In Out of the Dust, the birth of the baby affects Billie Jo deeply. What are the feelings that she needs to "walk off"?

In February of 1935, Billie Jo and her fellow students discover that a strange family has moved into the small classroom. The mother of this family is pregnant, and her husband, Buddy Williams, does not want her to sleep in the cold truck, "[n]ot with the baby coming so soon." Later that month, Billie Jo arrives at the school and learns that the mother is giving birth in the classroom. This triggers Billie Jo to begin thinking about Ma's birth, which resulted in both her own death and the death of her son, Franklin. Billie Jo prays that she will hear "the sound of a baby crying into this world, and not the silence my brother brought with him."

When she finally does hear the baby's cries, Billie Jo feels that she needs to "walk off" the mixed feelings that she is experiencing as a result. She is relieved that the other family's baby has been successfully birthed, but also incredibly sad to reflect on her own tremendous loss. For a girl as young as Billie Jo, the act of childbirth must seem like a particularly mysterious and unfair process: why did the birth of one child take away two lives, while the birth of another did not? The deaths of Billie Jo's mother and brother were an unjust part of living in a poor, rural area; it is this mix of confusion, anger, and sadness that Billie Jo is attempting to "walk off."

How are the town and the forest important to the setting in the The Scarlet Letter?

The setting of The Scarlet Letter is the Massachusetts Bay Colony, in Boston. The year is 1642, and the plot develops in a puritanical society.

In the novel, the settings of the town and the forest work as opposites of one another. The town, which is open, ample and busy, represents the light; the daytime. The forest, dark and mysterious, is the refuge of the lonely who, like Hester and Dimmesdale, go there to hide from the prying eyes of society. It represents the darkness.

In town, the villagers conduct the dynamics of their daily lives with close watch being kept over what they can and cannot do. We know that, in this particular theocentric and patriarchal society, the rules and regulations governing each individual are monitored by the aldermen and the magistrates who base the community's social parameters on their Puritan faith.

Therefore, in town (the village), everything, everyone's behavior, is seen, heard, known, and told about. Everyone must, therefore, follow the accepted rules of decorum and good behavior that are expected of God-fearing people. If they do not, the consequences will be not just harsh but also humiliating.

The forest is the "hiding place" where anything is possible. Its dense vegetation and its capacity for harboring all sorts of living creatures encompass thousands of possible things that could arise, and many other possible things that could occur. In The Scarlet Letter the forest is the playground of Mistress Hibbins, who admits without shame that she frequents the place to conjure spirits. The forest is also where Dimmesdale walks alone in perennial guilt, and also the place where he and Hester meet in secret.

All this said, the town and the forest both have a strong role within the setting. They both host the villagers in good and bad times. They are places of contrasts: safety, ignominy, and everyday life. Also, they are both equally necessary to the villagers and to the plot that unfolds.

How does Scrooge show generosity in A Christmas Carol?

Scrooge donates to the Cratchit family and a charity for the poor.

In the beginning, Scrooge is a miserable miser who does not care about anyone. He complains about giving his clerk Bob Cratchit Christmas day off, and he refuses to donate to the charity collecting for the poor.  All he cares about is himself, and he enjoys being alone and grumpy.

After the visit from the ghosts, Scrooge changes.  The first thing he does when he wakes up Christmas morning is send a huge turkey to Bob Cratchit—without telling him who it is from.  He saw with the Ghost of Christmas Present that the Cratchits would not have enough to eat for Christmas dinner.  The first thing he did was make sure that they had an excellent Christmas.

Scrooge also made a generous donation to the poor.  When he sees the man who came to him on Christmas Eve asking for money, he stops him and promises him what is obviously a very large number.

“Lord bless me!” cried the gentleman, as if his breath were Gone. “My dear Mr. Scrooge, are you serious?”

“If you please,” said Scrooge. “Not a farthing less. A great many back-payments are included in it, I assure you. Will you do me that favour?” (Ch. 5)

We do not hear the number, because Scrooge whispers it in his ear.  However, we can be sure it is a big donation.  Scrooge wants to help children like Ignorance and Want.

Scrooge also makes an attempt to be involved in Bob Cratchit’s life. When he watched the Cratchit Christmas, he got acquainted with and attached to the family, especially Tiny Tim. Scrooge makes it a point to let Cratchit know that he will not only give him a raise but help him financially.

I’ll raise your salary, and endeavour to assist your struggling family, and we will discuss your affairs this very afternoon, over a Christmas bowl of smoking bishop, Bob! Make up the fires, and buy another coal-scuttle before you dot another i, Bob Cratchit!” (Ch. 5)

These two acts both demonstrate that Scrooge is a changed man.  He becomes a second father to Tiny Tim, and looks out for other poor people in his community.  His intervention worked marvelously.  Scrooge realized what a miserable old man he had become, and decided that it was better to have people in his life that he cared about who actually cared about him.

How do you know if an area has high or low pressure?

High pressure would be pressure that his higher than the standard average pressure. Likewise, low pressure would be a pressure value that is lower than the standard average pressure. The pressure of an area can be measured using a barometer.

Pressure can be measured in the following units: torr, kPa (kilopascals), mmHg (millimeters of Mercury), or atm (standard atmosphere). The standard average pressure at sea level is equal to 760 torr, 101.325 kPa, 760 mmHg, or 1.0 atm.

Air pressure is due to the collision of air particles with a surface. Original barometers, or Torricellian barometers, were composed of a glass tube that was inverted into a dish of mercy. Measurements, in millimeters, were recorded on the glass tube. The air particles would collide with the mercury. Thus, the air particles would push down on the mercury. This, in turn, would cause the mercury to rise up inside the tube. The greater the air pressure, the higher thee mercury would rise into the tube. The average atmospheric pressure was 760 mmHg (or torr).

Do the Ewells deserve our sympathy?

This is more of a personal opinion question that has no definitive answer. In my opinion, I believe the Ewells do deserve our sympathy. Bob Ewell's struggle with alcoholism stems from that fact that he lost his wife. One feels a sense of pity towards Bob and can sympathize with his feelings. Bob's loneliness and addiction results in bitterness and anger, which he projects on his children. Mayella is viewed as the victim of her father's drunken wrath, and is a social outcast in Maycomb. Scout mentions that she thinks Mayella is even lonelier than Boo Radley. This description, along with Mayella's testimony of her family background, garner sympathy for her and her siblings. They can't help it that their father is an angry drunk, and I feel that the only reason Mayella testified against Tom Robinson is out of fear that her father would beat her again. Also, one cannot blame Burris for his bad attitude. He is basically being raised without any parental influence, which is why he behaves antagonistically towards his teacher and classmates. I feel sympathy for any child whose mother is dead and father is an abusive alcoholic. Even though Bob seeks his revenge on Atticus in the most despicable way possible, I understand that he is a victim of circumstance and numerous bad decisions, which is why I feel sympathy towards him and his family. 

Is acetone a polar or nonpolar substance?

Acetone (chemical formula ) exhibits the properties of both the polar as well as nonpolar substances. For example, it mixes in both water ( ) and carbon tetrachloride ( ). Water is a polar molecule, while carbon tetrachloride is a nonpolar molecule. If we use the 'like dissolves like' concept, then acetone is both polar and nonpolar. 

This dual character of acetone is due to its ability to make hydrogen bonds with water and the presence of two methyl groups. The former makes it polar, while the latter means that it can dissolve nonpolar substances such as carbon tetrachloride. 

A polar compound is one where the two charges, positive and negative, are separated by some distance and this separation is measured by dipole moment. Acetone has a dipole moment of 2.88 D and hence is a polar molecule (despite possessing characteristics of both the polar and nonpolar substances).

Hope this helps. 

What is the key idea in The Outsiders in Chapters 1-3?

Chapters 1-3 introduces the idea that life isn't fair and that sometimes, this is true no matter which side of town one lives in. Additionally, most teenagers value the same things in life no matter which strata of society they belong to.

For example, in Chapter 1, Pony relates how he must live with his two older brothers after his parents' deaths. Darry, the oldest, is only twenty but looks much older. Because of extenuating circumstances, he must work two jobs while trying to maintain the structural integrity of their little family. Sodapop, the second oldest, is movie-star handsome but must work at a DX gas station in order to help Darry put Pony through school. Pony, the youngest, definitely feels that he relates to the character of Pip in the Dickensian novel, Great Expectations: like Pip, he has to endure the social stigma of being ostracized because he is not a gentleman. He resents the fact that Socs are always trying to beat up Greasers; Pony thinks that being poor shouldn't be a reason to get beat up on.

In Chapter 2, Pony meets Cherry and Marcia, two friendly Socs girls who engage in conversation with him and Johnny. In this chapter, Johnny finds himself at odds with Dally, a tough fellow Greaser, who tries to take advantage of Cherry. Yet, despite his fear of the bigger boy, Johnny orders Dally to leave Cherry alone. By all indications, Johnny's brave action saves Cherry embarrassment but succeeds in alienating him from a fellow Greaser. This incident highlights the conflict between Greasers and Socs and between individuals in both groups who don't wish to conform to societal expectations of gang behavior. In this chapter, Pony also describes how badly Johnny was beaten up by four Socs. His narrative and Cherry's later assertion that 'things are rough all over' reinforces the idea that life is difficult no matter where one lives.

In Chapter 3, Cherry maintains that it isn't money which separates the Greasers from the Socs but rather, honesty. She argues that Socs socialize at a very superficial level, while Greasers are more emotionally open with one another.

"That's why we're separated," I said. "It's not money, it's feeling---you don't feel anything and we feel too violently."

Even though Cherry asserts that Pony has no idea what sort of challenges Socs kids endure on a daily basis, Pony definitely feels that Greasers have it far worse. However, in this chapter, Johnny expresses similar views that is later expressed by Randy, a Soc, in Chapter Seven: many Socs and Greasers are tired of all the conflict that exists between the two groups. Most Socs and Greasers just want to live happier lives and to know that they matter to their families and their communities.

What would happen when a beaker of water freezes into ice?

Ice and water represent different phases of water, while water is the liquid phase, ice is the solid phase.

Water has higher density than ice, in other words, it is heavier than ice. This is the reason why ice floats on surface of water. In comparison to water, ice has a more open structure, with empty spaces between the molecules. This is because of more hydrogen bonding in case of ice (each water molecule is hydrogen bonded with 4 other water molecules).

Thus, when water freezes into ice, it expands (that is, it will occupy more volume). When frozen in a beaker, this expansion of matter (corresponding to conversion of water to ice), will cause the glass beaker to crack or break. This is also the reason we do not put sealed soda bottles into freezer. 

Hope this helps. 

Evaluate the integral

You need to use integration by parts, such that:

You need to use parts again, for , such that:

Replacing back, yields:

You need to use the substitution

You need to evaluate the definite integral, using the fundamental theorem of calculus, such that:

Hence, evaluating the definite integral, using integration by parts, yields  

What are the advantages of bookkeeping?

Having a bookkeeping program for a business is a way to gauge how a business is performing. Wise business owners/managers institute quality bookkeeping programs into their businesses to keep track of finances- especially cash flow – money in and money out.

Three major advantages of bookkeeping are as follows:

1. It provides for presenting relevant, timely, and informative financial data

This financial data – provided buy an accurate bookkeeping system – gives managers the information they need to make daily business operating decisions. Bookkeeping will let a manager know how much cash is on hand at any given time. Therefore, a manager can monitor this cash account and then decide if ample cash is available to make purchases. This could be purchasing more inventory, or purchasing advertising in a local newspaper to promote the business. A manager would not know what funds are available for use without the company’s bookkeeping system telling him or her.

2. It provides for the management of cash

Bookkeeping enables a business to see how money is flowing in and out of its business. Each business must pay suppliers for the goods it purchases, which are then resold to the end-customer. Bookkeeping permits business managers to see how much funds outflow is taking place to suppliers.

In addition, cash management, through bookkeeping, enables a business to see how much funds are coming in from sales to customers. Bookkeeping helps keep all customer accounts organized and up-to-date. Therefore, bookkeeping enables a business to see if they are spending too much on inventory, while not reaping the cash inflow from sales that they should. Bookkeeping figures give managers an alert that they must manage their cash flow better.

3. It provides for internal control

A good bookkeeping system is a safeguard against persistent internal theft. Bookkeeping numbers will alert a business as to whether an employee is channeling company assets elsewhere. For example, a dishonest employee may be channeling funds to his or herself, and then trying to mask this activity through altering bookkeeping records. A forensic audit of bookkeeping records (along with employee monitoring) can help detect this fraudulent activity. The issue here is that there must be an accurate bookkeeping system in place that can be investigated to trace the fraudulent activity.

It is worth it for a business to have a good bookkeeping program in place to monitor operating performance. Bookkeeping also helps a business be organized as concerns payroll expenditures and payroll taxes. Furthermore, a bookkeeping system is a way of keeping track of daily operating expenses. A business, via its bookkeeping system, can see if it is spending too much on electricity, heat, water, maintenance and repairs, and more. Bookkeeping figures will let a business manager know where costs must be cut to ensure the business remains viable and profitable.

List three example of when Atticus had to use courage in To Kill a Mockingbird.

Atticus is the model of courage in the novel. 

First, Atticus agreed to defend Tom Robinson.  Atticus knew from the beginning that he would lose the case and would be ridiculed. But he still defends him with all his heart. Here is a dialogue that shows Atticus' courage. 

“Atticus, are we going to win it?”

“No, honey.”

“Then why—”

“Simply because we were licked a hundred years before we started is no reason for us not to try to win,” Atticus said.

Second, Atticus demonstrates great courage when he defends Tom Robinson from a mob.  Even though the mob was about to hurt Tom and him, he does not back down.  Atticus is willing to risk his own well-being. Later he admits to Jem that the mob might have hurt him.  From the reader's perspective, Atticus might even have been killed. 

Third, Atticus shows courage in the trial as a lawyer.  As the trial progresses, it becomes clearer that the people of Maycomb are very displeased with Tom and Atticus.  With all this pressure, an average man would have capitulated. However, Atticus did not.  In fact, Atticus was going to appeal after he lost, which shows even greater courage. 

In the short story, "The Life You Save May Be Your Own," what do you think is the significance of the peculiar clouds and storm that pursue Mr,...

In most literature, storms and bad weather usually symbolise either some malevolent act or event or act as harbingers of doom. A storm provides the reader with a sense of foreboding.

In this story, it is significant that the storm follows Mr Shiftlet as he drives towards Mobile, since it symbolises two important issues: Firstly, Mr Shiftler is trying to get away from the pernicious evil he has done in the previous town when he deceived Mrs Crater into believing that he had honest intentions by marrying her handicapped daughter, Lucynell, when he had in fact, deviously manipulated her to steal their car. He had repaired and painted the vehicle and was now in the process of stealing it. He abandoned Lucynell at a diner when she fell asleep at a table when he had promised that he would take her to a hotel after they were married. His sole intention was to get hold of the car and this was clearly obvious from the outset.

Tom T. Shiftlet, as his name appropriately suggests, is a shifty, untrustworthy character who abused Mrs Crater's naivete and her desperate need for someone to take care of her daughter, to commit a crime. The storm and dark clouds symbolise his malice. He obviously realises that he would be sought for his criminal deed and is escaping from it - leaving it behind as he attempts to outrun the approaching storm. It does not seem that his attempt will be very successful however, since the last few lines suggest that the trouble he created will catch up with him, as indicated by the following:

After a few minutes there was a guffawing peal of thunder from behind and fantastic raindrops, like tin‑can tops, crashed over the rear of Mr. Shiftlet's car.

In the second place, Mr Shiftlet is being followed by the storm towards Mobile. In this instance it foreshadows the fact that he is bringing trouble to Mobile and states, symbolically, that he takes trouble with him wherever he goes. This is also suggested earlier in the story when he so easily recalls the names of other characters from different parts of the country, suggesting that those were most probably pseudonyms he used there, to hide his true identity and avoid being traced.

How you know my name ain't Aaron Sparks, lady, and I come from Singleberry, Georgia, or how you know it's not George Speeds and I come from Lucy, Alabama, or how you know I ain't Thompson Bright from Toolafalls, Mississippi?"

Shiftlet, in all probability, may not be his real name. Rest assured, he will once again commit some or other unsavoury act wherever he may end up.

Furthermore, the storm is a perfect contrast to the sunny descriptions provided at the beginning of the story. When Shiftlet arrived at the Crater's plantation, the sun was setting and he relished its beauty, raising his arms in appraisal. Pleasant and sunny images were painted throughout the story until he committed this vile act - taking advantage and stealing the Crater's car. The implication is clear, Mr Shiftlet brings doom and gloom wherever he goes and leaves behind only disparagement and disappointment. 

Does Holden annihilate others, or do they annihilate him?

Annihilate means to completely destroy.  I don't think that Holden annihilates anybody.  He is too much of an anti-social loner.  He does try to interact with people throughout the novel, but he is always so frustrated by them, that he walks away.  He's never around long enough for anybody to annihilate him either.  Plus he's never destroyed.  He starts and ends the story basically the same way.  

I think perhaps you meant "alienate" instead of annihilate.  If that's the case, I think Holden alienates others.  There are times throughout the story that people reach out to Holden and try to help him.  For example, Mr. Spencer clearly wants to help Holden get out of his academic apathy.  The problem is that Holden wants nothing to do with that kind of encouragement, so he walks away.  Stradlater is another character that I think could actually be friends with Holden.  When the two boys get into a fight, it's clear that Stradlater doesn't want to hurt Holden.  If Stradlater did't care about Holden or hated him, he wouldn't have a problem pummeling Holden.  But he doesn't beat Holden to a pulp. But once again Holden walks away from a potential friendship believing that Stradlater is just another phony.  People are constantly around Holden and don't mistreat him.  Yet Holden distances himself time and time again. Holden alienates others away from him.  

Explain how France was organized before the revolution. Include the name given to each group and their role.

French society before the Revolution was divided by custom and by law into three estates, or orders. They were as follows:

• The clergy. Known as the "first estate," the Catholic clergy were immune from taxation, and were allowed to profit from their positions. Many were in reality appointed due to their political connections rather than experience or any particular expertise. While the First Estate technically included all clergy, and the Church controlled vast tracts of land and wealth, many parish priests lived in relative poverty, and even some wealthy church officials (the abbe Sieyes, for example) sympathized with calls for reform as the Revolution approached. Overall, however, the Church was a bastion of privilege under the old order.


• The nobility. This "Second Estate" included old French nobility, descended from aristocratic families dating back hundreds of years, as well as men who had recently purchased titles, offices, and estates from the monarchy, who alone had the power to grant titles. The former were known as the noblesse d'épée ("nobles of the sword,") while the latter were called noblesse d'robe ("nobles of the robe,") a reference to the fact that many owed their titles to their administrative or judicial offices. The nobles, too, were exempt from most taxes, including the taille, a head tax. As the noblesse d'robe demonstrated, there was some mobility between the Second Estate and the Third Estate.


• Everyone else. The "Third Estate" included every other legally recognized person (i.e. not slaves or really even servants) in the kingdom. Sometimes the image of the Third Estate evokes the Paris working classes or the rural peasants, but the most politically influential members of the Third Estate were the bourgeoisie, educated urban lawyers, merchants, and businessmen who deeply resented (though many also aspired to join) the French nobility. In any case, the Third Estate bore most of the tax burden under the Bourbon monarchs, and it was a coalition of lawyers and reform-minded nobility who initiated the early reforms of the Revolution's liberal phase. 

In the book Outliers, what does Gladwell say is the stereotypical story of the rise to the top? What examples does he cite?

You’re probably familiar with the stereotypical story of the rise to the top, because it seems to be deeply embedded in our culture. Gladwell recites this description of it in Chapter One, “The Matthew Effect:”

In the autobiographies published every year by the billionaire/entrepreneur/rock star/celebrity, the story line is always the same: our hero is born in modest circumstances and by virtue of his own grit and talent fights his way to greatness.

As immediate examples he cites Joseph from the Bible, the characters in the Horatio Alger books of the 19th-century, and Jeb Bush, former governor of Florida. But this “pulling yourself up by your own bootstraps” theory doesn’t work, Gladwell says. It’s a myth without substance. There are always hidden advantages and cultural legacies that allow for the right circumstances to happen for the right person in the right place. He spends the rest of the book giving us specific examples: from Canadian hockey players to computer software giants, and from airline pilots to the Italian-born residents of a tiny Pennsylvania town. Some of the names you will recognize. He concludes:

It’s not enough to ask what successful people are like, in other words. It is only by asking where they are from that we can unravel the logic behind who succeeds and who doesn’t.

In Shooting an Elephant, what crisis was George Orwell called to solve?

George Orwell's essay about his experiences as a colonial police officer in British-occupied Burma, Shooting an Elephant, is the author's bitter indictment of the dehumanizing effects on occupied and occupier alike of European imperialism. The answer to the question -- what crisis was Orwell called to solve -- is implied in the story's title. In his capacity as a sub-divisional police officer in the southern Burmese town of Moulmein, Orwell is called upon to deal with an unusual problem, described by the author early in his essay:

"Early one morning the subinspector at a police station the other end of the town rang me up on the phone and said that an elephant was ravaging the bazaar. Would I please come and do something about it?"

Orwell, then, is compelled to deal with a rampaging elephant that has destroyed property and, as the investigating officer discovers, killed a villager, a scene described in excruciating detail:

"He [the villager] was lying on his belly with arms crucified and head sharply twisted to one side. His face was coated with mud, the eyes wide open, the teeth bared and grinning with an expression of unendurable agony. (Never tell me, by the way, that the dead look peaceful. Most of the corpses I have seen looked devilish.) The friction of the great beast's foot had stripped the skin from his back as neatly as one skins a rabbit."

While the elephant was largely domesticated, it had gone rogue and, in the eyes of the indigenous population, had to be put down -- an expectation that ran counter to Orwell's instincts and that presented him with a moral quandary that came to symbolize the futility and barbarity inherent in colonialism. By the time Orwell, now armed with a powerful rifle, encounters the elephant, its anger or fear had dissipated and it no longer presented a threat to the town. The villagers, however, are anxious to see how Orwell, the representative of the occupying power, deals with the situation, and this hapless police officer feels compelled to shoot the now-harmless animal rather than appear weak in the eyes of those he is supposed to rule in the name of the British Empire he serves.

In "A Poison Tree," what is the literal meaning of "And into my garden stole"? How did the persona's enemy enter his garden?

Literally, the persona's enemy "stole" into the garden, which means "crept" or "sneaked" in quietly. Literally, therefore, this line means the enemy sneaks into the persona's garden. We also learn that it is very dark outside, for the poem says "when the night had veiled the pole." The "pole" most likely refers to the star Polaris, the North star, which is perhaps on this particular night obscured by clouds. 

However, "stole" is, beyond its literal meaning, also a double entendre, a word with more than one meaning. Stole does mean creep or sneak and literally the enemy sneaks in. But stole also is the past tense for steal in the sense of rob, so there is a suggestion or connotation of the enemy not only creeping in but creeping in illicitly to steal.  

What is the significance of yams in the Igbo society?

In Chinua Achebe's Things Fall Apart, Achebe places emphasis on the importance of yams to Okonkwo's Igbo clan within Umuofia. Yams are the essential crop within Umuofia; the yam is a crucial staple in the Igbo diet. The number of yams a man successfully grows indicates his wealth and rank within the society. Additionally, the cultivation of yams is associated with masculinity: "Yam, the king of crops, was a man's crop" (23). Okonkwo takes great pride in his ability to grow this important crop, and uses his skills as a way to display his own manly prowess. Early in the novel, Okonkwo chastises Nwoye for the way that he handles yams, threatening to physically harm his son. After this threat, Achebe writes:

"Inwardly Okonkwo knew that the boys were still too young to understand fully the difficult art of preparing seed-yams. But he thought that one could not begin too early. Yam stood for manliness, and he who could feed his family on yams from one harvest to another was a very great man indeed" (33).

Yams are of such important to Okonkwo's tribe that there is a festival to celebrate the harvest of yams, The Feast of the New Yam:

"The Feast of the New Yam was held every year before the harvest began, to honor the earth goddess and the ancestral spirits of the clan.... The new year must begin with tasty, fresh yams and not the shriveled rand fibrous crop of the previous year" (36).

The yam is incredibly vital to the clan, and more specifically to the traditions of masculinity associated with the tuber. 

What do Thomas and Kira discover about their talents that they have in common?

Both Thomas and Kira are artists. Thomas has the ability to carve intricate designs in wood, and Kira can embroider scenes in beautiful colors with thread. Kira discovers that their journeys as artists have followed a similar path. Both displayed artistic talent at a very young age, to their own surprise and to the surprise of the adults around them. Thomas feels as if the wood speaks to him and almost carves itself. Likewise, Kira hears messages from the thread, not audibly but emotionally or viscerally, and the first little square she embroidered seemed to come to life without her conscious effort. Both of them get more joy from their art when they are able to freely express their own creativity rather than devote their skills to repairing the Singer's staff or robe. Both of them have been taken by the guardians for their use because the guardians "had no creative power." Kira, however, realizes that she, Thomas, and Jo "were the artists who could create the future." 

In the book Tuck Everlasting why does the man in the yellow suit go to the Fosters' house?

The Man in the Yellow Suit goes to the Fosters’ house to find out about the source of the spring.

The Man in the Yellow Suit is chasing a lead.  He believes that the spring originated somewhere in the area.  He wants to find the spring to exploit it for profit.  He is basically looking for any information from the locals that might prove that the story he has heard is true.

Winnie and her grandmother are not being very receptive to his questions, but then they hear the music from the woods.  Winnie’s grandmother forgets to be cautious and tells the man that the music is from elves.  He gets excited when he realizes that she has heard the music before.

Then the moon rose. The man came to himself and sighed. His expression was one of intense satisfaction. … Then he turned and disappeared down the shadowy road, and as he went he whistled, very softly, the tinkling little melody from the wood. (Ch. 4)

The man believes that he has the source of the spring.  The music clearly means something to him, and so does the fact that Winnie’s grandmother has heard it before.  It is a mysterious sound, and to him it means he is on the right track.

That music comes from Mae Tuck’s music box.  It is one of her most prized possessions. It is clear that Mae has played it near the spring before.  It comforts Mae, and she plays the music absentmindedly when she is distressed.  She tells Winnie that she didn’t realize that others could hear.

When he does find the Tucks, the Man in the Yellow Suit explains why he was fascinated with them based on stories his grandmother told him.

I was fascinated by my grandmother's stories. People who never grew older!  It was fantastic. It took possession of me. I decided to devote my life to finding out if it could be true, and if so, how and why. (Ch. 19)

Of course, the Man in the Yellow Suit is a threat to the Tuck family.  They do not want anyone to know that they live forever.  They also do not want anyone to know about the spring, and the man wants to sell the knowledge.  This turns into disaster when Mae accidentally kills him.  The constable says that she will go to the gallows if the man dies.  This is foreshadowing because she is arrested and should be hanged, but since she would not die, the secret would get out if they tried.  This is why Winnie has to make the choice to break her out.

What happens to Burris Ewell on the first day of school?

Burris Ewell is sent home by Miss Caroline on the first day of school because of a "cootie" in his hair.  Miss Caroline is a new teacher, and she is unaccustomed to Maycomb and the different people who live there.  She notices something crawling in the hair of one of her pupils, Burris Ewell:

"It's alive!" she screamed.

The male population of the class rushed as one to her assistance...

Miss Caroline pointed a shaking finger not at the floor nor at a desk, but to a hulking individual unknown to [Scout]...

Miss Caroline said desperately, "I was just walking by when it crawled out of his hair… just crawled out of his hair-"

Little Chuck grinned broadly. "There ain't no need to fear a cootie, ma'am.  Ain't you ever seen one?  Now don't you be afraid, you just go back to your desk and teach us some more" (To Kill a Mockingbird, Chapter 3).

Miss Caroline is greatly disturbed by what she sees in her student's hair.  She speaks to Burris about the matter.  She suggests that he leave immediately and wash his hair with lye soap and kerosene.  Burris informs his teacher that he has already "done [his] time for this year."  Another student tells Miss Caroline that Burris always comes to the first day of school and does not return until the following year.  Burris announces that he has done this for three years.  To Miss Caroline, this fact is shocking.  To the other students, this is normal for a member of the Ewell family.

Burris is ready to leave school, but Miss Caroline tells him to return to his seat.  He refuses, and Miss Caroline relents.  She tells him to leave, which Burris does with a snort.  Before he exits the room, Burris speaks rudely to Miss Caroline, even calling her a "slut."  His words make her cry and he leaves.

Use matricies to solve the system of equations. Use...

The above system of equations can be represented by the coefficient matrix A and right hand side vector b as follows:

The augmented matrix can be written as:

Now let's bring the above matrix in row-echelon form by performing various row operations,

Rewrite the 1st Row as  

Rewrite the 2nd Row as 

Rewrite the 3rd Row as

Rewrite the 4th Row as 

Rewrite the 2nd Row as 

Rewrite the 3rd Row as 

Rewrite the 4th Row as 

Rewrite the 3rd Row as 

Rewrite the 3rd Row by dividing it with -3,

Rewrite the 4th Row as

Rewrite the 4th Row by dividing it with 5,

Now the above matrix is row-echelon form and we can perform back substitution on the corresponding system,

     ----- Eq:1

    ------ Eq:2

Substitute back the value of z and w in Eq:2,

Substitute back the value of y and z in Eq:1,

So the solutions are x=3,y=-2,z=5 and w=0

Solve the system graphically or algebraically. Explain your choice of method.

Let's solve this system of equations algebraically. When possible, this method gives exact results and requires no drawing.

From the second equation and With these cautions we can square both sides and obtain

or

Substitute this into the first equation and obtain

or

So y=0 or y=2, both >=0. The corresponding x's are 1 and 5, both >=1.

The answer: 1) x=1, y=0; 2) x=5, y=2.

Do you think evolution (that humans are evolved from apes) is correct?

First of all, we have to realize that it is not really correct to say that human beings evolved from apes.  When we say this, we make it sound like gorillas and other such animals were our ancestors.  Instead, both we and the apes evolved from ancient creatures that no longer exist.  I do believe that we evolved from ape-like animals.  The only reason not to believe this is if you have religious beliefs that forbid you from believing it.

Perhaps the most obvious reason to believe in evolution is that we can clearly see that other organisms have evolved.  We have an extensive fossil record that shows this.  Unless you have religious beliefs to the contrary, there is no reason to think that human beings came about in a way that is different than the process by which other animals came to exist.

Furthermore, there is plenty of evidence that specifically shows the evolution of human beings.  We have many fossils of creatures that are clearly not like modern apes and are also clearly not like modern humans.  The fossil record shows that there have been many creatures that evolved from our ancient ancestors.  Some of these evolved in a chain that led to human beings while other lineages (like that of the Neanderthals) died out.  We also have evidence from genetics that shows how we share much of our DNA with modern apes, showing that we clearly had a common ancestor.

The only reason to disbelieve the idea of human evolution is if you have certain religious beliefs.  If we base our views solely on scientific evidence, it seems clear that human beings have evolved from creatures that were our ancestors and the ancestors of modern apes.

In Nectar in a Sieve by Kamala Markandaya, what significance does a dowry play in a marriage?

Kamala Markandaya's book Nectar in a Sieve takes place in rural India as the narrator, Rukmani, recounts the events of her marriage. Throughout history and even today, the dowry has been an important part of marriage in India. A dowry is money or gifts which accompany a bride to her new home, where she will live with her husband's family. In many ways, the dowry is a form of payment to the family of the husband. In India, daughters must leave their parents' homes when they are married, and are integrated into another household. For this reason, they are not considered as contributing to their parents' home or responsible for "carrying on" the family. Many people are of the attitude that daughters are a financial burden on their families because they must marry into another family and are often restricted from working outside of the home. The dowry is intended to provide for the bride in her new home but also to ease some of the financial burden placed on her husband's family by her arrival.

In the book Nectar in a Sieve, dowry would play an important role in the marriage of Rukmani to Nathan, as well as for their daughter Irawaddy.

What is a good reason to read the book Three Cups of Tea? Why would you recommend it to someone else? I have to write an essay on these questions

One good reason to read Three Cups of Tea  and the reason why it can be suggested to another person is that it reminds us that individuals can make a difference in the world.  

The idea that someone sees a problem in society and sets out to change it is a reason to read Mortenson's and Remlin's book.  It reminds us that change is possible. Globalization and political ideologies define the modern world.  In this setting, the role of the individual can be almost forgotten.  It becomes profoundly empowering to read about how someone wants to build schools in a part of the world where there are none.  Moretenson does not let cultural divisions prevent him from recognizing the need for change.  He never loses sight on the fact that people will benefit from what he does.  He shows the power of hope and idealism. While we can debate whether or not his efforts solved the problems of the region, it is clear that he wanted to change something and he did something about it.  This affirmation of individual power is a significant reason to read the book.

I think this also becomes the reason to recommend it to another person. We share literature with other people because we want to share an experience with them.  In sharing this book with another person, so is the experience of change.  Recommending Three Cups of Tea to another person embraces the reality of change.  It moves us one step closer to becoming  the change we wish to be and see in the world.

Following 9/11/2001, should the CIA have been moved into the newly established Department of Homeland Security?

This is of course a question of opinion and judgment, about which reasonable people might disagree. But I can at least talk about some of the pros and cons you might want to consider when answering this question.

There are currently 17---seventeen---distinct US federal intelligence agencies. The ODNI and CIA are independent agencies, the OICI is part of the Department of Energy, the I&A, CGI, and HSI are part of the Department of Homeland Security, the TFI are part of the Department of the Treasury (I actually know someone who worked for the TFI, as it turns out---but I wouldn't be surprised if you didn't even know it existed before today!), the DIA, NSA, CSS, NGA, NRO, NASIC, INSCOM, NGIC, MCIA, and ONI are all part of the Department of Defense, and the FBI and DEA are part of the Department of Justice. That's not even counting a lot of other agencies like the ATF and FEMA that have very important roles in national security but aren't strictly intelligence-related.

This huge proliferation of agencies (and acronyms!) surely introduces a lot of inefficiencies and redundant activities. Several times now there has been a terrorist attack that one agency knew about (say, the CIA), but failed to inform the agency that would be responsible for preventing it (say, the FBI) in time to do anything about it. Consolidating these agencies into a smaller number (say, just the FBI, CIA, and DIA) could dramatically improve response times and thus strengthen national security. It could also save a good deal of money; we spend tens of billions of dollars a year on all these agencies, and much of that is being spent to pay staff to do things that have already been done by other agencies.

On the other hand, there are advantages to having such a large number of agencies, advantages that in a sense speak to the national character of the United States itself. We're all about freedom, competition, and separation of powers, right? Well, having many agencies instead of just one or a few means that we have competition between agencies. It means that the NSA can check up on the FBI and the HSI can check up on the NSA. In theory, it means that any agency that steps out of the bounds of rule of law and violates civil liberties, or any agency that has widespread incompetence or corruption, will be revealed by the other agencies. (Has this actually happened? Your mileage may vary.)

I don't mean to red-bait here, but one thing that really did strongly distinguish the KGB from US agencies was how unified the KGB was; they handled almost everything, foreign and domestic, military and civilian. The KGB was in many ways a more efficient intelligence agency (Soviet spying was clearly the best in the world; the US and UK were actually quite distant second and third); but it was also far more oppressive to the civil liberties of the Soviet people. That's clearly not the only reason of course---I'm not saying that if we aggregate our intelligence agencies we'll suddenly become Stalin's USSR. But there may be some real connection here: Perhaps part of why it was so hard for anyone to escape the eye of the KGB was their unification of all intelligence services into one. Having many agencies is inefficient---but perhaps that's exactly what we want.

On balance, my humble opinion is that some consolidation is in order; 17 is too many, perhaps we could do with 8 or 5 or even 3. Part of that reorganization might mean integrating the CIA into the DHS (though honestly I might do away with the DHS altogether; its function is too nebulous, its name is too Orwellian). But I would not want to risk integrating all intelligence services into one.

-3+12/4 Insert brackets in the correct place to make 2.25

You need to place the number (-3) to numerator and to put the difference -3+12 into brackets, such that:

If you place the number -3 outside the brackets, the evaluation will be different, such that:

Hence, the value of 2.25 may be obtained, in this case, by placing the sum -3+12 between brackets and the result will be 2.25.

What are the rights that will be granted to all the citizens in Lois Lowry's The Giver?

The community in The Giver is set up so that everyone receives the same benefits of living in a safe and peaceful environment. As long as each person does the job assigned to him or her, then each person has a right to follow the same pattern of living as everyone else. If anyone steps out of that pattern, though, then he or she is released (killed). The following is a list of each stage of life and the rights granted each citizen for obeying the rules associated with it:

1. Children are placed with families that include a mother, a father, and possibly one other child. All children enjoy living in respectful, safe, and economically stable environments.

2. Children go to school until they are assigned a job at age twelve; whereupon, they train to work in that career for the rest of their lives. This provides stable employment throughout their lives.

3. Once they are ready to be assigned parenting partners, children who have grown to adulthood are paired up with a partner with whom they can live without duress and rear children of their own. This pattern of living provides stability and protects against the instability of divorce.

The next stage in Jonas's community is best described by him after he receives a memory about family and love. Jonas compares that memory with what will happen to his parents once they are done rearing Jonas and Lily:

"As long as they're still working and contributing to the community, they'll go and live with the other Childless Adults. And they won't be part of my life anymore. . . And after that, when the time comes, they'll go to the House of the Old. . . And they'll be well cared for, and respected, and when they're released, there will be a celebration" (124-125).

Therefore, after child-rearing, Childless Adults have the right to work as long as they contribute to the community and then they are placed in a home for the elderly. By sacrificing familial ties, love, personal dreams and free choice, the people of the community are guaranteed education, free healthcare, stability, equality, food, and shelter throughout their lives.

How does the writer try to explain that war is kind in his poem "War is Kind"?

Stephen Crane calls war "kind" because he mocks with bitter irony the chauvinism that would have young men believe that going to war is noble and dying for one's country is heroic.

For those in the military, Crane ironically declares that they are meant for death:

These men were born to drill and die.
The unexplained glory flies above them,
Great is the Battle-God, great, and his Kingdom--
A field where a thousand corpses lie.

As a writer of the Naturalist school of thought, Crane takes a rather deterministic view of the dying of soldiers in stanza 4 as he points to the "virtue of slaughter" and "the excellence of killing," satirically implying that since the soldiers are destined to die, war accomplishes mass deaths and is an efficient way to end many lives.
Thus, the reader perceives that Crane really feels that war is anything but "kind"; it is an outrage against the youth of soldiers, stealing them from their mothers and lovers, only to be buried in "A field where a thousand corpses lie."  

What is the difference between being treated equal and being treated the same in the Little Rock Nine?

After the Supreme Court case Brown v. Board of Education in 1954 declared that the doctrine separate but equal was inherently unequal, schools across the nation were ordered to desegregate (meaning that African-American and other students would attend school together). Little Rock, Arkansas was regarded by most politicians as a fairly progressive southern city, so its schools were chosen as among the first to desegregate. In 1957, nine African-American students were sent to Central High School in Little Rock; however, they were not accepted.

On the first day of school, September 4, 1957, a violent white mob gathered outside the school, and Arkansas Governor Orval Faubus ordered the state National Guard to stop the entry of the African-American students. Eventually, Civil Rights leader Martin Luther King, Jr. convinced President Eisenhower to intervene, and the students returned to the school. Federal troops and state national guard members protected the students as they went about their day.

However, as Melba Pattillo Beals (who was one of the Little Rock Nine) documents in her compelling account Warriors Don't Cry, the students were constantly subject to harassment. For example, the soldiers protecting them could not accompany the female African-American students into the bathrooms, where other students harassed them. Not all the white students were hostile, but the mood of the school was so antagonistic towards integration that the African-American students were treated differently than whites, even though they attended the white school. At the end of the year, Ernest Green became the first African-American student to graduate from Central High School. All of the students who formed the Little Rock Nine won the Springarn Medal from the NAACP (the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People) for their courage in facing constant brutality and discrimination while integrating the school.

What are some reasons why the colonies should be independent?

There are several reasons why the colonies believed they should be independent of the rule of Great Britain. One reason was the colonists believed the British were trying to restrict their freedom. After the French and Indian War ended, the British Parliament passed the Proclamation of 1763. This law prevented the colonists from moving west of the Appalachian Mountains to the land Great Britain gained from France as a result of the French and Indian War. The colonists were upset because they wanted to move to this area. When the British passed the Quartering Act, which required the colonists to provide housing for British troops to enforce this unpopular law, the colonists became more upset.

The colonists also believed the British were violating their rights by passing new tax laws such as the Stamp Act and the Townshend Acts. The colonists believed these laws were illegal since the colonists had no representatives in Parliament that could speak about and vote on these laws. A basic right of all British citizens is that they could have representatives in Parliament to vote on tax laws. Since the colonists were British citizens and didn’t have this right, they felt their rights were being violated.

When events turned more violent in the 1770s, more colonies began to believe they needed to be independent of British rule. In the Boston Massacre, five colonists were killed when the British soldiers fired into a crowd of colonists gathered outside of the Custom House. After the Boston Tea Party, the British passed the Intolerable Acts. These laws were designed to punish the colonists, especially those living in Massachusetts, for the Boston Tea Party. The colonists refused to obey these laws, and they began to form their own militias. In April 1775, the colonists and the British fought at the battles of Lexington and Concord. There were casualties on both sides. While the Revolutionary War didn’t begin with these battles, for many colonists it was a signal that war with Great Britain was inevitable.

Eventually, the Second Continental Congress authorized the writing of a Declaration of Independence. The Declaration of Independence was formally adopted on July 4, 1776. We now claimed that we were free from British rule. We would have to fight and win the Revolutionary War to prove that we were really independent.

How is love a destructive force throughout Macbeth? And at what time does it start to become a destructive force?

In Macbeth, love is a destructive force because it is inherently tied to honor.  Assuming that Macbeth and Lady Macbeth do genuinely love each other, the two have their feelings of love intertwined with their feelings of honor, both of the self and of the other.  For example, at first Macbeth does not want to murder King Duncan because he loves the King and finds honor in being one who protects him.  Yet Lady Macbeth tells Macbeth that he will be more of a man if he were to kill the king and take the crown:

"When you durst do it, then you were a man; / And, to be more than what you were, you would / Be so much more the man."

Macbeth is persuaded by her words partly because he cannot take having his manhood challenged, and partly because his love for Lady Macbeth compels him to want to be manly for her.  In this case, the loving relationship has a destructive nature because of its close ties to honor.

What allusions does Shakespeare use in Act III of Romeo and Juliet?

An allusion is a reference to a well known person, place, event, literary work, or work of art. Shakespeare often alludes to Greek and Roman mythology in his play Romeo and Juliet. He also alludes to stories or characters which would be well known to his audience. In fact, the idea for the play comes from a narrative poem by Arthur Brooke called "The Tragical History of Romeus and Juliet." It was familiar to his audience so it was not surprising that Shakespeare announces the eventual outcome of the tragedy in the opening Prologue. Thus, the allusions in Act III refer to common stories and mythology.

When Tybalt comes on the scene and Romeo backs down from the Capulet's challenge, Mercutio steps in to fight. He calls Tybalt a "rat catcher" and "Good King of Cats." This recurring allusion in the play refers to a character, also named Tybalt, in a well known medieval tale called "Reynard the Fox." The Tybalt from "Reynard" is also quick tempered and quarrelsome. 

After Mercutio is stabbed by Tybalt he launches into his famous rant condemning the two families for his demise and alluding to the plague, often known as the "black death." In his last words, he says, 

A plague o’ both your houses!
They have made worms’ meat of me.
I have it, and soundly, too. Your houses!

The Bubonic plague was a deadly disease which ravaged Europe in the 14th century and was still a threat at the time Romeo and Juliet was written.

In the beginning of Scene 2, as she is waiting for night so she may be reunited with Romeo, Juliet alludes to the Greek mythological story of Phoebus and Phaeton. Phoebus was another name for Apollo, the Greek god of the sun. The myth says that at dusk the sun would be hitched to a chariot pulled by Phoebus's horses and dragged across the sky. Juliet hopes that Phaeton, the son of Phoebus, will drive the horses to the west so that night will fall. Juliet says,

Gallop apace, you fiery-footed steeds,
Towards Phoebus’ lodging. Such a wagoner
As Phaëton would whip you to the west
And bring in cloudy night immediately.

A little later in Scene 2, the Nurse arrives with the news that Tybalt has been killed and Romeo banished, but initially confuses the issue with Juliet. Juliet makes an allusion to the devil and hell in her admonishment of the Nurse for not speaking clearly. She says,

What devil art thou that dost torment me thus?
This torture should be roared in dismal hell.

In Scene 5, Romeo and Juliet are in the girl's room. Juliet first makes reference to the nightingale, which she says is singing outside her window. It signifies that it is still night and Romeo should stay longer. Romeo contradicts her and says it is the lark, "the herald of the morn." The nightingale is linked to the tragic Roman myth of Philomela who had her tongue cut out and then transformed into a nightingale. In contrast, the lark has often been a symbol of joy, especially in Shakespeare's A Midsummer Night's Dream. Here, in an odd juxtaposition, the nightingale is good and the lark evil, since it represents the time for Romeo to begin his banishment.

Finally, in another allusion in the same exchange, Romeo refers to "Cynthia's brow" referring to the moon goddess (Cynthia is also linked to the Greek goddess Artemis). He is agreeing with Juliet that it is still night.

What is the theme and structure of the poem "My Parents" by Stephen Spender?

The theme and structure of the poem "My Parents" by Stephen Spender is as follows:

Theme

The theme of this poem is a father and mother’s love and protective instinct for their children. In this poem, this love and protection towards their child is exemplified in the opening line of the poem, where the boy says:

“My parents kept me from children who were rough”

From the outset of the poem the reader can understand that this boy probably has a softer nature than many of the boys in his neighborhood. This boy fears these boys’ muscles – these boys are stronger and rougher than he is. It is evident that this boy’s parents are concerned with the treatment their son may receive as he ventures out into his neighborhood each day.

In addition, this boy has a lisp. The rougher boys mimic his lisp, apparently mocking him behind his back as he walks, as they imitate his lisp to make fun of him. This no doubt disheartens the boy and his parents must sense this and hence their desire to keep him away from these boys to protect him.

Therefore, it is a protective love that the mother and father have for their son and this is the main theme of “My Parents”. A secondary theme, relevant to much of what is going on in contemporary society, is “bullying.” In essence, that is the subtext to this poem – a boy being somewhat bullied by stronger, brasher, less refined boys.

Structure

This poem is structured with stanzas. Therefore, this is a formal poem. Each stanza consists of four lines. However, the poem does not employ and end-rhyme scheme – there is no regular end-rhyme per se in this poem, such as a strict ABAB rhyme scheme, or some such other end-rhyme scheme.

There is a hint of end-rhyme in the last two lines of the poem, though, with the words “smile” and “smiled” rhyming imperfectly.

The poem does employ internal rhyme though. This is rhyme within a line. For example, internal rhyme in this poem occurs in this line:

“Who threw words like stones and wore torn clothes”

In addition, alliteration is a literary device that is used in this poem as part of its structure. An alliteration example is:

“climbed cliffs”

…from stanza number one, lone four.

What are six medieval issues found in The Pillars of the Earth? Fully describe the problem identified and comment about it.

Several issues exist in this novel.  One is the idea of building, but with a new design for the church.  Many new architectural ideas were being tried in the 12th century and the idea of building with an open design was radical,for what was to hold up the roof?  A second issue is that of the poverty of the ordinary citizen who has no recourse or source of help.  Tom Builder leaves his newborn son by the grave of his wife because he is too poor to feed the child.  Another issue is the conflict between the small churches and the wealth of the central cathedral which basically owns the wealth of the small churches.  A fourth issue is the founding of a new town which is a place to trade and earn money for the local people.  The Builder family is instrumental in trying to establish their new town where Tom  is building the church, but also to include ways of keeping the money from tradespeople in the town.  A fifth issue is the constant fight between the local churches and the Bishop or Archbishop who has far more power.   The use of that power changes lives and keeps the conflict in the forefront of dealings with the powers of the church.  Behind the back stealing and lying by those in power changes who takes over the Builder's church when the prior dies.  The last issue I would bring up is the lack of knowledge of health care and how many people died because of this lack of knowledge.  The plague and other illnesses spread like wildfire because people travel to trade goods and bring the illnesses with them.

My comment to all of these issues is that all of these still apply in this time as well as back then.  Issues of poverty, power, unknown diseases, and church influence still exist today.  Even experimental building is a problem today as radical ideas are often looked at with skepticism. I did love the book and its sequel because I love historical novels.  This one was set in a difficult time in the world and you can see how the struggles and intrigue are still very relevant today.

In the book Maniac Magee, in chapter 25, how does Jeffrey make Grayson feel special and important?

Grayson had been a lonely man for many years.  He was single and had no children.  When Jeffrey "Maniac" Magee came into his life, he suddenly had a family for the first time in decades.  Maniac made Grayson feel important and special by eagerly listening to the older man's stories.  Grayson had been a Minor League baseball player when he was in his 20s.  Grayson told Maniac a story about when he first arrived in a new town to join a new team.  A gas station attendant tricked him into thinking that he could order free food at a local restaurant because he was the new baseball player in town.  Grayson believed the man and ordered a large amount of food.  Then the restaurant owner came after him when he left without paying.  Grayson had to wash "dishes to work off a sixteen-ounce steak, half a broiled chicken, and two pieces of rhubarb pie."  Grayson announced that he had to get back to work, and "after a story like that, Maniac couldn't just stay behind."  He followed Grayson to work and helped him "raise a new fence around the children's petting farmyard."  While they worked, Grayson told Maniac his baseball stories.  Maniac began spending all day with Grayson.  He attentively hung on every story he told.

Why are structure and rhythm important parts of poetry?

Let's first establish what these two literary devices are: 

Structure is the form that the poem adheres to by using specific stanzas, meter schemes, rhyme schemes, and subject content. The types of structure are incredibly diverse both across and within cultures. Examples include Epic Poem, Free Verse, and Petrarchan Sonnet.

Rhythm is the meter of a poem, or the pattern of stressed and unstressed syllables in each line. Meter is composed of feet, or small groups of syllables, which repeat for a certain number of times depending on the type of meter. Examples include Iambic Pentameter, Free Verse, Blank Verse. 

In a poem, the structure and rhythm work together to produce emphasis for certain parts of the poem. As a result, different words and concepts become the reader's focus as opposed to others, developing deeper literal and figurative meaning.

Is Iago "honest" in Shakespeare's Othello? Explain why or why not.

The question speaks to Iago's morality. Is his 'honesty' a measure of his moral turpitude or his moral supremacy? Yes, he is honest to the audience throughout the play and speaks of his devious nature and makes a declaration of intent, without apologising for what he does and what he intends doing. His sole desire is to destroy those by whom he feels wronged or threatened, by whatever means possible. His devious machinations are purposeful and a means to an end: He follows Othello to 'serve my turn upon him.' Iago, for all his honesty, does not care about how his actions would affect innocent victims, they become mere residual damage in his journey of destruction.

In reality, the fact that Iago is honest in his declarations to Roderigo further emphasises his evil, for he does this only to gain Roderigo's support and the gullible fool realises too late that he had also been manipulated and had been a mere tool in Iago's devious plan.

Added to this, we the audience, are impressed by the fact that Iago is honest to himself and does not make excuses for who he is. But this does not make him a better person, for the audience has no influence on his actions and therefore his honesty, in this regard, has no merit whatsoever. Shakespeare cleverly uses Iago's honesty with the audience as a device to add to the dramatic irony and therefore the tension. The more Iago confesses to us, the greater the impact. We wait in expectation for his next act of evil and its resultant effect on the unfortunate characters toward whom his perfidy is directed.

Furthermore, Iago at times, functions as a narrator and his glee in confessing his evil makes him a more pernicious individual, for he takes pride in the fact that he can manipulate others so easily and make them believe his every word. He comes across as arrogant and psychotic, not admirable.

With the exception of Roderigo, Iago does not confide in anyone else about his intentions, for he fears that they could turn against him. This makes him a coward. In effect, he does not admit his cowardice for he deems it a weakness, whereas his exploitation and manipulation is seen as a strength, something to brag about to those from whom he can expect no intervention. His 'honesty' is therefore selective. When he does discover a threat to his machinations, when Roderigo for example rebels against him, he kills him and blames others for his murder.

The fact that others trust him and believe in his honesty, is a source of great pride and satisfaction to Iago and this is where the measure of his character is grandly displayed. His malice becomes more evident for he uses this belief in him and his goodness to drag them further into his web of lies and devastation. He carries this through right to the end and never admits to his wrongdoing. When he is finally caught out, he like the coward he is, declares:

Demand me nothing: what you know, you know:
From this time forth I never will speak word.

So, no, Iago is not honest. The superficial and meaningless confessions he makes when addressing the audience and Roderigo, is not honesty at all. It merely displays the depth of his evil, for he realises that such 'honesty' does not present him with any threat. He can freely execute his malicious and vindictive plot.  

Find the volume of the solid obtained by rotating the region bounded by the given curves about the specified...

You need to evaluate the volume of the solid obtained by the rotation of the region bounded by the curves , the line y = 9, about y axis, using washer method, such that:

You need to find the next endpoint, since one of them, y = 9 is given. The other endpoint can be evaluated by solving the following equation:

You may evaluate the volume

Hence, evaluating the volume of the solid obtained by the rotation of the region bounded by the curves , the line y = 9, about y axis, yields .

First make a substitution and then use integration by parts to evaluate the integral

You need to use the substitution , such that:

Changing the variable yields:

You need to use the integration by parts for   such that:

You need to use the integration by parts for  such that:

Replacing back the variable, yields:

Hence, evaluating the integral, using  integration by parts, yields 

What parts of Chapter 18 of Rick Riordan's The Lightning Thief can be compared to or related to "Key Elements of Mythology"?

One key element of mythology present in Chapter 18 of Rick Riordan's The Lightning Thief, first book of the "Percy Jackson and the Olympians" series, is a struggle for power. Often in myths, two adversaries battle each other for the sake of control due to vanity or out of jealousy. The two adversaries can be "two supernatural forces, a supernatural force and a mortal, or two members of a single family" (Kyrene School District, "The Key Elements of Mythology"). In Chapter 18, Percy, Annabell, and Grover must face the monster Cerberus in order to enter the Underworld. Cerberus is described by Percy as a giant three-headed Rottweiler, and Cerberus's job is to prevent anyone who is not dead from entering the Underworld. Hence, Percy, Grover, and Annabeth engage in a power struggle with Cerberus for control over access to the Underworld. Percy first attempts to distract Cerberus by throwing him a stick to fetch. However, Annabeth proves to be the one who is more skilled in dog obedience training and tempts Cerberus with a red rubber ball. Wanting the rubber ball, Cerberus immediately obeys her command to "Sit!" and tosses the ball back to Annabeth, simultaneously allowing Percy and Grover to pass around him into the Underworld, followed soon by Annabeth. Hence, Percy, Grover, and Annabeth were able to win in their power struggle against Cerberus over control of entrance to the Underworld by taming Cerberus.

This same power struggle also relates to a second key element of mythology referred to as "tension between opposing forces in the universe" (Kyrene School District). Opposing forces can be considered the forces of good and evil, and a hero can be seen as embodying the force of good, whereas a monster can be seen as embodying the force of evil. Hence, when the kids undertake subduing the monster, they are also undertaking subduing the forces of evil, showing that they are engaged in tensions that are not just between the kids and the monster but between the force of good and the force of evil. Yet, based on Cerberus's response to the ball and the attention Annabeth gives him, we see that Cerberus is not truly the evil one; instead, he is surrounded by evil that has influenced him. In reality, Cerberus is just like any dog--able to respond to affection with love and loyalty. We especially see Cerberus's true nature when Percy ends the chapter with the following observation:

I pretended not to see Annabeth wipe a tear from her cheek as she listened to the mournful keening of Cerberus in the distance, longing for his new friend. (p. 313)

Other key elements of mythology to consider with respect to Chapter 18 concern the use of supernatural characters with human characteristics and the ways in which myths are used to explain the natural world.

In Animal Farm by George Orwell, the tune of the song "Beasts of England" is a mix of which two songs?

In Chapter One of Animal Farm, Old Major summons the animals to a meeting in the barn. During his speech, he sings a song called "Beasts of England," the tune of which is a combination of two other songs: "Clementine," a traditional folk ballad, and "La Cucaracha," a Spanish song often associated with the Mexican Revolution. The latter song is particularly apt, considering that Old Major is trying to inspire the animals to rebel against Mr. Jones and take possession of the farm.

Old Major is successful in his mission: the animals quickly learn the tune of "Beasts of England" and begin singing it themselves. The stage is now set for their rebellion and this song becomes the symbol of the animals' equality with and liberation from mankind.

What is the physical appearance of Scout Finch?

There is very little on the physical description of Scout in the book.  The reason for this is clear; she narrates the book.  In other words, she does not describe herself.  That said, we can make a few points. 

First, Scout is probably big for her age.  We come to this conclusion because she is bigger than Walter Cunningham, even though she is younger. 

Second, Scout is also a tomboy. She likes to wear pants (breeches) instead of dresses. Here is a quote:

Aunt Alexandra was fanatical on the subject of my attire. I could not possibly hope to be a lady if I wore breeches; when I said I could do nothing in a dress, she said I wasn’t supposed to be doing things that required pants.

We should also mention that she was excited to get an air rifle for Christmas. 

Third, even though these are not physical descriptions, it might help to point out that Scout is intelligent, courageous, and rash.

Why we should study chemical names in science?

Chemical names are commonly used in chemistry to identify chemicals, such as sulfuric acid, sodium hydroxide, etc. These are the standard names used all over the world to represent particular compounds. A standardized system for nomenclature ensures that everybody uses the same name for a particular compound. This avoids confusion, because different people (possibly from different regions of the world) may use different names for the same compound. And in such a confusing scenario, it would be difficult to compare and verify results obtained by different researchers. Hence a common standardized system of naming the compounds is necessary and the chemical naming is essential to our work in chemistry. This is why it is important for chemical names to be studied by all students and researchers. 

The same reasoning can be used in regards to the scientific naming of organisms.

Hope this helps. 

In the short story "A Rose for Emily," why is it broken into five sections?

Narrative structure is always important, particularly when we consider how it impacts our reading. The structure of a sentence, the choice of a word, the ordering of a paragraph can all influence what details we pay attention to when we are reading, as well as how we react to what we're reading.

The five sections that make up "A Rose for Emily" organize the nonlinear narrative in a way that allows a lot of very detailed information to be shared without overwhelming the reader. It's a good idea to read each of the five sections and determine what each is doing - what important part of Emily's story is it sharing? What foreshadowing is it employing? What bits of mystery is it unraveling?

It's also a fair point to consider that dividing the narrative, which is written from the plural first-person perspective of the townspeople, manages that collective voice as well. 

What are some of Gertrude's qualities in Hamlet?

Gertrude is one of the most complex characters in Hamlet. As Hamlet's mother, Gertrude is discussed frequently in Hamlet. However, her lines do not necessarily piece together a solid characterization. She is often in the background of many scenes, although even an absence of presence can say something about her character. Since Gertrude is not particularly vocal, a person studying Hamlet must rely on what others say about Gertrude.

First, she is a powerful character. Described as "th'imperial jointress," Gertrude is one of the leaders of Denmark. Hamlet thinks Gertrude is particularly weak, despite her power, but this may say more about Hamlet's childlike angst than Gertrude's actual character. If the audience member or reader is to believe Hamlet, then Gertrude is a fickle character. She is allied with different lovers each day and she is consistently changing her word. Her love and politics are always mixed, and it is not clear (at least within the text) if she knows that Claudius is a criminal. If she knows that Claudius is a criminal, then she is an unsympathetic character. However, if she is manipulated by Claudius, then she is a more sympathetic character. Her grief could possibly explain her fickle nature during the course of the play. 

It is difficult to make firm conclusions about Gertrude, which is one of the exciting things about her character. However, there are definitely certain characteristics that can be agreed on, such as her shadowy nature and fickleness.  

How did god and silver affect the Columbian Exchange?

I am not sure if you are asking about “gold and silver” or “God and silver.”  I will assume that you are asking about God and silver. If you are actually asking about gold, no harm done, because the answer for gold is the same as the answer for silver. Both God and silver increased the Europeans’ desire to dominate the New World, thus making the Columbian Exchange more intense and more harmful to the natives of the Americas.

When the Europeans discovered silver (and gold) in the Americas, they became more motivated to explore and to dominate the region. This meant that more Europeans came to the Americas, bringing more of their technology, horses, germs, and cultural practices.  As they spread out across the continents, their presence became more and more overwhelming, submerging or even destroying native cultures.

God (or, more accurately, religion) also intensified the Columbian Exchange. Many Europeans felt that God wanted them to dominate the natives, in part so they could convert those natives to Christianity.  As with the silver and gold, the desire to evangelize caused Europeans to spread out across Latin America, bringing them in greater contact with more natives and helping to spread European ways.  In particular, the desire to convert the natives led Europeans to impose their own religion, thus weakening native cultures.

In these ways, both precious metals like gold and silver and the desire to (as they saw it) please God led the Europeans to dominate the New World more thoroughly, intensifying the Columbian Exchange and changing the lives of natives more radically.

Discuss the two major differences between traditional hazards (e.g., hurricanes, floods, tornadoes, earthquakes, and hazardous material incidents)...

There are significant differences between traditional hazards such as natural disasters and those hazards associated with terrorism. We now live in a world where we must deal with both kinds of hazards.

One difference is predictability. With most natural disasters, we can predict the likelihood of these disasters occurring. With weather-related events, we have the technology to predict where and when flooding or tornadoes may occur. We even have some scientific knowledge that may help predict where and when an earthquake may occur. With terrorism, it is very hard to predict where and when an incident may occur. The terrorist hazards are ones that could occur anywhere and at any time. Terrorist hazards are much more difficult to predict.

A second difference is in the area of preparedness. We can construct buildings to make them more likely to survive an earthquake. We can practice tornado drills and build tornado shelters. Emergency personnel can practice responding to hazardous material incidents. We can educate people about what to do in case of a traditional hazard. It is much more difficult to prepare for a terrorist incident. Because these incidents can happen at any time and in any place, and because they tend to be very random, it is very hard to practice and prepare for them. While law enforcement personnel may be able to practice for these events, it is much more difficult for the general public to be involved in these drills.

There are significant differences between the traditional hazards we have faced in the past and the newer hazards we now face created by acts of terror.

In Harper Lee's To Kill a Mockingbird, what is the date that Miss Maudie's house burned down?

While we are never told the exact date Miss Maudie's house burned down in Harper Lee's To Kill a Mockingbird, we can deduce an approximate date based on other information in the book.

One thing we know is that Miss Maudie's house burned down the night it had snowed during the day in Maycomb, which happened soon after Tom Robinson's arrest. We know based on Sheriff Tate's testimony during the trial that Robinson was arrested on "November twenty-first" (Ch. 17). Though no year is directly stated, we know the novel is set during the Great Depression in the mid-1930s because we know Franklin D. Roosevelt is president and his New Deal proposals are underway, such as his creation of the Works Progress Administation (WPA), which was signed into effect in 1933 and put into action in 1935. The WPA is mentioned as early as the second chapter of the book.

In addition, we know that the weather turned very cold for two weeks just before it snowed.

We also know that three weeks passed between the day it snowed and Christmas time. We learn the length of time based on Scout's proclamation that, after the snow day, she remembered her father's command to refrain from getting into fights for three weeks until Christmas time:

I felt extremely noble for having remembered, and remained noble for three weeks. Then Christmas came and disaster struck. (Ch. 9)

December 4th is the day that falls exactly three weeks just before Christmas Day. December 4th is also nearly two weeks before November 21st, Tom Robinson's arrest. Therefore, we can conclude that it snowed on December 4th in the mid-1930s, probably 1935, and Miss Maudie's house caught fire that exact same night.

What were the negative effects of the columbian exchange?

The biggest negative effect would be disease.  Ninety percent of native Americans were wiped out by smallpox, diphtheria, whooping cough, and plague.  Europeans, while not entirely immune, had some resistance.  Natives, on the other hand, had never experienced these diseases and died in droves as a result as they did not know how to ease the symptoms, let alone treat the illness.  Smallpox enabled Cortes to take the Aztec empire and it depopulated New England before the Pilgrims arrived in 1620.  Diseases spread all over the North American continent due to the extensive trade networks between tribes that have only recently been noticed by contemporary historians.  Another negative effect would be the influx of non-native animals to native biomes.  Pigs especially were bad because they rooted through native cropland that was not fenced.  Since it was not fenced, Europeans would not acknowledge that it was planted intentionally and would not compensate the natives for their losses.  This led to conflict and eventually skirmishes between colonist and native.  

What brings the police officer to the house in "The Tell-Tale Heart"?

In "The Tell-Tale Heart," the unreliable narrator is vexed by the old man's eye, so he resolves to kill him one night while he is sleeping.  When the narrator goes into the old man's room to murder him, the old man lets out a scream, which one of the neighbors hears.  Since it is the middle of the night, the neighbor gets nervous and calls the police.  So, the police officers arrive at the house to inspect the scene and interview the narrator.  By this time of course, the narrator has buried the old man's body under the floorboards, and when the police come into the house, they suspect nothing.  The narrator's own madness and guilt lead him to reveal the body under the floor.  The police only arrived at the house on a neighbor's suspicion, but they end up bearing witness to the aftermath of murder.

What was the impact of the Enclosure Acts and new farming practices?

The Enclosure Acts were laws passed by the British Parliament to enclose, or fence off, farm land that had been previously open. Many enclosure acts were passed from about 1600 to 1900, thereby shutting off peasants from common lands on which they could formerly graze their sheep and raise crops.

The Enclosure Acts were passed so that landowners could make higher profits from their land and increase agricultural productivity. Farmers began to use techniques that resulted in higher yields and profits. 

In addition, peasants who formerly worked the land were forced to leave rural areas because their labor was not needed. As a result, they flooded into urban areas before and during the Industrial Revolution, often forming part of the new factory working class. They also often immigrated--first to Northern Ireland and then to British colonies in the New World. Therefore, the process of enclosure resulted in augmenting the processes of urbanization, industrialization, and immigration. In addition, many historians cite the process of enclosure as the beginning of capitalism and the end of feudalism, as lands that were formerly held in common (or held by lords and used by peasants) became the domains of individuals who used them to increase profits. 

Mention five conditioned reflex actions.

Conditioned reflex reactions are essentially reactions that the organism has learned to associate with a stimulus because of prior experience. The classic example is the training Pavlov did with dogs. Producing saliva is a response animals naturally have when they smell or see food. Pavlov rang a bell first, then gave the dog food. The dog quickly learned that a bell sound was followed by food and produced saliva when the bell sounded even if no food was present. Other examples can include:

• applying the brake while driving when a red or yellow traffic light appears; you do not have to think about pressing the brake


• feeling sick/upset near a location where a person was attacked in the past


• experiencing nausea when presented with an exam in a subject that is one in which multiple tests have been failed


• the "Little Albert" experiment (see second link), an experiment in which a child was trained to fear animals/masks (which he had not been afraid of) because they were coupled with a loud noise--which he WAS afraid of


• feeling upset due to a certain smell or color because they were present during a situation when you were upset about something else (i.e., a certain flower's scent because it was present during a funeral)

What are three interesting facts about Thomas Jefferson?

Thomas Jefferson was one of the most fascinating men of his age, and his life in many ways reflected a lot of the contradictions present in American society as a whole in the late eighteenth and early nineteenth centuries. So there are many interesting facts about Jefferson. I will choose the three facts of his life that he chose for the epitaph on his tombstone at Monticello--the three things for which he hoped he would be remembered:

• First, Jefferson was the primary author of the Declaration of Independence. While he took most of the ideas, and even the language, from sources ranging from John Locke's Second Treatise on Civil Government to the resolutions for independence from various states, and the final document was heavily edited by his colleagues, the Declaration of Independence was Jefferson's. This "statement of the American mind," as Jefferson put it, remains a vital part of American political heritage.


• Second, Jefferson was the author of the Virginia Statute for Religious Freedom. This document, which was implemented thanks largely to the efforts of James Madison, enshrined one of the most crucial aspects of the Enlightenment into American law. 


• Finally, Jefferson was the founder of the University of Virginia. In keeping with his belief in religious freedom, Jefferson intended that the University would be a secular institution, different from the many church-affiliated universities in existence at the time. It was not the first state-supported institution in the United States, but like the Declaration and the Statute for Religious Freedom, it was a concrete embodiment of Jefferson's vision for the new nation.

In the beginning of chapter one of The Liar's Club, why does Mary Karr begin with that incident?

Mary Karr's poignant and disturbing memoir The Liars' Club starts with an incident that occurred when she was seven. On that night, Karr's mother set a fire to burn the children's possessions in the backyard when Karr's father was at work, and Karr's family doctor investigates her to see if she's been physically harmed. The incident is important in the circular narrative Karr writes about her troubled childhood because it marks the beginning of her constant vigilance to watch for events in her house that she calls "Not Right" (page 9).

Karr writes poetically of that night:

"On the night the sheriff came to our house and Mother was adjudged more or less permanently Nervous, I didn't yet understand the word. I had only a vague tight panic in the pit of my stomach, the one you get when your parents are nowhere in sight and probably don't even know who has a hold of you or where you'll wind up spending the night" (page 7).

Karr's mother is hospitalized for being psychiatrically unsound, and her father is not around. Karr is left on her own with her sister, and it's clear that no one is really taking care of her. 

Karr knows from that point on that her life is going to be chaotic and that her neighbors know that her family cannot take care of her. She writes, "I did know from that night forward that things in my house were Not Right" (page 9). She translates this sense of her house not being right into her sense that she isn't right. "The fact that my house was Not Right metastasized into the notion that I myself was somehow Night Right, or that my survival in that world depended on my constant vigilance against various forms of Non-Rightness" (page 10). Her use of the word "metastasized" is poetically apt, as her town has a chemical plant and oil refinery that cause many people to have cancer. For Karr, the cancer is the dysfunction in her family, and the incident that begins the book establishes her family's broken dynamic that she will explore in the rest of the book. 

If mere luck is not responsible for Bilbo's success, what is?

Although luck is a factor, most of Bilbo's success can be attributed to how clever and capable he is. His whole journey is started because Gandalf believes that he is the most qualified person (Hobbit) for the job; and even though he does not believe it at first, he eventually lives up to Gandalf's expectations because of his cleverness.

The first really clever thing he does is when he and the dwarves are captured by the goblins. He gets separated from his companions and ends up in Gollum's cave. This is an example where luck plays a part (ie. Bilbo accidentally stumbles upon the One Ring), but it is his cleverness that saves him from Gollum and gets him out of the goblin tunnels (ie. the riddles in the dark and tricking Gollum into leading him to the exit).

His next really clever moment is in Mirkwood, when he saves the dwarves from the spiders. His luck is that he has the One Ring, his cleverness is that he uses it to hide while he sings songs insulting the spiders, throwing rocks and using Sting to kill them. Also in Mirkwood, Bilbo uses the One Ring to sneak around in secret, eventually freeing his companions from their prisons.

Another of his most clever moments is with Smaug. He had learned after Gollum not to give out his name or any other information like that, so when Smaug was asking him questions in an attempt to figure out what Bilbo was, Bilbo only answered in riddles. And when Smaug left the mountain to go destroy Lake Town, Bilbo sent a thrush (a bird) to tell Bard the Bowman of Smaug's weak spot.

In the end, the biggest part luck played in Bilbo's successes was in the form of the One Ring: because he found it, he was able to do the things he did. But simply being invisible was not enough to make his plans work; he also had to be clever and resourceful.

What examples of irony are there in "Paul's Case"?

This is an interesting question, because so much of this story's power comes from the detached point of view of the narrator, who nevertheless seems to empathize with Paul. I think one place you could look for irony, however, is in Cather's treatment of the theme of deceit or truth. On one level, of course, Paul is deceitful -- he lies to his family all the time, and eventually becomes a thief. But for Paul, these lies are simply a means to a higher truth, which is his place in a world "of shiny, glistening surfaces and basking ease." For Paul, standing transfixed in the rain before the grand hotel, watching from the outside but living, in his imagination, on the inside, his imagined life of splendor is more than a fantasy. It is like an alternate reality that somehow has been cruelly denied him. His fugitive trip to New York, where he pretends that he is the son of wealthy parents, is less an escape from reality than a flight into reality. Cather, who is a truly great writer, sums it all up in a single remark: "He was entirely rid of his nervous misgivings, of his forced aggressiveness, of the imperative desire to show himself different from his surroundings. He felt now that his surroundings explained him." For Paul, the lie is the truth. 

What could have been an alternate ending for the story "The Red-Headed League"?

A common element in Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's Sherlock Holmes mysteries is that the endings work out perfectly due to Holmes' methods. However, sometimes the success of his crime-solving depends more on "luck" than might appear at the first reading. It can be fun to contemplate what might have happened if everything didn't go perfectly for the brilliant detective.

In this story, Holmes seems to have taken more time than necessary to uncover the bank robbery plot. It seems that he knew early on that "a considerable crime is in contemplation," yet he took the time to go to a concert and did not arrive in the bank vault until late at night. This was because he thought John Clay would wait to rob the bank until Jabez Wilson had gone to bed for the night. But what if John Clay bribed the house girl who worked for Wilson to get Wilson out of the house on a ruse? Then Clay could have completed the robbery while Holmes was enjoying the violin concertos that afternoon, Holmes and the bank manager would have arrived to find an empty vault, and the criminal would have escaped with a fortune in French gold.

Another twist would be that the tunnel Clay was digging went not to the bank, but to one of the other buildings behind the pawn shop. Perhaps the owner of the Vegetarian Restaurant owned something of great value to Clay--some evidence that would put him away for life. This restaurant owner had been blackmailing Clay; Clay needed a way to not just kill the witness but also destroy the evidence. So he tunneled into the restaurant. Holmes arrives in the bank vault, taps the floor, and to his surprise finds it is not hollow. He must quickly rethink his theory. He knows the tunnel must be going to one of the other businesses on the street. The police immediately raid the tobacconist, the little newspaper stand, the carriage-building depot, and the Vegetarian Restaurant. They intercept John Clay just as he is about to murder the restaurant owner.

You could come up with numerous other ways the story could end, some of which would have Holmes still successfully solve the crime, and some of which would show that Holmes muffed it. If you are creative and want to be a writer, this is one way to practice your craft. Have fun!