Further Education, Personal Statement Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Further Education, - Personal Statement Example It has also reinforced my belief in the importance of education. As I see my own children go off to school, I am reminded that I am the model that they will pattern their own life after. My education will fulfil my goal of attaining a degree and serve as an example to my children of the importance of education. The time away from education has also given me the opportunity to realise what I expect from a college degree. I know now that I want to study medicine and the first step will be the access course that is offered by Nicholls College at Manchester. I will eventually build on this experience to further my education at Manchester University. I feel I am taking the correct course of action at the right time in my life. Being a mother has tempered my judgement and provided me with the motivation for accomplishing this goal. I feel that the challenges that I have faced will make me a better student and my family will offer me the necessary support it takes to excel in the courses at Nicholls College.

Explore the role of nature Essay Example for Free

Explore the role of nature Essay In the first three opening sections of Tess of the DUrbervilles, nature plays many a significant role. It acts as a storytelling device, helping the plot of the story to move and develop; it acts as a mirror for Tess feelings and the feelings of others; it adds atmosphere to the plot itself. Most importantly, it plays a major role in Tess wellbeing, but this role is often thwarted by the actions of man and the actions of mans Church the two are often in conflict, and these sections often explore this. We first see Tess taking part in an activity, clubwalking, with many of her friends and surrounding neighbours. All the people taking part are women, and it is a very simple activity; it is only them and the surrounding nature. This suggests that they share a harmony with their surroundings, and also that it is very feminine and pure, much like Tess at the beginning of the novel. As Tess emerges from this, we associate nature with her almost immediately. Angel also appears from this setting, with his two brothers, and he seems more connected with nature than he does with their religion. His brothers seem uptight and stuffy dancing with a troop of country hoydens! being an indication of this whilst he seems more carefree and willing to interact. In this way, Tess and Angel are instantly connected for the reader, and nature appears to shelter and protect them. However, Angel chooses another girl to dance with, marring the experience and implying that there is more to the situation; perhaps they are not so perfect. It implys that where nature creates a situation, man can often disrupt it, through their actions and religion. It therefore acts as a device for dramatic irony and foreshadows further events in the book. The death of the family horse, one of the more important contributors to Tess decision to work for the dUrbervilles, is caused by both nature and man. Tess falls asleep during her coach ride, and nature fails to keep her awake. It could be argued that it was enticing her to go to sleep, and therefore was a main conspirator against her. However, a man kills her horse (the morning mailcart had driven into her slow and unlighted equipage). The death of her horse is a combination of the two, and it seems as though nature is working with man to contribute to her ruin, although it may also be looked on as nature trying to protect her and, again, man disrupting it the two forces work against each other. Tess family had already raised the idea of her going to work for an old family (although Tess was against this when her younger brother questioned her on it she burst out never mind that now! ) but this new factor makes Tess think that she is responsible and must therefore help her family in their time of need. She has no choice in the matter; nature and fate, it seems has decided it for her she had hoped to become a teacher at the school, but the fates seemed to decide otherwise. It suggests that nature has carved out its own path for Tess. Due to the death of the horse, and at the persuasion of her family, Tess leaves for Trantridge. She plans to gain work from the DUrbervilles that live there. As readers, we are informed that they are not real DUrbervilles like Tess and her family; the father in the family, Simon Stoke, bought the name once he had made his money from being a merchant, in order to appear more grand to the rest of society they are not natural DUrbervilles, and Tess has been tricked. This is an example of man meddling with nature nature did not give them that name and they are therefore imposters. Trantridge itself, the house where the Stoke-DUrbevilles like, seems out of place with the surrounding nature; it is described as of recent erection of the rich red colour that formed such a contrast with the evergreens . It is far more modern and different from its surrounding and therefore appears almost sinister Nature did not intend for it to be there. Tess is assigned to work on the fancy farm belonging to the DUrbervilles. This small poultry farm seems unnecessary and frivolous, and is not needed in natures scheme it is merely the whim of man, much as Tess is for Alec in the novel. In this way, nature and its parts act as a mimic for the story. When Alec DUrberville first meets Tess, he immediately begins to seduce her. He feeds her strawberries one of natures most seductive fruits, due to its rich red colour and is riveted by the form that nature has given her. In this way, nature unwittingly works against Tess; by making her appear more of a woman than she already was, it has caused Alec to be immensely attracted to her. However, during the cart ride from her family home to his, when he has attempted to kiss her and she has dismounted under the pretences of saving her hat, he tries to use nature against her by hemming her in with his cart against the fence. She, however, uses nature to save her and talks to him from the top of the hedge into which she had scrambled nature assists her here. Just before Tess rape, the descriptions of wood are dark and unforgiving, with webs of vapour forming veils against the trees. Nature shows its darker side, and indicates what is about to happen. What happens to Tess, however, is a vital part of Nature perhaps nature assumes it is helping her in this way. It could be argued that nature here is working against Tess to set the next events in motion, or that nature is giving her a form of gift sex and pregnancy is widely regarded as natures highest privelege. Human religion and attitudes, however, view it as a sin. The Church is in conflict with natures ideas here that these acts are a vital part of life and therefore later outcasts Tess the slogans painted on the fences around Marlott such as the beginning of thou shalt not commit adultery emphasise this in our minds. Alecs attitude towards Tess after, when she leaves, suggest that he feels that it was Tess fault, for being so beautiful and irresistible to him; in reality, that is the fault of nature. Once she has left Alecs house, Tess feels she has discovered the true meaning of nature to her; the serpent hisses where the sweet bird sings. This phallic imagery shares a link to Troys sword in Far From the Madding Crowd, another popular book by Thomas Hardy for them both, nature leads them to men, men lead to their heartaches. To Tess, nature has exposed its dark underbelly and she feels robbed of natural beauty; what has happened to her, however, is a natural act, but in the eyes of man and the church, it is an unforgivable sin. This is empahasised in She had been made to break an accepted social law, but no law known to the environmet in which she fancied herself such an anomaly. When we meet Tess again, after a period of time has passed, we see her working in the local fields. The women working are described as assimilated with the fields nature wishes to protect them. However, when Tess works, she bleeds from the stubble on the corn; nature appears to be punishing her, or she punishes herself by working herself too hard. It is then revealed that Tess has a newborn baby, which is widely regarded as the greatest gift Nature offers. For Tess, and for man, however, this separates her from them she has sinned in their eyes; she still cannot resist pull of motherhood though, and her feelings for her baby are mixed and confused. Once she has decided she loves her child, nature takes it back when it dies from illness. The Church adds suffering for Tess when they refuse to bury it on concecrated ground; nature and the Church work together to upset Tess. Nature, at least, takes it from its suffering that it would have faced from mankind; the baby would never have been properly accepted. When Tess goes to work in Richard Cricks dairy, we see the idyllic side of nature once more. Here, nature mirrors Tess feelings and attitude there is a change in the quality of air from heavy to light, and we feel that the nature in the Valley of Great Dairies is far lighter and carefree for Tess; it will become her salvation for a time being, as nobody knows of her past here. She feels a connection with nature, and we have a sense that Tess is natures child she belongs to it far more than she does to mans Church. Nature saves her from herself, and the hard work with nature grants her peace. It also serves as an escape from Church, and has granted her this opportunity either as an apology or to set her up for more heartache. At the dairy, she is reunited with Angel Clare, a figure we havent seen since the opening chapters of the book. His description as a figure rising out of the past and a mobility of mouth with an unexpectedly firm close of the lower lip gives us an idea of his character nature has given him a look with compliments his personality. His mouth gives an indication that, although he is open to ideas, he can be unexpectedly firm in his ideals, a slightly chilling prediction of the events to come. Tess mouth, by contrast, is described firstly as a mobile peony mouth; like her, it is full and beautiful, and also everchanging. Nature presents Tess to Angel as a fresh and virginal daughter of Nature -although her past contradicts this ideal, Angel regards her image as perfect in every way. Nature could be seen as tricking him or trying to make amends and improve Tess life. However, with the latter, the Church seems to oppose these ideas, and this is the cause of her heartache mans inability to work with nature. In the romance of Angel Clare and Tess, nature tries to help them come together, with romantic settings such as a violet and pink dawn. There is the incident with the butter tasting like garlic, forcing Angel and Tess to work together on the mead, and the butter not churning properly (which, according to the dairyman, happens only when love is affecting it, although the story he tells is far more similar to that of Tess and Alec than that of Tess and Angel.) There is, too, the rising rain before church that seems to force them to come together, and although Angel has to carry Three Leahs to get one Rachel, he feels as though the trial was worth it for a moment with Tess. However, when they finally embrace while Tess is milking, the cow reacts unfavourably perhaps nature has realised what the consequences of its actions may be and is therefore trying to stop the romance. In this way, nature still tries to look out for Tess it is very much a mother figure to her.

Michael Mcintyre And Peter Kay English Language Essay

Michael Mcintyre And Peter Kay English Language Essay In this analysis I will evaluate the approaches to stand-up comedy undertaken by comedians Michael McIntyre and Peter Kay, commenting on techniques such as role play, comic exaggeration, lexical choices, and changes in pitch and tone, used to establish humour. Michael McIntyre is a proud middle-class comedian raised in the heart of Hampstead, north London. Over the last four years, his exuberant observational style has seen him grown into one of the biggest names in British comedy. His appeal is built on the fact that people genuinely seem like him, in that his comedy is accessible to all. On this occasion, McIntyre is performing a sketch on Herbs and Spices at Birminghams NEC Arena, in front of an audience in excess of ten thousand. McIntyres observational style turns the pettiest of everyday domestic engagements into the most humorous of affairs, and therefore relies largely on his audiences ability to relate with what he saying. In this instance, neglected herbs and spices are anthropomorphised, to express their discontent at being left at the back of the kitchen cupboard, whilst rival seasonings, Salt and Pepper sit arrogantly on the kitchen table. The introduction to the sketch consists largely of simple and compound declarative utterances, containing unsophisticated, high frequency lexis, ensuring that the audience can absorb what is being said. The second person subjective pronoun, you, in combination with formal vocatives, ladies and gentlemen in the first line, is an example of McIntyre addressing the audience directly. He engages with his audience in an attempt to make his words feel more conversational, and less like a performance, thus establishing an amicable rapport. The opening declarative utterances (lines 1-2) are stated as fact, using Standard English. They are said in an informative manner, and are the basis on which the joke is built; his observation. The imperative utterance on line two highlights this observation. McIntyre exclaims; salt and pepper are so phenomenally successful in the herb and spice arena. The monosyllabic, adverb of degree so coupled with the polysyllabic intensifier phenomenally emphasises the metaphor, crediting the popularity of salt and pepper to success in a metaphorical arena. McIntyre then later goes on to remind his audience that salt and pepper are not the only herbs and spices available. The declarative utterance on line 7, presents this information as somewhat of a revelation, with the stressed conjunction but and adjective other, helping to intensify his point. Much of the comedy in McIntyres routine is derived from comic exaggeration, fuelled by his very own larger-than-life personality. The humble world of culinary additives is metaphorically introduced to the audience as an arena, implying that there are winners, and there are losers. The clear winners of this metaphorical battleground, being the ever-present collocation of salt and pepper. Salt and Pepper also happen to be the first spices anthropomorphised by McIntyre (Lines 3-5). On line 3, he begins his utterance using the 3rd person, subjective pronoun, they, but then replaces this with the 1st person objective pronoun, us, marking the transition into role-play, later confirmed by the, again, 1st person, reflexive pronoun myself. In personifying the usually inanimate figures of salt and pepper, McIntyre is able to create character depth. On line three, Salt and Pepper are described as arrogantly sitting on the table. The stressed polysyllabic adverb of manner arrogantly, personifies Salt and Pepper making them seem conceited, which provokes spite and even envy, amongst their on-looking counterparts McIntyre is technically adept, he knows how to build on a routine and squeeze it for maximum effect. From line 10 onwards his sketch becomes very routinely question and answer, with a high frequency of adjacency pairs and interrogatives throughout. Each spice is, in turn, asked the same question, only to respond with an amusing personal anecdote, reflecting the character of each individual. For example when Mediterranean herb, Cumin is faced with this question, he recollects a time in 1992, when he last left the cupboard for an experiment. McIntyre uses the abstract noun experiment ironically, suggesting that this was his defining moment, his time to shine. Then just as this cycle verges on the edge of predictability, the routine is broken, with the comical introduction of yet another new character. Step up; John West tuna (line 25-26). With the introduction of John West tuna and his wife Tinned Salmon, McIntyre plays on a shared reference, implying that they had been in the cupboard for such a long time, they were able to forge a relationship. Through the medium of comedy, McIntyre is able to express his observation which doubles as a criticism of the fact that at some point in time, perhaps influenced by a magazine article or television commercial, most people will deem it a good idea to embrace the possibility of change in the long-term future, whilst lacking any real willingness for immediate change. Consequently, it is relatively easy to justify the purchase of reasonably inexpensive items (such as herbs), in knowledge that we may not require, nor use them at any time in the foreseeable future. Rather, they are bought in faith that one day they will serve an intended purpose. But of course things rarely change; meaning that one day never comes, leaving the victims of this wasteful ideology to remain as forgotten relics, more ornamental than practical. By making light of comedy in the most ordinary of every-day, Michael McIntyre reminds us that stand-up doesnt have to be brutal, in order to be funny. Peter Kay is arguably Britains most loved comedian. A thirty-nine year old male from Bolton, northern England, whose style of comedy, like McIntyres, is built loosely upon observation. However, a combination of cherishable British values and a trademark loveable nostalgia set him aside from most other acts. Nevertheless, Peter Kay is an unlikely comedian at best. Wide-eyed and clean-shaven, he steers clear of jokes about sex and politics. His routine lacks cruelty and he hardly ever swears. A married man and, in many respects, a bit of an average Joe. In this instance, we find Kay nearing the middle of a routine, performing a sketch on biscuits in front of an audience numbering more than three thousand, at Manchesters Apollo Theatre in 2002. Kays observation is based around the problems faced whilst performing the universal act of dipping biscuits into hot drinks. In this case, Kay is questioning the structural quality of a Rich Tea biscuit. On line 17 he personifies the Rich Tea, describing it, using high frequency adjectives cocky and lazy, implying that the humble azoic biscuit is in fact, conspiring against him. He later compares this to a Hobnob biscuit, which he metaphorically likens to; a Marine, the SAS and finally to TV hardman Steven Segal, creating a comparative juxtaposition, which becomes the basis of the joke. As much of Kays comedy relies on audience participation, rapport is crucial. Kays working class background is something that many members of his audience will be able to relate to, and so as a result he is able to employ a significant level of informal, high frequency colloquial lexis, including concrete noun brew and vocative mum, which recreates a typical conversational tone. Clipping of the 1st person singular pronoun, I in I am, to leave only am in the opening utterance on line one is an example of Kays regional dialect, which is the primary feature in this informal tone. In addition to creating rapport, Kays Lancashire dialect works to his advantage, as it sets him aside from other comedians. The preposition in elided with the definite article the on line 3, is another example of this regional dialect. Also the 1st person objective singular pronoun, me, and the possessive determiner my, are used interchangeably, in typical northern fashion, as seen on line seven. Another factor contributing to the establishment of rapport is Kays regional accent, which, in addition to dialect, adds a certain individuality to his routine. Unlike McIntyre, with his particularly received pronunciation and Standard English, Kay sports a notably lusty Lancashire accent. By clipping the present participle at the end of the emphasised, low frequency dynamic verb, planing (creating planin) on line five, Kay eliminates the harsh sounding consonant, thus extenuating his speech and alluding to an overall more colloquial tone. Kay is also able to use prosodics as an effective feature of comedy. Changes in the dynamics of his voice are prevalently used to differentiate between sentence moods. For example an increase in pitch on line 29, in the interrogative utterance, wheres me brew creates emphasis and conveys his confusion. Whereas a contrasting decrease in pitch on line 39 is used to express the military-esque seriousness of the hobnob. Since Kay so often chooses to stay clear of taboo, when coupled with the infrequent use of expletives, this technique becomes a particularly effective feature of comedy. On line 18, the cresc, clipped expletive fucking (creating king), followed by the proper noun One-Dips stresses the torment that the Rich Tea has caused him, further expressing his anguish. In McIntyres work, there are very few examples of non-fluency features (complimenting his suave stage persona). In contrast, they are prevalent throughout Kays. Although Kay will have scripted and, to some extent, rehearsed his routine, the inclusion of non-fluency features (incidentally or otherwise) bestows a sense of spontaneity, which adds to his colloquial charm. Towards the end of line 22, there is an example of a false start, which gives his previous point (theyre on their arses) sincerity, and reflects his enthusiasm towards stand-up as a whole. Then later, on line 23, he exclaims theyre cocky which, following a slight pause, he then repeats, partially to stress his point, but primarily to allow him time to gather his thoughts before continuing. Behind the sparkling eyes and boyish complexion, there is the astute mind of a shrewd operator. It is easy to forget that it takes nerves of steel as well as a few witty one-liners to achieve success in comedy. Two people, from two very different walks of life. Nevertheless, Kay and McIntyre alike possess the uncanny ability to captivate audiences of the broadest kind; a virtue which has propelled them to the forefront of contemporary British comedy. From gags about herbs and spices, to Rich Tea biscuits; in celebrating the daft little dramas that punctuate even the most inauspicious lives, their honesty and sincerity evoke sentiment, making them feel like a long-lost friend.

The Real Plague :: essays research papers

The Real Plague Although never given permission to kill, by supernatural or natural means, man has reserved for himself the right to kill other men. This self-imposed right has been put into use in our civilizations and countries. Whether train of logic is offered or not, murder is very difficult to justify. As existentialists believe, "honesty with oneself" cannot be compromised in any shape or form. Why, then, does man murder? Perhaps man tries to use the excuse of good intentions to escape the responsibility for his actions. In Camus ¡Ã‚ ¦, The Plague, Jean Tarrou dares to go against the idea of men having the right to kill other men. He represents a small part of the general public, in both the novel and in real life. While most of the character development is based on the direct conflict with the physical pestilence, Tarrou takes on a more powerful type of plague as well as this corporeal epidemic; his goal is not only of combating the plague which physically robs men of life, but t o suppress the plague which ravages men ¡Ã‚ ¦s hearts, specially his own. To start a task force, one needs people. When Rieux and Tarrou converse, they discuss who to put into the task force. Rieux suggests that maybe Jean should consider using some of the prisoners in the jail to work against the plague. After dealing with plague-stricken men all his life, Tarrou rejects this proposal. Tarrou comments, "I loathe men ¡Ã‚ ¦s being condemned to death," (125). Tarrou ¡Ã‚ ¦s reasoning for that not wanting prisoners to be used deviates from the ordinary. While many would object to prisoners being sent out to work because they do not deserve to be set free. Tarrou has different reasons. Because the plague is equal to death, Tarrou would want no part in forcing men to take part in. He wants volunteers, "free men,"(124) to confront death, not impressed individuals. This reveals an important belief of his of man is to confront death, it should be by his own desires and choices, not by something which "fancies it knows everything and the refore claims for itself the right to kill," (131). Many people would believe that the prisoners deserve to die. After all, these men are the worst mankind has to offer, and the world may even be a better place without them. This is the type of rationale one uses to assume he "knows everything.

Business Law Answer Key

Business Law Answer Key This is a comprehensive key to all the questions, including some chapters which we did not cover. You are responsible only for chapters on the syllabus. Ch. 1 A. 3 B. 5 C. 1 D. 2 E. 4 1. F 2. T 3. F 4. T 5. T 6. B 7. D 8. D 9. A 10. E Ch. 3 A. 5 B. 4 C. 2 D. 1 – 3 E. 3 – 1 †¢ Interrogatories is a pretrial procedure involving written questions to be signed under oath †¢ Deposition is a pretrial procedure involving oral questions answered under oath 1.F 2. F 3. T 4. T- F 5. T †¢ About one half of all lawsuits settle before trail -) True †¢ In a lawsuit for money damages, both the plaintiff and the defendant are generally entitled to a jury. -) True 6. E 7. D 8. C 9. C 10. D Ch. 4 A. 5 B. 6 C. 1 D. 2 E. 3 F. 4 †¢ Stare Decisis – The rule that requires courts to decide cases based on the precedent †¢ Promulgate- The act an administrative agency creating a new rule 1. T 2. F- T 3. T 4. F 5. F 6. F The due process c lause requires that any citizen is entitled to a jury trial before any right or property interest is taken -) False †¢ Administrative agencies play an advisory role in the life of many industries but do not have the legal authority to enforce their opinions. -) False 7. D 8. B 9. C 10. D 11. C 12. B †¢ If Colorado passes a hotel tax of 8 percent for Colorado residents and 15 percent for out of state visitors. The new law is void, based on the commerce clause. †¢ Which of these is an example of judicial review? A federal court declares a statute unconstitutional †¢ What is an example of a subpoena?A court order requiring a deponent to answer questions. Ch. 5 – Perfect!!!!!!! A. 4 B. 3 C. 6 D. 2 E. 1 F. 7 G. 5 1. F 2. F (not enough information; battery for sure) 3. T 4. F 5. T 6. D 7. A 8. C 9. C 10. C Ch. 6 A. 3 B. 5 C. 1 D. 2 E. 4 1. F 2. T (depends in which state – state law differs on this point) 3. F 4. T-F 5. T 6. F Some states are comparative n egligence states but the majorities are contributory negligence states. -) False A landowner might be liable if a dinner guest fell on a broken porch step but not liable if a trespasser fell on the same place. ) True 7. C 8. D 9. D 10. C Ch. 7 A. 5 B. 1 (this seems to be the best choice, although the definition sounds more like the Anti-Money Laundering Act rather than RICO, which was originally passed to combat organized crime). C. 4 D. 6 E. 3 F. 2 1. F 2. T 3. T 4. F 5. F †¢ Corporate officers can be convicted of crimes: corporation they cannot be -) False †¢ An affidavit is the government’s formal charge of criminal wrongdoing. †¢ Affidavit- a written statement signed under oath 6. D 7. E 8. A 9. A- E 10. B A prosecutor concerned that he may lack sufficient evidence to obtain a conviction may agree to an affidavit. †¢ Professor asks Janice, his teaching assistant to please drive the professor’s car to the repair shop. Janice gets in and drives, n ot to the garage, but 1,400 miles farther west to Las Vegas. Janice has committed Embezzlement. Ch. 9 A. 4 (this is how the textbook defines implied contracts, but keep in mind that if you spell out the terms of a contract, this is going to be an express contract; an implied contract is one which can be inferred from the conduct of the parties) B. 5 C. 3 D. 1 E. †¢ Implied contract- An agreement based on words and actions of the parties †¢ Consideration- Bargaining that leads to an exchange between the parties †¢ Liquidated debt- a debt in which the amount is undisputed. †¢ Bilateral contract- a common law principle requiring the acceptance to be on exactly the terms of the offer. 1. F 2. F 3. F 4. T 5. F 6. A (although E seems ok to me as well) 7. C (although A seems ok to me as well, but perhaps not enough facts are provided, so C is the better answer) 8. E 9. C- E 10. E Abdul hires Sean to work in his store, and agrees to pay him $9 an hour.  Control Key and Word – Text and Graphics.This agreement is governed by the UCC-)False †¢ If someone makes and offer and that person puts another offer on the table, they are rejecting the offer. Ch. 10 A. 3(intent is just one of the elements to prove fraud) B. 4 C. 5 D. 1 E. 2 Part Performance- Entry onto land, or improvements made to it, by a buyer who has no written contract Exculpatory Clause- a contract clause intended to relieve one party from potential tort liability 1. T 2. F 3. T- F 4. T 5. T 6. F †¢ Non compete clauses are suspect because they tend to restrain free trade. -) True 7.B 8. A 9. D 10. A 11. C 12. D †¢ If people are buying and selling a house and neither party has copy of the emails, they still have the parties still have a binding contract for the sale of Louise’s House. †¢ You drive up to a fancy restaurant and hand your car keys to the valet . You have created a Baliment. †¢ Bailment: giving possession and control of personal property to another person. CH. 16 A. 3 B. 4 C. 1 D. 5 E. 2 1. T-F 2. F-T 3. F 4. F-T 5. T †¢ A principal is always liable on a contract, whether he is fully disclosed, unidentified or undisclosed. ) True †¢ When a contract goes wrong, a third party can always recover damages from the agent, whether the principal is fully disclosed, unidentified, or undisclosed. -) False †¢ An agent may never act for two principals whose interest conflict-) false 6. B 7. C 8. B-D 9. C 10. A-none Someone painting the outside of a building you own crashed through a window, injuring a visiting executive. Which of the following questions would our lawyer not need to ask to determine if the painter was your employee? Had you checked the painter’s references?Which of the following activities committed by an agent is not likely to create liability for the principal. A car accident while driving to work. Ch. 17 A. 4 B. 6 C. 5 D. 2 E. 1 F. 3 1. F 2. F 3. F 4. T 5. T 6. F 7. F 8. F 9. F 10. E 11. A 12. B 13. C 14. E 15. A CH. 18 A. 1 B. 3 C. 4 D. 2 E. 5 1. T 2. T 3. F 4. F 5. T 6. B 7. E 8. D 9. D 10. B CH. 20 A. 2 B. 5 C. 4 D. 1 E. 3 1. F 2. T 3. T 4. F 5. F 6. C 7. A 8. D 9. C 10. C CH. 22 A. 4 B. 5 C. 3 D. 1 E. 2 1. F 2. T 3. F 4. F 5. T 6. D 7. C 8. B 9. B 10. C CH. 25 A. 4 B. 3 C. 5 D. 1 E. 2 1. T 2. T 3. F 4. T 5. T 6. B 7. C 8. D 9. B 10. A

Common Animal Questions and Answers

Common Animal Questions and Answers The animal kingdom is fascinating and often inspires a number of questions from both the young and old. Why do zebras have stripes? How do bats locate prey? Why do some animals glow in the dark? Find answers to these and other intriguing questions about animals. Why Do Some Tigers Have White Coats? Researchers from Chinas Peking University have discovered that white tigers owe their unique coloration to a gene mutation in the pigment gene SLC45A2. This gene inhibits the production of red and yellow pigments in white tigers but does not appear to alter black. Like orange Bengal tigers, white tigers have distinctive black stripes. The SLC45A2 gene has also been associated with light coloration in modern Europeans and in animals such as fish, horses, and chickens. The researchers advocate for the possible reintroduction of white tigers into the wild. Current white tiger populations only exist in captivity as wild populations were hunted out in the 1950s. Do Reindeer Really Have Red Noses? A study published in the BMJ-British Medical Journal reveals why reindeer have red noses. Their noses are abundantly supplied with red blood cells through the nasal microcirculation. Microcirculation is the flow of blood through tiny blood vessels. Reindeer noses have a high density of blood vessels that supply a high concentration of red blood cells to the area. This helps to increase oxygen to the nose and to control inflammation and regulate temperature. The researchers used infrared thermal imaging to visualize the reindeers red nose. Why Do Some Animals Glow In the Dark? Some animals can emit light naturally due to a chemical reaction in their cells. These animals are called bioluminescent organisms. Some animals glow in the dark to attract mates, to communicate with other organisms of the same species, to lure prey, or to expose and distract predators. Bioluminescence occurs in invertebrates such as insects, insect larvae, worms, spiders, jellyfish, dragonfish, and squid. How Do Bats Use Sound to Locate Prey? Bats use echolocation and a process called active listening to locate prey, typically insects. This is particularly helpful in clustered environments where sound can bounce off of trees and leaves making it more difficult to locate prey. In active listening, bats adjust their vocal cries emitting sounds of variable pitch, length, and repetition rate. They can then determine details about their environment from the returning sounds. An echo with a sliding pitch indicates a moving object. Intensity flickers indicate a fluttering wing. Time delays between cry and echo indicate distance. Once its prey has been identified, the bat emits cries of increasing frequency and decreasing duration to pinpoint its preys location. Finally, the bat emits what is known as the final buzz (rapid succession of cries) before capturing its prey. Why Do Some Animals Play Dead? Playing dead is an adaptive behavior used by a number of animals including mammals, insects, and reptiles.  This behavior, also called thanatosis, is most often employed as a defense against predators, a means to catch prey, and as a way of avoiding sexual cannibalism during the mating process. Are Sharks Color Blind? Studies on shark vision suggest that these animals may be completely color blind. Using a technique called microspectrophotometry, researchers were able to identify cone visual pigments in shark retinas. Of the 17 shark species studied, all had rod cells but only seven had cone cells. Of the shark species that had cone cells, only a single cone type was observed. Rod and cone cells are the two main types of light sensitive cells in the retina. While rod cells can not distinguish colors, cone cells are capable of color perception. However, only eyes with different spectral types of cone cells can distinguish different colors. Since sharks appear to have only a single cone type, it is believed that they are totally color blind. Marine mammals such as whales and dolphins also have only a single cone type. Why Do Zebras Have Stripes? Researchers have developed an interesting theory as to why zebras have stripes. As reported in the Journal of Experimental Biology, zebras stripes help to ward off biting insects such as horseflies. Also known as tabanids, horseflies use horizontally polarized light to direct them toward the water for laying eggs and to locate animals. The researchers state that horseflies are more attracted to horses with dark hides than those with white hides. They concluded that the development of white stripes prior to birth helps to make zebras less attractive to biting insects. The study indicated that the polarization patterns of reflected light from zebra hides were consistent with stripe patterns that were least attractive to horseflies in tests. Can Female Snakes Reproduce Without Males? Some snakes are capable of reproducing asexually by a process called parthenogenesis. This phenomenon has been obeserved in boa constrictors as well as in other animals including some species of shark, fish, and amphibians. In parthenogenesis, an unfertilized egg develops into a distinct individual. These babies are genetically identical to their mothers. Why Dont Octopuses Get Tangled in Their Tentacles? Hebrew University of Jerusalem researchers have made an interesting discovery that helps answer the question of why an octopus doesnt get tangled up in its tentacles. Unlike in the human brain,  the octopus brain does not map out the coordinates of its appendages. As a result, octopuses dont know where their arms are exactly. To prevent the octopuss arms from grabbing the octopus, its suckers will not attach to the octopus itself. The researchers state that an octopus produces a chemical in its skin that temporarily prevents the suckers from grabbing. It was also discovered that an octopus can override this mechanism when necessary as evidenced by its ability to grab an amputated octopus arm. Sources: Cell Press. White tiger mystery solved: Coat color produced by single change in pigment gene. ScienceDaily. ScienceDaily, 23 May 2013. (www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2013/05/130523143342.htm).BMJ-British Medical Journal. Experts discover why Rudolphs nose is red. ScienceDaily. ScienceDaily, 17 December 2012. (www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/12/121217190634.htm).Chanut F (2006) The Sound of Dinner. PLoS Biol 4(4): e107. doi:10.1371/journal.pbio.0040107.Springer ScienceBusiness Media. Are sharks color blind?. ScienceDaily. ScienceDaily, 19 January 2011. (www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/01/110118092224.htm).The Journal of Experimental Biology. How the zebra got its stripes. ScienceDaily. ScienceDaily, 9 February 2012. (www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/02/120209101730.htm).Cell Press. How octopuses dont tie themselves in knots. ScienceDaily. ScienceDaily, 15 May 2014. (www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2014/05/140515123254.htm).