Free Essays on Gates Of Fire

#1. Briefly summarize the plot of Gates of Fire. In 480 B.C., the Persian army under the command of King Xerxes went into Greece planning to make Europe part of the Persian Empire. The King’s two million troops ran into three hundred men of the Spartan army, squires and helots along with a few thousand allies at the Thermopylae, a narrow mountain pass in northern Greece named for the natural hot springs. The sole mission of this army was to hold off the Persians until the Greek army could get organized and reinforce this small band of Spartans and allies. It was suicide and these Spartans knew it but they also knew that they would die in honor and love for their country and their families would be honored for their sacrifice. Finally the Persian allies and the royal Immortals surrounded and flooded the remaining one hundred Spartan soldiers. Xeones mortally wounded, is found beneath a pile of dead warriors. Under orders from King Xerxes himself the royal surgeons are commanded to attend to Xeones. Once recovered, he is placed before King Xerxes and his scribes and historians to find out how so few men could hold off two million troops for so long before succumbing to its force. Xeones tells the story of his life and how he came to be to the Spartan army. He tells of the relationships, the training, the brotherhood of men and the culture that creates the most formidable army in the world. #2. Analyze any three of the major characters (Gobartes, Xeones, Alexandros, Dienekes, King Leonidas, Polynikes, Rooster, etc.) focusing on the following: What motivates the character? What type of person is the character? Does his persona change during the course of the novel? Do you like the character? Why or Why not? Cite examples from your reading. Xeones Xeones was a decent person who really only wanted to avenge the death of his parents and the betrayal of his village by the Argives. He felt that he had failed his famil... Free Essays on Gates Of Fire Free Essays on Gates Of Fire #1. Briefly summarize the plot of Gates of Fire. In 480 B.C., the Persian army under the command of King Xerxes went into Greece planning to make Europe part of the Persian Empire. The King’s two million troops ran into three hundred men of the Spartan army, squires and helots along with a few thousand allies at the Thermopylae, a narrow mountain pass in northern Greece named for the natural hot springs. The sole mission of this army was to hold off the Persians until the Greek army could get organized and reinforce this small band of Spartans and allies. It was suicide and these Spartans knew it but they also knew that they would die in honor and love for their country and their families would be honored for their sacrifice. Finally the Persian allies and the royal Immortals surrounded and flooded the remaining one hundred Spartan soldiers. Xeones mortally wounded, is found beneath a pile of dead warriors. Under orders from King Xerxes himself the royal surgeons are commanded to attend to Xeones. Once recovered, he is placed before King Xerxes and his scribes and historians to find out how so few men could hold off two million troops for so long before succumbing to its force. Xeones tells the story of his life and how he came to be to the Spartan army. He tells of the relationships, the training, the brotherhood of men and the culture that creates the most formidable army in the world. #2. Analyze any three of the major characters (Gobartes, Xeones, Alexandros, Dienekes, King Leonidas, Polynikes, Rooster, etc.) focusing on the following: What motivates the character? What type of person is the character? Does his persona change during the course of the novel? Do you like the character? Why or Why not? Cite examples from your reading. Xeones Xeones was a decent person who really only wanted to avenge the death of his parents and the betrayal of his village by the Argives. He felt that he had failed his famil...

Battle of Plattsburgh - War of 1812 - Thomas MacDonough

Battle of Plattsburgh - War of 1812 - Thomas MacDonough Battle of Plattsburgh - Conflict Dates: The Battle of Plattsburgh was fought September 6-11, 1814, during the War of 1812 (1812-1815). Forces Commanders United States Master Commandant Thomas MacDonoughBrigadier General Alexander Macomb14 warships3,400 men Great Britain Captain George DownieLieutenant General Sir George Prà ©vost14 warshipsapprox. 10,000 men Battle of Plattsburgh - Background: With the abdication of Napoleon I and the apparent end of the Napoleonic Wars in April 1814, large numbers of British troops became available for service against the United States in the War of 1812. In an effort to break the deadlock in North America, around 16,000 men were dispatched to Canada to aid in an offensive against American forces. These came under the command of Lieutenant General Sir George Prà ©vost, the Commander-in-Chief in Canada and Governor General of the Canadas. Though London preferred an attack on Lake Ontario, the naval and logistical situation led Prà ©vost to advance up Lake Champlain. Battle of Plattsburgh - The Naval Situation: As in previous conflicts such as the French Indian War and American Revolution, land operations around Lake Champlain required control of the water for success. Having lost control of the lake to Commander Daniel Pring in June 1813, Master Commandant Thomas MacDonough embarked on a naval building program at Otter Creek, VT. This yard produced the corvette USS Saratoga (26 guns), the schooner USS Ticonderoga (14), and several gunboats by late spring 1814. Along with the sloop USS Preble (7), MacDonough used these vessels to reassert American dominance on Lake Champlain. Battle of Plattsburgh - Preparations: To counter MacDonoughs new vessels, the British began construction of the frigate HMS Confiance (36) at Ile aux Noix. In August, Major General George Izard, the senior American commander in the region, received orders from Washington, DC to take the bulk of his forces to reinforce Sackets Harbor, NY on Lake Ontario. With Izards departure, the land defense of Lake Champlain fell to Brigadier General Alexander Macomb and a mixed force of around 3,400 regulars and militia. Operating on the west shore of the lake, Macombs small army occupied a fortified ridge along the Saranac River just south of Plattsburgh, NY. Battle of Plattsburgh - The British Advance: Eager to begin the campaign south before the weather turned, Prà ©vost became increasingly frustrated with Prings replacement, Captain George Downie, over construction issues on Confiance. As Prà ©vost chafed over the delays, MacDonough added the brig USS Eagle (20) to his squadron. On August 31, Prà ©vosts army of around 11,000 men began moving south. To slow the British advance, Macomb sent a small force forward to block roads and destroy bridges. These efforts failed to hinder the British and they arrived in Plattsburgh on September 6. The next day minor British attacks were turned back by Macombs men. Despite the massive numerical advantage enjoyed by the British, they were hampered by friction in their command structure as the veterans of the Duke of Wellingtons campaigns were frustrated by the cautiousness and unpreparedness of Prà ©vost. Scouting west, the British located a ford across the Saranac that would allow them to assault the left flank of the American line. Intending to attack on September 10, Prà ©vost desired to make a feint against Macombs front while striking his flank. These efforts were to coincide with Downie attacking MacDonough on the lake. Battle of Plattsburgh - On the Lake: Possessing fewer long guns than Downie, MacDonough assumed a position in Plattsburgh Bay where he believed his heavier, but shorter range carronades would be most effective. Supported by ten small gunboats, he anchored Eagle, Saratoga, Ticonderoga, and Preble in a north-south line. In each case, two anchors were used along with spring lines to allow the vessels to turn while at anchor. Delayed by unfavorable winds, Downie was unable to attack on September 10 forcing the entire British operation to be pushed back a day. Nearing Plattsburgh, he scouted the American squadron on the morning of September 11. Rounding Cumberland Head at 9:00 AM, Downies fleet consisted of Confiance, the brig HMS Linnet (16), the sloops HMS Chubb (11) and HMS Finch, and twelve gunboats. Entering the bay, Downie initially desired to place Confiance across the head of the American line, but variable winds prevented this and he instead assumed a position opposite Saratoga. As the two flagships began battering each other, Pring succeeded in crossing in front of Eagle with Linnet while Chubb was quickly disabled and captured. Finch attempted to assume a position across the tail of MacDonoughs line but drifted south and grounded on Crab Island. Battle of Plattsburgh - MacDonoughs Victory: While Confiances initial broadside did heavy damage to Saratoga, the two ships continued to trade blows with Downie being struck down. To the north, Pring began pounding Eagle with the American brig unable to turn to counter. At the opposite end of the line, Preble was forced from the fight by Downies gunboats. These were finally checked by determined fire from Ticonderoga. Under heavy fire, Eagle cut its anchor lines and began to drift down the American line allowing Linnet to rake Saratoga. With most of his starboard guns out of action, MacDonough used his spring lines to turn his flagship. Bringing his undamaged portside guns to bear, he opened fire on Confiance. The survivors aboard the British flagship attempted a similar turn but became stuck with the frigates undefended stern presented to Saratoga. Unable to resist, Confiance struck its colors. Again pivoting, MacDonough brought Saratoga to bear on Linnet. With his ship outmatched and seeing that resistance was futile, Pring also surrendered. As at the Battle of Lake Erie a year before, the US Navy had succeeded in capturing an entire British squadron. Battle of Plattsburgh - On Land: Beginning around 10:00 AM, the feint against the Saranac bridges on Macombs front was easily repulsed by the American defenders. To the west, Major General Frederick Brisbanes brigade missed the ford and was forced to backtrack. Learning of Downies defeat, Prà ©vost decided that any victory would be meaningless as American control of the lake would prevent him from being able to resupply his army. Though late, Robinsons men went into action and were having success when they received orders from Prà ©vost to fall back. Though his commanders protested the decision, Prà ©vosts army began retreating north to Canada that night. Battle of Plattsburgh - Aftermath: In the fighting at Plattsburgh, American forces sustained 104 killed and 116 wounded. British losses totaled 168 killed, 220 wounded, and 317 captured. In addition, MacDonoughs squadron captured Confiance, Linnet, Chubb, and Finch. For his failure and due to complaints from his subordinates, Prà ©vost was relieved of command and recalled to Britain. The American victory at Plattsburgh along with the successful Defense of Fort McHenry, aided American peace negotiators at Ghent, Belgium who were attempting to end the war on a favorable note. The two victories helped offset the defeat at Bladensburg and subsequent Burning of Washington the previous month. In recognition of his efforts, MacDonough was promoted to captain and received a Congressional gold medal. Selected Sources Historic Lakes: Battle of Plattsburgh Battle of Plattsburgh Association

The Broader Impact Of DSP (Digital signal processing) In A Global Research Paper

The Broader Impact Of DSP (Digital signal processing) In A Global Economi And Social Context - Research Paper Example Each of these areas has involved substantial involvement of the digital signal processing technology with its own unique algorithms, mathematics and specialized techniques. As a result, digital signal processing has significant impact on the social, economic and in global lives in our society today. Digital signal processing convert analogue signals to digital signal. By doing this, there is extraction of signals, which later get modifications to meaningful and relevant information through the digital signal. In the pioneer ages digital signal processing was only in computers and by the application of technology limited in some key areas, for instance radar and sonar where national security appeared to be at risk. This is because of the international threats that were happening because of international tension. Another area is oil expiration and in this area, there are large amounts of revenue for example mad, oil sector industry is a very profitable industry that is capable of raisi ng the economic level of a nation. Space exploration is another sector that digital signal processing adopted because of the importance of data received. The collected data are of an irreplaceable nature. The final area of involvement in digital signal processing was medical imaging, where it could play a vital role in the treatment and saving of lives. Impact in an economic context Digital signal processing has had great impact in our lives especially economically. The recent technological advances have commanded entrepreneurs and investors to spend a lot of money in technology. Innovations in technology have led to many firms competing with each other to develop the most sophisticated technological devices that outsmart its competitors and gain the largest market share in the industry. Advances in computing, data storage and data transmit ion have enabled firms to reduce costs, create new market, expand existing market and create employment in the nation (44). Maintaining the inte grity of the specifications Companies and organizations have moved quickly to grab these newly found opportunities and as a result, firms are spending billions on their enterprise system. Firms are developing sophisticated software and hardware packages that integrate ordering, procurement, inventory, finance and human resources in their companies. Consumers get a wide range of goods and services for communication entertainment, shopping, education and other activities that relate to the firm and firms on the other hand get the opportunity to widen their consumer targets. With the embracing of technology, firms are able to reduce cost, maximize their profits and increase shareholders wealth. Consumers also benefit from these technological advancements where by prices of commodities are reduced due to the decrease of costs. This is also by being able to access wide ranges of products that are available (32). Telecommunication has also been a beneficiary of these technological advance s. Drastic improvements in computing power, accompanied by healthy competition in the industry have led to dramatic reduction rates among the consumers in communication. The telecommunication industry has been able to expand massively to tap the new opportunities; these firms now enjoy substantial customers in their networks. The introductions of wireless and broadband services have made communication much easier and faster (22). This

Fredricksons various models in the story of Stephen Cruz by Studs Essay

Fredricksons various models in the story of Stephen Cruz by Studs Terkel - Essay Example For Stephen Cruz, who was taught and brought up by his father to work hard in whatever he does and avoid taking things that he does not deserve, is seen in the story being told to fall in the line and learn the way of doing business as the dominant and powerful group does. The Civil Acts of 1964 is used in this story to signify the way policies and legislations are used to assimilate minority groups. Fredrickson’s one way assimilation methods is apparently used in this story as the minorities are being accepted and employed to and by the dominant group, but they still play a subordinate role and are not allowed to fully enjoy the freedoms nor fulfill their American dream (Fredrickson, 335). As Stephen Cruz rises up through the corporate ladder slowly with his sheer hard work, he continues to discover that maybe the American dream he is working on is not meant for him. This is because he discovers that the dream and the relations between the minority-weak and dominant-powerful, are to the advantage of the later. This relation is described by Fredrickson as group separatism. Although the method of doing so might not be as direct as it may be perceived to be, through taking advantages of various legislations and policies to their (dominant group), can be seen as a way to separate the dominant and the minority. The dominant and powerful in America continue to get stronger and wealthy and the expense of the minority. This separates the two groups even further and no equally is presented.

Impact Of Insomnia On Daytime Ability To Function Essay Example for Free

Impact Of Insomnia On Daytime Ability To Function Essay Insomnia pertains to a symptom that is characterized by the difficulty in falling asleep. In other cases, insomnia is also involved in not being able to sleep for the required number of hours each night. It is thus pertinent to describe insomnia as a symptom associated with poor quality or insufficiency of sleep. Several factors may trigger the symptom of insomnia in an individual, hence this condition can be considered as situational, wherein a certain incident may result in an individual’s inability to sleep. Insomnia may also be described based on its occurrence in an individual, thus resulting in intermittent or persistent forms (Davidson 109). Insomnia generally occurs with another medical condition, such as a psychiatric disease or drug abuse. The importance of treatment regimens for insomnia has been the focus of biomedical research as it has long been established that insomnia does not resolve through time. More importantly, it has been reported that insomnia can significantly affect the quality of life of an individual. In addition, insomnia can result in the further progression of a psychiatric disorder, thus putting a patient at greater risk for mental health deterioration (Davidson 112). It has also been observed that the occurrence of insomnia is positively correlated to the frequency of consultations with a physician, as additional medical disorders are caused by this sleeping symptom. Impact of insomnia on sleep As insomnia is a symptom that affects sleep, it is important to determine the causative factors that result in such condition. The most common factors that influence the occurrence of insomnia include stressful incidents in the life of an individual. Death of a loved one, as well as conflict with another individual, often results in insomnia (Davidson 110). Illness and problems with work or study can also result in a difficulty in sleeping. Environmental factors may also result in insomnia, such as that of residing in a location where there is constant noise from traffic or construction. Social conditions may also influence the occurrence of insomnia, such as that of caring for a newborn baby right after childbirth. However, it should be understood that the sleeping patterns of pregnant women after generally disturbed and thus may even be more severe after childbirth. It has been suggested that post-partum insomnia may be possibly due to the mother’s instinct of providing constant care for her child, in terms of feeding and cleaning the baby. Other social factors that result in insomnia include having an adolescent child who spends evenings outside the home and the parents worriedly stay awake until their child comes home (Davidson 110). Age has also been reported to influence the occurrence on insomnia. It has been observed that insomnia is a common symptom that afflicts women who have reached the transition stage into menopause, as this phase of their life causes much distress to them. Caring for a sick elderly individual also results in insomnia, as the caretaker vigilantly checks on an older individual throughout the night. This condition tends to be more difficult when the elderly person is also suffering from Alzheimer’s disease, which is generally characterized by straying to other places even in the late hours of the night. The caretaker thus tends to keep watch over the actions of the elderly person in order to keep him from harm. Impact of insomnia of waking functioning Circadian rhythm pertains to the cyclic patterns that an individual undertakes based on a synchronizing stimulus. Most living species synchronize their activities based on the most ominous factor, which is the light emanating from the sun. In the case of human beings, sunlight determines whether it is time to awaken or to sleep. The presence of light also influences the majority of the physiologic activities of the human body, including the time of the meals in an entire day. The circadian clock of every individual is thus set according to the standard day, wherein sunlight in present for approximately 12 hours and absence for another 12 hours. Within the evening, the human body is programmed to rest and this is mainly through sleep. The occurrence of insomnia can affect an individual’s circadian rhythm as the length or the quality of sleep is affected. An individual with insomnia may be awake at least half of the night and thus find poor coordination in his motor and mental skills during the day. Individuals who work on a shift basis are often affected by insomnia as they are generally assigned to different hours every few months (Shechter 15). Healthcare personnel, such as nurses and technologists, are usually assigned to work on the night shift for 3 months and thus their circadian rhythm is misaligned during this period. Once they return to their daytime shift, they find difficulty in falling asleep as their bodies have already adjusted to a modified circadian rhythm (Shechter 14). The same conditions also occur in other jobs that are associated with changes in shift duties, including those in the police departments and other 24-hour surveillance jobs. The perturbation in the circadian rhythm and its association to the onset of insomnia often results in the deterioration of the quality of work of an individual or a poor performance in school. In addition, an individual with insomnia usually shows poor cognitive capacity, as well as a decrease in the productivity at work. These individuals often lack the capacity to focus on their activities, resulting in accidents (Shechter 15). It is a common occurrence that drivers get into accidents due to the lack of sleep and thus their motor skills and reflex actions are not that reactive during the day. Polysomnographic features of insomnia Polysomnographic studies have shown that an individual with insomnia is generally characterized to have a short latency period during their sleep (Shechter 14). In addition, the sleep efficiency of these individuals is significantly low, resulting in the frequent and easy awakening by even simple stimuli in their immediate environment. The rapid eye movement (REM) and sigma sleep stages of individuals with insomnia are largely influenced by the circadian rhythms that are been set by their bodies and thus any change in the sleeping quality and habits may affect these sleep stages. Any disturbance in these sleep stages may result in the lack of or difficulty in sleeping. Polysomnographic investigations have also shown that the core body temperature in influenced by an individual’s circadian rhythm. Sleep is thus normally observed in the evening, when the core body temperature is significantly lower than what is usually observed during the day. Any shift in the circadian rhythm of an individual may thus result in an unexpected core body temperature, resulting in an individual’s difficulty in falling asleep. This core body temperature should be achieved approximately six hours before going to sleep, in order for an individual to achieve the normal 8 hours of sleep. For an individual who attends to a night-shift job, the usual length of sleep varies from 4 to 7 hours, which is a prime feature of insomnia. Behavior and/or therapeutic recommendations for insomnia It is possible to adapt behavioral conditioning strategies for insomnia. Individuals suffering from insomnia often spend hours or several evenings in bed but are fully awake the entire time. Their insomnia thus further worsens as their brain is conditioned to consider the bed and the bedroom as sites where one stays awake and any attempt to further induce sleep may be futile. It is thus suggested that when one feels sleepy, regardless of the time of day, one should then attempt to go to his bed in order to teach his brain that the bed is a place to sleep. It is also not helpful for an individual with insomnia to find a substitute place to sleep, such as the couch, as this will condition his mind that the couch is his sleeping niche and eventually, going back to the bedroom can even be harder to achieve. There are specific drug formulations that may also aid an individual suffering from insomnia. One of the most common medications is benzodiazepine, which binds to the gamma-aminobutyric acid receptors of the brain, which is responsible to the excitation of neural cells (Davidson 111). This binding thus results in the inhibition of the neural functions of the individual, resulting in a sleepy mode. One negative effect of benzodiazepine is that the normal stages of sleep are affected and thus may trigger unnecessary changes in the duration of each stage and possibly dependence on the drug. It is also possible that this drug may induce hypnotic effects on an individual. Non-benzodiazepine formulations are also available for the treatment of insomnia. Melatonin is another therapeutic regimen that may be administered to an individual with insomnia (Davidson 112). There is currently great debate with regards to the effectiveness of this drug, as it has mostly been applied to individuals suffering from jet lag-induced insomnia and thus this drug may not be effective for other insomnias that are caused by other factors. Antidepressants and antihistamines can also be administered to insomnia patients to alleviate their difficulty in falling asleep. Herbal concoctions have also been reported to facilitate sleep. A few of the most used herb are chamomile, kava kava and lavender, which can be supplied in tea formats. Personal reflections Insomnia is generally regarded as a simple condition that is often misunderstood and mistreated. It is important that insomnia be addressed as soon as possible because this condition often affects several systems of the human body and may thus result in the decrease in the immune capacity of an individual. Insomnia can also affect the quality of work or study of an individual and thus this negative effect should be addressed at the earliest possible time. Social interactions can also be affected by insomnia, as these individuals are often irritable and sensitive. Several accidents have also been caused by the lack of sleep and it is possible that an individual may hurt himself while working and even hurt other people, especially when they are using a motor vehicle when they suddenly lose attention or fall asleep. It is thus imperative that individuals with insomnia be educated on what to do to take control of their condition and possibly go back to their normal circadian patterns.

American Changes between 1825-1850 :: essays research papers

In early America between the years of 1825-1850, America was rapidly changing and reforming the way people lived. Societal problems and major discrepancies that had previously been overlooked began to rapidly gain awareness. The main idea of the reforms in the United States at this time was the relatively new sense of Democracy. Reform sought to maximize these benefits in light of Democracy and for this reason came up with many changes in which greater good can be found through freedom, justice, and equality of all people. In addition to extending social and political equality for women and the means to economic affluence for the poor (through education), a number of reforms also extended to various oppressed groups of freedom and justice. Abolitionists in the North sought to emancipate slaves in the cotton-cultivating South through the use of moral suasion as revealed by Patrick Reason’s engraving showing the deprivation of the Negro race in regards to their rights as humans, and later, political freedoms. The penitentiary movement began by Dorothea Dix reformed the nation’s prisons and insane asylums to improve the living conditions and treatment of criminals, paupers, and emotionally disturbed persons. Separate penitentiaries were later instituted for the reformation of juvenile delinquents. Instead of â€Å"confining without distinction the more and less vicious†, where the latter can learn â€Å"little but the ways of the wicked†, their separation will salvage the less vicious through â€Å"religious and moral instruction† and â€Å"render them valuable members of society†. Democratic ideals inspired many reforms from 1825-1850. One such ideal was equality for all people in the United States. Many reformers were especially concerned with those in prison and how they would be treated upon release. Many people, such as those for the Reformation of Juvenile Delinquents, in 1829, hoped that upon release ex-prisoners would become "valuable members of society," but knew that this would only be possible if they were treated like others.

Midterm 2 with Solutions Econ311

Intermediate Macroeconomics 311 (Professor Gordon) Final Examination Fall, 2009 YOUR NAME:________________________________ INSTRUCTIONS 1. The exam lasts 2 hours. 2. The exam is worth 120 points in total: 30 points for the multiple choice questions, 60 points for the analytical questions, and 30 points for the essays. 3. Write your answers to Part A (the multiple choice section) in the blanks on page 1.You won’t get credit for circled answers in the multiple choice section. 4. Place all of your answers for part B in the space provided. 5. You must show your work for part B questions. 6. Write your essays with a pen. Write clearly! 7. Good Luck and Happy Holidays! PART A (45 points) Choose the ONE alternative that BEST completes the statement or answers the question. Your answers must be in the space provided below. USE CAPITAL LETTERS. | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | PART B (45 points) Please show your wor k and write down the formulas you use for partial credit. Question 1 (5 points) (a) What monthly rate of inflation causes the price level to increase by a factor of 5 (500 percentage points) over a year? (2 points) (HINT: Use the LN and EXP formulas from Chapter 9, Problem 2, further examples of which were presented in lecture on November 11). Using the log formula: p = 100*log(5)/12 = 13. 4%. b) If the rate of monthly inflation is 25%, by what factor would prices have risen over a year? (3 points) Let’s call the initial price level P0 and the price level at the end of the year P12 25 = 100*log(P12/P0)/12 P12/P0 = exp(25*12/100) = 20. Question 2 (10 points) Consider an economy where inflation expectations are given by the equation pet = . 4 pt-1 + . 6 pet-1 . Also assume that when the log of the output ratio increases by 1 points, inflation increases by 4 points. a) Write down the SP equation, both its general form and its specific form with these particular parameter assumpt ions inserted. (2 points) pt = pet + gYt-1 + zt = . 4pt-1 + . 6pet-1 + 4Yt-1 + zt ) Write down the DG equation (no need to derive anything, just write it down). (1 point) Y = Y-1 + [pic] – p c) Combine the SP and DG equations to express p as a function of pt-1, pet-1, Yt-1,[pic]t, and zt. (2 points) (HINT: Your answer must have p on the left side of the equation and terms not including current p on the right side, with all the relevant parameters inserted and solved out. ) p = 0. 4p-1 + 0. 6pe-1 + 4Y + z = 0. 4p-1 + 0. 6pe-1 + 4(Y-1 + [pic] – p) + z 5p = 0. 4p-1 + 0. 6pe-1 + 4Y-1 + 4[pic] + z p = 0. 08p-1 + 0. 12pe-1 + 0. 8Y-1 + 0. 8[pic] + z For the remainder of the problem, assume that in period t=1 the economy has values given by: p0 = 3pe0 = 3Y0 = 0 ) Suppose there is no supply shock in period 1 (z1 = 0) and that [pic]1 = 5. Solve for period 1 values p1 and Y1. (2 points) p1 = 0. 08(3) + 0. 12(3) + 0. 8(0) + 0. 8(5) + 0 = 4. 6 Y1 = 0 + 5 – 4. 6 = 0. 4 e) Sup pose instead that there is a period 1 supply shock that increases the value of z from 0 in period 0 to 1 in period 1. Find the period 1 values p1,[pic]1 and Y1 as well as the expected period 2 inflation, pe2, if the government adopts an accommodating policy. (3 points) Accommodating Policy means Y1 = 0, so from the DG equation p1 =[pic]1 and from the SP equation: p1 = . 4(3) + . 6(3) + 4(0) + 1 = 4 = [pic]1 pe2 = . 4(4) + . 6(3) = 3. 4 Question 3 (15 points)Consider a country whose Central Bank issued 100$ of High-Powered Money (H). Citizens' cash holdings (dollar bills) amount to 10% (. 1) of their deposits while each commercial bank has to have reserves for 15% (. 15) of the volume of deposits. a) What is the level of deposits? (2 points) D = H/(c+e) = 100/(. 1+. 15) = 400 b) What is the level of the Money Supply defined as dollar bills and deposits? (3 points) M = (1+c)D = 1. 1*400 = 440 c) Suppose the Central Bank wants to increase Money Supply to 528. How many extra units of Hi gh-Powered Money do they have to circulate? (4 points) M = (1+c) H / (c+e) 528 = 1. 1 H / . 25 H = 120 So they should print 20 extra units of H ) Assume now that the Central Bank still wants to set the Money Supply to 528 but the Government forbids them from printing High-Powered Money. What option is left to the Central Bank? (Hint: restrict your attention to this simplified model where there is nothing like direct lending or any other exotic policy) (2 points) Change the reserve requirement e) Given your suggested policy, which of the parameters of the model would they be changing? To which new value? (Remember that here H=100 and cannot be changed by assumption and M=528) (4 points) M=(1+c) H / (c+e) 528=1. 1 * 100 / (. 1 + e) e=. 1083 = 10. 8% Question 4 (15 points) Consider two nations, Richland and Poorland.Both nations have the same Cobb-Douglass production function, Y=AKbN(1-b). Let Poorland have an economy with technology level A=18, capital elasticity of production b=(1/3) , population growth rate n=. 13, capital depreciation rate d=. 07, and savings rate s=. 3 a) Rewrite the production function as a function relating Y/N and K/N. (2 points) Y/N = A(K/N)b = 2(K/N)(1/3) b) Solve for the steady state values of the capital-labor ratio (K/N) and per-capita GDP (Y/N). (6 points) s(Y/N) = (n+d)(K/N) sA(K/N)b = (n+d)(K/N) (K/N) = [sA/(n+d)]1/(1-b) (K/N) = [. 1*18 /(. 2)]3/2=27 (Y/N) = (n+d)(K/N)/s (Y/N) = (. 2)(27)/. 1=54 c) Richland has a per-capita GDP that is triple that of Poorland. Given hat Richland has the same production function as Poorland, the capital-labor ratio in Richland is what multiple of the capital-labor ratio in Poorland? (In other words, if Poorland has a capital-labor ratio of K/N= x and Richland has a ratio of K/N= y, what is y/x? ). (3 points) [pic] d) Compute the marginal products of capital in the two nations. (3 points) MPK = b(Y/N)/(K/N) MPKA = (1/3)(54)/(27)=2/3=. 6667 MPKb = (1/3)(162)/(729)=2/81=. 0247 e) Judging from your answ er in part (d), does the Solow model predict that poor countries have a higher or lower rate of return on capital? (1 point) The Solow model predicts a higher rate of return for poor countries.This is one of the critiques of the Solow growth model. PART C (30 points) WRITE YOUR NAME AND ID NUMBER ON YOUR BLUE BOOK. As stated on the syllabus (p. 3) and in numerous in-class and e-mailed reminders, you must write your answers in pen not pencil. This is a single multi-part essay question. You should write in your blue book for 30 minutes. 1. Write a coherent essay on the causes of the 2008-09 recession and on the policy responses to this event. Your essay should cover the following specific points a. First, establish the facts. What were similarities in the duration and magnitude of the 2001 recession and subsequent recovery as compared to the 2008-09 recession and recovery so far?Include comments on GDP, the GDP gap, labor market variables, and any other distinguishing features of thes e two episodes. b. What were the most important causes of the 2008-09 recession? Include comments on which causes were the same as in the 2001 recession, and which were different. c. In what sense, if any, did monetary or fiscal policy partially contribute to the causes of the 2008-09 recession? d. Evaluate the response of monetary policy since early 2008. What were the similarities and differences between this response and the monetary policy response to postwar recessions in 2001 and earlier? What aspects would you praise or criticize? e.Evaluate the response of fiscal policy since early 2008. What aspects would you praise or criticize? Multiple Choice Questions Make sure to write you answers on the blanks on page 1! 1. The current account includes all of the following except: A) net exports B) net income from abroad C) net unilateral transfers D) foreign direct investment 2. In what way was the international economy cited as a source of the U. S. housing bubble in 2003-06? A) che aper prices of imported building materials B) support of dollar by foreign central banks C) immigration of skilled foreign construction workers D) high pay of top executives of foreign investment banks 3.Which of the following were not cited in the course as a reason for France and other European nations to be reluctant to endorse an Obama-like fiscal stimulus for their own countries? A) high unemployment in Europe B) low fiscal multipliers C) social welfare system D) unemployment insurance system 4. Suppose we have an economy in which G = 1100, t = 0. 26, Y = 3800, and YN = 4000. At Y the difference between the actual deficit and structural deficit is A) 60. B) 112. C) -172. D) -112. E) 52. 5. The failure of U. S. net exports to improve dramatically in the mid 1980? s despite the weakening of the dollar suggests that A) U. S. industries supply of competitive goods was inelastic over the period.B) LDC debt repayment schedules and lack of financing kept U. S. exports low. C) NCIs mai ntained fixed exchange rates vis a vis the dollar and U. S. exports low. D) All of the above. 6. In the reading period assignments from the Economist, the United States is faulted relative to Europe and Japan for each of the following reasons except: A) labor and capital markets B) primary and secondary education C) personal saving rate D) infrastructure 7. In the reading period article about France, the French are praised for each of the following reasons except A) infrastructure B) household debt C) output growth rate D) medical care system 8. The mechanism of ? international crowding-out? s that a government budget deficit ________ the domestic interest rate, which makes the dollar ________ expensive for foreigners, which then ________ net exports. A) raises, less, lowers B) raises, less, raises C) raises, more, lowers D) lowers, less, lowers E) lowers, more, raises 9. Which of the following effects takes place as a result of automatic stabilization? A) extra tax revenues are gen erated in a boom. B) tax revenues remain constant during a recession. C) leakages increase during a recession, helping to stimulate the economy. D) Both A and C are correct. 10. If the Federal Reserve intervenes in the foreign-exchange markets and buys foreign currencies A) the U. S. oney supply rises and foreign currencies depreciate. B) the U. S. money supply falls and foreign currencies depreciate. C) the U. S. money supply rises and foreign currencies appreciate. D) the U. S. money supply falls and foreign currencies appreciate. 11. Activists-believe that AD is unstable because A) business and consumer attitudes and expectations shift. B) monetary policy is variable. C) fiscal policy effects are unpredictable. D) Both B and C are correct. 12. Assuming constant wages implies that A) an increase in the price of goods raises profits and SAS is vertical. B) a decrease in the price of goods lowers profits and SAS is horizontal.C) an increase in the price of goods lowers profits and S AS is vertical. D) an increase in the price of goods raises profits and SAS is positively sloped. [pic] 13. Consider the above figure with equilibrium initially at E0. If the money supply is increased and prices are flexible, in the short run prices and output will ___. In the long run output and prices will ___. A) be as at E2; return to E0. B) be as at E1; be as at E2. C) be as at E2; be as at E3 D) be as at E2; be as at E1. E) be as at E1; be as at E3. 14. According to the readings, a common feature of the Great Depression and the recent economic crisis was A) mortgage credit B) deposit insurance C) unemployment rate D) monetary policy 15.The sources of the current problems of running monetary policy are often cited as A) Quantitative easing B) Zero lower bound C) Excess bank reserves D) A) and B) E) B) and C) 16. An acceleration of nominal GDP growth from, say 4% to 6% will A) permanently raise the rate of inflation. B) temporarily lower the rate of inflation. C) leave real GDP unaffected in the long run. D) Both A and C. 17. The short-run Phillips Curve gives A) the actual short-run level of real GDP and inflation. B) all possible combinations of real GDP and inflation, for a given set of expectations. C) all possible combinations of real GDP and inflation, for fully adjusted expectations. D) the response of real GDP and inflation to supply shocks. 18.The Fed is criticized for the â€Å"one-way option† regarding asset bubbles. The criticism is that the Fed __________ when asset prices increase and __________ when asset prices decrease A) raises interest rates; lowers interest rates B) leaves interest rates unchanged; leaves interest rates unchanged C) raises interest rates; leaves interest rates unchanged D) leaves interest rates unchanged; lowers interest rates E) lowers interest rates; raises interest rates 19. Which of the following was not a source of the Great Moderation, according to the textbook? A) growth rate rule for money supply B) finan cial deregulation in late 1970s, early 1980sC) magnitude of supply shocks after early 1980s D) government military spending 20. In the short-run, the impact of an adverse supply shock is to A) reduce real GDP and leave the inflation rate unchanged if the growth of nominal GDP remains the same. B) reduce real GDP and leave the inflation rate unchanged if the growth of nominal GDP is reduced enough. C) maintain the same level of real GDP and reduce the inflation rate if the growth if nominal GDP is increased enough. D) All of the above. 21. According to the textbook, the main losers due to the redistributive effect of the postwar inflation in the United States were A) households. B) corporations. C) government. D) A) and B) 22. Disgruntled? workers who quit their jobs to find ? a more reasonable boss? are experiencing A) involuntary unemployment. B) mismatch unemployment. C) cyclical unemployment. D) turnover unemployment. 23. Policy solutions to mismatch unemployment include A) fisca l policies to raise the AD curve B) monetary policies to raise the AD curve C) policies other than fiscal and monetary policies D) accommodative policies to deal with supply shocks 24. Over a year, the money supply in a nation grew by 6 percent, while velocity rose by 2 percent and real GDP rose by 3 percent. This results in an inflation over the year of ________ percent. A) 5 B) 11 C) 1D) 7 25. The the Fed’s quantitative easing after mid-2008 is not described by A) increased open-market purchases of Treasury securities B) increased open-market purchases of private securities C) increased open-market purchases of corporate stock D) A) and B) E) A) and C) 26. Which of the following increased by the largest percentage between mid-2007 and mid-2009? A) excess bank reserves B) M2 C) high-powered money D) total bank reserves E) M1 [pic] 27. Initially, the economy is at point G in the figure above. An increase in per capita savings from s0 to s1 will in the short run result in ____ ____ and in the long run result in ________.A) excess per capita saving; more rapid growth in per capita output B) excess per capita saving; less rapid growth in per capita output C) more rapid growth in per capita output; more rapid growth in per capita output D) more rapid growth in per capita output; no change in the long run rate of growth in per capita output 28. Which of the following will not affect steady state per capita income in the Solow growth theory? A) The savings rate. B) The initial capital stock. C) The population growth rate. D) The production function. 29. The Solow growth model predicts that nations that are initially poor should have A) slower growth rates than nations that are rich. B) faster growth rates than nations that are rich. C) growth rates equal to those of nations that are rich. D) negative growth rates. 30.Two readings in the course packet for Chapter 11 cite a particular technological innovation for improved economic growth in poor tropical countri es. This is: A) television B) internet C) mobile phones D) new drugs to fight malaria 31. Several structural changes that occurred over the past two decades were a theme of lectures. Which of the following was not one of these changes? A) greater importance of structural unemployment and less importance of frictional unemployment B) smaller response of core inflation to oil price shocks C) larger decline of employment to declines in output in recessions D) larger increase of productivity to increase in output in recoveries E) More reliance on wage flexibility rather than layoffs in 2008-09 recession 32.In the Cobb-Douglas production function Y=AKbL1-b, the variable A has several different names. Which of the following is not one of them? A) autonomous growth factor. B) infrastructure. C) multifactor productivity. D) residual. 33. The formula for the growth rate of multifactor productivity is: A) a = y + bk + (1 – b)n. B) y = a + bk + bn. C) a = y – bk – (1 †“ b)n. D) y = a – b/k(1 – b)n. 34. Which of the following does not affect multifactor productivity? A) a tax on low-efficiency firms B) a higher saving rate C) Environmental regulation. D) Technological progress. 35. Relative growth rates of the standard of living in the United States and Europe indicate that workers in ________ have chosen to ? spend? _______ of their higher productivity on leisure rather than on consumption of market goods and services. A) Europe, a significant part B) the United States, a significant part C) Europe, almost none D) the United States, almost all 36. Which of the following would cause labor? s share of national income to decrease? A) Labor productivity increases less rapidly than the real wage rate. B) Labor productivity increases more rapidly than the real wage rate. C) Labor productivity has increased at the same rate as the real wage rate. D) Labor? s share of national income is not affected by the relative growth rates of labor p roductivity and the real wage rate. 37.Once monetary policy is dedicated to controlling the level of nominal GDP, then fiscal policy can be used to A) choose the overall level of interest rates, with a high budget surplus implying a high level of interest rates. B) choose the overall level of interest rates, with a high budget deficit implying a high level of interest rates. C) control the rate of inflation, with a high budget surplus implying a faster rate of inflation. D) control the rate of inflation, with a high budget deficit implying a faster rate of inflation. 38. A major side-effect of a stimulative fiscal policy is that it will A) discriminate in favor of housing. B) crowd out private expenditures.C) increase the natural rate of unemployment. D) permanently raise the rate of inflation. 39. Which of the following was a policy of Roosevelt’s New Deal which is not a part of the Obama stimulus package? A) tax reductions B) infrastructure improvements C) Direct interventi on to stop financial institutions from failing D) Federal government direct hiring of the unemployed 40. The Barro-Ricardo Equivalence Theorem assumes all of the following except: A) Individuals value the welfare of their heirs as much as their own welfare. B) Interest rates will remain constant. C) All individuals have children D) Markets for consumer housing and durable goods are perfect. 41.Which of the following will cause the date that the Social Security trust fund runs out of money to be pushed further into the future? A) A decrease in the rate of real GDP growth. B) An increase in the population growth rate. C) A decrease in the growth of the real wage. D) All of the above. 42. A fixed money-supply rule will have the greatest stabilizing effect on output when A) money demand is unstable and commodity demand is stable. B) both money and commodity demand are unstable. C) both money demand and commodity demand are stable. D) the velocity of money is unstable. 43. M1 is a defini tion of money largely confined to which function(s) of money? A) unit of account B) store of valueC) medium of exchange D) B and C. 44. In the empirical validation of the theory of the political business cycle discussed in lecture, which of the following variables measured over the year before the election has been the best predictor of the outcomes of presidential elections? A) the unemployment rate B) the inflation rate C) the growth rate of per capita real GDP D) the level of the federal government fiscal deficit 45. In the empirical validation of the theory of the political business cycle discussed in lecture, which of the following elections is a clear outlier as violating that empirical evidence? A) 1932 B) 1936 C) 1972 D) 1992 E) 2000

Ancient Egypt vs. Canada Essay

Ancient Egyptians are very interesting people. They were very successful and very powerful. Life in ancient Egypt was not easy. They grew their own food and made their own clothes. They did as best they could with what they had. Life in Canada seems easy compared to ancient Egypt. Their cuisine, clothing, language, government, schooling and contributions to their society were different from ours. For my essay I have written about each of these and seen the differences and similarities between ancient Egypt and Canada. The Egyptians made their clothing from plant fibers, linen, and sometimes cotton. Because of the hot and sunny climate in Egypt, people had to wear thin lightweight clothes. The ancient Egyptians loved all forms of jewelry including necklaces, rings, anklets, and bracelets. Men usually dressed in short linen kilts, sometimes with a band of cloth over their shoulder. Women wore long fitted linen dresses. Ordinary Egyptians wore coarse linen while the richer Egyptians dre ssed in lighter finer cloth. Children did not wear clothes until the age of maturity, which was around twelve. Once they turned twelve they wore the same clothes as men and women. The ancient Egyptians were barefoot most of the time but wore sandals for special occasions or if their feet were getting sore. The clothing in Canada varies because of the weather. The temperature in Canada ranges from +40 degrees to -40 degrees. Some materials used to make clothes are wool, nylon, cotton, leather, and synthetic. In the summer, people wear light clothing made from cotton like shorts, t-shirts, runners or sandals. In the spring, it would be a bit cooler so more layers would be worn. In the winter, people wear insulated jackets or parkas. To keep our head and hands warm we would wear toques, mittens, gloves and scarves. We wear insulated boots or shoes in very cold weather. In the fall, people wear leather coats or lighter jackets. The difference between these two lifestyles is that the Anc ient Egyptians have one type of weather all year round while we have four different seasons. A similarity would be that we both wear light clothing in the summertime. Ancient Egyptian cuisine covers a span of over three thousand years. It has been assumed that the wealthy would have two to three meals a day. Food could be prepared by stewing, baking, boiling, grilling, frying or roasting. Spices were added for flavor. Foods such as meats were mostly preserved by salting, and raisins could be dried for long-term storage. Honey was the main sweetener but was expensive. Honey could be collected from the wild or from domesticated bees kept in pottery hives. Barley was grown to make bread and beer. The vegetables they ate were lettuce, celery, cucumber, gourds, turnips, peas, beans, olives and even papyrus. The most common fruit were dates. Other fruits included figs, grapes, raisins, palm nuts and certain species of berries. Meat came from domesticated animals, game and poultry. This included partridge, quail, pigeons, ducks and geese. The most important were sheep, cattle, goats and pigs. Poultry and fish were available. Canadian cuisine varies widel y from region to region. The traditional cuisine of Canada is closely related to British and American cuisine. The cuisine includes baked foods, wild game and gathered goods. Some examples of Canadian foods are roast beef with Yorkshire pudding (popular with Anglo-Canadians), pea soup from Quebec and toutins from Newfoundland. Wild game are still hunted and eaten by many Canadians. Seal meat is eaten, particularly in the Canadian North, the Maritimes and Newfoundland. Wild fowl like partridge and ptarmigan are also regularly hunted. People also eat seafood, which includes salmon, lobster, mussels, pickerel and halibut. We also consume fruits like blueberries, strawberries, blackberries, apples and bananas. Sweets like pies, cakes, cookies and pudding and other baked goods are eaten as dessert. The main beverages of Canadians are water, tea, coffee, juice, milk and alcoholic beverages. A comparison between these two cuisines would be that both Egyptians and Canadians eat the same gam e animals and meats, and we both have the same main beverages. A difference would be that Canada has multicultural foods while Egypt has only one cuisine. Ancient Egyptian Government was dominated by a single man, the Pharaoh. The position was inherited and was passed down to the eldest of the king’s chief wife. The people believed that the king was more than a man, however, but that he was a god. This gave him absolute control over the affairs of the Empire and its people. Ancient Egypt was also a theocracy, which meant that it was controlled by the clergy. The Pharaoh’s advisors and ministers were almost always priests, who were considered the only ones worthy and able to carry out the god-king’s commands. As in most religious ancient societies, priests had special status above the rest of the citizens, forming a kind of nobility. The governmental officials included the vizier (or the prime minister), the chief treasurer, the tax collector, the minister of public works, and the army commander. These officials were directly responsible to the Pharaoh. The land itself was divided up into provinces called nomes. Each nome had a governor, who was appointed by the Pharaoh and responsible to the vizier. Taxes were paid in goods and labor. Citizens were drafted into the army and into forced labor for periods of time to pay what was called a corvà ©e (the labor tax). Slaves, mercenaries, and draftees were often used in the army. It is believed, however, that Egyptian slaves were not used to construct sacred monuments such as the Pyramids. Egyptologists were led to this conclusion by recent findings of worker burial grounds near such monuments. The workers received proper Egyptian burials whereas slaves did not. The majority of Egyptian people were peasants who worked the land along the fertile Nile flood basin. These people had no voice in their government and accepted this fact because it was backed by their religion. This mingling of religion and government is probably what kept Egypt so powerful and centralized during its high points. In Canada, the government is controlled by the prime minister. He/she is the person likely to command the confidence of the elected House of Commons. The prime minister is the leader of the political party that wins the most seats in the House of Commons in an election. He/she is head of the executive branch of the Canadian federal government. The Canadian prime minister provides leadership and direction to the government. A difference between these two governments is that being a pharaoh is an inherited role whereas in Canada people elect their prime minister. A similarity would be that both are leaders of their entire country. Ancient Egyptians communicated through writing and language. The history of hieroglyphics in ancient Egypt is believed to date back as far as 3000 B.C. Ancient Egyptian writing uses more than 2,000 hieroglyphic characters. Each character represents a common object in Ancient Egypt. The Egyptian language is a Northern Afro-Asiatic language that is closed related to the Berber and Semitic languages. A multitude of languages are spoken in Canada, but English and French are the most common. About 67% speak English while 22% speak French. About 20% percent of Canadians have a language other than English or French as their first language. The top five languages in Canada are English, French, Chinese, Punjabi, and Spanish. A similarity would be that both countries have written and oral language. A difference would be that their writing is made by using pictures while we use letters. There were schools in ancient Egypt, but hardly anyone went to them. Girls were not allowed to go to school at all. They learned everything they needed to know at home from their mothers. Boys in wealthy families started school at the age of four. Before a child started school, his father decided what his career would be in the future. Children at school were only taught the subjects that would be useful in their career. Education in Canada is generally divided into elementary, secondary, and post-secondary. Education is compulsory up to age 16 in most provinces. You start school at the age of four or five and continue up to age eighteen. Major subjects in school are language arts, mathematics, science, social studies and physical education. The school systems of most provinces have twelve grades. One similarity would be that in both countries you start at age four or five. A difference would be that in Egypt you go to school for about five years whereas in Canada you attend for abou t thirteen years. Second, Egyptian parents choose careers for their sons. In Canada students choose their own careers. Third, both boys and girls go to school in Canada while only boys went to school in ancient Egypt. One of the ways Egyptians contributed to society was building better houses. The earliest inhabitants of Egypt lived in huts made from papyrus reeds. However, they soon discovered that the mud left behind after the yearly flooding of the Nile could be made into bricks, which could be used for building. Another contribution would be that the ancient Egyptians made dams. Before the dams were built, the Nile River flooded each year during the summer. These floods brought high water plus natural nutrients and minerals that continuously enriched the fertile soil along the river. As Egypt`s population grew and conditions changed, there became a need to control the flood waters to both protect and support farmland and economically important cotton fields. With the reservoir storage provided by these dams, the floods could be lessened and the water could be stored for later release. Pyramids marked the introduction of engineering and architecture. They represented a new way of building large r structures. Knowledge of astronomy was necessary to orient the pyramids to the cardinal points. Canadians contribute to their society in many ways. CANADARM, which was invented in Canada, is used in space exploration. Canada has also manufactured some communications satellites. The Blackberry cell phone was invented in our country and has become a big success in communication. Canadian technology has played an important role in the extraction of crude oil from the tar sands in Northern Alberta. I think that Canada contributed more to our common way of living because we have more freedom to think, experiment, and be creative. If you have freedom, you can learn new skills and contribute to society. Our educational system provides equal opportunity for males and females. I believe that Canada is more successful than Egypt because its immigration policy has allowed highly skilled people to move here and contribute to society. Immigrants bring new ideas to our country, which helps make Canada more successful.Overall, I think life in Canada is better because we now have the knowledge and technology, which helps us make our lives easier. However, I also believe that the Egyptians worked hard for what they had and deserve great credit to the huge success of their compelling and powerful country. By Christine Rehaluk

Santa Croce Essay Example

Santa Croce Essay Example Santa Croce Essay Santa Croce Essay The Santa Croce is the principal Franciscan church in Florence, Italy, and a minor basilica of the Roman Catholic Church. It is situated on the Piazza di Santa Croce, about 800 metres south east of the Duomo. It is one of the most popular tourist spots in Italy. In A Room with a View, an important scene takes place in this place. In Chapter 2: In Santa Croce with No Baedeker, we find that the tourists from England go on a visit to this place. The writer gives a picturesque description of the place.Moreover, here Lucy abandoned by her cousin happens to meet Emerson, who asks her to befriend his George. Lucy gets upset by this unexpected approach. Here Mr. Emerson also expresses sympathy for Lucy. But she becomes cold, and she informs him that she has no need for his pity. This is one of the scenes where Lucy comes to know the outer world. Piazza Signoria Piazza Signoria is an L-shaped square in front of the Palazzo Vecchio in Florence, Italy. It was named after the Palazzo della Signo ria, also called Palazzo Vecchio.It is the focal point of the origin and of the history of the Florentine Republic and still maintains its reputation as the political hub of the city. In the novel A Room with a View, Lucy has a horrible experience here in Piazza Signoria. In chapter-4 of the book, Lucy goes out longing for adventure, hoping for something great. She buys some photographs of great artworks at a junk shop, but remains unsatisfied. She wanders into the Piazza Signoria. Nearby, she sees two Italians arguing.One of them is struck lightly on the chest; he wanders toward Lucy, trying to say something, and blood trickles from his lips. The light strike was actually a stabbing. A crowd surrounds them and carries the man away. She sees George Emerson, and then the world seems to fall on top of Lucy; suddenly, she is with George Emerson, sitting on some steps some distance away. She fainted, and George has carried her here. Here for the first time the couple come closer to one another that has some significant consequence in the long run.

What Is Khan Academy SAT Prep How Can It Help You

What Is Khan Academy SAT Prep How Can It Help You SAT / ACT Prep Online Guides and Tips Are you preparing for the SAT or PSAT? Maybe you’ve heard of Khan Academy and are wondering what it is and if it can help you raise your score.In cooperation with the College Board, Khan Academy recently released free materials to help students prepare for the SAT. This guide will answer all your questions about the Khan Academy SAT content including what it is, if it’s really free, what resources it provides, and how it differs from other official SAT prep materials. By reading this guide, you'll learn exactly what information Khan Academy offers and how you can use it to study more effectively and boost your SAT score. Feature image credit: Wikimedia Commons What Is Khan Academy SATPrep? Khan Academy is an online education non-profit that was founded by Salman Khan in 2006.Khan Academy offers thousands of free videos that cover a variety of topics, including math, economics, and science.Anyone can sign up for a free account and have access to all the videos that Khan Academy offers. The videos typically consist of example problems and notes handwritten by an off-screen narrator (usually Khan himself). In 2015, Khan Academy and the College Board (the company that designs and administers the SAT, PSAT, and AP tests) teamed up to provide free SAT study tools, which is what this guide will be focusing on. (Since the College Board doesn't administer the ACT, Khan Academy does not offer materials directly geared towards ACT prep.) Why Are Khan Academy and the College Board Offering These Resources For Free? Both Khan Academy and the College Board are non-profit organizations. This means that their goal is to provide a benefit to others, not to make a profit.Instead, they use their excess revenue to further their mission or aim. Khan Academy states that their mission is to â€Å"provide a free, world-class education for anyone, anywhere.† Multiples studies have shown that students from wealthier backgrounds tend to perform better on the SAT than students from less wealthy families. The College Board wants your SAT score to be based on how intelligent you are, not how rich your parents are. As a way to try and solvethis problem, they partnered with Khan Academy, which offers all its lessons for free, so that students from all economic backgrounds have access to the exact same material.This is part of the College Board’s larger rebranding of the SAT,which also includedmany significant changes to the exam. All of Khan Academy's resources are offered for free. What SATPrep Resources Does Khan Academy Offer? As we mentioned above, as a result of its partnership with the College Board, Khan Academy offers official study materials for the SAT (which can also be used to prepare for the PSAT).These resources include video lessons, full-length practice tests, quizzes, personalized practice recommendations, samplequestions and more. We’ll explore each of them in more detail below. Quizzes After you create your account, one of the first things you’ll be prompted to do is take a diagnostic quiz so Khan Academycan determineyour strengths and weaknesses in each SAT section.Eight short quizzes are available: two for Reading, two for Writing and Language, and four for Math.After you complete each quiz, you will be able to review your answers and see how to solve each problem. You will then be given personalized recommendations based on your score. There are four different skill levels you can be placed into for each SAT topic. If you answered a lot of questions in a particular subject correctly, you will start at a higher skill level and have more challenging practice questions. If you answered a lot of questions incorrectly, you’ll start at a lower skill level and work your way up to more advanced questions. Many times you’ll start at different skill levels for different topics within a section.For example, if you took a quiz forthe Math section, based on your answers you could be starting at Skill Level 2 for circle theorems, linear equation word problems, and complex numbers, and you could be starting at Skill Level 3 for graphing linear equations, isolating quantities, and radical and rational equations. Your skill level in each area will give you personalized practice recommendations, which we cover next. Personalized Practice Recommendations As we just mentioned, your scores on the eight quizzes will determine your personalized practice recommendations.For example, if you generally score well on the Reading section but struggle with analyzing scientific passages, you will be directed to practice questions and videos that focus mainly on scientific passages. These recommendations make it easier for you to spend your time efficiently because you’re focusing on concepts you need to work on and not wasting your time going over topics you already understand. Video Lessons Video lessons are the hallmark of Khan Academy, anddozens of them are available that cover each of the three SAT sections: Reading, Writing and Language, and Math.Khan Academy SATvideos are typically 2-10 minutes long, and they involve presenting an example problem and breaking down exactly how to answer it. Reading videos cover each of the four types of text passages the SAT contains. The Writing and Language section has videos on writing style as well as over 20 videos on different grammar concepts such as pronoun agreement, punctuation, and modifier placement. Math includes videos on algebra, data analysis, and numerous other topics. Many topics have videos that areorganized by difficulty, so you can start by watching a video with easier examples and work your way up to more challenging problems. Khan Academy's video lessons may help you understand difficult topics better. Practice Questions There are thousands of practice SAT questions available on Khan Academy.Each of the subjects tested on the SAT has videos and practice questions related to it, so after you watch a video on a particular concept like syntax or linear equation word problems, you can try out some questions on that topic to see how well you understand it. After you answer a problem, you will learn immediately whether you got it right or wrong, and an explanation will appear for every answer choice that explains why that particular choice was correct or incorrect. Full-Length Practice Tests Khan Academy also offers four full-length practice tests (the same practice tests that the College Board offers on its website) that users can take either online or with pencil and paper. You can take these tests all the way through like you would on test day, or you can stop after each section and review your answers.Like the quizzes and practice problems, each question includes a complete explanation of why each answer option is right or wrong. Summary:Khan Academy's Test Prep Resources To recap, Khan Academy's test prep resources include: Diagnostic quizzes to help you figure out how strong you are in each subject before you begin studying. Personalized practice recommendations so you can focus on learning the material you need to improve on. Video lessons to help clarify topics you don't understand right away. Numerous practice questions to help strengthen your skills. Full-length practice tests to get you used to the real SAT. To learn more about how you should use these resources, and what their limitations can be, check out our guide on how to get the most out of Khan Academy SATprep. How Is Khan Academy Different FromThe Official SAT Study Guide? How do the Khan Academy SAT prep materials differ from The Official SAT Study Guide?The Official SAT Study Guide is a 792-page book produced by the College Board that includes practice questions and information on the SAT and how to study for it. To start, one way in which these resources aresimilar is that they’re both produced in cooperation with the College Board. This makes them high-quality resources because you can be sure they give an accurate representation of the SAT.Both also offer the same four full-length practice tests, as well as additional questions, explanations, and tips to help you understand the test. However, as a whole, Khan Academy’s information is more in-depth. Advantagesof Khan Academy Because Khan Academy’s video lessons walk you through each step of solving a problem, they offer you a different way to study and learn new concepts if you feel you haven’t understood a topic as much as you want to just by reading an explanation of it from a book. Additionally, while both resources offer practice questions that are broken down by specific categories within a section, only Khan Academy helps you identify which of these areas you are weakest in and thus need to practice more. Other advantages of Khan Academy include the fact that its full-length practice tests are timed, so they’re more realistic, and that Khan Academy automatically grades your responses on tests, quizzes, and practice problems, which saves you the time of grading them yourself. Khan Academy also offers far more practice problems than The Official SAT Study Guide does. Advantages of The Official SAT Study Guide Basically allthe information The Official SAT Study Guide offers, both its practice tests and additional tips, is available for free either on Khan Academy or the College Board's website.The main advantage of The Official SAT Study Guide is that its practice tests are already printed out for you. Taking the tests with pencil and paper will help you get a more accurate representation of your score than taking the test online since you will be taking the actual SAT on paper. While Khan Academy offers the option of printing out the exams, printing out four exams that are 70 or so pages each uses a lot of paper and ink, so having the tests already printed can be useful. The book is currently available for about $15 on Amazon, so if that is a big enough incentive for you, you may want to consider purchasing it. WhichResource Should You Use? If you use Khan Academy, you will be using all the prep materialThe Official SAT Study Guideoffers and then some, since Khan Academy offers video lessons, personalized study recommendations, and many more practice questions. Students who appreciate having problems really broken down for them or those who aren’t sure which areas of the SAT they need to study can particularly benefit from Khan Academy. If you would prefer to have your practice tests already printed out for you,The Official SAT Study Guidemay be a useful resource for you, but don't expect it to offer many other advantages since almost all of its material is available for free elsewhere. Conclusion Khan Academy is an organization that has teamed up with College Board to provide free online resources for the SAT. These offerings include quizzes, practice questions, full-length practice tests, video lessons, and personalized recommendations so you can focus your studying on the topics you need to improve the most in. While both Khan Academy and The Official SAT Study Guide are produced in cooperation with the College Board and contain practice tests, Khan Academy is unique in that it offers video lessons and personalized study recommendations.Because it’s fairly new, Khan Academy’s materialsare a bit limited, but they can still be a good resource if you use them along with other prep materials. What's Next? Want to learn more about the new SAT? We have a complete guide to the revised SATthat goes over exactly what changed, what stayed the same, and how it affects you. Not sure if Khan Academy is the right prep method for you? Check out this article which goes over the pros and cons of each test prep method. Are you planning on using those practice tests? Learn how to getthe most realistic practice test experience possible to maximize the accuracy of your scores. Want to improve your SAT score by 160 points or your ACT score by 4 points?We've written a guide for each test about the top 5 strategies you must be using to have a shot at improving your score. Download it for free now:

Qualcomm, Inc Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Qualcomm, Inc - Research Paper Example This was the beginning of the exponential growth of the company. The company nowadays has extensive portfolio not just in the United States of America, but the company has over 195 patent agreements around the world. This makes Qualcomm the best and the largest company in the communication sector. The company has also been very active in the growth of 3G and other wireless communication developments. Among various other development, company has developed several modern technologies in the industry including CDMA technology, 3G technology and QUALCOMM Enterprises Services (QES). QUALCOMM is also helping the governments around the world in setting up effective communication solutions. QUALCOMM has also started QUALCOMM licensing service though which the every new development that QUALCOMM makes is licensed to companies around the world so that this development is not concentrated to just one part of the world, but it spreads throughout the world evenly. (Qualcomm’s Official Webs ite, 2011) Qualcomm is threatened quite badly by the large amount of lawsuits that were filed against the company. Everyone these days seem to file lawsuits against the company. From the handset makers to cellular networks, everyone has given its own share of problems to the communication industry giant, QUALCOMM. These lawsuits range from antitrust law violations to licensing agreement. All of this could have created a mess if it was not QUALCOMM. It is one company that is spending huge sum on its team of defense attorneys. Hence, the company can fight it out by having out-of-the-court deals with the companies who have filed these lawsuits or else they can go with them hard in the court of law. In any case, QUALCOMM does not have too much to worry about and this problem is going to be handled more than effectively by the team of lawyers that are on QUALCOMM’s payroll. This problem also stemmed from the sharp growth of the communication industry in the last decade. This irreg ular resulted in a lot of problems and lawsuits for QUALCOMM. However, QUALCOMM is in a great position to come out of this problem as they have a great team of attorney to defend the company’s position. (Sidener, 2009) Another problem with QUALCOMM is its declining margin. In the latest quarter ending June 26 2011, QUALCOMM operating profit margin was 30 percent. This was a decline of 3 percent from the quarter previous year. This shows that operating expenses of QUALCOMM are rising faster than its revenues. This has caused the problem of declining QUALCOMM’s profitability. The scrutiny of financial statements reveals that this decline in profitability is a result of increasing cost of equipment and servicing costs. QUALCOMM can improve its position by moving towards more efficient operations. They should try to reduce the costs by as much as possible and should try to increase their revenues. This can be done by increasing the cost control methods and hiring operation managers at each cost centre. They should inspect the factors that are leading to wastage and should try to eliminate them so that the next quarter’s financial statements are more profitable and more ostentatious. (Qualcomm’s Income Statement, 2011) QUALCOMM operates in an industry and is facing high level of competition. It is reported that there are around 21 companies that provide competition to QUALCOMM directly or indirectly. This is