In Italy, the circle formed with the thumb and first finger means Options are: a. OK b. Beautiful c. Delicious d. Worthless

I assume that you are asking this in the context of
cross-cultural communications.  Gestures like this are something that a person has to be
very careful about because they can mean one thing in the person's own country and
something entirely different abroad.

In the US, the sign
you describe means "OK."  However, in Italy, as in many other countries, it means
something else.  Of the options you have given, the right answer is "D."  As I
understand it, "worthless" is actually a polite way of saying what this gesture means. 
It is said to mean the same thing as showing someone the middle finger in the
US.

How does Ellison show symbolism and imagery through the speech, naked women, boxing mathch and coins?The Invisible Man by Ralph Ellison, "The...

The first chapter of The Invisible
Manby Ralph Ellison presents symbolically what the narrator learns throughout
the novel:  The black man has been exploited and continues to be "invisible" as a human
being who has rights and an entitlement to freedom.  In the ring, the young men are put
amidst a naked woman who has a tattoo of the American flag on her body.  She represents
the ultimate goal of the black animal, a forbidden temptation.  The men must fight one
another senselessly for the amusement of the cigar-smoking white men who watch with
sadistic lust in their hearts.

After the fight, the young
men are made to reach for coins that have been placed on a carpet that has an electrical
current running through it.  When the young men reach for them they are violently
shocked.  These unattainable coins symbolize the unreachablewealth and positions for the
black men in American society.  With a further parodic example of how the black man has
been deluded into thinking he is part of the American Dream, Ellison's narrator delivers
a speech before the older white men about his goals, and no one heeds a word of his
empty expectations.

Do you believe that HIV AIDS is a valid foreign policy concern?

This is, of course, a matter of opinion.  My opinion is
that HIV AIDS can be a valid foreign policy concern.  The reason for this is that the US
has an interest in creating and supporting stable countries, in Africa and other places,
that will be able to develop economically and politically.  HIV AIDS makes it more
difficult for this to happen.

A world in which more
countries are stable and are developing politically and economically is a safer and more
prosperous world.  If less developed countries become more developed, their people are
less likely to get involved in wars and terrorism, for example.  If their political
systems develop, they will be less likely to experience coups and other such
disruptions.

HIV AIDS makes development harder because it
takes away from the pool of workers and because it weakens their social structures.  It
is in the US's interests to prevent this from happening.  Therefore, HIV AIDS is a valid
foreign policy concern.

Comment on the shifts in the point of view in "An Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge."

You are right to identify that Bierce uses narration in a
very interesting way in this famous story. For example, in section 3, the point of view
shifts to the third-person-limited point of view seconds before the actual death of
Peyton Farquhar. This of course is appropriate given the way that this section explores
Farquhar's desperate flight of imagination. Such a detached perspective allows the
narrator to maintain a realistic stance, even as Farquhar's mind is obviously running
away from reality.

You might like to think how the story
starts by being written in the omniscient point of view. In addition, the beginning of
the story is well known for the way that it presents the opening scene almost as a film
might present it:

readability="12">

A man stood upon a railroad bridge in northern
Alabama, looking down into the swift water twenty feet below. The man's hands were
behind his back, the wrists bound with a cord. A rope closely encircled his neck. It was
attached toa stout cross-timber above his ead, and the slack fell to the level of his
knees. Some loose boards laid upon the sleepers supporting the metals of the railway
supplied a footing for him and his executioners--two private soldiers of the Federal
army, directed by a sergeant who in civil life may have been a deputy
sheriff.

Note the very visual
nature of this description and how the scene is set, introducing the main character and
providing us with lots of detail. Of course, as the story progresses, as previously
noted, the point of view changes as we zoom in on Peyton Farquhar, and his feelings and
emotions, combining flashbacks that describe how he managed to arrive in this situation
with his own delusory flight of fancy before he dies.

How could the European sovereign debt crisis impact the U.S?

The major thing that the European sovereign debt crisis
might do to the US is to depress economic activity in the US.  This is because the
European sovereign debt crisis could depress economic activity worldwide and that impact
would be felt in the US as well.

If European countries like
Portugal, Greece, and Ireland default on their debts, for example, the whole European
economy would slow down.  As a Fed governor says in the link
below,

A
deeper contraction in Europe ...would have the potential to stall the recovery of the
entire global economy...

This
would mean that there would be less demand from Europe for American goods and services. 
This would hurt the US economy.

Since Europe is such a
major part of the global economy, events that hurt the European economy are likely to
hurt the US economy as well.

Explain the dramatic irony in Friar Lawrence's speech at Act 2, Scene 3, lines 65-83 of Romeo and Juliet.

Dramatic irony is a literary feature that is very
prevalent in Shakespeare's play Romeo and Juliet. It's also a
literary technique that drives the plot makes the audience or reader feel as if they are
part of the action and are privy to information other characters do not yet know.
However, there is no dramatic irony in the lines you are asking about. By the time the
Friar speaks the lines you are referring to, he already knows that Romeo is no longer in
love with Rosaline and is now in love with Juliet. However, there is dramatic irony in
this scene, but it occurs at the beginning of Act II, Scene
3.

In the beginning of Act II, Scene 3, Romeo finds Friar
Laurence tending to his herb garden, a hobby and passion the Friar takes seriously and
is very knowledgable in. In fact, these herbs he knows so much about come into play in a
major way later in the plot. Romeo has just come from Juliet's home. This is the morning
after they have professed their love for each other after the Capulet ball and have
decided to marry. Romeo can't wait to tell the Friar about the change of events, being
that the Friar is Romeo's father-figure in the play. The Friar thinks Romeo is still in
love with Rosaline. What the Friar doesn't know that we, the audience/reader already
know, is that no longer covets Rosaline. He is now in love with
Juliet.

What are the differences and similarities among the characters of "The Last Leaf" by O. Henry?

All three of O. Henry's characters in "The Last Leaf" live
in the quaint Greenwich Village where "the art people soon came prowling."  But, while
Sue and Johnsy are young, aspiring artists, old Behrman is an effete artist, who has
"always been about to paint a masterpiece, but had never yet begun it."  Instead, he
subsists on income he earns by posing an artist's model with his impish body and "head
of a satyr."  Yet, all of them have their dreams;  Behrman his masterpiece, Johnsy has
dreamt of painting the Bay of Naples, and Sue perseveres in her drawing in hopes of
recognition.

Certainly, there is a bond among them.  When
Johnsy falls ill, Sue does everthing she can to encourage her friend's will to live. She
speaks positively to her friend, 

readability="5">

"Dear! dear!...Think of me if you won't think of
yourself.  What would I
do?"

Behrman is angered that
Johnsy would despair so easily, but, of course, he cries; then, his efforts to save her
from succumbing to death are heroic.   Indeed, it is the bond among them that saves
Johnsy, with Behrman becoming the sacrificial victim of age who preserves youth by
finally painting his "masterpiece."

In Ariel Dorfman’s poem “Hope,” as you read, gather your thoughts to pull together what seems most significant.

In reading Ariel Dorfman's poem "Hope," from his
collection of poetry In Case of Fire in a Foreign Land, the
elements that seem most important to me are first that a son is missing. We learn that
this state of affairs has been happening since the previous year when the son was taken
on May 8. Next we are told that he was "taken"—he did not leave on his own. Against his
will, the son was placed in an unmarked car, without license plates, with promises by
those who took him that he would only be gone for a "few hours" for "routine
questioning."

As the poem continues, we find that the
parents have been unable to find out anything about him: whether he was dead or alive,
since May 8. The speaker is horrified by these events as well. He asks in what country,
in what world, could such a thing take place.

However, on
this day, the day the speaker is presently observing, things have
changed dramatically. A friend or neighbor (a compañero) has come to visit. He also had
been held prisoner in the "red house" at Villa Grimaldi, the house once owned by the
Grimaldi family. (We can assume they no longer live there—perhaps it has been seized by
the "police.") While there (and this man has only just been released that
day), the compañero heard their son's voice, which he recognized—and their
son's screams.

Ironically (and at first, surprisingly), the
parents do not lament the torture of their son, but are filled with hope (hence the
poem's title). Eventually we understand that this is because they
know that as of that day, he has been alive the entire time he has
been missing, and is alive still. We also know that their hope
extends to "next year," when after eight months they hope they may
again hear news of his torture and know—then as well—that he is
still alive. We grasp the fact that for them, death is the worst
piece of news they could receive. Their son's suffering helps them through their own
suffering by giving them something to pray for, to hope for—his continued
life.

Find the intercepts of -(1/2)y - 12 = x

Given the function :

-(1/2)y
- 12 = x

We need to find the
intercepts.

First we will find the y intercept. Then the
value of x is 0.

==> -1/2 y -12 =
0

==> -1/2 y=
12

==> y= -24

Then the
y-intercept is the point ( 0, -24)

Now we will find the
x-intercept. Then the value of y= 0

==> -1/2 * 0 -12
= x

==> x= -12

Then the
x-intercept is the point (-12, 0)

Then the
intercepts are: ( -12,0) and (0, -24)

How would I describe Scout's role in To Kill a Mockingbird? Is Scout the protagonist?

Since she is the narrator and main character of
To Kill a Mockingbird, I would certainly consider Scout as the
prime protagonist and general focus of the novel. Jem is almost an equal to Scout as far
as importance of characters, and he is present in most of the same scenes as Scout
appears. Atticus' strong character nearly comes to dominate the story, especially in the
second half of the novel that includes the trial of Tom Robinson. The argument could be
made that Atticus, as the primary adult character, is actually the protagonist; however,
Scout is present in nearly every scene of the novel, and her role as narrator makes her
the more obvious choice. 

What are the characteristics of "How Much Land Does a Man Need?"

You have asked a rather broad question. I suppose the main
characteristic of this excellent story is the way that it operates as an allegory. Let
us remember that an allegory is a story that operates on two different levels--the
literal and the symbolic. What happens in an allegorical tale and the characters that
populate such a story can be understood both literally and symbolically. As we read this
story, it is clear that there is an obvious allegorical reading to this tale of how one
man is conquered by the devil by his own greed. It is possible to argue that Pahom could
stand for the human soul, and the devil for human weakness. The Commune, where Pahom
starts off his life, stands for sharing and empathy, whereas the private land that Pahom
wants more of insatiably represents greed and lack of empathy. Lastly, we could argue
that Pahom's trip to the land of the Bashkirs could stand for the way that his greed for
land has distanced him from sound values, and his final death could stand for his moral
degeneration.

Through the entire story therefore, we see
that each character and action has allegorical significance, which supports the theme of
the story: unchecked ambition and greed destroy people. The death of Pahom demonstrates
the harm of striving too much for material gain. Note how the irony of the ending
supports this:

readability="7">

His servant picked up the spade and dug a grave
long enough for Pahom to lie in, and buried him in it. Six feet from his head to his
heels was all he needed.

Thus
it is that in spite of Pahom's insatiable desire for ever-more land, at the end of the
story the question in the title is answers. Six feet is all a man
needs.

In Chapter 4 of Book the Third of A Tale of Two Cities, what aspect of Doctor Manette's character is revealed?

At this point in A Tale of Two
Cities, because he is "a notable sufferer under the overthrown system" Dr.
Manette has been allowed to attend the prisoners of the Revolution; and, in so doing, he
has grown resolute.  Now "his suffering was strength and power," and he feels that he
can be instrumental in effecting the release of his son-in law.  When he speaks to Mr.
Lorry, who is surprised as such purpose and strength in Manette, the doctor tells
him,

"It all
tended to a good end, my friend; it was not mere waste and ruin. As my beloved child was
helpful in restoring me to myself, I will be helpful now in restoring the dearest part
of herself to her; by the aid of Heaven I will do
it!”

Using his influence as
the "Bastille Captive," Dr. Manette has even become physician for Laforce, so he sees
Charles every day.  Mr. Lorry observes that Manette's pride has returned to him now that
he has a purpose. Among the terrors of the guillotine, with death all around him, the
brave doctor walked, "confident in his power, cautiously persistent in his end." 
Manette tries to get Darnay released, but for some reason his release was rescinded. 
Despite his futile attemps to arrange the release of Darnay, Dr. Manette still is not
suspected or brought in for questioning; he moves freely, almost like a
spirit.

Describe how the setting complements the primary themes of the novel.

In The Sun Also Rises, we can look to
Paris and Spain as the two most important settings in the
novel.

In Paris, the depiction of the life there
presents debauchery, vagueness of purpose, and a cacophony of social disorder and messy
relationships. No one is perfectly clear on who stands where, though everyone knows
everyone else. It is a quite messy little community of ex-patriots in
Paris.

Spain stands in contrast to this. The
depiction of life in Spain is directly opposite. It is idyllic (fishing and sunshine)
and it is orderly (the age-old traditions of bull fighting). There is great dignity to
the people in Spain, who constitute a large portion of the setting in Spain. This
dignity is lacking in Paris.

Regarding the
themes of the novel, we can say that dignity and social striving are both themes in
The Sun Also Rises and that the central conflict of the story is
expressed in the contrast between Spain and Paris. Jake wishes to attain dignity,
despite his physical injury, and to (possibly) lift himself out of the disorder of
debauchery around him by clinging to something of value
(Brett).

Tradition is not enough, however, and
even tradition can be broken, as it is in Brett’s relationship with the young bull
fighter. Though Jake would like to take a side, each symbolically represented by Paris
and Spain he finds himself jailed in between.

What is the result of the difference (2+i)(3-2i)-(1-2i)(2-i) ?

We'll use the property of multiplication to be
distributive over addition:

(2+i)(3-2i) = 2*(3-2i) +
i*(3-2i)

(2+i)(3-2i) = 6 - 4i + 3i -
2i^2

(2+i)(3-2i) = 6 - i -
2i^2

But i^2 = -1:

(2+i)(3-2i)
= 6 - i + 2

(2+i)(3-2i) = 8 - i
(1)

We'll calculate the 2nd
product:

(1-2i)(2-i) = 1*(2-i) -
2i*(2-i)

(1-2i)(2-i) = 2 - i - 4i +
2i^2

(1-2i)(2-i) = 2 - 5i -
2

(1-2i)(2-i) = -5i (2)

We'll
subtract (2) from (1):

8 - i - (5i) = 8 - i + 5i = 8 +
4i

The result of difference is: (2+i)(3-2i) -
(1-2i)(2-i) = 8 + 4i.

In the book Anthem by Ayn Rand, what are some literary devices used in chapter two?

One literary device used in Chapter 2 is that of
flashback.  Equality 7-2521 actually speaks to Liberty 5-3000, but he also takes us
back, in flashback, to the first time he noticed her:  Equality 7-2521 was passing
Liberty 5-3000. All the other women were far off in a distant field, and the Street
Sweepers  had fallen behind Equality 7-2521. Liberty 5-3000 was kneeling at a moat,
looking at Equality 7-2521.  He recalls seeing water falling from her
hands.

Characterization is particularly vivid in this
chapter, too.  Equality 7-2521 notices details about Liberty 5-3000, such as her hair. 
No one in this society is supposed to notice the specific unique characteristics of
anyone else so not only do we see characterization, this characterization relates
directly to the novel's theme of individuality versus
collectivism.

Finally, tone is particularly effective in
this chapter.  Equality 7-2521 feels fear and distaste when he thinks of the Palace of
Mating (not wanting Liberty 5-3000 to be touched by anyone else), but when he thinks of
places that SHOULD arouse fear, according to the society, he is not fearful. Rather, he
feels joy and curiosity about the sky and the Uncharted Forest, a place that is supposed
to instill fear.  He notices instead the fear in the eyes of all his fellow Street
Sweepers.  This contrast contributes greatly to the tone of the narrative, which is one
of fear and distrust within the closed society versus joy and exhilaration within
individuality.

In this chapter, as in the entire novella,
syntax is a particularly significant literary device.  The speaker uses "We" to mean "I"
throughout the book, but, while speaking about falling in love, this seems particularly
wrong to him.  We can understand why!

What is ironic about the condition in which Charlie finds his mother in Flowers for Algernon?

I would say the big irony about the visit that Charlie
makes to his mother lies in the way that, to a certain extent, their conditions and
roles have been reversed. Now, instead of Charlie's mother having to look after her son,
it is Charlie who is intelligent and having to look after his mother. She shows that she
is losing track of reality, and at one stage, after having recognised Charlie, suddenly
thinks he is in her house to ask about the electric bill. However, the biggest irony
comes when Charlie asks her about her children, and she tells Charlie (who she does not
recognise to be her son at this stage) about her son:

readability="9">

"I had a boy. So brilliant that all the other
mothers were jealous of him. And they put the evil eye on him. They called it the IQ but
it was the evil IQ. He would have been a great man, if not for that. He was really very
bright--exceptional, they said. He could have been a
genius..."

The irony of this
conversation is of course that, in spite of his mother's dreams of Charlie and the way
that she obviously ignores reality, Charlie's mother is right: her son has become a
genius and has shown himself to be truly exceptional, thanks to the operation that has
become both a blessing and a curse to Charlie.

What is the crisis, rising action, and falling action in Water for Elephants?I understand the climax, conflicts, and resolution in Water for...

The answer to your question depends on what part of the
story you're asking about. Water for Elephants is a novel, not a short story. It is the
nature of short stories that their action builds to a point that we call a climax.
Everything that happens before the climax is the rising action; that is, all of the
events, everything the characters do, builds up to that fateful, climactic moment.
Everything that takes place after the climax is called the falling action. We've hit
that high point, and now we're coming down from it.

As I
said, it is easier to trace rising action, climax, and falling action in a short story,
but not so easy in a novel. Each chapter might have its own climax. With this novel,
though, you might say that the major moment that might be considered the climax is the
chaotic night when all of the animals escape their cages. That is the turning point
after which every character's life is never the same. Even though the novel begins with
event, the narrator's story has been building up to bring us back to
it.

I'm not sure what you mean by crisis. Is that not the
same as the climax? Click on the link for a helpful article about the elements of
fiction.

How did Marxism, Communism and Fascism impact literature of the 20th Century?

It would require completing detailed research, formulating
a thesis, and then writing a book or dissertation to really answer this question, but
some general observations and specific examples come to mind. Political philosophies,
when they are implemented in society, are always reflected and often examined in the
literature of the period. For fiction writers, political movements often become elements
of plot or are addressed thematically through their impact upon the writers' characters.
Through these methods, writers either embrace or reject the political philosophies of
their day.

Twentieth-Century literature is a very
comprehensive category, but consider American literature in the 20th Century, and it
becomes clear that Marxism, Communism, and Fascism did influence the thinking and
writing of some major authors of the time. In various novels, these political
philosophies were addressed, for instance, by John Dos Passos, John Steinbeck, and
Ernest Hemingway.

In his trilogy,
U.S.A., Dos Passos attacked the philosophy and practice of
capitalism, presenting it as an immoral political force that destroyed individual lives
and corrupted the country. When The Grapes of Wrath was published,
John Steinbeck was accused of being a communist for his condemnation of the capitalist
financial system, particularly the banking system, that he depicts as having created the
Great Depression, destroyed American lives, and then profited from their misery. His
novel, Of Mice and Men, also made a strong political statement in
showing the lives of dispossessed Americans, those without a home who live on the
fringes of American society, shut out from ever achieving the American Dream. Finally,
in Hemingway's novel, For Whom the Bell Tolls, his protagonist,
Robert Jordan, joins forces with a small band of Spanish Loyalists fighting the
fascists; Jordan chooses to die to save the others, having developed a strong sense of
community and brotherhood.

In terms of 20th-Century English
literature, Orwell's 1984 presents a chilling vision of facism in
the extreme imposed upon citizens.

if i got 12 questions right on the ged math test will i pass how many do i need to get correct to pass?

readability="4.8214285714286">

src="http://d2hej51cni6o0x.cloudfront.net/images/user_icons/Educator_Female_Small.png"
class="profilePic" alt="wannam's profile pic"/>
src="http://d2hej51cni6o0x.cloudfront.net/images/core/educator-indicator_thumb.png"
class="premium-indicator"/>

From what I have
read, you will need get about 1/2 the questions correct in order to pass the math
section of the GED. It does vary from state to state, so it will depend on your specific
testing site. Overall, you will need to average about 60% correct to pass the test as a
whole. If you know your score for the section rather than just the number of correct
questions, that would make it easier to understand your score. You will need a score
around 410 to pass the math section (or any other section). If you miss the 410 mark on
the math section, it sounds like you can earn a higher score in other test areas to
boost your test average over the passing mark. Again, there may be subtle differences
between the tests in each state. The American Council on Education has more information
on their website.

class="rating-thumb ss-icon up upvote disabled" data-id="334541"
data-method="/api/2.0/qa/rateAnswer">
like
itemprop="upvoteCount" id="upvoteCount-rateAnswer-334541">0


data-id="334541" data-method="/api/2.0/qa/rateAnswer">
dislike

id="downvoteCount-rateAnswer-334541">0

What were the causes of the Dust Bowl?

The dust bowl was the result of a "perfect storm" of
events, all of which served to obliterate the soil in Midwestern and western farms. A
substantial factor was poor farming practices. Farmers consistently planted hard red
wheat in straight rows with no consideration for crop rotation, cover crops, etc. Fields
were planted continuously and never allowed to remain fallow, as a result of which the
soil was soon exhausted. Deep plowing removed the native prairie grass which had held
the soil in place, and also allowed moisture in the soil to dissipate quickly. All this
was followed by an unusually severe drought which reduced the topsoil to dust. Farmers
continued to plant; but with no moisture, the seeds would not germinate. Then strong
winds, often called "dusters" blew in and blew away tons of topsoil and the seeds
farmers had planted. With no crops, farmers in the area lost
everything.

John Steinbeck offers a compelling story of
life for those displaced by the Dust bowl in The Grapes of Wrath.

In "The Outcasts of Poker Flat," what does Harte mean by "professional tint" and why is the "tint" considered "professional"? "The Duchess turned...

I can only assume that the "professional tint" of the
Duchess' cheeks refers to her profession as a prostitute and the amount of makeup that
she regularly used to attract her customers. The fact that her cheeks were visibly
reddened through the thick makeup suggests that she was highly embarrassed. The remark
that reddened her cheeks was an innocent one made by Piney (who did not know the
Duchess' true profession), concerning her tasteful arrangement of the dilapidated
cabin.

“I
reckon now you're used to fine things at Poker Flat,” said
Piney.

An unintentionally
ironic statement, Piney meant it as a compliment, thinking the Duchess was a classy
woman used the finer things of life. Although Mother Shipton (the Duchess' madam) told
Piney to stop her "chatter" for fear of starting trouble, the three women were soon
filled with "happy laughter."

When Israel was created as independent nation, its neighbors in the Middle East reacted militarily. Why?

The roots of this conflict go right through history. There
is a religious element as the Jews believed it was a land to which they were destined to
return. Also, it is religiously significant for Jews, Muslims and Christians.  However
it is wrong to overplay the religion card. Primarly the conflict was initiated over
geopolitical considerations.

WW1 was key to creating the
tension. In the Balfour Declaration the British, pressured by Weizmann, promised the
Jews a homeland within the region known as Palestine (it should be noted that Palestine
isn't, and never was, a recognised state- it is simply an area). In addition to this in
the McMahon-Husseyn correspondence the British also promised the Arabs limited sovereign
control of the area if they rebelled against their Ottoman rulers. Thus, both sides
believed they had a rightful claim to the area.

When Israel
was officially created the Arabs felt betrayed. From their perspective they had lived
there continuously for hundreds of years, and they had been promised sovereignty. The
Arabs nations who attacked did so out of geopolitcal considerations. Israel was viewed
as an imperial force and the initial conflict was a result of this. Religion is a
factor, but typical geopolitical considerations took
precedence.

*This offers an unreferenced
summary. Research into the declarations mentioned, the British Mandate and the UN
mandate should provide a clearer explanation*

"Killing is not easy." How do you explain it from the point of view of (a) The Captain, and (b) The Barber in "Just Lather, That's All"?It's...

For the Captain, killing is a hard, dirty job. He often
spends days at a time hunting down the rebels--sometimes killing them and sometimes
capturing them to later torture and execute. He may well be the most hated man in the
village though, in his mind, he is only doing the job which he has been assigned. For
the barber, killing the Captain is also not an easy choice. He is not a trained soldier,
and spilling blood does not come easily for him. The barber also worries about how
people will think of his method--slitting the Captain's throat while he is in the
barber's chair; spilling blood also goes against the barber's most important code. But
perhaps the barber's biggest worry is what his life will be like if he kills the
Captain. Where will he go? Will he ever be safe? In the end, the barber's cowardice wins
out, as the Captain had suspected all along.

Did Elizabeth, in Frankenstein, feel guilty for the death of her mother? If so, can you please indicate where in the novel she was feeling guilty.

Elizabeth Lavenza, from Mary Shelley's
Frankenstein, essentially had three
mothers.

Elizabeth's birth mother, a German, died giving
birth to Elizabeth. The father, a Milanese nobleman, had given a peasant family (mother
number two) control over the child. The family, unable to care for the child due to
their poverty (and four other children), allowed Caroline Frankenstein to take the child
to care for as her own.

Caroline Frankenstein, Victor's
mother, then contracted Scarlet Fever while nursing Elizabeth of the same illness. While
Elizabeth recovered from the illness, Scarlet Fever took Caroline's life. In order to
care for the other Frankensteins, Elizabeth pushed her own grief aside. Therefore, while
one could assume that Elizabeth felt guilty for giving Caroline the deadly illness, her
behavior following Caroline's death shows her to not feel guilt for her "mother's"
death.

She
indeed veiled her grief, and strove to act the comforter to us all. She looked steadily
on life, and assumed its duties with courage and zeal. She devoted herself to those whom
she had been taught to call her uncle and cousins. Never was she so enchanting as at
this time when she recalled the sunshine of her smiles and spent them upon us. She
forgot even her own regret in her endeavours to make us
forget.

Essentially,
Elizabeth did not know her birth mother (and most likely did not know that her birth
caused her death) and her guilt regarding it would not exist. Nothing is ever said about
the fate of the peasant woman who cared for Elizabeth. The death of Caroline, while the
result of Elizabeth's illness, was pushed aside so that Elizabeth could care for the
Frankenstein family.

evaluate ((lnx)^2)^ 1/2 dx

I suppose that you need to find the integral of the
function   such that:

dx

You need to remember that   hence

 
x| dx

You need to use integration by parts, hence you
should write the formula such that:

vdu

You should consider ,
hence Substituting   for u,   for du, x for v and dx
for dv yields:

int |ln x| dx = x*|ln x| - int
x*(dx)/x

dx

x*(|ln x| - 1) +

c

c

Hence, evaluating the integral of function
yields .

I need to know how Hitlers mental illness affected his life choices. did his illness make him a racist ?

Although Hitler suffered from a number of mental problems,
it had nothing to do with his racism; in fact racism was endemic in German society at
the time. As did many other young men, Hitler had read the work of Count Arthur de
Gobineau, the father of Scientific Racism. He was an avid fan of the composer, Richard
Wagner, who was also apologetically anti-Semitic. As a teenager, Hitler often read a
magazine known as Ostara which was pornographic in nature, and
often contained anti-Semitic references and articles. It is a mistake to assume that the
persecution of Jews during Hitler's control of Germany was all his idea. It had been
around for a long time; he simply became the leader of the movement that put it into
action.

As far as his mental state, Hitler did not smoke or
drink, and was rather prudish in his views about romantic relationships. He only had one
mistress at a time; but the relationships were apparently quite perverse, as they all
died by suicide. He was something of a hypochondriac who feared that he had cancer, and
often had himself injected with vitamin shots and other drugs by his doctor to keep
himself going. He was somewhat tortured by the fact that his paternal grandfather was
unknown (his father had been illegitimate.) There was speculation that the grandfather
might have been a Jew for whom his grandmother was a housekeeper. The thought that he
might have Jewish blood kept him in turmoil.

An excellent
source on Hitler is The Psychopathic God by R.G.L.
Waite.

In the first chapter of Of Mice and Men, what does George say to Lennie about how his life could be better without him?

As the story opens, we are introduced to the curious
relationship between George and Lennie and we see how dependent Lennie is upon George
through his inability to look after himself and his child-like nature. As George
continues to berate Lennie for his stupidity and the difficulty he has in remembering
things, George begins to dream of the kind of life that he could have if he didn't have
to look after Lennie. Note what he says:

readability="15">

"God a'mighty, if I was alone I could live so
easy. I could go get a job an' work, an' no trouble. No mess at all, and when the end of
the month come I could take my fifty bucks and go into town and get whatever I want.
Why, I could stay in a cat house all night. I could eat any place I want, hotel or any
place, and order any damn thing I could think of. An' I could do all that every damn
month. Get a gallon of whisky, or set in a pool room and play cards or shoot
pool."

The important thing to
note in this novel, however, is that in spite of how George dreams of what life would be
like if he didn't have to look after Lennie, the friendship that they have sustains them
both. When they get to the farm and meet the isolated and lonely characters that they
live alongside for a while, it is clear that friendship is a blessing in the bleak world
that Steinbeck creates for us, even when that friendship involves so much trouble for
George.

If the property of the elements of the set B is 1+3+9+..+3^(n+1)=1093 what are the natural elements of the set.

Let n be the elements of the set
B.

To determine the elements of the set, we'll have to
solve the sum of the consecutive terms of a geometric progresison, that represents the
property of the elements of the set.

The number of terms of
the geometric progression is n+2. The common ratio of the geometric progression is q =
3.

The sum of n+2 terms of the geometric progression
is:

S = b1*(q^(n+2) -
1)/(q-1)

Foe b1 = 1 and q = 3, we'll
get:

S = [3^(n+2) - 1]/(3-1)

S
= [3^(n+2) - 1]/2

But S = 1093 => [3^(n+2) - 1]/2 =
1093

Therefore, we'll
have:

3^(n+2) - 1 =
2186

3^(n+2) = 2187

We'll
create matching bases since 2187 = 3^7:

3^(n+2) =
3^7

Since the bases are matching, we'll apply one to one
property:

n + 2 = 7

n =
5

The natural number that has the given
property of the set B is n = 5.

Many rice recipes from Asia include glutinous and non-glutinous rice in the same recipe. How does each function in the recipe?

The difference between glutinous and non-glutinous rice is
essentially chemical in nature. The relevance of this difference to cooking recipes is
one of texture: since the rice types have different properties when cooked, they add
different textures to recipes. When combined, they add a third possible texture.
Non-glutinous rice became more popular than glutinous rice during the 1940s through
1970s during what is called the Green Revolution, which is when farming technology
transfer initiatives to benefit Asian countries occurred.

Historically, glutinous rice, also called sticky rice because it
sticks to itself when prepared correctly, was the common rice of Asian countries.
Farmers had agriculturally selected the sticky varieties that narrowed down to one
single genetic variant and monopolized rice cultivation for 2,000 years. Incidentally,
Laotian farmers never switched their preference to non-glutinous rice
varieties.

Glutinous rice does not contain gluten and so is classified
as gluten-free. In reference to these rice varieties, glutinous means
glue-like, hence, sticky rice (with no reference to gluten
content). The sticky quality comes from the rice's chemical composition, that being the
absence of amylose and a high concentration of amylopectin, two starch components. In
addition, as Kasma Loha-unchit explains, when uncooked, glutinous rice is opaque (not
transparent) whereas non-glutinous rice is transparent, but, when cooked, glutinous
sticky rice becomes translucent while non-glutinous rice becomes opaque. The difference
in price is negligible. The difference in texture and sticky-action is
significant.

What does the Federal Reserve do on a regular basis to protect consumers and how do they relate to consumer protection?

Though the Federal Reserve does not have a role to play in
ensuring the quality of products that are sold, there is one aspect it can influence to
protect consumers and that is in controlling inflation. Inflation leads to an increase
in the price of all products and makes it difficult for consumers to buy what they want
to.

The reasons behind inflation are basically divided into
two categories, one is referred to as cost-push. This is due to an increase in the price
of raw materials of production and cannot be controlled by the
Fed.

The other category referred to as demand-pull is
inflation due to a rapid increase in the consumption of goods. The easy availability of
credit is responsible for this to a large extent.

The Fed
can control demand-pull inflation by raising interest rates. With higher interest rates
consumers are vary of borrowing funds to buy products; with a drop in demand the prices
also decrease.

Increasing interest rates also helps in
another way. It gives people who would have spent the money with them immediately to buy
products an incentive to delay this and instead invest their money to earn a reasonable
rate of interest.

In this way the Fed too can protect
consumers though in an indirect way.

What is the author's conception of race in "A Rose for Emily"?Is his attitude limited to bigotry, or does he express an intimate...

In Faulkner's "A Rose for Emily," I do not believe that
Faulkner addresses race with a sense of bigotry. His is the voice (told through the
unidentified townsperson) that recognizes "traditional" attitudes in the South—though
not overtly focused on racial issues: more than this, we see the
vestiges of racism as through a window clouded with
age.

Tobe is the only black member of the community the
reader is introduced to with any detail—working for Miss Emily. Toby is first referred
to as an "old man servant" and the only person Miss Emily has allowed in her home for
ages, showing her complete trust in, and dependence on, him—especially in light of the
story's conclusion.

We may see "class struggle" when the
narrator refers to 1894, when Colonel Sartoris...

readability="5">

"...fathered an edict that no Negro woman should
appear on the streets without an
apron."

(This is a shadow of
the slavery era still present in town.) Oppression of blacks is seen in that they are
treated as lower class citizens (aprons limited only to women of color)
.

When the men visit Miss Emily to collect taxes, Tobe is
referred to three times. He was old then, but nothing derogatory is said about him or
their reaction to him: they are admitted by "the [old] Negro" and he shows them
out. That Miss Emily is in charge, there is no doubt. When she calls Tobe, he appears
and complies.

Years before, when the smell appeared to be
coming from the house, the women who came to call were not admitted, by the then "young"
Tobe; he showed them the door with the utmost respect. The women believe Emily foolish
for allowing Tobe to care for her home.

The men use the
"n---" word in the story, but it is not used with arrogance or malice, but more as habit
(which does not make it less offensive, just indicates old habits and
oblivious sensibilities). Faulkner, I believe, is still just
describing life in the South here.

We read of Miss Emily's
loss of her father, her relationship with Homer Baron, and the arrival and departure of
Miss Emily's "relations." Homer has left, but he is seen being admitted into the house
one night by Tobe, never to be seen again. Life in town changes as the years go by. Miss
Emily stays in, and an aging Tobe runs errands. Eventually, she
becomes a recluse.

Tobe's presence is a constant in the
story. He serves Miss Emily until her death. He is her connection to the outside world.
He "protects" her from unwelcome visitors, and is very
loyal.

...we
had long since given up trying to get any information from the Negro. He talked to no
one, probably not even to her, for his voice had grown harsh and rusty, as if from
disuse.

On the day Emily
dies, "the Negro" greets the first of the female callers at the
door...

...and
then he disappeared. He walked right through the house and out the back and was not seen
again.

Of all of the
information we learn about Tobe, that which most clearly defines oppression and class
struggle is his disappearance. We discover—with the fascination of a true horror
story—that Emily has murdered Homer Baron. And while she is beyond the law (being dead),
Tobe is not. He knew what had happened, but even in a place of
service would probably never have been forgiven by the community for
any part he played—even if only with his
silence—in the death of a white man. This part of the story is where we see
that the old ways of the South have not changed enough to protect
Tobe, so he disappears when the murder is discovered.

Back in Chapter 10 of The Red Badge of Courage, Henry wished he was dead. At the end of Chapter 15, what is his attitude?

Henry's fears of being exposed as a coward have
disappeared thanks to the injury that he received while on the run. It is believed to be
a battle wound by the other members of his company, so his secret--that he ran away when
the action got too hot--is safe. But Henry seems to have also convinced himself that his
skedaddling never actually happened. He sneers at the way other members of the regiment
ran away in terror; he tells himself that he had merely  retreated, not actually run
away.

He
remembered how some of the men had run from the battle. As he recalled their
terror-struck faces he felt a scorn for them. They had surely been more fleet and more
wild than was absolutely necessary. They were weak mortals. As for himself, he had fled
with discretion and
dignity.

His previous
uncertainties had changed to extreme overconfidence and vanity, and he now judged
himself an experienced veteran.

readability="8">

     He had license to be pompous and
veteranlike...
     And, furthermore, how could they kill him who was the
chosen of gods and doomed to
greatness?

Great things were
ahead of him, Henry told himself, and when he returned home a hero, his mother and his
relatives would "gape"

readability="6">

... as they drank his recitals. Their vague
feminine formula for beloved ones doing brave deeds on the field of battle without risk
of life would be destroyed.

Write the standard form of the equation of the circle with center (-5, 2) and radius 4. What is the domain and range?

We'll recall what is the standard form of the equation of
circle:

(x-h)^2 + (y-k)^2 = r^2, where the coordinates of
the center of circle are represented by the pair (h,k) and r is the radius of the
circle:

The standard form of the equation of circle
is:

(x +5 )^2 + (y - 2)^2 =
4^2

The domain of the definition consists of all x values
that makes the equation possible:

(x +5 )^2 =
4^2

We'll take square root both
sides:

x + 5 = 4 => x =
-1

x + 5 = -4 => x =
-9

The domain of definition of the function is [-9 ;
-1].

The range of the values of function
is:

(y - 2)^2 = 4^2

y - 2 = 4
=> y = 6

y - 2 = -4 => y =
-2

The range of the values of function is [-2 ;
6].

Therefore, the requested standard form of
the equation of circle andthe domain and the range of the function are: (x +5 )^2 + (y -
2)^2 = 4^2 ; domain [-9 ; -1] and the range [-2 ;
6].

Discuss the significance of Candy's dream to the American Dream in Of Mice and Men.

I think that one of the critical elements to the American
Dream is the idea of being a part of a community.  This collective notion of the good
helps to enhance the idea that the American Dream is worth pursuing.  I think that this
is a part of Candy's dream that is in line with the American Dream.  Candy seeks to
belong, to be a part of something with George and Lennie.  After Carlson takes shoots
Candy's dog, Candy realizes that there is a certain power in solidarity.  This becomes a
part of his dream.  Candy understands that the isolation and alienation featured in not
speaking up for his dog is the opposite to any notion of dreaming or conceiving of
dreams.  At the same time, when Candy recognizes that "his lot" can be combined with the
amount of money that George and Lennie has could allow all of them to experience life to
a greater degree than being alone.  In this collectivized and community based notion of
the good, Candy's dream is linked to an American Dream where community and solidarity is
evident in the dreams of individuals.

How to use the first principle in finding derivative of f(x)=square root (1-x)?

We'll recall the first
principle:

lim [f(x+h) - f(x)]/h, for
h->0

Comparing, we'll
get:

lim {sqrt [1 - (x+h)] -
sqrt(1-x)}/h

We'll remove the brackets at
radicand:

lim [sqrt (1 - x - h) - sqrt(1 -
x)]/h

We'll multiply both, numerator and denominator, by
the conjugate of numerator:

lim [sqrt (1 - x - h) - sqrt(1
- x)]*[sqrt (1 - x - h) + sqrt(1 - x)]/h*[sqrt (1 - x - h) + sqrt(1 -
x)]

The product at numerator returns the difference of
squares:

lim [(1  -x - h) - (1  -x)]/h*[sqrt (1 - x - h) +
sqrt(1 - x)]

We'll eliminate like terms form
numerator:

lim -h/h*[sqrt (1 - x - h) + sqrt(1 -
x)]

We'll simplify and we'll
get:

lim -1/[sqrt (1 - x - h) + sqrt(1 -
x)]

We'll replace h by 0:

lim
-1/[sqrt (1 - x - h) + sqrt(1 - x)] = -1/[sqrt (1 - x) + sqrt(1 -
x)]

We'll combine like terms from
denominator:

lim -1/[sqrt (1 - x - h) + sqrt(1 - x)] =
-1/2sqrt (1 - x)

The first derivative of the
given function, using the first principle, is f'(x) = -1/2sqrt (1 -
x).

What are the similarities and differences between communism and facism?

Fascism is a governmental structure based on a strong
central government, typically a dictatorship and normally marked by strong nationalist
sentiments as well as racism. National Socialist Germany and Fascist Italy are classic
examples. The name fascism originated from the name of a Roman war
axe known as a fasces (it constituted a magistrate's symbol of
authority) that Mussolini adopted as the symbol of his party to appeal to Italian
nationalist sentiment. Mussolini's famous slogan typifies Fascist
thinking:

readability="7">

Everything in the state, nothing outside the
state, nothing against the
state

Obviously, National
Socialist Germany is another prime example of fascism as there was a strong dictator and
strong nationalist sentiment based to a large extent on racism. Although Jews are not
considered a race by scientists, the National Socialists transformed them into a race.
(incidentally, the term "Nazi" was pejorative: they preferred to be called "national
socialists").

Communism is not based on a strong
governmental structure in its purest form; in fact Marx envisioned that government would
become superfluous and eventually wither away. Under true communism, all property is
owned collectively (there is no private ownership) and workers work for the good of
everyone in the society. It is based on worker solidarity which presumably would
transcend nationalist sentiments. This constitutes a strong difference between Fascism
and Communism, as the former is based on nationalist sentiments and the latter on worker
solidarity. The point is illustrated by comparing the German national anthem
(Deutschland uber alles) with the Communist anthem, the
Internationale.

Confusion often exists
in distinguishing between the two because Communism as an economic system does not work.
All Communist regimes have been totalitarian in nature. Thus, although Communist in
name, communist governments have strangely fascist elements.

What are some quotes related to the theme of apperance vs. reality in Othello?

Perhaps one of the most notable quotes to do with this
important theme in this great tragedy is Iago's confession of how and why he chooses to
follow "the Moor" Othello, whilst loathing him at the same time in Act I scene 1. Note
the way that reference is explicitly made to the two contrasting states of appearance
and reality:

readability="11">

Were I the Moor I would not be
Iago.
In following him I follow but myself;
Heaven is my judge, not
I for love and duty,
But seeming so for my peculiar end.
For when my
outward action doth demonstrate
The native act and figure of my
heart
In compliment extern, ’tis not long after
But I will wear my
heart upon my sleeve
For daws to peck at. I am not what I am.
(I.i.57–65)

Note the way in
which Iago confesses his plan of attack to Roderigo. His "loyalty" to his master does
not emerge from any sense of goodness or "duty," but is based on Iago's belief that he
is able to trick and manipulate Othello so that he can gain revenge. Those who are in
reality what they appear to be are foolish, because to do this makes you incredibly
vulnerable, and leaves your heart exposed, "For daws to peck at." His final mysterious
comment, "I am not what I am," could summarise the character of Iago, who seems to be
engaged in a constant game of deception, both to others who he apparently takes into his
confidence, such as Roderigo, but also the audience themselves, as we struggle to work
out who the "real" Iago really is. Appearance and reality are thus shown to be in
conflict through this early speech of Iago.

Decide if the function f(x)=(x-1)/(7x-3) may be invertible?

A function is invertible if and only if is a
bijection.

We'll check if for the given function there is
an inverse function.

We'll inter-change x and y and we'll
get:

x =  (y-1)/(7y-3)

Now,
we'll multiply both sides by 7y-3:

x(7y - 3) = y -
1

We'll remove the
brackets:

7xy - 3x = y -
1

We'll keep all the terms in y to the left side, the rest
of term being moved to the right side.

7xy - y = 3x -
1

We'll factorize by y to the left
side:

y(7x - 1) = 3x - 1

We'll
divide by 7x - 1

y = (3x - 1)/(7x -
1)

There is an inverse function and this one
is: f^-1(x) = (3x - 1)/(7x - 1)

In what ways are Othello and Desdemona alike and different?

A major point similarity between both characters is that
they are in love with one another.  Othello and Desdemona possess a love for each other
in which they believe at the start of their relationship.  Whether or not, this actually
is love is another issue, but they both believe in the authenticity of their emotions
and this represents a point of similarity between them.  Another shared distinction is
that they are both renegades, to a certain extent in that they operate outside the
sphere of accepted society.  Othello is both a warrior and a man of color and a man of
different ethnicity in being a Moor, making him uniquely different than most of the
"insiders" in Venetian society.  While he might have been granted title and wealth, for
all practical purposes, he is still a relative outsider.  It is here that Desdemona fits
in that she breaks ties with her father and family for Othello, willingly running away
with him.   This makes her an outsider in both her attitude and in that her father
disowns her as a result.  The most distinct difference between them is that Desdemona
possesses much more confidence and a sense of the self assured as a result of her
actions.  She holds much more in way of internal confidence in what she does and who she
is than Othello does.  The Moor is always the victim of doubt and this is what makes him
completely susceptible to Iago's machinations.  Another point of difference would be in
their relative power.  Othello has power.  While he might become victim to Iago, he is
never isolated and cut off from others.  He has options.  Desdemona does not.  As a
result of her running away with Othello, she placed all of her lot in this action.  When
the relationship turns sour, she has no one else and no real source of power to check
the encroaching abuse.  It is here where both are different, as
well.

How can I write an effective thesis statement about self-awareness and growth for a critical essay about The House on Mango Street?

A good place to start with a question like this is to
consider what you yourself feel that this important text has to say about self-awareness
and growth, and why this is important to the central character, Esperanza. It is clear
from reading the text that as the story continues, Esperanza is forced to confront and
think about a number of situations that either happen to her or to others around her in
Mango Street that greatly increase her self-awareness and force her to grow, mature and
develop. It is these experiences that help Esperanza to develop her character and become
the assured and defiant young woman that rejects the life that other women around her
lead and plans to leave Mango Street, making her own life and achieving independence on
her own terms. Therefore, a suitable thesis statement you could use might
be:

Through what Esperanza observes and experiences in the
vignettes that make up The House on Mango Street, her character
becomes more self-aware and mature about the nature of her life and the pressures facing
her.

Such a thesis statement would allow you to pick three
critical events from the story where you feel Esperanza has learnt something or hit a
turning point in her character development and talk about them, exploring how precisely
she matured. Good luck!

How did the Columbian Exchange change the lives of people in Western Europe politically?

I assume you mean the impact on Western Europe. The impact
of the Columbian Exchange was at best indirect and did not occur quickly. With the
Columbian Exchange, the diet of most people in Europe improved substantially, primarily
due to the introduction of potatoes, maize, etc. This improved diet resulted in fewer
infant deaths and healthier individuals, the result being an explosion in the European
population. This population explosion was a direct cause of the Industrial Revolution.
The industrial revolution led to the development of a new class, the working class
(Marx's "proletariat.") The working class became politically active which resulted in
increased participation in politics; a primary example being the increased importance of
the British House of Commons.

Diseases were an important
element of the Columbian Exchange, but did not lead to significant political
impact.

Discuss the role of government in regulating oligopoly.

Oligopoly is a market structure in which a very few large
firms control the great majority of the market.  This market structure is one in which
collusion can easily occur between the firms that are big players in the market. 
Government regulation is useful to the extent that it prevents collusion from
occurring.

For example, the airline industry, especially in
past decades, was an oligopoly.  The government believed that it was important to
regulate that market so as to prevent the airlines from colluding to keep prices high. 
Government must ensure that competition will happen even in an oligopoly.  Of course,
the government must take care so as not to overregulate.  In the case of the airline
industry, the government seems to have made this mistake because deregulation of the
industry actually led to more competition and lower
prices.

In short, then, governments should ensure that
oligopolies remain competitive, but should not engage in excessive regulation that ends
up stifling competition.

What is an image in The Children's Hour by Lillian Hellman?

A prominent image is the
nightmare speech Karen delivers while talking to Martha. The two women are embroiled in
their socially calamitous situation and are recoiling from the effort of trying to
understand and find what to do:

readability="7">

KAREN: Martha, Martha, Martha-- ... What are we
going to do?

Karen describes
her feelings during this time as those one has in the final stages of a nightmare. The
image evoked involves alternating sensations of touch
(tactile imagery) and sight (visual imagery).
First, Karen says her "unreal and awful" sensation is the tactile one of "cold." Then,
in a "like" simile she describes her sensation as a visual one of "dark." Now, Karen
combines tactile and visual by describing her sensation as one of "struggle" through a
"black mess." Karen inverts the previous order and describes her sensation as a visual
one in which she can "see" her "bed" and "nightgown." The image of Karen's sensation
ends where it began, with a description of it as tactile experience of the "solid"
world. This she repeats, saying of their experience that "it's all nightmare; there is
no solid world" to awaken to.

readability="12">

KAREN: What are we going to do? It's all so cold
and unreal and awful. It's like that dark hour of the night when, half awake, you
struggle through the black mess you've been dreaming. Then, suddenly, you wake up and
you see your own bed or your own nightgown and you know you're back again in a solid
world. But now it's all the nightmare; there is no solid
world.

Discuss the role of print in the French Revolution.

I think that the contribution of print, or the printed
word, had a huge impact on the French Revolution.  The "rise of Enlightenment" ideals
played a massive role in the initiation of thought that led to the French Revolution's
beginnings.  This involved the embrace of democracy, the rejection of absolutism, the
belief that all problems can be solved, and the notion of rights being applied to
everyone, universal to all and denied to none.  Voltaire's assertion of individual
rights in such a zealous manner was in printed form so that the French citizens could
understand his point being made.  Rousseau's conception of human nature, put forth in
works like Emile, caused reading and application of such reading to
political contexts to hold meaning.  At the same time, the printed word that showed how
successful the American Revolution was also helped to inspire those who wanted to start
revolution.  The documents in each were extremely significant. Jefferson's "Declaration
of Independence" was countered with the French Revolution's "Declaration of the Rights
of Man."  Here, the printed word holds much in way of importance in playing a
significant role in the French Revolution.

What is the purpose of a market segmentation analysis?

The purpose of a market segmentation analysis is to
determine how a firm should split up, or segment, its overall
market.

When firms set out to do this, they are hoping to
be more effective in marketing their product to various parts of their customer base. 
The firm does a market segmentation analysis to try to determine what segments exist in
its market.  The firm is looking for discrete groups within that market that might
respond to different marketing strategies.  Once the market segmentation analysis
identifies these groups, the firm can tailor marketing strategies to the different needs
of the various groups.

The purpose of a market segmentation
analysis, then, is to find discrete groups in a market so that specific (and hopefully
more effective) marketing strategies can be devised for each
group.

From the equation (sin2x)(sin6x)=(sinx)(sin7x), what is x?

To solve this equation, we'll change the products into
sums, using the next formula:

(sin a)*(sin b) =
[cos(a-b)-cos(a+b)]/2

Let a = 2x and b =
6x:

(sin2x)*(sin6x) =
[cos(2x-6x)-cos(2x+6x)]/2

(sin2x)*(sin6x) =
[cos(-4x)-cos(8x)]/2

Let a = x and b =
7x:

(sinx)*(sin7x) =
[cos(x-7x)-cos(x+7x)]/2

(sinx)*(sin7x) =
[cos(-6x)-cos(8x)]/2

We'll re-write the
equation:

[cos(-4x)-cos(8x)]/2 =
[cos(-6x)-cos(8x)]/2

[cos(-4x)-cos(8x)] =
[cos(-6x)-cos(8x)]

We'll eliminate
cos(8x):

cos(-4x) =
cos(-6x)

Since the cosine function is even, we'll
get:

cos (4x) = cos (6x)

We'll
subtract cos (6x) both sides:

cos (4x) - cos (6x) =
0

Since the trigonometric functions are matching, we'll
transfrom the difference into a product, usinfg the
formula:

cos a - cos b = -2sin
[(a+b)/2]*sin[(a-b)/2]

cos 4x - cos 6x = -2sin
[(4x+6x)/2]*sin[(4x-6x)/2]

cos 4x - cos 6x = 2(sin 5x)*(sin
x)

We'll re-write the
equation:

2(sin 5x)*(sin x) =
0

We'll cancel each
factor:

sin 5x = 0

5x =
(-1)^k*arcsin 0 + k*pi

5x =
k*pi

x = k*pi/5

sin x =
0

x = k*pi

The
solutions of the equation are represented by the reunion of sets: {k*pi/5 / k is integer
number}U{k*pi / k is integer number}.

What is the central theme of Pride and Prejudice?

The central theme of the novel Pride and
Prejudice is basically the consistent search of true love despite every
obstacle that comes our way.

The main character of the
story, Elizabeth Bennet, embodies the central theme by being a woman way ahead of her
peers in terms of what she wants in life. In a time where women could only aspire to be
wives and mothers just to be able to fit in society, Elizabeth insists in finding the
love of her life. She is far from the ideals of a prosperous and rich marriage. She just
wants to love someone who would love her for who she
is.

Along the way, she meets Mr. Darcy: A man who is proud,
elitist, and instilled in her every possible feeling of anger and hatred. However, this
man falls in love with her. This, he considers a "hindrance" for his family's good
name. A big surprise comes his way when he realizes that Elizabeth is more than capable
to reject him- money and everything.

Once Darcy and
Elizabeth come to a happy medium, and some truths become known, they are on their way to
the path to love until social ruin looms over the Bennets as a result of Lydia's
elopement with Mr. Wickham. Additionally, the resistance from Darcy's family to mingle
with the Bennets create another obstacle to
overcome.

However, love ruled in the end, all problems were
resolved, and Darcy and Elizabeth were able to overcome every odd to become a couple.
Therefore, the theme of "a love that conquers all" is the essence of the story, and
serves as its central theme.

What is the significance of the supernatural to the plot development in Dickens' "The Signal-man?"

In Charles Dickens' short story, "The Signal-Man," what
makes the story so scary and wonderful is Dickens' use of the supernatural. This was not
unheard of for Victorian writers; in A Christmas Carol, Dickens
uses the supernatural extensively. The experiences Scrooge has with "ghosts" move the
plot along and are responsible for his change of
heart.

Dickens provides information regarding the
supernatural early on in this story, creating the mood. The first
paragraph alludes to supernatural forces at work. When the visitor hollers down, the
signal-man can't tell where the voice is coming from—it's like a "disembodied" person
speaking. Instead of looking up to where the speaker is standing above him, the man
first looks down the railroad line, an unusual
reaction since the voice had not come from that direction. It is here that we
might first suspect that the signal-man has a problem. The signal-man is first described
as "foreshortened and shadowed," almost like a creature from another
world.

When the signal-man looks at the speaker, he
carefully studies him—there is something unusual in that the signal-man seems as if he
doesn't trust his visitor. When the narrator approaches, the
signal-man is watches him carefully, almost as if the visitor is an
apparition!

The railroad tracks create an unusual feeling
for the narrator. The shadows and color add to their eeriness, and the speaker
experiences a strong uneasiness.

readability="8">

So little sunlight ever found its way to this
spot...and so much cold wind rushed through it, that it struck chill to me, as if I had
left the natural
world.

Early
indications show the signal-man to be unusual—is he sane?Alone too much on the job? The
signal-man explains that the visitor looks familiar, which is why he studies him. The
signal-man is described as "remarkably exact and vigilant"—so he is a reliable
person. Finally the signal-maker declares that he wants to share his worries with his
visitor, if he will returns a second night. The visitor agrees—and
in this moment, the signal-man introduces his fear for the first time. When he asks why
the narrator called to him with the exact words he chose to use,
and the signal-man asks:

readability="5">

You had no feeling that they were conveyed to you
in any supernatural way?

The
speaker says no, and agrees to come the next night. When he arrives, immediately the
signal-man relates his past experiences. The visitor looks like an apparition that has
twice appeared on the tracks, waving a warning. When the man first followed the
"vision," he disappeared. The visitor tries to explain that the image was in the
worker's mind, but then the man describes a similar instance with
the same ghost that later heralded a woman's death on the train. The specter has now
returned a third time, and the signal-man is worried: what is the warning? How can he
warn or help anyone?

The following (third) evening, the
visitor arrives and, looking down the track, sees a man waving as the signal-man had
described: he is actually showing other men what he saw—the narrator asks and learns the
signal-man was killed earlier by a train. The words the engineer used were exactly what
he had heard earlier. The warning was for the
signal-man.

The entire story moves along with
the introduction of supernatural events: apparitions that disappear, and words and
gestures of warning. It is the supernatural that creates the mood and drives the plot,
for what the signal-man heard and saw foreshadowed his own
death.

Is "or else" used properly in combining the following sentences?1. A new son or daughter was born. 2. The child's name had to be kept secret. 3. A...

The sentence as you have it is fine. You correctly use the
words, "or else." What you have is a coordinating conjunction "or" and an adverb "else",
which is completely fine. What this does is create an alternative between two
options.

I assume that you are asking this question because
the sentence might sound correct if you remove the word
"else." 

That said, there are other ways to do this. A more
economical way to accomplish this is by using the word "otherwise." If you use this
word, then there is no doubt as to what you are trying to
say. 

Another way to rephrase the sentence is by using the
word "because." If you did this the sentence would
read:

When a new son or daughter was born, the child's name
had to be kept secret, because a stranger might hear the name and use it to bewitch the
child.

The merit of this approach is that you answer the
question "why." 

What is the scene as the play opens in Scene 1

In the opening scene of Hamlet is under an atmosphere of
suspense and fear, darkness and gloom, and prepares the mind of the audience for the
appearance of the mysterious and unknown. It strikes the keynote of the play. There is
an uncanny sees of fear and a feeling of uncertainty in the exchange of words between
Francisco and Bernardo. The dead silence and the bitter cold make Francisco ' sick at
heart '. When Horatio and Marcellus, the 'rivals' of his watch, join Bernardo, they make
anxious enquiries about the dreaded sight and apparition which had already appeared
twice. All these hushed whispers in cold and dark midnight create the proper atmosphere
for the advent of the sceptic Horatio dumbfound. He frankly confesses that it harrows
him with fear and wonder. He summons up courage to question the ghost, but it
vanishes.
They now speak about the state of uncertainty and imminent fear that
pervaded the entire state of Denmark. The suggestion is that the king's spirit has come
to give warning about the future danger. The ghost appears again and Horatio asks
:
Speak to me:

readability="10">

If thou art
privy to thy country's
fate,
Which, happily,
foreknowing may avoid,
O,
speak
!

(act 1,
scene
-1)

But
as the cock crows, the ghost disappears again. The entire scene has been written with a
view to making the Ghost credible and convincing to the audience. It breathes an
atmosphere of supernatural thrill and mystery and portends dark omens for the
future.

What kinds of isolation appears in Shakespeare's play, Hamlet, and how do they affect the events in the story?

In Shakespeare's Hamlet, the
character most isolated is Hamlet. He does not know whom he can trust, especially since
his mother has remarried hastily after her husband's death, and Hamlet has discovered
that his father may have been murdered by his uncle.

The
only person Hamlet can confide in is Horatio, who is not part of the inner royal circle.
There is no way for Hamlet to understand what is happening regarding his mother, uncle
(Claudius), Polonius and Ophelia, other than by
conjecture.

Hamlet cannot speak to his mother; he is not
certain whether or not she played any part in Old Hamlet's death. He is also disgusted
with her for her hasty remarriage, and for marrying her brother-in-law, which
Elizabethans considered incestuous.

Polonius is a foolish
man who will do anything to improve his image with, and service to, the King. Claudius,
of course, disgusts Hamlet even before Old Hamlet's ghost speaks to him about his
murder. He feels that Claudius is too loud, drinks too much, and will give the Danes a
bad reputation because of his behavior. Hamlet is also unhappy because his mother has
married Claudius.

Ophelia is the most distressing
disconnect that Hamlet has to deal with because it would seem he truly loved her.
However, she must follow the directions of her father and the
King—she's a woman—and so she ends up spying for them. She has no choice, but Hamlet
censors her strongly, rejects her and insults her.

I do not
believe that Claudius and Polonius contribute to the isolation that Hamlet feels from
the rest of the court, but his loss of connection with Gertrude and Ophelia would
certainly cause an increased sense of isolation—beyond the loss of Hamlet's
father.

Ophelia is isolated in that she really has no one
to talk to. Hamlet has rejected her, and her brother and father are not supportive of
Hamlet's place in her life. Gertrude is somewhat isolated as well. She is married to
Claudius, but this marriage may well have been one of convenience. It guarantees that
she will continue to live the life she is accustomed to, and that Hamlet will still have
a connection to the throne.

The biggest problem with
isolation in this play is that communication breaks down. Had Hamlet still been able to
speak candidly with his mother and Ophelia, they might have been able to provide him
with confidence, or information about what Claudius and Polonius were up to. It is only
through Hamlet's isolation from the others that the tragedy can be played
out.

So the foe is poisoned and dies in "A Poison Tree"?I just don't understand the ending.

Well, maybe.  There are actually two ways to interpret
this poem.  Depending on the interpretation you choose, the answer is either "yes" or
"no."  It all depends on how you define the word "outstretched."  Let's dissect each
interpretation in turn.

The interpretation that you suggest
here is the simplest one.  It is the one that allows the poem to be read like a nursery
rhyme:  a simple poem about nixing anger through communication with a friend and
fostering anger through secrecy with a foe.  This reading of the poem suggests that the
foe who is "outstretched" beneath the tree is actually dead.  The speaker, then, isn't
very commendable, is he?  He revels in the death of an
enemy.

However, if you want to take the word "outstretched"
at its literal meaning, then the foe isn't dead at all.  In this case, it is only the
friendship that is poisoned.  It is the foe that realizes that his friend is really an
enemy.  The issues and the poisons of anger, hypocrisy, and secrecy still remain, ... as
they often do in real life.  Our enemies live
on.

Considering the base nature of the speaker as well as
the obvious connection to the biblical fall of man, I'll give you one guess as to
whether this poem is found within Blake's Songs of Innocence or
Songs of Experience.  (Ha!)

What is the theme of the short story The Open Window by S?aki

There are many possible themes to "The Open Window".  Like
all literature, theme depends on how a reader interprets the text.  One possible theme
of the short story is distrust.  Framton Nuttel is visiting the home of Mrs. Sappleton. 
Nuttel is visiting the home because he has a nervous disorder and needs to seek out a
place that is calm and quiet- the exact treatment of his disorder is not noted, but a
reader could assume that his doctor is simply prescribing rest.  Once at the home,
Nuttel meets Vera, the niece of Mrs. Sappleton. Nuttel tells Vera of his reasoning for
the visit.  The young girl then turns the tale of this being the exact day of her
uncle's disappearance.  Here is where the theme is enacted.  Vera knows of Nuttel's
nervous disorder, his desire to rest at her aunt's home to recuperate, and, instead of
helping with Nuttel's recovery, she compounds his ailment by creating a ghost story to
which, to Nuttel's surprise, becomes real. Nuttel needed to trust in those of whom he
sought out help; instead, those he sought out failed to help him at all.  Therefore, the
theme of the text is mistrust- the only words that Vera mentions that are true are those
of the names of her family members.

How does pornography harm America?

For a very complete discussion of issues relating to
pornography, please follow the link below.

It is very hard
to objectively determine how pornography has hurt the country.  This is because many
negative outcomes that could be blamed on pornography can also be blamed on other
factors.  Therefore, it is difficult to know how much of an impact pornography has on
those outcomes.

Some common claims made about pornography
are:

• It victimizes children.  The link below
  discusses the prevalence of child pornography.  It also argues that people who watch
  pornography are more likely to molest children.


• It leads
  to sexual violence against women.  Watching pornography, the argument goes, encourages
  men to have unhealthy attitdues towards women.  This can lead to them attacking women
  because they have stopped seeing women as people and have started to see them as sex
  obects only.


• It leads to weakening of American families. 
  The argument here is that men who watch pornography end up damaging their real-life
  relationships.

What is the message conveyed by the book, 1984?

I think that one of the most profound messages of Orwell's
work lies in the basic relationship between human beings and their government.  It seems
that Orwell is advocating that individuals possess a much more skeptical and vigilant
view of their government.  Orwell is not one to claim passivity here and suggest that
individuals "trust" their government.  Rather, the narrative presented in 1984 is one
where individuals have to be mindful of what government can do in order to consolidate
their own power and control individuals.  In this message, Orwell is demanding that
individuals be more aware of the motivations of their government and speak out more in a
public and demonstrative manner.

Nothing seems to be gained
from silence, other than that government benefits when people say nothing.  It is one of
the critical points made in the novel that any government might be predisposed to
wanting to consolidate their own power at the expense of the people and their need for a
transparent government. The use of intelligence and technology against its own people is
a part of this process and there is little surprise that government can and has utilized
these ends in order to substantiate their own control.   Orwell's message is to this
point and that individuals must be aware of this risk and the potential for its reality
in the modern setting.

Do rape shield laws prevent the defendant from having a fair trial by keeping a valid part of the story from the ears of jurors?

I do not believe that rape shield laws prevents defendants
from having a fair trial because I do not believe that a woman's sexual history has
anything to do with whether or not she can be raped.

To
think about this, let us look at the definition of rape.  As the
"wests-law-encyclopedia" link below says,

readability="9">

Historically, rape was defined as unlawful sexual
intercourse with a woman against her will. The essential elements of the crime were
sexual penetration, force, and lack of
consent.

Obviously, a woman's
past sexual history has nothing to do with whether sexual penetration can occur or with
whether force was used.  So then the question is whether her past history can tell us
anything about whether she consented to sex.

The only way a
woman's sexual history could matter is if it meant that she would always consent to
sex.  This is absurd.  The fact that a woman has had sex with any given number of men
says nothing about whether she wants to have sex with a given man at a given time.  It
is simply old-fashioned to say that a woman is either a "madonna," having sex with only
her husband, or a "whore," who is fair game for any man at any
time.

A woman's sexual history cannot possibly bear on
whether she consented to have sex with the accused rapist during the incident in
question.  Therefore, rape shield laws do not prevent a defendant from having a fair
trial.

I need explanation on Civil Disobedience because I am unclear on it.

You might need to be a bit more specific as to where
exactly your lack of clarity lies.  Thoreau was a part of the Transcendentalist movement
in American History.  He believed that individuals needed to do a better job of hearing
their own hearts and passions in daily life.  The political extension of this is the
notion of civil disobedience, taking a passionate and personal stand when government or
society is wrong.  For Thoreau, if individuals do not actively speak out when they feel
government is wrong, they do not show the appropriate respect to their emotional frame
of reference.  Since Thoreau feels that individuals commitment and emotions are the most
important elements in one's state of being, to speak one's mind, regardless of the
consequences, is the highest and most transcendental form of being in the world
represented.  For example, when Thoreau disagrees with the Mexican- American War as a
form of political conquest and territorial expansion, he is willing to stand for his
beliefs, including going to jail in refusal to pay taxes to support the war.  This is an
example of the concept of civil disobedience and one that helps to bring out the meaning
of the work in full form.

What is the Crittenden Compromise?

The Crittenden Compromise was one of the latest attempts
to try and prevent the Civil War from happening.  It was proposed by Sen. James
Crittenden of Kentucky in 1860.  The compromise proposed that all of the US should be
divided at the 36 degrees 30 minutes line that the Missouri Compromise had set up.  Any
territory that was north of that line could not have slaves.  Any territory south of
that line could have slaves if it wanted.  This would include any territory the US later
got, such as Cuba.

This proposal was not accepted by
Lincoln as he ran for election.  He did so because he thought it would inevitably lead
to wars meant to take territory for the slave states (in Mexico or even further south). 
By rejecting it, Lincoln rejected any real chance for compromise with the
South.