In Fahrenheit 451, what community effort do the parlor walls incite?

In Fahrenheit 451, the parlor walls are covered with wall-sized television screens in every home. Through the screens, the public are indoctrinated into a mind-numbing stupor by state-approved programming.

In Part 3, Montag runs away after he kills Captain Beatty and burns up a Mechanical Hound with a flame-thrower. Before long, another Mechanical Hound is dispatched from another district to track Montag down. Every move Montag makes is supposedly tracked on the screens of every parlor wall. Hence, the parlor walls also serve as a community tool for enforcing all the dictates of an oppressive government upon a defenseless populace. Each citizen is invited to follow the hunt and to assist, if at all possible, in the task of uncovering Montag's whereabouts.

And if he kept his eye peeled quickly he would see himself, an instant before oblivion, being punctured for the benefit of how many civilian parlour-sitters who had been wakened from sleep a few minutes ago by the frantic sirening of their living-room walls to come watch the big game, the hunt, the one-man carnival.

If he is captured, Montag wonders what he would say to the twenty or thirty million people watching the manhunt on screen. He is devastated when he realizes that he possesses no verbal means to awaken a blinded populace.

What could he say in a single word, a few words, that would sear all their faces and wake them up?

What does Lady Macbeth mean by saying "Come to my woman's breasts...And take my milk for gall?"

This line is from Lady Macbeth's chilling speech in Act I, Scene 5. She has just read a letter from her husband in which he describes his encounter with the witches, who had prophesied that he will become King of Scotland. She resolves at that moment to steel her husband to commit the act that she sees as necessary to his ascent to the throne--the murder of Duncan. So she calls upon the "spirits that tend on mortal thoughts" to "unsex her" and allow her to become filled with cruelty. So filling her "woman's breasts with gall" [i.e., bile] is a reference to that. Shakespeare associates womanhood with gentleness and a nurturing spirit, symbolized most potently by the breasts, which provide milk and nurture life. Lady Macbeth must be the antithesis of the nurturing mother figure in order to carry out her designs for her husband.

At the same time, this phrase alludes to Lady Macbeth's fear that her husband may be too "full of the milk of human kindness," a trait which of course would have been associated with femininity, to go through with the murder. Lady Macbeth will suppress her feminine characteristics in order to drive her husband to meet what she views as his destiny. Shakespeare, with this speech, wants to emphasize not just the wickedness of Lady Macbeth, but the extent to which she embodies the subversion of the natural order of things that accompanies the murder of the legitimate king and the crowning of the usurper Macbeth. This theme, first expressed by the witches, who pronounce "what's fair is foul, what's foul is fair," runs throughout the play.

In Fahrenheit 451 there is a Mechanical Hound. Do the people think about making more?

If I understand your question correctly, you're asking if there is more than one mechanical hound?

There definitely are two hounds referred to in the text. The first hound belongs to Montag's fire house and it's the hound that is described during Part 1. At the beginning of Part 3, Montag pulls up to his house in the Salamander (fire truck) with Captain Beatty to burn the books in his home. After watching Mildred leave, bags packed, Beatty begins to taunt Montag, reminding him that the Hound is somewhere in the neighborhood. Beatty suspects the ear bullet and strikes Montag, knocking it free. After Beatty continues to antagonize Montag, in a final act of desperation, Montag turns the flame thrower onto Beatty. The first mechanical hound attacks Montag, managing to prick him in the leg with the needle before exploding from the flame thrower. As a result, Montag's leg is numb, but the full dose of poison wasn't given to Montag. 

The second Hound is brought in from another district to hunt Montag, leading readers to believe that each district has at least one. That Hound loses Montag's scent once he gets to the river, but kills and chases the fake Montag for the people's benefit. That Hound is presumably destroyed with the rest of the city during the war. 

How does hubris cause Oedipus' downfall?

Every tragic hero has a tragic flaw, a hamartia, and Oedipus is no exception to the rule. Usually this hamartia is hubris: excessive pride or self-confidence. Every mortal needs pride to some degree, but when this self-confidence is so excessive that it blinds the hero to the truth, it prevents him from making sound decisions and ultimately leads to his downfall.

In Greek Mythology, the gods determined a person’s fate. However, sometimes a mortal was so confident in himself that he challenged that destiny and tried to create his own. This angered the gods, and the mortal was then put in his place.

Oedipus does just that. When he is told of an Apollonian prophesy that he will kill his father and marry his mother, his excessive self-confidence leads him to take matters into his own hands, and he flees Corinth in an attempt to distance himself from his “parents” and escape his fate: “I heard and fled, henceforth to share with Corinth only the stars, where I would never see completed the disgrace of those evil oracles of mine.” Little does he know that his real parents are the king and queen of Thebes, which will be his final destination. Ironically, defying the gods and using his free will is what leads him to his heinous fate.

Even after he inadvertently fulfills his destiny, hubris leads Oedipus to the truth about his past while at the same time blinding him from the truth. He forces Tiresias to tell him who Laius’s murderer is, even though the blind seer warns him of the consequences of that information. As wise and revered as Tiresias is, Oedipus feels himself wiser, and threatens the seer with death: “Do you really think you can say this unpunished?Do you really think you can say this unpunished?” When the seer finally reveals the truth, hubris blinds Oedipus, and he mistakenly focuses on finding out his parentage instead of realizing the true message in Tiresias’s words: “I say that you secretly have lived most foully with those who should be most dear, nor do you see to what extent of evil you have come.”I say that you secretly have lived most foully(385) with those who should be most dear, nor do you see to what extent of evil you have come.I say that you secretly have lived most foully(385) with those who should be most dear, nor do you see to what extent of evil you have come.

Finally, Oedipus shows hubris even after he has learned the truth. He attempts to defy the gods yet again when demands that Creon exile him immediately. Creon states that he must wait to see what the gods’ plan is.

 OEDIPUS: Send me from this land.

CREON: You ask me what is God’s to give.

OEDIPUS: The gods hate me.

CREON: Then they will grant your wish. (1545)

 In typical Greek tragedy fashion, at the end of the play, the hero finally learns the error of his ways and is humbled of his hubris.

What are the acute differences between Direct and Indirect election?

Direct and indirect election are basically what they sound like. In a direct election, voters choose the candidate who wins. In an indirect election, voters choose one or more "electors" who then go on to choose the candidate.

In practice, this distinction can get fairly blurry. The election of the President of the United States is technically an indirect election, because of the Electoral College. Under the Constitution what we're actually doing is choosing electors who will then choose the President. But in practice, electors almost always choose the candidate who got the most votes in their own state (and people would get outraged if they didn't), so that for all practical intents and purposes we might as well have a direct election (albeit one with a weird counting system that more or less excludes all Republican votes in California and all Democrat votes in Texas).

A clearer example of indirect election is the Council of Europe, in which the Parliamentary Assembly is not elected by the voters in each country directly, but instead by the respective legislatures of the country who were in turn elected by the people.

Theoretically one could have higher-order indirect elections, in which you elect someone who elects someone who elects someone, but that very rarely happens.

Conversely, you could get even more direct than a direct election and go all the way to direct democracy, in which decisions are directly made by popular vote rather than by elected representatives. Switzerland does this quite often; it probably helps that the country is so small.

The differences between direct and indirect election can be quite important. The more direct the election, the more responsive the officials are to the people. This has upsides and downsides.

Some would argue that it's possible to be too responsive, and making elections direct simply makes politicians pander to a short-sighted public, while indirect elections allow policymakers to make wiser decisions on a longer time horizon. But personally I side much more with those who argue that the more direct we can make democracy the better, that being responsive to the public interest is what democracy is all about.

What shocking thing does Kit do in The Witch of Blackbird Pond? Why does she do it?

Kit does several shocking things throughout the novel. One particularly shocking event happens at the beginning of the story.  

Kit is on a small boat riding back from Saybrook to the ship. A husband, wife, and their little girl have joined them from the town. The child accidentally drops her precious doll into the water. She became extremely upset, but the captain will not turn the boat around as the toy floats away. Kit becomes frustrated and dives into the water, "plung[ing] headlong over the side of the boat." Everyone is shocked, having assumed that she could not swim. Nat dives in after her. Soon they realize that Kit does indeed know how to swim. She retrieves the toy, but everyone on the boat is still showing signs of shock, disapproval, and anger. No one forgets what Kit did and how outrageous they thought it was. 

Discuss the meeting of Raina and Captain Bluntschli in Act 1.

The meeting of Raina and Captain Bluntschli drives the central plot and thematic concerns of the play. Before the meeting, we have a dialogue between Raina and her mother which serves as exposition, letting us know that Raina is engaged to Sergius, who is a soldier in the Bulgarian army during the Serbo-Bulgarian War of 1885. The play takes place shortly after the Bulgarian victory in the Battle of Slivnitsa.

Captain Bluntschli is a Swiss mercenary fighting for the Serbs who has narrowly escaped being captured by the victors. He climbs up Raina's balcony to hide. His very appearance undermines Raina's romantic notion of a soldier. Although he has a gun and threatens her, he is far from heroic. Not only is he afraid of death and capture, it becomes obvious that he is almost more scared of Raina than she is of him. 

Before the meeting with Captain Bluntschli, Raina expressed conventionally romantic notions about both love and war, in which men were cast as Byronic heroes, but she also mentioned that she had doubts about the reality of this romantic ideal. When she meets Captain Bluntschli, not only do her views change, but so does her role. At the same time that he undermines her ideas about the romantic nature of war, he also emphasizes his dependence on her.

In her engagement with Sergius, Raina was the conventional girl who stayed at home while men saved the country through their heroism. In her interactions with Captain Bluntschli, Raina becomes a strong woman whose quick wits actually save Captain Bluntschli from capture, as well as providing him with food, warm clothing, and a safe place to rest. The beginnings of the romance represent the evolution of Raina from a romantic girl mainly concerned with her social position to a strong woman using her intellect to good purpose.

In A Midsummer-night's Dream, what is Shakespeare suggesting about the nature and effects of love by the end of the play?

This is a huge question, one that underlies how we interpret this play. In the end, everything comes out all right, the correct lovers are reunited, and we enjoy a festive wedding celebration. If "the course of true love never did run smooth," love, in its many varieties, seems to triumph all the way around. 

Yet the body of the play presents more complexity, for it exposes love's cruelties: Hermia and Helena, though old friends, end up fighting bitterly when both Demetrius and Lysander begin to pursue Helena under the influence of the love potion, and Lysander and Demetrius almost come to blows that could have been fatal did not the magical forces of the forest set everything to right. Helena feels cruelly ridiculed, thinking both men are making fun of her. Titania falls in love with an ass. Hermia runs away from Athens because she faces an arranged marriage she doesn't want. The path of love, Shakespeare implies, is fraught with threats and perils. 

In the end, Puck gives a speech in which he says that if the play doesn't please you, assume it was all just a dream. This points to the idea that love itself, in all its permutations, is just an illusion, a dream we wake up from into reality. That may well be Shakespeare's final point. 

In "A Sorrowful Woman," how does author Gail Godwin use point of view to give meaning to the story?

"A Sorrowful Woman" by Gail Godwin is written in the third person point of view in a fable-like fashion. The short, clipped sentences give it a detached feeling, as though someone is observing the story unfold much like one might read an article in the newspaper--almost as though a reporter is giving the readers the news of the day.

The story is about a woman who seems to have a pretty perfect life, yet she can no longer stand to see her own child and husband. We never really find out why, though it is assumed that she is suffering from depression. The point of view lets us observe this woman's daily life, but we are kept at a distance much like her husband and child are kept at a distance due to her desire to be away from them. She detaches herself, first from her family, then from the outer world, and eventually from herself. This is much like the detachment created by using the third person point of view to tell the story in an emotionless, matter-of-fact manner.

In the short story "The Monkey's Paw" what happens when Mr. White uses the monkey's paw?

Mr. White was fascinated with the monkey’s paw. When the Sergeant-Major threw it into the fire, he hastily retrieved it. He wanted the three wishes. The Sergeant-Major warned him about the consequences and, “…pressed me again to throw it away.” (pg 3) But Mr. White was determined to test the monkey’s paw for the three wishes. However, when it came time to make a wish, Mr. White said, “I don’t know what to wish for, and that’s a fact…it seems to me I’ve got all I want.” (pg 3)

So his son tells him, jokingly, to wish for two hundred pounds. Nothing immediately happens, so everyone thinks it is a hoax. However, the next day, a man arrives from Maw and Meggins. He informs Mr. and Mrs. White that their son got caught in some machinery at work and died. The firm admits no liability for the accident, but due to the son’s dedicated services, the company wanted to give Mr. and Mrs. White some compensation. It was two hundred pounds. Their wish had come true.

The death of their son hit them both hard. Suddenly the old woman yelled out that they could use the monkey’s paw to wish their son back to life. The old man wasn’t sure he wanted to wish his son back to life since the son had been so badly mangled in the machinery that he didn’t even recognize him. He is reluctant to use the monkey’s paw again for fear of what may happen. However, he does as she wishes and wishes his son alive again.

They wait patiently for a response to the wish, and then there is a knock on the door. The old man is afraid to open it, although his wife is eager to see her son again. Finally the third knock is very loud, and the woman insists on opening the door. The man is so fearful of what is on the other side of the door that he grabs the talisman and makes his third and final wish: that his son not come back to life. The knocking suddenly ceases and the road outside the house is deserted.

What are the significance and implications of the argument between Big Daddy and Brick in Act 2 of Tennessee Williams' Cat on a Hot Tin Roof? Also,...

In a 1975 interview with a reporter for The New York Times, playwright Tennessee Williams addressed, as he was want to do, his sexual orientation:

"Sexuality is a basic part of my nature," he said. "I never considered my homosexuality as anything to be disguised. Neither did I consider it a matter to be over-emphasized. I consider it an accident of nature.

"My life was a series of little adventures unconsummated before I was 28. It was after I went to New Orleans that I selected homosexuality as a way of sexual life. Lucky for me, I made the decision." Then he edited his words: "The decision was made for me."

These quotes from that interview are included here for a reason. Sexuality, and homosexuality, are powerful elements of Williams’ work, and acknowledging and understanding the role sexuality and homosexuality play in his writings is a key to understanding the confrontation between Big Daddy and Brick in the second act of Cat on a Hot Tin Roof. The play’s most sympathetic figure is Brick, a former professional football player—a sport long-considered synonymous with male virility—turned-broadcaster who has descended into a life of drink and self-pity, all the while denying his beautiful, vivacious wife, Margaret, or Maggie, the pleasure of his company in bed. The theme of homosexuality is prominent in Williams’ script (a theme that is certainly present but far more sublimated in the otherwise fine 1958 film adaptation of Cat), and it hangs like a noose over the character of Brick. Brick has become sullen and alcoholic because of his guilt over the suicide of his closest friend and one-time football teammate, Skipper. Skipper is, the play strongly suggests a homosexual, and the nature of the relationship between Skipper and Brick is fraught with speculation regarding the two men’s’ sexual orientations. Much of Act I, in fact, introduces the audience to this element of the play, especially when the sexually-deprived Maggie repeatedly goads Brick into reacting to her less-than-subtle suggestions that the men were more than just platonic friends. Note, for instance, Maggie’s comments to Brick in the opening act:

“What were you thinking of when I caught you looking at me like that? Were you thinking of Skipper?”

. . .

“Why I remember when we double-dated at college, Gladys Fitzgerald and I and you and Skipper, it was more like a date between you and Skipper. Gladys and I were just sort of tagging along as if it was necessary to chaperone you!--to make a good public impression—“

The theme of homosexuality so central to Tennessee Williams’ life provides the basis for the drama that permeates Cat on a Hot Tin Roof, which brings us to the dialogue between Big Daddy and Brick that dominates Act II. Big Daddy is a self-made millionaire, having dropped out of school at the tender age of 10 to work on the plantation that would become his own kingdom. A large, virile man, described in Williams’ stage instructions as “a tall man with a fierce, anxious look,” Big Daddy is presented by Williams as virtually obsessed with sex as though he, Big Daddy, needs to constantly reaffirm his own heterosexuality and continued ability to enjoy women despite his advancing age and health problems, the full nature of which comprises another of the play’s recurring themes. Big Daddy is introduced in Act II, and this obsession with sex and sexuality serves not only to reinforce his own continued virility but to help him deny to himself the possibility that his favorite son may be a homosexual. Brick is on crutches, having broken his ankle while drunkenly attempting to jump hurdles at a track. Unwilling, or unable, to accept that Brick may be gay, Big Daddy repeatedly teases his emotionally-weakened son with the suggestion that Brick’s injury was caused by hypothetical sexual escapades:

"Was it jumping or humping that you were doing out there? What were you doing out there at three a.m., layin' a woman on that cinder track?"

. . .

"I ast you, Brick, if you was cuttin' you'self a piece o' poon-tang last night on that cinder track? I thought maybe you were chasin' poon-tang on that track an' tripped over something in the heat of the chase--'s that it?"

While Big Daddy believes the lie that his medical prognosis is positive, he has, nevertheless, been forced to confront the reality of his mortality. In the exchange between father and son, and in the context of Brick’s failure to father a child, Big Daddy feels compelled to educate Brick on the vital importance of climbing out of the latter’s protracted, drunken stupor and living life with a purpose:

Y'know how much I'm worth? Guess, Brick! Guess how much I'm worth! Close on ten million in cash an' blue chip stocks, outside, mind you, of twenty-eight thousand acres of the richest land this side of the valley Nile! But a man can't buy his life with it, he can't buy back his life with it when his life has been spent, that's one thing not offered in the Europe fire-sale or in the American markets or any markets on earth, a man can't buy his life with it, he can't buy back his life when his life is finished.... That's a sobering thought, a very sobering thought, and that's a thought that I was turning over in my head, over and over and over--until today.... I'm wiser and sadder, Brick, for this experience which I just gone through."

Big Daddy’s reference to “this experience,” the fear that he was dying of cancer, provides another subtext to the play and to the nature of the human relationships in Williams’ play. During that Act II dialogue, Brick expresses his disdain for the “mendacity” he sees all around. “Mendacity,” of course, is defined as lies and deception. Cat on a Hot Tin Roof is replete with instances of mendacity. Hypocrisy and deceit are everywhere: Brick’s marriage to Maggie; Gooper and Mae’s constant obsequiousness around Big Daddy; Big Daddy’s loathing of Big Mama, and so on. Every heterosexual relationship in this play is an example of mendacity. That, perhaps, is why Brick’s relationship to Skipper is such an important element of the play. “Skipper and me had a clean, true thing between us!--had a clean friendship, practically all our lives, till Maggie got the idea you're talking about,” Brick complains to Big Daddy. The only pure relationship in the play is that between Brick and Skipper, and it is soured by the shadow of homosexuality hanging over it.

The significance of Big Daddy’s story about the elephant fits neatly into the themes of sexuality, virility, and homosexuality. Back in Act II, Big Daddy is regaling Brick with his fantasies regarding sex, emphasizing that, despite his advancing age, he is not finished with respect to sexual relationships:

“They say you got just so many and each one is numbered. Well, I got a few left in me, a few, and I'm going to pick me a good one to spend 'em on! I'm going to pick me a choice one, I don't care how much she costs, I'll smother her in--minks! Ha ha! I'll strip her naked and smother her in minks and choke her with diamonds! Ha ha! I'll strip her naked and choke her with diamonds and smother her with minks and hump her from hell to breakfast.”

This quote is prelude to Big Daddy’s metaphorical joke about elephants in Act III. Note the following comment following the story about the male elephant that senses the female elephant and struggles to copulate:

“So this ole bull elephant still had a couple of fornications left in him. He reared back his trunk an' got a whiff of that elephant lady next door!”

Big Daddy is the elephant. “Big Daddy”: the name suggests a patriarchal figure who looms above the rest of humanity—at least within the confines of his own little world. And, in addressing, once again, his own continued virility, Big Daddy is reminding Brick that a man’s life is synonymous with carnal knowledge of the opposite sex.

What is an example of direct characterization for Atticus in Chapter 3 of Harper Lee's To Kill A Mockingbird?

There are more indirect characterizations than direct ones in Chapter 3 of Harper Lee's To Kill a Mockingbird. A "direct characterization" is simply a straight-forward way of describing an individual, usually employing simple adjectives. In Lee's novel, Atticus Finch serves as the story's conscience, the proffer of wisdom to his inquisitive and occasionally judgmental daughter, Scout, the novel's narrator.

As a thoughtful, conscientious and educated individual, Atticus often speaks metaphorically while using indirect characterizations to diplomatically get his point across to his children. For this reason, it is particularly noteworthy that Atticus does use a direct characterization in Chapter 3 in reference to the character of Bob Ewell, the town's most virulently racist example of poor white trash, a man who squanders what welfare money he receives on alcohol while hunting and trapping animals out of season to put meat on his family's table. When the subject of the Ewells, the daughter of whom, Mayella, precipitates the tragic chain of events involving the crippled black Tom Robinson when she wrongfully accuses him of rape, comes up at the Finch home, Atticus uses what can be described as an example of direct characterization in referencing the Ewell family. As described by Scout in her ruminations about that period of her life:

"Atticus said the Ewells had been the disgrace of Maycomb for three generations. None of them had done an honest day’s work in his recollection."

This is a very direct characterization of the Ewells offered by Atticus. In this example, "the disgrace of Maycomb" constitutes a direct characterization, as it defines the characters of the Ewell family in a direct, straight-forward way. Another example of a direct characterization involving Atticus in Chapter 3 occurs in the context of Scout's efforts at being excused from school despite the absence of a compelling reason:

“If I didn’t go to school tomorrow, you’d force me to.”

“Let us leave it at this,” said Atticus dryly. “You, Miss Scout Finch, are of the common folk. You must obey the law.”

In the above passage, Atticus describes his daughter as "common folk," a direct characterization to which he applies to himself. In this context, "common folk" refers to all those citizens of Maycomb, and beyond, who are expected to comply with the word and the spirit of the laws that preserve the civilization in which they exist. Atticus is drawing a distinction between his children and those of the Ewell clan, with the latter being uncommon and consequently exempt from the strict rules of society the absence of which would result in total anarchy. Everybody accepts that the Ewells are beneath contempt, so expectations of them are nonexistent within the context of the laws that guide the rest of society.

A final example of a direct characterization involving Atticus in Chapter 3 again occurs within the context of Atticus's attempts at explaining to Scout why the latter is expected to continue to attend school without interruption and why she will continue reading with Calpurnia, the family's African American housekeeper. Noting the formality of her father's language as the educated lawyer negotiated an arrangement with his young daughter, Scout makes the following observation: "Jem and I were accustomed to our father’s last-will-and-testament diction . . ." This is a direct characterization because it explicitly defines the character of Atticus Finch, although it uses language the meaning of which would be lost were this passage read in a vacuum. Atticus has reverted to "attorney" mode for the purpose of engaging Scout in a quasi-legalistic negotiating process.

What is Benjamin Franklin’s attitude toward religion? Discuss this aspect of his Autobiography.

"Here is my Creed," Benjamin Franklin wrote to Ezra Stiles -- the Calvinist president of Yale College -- in 1790. "I believe in one God, Creator of the Universe. That He governs it by His Providence. That he ought to be worshipped. That the most acceptable Service we render to him is doing Good to his other Children. That the Soul of Man is immortal, and will be treated with Justice in another Life respecting its Conduct in this ... As for Jesus of Nazareth ... I think the system of Morals and Religion as he left them to us, the best the World ever saw ... but I have ... some Doubts to his Divinity; though it is a Question I do not dogmatism upon, having never studied it, and think it is needless to busy myself with it now, where I expect soon an Opportunity of knowing the Truth with less Trouble."

Benjamin Franklin was born on January 17, 1706, in Boston, Massachusetts, one of 10 children to his parents Josiah and Abiah Folger. Benjamin Franklin's father wanted him to attend school to become a clergyman, but that was not in the cards for him, much by his own design. In fact, he was always a single-minded and headstrong man, leaving an apprenticeship with his elder brother "illegally", and running away to Philadelphia to begin life anew in a new city at the age of 17. And when he left, he also left the Puritan church of his parents.

After he grew up, he became an advocate for republicanism, and -- like its other advocates -- emphasized that the new American Republic could only function if its constituents were virtuous. He went on to write extensively about virtue, but his writings never included the fundamental Puritan ideals he grew up with, including the belief in salvation and the divinity of Jesus as the Son of God. In his autobiography, he indicated that he was a "deist", someone who believes in a single God.

Though he does seem very liberal and progressive by today's political standards, he did introduce the practice of daily common prayer during the Constitutional Convention of 1787. The motion, however, was met with much resistance and was never even brought to a vote, let alone enacted.

But Benjamin Franklin was known for being respectful and tolerant of all churches and practices. And though he was raised with Puritanical values, he decided for himself that God's truths can be discovered through nature and rationalism.

What is the difference between prokaryotes and eukaryotes?

Prokaryotes and eukaryotes are classifications of organisms. Prokaryotes are single cell organism, such as bacteria. Eukaryotes, on the other hand, are multi cellular organisms, such as plants, animals, etc. There are a large number of structural differences between the two, especially in terms of organelle that are present. Eukaryotes have nucleus, mitochondria, lysosomes, endoplasmic recticulum, golgi apparatus, etc. Prokaryotes do not contain any of these cell organelle. Prokaryotes are much simpler in terms of structure and operation. In comparison, eukaryotes are very complex in terms of structure and functions. Prokaryotes are much smaller in size and are on the order of few micrometers. In comparison, eukaryotes are much bigger. The chromatin is spread though the cytoplasm in case of a prokaryotes. On the other hand, chromatin is enclosed in nuclear membrane in case of eukaryotes.

Hope this helps. 

How did World War II change opportunities for African-Americans?

World War II led to change for African-Americans in several ways. First, it created job opportunities for many African-American men and women in essential war industries. Most of the higher-paying jobs in industry had gone to whites before the war, but many Black men and women moved to cities around the country (especially the North and the Pacific Coast) to take advantage of these opportunities. This was a continuation of a process that began with World War I, and it marked a significant demographic shift in American history. 

Another change wrought by the war was that African-Americans served in massive numbers, and while many were relegated to non-combat roles, many were not, and their exploits (the "Tuskegee Airmen," for example) were followed with pride by African-American communities back home. These men still served in segregated units, however, and faced rampant discrimination in the military. 

Overall, the major opportunities opened by the war were ideological. The war was framed as a war of liberation from regimes whose claims of racial superiority were central to their ideology. Many pointed out the hypocrisy of African-Americans fighting to defend a Jim Crow society. At home, many black leaders called for a "Double-V" campaign--victory against totalitarianism abroad and racism at home. Many historians, in fact, view the war as a major catalyst for the Civil Rights Movement that began just a few years later. Black servicemen who had risked their lives for their country were in no mood to tolerate the systemic racism that confronted them when they returned home.

In The Last Leaf by O. Henry, what makes Behrman's work a masterpiece?

Behrman's painting of a leaf on a vine that was being destroyed by a heavy storm becomes a masterpiece, not only because of its accurate and realistic depiction of a leaf on a vine, but due to the context in which the leaf was painted and the outcome the painting achieved.

Behrman did not paint the leaf because he wanted to achieve fame and fortune, although it had always been his desire to complete such a painting, but because he wanted to save a life. Furthermore, he had sacrificed his own to achieve this goal. The story makes it clear that Behrman performed this selfless deed out of love for his fellow man.

In the story we quickly learn that many artists of all kinds had come to Greenwich Village to practice and ply their trade, but that the community had been ravaged by  pneumonic plague. One of the artists so infected was Behrman's upstairs neighbour, Joanna, or 'Johnsy', for short. Johnsy's live-in companion, Sue, was told by the visiting doctor that she would die if she did not have hope. She stood at least a one-in-five chance of survival if she had some purpose to cling to.

Sue discovered that Johnsy had been counting the leaves on the wall of the building opposing theirs. She told Sue that if the last leaf went, she would go too. Sue imparted this information to old Behrman who was quite aghast that Johnsy would allow a leaf to determine her fate.

When Johnsy looked out of her window the next morning, she noticed that one last leaf was still clinging to the vine and when she did the same later, she was surprised that it was still there. This inspired her and she decided to fight her illness. When the doctor came he announced that she had a fifty-fifty chance of survival and needed some care.

He also informed the two girls that Behrman had contracted acute pneumonia and that he was old and frail and would have to go to hospital. The next day he told Johnsy that she was out of danger, all she needed was a food diet and care to make a full recovery.

Susie later informed Johnsy that Behrman had passed away after only two days. She told her that they discovered that Mr Behrman had gone out into the terrible weather with a ladder, paintbrushes and paint to create Johnsy's last leaf, and so contracted the deadly illness. As Susie put it:

 "Mr. Behrman died of pneumonia to-day in the hospital. He was ill only two days. The janitor found him the morning of the first day in his room downstairs helpless with pain. His shoes and clothing were wet through and icy cold. They couldn't imagine where he had been on such a dreadful night. And then they found a lantern, still lighted, and a ladder that had been dragged from its place, and some scattered brushes, and a palette with green and yellow colours mixed on it, and - look out the window, dear, at the last ivy leaf on the wall. Didn't you wonder why it never fluttered or moved when the wind blew? Ah, darling, it's Behrman's masterpiece - he painted it there the night that the last leaf fell."

What prejudices are believed about the characters in To Kill a Mockingbird?

Aside from the obvious prejudices held about Arthur (Boo) Radley and Tom Robinson, many characters in Harper Lee's To Kill a Mockingbird are viewed in a prejudiced light.

Walter Cunningham is one character Scout views in a prejudiced light though she mends her ways by the middle of the book. Scout's prejudices against Walter are seen in the early chapters. In the second chapter, in her speeches to Miss Caroline explaining why Walter has no lunch and won't accept her quarter, Scout paints Walter and the rest of the Cunninghams in a positive light, saying, "The Cunninghams never took anything they can't pay back--no church baskets and no scrip stamps ... [T]hey get along on what they have. They don't have much, but they get along on it." However, by the time Jem invites Walter to their home for lunch, it is evident that Scout sees Walter as inferior due to his poverty. For example, Scout shows surprise when Atticus is able to converse with Walter, "like two men," while at the dinner table. Plus, when Walter pours molasses syrup all over his lunch and Scout expresses surprise, making him feel ashamed, her retort when reprimanded by Calpurnia is, "He ain't company, Cal, he's just a Cunningham," showing us that Scout is prejudice at first and thinks of the Cunninghams as being beneath her due to their poverty.

However, Scout changes her tune after the trial when she learns that a family member of Walter's who served on the jury nearly acquitted Robinson. After this discovery, she plans to invite Walter home for lunch again during school, and when Aunt Alexandra sounds like she disapproves of the idea, Scout asks, "Why not, Aunty? They're good folks," showing us just how much Scout has outgrown her prejudices since the start of the book (Ch. 23).

Please give a brief explanation of the theme of Once Upon A Time.

A theme always contains the main emphasis and intent of the story. In Once Upon A Time by Nadine Gordimer, the theme essentially relates to fear and how this fear pervades, in this case, the life of the family, destroying their so-called "happily ever after." The family traps itself inside the home always increasing security so that "the people of another color" cannot destroy the illusion that the family is trying to hold onto. 

Gordimer reveals that the changing political landscape of South Africa at the time of publication in 1989 worries many people who cannot see a resolution. Fear of the unknown is readily felt and the tragic outcome for this family suggests that the major conflict of man against man becomes one of man against himself. Themes of fear and the anticipated loss of freedom allow Gordimer to serve her warning. In the opening to the story, Gordimer even admits her fear of the unknown. However, she is able to rationalize it and dispel her fear but not so the family, indicating that many South Africans will be similarly affected and instead of embracing the unknown future, they will try to perpetuate the current untenable situation. This theme of fear may paralyze many people and Gordimer is warning that what many think is the comfortable and safe alternative is more deadly than ever. 

In the attached paragraph from "The Lady or the Tiger?", what is the tone, mood, irony, and style the author has chosen to use?

This paragraph, which comes near the end of "The Lady, or the Tiger?" continues the ironic tone of the narrative, and it also generates a dark mood while at the same time not resolving the question of what the final decision of the princess will be.

As the descriptions of the princess's hatred for the maiden are detailed, Stockton's style of contrasting the ill feelings that the princess's savage blood engenders in the maiden with the previous knowledge that she feels intense passion for the young man generates an ambivalence. So, the reader wonders about what will be the attitude of the princess regarding the outcome she wishes for the young man. 

...all the intensity of the savage blood transmitted to her through...wholly barbaric ancestors, she hated the woman....

Certainly the ironic tone, dark, foreboding mood, and style of this paragraph is a continuation of the uncertainty of the situation that serves to engross readers in the suspenseful narrative and wonder when reaching the story's unfinished ending what would be the conclusion had Stockton written one.

Explain the process of fertilisation in plants.

Plants contain organs for sexual reproduction, located inside their flowers.

Male organs are called stamens. In the anther at the top of the stamen, pollen grains are produced which contain haploid sperm cells.

Female organs are called pistils. The pistil is vase-- shaped. At the top, is the stigma which is sticky to catch pollen grains. The style is a thin neck-like structure and this leads to the ovary at the bottom of the pistil which contains ovules. These in turn, contain egg cells and polar cells. 

Plants have a double fertilization. Once pollination occurs and pollen is transferred from the male stamen to the stigma at the top of a female pistil, the pollen grain germinates downward. A pollen tube forms and elongates. Once the tube reaches the ovary, it joins to the ovule and one sperm enters and fertilizes the egg cell located inside. This becomes the zygote and later, the embryo plant.

In flowering plants (angiosperms), another sperm enters the ovule and joins with the two polar nuclei to become endosperm material. This forms the food for the developing embryo plant. The ovule containing the embryo plant and food material develops a hard covering and is known as a seed. The ovary which contains the ovules expands in size to become the fruit.

Anything that contains seeds is therefore technically a fruit or ovary and the seeds are technically the ovules which contain an embryo plant with a food supply. 

The link provided has nice illustrations of the male and female reproductive systems in angiosperms.

What would be an object/item which is representative of the most important conflict in the plot?

The book The Fault in Our Stars, by John Green, is about two teens with cancer learning to embrace their lives and make the most of it. Hazel Lancaster has thyroid cancer which is currently in a state of non-progression thanks to an experimental drug. Though the cancer is not progressing, Hazel's mother feels she is depressed and decides to send Hazel to a cancer support group. There she meets Augustus Waters, who had osteosarcoma as a child and is in attendance at the group to support his friend Isaac. After the group, Hazel and Augustus talk for a while. When Augustus puts a cigarette between his lips, Hazel begins admonishing him, and Augustus explain that the cigarette is not for smoking. It is a metaphor. He simply puts the (unlit, and therefore harmless) cigarette between his lips, but does not light it. He does not give the cigarette the "power to kill."

One of the troubles people with cancer struggle with, in real life and in the book, is a feeling of a lack of agency. People with cancer may feel that their power to make decisions about their health, their life, and their death has been limited or removed entirely. This is the major conflict in the book. When one's life and death are uncertain, it's important to make the most of what time is left. Though Hazel's condition is relatively stable, she is still limited in what she does in life by her poorer quality of health. She has to use an oxygen tank as her lungs are at risk of filling with fluid, and she becomes fatigued easily. Hazel wants to have good quality of life and wants to live a life that is good for others. She is a vegetarian and tries very hard to not make a negative impact on the world.

The plot action really begins to build when Hazel introduces Augustus to her favorite book, and both of them are left with questions unanswered by the author. Augustus, who is later revealed to have had a relapse in his condition, tries to use his remaining time to enjoy Hazel's company and help her make the most out of her time, too. He decides to use his Wish (granted by a charity for young people with cancer) to take Hazel to Amsterdam to visit her favorite author and ask their questions in person. Though the author does not turn out to be the kind of person they were expecting, Hazel and Augustus have a great time in Amsterdam and are only mildly limited by their health.

I believe that the cigarette Augustus puts between his lips, but does not smoke, is a great object to represent the conflict of this story. The cigarette, on its own, does not have the power to kill someone. The cigarette must be given the power by being lit. This can be a metaphor for depression or poor quality of life experienced by someone with cancer. While cancer has a huge impact on someone's health condition and capability for physical activity, cancer must be given the power to keep someone down. Augustus teaches Hazel that it's about accepting each other, accepting oneself, and accepting the cards we are dealt in life and making the  most of it. Even with cancer, there are many brilliant things someone can do with their time. 

Does changing the color of food also cause changes in its taste and texture?

The color of the food can be changed by a number of methods, including use of natural or artificial food colors, vegetables or their essence. Changing the color of the food by using food colors will not cause any change in its taste or texture, since the food colors (that are available in the market these days) have no taste of their own and do not cause changes to food's surface, except for the color change. Some of the commonly used food dyes, in United States, are tartazine (for yellow shade), erythrosine (for pink shade), allura red AC (red shade), etc. 

Color can also be added to food, in certain cuisines, by adding other vegetables or their essence. An example is addition of tomatoes (solid, diced, crushed or as paste or juice) to give reddish shade to the food. If this method is used for color change (more like color enhancement), the taste and texture of food, both, will change.

Hope this helps. 

The 10th Amendment states that "the powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution, not prohibited by it to the states, are reserved...

“The powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the States, are reserved to the States respectively, or to the people.”  --Tenth Amendment to the Constitution

When the Constitution was written, those against strong federal powers (called Anti-federalists), wanted to add amendments to guarantee individual liberties and the sovereignty of the states. The Tenth Amendment basically states that if a power was not mentioned in the Constitution for the federal government, it was reserved to the states or the people. In this way, the states would be guaranteed to keep many powers that they were accustomed to.

Because of this Amendment, most Americans believed that Congress had only the powers that were listed in Article 1, Section 8 of the Constitution. Most Americans failed to read the fine print. Clause 18 of that section states the following:

The Congress shall have Power ... To make all Laws which shall be necessary and proper for carrying into Execution the foregoing Powers, and all other Powers vested by this Constitution in the Government of the United States, or in any Department or Officer thereof.

John Marshall, as Chief Justice of the Supreme Court, reasoned that this stipulation in Article 1 enabled Congress more powers than maybe most citizens had previously thought.  The "necessary and proper" clause can be used to justify a wide range of actions by Congress.  This application of Section 8 has come to be known as the "implied powers" of Congress.  This does not stop citizens from challenging the actions of Congress or the president in court.  Ultimately, it is the responsibility of the courts to decide what an implied power is.

Write the partial fraction decomposition of the rational expression. Check your result algebraically.

Multiply through by the LCD 

Equate the coefficients of like terms. Then solve for A, B, and C.

Now that autumn approached, what did Sam observe about the animals in My Side of the Mountain?

This happens in the chapter "In Which The Autumn Provides Food and Loneliness." Sam notices that mice are harvesting the grass seeds. Squirrels and chipmunks collect all sorts of nuts and hide them. The birds begin to gather together in order to start migrating south. The Baron, the weasel that Sam sees frequently, begins to look "moldy." Sam realizes that the animal is changing into his winter fur. He takes his cues from the wild ones. Seeing the animals prepare for food storage and for staying warm during the coldest months, forces Sam to think about his own winter needs. He needs some warmer clothes. And he needs to figure out a way to heat his tree-home. Sam builds a fireplace out of clay and pushes holes through the tree bark to allow for ample ventilation. He's preparing as best as he can for the snow and winter to come.

Why did Patrick Henry use rhetorical questions in his "Speech to the Virginia Convention"?

In the relatively brief 1775 "Speech to the Virginia Convention," Patrick Henry poses over twenty rhetorical questions to his audience.  Generally, a rhetorical question is not asked because the speaker expects an answer; instead, the question is asked to try to engage the listener and emphasize a particular point. 

What Henry was hoping to accomplish in the speech was to persuade the members of the House of Burgesses and the Virginia colony as a whole to declare war against Britain. Others who spoke that day were advocating continued negotiation with Britain, but Henry believed negotiation had been tried for too long and was yielding no change in how the colonies were treated.

Throughout the speech, Henry repeats the point that the situation the Virginia colony is in is enslavement to a foreign master. He uses many metaphors and images of chains, and in his final rhetorical question asks the assembly: "Is life so dear, or peace so sweet, as to be purchased at the price of chains and slavery?" He is appealing to the dignity and masculinity of the men of the assembly in hope that they will consider Britain's treatment a personal affront.

How does the speaker view London in William Blake's poem of the same name?

The first stanza already expresses a negative tone, for the speaker notes that as he wanders through the mapped streets of London, he perceives on every face that he meets, 'Marks of weakness, marks of woe'. The suggestion here is that the inhabitants of London look frail, sickly, depressed and/or sad. This further suggests that the city takes a heavy toll on those who dwell in it and the burdens that they have to bear as residents, negatively impact on both their physical and emotional well-being.

To emphasise this painful and depressing existence the speaker uses exaggeration in stanza two by saying:

In every cry of every Man,

In every Infants cry of fear,

In every voice: in every ban,

The mind-forg'd manacles I hear 

It is physically impossible for the speaker to have heard the cries of every man, every baby or to have heard every voice. The repetition of 'every' indicates the general somber mood. The speaker suggests that that is all he hears, when he hears these cries. There are no cries of joy, pleasure or happiness. All he hears are tortured voices. His reference to 'ban' suggests the limited and restricted lives the residents of London endure, their freedoms are severely curtailed not only by the laws in particular, but also by choice. They are chained, as it were, by creating barriers in their minds - their lives have become a mundane, mind-numbing, routine and they are unable to escape the mental prison they have created for themselves.

In stanza three the speaker is more specific in his bitter criticism of life in London. The city has become symbolic of abuse. His particular reference to "the Chimney-sweepers cry' is a direct reference to the exploitation of youngsters who were forced into child labour. They lived and worked in the most appalling conditions and life was a constant fight for survival. The speaker directs his bitter critique at the Church specifically for having abandoned the Chimney-sweepers (who are symbols of child labourers who suffered much abuse) and for not fulfilling its task to take care of and nurture these youngsters. The speaker is disgusted by the Church's apathy in this regard.

Furthermore, he is also severely critical of the fact that weary and ill fated  soldiers who have given their lives for King and country have received no real reward. Their 'sigh' is one of desperation and disillusionment.

In the final stanza, the speaker concludes his severe judgment of the city by stating that what he hears mostly through the night until the early hours of the morning are the curses of young girls who have turned to prostitution and have lost their innocence and morality. They curse, which means that they generally use foul language or that they damn their unfortunate circumstances.

The 'new-born Infants' in a literal sense, refers to the illegitimate births arising from the young girls' immoral activities and also figuratively symbolises the loss of innocence and purity for being born into the city, since it is so vile and corrupt. 'tear' informs of the anguish suffered by the innocent and its grief at being so corrupted. This debauchery does even more harm, for it spreads disease and infects not only the ones involved, but also others. It tarnishes the sanctity of marriage, not only through the spread of sexually transmitted diseases but also because it creates conflict within the marriage since there obviously has to be adultery. The marriage metaphorically dies and therefore  becomes a hearse - a vehicle used to transport the deceased. It could also mean that the spouses become diseased literally and die of infection.

On the whole then, the speaker deems London as vile and corrupt, a city which infects everyone within its demarcated borders with the most pernicious diseases: immorality, abuse, exploitation and apathy.

How does Mrs. Hutchinson embody the dystopian protagonist?

First, you should define "The Dystopian Protagonist" to identify how it is distinguished from a general protagonist. A dystopian protagonist recognizes the elements of their society that makes it a dystopia; as such, the protagonist questions the system in which they live and/or wants to escape and/or wants to inform others about their perspective.

When applying this definition to "The Lottery," Tessie Hutchinson is an interesting case. Through much of the story, she does not question the system in which she lives, and she is eager to participate in the ritualized lottery. It's only when her own family draws the black dot that she speaks out. Her shift then into someone who's disagreeing with the cultural tradition is in stark contrast to the rest of her family: her husband wants her to be quiet, and when Tessie draws the final black dot, her young song has a stone in his hand.

You might think about how Tessie embodies the very human situation of not being able to see the flaws in a system until she's its victim. Many readings of "The Lottery" interpret it as pertaining to World War II and the horrors of mass genocide. Jackson herself addressed this at times. Such a historical connection can add more depth to a discussion of whether or not Tessie is a dystopian protagonist: For example, does her shift in perspective separate her from her willingness to participate in the lottery so long as she and her family were spared? If the Hutchinsons had not drawn the black dot, would Tessie have experienced her epiphany? What would have happened if her son or husband had drawn the final black dot?

"The Lottery" encourages a lot of questioning about the human condition, social conditions, and the construction of cultural beliefs/tradition. Tessie can be seen as an example of someone suddenly recognizing a tradition's wrongness, yet her fate can be seen as an example of how - too often, unfortunately - traditions left unchecked and unquestioned for too long have more power than a single questioner.

What was the main idea of Sinclair Lewis's The Jungle?

Sinclair Lewis was a socialist who wrote The Jungle to dramtize the plight of exploited workers in the U.S. In this book, which was first serialized in a socialist newspaper, Lewis showed how the meat packing industry in Chicago forced workers to toil in harsh, dangerous conditions for very low pay. The workers would be rapidly replaced if they got ill or injured and had no rights.

The book chronicles the downfall of a family who, in addition to toiling in terrible jobs, also tries to pursue the American Dream by purchasing their own home. However, they don't understand the terms of the contract and are soon in over their heads with ballooning payments and a shoddy house. Eventually, they are put on the street. 

Lewis wrote the novel in hopes of encouraging support for unionization, worker's protections and decent wages. Instead, middle class audiences were shocked at the depictions of the filth of the meat packing industry. The book led to reforms there, including government inspections of slaughterhouses. As Lewis said, he aimed for people's hearts, meaning he hoped to raise sympathy for the worker, but hit people's stomachs instead. 

What should I include as the rising action, climax, and falling action for the theme "school trip"?

If you are writing an original essay or story on the theme of a school trip, it can help to begin with outlining a plot diagram.

Let's start with the climax- this should be the most exciting or intense part of your written piece. So, if your theme is on a school trip, what exciting thing may happen during the trip? The climax may be a very short event, or last the duration of the trip. If the class in your story had been planning a trip to somewhere they were very excited to visit, like a museum, the climax might last for the entire time they are at this location. Alternately, maybe one character in particular is anticipating some sort of conflict which comes to a head during the trip. If your character was afraid of roller coasters and the class took a trip to a theme park, the climax may be how your character confronts their fear of roller coasters.

Once you've decided on the climactic point of your story, it is easier to describe the rising and falling actions. The rising action should be the part of your story where excitement builds. This could include preparations for the school trip, the travel involved in the trip, and anything characters may be anticipating. It's important to consider some obstacles here- what might prevent characters in your story from going on the school trip? 

The falling action is the part of your story after the climax where excitement begins to fall and the story is coming to a close. What happens after the climactic point of your story? The trip home? Maybe your characters learned something during their trip or have some feelings to do with the climax? The falling action should describe how characters react and respond to the climax, and any events which may have been caused by the climax. 

I hope that this has been helpful. I think that once you decide on a setting and climax for your story, it will be easier to plan out the rising and falling actions.

One airplane travels due north at 300 km/h, while another travels due south at 300 km/h . Are their speeds the same? Explain.

Yes, the airplanes are traveling at the same speed of 300 km/h, one towards the north and the other towards the south. 

Speed is the ratio of distance traveled to time taken, or,

speed = distance/time

In the given case, the planes are moving at 300 km/h in different directions. One of the planes will travel 300 km towards north in 1 hour, while the other plane will travel 300 km towards south in the same amount of time. Using the relation between distance, time and speed, we can see that both the planes have the same speed (of 300 km/h).

However, if we are calculating the relative speed of planes (that is, how fast is one plane moving with respect to the other), then each plane is traveling at 600 km/h, relative to the other.

Hope this helps. 

What are Tituba's motives?

Tituba is largely motivated by her fear of being punished.  When Abigail first accuses her of witchcraft, Reverend Parris threatens to "whip [her] to [her] death" and Mr. Putnam calls for her to "be taken and hanged."  Immediately after these threats, she confesses to being coerced by the Devil to work for him.

Tituba is also probably motivated by a desire to please Mr. Hale, the only person in this community who has ever treated her gently.  He "takes her hand," surprising her when he speaks "kindly" to her.  He tells her that she's "God's instrument" put into their hands to help them root out the evil in Salem; he says that she has a special purpose, and she likely wants to give him what he wants: a confession.

Finally, Tituba probably feels that this is an opportunity to scare Parris, a man who is obviously quite willing to abuse her.  She says that the Devil wanted her to kill Parris, that he's "no goodly man, [that he's a] mean man and no gentle man," and that the Devil bid Tituba to cut Parris's throat.  Such a threat might make him think twice before he beats her again.

Can we separate tartaric acid from water? I need some different methods! Could reverse osmosis be helpful?

Tartaric acid is a small molecule that is very soluble in water.  If you have a simple mixture of tartaric acid in water then the simplest method is to simply evaporate the water by boiling it away.  When all of the water is boiled away, tartaric acid will be left in the flask as a dry white solid.  Tartaric acid is quite stable and will not be damaged by the heat.  Another method would be to crystallize out the tartaric acid using cold temperatures.  If the solution if highly concentrated, then put the solution in a refrigerator and allow the tartaric acid the crystallize and fall out of solution as a solid.  Pass the mixture through a filter to isolate the solid.

A more complex method to separate the tartaric acid from water would be to use something like reverse osmosis.  This is a technique that uses pressure to force a solvent like water through a semi-permeable membrane.  The water molecules can move through the membrane while the larger tartaric acid molecules cannot pass through and remained trapped on one side of the membrane.

What are Herman Calloway’s feelings about Bud?

Herman Calloway views Bud with contempt throughout the novel. When Bud first meets Herman and tells Herman that he is his father, Herman calls him a disturbed young man and tells Jimmy to handle him. Herman dismisses Bud and even calls him a scamp. When Bud goes to the Sweet Pea, Jimmy invites Bud to sit with himself, Mr. Calloway, and Miss Thomas. Herman makes several insulting comments towards Bud before he gets up and leaves. Herman argues with Miss Thomas about letting Bud stay with them and tells Bud that he's going to send him back to wherever he came from. Mr. Calloway threatens and accuses Bud of snooping around the house after Bud shows him that he has similar rocks with writing on them. Herman does not want anything to do with Bud and wishes he would go away. After it is discovered that Bud is Herman's grandson, the reader finds out why Herman Calloway is such an angry, grumpy man. Herman was very hard on his daughter because he wanted her to be tough enough to handle adversity throughout life. Herman's daughter ended up running away from home, and Herman never heard from her again. Over the years, Herman became a callous old man because he knew he was responsible for making his daughter run away.

In Chapter 8 what does Ponyboy discover that he and Cherry have in common in "The Outsiders"?

Ponyboy discovers that he and Cherry both see the same sunset and not all Socs are bad.

When Ponyboy and Cherry run into each other at the movie theater, Cherry seems nice for a Soc.  She apologizes for calling Dally “trash” and tells him his brother Soda is a “doll.”  She thanks Johnny for sticking up for her with Dally.  Johnny asks Cherry why she isn’t afraid of them.

"You two are too sweet to scare anyone. First of all, you didn't join in Dallas's dirty talk, and you made him leave us alone. Aid when we asked you to sit up here with us, you didn't act like it was an invitation to make out for the night….” (Ch. 2)

When Pony and Cherry get in line at the concession stand, some of the Socs give them funny looks like they should not be together. He tells her about the time that Johnny was jumped by Socs.

"All Socs aren't like that," she said. "You have to believe me, Ponyboy. Not all of us are like that." (Ch. 2)

Cherry is not like the other Socs Pony has run into.  She doesn't fit his image of a Soc, except that she is preppy.  Cherry doesn’t like Dally because he is coarse and rude, but she is okay with Johnny, Pony, and Two-bit because they behave in a friendly manner.  She confides in Johnny that "things are rough all over."  In some ways, things are not that different between Socs and Greasers because they both have problems.

She kind of shrugged. "I could just tell. I'll bet you watch sunsets, too." She was quiet for a minute after I nodded. "I used to watch them, too, before I got so busy..." (Ch. 3)

This makes Pony realize that Socs and Greasers see the same sunset, which means they both have some situations that are positive and some that are negative in their lives.  It makes him realize that he can’t group all Socs together, just as the Socs should not group all Greasers together.   Some Socs are actually all right.

How does the past impinge on the present in a tragic manner in Death of a Salesman, by Arthur Miller.

In Death of a Salesman the past continuously impinges upon the present. This is because the entire play is based on Willy Loman's final reckoning; the last episode of his long life of mistakes, where he finally comes to terms with what he has done, and makes his first (and last)  attempt to redeem himself. 

Willy's life story comes to us as flashbacks. Since Willy is a sickly, tired, aging man, these flashbacks from life serve as a way to tell the audience that life is, literally, "flashing in front of his eyes". This concept is often attributed to an imminent death, which is what ends up happening in the end. 

Aside from presenting itself in the form of flashbacks, the past has also made a massive dent in Willy's life. It is because of his past that Willy's life is as empty, shallow, unfruitful, and inconsequential as it is now. 

This is why.

Willy had choices that he did not want to make. He had many opportunities to join his brother, Ben, and go get the riches that Ben had acquired by going to the mines. Willy, ever second guessing himself, chose to listen to his wife Linda and decline the invitation. However, now in his twilight years, this indecision comes back to haunt him. What if he had taken the risk? Would he be as hard for money as he is now, in his sixties? Would life have been easier?

Willy's bad choice-making also comes in the form of the career choice that he picks. Willy does not like selling; otherwise he would be good at it. He claims to be a good salesman, but he is probably quite average. Regardless, the only reason why Willy becomes a salesman is to follow the steps of another salesman named Dave Singleman, a myth of a man whose funeral was attended by everyone.

The problem is that this is like chasing a waterfall: no one must plan a life based on the life of someone else. The path of each individual must be walked alone. Willy's choice to follow the life of Singleman leaves him in a job in which he does not succeed nor excel. He does not even leave anything for his family to reap any benefits from. 

The past also comes to haunt the present in the form of Biff's unproductive life. His once popular and successful life as a potential football player comes crashing down when he accidentally discovers that Willy had a mistress. While Willy continuously blocked this incident, and blamed Biff for his own problems, it is clear that this crass mistake on Willy's part definitely ended up hurting the entire family, altogether. 

In all, Willy's past demons come to haunt him now that he is in his very last days of life. Perhaps these flashback serve as one last attempt to ask Willy to come out and redeem himself before the end. 

Name three problems that occur within the story.

Although there are many more than three problems in Freak the Mighty, three that are fairly easy to focus upon are as follows: Kevin’s birth defect, the boys’ tussle with Blade and his gang, and Max’s kidnapping.

Kevin’s birth defect affects the entire story. Kevin cannot walk properly, although he has a superior mind. He wears leg braces and uses crutches to get around. Ironically, this is what inspires Max and Kevin to come together as their dual character of “Freak the Mighty.” Unfortunately, Kevin’s “problem” eventually leads to his death at the end of the book.

One of the episodic adventures in the book deals with the problem with Tony (Blade) and his gang of thugs. They constantly taunt and torment the two boys until Kevin suggests that the two form “Freak the Mighty” and lose the gang in a muddy pond.

Finally, Max’s biggest problem (other than Kevin’s death) is his kidnapping by his father, Kenny “Killer” Kane. Kane has killed Max’s mother and is in jail. As soon as Kane is let out on parole, he immediately kidnaps Max and chains him to a boiler in an old basement. It is Kevin who saves Max.

Discuss how women (colonial, Native American, African American, loyalists) impacted Colonial America, the Revolutionary War, and U.S. Independence...

During the early years of European settlement in the New World, men were the primary residents.  Over time, more and more women settled in what became the Thirteen Colonies.  Families were established and the population grew.  Women typically worked in the home during this time, though some became writers, teachers, and midwives.  

The tale of Pocahontas saving the life of John Smith was one that showed an influential Native American woman.  According to the story, Pocahontas stopped her father from executing Smith outside of Jamestown, Virginia.  

Many women were transported to Colonial America to be slaves.  One such slave was Phyllis Wheatley.  She was the first African American poet to be published.

When ideas of Revolution and independence from England began to develop, some women supported the cause.  Many women stayed involved in the events leading to the Revolutionary War through their husbands.  Theodosia Burr, Aaron Burr's wife, welcomed Revolutionary War generals and other military leaders to stay in her home.  She was greatly interested in the ideas behind independence.  Abigail Adams, the wife of John Adams, advised her husband frequently.  They often discussed politics together.

Loyalist women were frequently snubbed and treated badly by Patriots.  Many loyalist women fed and gave shelter to British soldiers and military leaders.  Some women, both loyalist and patriot, served as nurses or followed the armies to be near their husbands.

While women did not serve in politics or as soldiers, many still held strong political views.  Some women helped where they could, such as nursing or feeding soldiers.

What are the supernatural elements in the story, "The Canterville Ghost?"

In many ways, "The Canterville Ghost" is a classical example of a late-Victorian ghost story. This is due to its supernatural elements which are designed to spook the reader and contrast sharply with the many instances of comedy. 

First of all, the setting of the story, Canterville Chase, provides a strong supernatural element. This haunted mansion has a long history which is made by more terrifying by another supernatural element: namely, the events which have taken place there. In 1575, for example, Sir Simon murdered his wife, Eleanore, in the library. Her blood stain provides a constant, physical reminder of this brutal crime and adds to the suspense which Wilde creates in the first chapter. 

Thirdly, the weather provides another supernatural element in "The Canterville Ghost." When the Otis family takes possession of the house in Chapter One, for instance, the weather changes, as if to reflect the houses's dark past and to foreshadow future events:

The sky became suddenly overcast with clouds, a curious stillness seemed to hold the atmosphere, a great flight of rooks passed silently over their heads, and, before they reached the house, some big drops of rain had fallen.

Similarly, "a raging storm" occurs just before the Otises discover the reappearance of the blood stain in the library. 

These supernatural elements not only create a strong sense of atmosphere in the story, they also build to the climax. That is, the ghost's repentance of his sins and his removal from Canterville Chase to the Garden of Death, a place where he can finally sleep and rest in peace. 

What was Hobbes opinion of the nature of man? Why do they compete?

According to Thomas Hobbes, human nature is fundamentally competitive because everybody desires to accumulate possessions in the form of property.  Hobbes begins this chain of reasoning in his introduction to Leviathan when he argues that,

Nature (the art whereby God hath made and governes the world) is by the art of man, as in many other things, so in this also imitated, that it can make an Artificial Animal. For seeing life is but a motion of Limbs, the begining whereof is in some principall part within; why may we not say, that all Automata (Engines that move themselves by springs and wheeles as doth a watch) have an artificiall life? For what is the Heart, but a Spring; and the Nerves, but so many Strings; and the Joynts, but so many Wheeles, giving motion to the whole Body, such as was intended by the Artificer?

This portrait of the human reduces all human life to mere "motion of the Limbs."  By comparing the "Heart" to a "Spring," and "Joynts" to "Wheeles," Hobbes implies that people are just a collection of matter in motion.  The remainder of Part I goes on to describe man in more detail, eventually demonstrating that this materialist account of the human leads to a desire, on the part of every person to increase his or her power over others because of their natural penchant for vainglory.

In Chapter X, Hobbes argues that men work to increase their power by their nature:

The POWER of a Man, (to take it Universally,) is his present means, to obtain some future apparent Good. And is either Originall, or Instrumentall.

Because man's appetite naturally inclines them to seek the "Good," all men wish to increase their power.  Importantly, all of Hobbes' examples of power imply some kind of power over others.  For example, he claims that, 

Riches joyned with liberality, is Power; because it procureth friends, and servants: Without liberality, not so; because in this case they defend not; but expose men to Envy, as a Prey.

Thus, riches serve to empower the person who possesses them by allowing them "friends, and servants."  Conversely, it not "joyned with liberality," riches decrease a man's power because it "expose[s]" them to others who "Envy" them.  This calculus of power and desire embodies Hobbes' fundamental thesis on the nature of man. 

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

What is the conflict in the Poem "Incident in a Rose Garden"?

The conflict in the poem "Incident in the Garden" by David Justice is between Death and the gardener. The gardener runs out of the garden telling his master that he has seen Death within the garden walls. The gardener is quite frightened by the meeting with the tall, thin apparition dressed in black holding his scythe. The gardener explains that he must leave his job because he still has living to do, he wants to see his sons, and travel to California before his time on Earth is over. After explaining all of this to his master, the master enters the garden to confront Death. Death explains to the master that it was not the gardener he came to see. The conflict is resolved when Death explains it was the master he was seeking. The poem highlights the fact that death can come at to anyone at any time.

Which chapter of The Help talks about Ole Miss?

In Chapter 5 of The Help, Skeeter speaks about her time at Ole Miss, which is a nickname for the University of Mississippi. She says that while her friends were out drinking rum and Cokes at parties and putting on corsages, she was studying and writing stories, poems, letters, and other pieces. She dreamt of having dates with football players, but her "real dream was that one day I would write something that people would actually read" (page 59). Later in the chapter, Skeeter says that she did not attend her graduation ceremony from Ole Miss (page 68). Most of her friends had already gotten married, and she was one of the few women in her crowd who actually graduated from college. She headed home from school with a sophomore who was about to get married. The other woman carried her wedding dress with her, but Skeeter's most prized possession was her typewriter. After graduating, she hoped to get a job in publishing rather than to simply get married like her friends.

Why does Hamlet feel the need to seek revenge for his father?

Hamlet feels the duty to revenge his father's death for several reasons. The most important one is that his father's ghost has come to visit him specifically to incite him to do so. The Ghost says:

If thou hast nature in thee, bear it not.
Let not the royal bed of Denmark be
A couch for luxury and damned incest.

This brings up a second reason why Hamlet wants to murder Claudius. Gertrude has been widowed, deceived, and corrupted by Hamlet's villainous uncle. Hamlet believes his mother is committing adultery and incest, and for some time he suspects that she might have even been an accomplice in her husband's murder. Hamlet feels that he, himself, along with his family has been besmirched and dishonored by the hateful Claudius.

Hamlet has a third reason for wanting to assassinate his uncle. Claudius not only stole the crown from Hamlet's father by murdering him, but he stole the crown from Hamlet, who should have been his father's rightful successor. Claudius took advantage of the fact that Hamlet was away at Wittenberg to get himself elected king.

In Act 5, Scene 2 of the play when Hamlet is talking to Horatio, Hamlet enumerates his reasons for needing to assassinate King Claudius:

Does it not, think thee, stand me now upon—
He that hath kill'd my king, and whored my mother;
Popp'd in between the election and my hopes;
Thrown out his angle for my proper life,
And with such cozenage—is't not perfect conscience
To quit him with this arm? And is't not to be damn'd
To let this canker of our nature come
In further evil?

In addition to the reasons Hamlet had from the time he encountered his father's ghost, Hamlet (as he tells Horatio) now has the additional reason that Claudius tried to have him killed by sending him to England with a letter calling for Hamlet's execution. If Hamlet kills the king now, he will be acting in self-defense, because Claudius will surely act publicly or secretly to have his nephew killed, especially when he learns that Hamlet forged a letter which led to the executions of Rosencrantz and Guildenstern when they reached England. Horatio responds to Hamlet's above-quoted question by saying:

It must be shortly known to him from England
What is the issue of the business there.

Once Claudius learns that Hamlet knows he intended to have him beheaded by the English, Claudius will realize that his own life must be in danger. In other words, both men will be acting in self-defense. Claudius knows that Hamlet will try to kill him to keep him from killing Hamlet. And Hamlet knows that Claudius will try to kill him to keep him from killing Claudius! The news from England has not yet arrived with the English ambassadors, so both Hamlet and Claudius can continue playing cat-and-mouse with each other before and during the fencing scene. Claudius is already dead when the English ambassadors arrive.

AMBASSADOR:The sight is dismal;
And our affairs from England come too late.
The ears are senseless that should give us hearing
To tell him his commandment is fulfill'd
That Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are dead.

What regions in United States contained abundant natural resources?

The United States has been blessed with many natural resources. These resources can be found in different parts of the country.

One resource the United States has is coal. Coal can be found in the region near the Appalachian Mountains and in Wyoming. The availability of coal helped the Industrial Revolution grow in the United States.

Another abundant resource in the United States is farmland. The Midwest is known for its farm fields where lots of corn and wheat are grown. There are also a lot of dairy farms in the region.

Gold and silver were discovered in the West. Many people went to California, Nevada, and Colorado looking for deposits of gold or silver. Some people discovered these minerals and became rich. Most, however, didn’t and remained poor. Even big businesses got into the mining rush.

Oil and natural gas are other resources we have. Alaska and the Gulf of Mexico are regions where oil is found.

Timber is another resource found in the United States. The Pacific Northwest is known for its vast areas of forests.

Finally, there are regions in the United States where fishing is important. In the waters of the Atlantic Ocean, of the Gulf of Mexico, and of the Pacific Ocean, many different kinds of fish can be found. Fishing is one of the main jobs in these regions.

The United States has many different resources found in different areas of the country.

How does Paris show the theme of coming of age in "Romeo and Juliet"?

Paris represents coming-of-age in “Romeo and Juliet” because he is the man that Juliet's father has chosen for Juliet to marry. She is now (just) old enough to be married, at not-quite-14, and custom dictates that she is not only expected to get married as soon as possible (even Lord Capulet has reservations about that), but expected to marry somebody that her father has chosen. Paris is often portrayed as older than Juliet; although the text doesn’t specify his age precisely, he is old enough to negotiate with Lord Capulet on his own and so could be said to represent the “adult” world that Juliet is very close to joining. Some productions cast Paris significantly older, closer in age to Lord Capulet himself, a middle-age man looking for a wife young enough to have children, as a way of further emphasizing the idea of an “adult” world and making the possibility of marriage with him that much more horrifying to Juliet. Paris represents the life that awaits her if she's a “good” daughter who does what her father commands. It’s the world of the “good” daughter that she rebels against in the play, choosing Romeo or even death rather than Paris.

In "A White Heron," how has the child changed upon arriving home from her night on the tree? How does this storyline, though deceptively simple,...

On the surface "A White Heron" is about a little girl who becomes tempted by money, but eventually decides that she'd rather allow a bird to live. Upon further analysis, however, it becomes clear that the story is much more than it seems. Sylvia, also known as Sylvy, is a young girl who used to live in a big, crowded town, but now lives separate from all that on a farm, surrounded by nature. The story even refers to Sylvy as a "woods-girl," implying that she has now become a part of her wild environment. 

The hunter is never named but is given makeshift titles like "the ornithologist," "the stranger," and even "the enemy" at one point. This man butts his way into Sylvy and her grandmother's life quite rudely, in my opinion, and imposes upon them for food and a place to spend the night. He informs them that he collects and performs taxidermy on birds, with a special emphasis on rare ones. He then proceeds to ask them if either of them might have seen an uncommon white heron bird nearby and offers them ten dollars if they can find it for him. 

Thus begins Sylvy's dilemma. She thinks she knows where the heron has made its nest and she is instantly enticed by the prospect of ten dollars, which would be a great deal of money to her at the time. She does not tell the hunter right away where the bird might be, as some children might have done out of excitement, because she is uncertain of the precise location and is implied to be more than a little shy. That night she goes out searching for the bird, the thought of the money urging her on. After an arduous climb that almost certainly put her life at risk, she catches a glimpse of the bird. But when Sylvy returns home she refuses to tell the hunter anything. 

Something Sylvy saw when she searched for the heron's nest that night made her change her mind about wanting the money. The obvious assumption is that she was awed by the beauty and wonder of nature and realized that the life of a rare and lovely bird wasn't worth money that wouldn't even last. However, the story means a great deal more when the parallels are taken into account. 

Like the heron, Sylvy is a creature out of the environment she was born in, inherently wild, and pursued in some fashion by the hunter. When she first encounters the hunter she is instantly wary and afraid of him, much like a wild animal might be. She even remarks that his bird whistle is "somewhat aggressive."

The hunter represents the cold, hard town that Sylvy came from and the obsession with power and possession in a rapidly modernizing world. He symbolizes all the people, perhaps men in particular, who might come to Sylvy throughout her life and try to buy, possess, or keep her in some way. He also represents how greed can lead to the needless destruction of nature.

Sylvy, on the other hand, is nature. An untamable, un-buyable, and increasingly-rare being that is better left alone. 

What is the theme of the poem "The Eagle" by Alfred Lord Tennyson?

One of the prominent themes in this poem is that even the most majestic of creatures (including people) have limitations. In poetry and literature, the eagle is often a symbol for majesty, power, and of a regal nature. The eagle can soar to great heights and is a powerful predator. All of these descriptions suggest power and strength. However, in this poem, the majestic eagle is portrayed as being old. The eagle "clasps the crag with crooked hands." The "crag" is an uneven chunk of rock, perhaps on a cliff. Crag resembles "craggy" which can also describe the uneven wrinkles of an older person's face. The eagle's "crooked" hands suggest arthritis. The use of the word "hands" personifies the eagle and suggests that this poem can be read as a metaphor for humans. The alliteration of the hard "c's" in this line suggest the hardness or difficulty of the eagle's situation. It is a once majestic creature now limited by its old age. 

He (the eagle) is close to the sun. This suggests an allusion to the story of Icarus, the winged young man who flew too close to the sun. His wax wings melted and he fell into the sea. This parallels the eagle, a creature who can also soar "close to the sun," free and untethered. But in this case, the eagle's suggested fall is the result of old age, its physicality, and/or the limits of a lifespan. 

In the last stanza, the speaker repeats hints of old age: "wrinkled" and "crawls." Although the eagle can fly, he will inevitably have to come back down to earth. As the sea, part of the earth, is associated with wrinkles and crawling, so is the eagle. The imagery is focused on the eagle but the implication is that this can be applied to humans as well. No matter how great are our successes, we are inevitably mortal and therefore will eventually experience some sort of "fall." This fall is not necessarily a punishment; it could symbolize a fact of the limitations of life. It could be death or some other kind of limitation, and the fall could be as sudden as a thunderbolt. 

What is the "intoxicating draught" Victor refers to, and why would he question if Walton has drunk it?

Letter IV mostly narrates the early part of the friendship between Captain Walton and Victor Frankenstein.  As Victor recovers from his brush with death on the ice, he and Walton have a great deal of time to talk, and they find that they get along very well and begin to really care for one another as brothers.  

Walton takes this opportunity to open up to Victor about his goals for this dangerous expedition to the Arctic.  He longs to find the Northwest Passage, a waterway that connects the northern Atlantic Ocean to the Pacific Ocean and to understand the mystery of how the compass works.  Discovery, in general, is Walton's primary goal, and he yearns to make a significant contribution to humanity's knowledge and thereby confer an "inestimable benefit" on "all mankind to the last generation" (Letter 1).  

As he communicates these desires to Victor, Victor expresses a great deal of understanding and sympathy for Walton's ambitions.  Then, Walton says, 

I was easily led by the sympathy which he evinced to use the language of my heart, to give utterance to the burning ardour of my soul and to say, with all the fervour that warmed me, how gladly I would sacrifice my fortune, my existence, my every hope, to the furtherance of my enterprise.  One man's life or death were but a small price to pay for the acquirement of the knowledge which I sought, for the dominion I should acquire and transmit over the elemental foes of our race.

When Walton suggests that he would be willing to sacrifice everything else he holds dear, including his own life, for the sake of knowledge and discovery, Victor begins to cry.  When Victor finally speaks, he says, 

"Unhappy man!  Do you share my madness?  Have you drunk also of the intoxicating draught?  Hear me; let me reveal my tale, and you will dash the cup from your lips!"

When Victor asks if Walton, too, has drunk the "intoxicating draught" that Victor himself as drunk, we can understand that Victor is using a metaphor to describe the desire for personal glory, the dream of which is so "intoxicating" (like alcohol) that it makes the dreamer forget everything else that makes life worth living.  For the sake of personal glory, Victor has, essentially, lost everyone he loved and he will soon lose his own life.  To hear Walton say that he is willing to lose everything for the pursuit of his one ambition makes Victor realize the startling similarity between himself and Walton, and as his friend, Victor wants to spare Walton the pain that he has gone through.

Use matricies to solve the system of equations (if possible). Use Gauss-Jordan elimination.

The augmented matrix is            

On applying we get (means changing 1st row as the sum of  of first and second row)

On applying we get

On applying and we get

On applying we get 

On applying we get

Hence the given system of equations is equivalent to the following system of equations

and 

the solution set is

In The Giver, how do the people receive their assignment?

Assignments are given as the Elevens are about to become Twelves.  These assignments are the responsibility of the Elders, and they are announced by the Chief Elder at the Ceremony of Twelve.  As the Chief Elder notes in her speech, this is the only time that the community celebrates people's differences, rather than their Sameness.

Fortunately for the community, not all differences have been eliminated in people, since it takes different kinds of skills, talents, and interests to take care of all the needs in any community.  The Elders spend a year observing the Elevens, to see what their skills,  talents, and interests are. Since all of the Elevens have been engaged in a variety of activities, they can be observed in different kinds of settings.  Some are good at dealing with the elderly. Some are good at dealing with young children. Others might be good builders or show some aptitude in healthcare. Each child is assigned in a way that best uses his or her aptitudes for the good of the community. 

This probably seems like a good system to some readers, but a child who is twelve may have interests and aptitudes as yet unrevealed, and certainly, few twelve-year-olds have settled on one interest to pursue for the rest of life. But there is no thought of satisfying the needs and desires of the individual in this community, only the needs of the community. 

When does Willy talk about earning $170 in 1928 in Death of a Salesman?

The mention of making $170 in 1928 can be found in act 2, scene 1 of Death of a Salesman. 

In this scene, Willy is talking to Howard Wagner, his boss. He is trying to get Howard to grant him a full-pay job in New York so that Willy does not have to travel anymore. As we know by now, Willy is in his 60s, loses his sense of direction easily, and is quite tired. Moreover, he really needs money and has never had a job in the company where he has made an actual, steady paycheck; he works on commissions only.

Unfortunately for Willy, Wagner is too busy playing with a new gadget that he is very excited about: a tape recorder where he has taped the voices of his children. Rather than listening to Willy, Howard continuously deflects the conversation, focusing mainly on the new contraption. 

On the other hand, Willy is very intent in showing Howard that the late Mr. Wagner had "made promises" to Willy based on the latter's excellent commissions, which supposedly averaged at $170 per week, back in 1928. When Howard Wagner finally says to Willy that he cannot give him an office job with set pay, Willy loses his temper, especially when Howard doubted Willy and responded that Willy has never averaged that amount of money. 

Death of a Salesman

I averaged a hundred and seventy dollars a week in the year of 1928! And your father came to me — or rather, I was in the office here — it was right over this desk — and he put his hand on my shoulder.

We can make the assumption that Howard is correct; that Willy was never good enough a salesman to average so much money. However, we can only feel sad for Willy because, regardless of his performance, he had loyally served that company for almost his entire life. Now tired, old, and still underachieving, Willy sees the harsh reality of having to retire from a job that he never gained anything from to the fullest. 

What did Baba do wrong in The Kite Runner?

In The Kite Runner, Baba is certainly an imperfect character, but mostly because of his upbringing in a society in which his ethnicity, religion, and wealth place him in the ruling class. Within the limitations of that upbringing, he is by no means an evil man.  The most striking wrongdoing on Baba's part is his coupling with Ali's wife, Sanaubar, which results in the birth of Hassan.  This wrongdoing on his part, kept secret through throughout the novel, leads to his guilt, his loving treatment of Hassan, albeit as a servant, and his not so loving treatment of Amir, who is a less pleasing child.  This wrongdoing leads to Amir's resentments also. Although Amir has no clue as to the source of his resentments, he feels the undertones of the relationship between Baba and Hassan, a love that he cannot seem to gain for himself. All of these undercurrents drive the action of the novel and the feelings of its characters.  This is a toxic secret, but of course, in that time and place, disclosing it would have been even more toxic, possibly leading to death. I think it is fair to say that Baba was immeasurably regretful about his wrongdoing and did the very best he could thereafter.