King Lear - Analyzing A Tragic Hero Essays (827 words) - King Lear

King Lear - Analyzing a Tragic Hero King Lear - Analyzing a Tragic Hero Tragedy is defined in Websters New Collegiate Dictionary as: 1) a medieval narrative poem or tale typically describing the downfall of a great man, 2) a serious drama typically describing a conflict between the protagonist and a superior force (as destiny) and having a sorrowful or disastrous conclusion that excites pity or terror. The play of King Lear is one of William Shakespears great tragic pieces, it is not only seen as a tragedy in itself, but also a play that includes two tragic heroes and four villains. I felt that a tragic hero must not be all good or all bad, but just by misfortune he is deprived of something very valuable to him by error of judgment. We must be able to identify ourselves with the tragic hero if he is to inspire fear, for we must feel that what happens to him could happen to us. If Lear was completely evil, we would not be fearful of what happens to him: he would merely be repulsive. But Lear does inspire fear because, like us, he is not completely upright, nor is he completely wicked. He is foolish and arrogant, it is true, but later he is also humble and compassionate. He is wrathful, but at times, patient. Because of his good qualities, we experience pity for him and feel that he does not deserve the severity of his punishment. His actions are not occasioned by any corruption or depravity in him, but by an error in judgment, which, however, does arise from a defect of character. Lear has a "tragic flaw" - egotism. It is his egotism in the first scene that causes him to make his error in judgment - the division of his kingdom and the loss of Cordelia. Throughout the rest of the play, the consequences of this error slowly and steadfastly increase until Lear is destroyed. There must be a change in the life of the tragic hero; he must past from happiness to misery. Lear, as seen in Act I, has everything a man should want - wealth, power, peace, and a state of well-being. Because a tragic character must pass from happiness to misery, he must be seen at the beginning of the play as a happy man, surrounded by good fortune. Then, the disasters that befall him will be unexpected and will be in direct contrast to his previous state. In King Lear the two tragic characters, a king and an earl, are not ordinary men. To have a man who is conspicuous endure suffering brought about because of his own error is striking. The fear aroused for this man is of great importance because of his exalted position. His fall is awesome and overwhelming. When tragedy, as in Lear, happens to two such men, the effect is even greater. To intensify the tragedy of King Lear, Shakespeare has not one but two tragic characters and four villains. As we have seen, the sub-plot - concerning Gloucester, Edmund, and Edgar - augments the main plot. Gloucester undergoes physical and mental torment because he makes the same mistake that Lear does. Like Lear, Gloucester is neither completely good nor completely bad. There is, for instance, a coarseness in the earl, who delights in speaking of his adultery. But he has good qualities as well. He shows, for instance, concern for Kent in the stocks, and he risks his life to help Lear. Gloucester's punishment, his blindness, parallel's Lear's madness. These two tragic stories unfolding at the same time give the play a great eminence. The important element in tragedy is action, not character. It is the deeds of men that bring about their destruction. Lear calls upon the "great gods," Edgar and Kent blame Fortune, and Gloucester says that the gods "kill us for their sport" (IV.i.37). But in reality the calamities that befall both Lear and Gloucester occur because of the actions of these men. Their actions, it is true, grow out of their characters: both are rash, unsuspecting, and vengeful. But the actions themselves are the beginnings of their agony, for these actions start a chain of events that lead to ultimate catastrophe. A tragic hero gains insight through suffering. Neither Lear nor Gloucester realizes he has committed an error until he has suffered. Lear's suffering is so intense that it drives him mad; it is on the desolate health that he fully realizes his mistake in giving the kingdom to his two savage daughters and disowning the one daughter who

cordless tech essays

cordless tech essays Wireless technology, from cell phones to business networks is revolutionizing the world we live in. Now we can access the Internet while in our cars, on the beach, and even at dinner. This wave of technology will soon be felt in full force as we begin to travel with the assistance of a computer, run businesses with high quality networks, and check last nights game on our digital phones and personal digital assistants (PDA). Advancements made by wireless technology are allowing us greater degrees of freedom, security, and efficiency. Cars are feeling the wave of wireless technology as we speak. General Motors Corp.s navigation systems subsidiary, OnStar Communications, will provide drivers voice access to the Internet, starting with 30 of its 2001 models. The OnStar service provides airbag deployment notification, remote door unlocking, location services, stolen-vehicle tracking, and remote diagnostics (Wallace). It is easy to see why this technology is sought after, authorities will arrive on the seen faster, thieves will be detoured, and locking ones keys in the car wont incorporate the vandalistic approach once used. Also it is figured that 50-80% of all cellular phone calls are made from vehicles, with this new technology voice activated technology, users can expect to have both hands free while talking. With the new services, drivers will set up profiles from their desktop PC that are then kept on servers in OnStars service centers. With a hands free, voice-activated interface, OnStar subscribe rs will use voice prompts, such as Start my E-mail or Start my stock quotes to receive information via the Internet. The service will convert Internet text to speech and read the information via synthesizes voice (Wallace). And if that isnt enough, the price ranges from $199 to $399 a year, a great buy, as it will cut one ...

The Sindhu (Indus) River

The Sindhu (Indus) River The Sindhu River, also commonly referred to as the Indus River, is a major waterway in South Asia. One of the longest rivers in the world, the Sindhu has a total length of over 2,000 miles and runs south from the Kailash Mountain in Tibet all the way to the Arabian Sea in Karachi, Pakistan. It is the longest river in Pakistan, also passing through northwestern India, in addition to the Tibetan region of China and Pakistan. The Sindhu is a large part of the river system of the  Punjab, which means land of five rivers. Those five rivers- the Jhelum, Chenab,  Ravi,  Beas, and  Sutlej- eventually flow into the Indus. History of the Sindhu River The Indus Valley is located on the fertile floodplains along the river. This region was home to the ancient Indus Valley Civilization, which was one of the oldest known civilizations. Archaeologists have uncovered evidence of religious practices starting in about 5500 BCE, and farming began by around 4000 BCE. Towns and cities grew up in the area by about 2500 BCE, and the civilization was at its peak between 2500 and 2000 BCE, coinciding with the civilizations of the Babylonians and Egyptians.   When at its peak, the Indus Valley Civilization boasted houses with wells and bathrooms,  underground drainage systems,  a fully developed writing system,  impressive architecture, and a well-planned urban center. Two major cities,  Harappa  and  Mohenjo-Daro, have been excavated and explored. Remains including elegant jewelry, weights, and other items. Many items have writing on them, but to date, the writing has not been translated. The Indus Valley Civilization began to decline around 1800 BCE. Trade ceased, and some cities were abandoned. Reasons for this decline are unclear, but some theories include flood or drought. Around 1500 BCE, invasions by the Aryans began to erode what was left of the Indus Valley Civilization. The Aryan people settled in their place, and their language and culture have helped to shape the language and culture of todays India and Pakistan. Hindu religious practices may also have their roots in Aryan beliefs. The Sindhu Rivers Significance Today Today, the Sindhu River serves as a key water supply to  Pakistan  and is central to the country’s economy. In addition to drinking water, the river enables and sustains the country’s agriculture.   Fish from the river provide a major source of food to communities along the river’s banks. The Sindhu River is also used as a major transportation route for commerce. Physical Attributes of the Sindhu River The Sindhu River follows a complex path from its origin at 18,000 feet in the Himalayas near Lake Mapam. It flows northwest for roughly 200 miles before crossing into the disputed territory of Kashmir in India and then into Pakistan. It eventually exits the mountainous region and flows into the sandy plains of the Punjab, where its most significant tributaries feed the river. During July, August, and September when the river floods, the Sindhu stretches to several miles wide in the plains. The snow-fed Sindhu River system is subject to flash floods, too. While the river moves quickly through the mountain passes, it moves very slowly through the plains, depositing silt and raising the level of these sandy plains.

Consumer law Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3750 words

Consumer law - Essay Example (1) If the debtor under a debtor-creditor-supplier agreement falling within section 12(b) or (c) has, in relation to a transaction financed by the agreement, any claim against the supplier in respect of a misrepresentation or breach of contract, he shall have a like claim against the creditor who with the supplier, shall accordingly be jointly and severally liable to the debtor. (2) Subject to any agreement between them, the creditor shall be entitled to be indemnified by the supplier for loss suffered by the creditor in satisfying his liability under sub-section (1), including costs reasonably incurred by him in defending proceedings instituted by the debtor. (2) Civil effect. Any provision of a credit contract that imposes a monetary liability prohibited by subsection (1) is void to the extent that it does so. If an amount that is prohibited by subsection (1) is paid, it may be recovered. A credit provider must not (a) Enter into a credit contract on terms imposing a monetary liability prohibited by section 21(1); or (b) Require or accept payment of an amount in respect of a monetary liability that cannot be imposed consistently with this Code. (1) The Court, on application by the debtor or mortgagor, may order a credit provider to credit the debtor or mortgagor with a payment, fixed by the Court, exceeding the net proceeds of sale if it is not satisfied that the credit provider sold the goods as soon as reasonably practicable (or at such other time as the credit provider and debtor or mortgagor agreed) for the best price reasonably obtainable. (2) On application by the debtor or mortgagor, the mortgagee under any prior mortgage to which the goods are subject or the mortgagee under any subsequent mortgage of which the credit provider has notice, the Court, if not satisfied that the credit provider complied with section 78, may make an order requiring the credit provider to compensate the debtor or mortgagor or the

The HIV and AIDS epidemic in Sub-Saharan Africa Research Paper

The HIV and AIDS epidemic in Sub-Saharan Africa - Research Paper Example In this respect, we must put a lot of focus on all segments of population, starting with the hardest hit groups. I expand on these findings in the following narrative. The country is one of the worst hit countries in the world by HIV/AIDS epidemic, with approximately 1.5 million people infected with HIV, and over 2.4 million children are orphans after their parents died of the pandemic. With a population of about 38 million people, the percentage of the total population infected by HIV/AIDS is about 5%. In 2009 alone, the country lost 80,000 people from complications arising from HIV infection (Avert, 2010). About 240 people die daily from the disease and according to OSIPHP (2007), over 50% of the total population in the country lack access to HIV preventive and management services. Only 33% of children in need of HIV preventive service have access to the necessary health care (Avert, 2010). In Kenya, the HIV/AIDS pandemic affects virtually all segments of the population directly or indirectly. The prevalence rate differs among specific demographic groups in accordance with age, location, and gender (USAID, 2010). Women account for about 65% of all adults living with HIV/AIDS in the country compared to sub-Saharan prevalence rate of 57% among women. In addition, the prevalence rate of HIV/AIDS in women is almost twice that of men in Kenya. Most of HIV infections in the country occur in young people aged between 15-30 years through heterosexual sex. However, the infection rate differs remarkably between males and females at different ages (USAID, 2010). According to Avert (2010), the highest proportion of Kenyan population becomes sexually active between the ages of fifteen and nineteen years and young women are more vulnerable compared to their male counterparts. Between 15-19 years, the HIV/AIDS prevalence rate in young women is 2.7%, four times greater than of young men of the same age group. Similar trend is observed in women between 20-24 years, whereby 6. 4% are infected, compared to about 1.5% of their male counterparts of the same age. However, the highest number of infections occurs in young women between a 15-24 years and men below 30 years (Avert, 2010). Kenyan people who engage in heterosexual sex are the most vulnerable group, and in regular relationship, they contribute to about 45% of new infections while casual heterosexuals accounts to about 21% of new infections (Avert, 2010). Other vulnerable groups include men who have sex with men and in prison population who account to about 15% of new infections. In addition, transmission through commercial sex, people who inject themselves with drugs and infections in health institutions account to 14%, 4% and 3% new HIV infections in Kenya respectively (USAID, 2010). Due to the high HIV prevalence rate among married couples and people in regular heterosexual relationships, many parents die leaving behind many children. In this respect, orphans and children living with HIV/AIDS acco unt to a significant proportion of people affected with HIV/AIDS in Kenya. About 200,000 children are infected with HIV/AIDS while the number of children orphaned by AIDS is about 2.4 million in Kenya (USAID, 2010). The major risk factors that contribute to high rate of HIV/AIDS i

Working with a team on a project Essay Example for Free

Working with a team on a project Essay Teamwork is usually considered an important factor especially in a workplace. However, sometimes working in a team creates difficulties in achieving the objective of a certain project that the team is assigned. (Dyer, 1995) In any teamwork conflicts are likely to arise which relate to a specific job or project that is either being done in the company or outside the company. Some members may be dishonest to their colleagues especially on sensitive issues that touch the all group. In the team that I was taking part in I encountered negative experiences that were brought about due to individual characters. The problem with the team was the failure to reach a consensus on very important issues. It was caused by a few members who were either not patient or are just more action –oriented than others in their natural being because they are likely to exert pressure on the other members to accept their decision. This group of members was making decisions too quickly for the rest of the members which is contrary to the principles of meaningful teamwork. Good decisions are usually achieved over a common understanding by majority of the members and a unanimous agreement on the matter, but some team mates did not acknowledge that. At the same time some team members used personality to undermine others, even to the extended of undermining the team leader who was leading the team. This became a problem and the team could not achieve its targets. These differences became so critical that they kept being addressed daily; In the long run they lead into a breakdown of individual relationships which affected their productivity in general and stalled the project completely, we never went on with the project. Reference: Dyer, W. G. (1995): Team building: current issues and new alternatives. 3rd Ed. Pearson Education POD

marketing segmentation :: essays research papers

The Greatest Marketing Secret of All If there is something about which I am pretty adamant, it's the concept of attracting clients that are pre-qualified and willing to do business. And this involves many different things. In fact, most of it comes down to three core practices: 1) Focus, 2) targeting, and 3) multiplication (such as focusing on a niche, market targeting, and multiplying one's marketing efforts). However, this fundamental magnetism is not only based on pure marketing practices or strategies. It also involves something at a much deeper level that is far more effective than any other marketing tool or process. This "thing" to which I am referring is, I believe, the most important marketing secret that I can ever teach you -- and it's far from being a secret at all. But it is considered as one to a certain degree simply because this "secret" is often neglected or ignored by many business people. What is this elusive secret? Before I divulge it to you, let me give you a little preamble. First, I must admit that it upsets me terribly to see when people tend to scoff their most valuable marketing assets. No, I'm not referring to salespeople or promotional activities. I'm not referring to prospects or clients either. I'm referring to talents, dreams, and passions. "Marketing is not a battle of products, but of perceptions," marketing expert Jack Trout once wrote. If people perceive that doing business with you has an implicit added value, especially when compared to your competitors that are fiercely fighting for your market's attention, you will often end up with their confidence (and their repeat and referral business) as a result. Of course, there are numerous ways that value can be added to your business -- e.g. by specializing, by packaging (naming) your products and services, by presenting benefits rather than features, by delivering personalized services, by presenting a professional image, by offering something for free, and so on. But the most effective way to communicate this added value is through the genuine, sincere, and passionate zest you have for what you do. People have a tendency to gravitate toward other people who love what they do -- their enthusiasm, charisma, and authentic desire to serve others are instantly communicated through their actions and particularly their marketing efforts. Sadly, however, the marketplace is filled with so many people who jump into business for one sole purpose: Money.

Importance of Distance Education in India

Importance of Distance Education in India Asif Ahmed After independence, India had made tremendous progress in the field of education, though mostly quantitative in nature. Earlier, education was available only to the elites in society, and a large majority of poor and marginalized people remained illiterate. Political considerations have an important role in the expansion of higher education, especially at the state level. The state government experienced tremendous pressure from the public to establish more and more colleges and universities.In a democratic society, even the strong governments find it very difficult to resist such pressures and are compelled to succumb to the same. These considerations have led to fast expansion of higher education in our country, which in turn, have adverse impact upon its quality. Therefore, in order to insure access and education of a reasonably good quality,  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   we must think of some alternative system capable of supplementing t he role of conventional system, and distance education is one of such alternatives.The distance education mode was adopted by many universities to meet the ever-growing demand of those students who lacked means to pursue higher education through the regular stream. Also, there were economic constraints. Consequently, many universities in India in various regions started correspondence courses or programs by providing notes, developing a system of evaluation of response sheets. The success of these courses led to the establishment of Indira Gandhi National Open University, which is now rated as one of the best distance courses university in the world.Due to limitations of the formal system of education, policy makers were attracted towards non-conventional modes of education for providing non-residential studies like correspondence courses. The Distance Education mode, in which it is not necessary to bring all the students together to listen to the face-to-face lectures, was consider ed worthwhile. However in distance education system, the provision of occasional meetings between the teachers and the student is made. These meetings are popularly known asPersonal Contact Programmes (PCPs). The learners receive their study material through postal services for study at their home or workplace. The efforts of the students are supplemented by assignments, which are checked and evaluated by the concerned subject experts. So, Correspondence education is a piece and part of open learning. Distance education system is also known by some other common names like Correspondence Courses, Correspondence Education, Distance Education and External or Private Appearance etc.This system of education is suitable for the persons who wanted to enhance their qualifications but were not in a position to attend classes on a regular basis. Such distance courses proved a boon for the service persons as well as others desirous of pursuing higher education. As a result, a large number of i n-service persons, professionals, entrepreneurs, job-less youth, school teachers, housewives and old aged free persons made a beeline for admission to distance education study programmes.The term Distance Education received a formal recognition in 1982 when the four decades old International Council for Correspondence Education was renamed as the International Council for Distance Education. The old concept of distance education was exclusively associated with print material, while the new concept of distance education include supplementary material being used through non-print media, also such as radio, television, computers, laptops, Cd's, through projectors, video lessons and satellites. These institutions may be called the dual mode institutions.Now at present, India has two types of distance education institutions. They are  Ã‚   1. Correspondence courses institutions. 2. Open Universities. Distance education gets overwhelming response in India, the universities introduced ma ny new distance-education job oriented courses according to the changing times and students requirements. However, in this process, the actual motive of providing quality education to all took the backseat as the main focus of universities slowly shifted to making more and more money.Currently in India, the Distance Education departments are generating the maximum revenue for their universities, in many cases more than even the professional and self financing courses. The only thing to check here that the authorities of the universities running distance education courses should sharply ensure that these institutions of higher learning do not get reduced to degree distributing institutes.So universities and distance institutions higher authorities keep ensure that only quality education should be provided through distance learning programmes. In case of research based higher studies or some other professional courses being run through distance education, provisions should be made for the proper library, laboratory and required study related essential equipments and materials for the students in coordination with other related universities running similar programmes or located in the same region.It would rather be more appropriate if an inter-university body is set up by the UGC or The International Council for Distance Education of India coordinated by government educational related authorities to monitor and review the distance education programmes run by different universities and to ensure smooth progress of distance education. The correspondence courses institutions are offering more than 400 programmes in India, about 50 percent of which are professional in nature. The enrollment in these institutions is of the order of 9,00,000 in year 1999, which forms 11. 4 percent of the total enrollment in higher education in the country. An important point to be noted here is that the growth rate of enrollment in correspondence and distance education mode has been hi gher than that of higher education in general (Period,1990-2000,Source-UGC Reports). Distance Education makes it eminently possible to democratize higher education to provide access to high quality education to all, to offer need-based academic programmes, to promote and reach quality education to the learner's to their doorstep, and to set and maintain standards in higher education.Relaxed entry and exit regulation, self-appointed pace of study, flexibility in selection of courses, self-determined place of study and examination. Freedom to pursue one's study at any other place simultaneously and cost effectiveness is the reason's instrumental in making the experiment in distance education a success. The annual enrolment in Open Universities in our country has gone up from 2,00,939 to 3,50,000 in just three years, i. . , from 1995 to 1998. It is an increase of about 74 percent. Similarly the cumulative enrolment has almost doubled from 5,71,983 in 1995 to 10,50,000 in 1998. The worl d of technology is being reshaped by global trends such as convergence, increased bandwidth, enhanced multimedia capabilities, miniaturization, environmental variations, increase mobility, enhanced processing power, more powerful cognitive tools and reduced cost.These trends support transition across four generations in distance education models and associated delivery technologies: Correspondence Model (Print), Multimedia Model (Print; Audio-Video, Counselling sessions and continuous Evaluation Methods, TV / Radio Broadcast); Teleconferencing Model (One way video and Two way Audio teleconferencing, Interactive Phone-in-Radio Counselling) and Computer Aided Learning (Interactive Multimedia, Internet-Based Access better known as community Access Device to www resources) and new techniques of making of Video Lessons and provide and avail these to students in the form of Cd's.So we can say that distance education mode has become very popular and common in India, because it is catering to a wide range of aspirants (students), who are willing to upgrade their educational qualifications for various reasons. The Distance education system provides opportunities not only to younger students but also to those from the older age groups. The main reasons for increasing interest in Distance education lies in the need for continuing education in today's competitive world. Every people always try to add value to their competence in their bid to advance their carrier further.Distance Education is also very cheaper to compare with regular mode of education. Distance education has greatly reduced the wall of distance between education and a normal student beyond the long distance of home or work place to university. Now just a little need to increase the need to make it professional and employability part of education community. References Ambika Sharanjit Kaur (1996): Managing Distance Education, Deep and Deep Publications, New Delhi. A. W. Khan. â€Å"Online distance learnin g: A model for development countries†.Keynote address delivered at the international conference EDUNET-99 on Internet and Education held at Chennai on December 16-17, 1999. D. Pulla Rao, Article â€Å"Development of Correspondence Education in India: An Appraisal†. Indian Journal of Adult Education, Vol. 67,No. 3-4, July-December 2006, pp. 59-64. Inayat Khan (1989): Distance Teaching, Amar Parkashan, New Delhi. J. C. Taylor, â€Å"Flexible delivery: Globalization of lifelong learning†. Indian Journal of Adult Education, Vol. 7,(1), July-December 2006, pp. 55-67. Prithipal Singh Kapoor, Article â€Å"Distance Education Needs Revamp†.The Tribune, Chandigarh. Saumitra Mohan and K D Prasad, Article â€Å"Distance Education: Insider's Story†. Third Concept. July 2001, pp. 55-58. Sumit Dhawan, Article â€Å"Time to Review Distance Education†. The Tribune, Chandigarh, May 15, 2007 Venugopal Reddy, V and Manjulika, S(1996): Distance Education in Indi a; A Model for Developing Countries, Vikas Publishing House Pvt. Ltd. , New Delhi. Article- â€Å"Distance Education in  India†. Published in THIRD CONCEPT (An International Journal of Ideas, ISSN 09070-7247). November 2007 issue on page no 29-32.

Genetically modified organism Essay

Genetically engineered food is an epidemic all around the world. There are factors that make these types of foods undesirable for many reasons. Public opinions on how genetically engineered foods will effect the consumer market and farmers cannot afford the new seeds that are genetically altered. There are many cons of genetically engineered food that have long term and short term risks. Some risks have been found by scientists while other risks are still unknown and will remain so unless a researcher tests for them. These foods have become very common in America as well as other countries. Almost every grocery store in the United States carries a wide array of food that has been genetically modified. Most of the genetically engineered foods in markets are not labeled to tell consumers they were altered in any way. Environmental risks are also a concern for genetically engineered food. Different animals, including farm animals or insects can be harmed from genetically engineered food. Genetically engineered food has negative effects on the human population. Genetically engineered food was first introduced into society in the early 1990’s. Many people today do not know what kind of extensive research and development goes into making these types of foods. Sharon Palmer, a reporter, writes that genetic engineering is either â€Å"Doomsday tech† or â€Å"biotechnology for the future† (Palmer 1). The process of altering an organism completely changes the original organism and transforms it into something new. This new way of altering an organism’s genetic makeup bypasses common breeding methods used by scientists (Genetically Modified Foods 1). The process of creating genetically altered food usually involves â€Å"identifying the genes governing a desirable characteristic in one organism, and inserting them into another in the expectation that the trait will be transferred† (Genetically Modified Foods 1). Sometimes the process of creating these organisms does not work so scientists have to do the process over again until they get a transformed organism. In 1973 scientists were able to achieve using another organism as a vector which essentially was the beginning of the development of genetically engineered foods. Although genetically engineered foods were not fully introduced until the early 1990s, they were in the process of becoming what society knows today. Newer techniques have been introduced that make it easier for gene insertion. This new method is the use of DNA bullets where â€Å"microscopic metal beads can be coated with DNA fragments, and then â€Å"fired† from a miniature gun into the host cell, where DNA may integrate into the genome† (Genetically Modified Foods 1). A few of the genetically engineered foods are soybeans, corn, canola, cotton, squash and papaya (Palmer 1). There are many other foods that people see on the shelves in grocery stores that may be genetically altered but these are some main ones. Statistics show that â€Å"an estimated 70 to 75 percent of all processed foods in U. S.grocery stores probably contain ingredients from GE plants† (Palmer 6). Many foods have been genetically altered to make them â€Å"better† or resistant to herbicides. Despite the fact that scientists consider these foods to be revolutionary there are hidden consequences to the development of such organisms. The public opinion on genetically engineered food is that it is not a good improvement. Many citizens believe that the introduction of altered foods is going to have negative side effects on everything. People feel that genetically engineered foods should not be put on the market until they have had adequate testing (Current Issues 3). Many of the alterations done to food have not had extensive research conducted to find harmful effects that they might have on humans and animals. Any research that had been done usually had negative effects but scientists found a way to â€Å"throw out† the research so that it would not go against genetically engineered food. Andrew Simms states that the â€Å"evidence of harm is not evidence of the absence of harm† (Simms 1). In Simm’s article he describes how consumers do not need genetically modified food. Scientists brought genetically engineered foods into the market and advertised them as a way to help the world. Different techniques can be used to approach the issue of world hunger. Introducing these foods to third world countries can only harm them not help them. There is a high cost of development for making genetically engineered foods. Also there is a monopoly involved with these foods. There are only a few corporations in the United States that are developing genetically altered seeds. This in turn drives up the price of the seed making it more expensive and poor farmers cannot afford to buy them (Current Issues 3). Farmers have lost billions of dollars because foreign buyers do not want to buy genetically engineered foods (Kupfer 1). Many states have passed legislation against having genetically modified foods. States do not think that genetically engineered foods can help anything except make things worse (Kupfer 2). Foods are altered to have different traits that would normally take a few generations to make but with genetically engineering their DNA scientists are able to do a lot more. Scientist use genetic engineering to make crops or animals drought tolerant and be able to tolerate pests. Consumers do not want crops that are mutations. They want natural crops and animals. Other public opinions on worldwide hunger are that GM crops will not change it. â€Å"People go hungry because they’re either poor, powerless, both, or have no land to grow food on† (Simms 2). Public opinion on genetically engineered food is that they do not want it. Many factors have led people to choose not to accept genetically engineered foods into their lives. Genetically engineered food effects everything in a negative way. There are cons to the development and introduction of genetically engineered foods into civilization. There are many risks involved with these types of foods that are unknown to the public. Scientists try to cover up the experiments they had on genetically altered foods because they had negative outcomes. In one study scientists fed corn to rats and then checked the rats’ livers and kidneys, particularly males, and the study revealed adverse effects. In another study conducted on GM foods many of the mice that ate the food developed health problems or even died during the experiment (Current Issues 4). The introduction of genetically engineered foods has been linked to the rising levels of food allergies in the United States. Genetically modified foods can effect organic foods if they are processed in the same place. Allergic reactions are greater since genetically engineered foods have been introduced (Smith 1). There are many environmental concerns as well. Although long term impact is unknown many researchers can conclude some of the negative side effects. A few difficulties have already developed. Plants can cross-pollinate with other plants around them which may seem like a great thing but it is not. Some plants are engineered to be pest resistant which seems good but in all actuality those plants can cross-pollinate with the weeds around them which in turn makes the weeds stronger and become more resistant to herbicides. The cross-pollination of plants creates a problem for farmers who then have to spend additional money to buy more herbicide to kill new weeds (Current Issues 3). Another common modification is adding a gene called Bacillus thuringiensis which is a bacterium that helps that plant develop poison that kills pests such as bollworms and stem borers. This seemed like a good modification by scientists but in fact the plant emits these toxins into the environment and it is deadly to all insects, not just the pests. Reports have been shown that these toxins from the crops also killed a large amount of butterflies (Current Issues 1). U. S. Government does not require reviews on genetically engineered foods. Genetically altered foods are not FDA regulated either. Foods are being modified without having adequate testing and then put on grocery shelves. People are eating food that they do not know whether or not it is safe. There are many other potential concerns with genetic engineering like an organisms genetic makeup, anti-nutrients, viral DNA, antibiotic resistant genes, absorbing genes, and allergic responses. Many genetically altered foods have been used as feed for animals as well. These animals have shown effects on body growth, changes in blood, kidney, pancreas, liver, erosion and necrosis of the gastrointestinal tract, and alterations in reproduction, development and mortality (Palmer 6). There are many unknown risks of genetically engineered foods. Unknown long term health risks have not been identified and cannot be identified until researchers conduct more research. Genetically modified foods are not something people should rely on in the future as their base food. There are risks today and also many other unknown risks. Genetically engineered food is a hazard to the human population. This creation was introduced to try and stop world hunger, make food cheaper to buy and many other reasons. These issues have not changed because of the introduction of genetically engineered food. The effects these types of foods have on humans and even animals can be harmful. Research shows that there are long term risks involved with genetically engineered foods. Potential cancers, diseases, environmental changes, and possibly a rising cost in food are all negative factors of genetically engineered food. Genetically engineered foods should be eliminated from people and animal’s diets. Works Cited â€Å"Genetically Modified Food. † Current Issues: Macmillian Social Science Library. Detroit: Gale, 2010. Gale Opposing Viewpoints In Context. Web. 27 Nov. 2011. â€Å"Genetically Modified Foods. † The Hutchinson Unabridged Encyclopedia with Atlas and Weather guide. Abington: Helicon, 2010. Credo Reference. Web. 05 November 2011. Kupfer, David. â€Å"Genetically Modified Food Damages Trade with Other Nations†. Genetically Modified Food. Diane Andrews Henningfeld, Ed. At Issue Series. Greenhaven Press, 2009. David Kupfer, â€Å"The Genetic Resistance: ‘Mendocino Is the First GMO-free County in the Nation, and I am Sure It Will Not Be the Last,† Earth Island Journal, vol. 19, summer 2004, pp. 42-44. Copyright  © 2004 Earth Island Institute. Reproduced by permission. Palmer, Sharon, and Chris McCullum-Gomez. â€Å"Genetically Engineered Foods Update.. (Cover Story). † Environmental Nutrition 33. 7 (2010): I-6. Health Source: Nursing/Academic Edition. Web. 5 Nov. 2011. Simms, Andrew. â€Å"Genetically Modified Food Will Not Ease World Hunger†. Social Justice. David Haugen, Susan Musser, and Vickey Kalambakal, Eds. Opposing Viewpoints ® Series. Greenhaven Press, 2010 Andrew Simms, â€Å"World Hunger Needs a Simple Solution Rather Than Hi-Tech GM Food,† Guardian, (UK), August 4, 2003. Copyright  © 2003 Guardian Newspapers Limited. Reproduced by permission of the author Smith, Jeffrey M. â€Å"Genetically Modified Foods May Cause Allergic Responses†. Food Safety. Judeen Bartos, Ed. At Issue Series. Greenhaven Press, 2011. Jeffrey M. Smith, â€Å"Genetically Engineered Foods May Cause Rising Food Allergies,† Institute for Responsible Technology, May 2007. Copyright  © 2007 by Virago. Reproduced by permission by Time Warner Books UK.

Every AP Statistics Practice Test Available Free and Official

Every AP Statistics Practice Test Available Free and Official SAT / ACT Prep Online Guides and Tips Are you taking the AP Statistics exam soon and want to make sure you’re prepared?One of the best ways to measure your progress and figure out which areas you need to focus on is to take practice exams.There are a lot of AP Statisticspractice exams available; however, some are higher-quality than others. Taking a poorly written practice exam can cause you to study the wrong things and give you an inaccurate picture of what the real AP exam will be like. In this guide, I’ll go over every AP Statistics practice test available, explain if and how you should use each one, and end with a schedule you can follow to help you incorporate practice tests into your study plans. Official AP Statistics Practice Exams Official practice exams are those that have been created by the College Board (the organization that develops and administers all the actual AP exams). They are always the top resources to use because you can be sure that they accurately reflect the format and content of the real AP exam. There are three types of official practice resources: Complete Practice Tests The College Board has released two complete examswhich are linked below. 2012 AP Statistics Released Exam 1997 AP Statistics Released Exam Both links include the complete exam, an answer key, and scoring information. Both of these are very useful study resources, even the 1997 exam since the AP Stats exam hasn't changed much since then. This is the current examis three hours long with two sections. Students can use a graphing calculator for the entire exam. Multiple-Choice Section: 40 questions 90 minutes Worth 50% of total score Free-Response Section: 6 questions (5 free response and one investigative task) 90 minutes Worth 50% of total score The only major difference between the current format and the format of the 1997 exam is that the 1997 exam had 35 multiple-choice questions instead of 40. The content the exam tests has remained consistent, so, despite its age, this test is still a great resource to use and will give you a good idea of what your AP exam will be like. The 2012 exam has the same format as the current exam. Multiple-Choice Questions The College Board often reuses multiple-choice questions, so there are not many released official multiple-choice questions available for AP Stats. Besides the multiple-choice questions from the released exam, the only official multiple-choice questions you can use in your studying are in the AP Statistics Course Description. Beginning on page 19, there are 18 multiple-choice questions, along with an answer key. Free-Response Questions Compared to multiple choice, there are many more official free-response questions you can use to study and, since they are recent, they’ll give you a very accurate idea of what to expect on the real exam. The College Board has released free-response questions from 1998-2017which means you have dozens of official free-response questions to use for your studying.All the free-response questions include answer keys and sample responses. Unofficial AP Statistics Practice Tests and Quizzes Even though they weren’t created by the College Board, many unofficial practice AP Statistics exams are still high-quality and can be a great study resource. For each resource listed below, I explain what it includes and how you should use it. Barron’s Barron’s has a free, high-quality, and complete practice exam that you can take either timed or untimed. Multiple-choice questions are automatically graded after you complete the exam, and there are guidelines for self-scoring your free-response sections. This practice test is similar to the real AP test in both content and format, so you should definitely use it as you study. The next section of this guide has guidelineson how to use this resource and others. Shmoop Shmoop is the only resource on this list that requires you to pay to access any of its resources. Paying its monthly fee of about $25 gets you access to a diagnostic exam, four full-length practice tests, and additional practice questions. With a paid subscription, you also get access to Shmoop’s resources for the SAT, ACT, and other AP exams. Stat Trek This is a complete, 40-question, multiple-choice test. You can take the test timed or untimed, and you can choose to see the answer to each question immediately after you answer it or wait until the end of the exam to see what the correct answers were. Some of these questions are a bit easier than those found on the real AP exam, but this is still a solid resource. McGraw-Hill McGraw-Hill has a 25-question multiple-choice quiz (although the questions are randomly selected from a larger pool, so if you take the quiz multiple times you may get more than 25 questions out of it). The quiz is automatically graded and has brief answer explanations. You can only take the quiz in untimed mode. This is one of the higher-quality short quizzes available with questions similar in content to those you’ll see on the real AP exam. Albert.io Albert.io organizes its practice questions into the four Big Ideas of AP Statistics, and the Big Ideas are further broken down into more specific topics, each with relevant short quizzes which can be useful if you’re studying and want to easily find questions on certain subjects. The questions are ranked as easy, moderate, or difficult, they aren’t timed, and you see the correct answer (plus a detailed explanation) after you answer each question. You will have to sign up for a free account, which includes a limited number of credits you can use to answerquestions. If you want to access more questions beyond your initial allotment, you'll have to buycredits or earn them by referring friends. Varsity Tutors The Varsity Tutors resources include four diagnostic tests and 139 short practice quizzes, organized by topic. The four diagnostic tests each contain 40 multiple-choice questions and, like the Stat Trek test, they are similar to, but a bit easier than, the real AP exam. You’re timed while taking the exams and, as a bonus, after you complete the exam, the questions are organized into different categories so you can see which categories you did best in and which categories you should focus your studying on. For this site, I’d recommend mostly using the diagnostic tests since most of the individual quizzes are so short (only 1-3 questions) that it can be frustrating to continually start and finish separate quizzes. Free Test Online Free Test Online has a 32-question multiple-choice quiz. This is shorter than the multiple-choice section of the real AP exam, but this is a good resource to use if you want a shorter study session. The quiz is not timed and is automatically graded after you complete it. Kansas State University Quiz and Answer Key This is a 25-question multiple-choice quiz from Kansas State University’s Department of Mathematics. The questions are good quality, although you do have to grade the quiz yourself (the correct letter is in bold in the answer key). This another good option if you want a to answer some practice questions but don’t want to take a full exam. Dan Shuster This site has 24 quizzes (12 multiple choice and 12 free response). They were created by an AP Statistics teacher and follow his curriculum schedule. Each multiple-choice quiz has 10 questions, and short answer explanations are given after you complete each quiz. Each free-response quiz has three questions as well as answer explanations. The free-response questions especially are shorter and easier than you’ll find on the real AP exam, but you can still use this resource if you want to do some quick, targeted studying. How to Use These AP Statistics Practice Tests Knowing how to use each of these resources will make your studying more effective, as well as prepare you for what the real AP Statistics exam will be like. Read the guide below to learn how and when you should use these practice tests and quizzes. First Semester Right now you’re still learning a lot of key information, so during your first semester of AP Stats you should focus on quizzes and free-response questions on topics you’ve already covered. Begin using these materials about halfway through the semester. Multiple-Choice Practice For multiple-choice practice, take unofficial quizzes that let you choose which subjects you want to be tested on. This lets you review content you’ve already learned and avoid questions on material you haven’t covered yet. The best resources for this are Albert.io, Varsity Tutors, and Dan Shuster because their quizzes are clearly organized by specific subject. Free-Response Practice For free-response questions, use the official released free-response questions from the Official Practice Exams section. There are a lot of questions available, so look through them to find questions you can answer based on what you’ve already learned. It’s best if you answer a group of them (up to six) together at a time to get the most realistic preparation for the actual AP exam. It also helps to time yourself when answering these questions, particularly as it gets later in the semester. Try to spend about 12 minutes each on the first five questions and 30 minutes on the investigative task (which will be the last question in the section). Second Semester Second semester is when you can begin taking complete practice exams and continue reviewing content you’ve already learned. Follow these five steps: Step 1: Complete Your First Complete Practice Exam About a month or two into this semester, after you’ve covered a majority of the content you need to know for the AP exam, take your first complete practice exam. For this first practice test, I recommend using the 1997 official practice exam. You should take this test timed and in one sitting, then correct it when you’re finished. If you haven’t already, this is a good time to set a score goal for yourself. Aim for at least a 3 since this is the lowest passing score for the exam. However, if you scored a 3 or higher on this first practice exam, it’s a good idea to set your goal score even higher, to a 4 or 5. Getting a higher score on the AP Stats exam looks more impressive to colleges, and it can sometimes get you more college credit. Step 2: Analyze Your Score Results After you’ve figured out your score, look over each problem you answered incorrectly and try to figure out why you got the question wrong.As you’re doing this, look for patterns in your results. Are you finding that you got a lot of questions on experimental design wrong? Did you do well on multiple choice but struggled with free response? Figuring out which problems you got wrong and why is the best way to stop repeating your mistakes and make improvements for future exams. Even if it seems tedious, don’t be tempted to skip this step! Step 3: Focus on Your Weak Areas By now, you should have a good idea of the areas or techniques you need to work on to raise your score.If there are specific content areas you need to work on, review them by going over your notes, reading a review book, and answering multiple-choice and free-response questions that focus specifically on those topics. If you’re struggling with your test-taking techniques, for example, running out of time on the exam or misreading questions, the best way to combat these issues is to answer a lot of practice questions under realistic testing conditions. Step 4: Take Another Practice Exam After you’ve spent time improving your weak areas, it’s time to see the results of your hard work.Take and score another complete practice exam, timed and finished in one sitting. This is a good time to use the 2012 official released exam or the Barron's exam. Step 5: Review Your Results to Determine Your Future Study Plan Now you’re able to see how much you’ve improved, and in which areas, since you took your first complete practice exam.If you’ve made improvements and have reached or are close to your target score, you may only need to do some light studying from now until the AP exam. However, if you haven’t improved a lot, or you’re still far from your score goal, you’ll need to analyze the way you’ve been reviewing and think of ways to improve. The most common reason for not improving is not actively studying, and only passively leafing through your notes or reviewing missed questions. Active studying takes longer and requires more effort, but it’s the best way to see significant improvements. As you’re studying, make sure you really understand exactly where you made a mistake for every practice question you answer incorrectly. Also, when you’re reviewing your notes, stop every few minutes and mentally go over what you just learned to make sure you’re retaining the information. You can repeat these steps as many times as you need to in order to make improvements and reach your target score. If you need more complete practice tests, you can create your own by combining a set of official free-response questions with 40 unofficial multiple-choice questions. Stat Trek and Varsity Tutors are probably the best resources to use for the multiple-choice questions since each of their exams already have 40 questions combined for you. Conclusion: Where to Find AP Statistics Practice Exams If you want to score well on the AP Statistics exam, you’ll almost certainly need to take some practice tests. Official resources are the best to use, but there are also lots of high-quality unofficial quizzes and tests that you should be using. During your first semester, focus on answering individual free-response and multiple-choice questions on topics you’ve already covered in class. For your second semester, follow these steps: Take and score your first complete practice exam Analyze your score results Focus your studying on weak areas Take and score another complete practice exam Review your results to determine your future study plan What's Next? Wonderingwhich other math classes you should take? Math is often the trickiest subject to choose classes for, but out guide will help you figure out exactly which math classes to take for each year of high school. How many AP classes should you take?Get your answer based on your interests and your college goals. Want some tips on how to study for your AP exams?Check outour five-step plan on how to study for AP exams. 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:

55 Synonyms for Courage

55 Synonyms for Courage 55 Synonyms for â€Å"Courage† 55 Synonyms for â€Å"Courage† By Mark Nichol Courage comes in many varieties, often identified by distinct synonyms. Some terms refer to determination more than bravery, but the two qualities are intertwined. Here’s a roster of the valiant vocabulary: 1-2. Adventuresomeness: Like many words on this list, this one is encumbered by the suffix -ness, but it and its nearly identical-looking and somewhat less clumsy synonym adventurousness convey a connotation of a flair for undertaking risky or dangerous enterprises. 3. Audacity: This term’s meaning as a synonym for courage is tainted by another sense, that of shamelessness. 4. Backbone: This word, one of several on this list that figuratively refer to body parts, implies that a courageous person is unyielding or indestructible. 5. Balls: This vulgar slang for testicles suggests that a person said, in a figurative sense, to possess them is endowed with an anatomical feature equated with virility and thus with courage. 6. Boldness: This word means â€Å"daring, fearless† but can also mean â€Å"adventurous† as well as â€Å"presumptuous.† 7. Bottle: This British English slang term derives from the word for a container for liquid; whether it alludes to the receptacle’s sturdiness or to the false courage inspired by imbibing alcohol from it is unclear. 8. Bravery: This word, like courage itself, is an all-purpose term, though it also can mean â€Å"finery† or â€Å"ostentatious display,† perhaps from the idea of a triumphant hero’s trappings. Brave, too, has an alternate meaning of â€Å"excellent,† and as a noun used to refer to an American Indian warrior. 9. Chivalry: This term, from the French word chevaler (whence chevalier as a synonym for knight; the Latin ancestor is caballarius, â€Å"horseman†), originally referred to the courage of a knight but later came to encompass other ideal but often unrealized qualities such as courtesy and devoutness. 10. Cojones: This frequently misspelled slang word, from the Spanish word meaning â€Å"testicles,† is often used as a (slightly) less offensive alternative to its counterpart in English slang. 11. Courageousness: This is an oddly superfluous term, considering that courage is more compact and means exactly the same thing, but courageous is a useful adjective. 12-13. Daring: This word has a connotation of reckless disregard for personal safety. Daringness is an unnecessarily extended (and therefore unnecessary) variant. 14. Dash: This term suggests ostentatious courage but can also imply the pretense of that quality, and might be confused with other senses of the word. Dashing, however, is a vivid adjective. 15. Dauntlessness: Among the words here saddled with a suffix, dauntlessness is nevertheless an expressive term. Its root, daunt, means â€Å"to tame or subdue.† 16. Determination: This word connotes resolve more than courage but is a useful associate for synonyms of the latter term. 17. Doughtiness: This word itself is somewhat clumsy, but the root word, doughty, is one of the most evocative synonyms for brave. 18. Elan: This borrowing from French, best (at least in print) with an acute accent over the first letter, comes from a word meaning â€Å"rush† and implies vigor rather than courage but has a swashbuckling flair. 19. Enterprise: This is a synonym for initiative more than for courage but has a similar sense. 20. Fearlessness: This pedestrian word pales by comparison with some of its synonyms but might be useful in a pinch. 21-22. Fortitude: The original sense of this word was â€Å"strength,† but now it connotes the determination that enables courage to prevail over fear. The variant â€Å"intestinal fortitude† implies that one will not succumb to an abdominal ailment when confronted with adversity. 23. Gallantry: This word, like some others on the list, can easily suggest a pretense of courage rather than the quality itself. 24. Greatheartedness: This word also means â€Å"generosity,† so although it can imply both qualities in one person, when it is employed, the context should make the intended sense clear. 25. Grit: This term, memorably employed in the book and film title True Grit, connotes coarse but uncompromising courage. 26-27. Guts: This slang term for the abdominal organs, traditionally thought of as the seat of emotions, applies to a combination of courage and indefatigability. A more verbose variant is gutsiness. 28. Hardihood: This term, combining the adjective hardy (which can mean â€Å"brave† as well as â€Å"tough† and â€Å"audacious†) and the suffix -hood (â€Å"state of being†), implies combined courage and robustness. 29. Heart: This word’s use as a synonym for courage stems from the idea that the heart is the source of courage. The root of the latter word, indeed, comes from coeur, the French term for the heart (and ultimately from the Latin word cor). 30. Heroism: The root word, hero, has evolved to have a broad range of senses, and the word for the quality is similarly generic. 31-32. Intrepidity: This word and its close variant intrepidness are based on intrepid, meaning â€Å"fearless† (the root word is also the basis of trepidation). 33. Lionheartedness: This term is based on the association of the animal with courage; England’s King Richard I, a medieval model of chivalry, earned the epithet â€Å"the Lionhearted.† 34. Mettle: This word, adapted from metal, means â€Å"stamina† but is also employed to refer to courage. 35. Moxie: This word, taken from the brand name for a carbonated beverage that, like its better-known and longer-lived competitors Pepsi and Coca-Cola, was originally touted as a source of pep, initially meant â€Å"energy† but came to be associated with expertise as well as courage. 36. Nerve: Because of this word’s additional sense of presumptuousness, the connotation of courage might not be clear; both meanings stem from the outdated idea that boldness is conveyed through the body’s nerves. 37. Panache: This word derived from a Latin term for â€Å"small wing† implies flamboyance as much as courage, perhaps from the ostentatious display of feathers on knights’ helmets. 38. Pecker: This British English slang term doesn’t translate to American English so well; the association of the word as an irregular synonym for courage as well as with the male genitalia is discussed in the entry for balls. 39. Pluck: This word, converted to noun form from the verb, implies determined courage despite overwhelming odds or in the face of significant adversity. 40. Prowess: This word refers to remarkable skill as well as outstanding courage. 41-43. Resoluteness: This term, more gracefully rendered as resolution or even resolve, implies a purposefulness, rather than courage per se. 44. Spirit: This word carries the connotation of assertiveness or firmness as opposed to courage; it can also mean a display of energy or animation. 45. Spunk: This word, originally referring to materials suitable as tinder, is akin to mettle and pluck in meaning. 46. Stalwartness: The root word of this term, stalwart, is an alteration of stalworth, from an Old English word meaning â€Å"serviceable,† and refers more to strength and vigor than courage but is easily associated with the latter virtue. 47-48. Stoutheartedness: This word alludes to the idea that a large, vigorous heart imbues one with courage. A more concise variant is stoutness; someone who is of reliable courage is sometimes referred to as stout. 49. Temerity: This word implies a rash, contemptuous disregard for danger. 50-51. Tenacity: This term and its longer variant tenaciousness suggest persistence. 52. Valor: This word (and the related adjective valiant) implies a romantic ideal of courage. 53. Venturesomeness: The meaning of this word is virtually identical to its virtually identical synonym adventuresomeness (see above). 54. Verve: This term, which shares the same origin as verb, refers to a boldness of expression, whether verbal or artistic. 55. Virtue: In addition to senses of morality or another beneficial quality, this term has acquired status as a synonym for courage. Want to improve your English in five minutes a day? Get a subscription and start receiving our writing tips and exercises daily! Keep learning! Browse the Vocabulary category, check our popular posts, or choose a related post below:What Is Irony? (With Examples)"Wracking" or "Racking" Your Brain?How to Send Tactful Emails from a Technical Support Desk

This Whole System is wrong Case Study Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

This Whole System is wrong - Case Study Example Any employers or organizations that violate those measures are at risk of being punished severely through the imposing of sanctions and other punitive measures. These sanctions may lead to the boycott of our products and consequently a decline in profitability. Apart from the threat posed by sanctions, you are aware that our company has built a good name for itself because of its quality products and good public relations. The issue of poor working conditions in our factories in China might just mess up our reputation and put us at loggerheads with governments and customers. I believe that this is a price that would be too high for the company to pay, considering we can institute reforms in those factories and make it better for workers there. At the same time, I would like to ask for a second look at the ages of some of the workers in those factories. Child labor is illegal, and the employment of underage workers may be detrimental to our hopes for growth and long-term plans. I trust in your ability to make the right call because you have proven yourself as an able, visionary and pragmatic leader. Let us try to balance our ambitions with our methods, because sometimes the end does not usually justify the