseful and tense narrative.

How does Doug change over the course of Gary Schmidt's Okay for Now? What contributes to these changes?

As Gary Schmidt's novel Okay for Now progresses, Doug becomes less of a bully and feels less rejected and isolated from the world. He eventually feels bold enough to take on whatever adventures life presents. At the beginning of the novel, Doug frequently finds himself behaving just like his oldest brother, Lucas, which is not how he wants to behave. For example, the first time he meets Lil, she is parking her bike in front of...

As Gary Schmidt's novel Okay for Now progresses, Doug becomes less of a bully and feels less rejected and isolated from the world. He eventually feels bold enough to take on whatever adventures life presents.

At the beginning of the novel, Doug frequently finds himself behaving just like his oldest brother, Lucas, which is not how he wants to behave. For example, the first time he meets Lil, she is parking her bike in front of the library and starts locking her bike up because, as she says later, she thinks he looks like a "skinny thug." Knowing she is locking up her bike because she doesn't trust him, Doug very spitefully replies to her questions, as we see in the following exchange:

Doug: "Is that because of me?"
Lil: "Should it be?"
Doug: "Not for this piece of junk. . . And if it wasn't a piece of junk and I did want it, a pink chain wouldn't stop me."
Lil: "Is there something you do want?"
Doug: "Not in this town" (Chapter 1).

It's at this point in the exchange that Doug realizes he is "sounding like Lucas when he was being the biggest jerk he could be," which is definitely not how Doug wants to sound.

As the novel progresses, Doug begins taking drawing lessons from Mr. Powell in the library. Doug's newfound appreciation for art helps him develop his sensitive and caring side, which leads to a closer friendship with Lil. Doug's newly developed drawing skills awaken feelings of pride and boldness in him that enable him to better tackle his problems. We see him act with particular boldness when he manages to convince the buyers of Audubon's plates to return them to Audubon's book in the library.

Who is Sonia?

In the book Unwind, Sonia is a fairly minor character.  She is important for sure, but she gets very little page time.  Her background is explored in much greater detail in the sequel book UnWholly.   

In Unwind, Sonia operates an underground railroad of sorts.  Instead of secretly spiriting away slaves, Sonia helps runaway Unwinds make their way to the Graveyard.  She does this by housing the Unwinds in her basement and arranging safe...

In the book Unwind, Sonia is a fairly minor character.  She is important for sure, but she gets very little page time.  Her background is explored in much greater detail in the sequel book UnWholly.   

In Unwind, Sonia operates an underground railroad of sorts.  Instead of secretly spiriting away slaves, Sonia helps runaway Unwinds make their way to the Graveyard.  She does this by housing the Unwinds in her basement and arranging safe transport to Arizona.  While staying in her basement, Sonia requires each Unwind to write a letter to a loved one.  She keeps the letter until the Unwind turns 18.  At that point, the child is no longer in danger of being unwound.  The child can then return for the letter and personally mail it out or destroy it.   If the child is unwound or does not return for the letter, Sonia mails it out herself.  Connor and Risa both benefit from her work and her protection in the book Unwind. Unfortunately, so does Roland.   

A prison warden's managers have described him as distant, cold, uninvolved, and apathetic. How would you analyze his leadership repertoire?

A "leadership repertoire" is the combination of leadership skills, drawn from leadership styles, that are put to use, when they are needed the most, for the common good of the organization. 

According to Daniel Goleman's book Primal Leadership, the six most common leadership styles stem from an individual's emotional intelligence. The six styles are:

• Afiliative: "Let's keep the group together. Everything will be okay."


• Authoritative: "Let us all work together to achieve the goal."


• Coaching: "I will take the time to mentor each of you."


• Coercive: "My way or the highway."


• Democratic: "Let's all decide together for an outcome."


• Pace-Setting: "Here's the goal. It may be high, but reach it anyway."

The warden described in this hypothetical scenario is described as cold, uninvolved, and apathetic. Let's define these adjectives and attach each to a potential style, or antistyle.

While "cold" is a descriptor that entails lack of physical emotion or emotional connection, it is also an adjective that depends entirely on the eye of the beholder. What may be considered "cold" or "unemotional" in one culture or group may not be considered so by another.

Therefore, the fact that someone chooses to remain emotionally disconnected to the dynamics of the workplace has less to do with leadership style and more to do with personal defense mechanisms, especially in a hostile environment like the prison system.

To give the warden credit, his choice to be "cold" may actually be a good one, and will be part of an authoritative style from which his repertoire includes:

• avoiding attachments with prisoners


• preventing mental manipulation from potential sociopaths (which a fair number of criminals are)


• maintaining objectivity 


• averting mistakes made by hindered objectivity

All of this affects the work environment, particularly the specific work environment of a prison, in a way that nulls any potential "enmeshment" of emotion and vulnerability. A warden may have to appear unapproachable and cold, especially to the prisoners. This skill can actually work well with supervisors. The less emotional connected the warden is, the more objective he can become (ideally speaking).

Part of being cold may also include remaining uninvolved, or aloof from what is going on. Being uninvolved in situations that require regrouping, voting, goal-setting, and active participation, however, negatively affects the work environment. 

Just think what would happen if this warden did not become involved in rule-setting, defining limits between wardens and prisoners, or voting on the proper consequences for infractions? This person's repertoire lacks all six of the leadership styles. Therefore, this person's  repertoire also lacks

• decision making


• authority


• initiative


• cohesiveness


• connection

Finally, the warden is also considered apathetic. Someone who is apathetic shows neither emotion nor interest. The latter is the real problem. Not having interest means not possessing the internal or external motivation to accomplish anything. The problem with lacking motivation is that it immediately cancels out any potential leadership skill because the primary factor is missing: wanting to do anything. This warden will, therefore, also lack

• initiative


• problem-solving skills


• goal-setting or -reaching 


• cohesiveness


• decision making

The warden may, however, be so self-absorbed that all he cares about is what is "in it for him." That is also a huge problem because it means he will not consider the best interests of the community for which he works. For all we know, the warden is a non-entity at work. He does not do much to better any situation, but his attitude can affect a lot of people: he has the potential of infecting others with his lack of spirit, and may even work his way into manipulating others to disregard the importance of teamwork. 

How did the story conclude in The Westing Game? Was it effective or not?

The story is a murder mystery about who killed Sam Westing, a paper products tycoon. Most of the plot revolves around a game his heirs play as part of his will. However, it turns out that Sam Westing is not actually dead. One of his heirs, young Turtle, discovers that he has been there all along masquerading as different people. She tells him she won the game and claims her prize, the inheritance. This is the story’s resolution.

Turtle, the heir who solves the puzzle, walks into Julian R. Eastman’s office at the end of the game when she realizes that he is really Sam Westing. She determined this partly because she kicked Barney Northrup, but Sandy MacSouthers had the bruise. Also, Sam Westing was a chess player, and Sandy was playing chess when he wasn’t supposed to know how.

She shouldn’t have kicked him (the Barney Northrup him). … He was smiling. He wasn’t angry with her, he was smiling.

“Hi, Sandy,” Turtle said. “I won!” (Ch. 27) 

Westing also pretended to be Julian R. Eastman, so he had all of the four directions covered with his aliases! He was Sam Westing, Sandy MacSouthers, Barney Northrup, and Julian R. Eastman.

Whether this is an effective or satisfying resolution or not is somewhat subjective. It is a twist ending, so it could be considered effective and satisfying in that respect. You may think it is less than satisfying because there wasn’t really a murder after all, so there was no murderer to identify. It’s a murder mystery without a murderer or a victim. However, that is all part of the fun.  

The ending is effective because it maintains the twists and turns of the story, which is quirky to the last. Sam Westing was an eccentric man. He faked his own murder, then rose from the dead and had his fun. In the end, it all worked out for the best.

What was the solution to the Great Comprimise?

The solution to the Great Compromise of 1787, also known as the Connecticut Compromise, was to create a bi-cameral federal legislature whereby each state would send an equal number of delegates to the Senate and a representational number to the House of Representatives.

It was decided early in the Constitutional Convention that each state would send delegates to the national government.  One of the big questions was determining how many would go from each state.  The...

The solution to the Great Compromise of 1787, also known as the Connecticut Compromise, was to create a bi-cameral federal legislature whereby each state would send an equal number of delegates to the Senate and a representational number to the House of Representatives.

It was decided early in the Constitutional Convention that each state would send delegates to the national government.  One of the big questions was determining how many would go from each state.  The Virginia plan was to include a proportional number of delegates according to the state population.  This would have provided more populace states with greater control of the government.  However, under the New Jersey plan each state would send an equal number of delegates thereby protecting the smaller states interests in the federal government.

The solution was proposed by Roger Sherman and Oliver Ellsworth, Connecticut's delegates to the convention.  The Great Compromise was passed in July, 1787 by a one-vote margin.

In "Lord of the Flies", how does Jack feel about the rules the boys create? What is their plan to get rescued?

Jack supposedly supports the rules at first; when the boys first suggest having rules, such as the conch giving its holder the sole privilege to speak, Jack responds enthusiastically, saying they'll have "lots and lots of rules", and gleefully promising punishment to anyone who breaks them. This is a foreshadowing of his future rule by force. Later, when we look back on Jack's behavior at this point in the development of the tribe and its...

Jack supposedly supports the rules at first; when the boys first suggest having rules, such as the conch giving its holder the sole privilege to speak, Jack responds enthusiastically, saying they'll have "lots and lots of rules", and gleefully promising punishment to anyone who breaks them. This is a foreshadowing of his future rule by force. Later, when we look back on Jack's behavior at this point in the development of the tribe and its social relationships, it seems like Jack's true interest in having "lots and lots" of rules, was to provide more opportunities for people to break them, and therefore to be punished.

Jack, ironically, is the first and most frequent breaker of the rules, particularly the rule of the conch, and he often invents exceptions to the rules that benefit him, such as claiming the conch doesn't apply on the mountain. It only takes a few chapters before Jack completely reverses his position;

“The rules!” shouted Ralph. “You’re breaking the rules!”

“Who cares?”

Ralph summoned his wits. “Because the rules are the only thing we’ve got!”

But Jack was shouting against him. “Bollocks to the rules!"

So, regardless of his early enthusiasm, Jack doesn't really invest any meaning in the rules, particularly if they get in his way. An important aspect of the rules that prevented Jack from respecting them was the fact that he was never actually punished for breaking them.

The rescue plan, established by Ralph during the boys' first assembly in Chapter 2, is to make themselves more obvious to any passing ships by starting a fire on the mountain, so the smoke will be more visible, and signal to anyone who can see it that there are people on the island. 

Describe the town using details from the novel.

Maycomb is an old, sleepy southern town during the Great Depression. It is described as the kind of place in which rains turn the roads to red mud and "the courthouse sags in the square" (page 5). In other words, its buildings exist in a state of disrepair. It is often a hot place, where everything wilts and people have to move slowly. People aren't in a rush because, as Lee writes, "there is nowhere...

Maycomb is an old, sleepy southern town during the Great Depression. It is described as the kind of place in which rains turn the roads to red mud and "the courthouse sags in the square" (page 5). In other words, its buildings exist in a state of disrepair. It is often a hot place, where everything wilts and people have to move slowly. People aren't in a rush because, as Lee writes, "there is nowhere to go, nothing to buy and no money to buy it with" (page 6). Maycomb is an Alabama farm town in which most people have very little money, particularly during the Great Depression, and in which people know very little beyond the boundaries of the town.

In addition, it is a town in which everyone knows each other and each other's business. For example, everyone knows that the Ewells are a disgraceful family. It is also a town in which people often help each other; for example, during the fire at Miss Maudie's house, the men of the town help carry the furniture out of her house. Finally, it is a segregated town in which most white people subscribe to racist beliefs and in which a white woman's word--for example, that of Mayella Ewell--always counts more than that of a black man such as Tom Robinson.