Why is it unsafe to collect too much hydrogen in a test tube before testing it with a lit splint?

August 26, 2018 Educator

SOCIAL SCIENCES

Where has the invention of the telephone been used throughout history?

The telephone is one of the most world-altering inventions in history. It is right up there with electricity and the wheel. Telephones provide the ability to communicate with someone in an…

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TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD

Who are the Radleys? What do their house and yard look like?

The Radley family lived in Maycomb on the same street as Jem and Scout. Mr. and Mrs. Radley had two sons and were not sociable around town. Scout wondered what Mr. Radley did for a job. Their…

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MACBETH

How does Lady Macbeth dominate her husband throughout the play?

Almost the first thing Lady Macbeth does after Macbeth returns home in Act 1, Scene 5, is give him instructions, showing that she is certainly the more dominant partner in their relationship. She…

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ONE DAY IN THE LIFE OF IVAN DENISOVICH

One of Solzhenitsyn’s goals with his novel One Day in the Life of Ivan Denisovich was to show the…

One Day in the Life of Ivan Denisovich by Alexander Solzhenitsyn is about the daily life of Ivan Denisovich Shukhov (referred to in the book as “Shukhov”) in a Soviet gulag, or forced labor camp….

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THE CALL OF THE WILD

What do Thornton and his partners find after a long search? Why does this cause Buck to move…

Thorton and his partners finally find gold. Their discovery certainly occupies much of their time; as a result, Buck has little to do and lies around in this primordial wilderness with dreams of…

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THE DIVINE COMEDY, INFERNO

In Canto 6 of Dante Alighieri’s Inferno, it says that overeating and excessive drinking are sins….

Within the medieval church, gluttony is one of the seven so-called deadly sins (cardinal sins). They are mortal, or deadly, sins because they destroy the spiritual virtue of the sinner. They are…

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WHY I LIVE AT THE P.O.

How much of what Sister reports can we believe?

In Eudora Welty’s famous short story, “Why I Live at the P.O.,” Sister is the classic unreliable narrator, so believe what she says with caution! This story is told in first person, with Sister…

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THE AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF MALCOLM X

What is Billie Holiday’s significance in the autobiography?

Billie Holiday’s significance in the autobiography, like that of other figures, such as Dinah Washington and Redd Foxx, is peripheral yet helpful in understanding the cultural atmosphere in which…

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TO BUILD A FIRE

How do London’s descriptions of the dog reveal its purpose and function in “To Build a Fire”?

The dog, who is perfectly suited to its environment, reflects the role of heredity, instinct, and natural selection in the ability to survive. It functions as the creature who has adapted to…

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ADOPTION

What is a thesis statement for an essay about adoption?

If you want to develop a paper about the topic of adoption, you need to narrow your topic to something manageable before you can develop a thesis. Also, normally, in an argumentative paper you need…

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TUCK EVERLASTING

In Tuck Everlasting, Chapter 7, why did Miles’s wife take the children and leave?

Miles’s wife and children left because he did not age. When the Tuck family first drank from the spring that made them immortal, they had no idea that immortality would be the effect. It took…

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THE GIVER

How is Jonas different from everyone else in The Giver?

Jonas is different from the rest of his community because he has light eyes and the Capacity to See Beyond. In Jonas’s community, most people do not question the way things are. Things just are…

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HISTORY

What order do these things go in? Journeyman, Apprentice, Master

The correct order would be the following: apprentice, journeyman, master. This sequence of gaining recognition for mastery in a craft began in the Middle Ages, under the control of guilds. Guilds…

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RACE RELATIONS

Why was justice denied in the case of Emmett Till? Explain the political, social and economic…

When a 14-year-old child is dragged from his uncle’s home, beaten, shot, and his body thrown into a river, one can presume that those responsible for such an outrage—and, lest we forget, the…

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RIKKI-TIKKI-TAVI

Why do Nag and Nagaina try to kill Teddy and his parents in “Rikki-tikki-tavi”?

The cobras, Nag and Nagaina, plot together to kill the people living in the bungalow. At first Nag wonders whether it will be necessary to kill the people. It is obvious to him that Rikki is a…

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A TALE OF TWO CITIES

In A Tale of Two Cities, when Madame Defarge ties the knots of her scarf, what does she really…

Madame Defarge is constantly knitting, watching events and people go by her. Each knot represents another person who will face the wrath of the revolution when it comes. Symbolic of the knots on…

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GATHERING BLUE

What is the significance of Matt not knowing what “gift” means in the book Gathering Blue?

In Lois Lowry’s book Gathering Blue, the fact that Matt does not know what “gift” means is significant is because it demonstrate Matt’s background and upbringing (or, rather, the lack of it.) By…

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THE WEARY BLUES

Why do you think Langston Hughes chose to use the verb “moan” rather than “play” to describe the…

Langston Hughes’ poem “The Weary Blues” is about the emotional anguish of an old blues singer/piano player. To look at why he uses the term “moan” in connection with the singer’s piano, we…

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EDMUND SPENSER

According to the speaker in Edmund Spenser’s “One Day I Wrote Her Name Upon the Strand,” how will…

The speaker in Edmund Spenser’s “One Day I Wrote Her Name Upon the Strand” plans to immortalize his beloved in verse. He describes this in lines eleven and twelve when he states, “My verse your…

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THE OUTSIDERS

Who is your favorite character in the novel The Outsiders and why?

In my opinion, I would have to say my favorite character in The Outsiders is Dallas Winston. Dally is the toughest member of the Greasers and lives by his own rules. His unapologetic attitude and…

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THE GREAT GATSBY

What happens to Wilson’s garage in The Great Gatsby?

In Fitzgerald’s novel, The Great Gatsby, George Wilson runs a garage in the “valley of ashes” between the Eggs (West and East) and New York City. Wilson is described as somewhat lifeless and…

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THE SNIPER

What details does the author provide to identify the setting of the story in Paragraphs 1 &…

The setting of Liam O’Flaherty’s short story “The Sniper” is the city of Dublin during the Irish Civil War. The Republican sniper is on a rooftop not far from the Four Courts government building…

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TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD

Explain what “one thing that doesn’t abide by majority rule is a person’s conscience” means in To…

Atticus means that he believes that he should help Tom Robinson and he will not let anyone tell him differently. Atticus’s children are tired of people insulting him for defending Tom Robinson….

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THE CASK OF AMONTILLADO

Give two specific examples from “The Tell-Tale Heart” that the author uses to create an…

The narrator’s description of the old man’s “vulture eye” and its effect on him certainly helps to create suspense in the story. He says, “Whenever [the eye] fell upon me, my blood ran cold; and…

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ARABY

Compare the elements of fiction from the short story “Araby” and “The Veldt.”

When you write “the elements of fiction,” I’m led to believe you’re talking about these: plot, conflict, characters, setting, and point of view. So I’ll give a brief overview of each….

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OF MICE AND MEN

How does Steinbeck present American society through his presentation of ranch life?

Steinbeck primarily presents the “view from below” on the ranch, meaning how life in American society looks to those at the bottom rungs. He focuses primarily on the ranch hands, though we could…

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GEOGRAPHY

What is the importance of ecotourism?

There is a strong demand for vacations in nature around the world today. To meet those demands without damaging ecologically fragile areas, ecotourism promotes responsible visits to remote areas….

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HAMLET

In what two ways does Hamlet disobey the ghost?

When old King Hamlet’s ghost speaks with the prince, his son, he charges the prince with the task of avenging his murder. This means, really, that young Hamlet will likely have to kill the new…

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HISTORY

A series of events and conditions existed in the Old World at the dawn of the fifteenth century…

There were a number of technological and economic factors that contributed to the ability and the desire to explore across the Atlantic.The monetary system of Europe was still based entirely on…

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THE LIGHT IN THE FOREST

What do the stories from Cuyloga teach True Son?

Cuyloga imparts his wisdom on True Son three times in the novel. In chapter four, Half Arrow relays the words of Cuyloga to True Son as the boy is on his way to the white settlement. He advises…

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THE LIGHT IN THE FOREST

Why does Half Arrow watch quietly while the guard binds True Son’s arms?

True Son is being marched back to white civilization in chapter four after the Indians agree to a treaty which will release the whites who had been taken captive. True Son has lived with the Lenne…

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TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD

Why and how does Mrs. Dubose make an attempt to change her behavior?

According to Atticus in chapter 11, Mrs. Dubose had a morphine addiction that she was trying to change before she died. She contacted Atticus to draw up her will and had explained the following to…

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TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD

What are some differences between Tom Robinson and Boo Radley in To Kill a Mockingbird?

There are several notable differences between the characters of Tom Robinson and Boo Radley. Tom Robinson is an African-American who has a wife and children. Boo Radley is the Finch’s reclusive…

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NIGHT

When author Elie Wiesel found his father in Night, what did he discover was wrong with him?

Towards the end of Night by Elie Wiesel, Elie is looking everywhere for his father. When he finally finds him, Mr. Wiesel is very sick with a high fever. He has dysentery, a disease that runs…

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THE STRANGE CASE OF DR. JEKYLL AND MR. HYDE

At one point in the novel, Hyde is described as a “troglodyte.” To what does this term refer?…

The term “troglodyte” means “cave dweller”. It is derived from two Greek words, “trogle” meaning “hole”, and “dyein”, meaning “to dive into.” In Victorian English, it typically refers to…

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THE GREAT GATSBY

How would you compare and contrast Nick Carraway and Jay Gatsby?

To compare is to find similarities; let’s start with the ways that Nick Carraway and Jay Gatsby are alike. Both men are from the Midwest, and both have decided to seek their fortunes elsewhere….

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THE DIARY OF ANNE FRANK

In “The Diary of Anne Frank,” what are Mr. Frank’s views regarding the upbringing of children?

Mr. Frank is a gentle man who avoids conflict. He is never one to start an argument and he maintains his temper at all times. Anne loves her father because of his patient and loving nature. The way…

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OF MICE AND MEN

In Of Mice and Men, what are some passages that show that George really cares about Lennie?

George’s extreme final action toward Lennie shows his deep love for his mentally challenged friend. Rather than let Lennie be shot by Curley or abused by law enforcement he kills Lennie himself….

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CONTENTS OF THE DEAD MAN’S POCKET

What does the reader learn about Tom’s wife in “Contents of the Dead Man’s Pocket”?

In Jack Finney’s story “Contents of the Dead Man’s Pocket,” the reader learns that the wife of protagonist, Tom Benecke, is affectionate, pleasant, considerate and concerned, well-loved and…

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RULES OF THE GAME

Why does Waverly’s mother allow her to compete in tournaments?

Waverly’s mother is proud of her Chinese heritage and tries to impart Chinese wisdom to her children. One of her “rules” is that, to win an argument, one should be silent: “Strongest win cannot be…

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THE SUMMER OF THE BEAUTIFUL WHITE HORSE

The narrator mentions a “crazy streak” running in his family. Which two characters show this…

In “The Summer of the Beautiful White Horse,” there are two characters which demonstrate a “crazy streak” in the Garoghlanian family. The first of these is Uncle Khosrove who greets every event, no…

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THE TEMPEST

In The Tempest, what is the overall impact of the masque?

The masque highlights one of the themes of the play, that it is important to keep oaths. The Tempest is a play about honor and loyalty. Prospero tries to lead Ferdinand to fall in love with his…

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HISTORY

To what extent did the Industrial Revolution change the roles of women and children in English…

During the Industrial Revolution in both England and the United States, children, who formerly worked on their families’ farms or helped their families with cottage industries such as clothing…

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THE BOY IN THE STRIPED PAJAMAS

What details does Bruno mention that suggest his life has changed?

In Chapter 17, Bruno mentions several things that suggest his life has changed. At the beginning of the chapter, Bruno overhears his mother and father arguing in his father’s office. Bruno’s mother…

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ARMS AND THE MAN

Which character best serves as George Bernard Shaw’s spokesperson in Arms and the Man? How?

One of the best ways to see who speaks for the playwright in Arms and the Man by George Bernard Shaw is to read the Preface. Shaw is notorious for writing long, entertaining essays as prefaces to…

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NIGHT

What are examples of civil disobedience in the book Night by Elie Wiesel?

There are at least three good examples of civil disobedience in Elie Wiesel’s memoir Night. In section one, just before the Jews of Sighet are loaded on the trains to Auschwitz, Elie’s family…

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DO NOT GO GENTLE INTO THAT GOOD NIGHT

Who is the speaker in “Do Not Go Gentle into that Good Night?

The narrator of “Do Not Go Gentle into that Good Night” is a son or daughter speaking to their father. The last stanza of the poem specifically addresses the speaker’s “father,” when the speaker…

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HISTORY

Compare the constitution of medina with the U.S. Constitution. Similarities and differences

Most people in the US are familiar with the Constitution of the United States, but only those with some knowledge of Islamic history likely know about the Constitution of Medina. The two documents…

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ANTIGONE

Who is the Maenad chorus in the play Antigone?

The simple answer here is that the chorus in Antigone is not composed of Maenads. To help you as you study Greek tragedy, this answer will unpack your question and address the role of the chorus,…