Science – 11

Can a poisonous arthropod provide benefits to human beings? 

I absolutely believe that arthropods can provide a few benefits to humans, however these benefits are very limited. This is mostly due to the fact that we’re discussing poisonous arthropods specifically and those pose a threat to humans.

Firstly, if used correctly the venom in arthropods can be an ingredient in modern medicine. This is helpful in fights against bacteria and viruses. Bees, scorpions, centipedes, wasps, and a few others are contributors to this.

The second and last benefit I’d like to discuss is the fact that arthropods prey on bugs like fleas and ticks which both spread viruses to humans.

Although these seem like very basic and unimportant benefits, in the big scheme of things they help us quite a lot. Every single species plays a huge role in keeping our ecosystems balanced, without this healthy balance life itself would struggle to exist.

Science – 10

What is a chordate? How are vertebrates different from chordates?

Chordates can be defined as a classification of a group of animals. This group is quite diverse and includes animals from mice to whales. For a species to be considered a chordate it must have the following; a notochord (provides stiffness to counterbalance muscle pull), a dorsal hollow nerve cord, a post-anal tail (a tail that is located opposite of the head and extends past the anus), and lastly pharyngeal slits (a tube that connects the mouth to the digestive and respiratory tracks).

Within chordates, there are three important subgroups that include vertebrata, urochordata, and cephalochordata. Each have their own set of unique characteristics however, vertebrates (vertebrata) are especially unique.

Vertebrates are considered to be vastly complex, more so than those of urochordates and cephalochordates. While most chordates lack a vertebral column, all vertebrates contain one. The vertebral column surrounds and protects the nerve cord and although it seems like only a small difference, it matters quite a bit in the anatomical importance within the classification of chordates.

Science – 9

“Someone says, “Soil is just dirt to hold the plant up.” Would you agree or disagree with this statement?”

Although it does have the job of keeping the plant upright and holding its roots in a stable position, soil has many other beneficial tasks that are generally overlooked.

Dead bugs, dead plants, minerals, and water all make up the rich nutritious dirt that our plants use to grow. Fungi and bacteria also help by breaking down dead organisms which add to the soil’s nourishing value.

There are four layers of dirt that each play an important role in providing necessary health benefits for a growing plant. The first layer is called ‘humus’ which is rich in nutrients and carries organic matter. Our second layer is ‘top soil’ and is mostly made up of humus but offers more minerals than our top layer, also where seeds begin their growth. Thirdly we have our mineral rich layer that contains little to no humus before our fourth layer; solid rock.

We may see dirt as well… dirt! But there’s much more than what meets the eye. After all, if you tried to grow a plant without soil it simply wouldn’t work. Concluding that I disagree with the original statement made.

Science – 8

“Fruits are “expensive” for a plant to produce, in the sense that the plant must use a lot of nutrients, sugars, water and space to create something that the plant will ultimately “throw away.” Is it worth it (from the plant’s point of view)? Explain why.”

Plants rely on different methods of reproduction depending on their species and environment. Like any living thing, the ultimate goal is to procreate so that generations can continue to thrive and carry out the responsibilities of sustaining the ecosystem. Meanwhile many plants count on the wind to disperse their seeds, others do not have suitable elements in their natural habitat. This especially includes those that live in rainforests.

You might think that simply dropping the seeds from the branches onto the ground without any need of wind is acceptable. However this would be a problem as the population would only reside in a small clump due to the seeds only being able to drop a certain distance from each other. This is where fruit comes in to play an important role.

Plants provide a food source with the fruit that they grow to the animals that roam their ecosystem. When the animal eats the fruit it is able to disperse the seeds in their droppings.

Overall, it can be concluded that the long process of growing fruit is absolutely worth the time if it means the offspring will continue the important role of its species in keeping the ecosystem balanced.

Science – 7

“Give one or more reasons that photosynthesis is challenging for plants in a desert environment. Describe in detail the adaptations that plants have made in order to deal with this challenge.”

Plants use what is called the stomata for their intake of carbon dioxide. The stomata is not visible by the naked eye and consists of two kidney shaped guard cells. It is located on the epidermis of the plant’s leaves which allows oxygen to flow out as a waste product. This is an essential part of photosynthesis and is very similar to the way humans and animals breathe air with their lungs.

Plants in a desert environment are vulnerable to the sun especially when it relates to water retention. This can make photosynthesis difficult due to the opening and closing of the stomata which can cause water to be evaporated that would otherwise be used for photosynthesis.

To put it simply, plants that live in the desert keep their stomata closed during the day and are able to open them during the nighttime. This is the way they protect themselves from their harsh environment so that they can conserve both water and sunlight to use for their food source.

History – 9

“Discuss the Italian War of 1494-1498.”

In 1494, King Alfonso II had control of Naples as well as Milan and Jerusalem. However, the duke of Milan at the time (Ludovico Sforza) was concerned with Alfonso’s direction and allowed the French army to attack Naples. With a successful attack, France was now feared by the Italian states. The league of Venice was formed to help stop the French which was ultimately unsuccessful, leaving King Charles VIII of France in control.

Then in 1498, King Louis XII became the king of France and inherited claims of Milan. With Papal and Venetian support he divided Milan before later taking control of it’s entirety.

The Italian Wars were the first clues that the European system of alliances came into effect. It proved Europeans could cooperate, but only for a short time or as long as their fear of the King of France was greater than their hope for independence.

Science – 6

“Imagine you’re a partner in a biological research firm. You have the money and facilities to do some research, and you have to decide between research on organic chemicals or prokaryotes. Chose one or the other, and write an essay to present the reasons for your choice.”

First and foremost it’s important to understand what prokaryotes and organic chemicals are. This can be summed up fairly easily; prokaryotes are single celled organisms that lack a nucleus with a membrane such as bacteria, and organic chemicals are compounds containing carbon such as methane.

Both are fairly diverse and have a substantial amount of information. Yet, if given the chance I would rather research organic chemicals. This is mostly due to the fact that organic chemicals have a broader range of elements to work with. With prokaryotes being the backbone of our environment, it would be an interesting task to continue its further research however, I would prefer to look into more varying opportunities that come with working on organic chemicals.

 

Government – 3

“Is the state the source of human rights?”

Although the state controls many aspects of our lives they are not the ultimate source of human rights. The state does however decide whether or not we can freely act upon these principles.

In fact according to the Bible, God is the preeminent source. This is especially clear in the story of Adam and Eve were he set boundaries and conclusively ended up changing human rights and their state of well being.

Proving all of this would be the sole fact that God has the authority to dictate what happens to us even in the afterlife, showing that the state really only has a fraction of domination in comparison to God.

History – 8

“What is an indulgence?”

In the Roman Catholic Church around the 5th century, those who committed sins were punished severely. This included a short span after death that the sinner would spend in purgatory (known more commonly today as hell). To diminish their sentence, the sinner would have to participate in Indulgence.

Indulgence included praying, visiting holy places, or preforming good works. During the Middle Ages however, indulgences were commercialized and abused which forced the Catholic Church to halt the excessive use. Despite this, they were still present in the church and are even used in the modern day.

Engaging in indulgence is not as easy as it was in the middle ages, this is because in 1567 they were outlawed and those who need them gain their use through charitable contributions and other acts. Knowing this, many have strived to become better members of the church which ultimately is the goal for those in the community.

English Project

“Are Boccaccio’s Decameron and Chaucer’s Canterbury Tales closer in outlook to Greek and Roman literature than they are to Hebrew, Christian, and medieval literature?”

A group of short stories told by medieval commoners were all pieced together to create two notorious compositions of literature that we know today as Canterbury Tales and Decameron. Although both were created by separate authors, they share many similarities that we can use to categorize them.

The Canterbury Tales was written in Middle English which was used between the 12th and 15th centuries and was derived from European romantic languages. Similarly, Decameron was written in Florentine (a variety of Tuscan and a common romance language). Using this observation we can compare this to infamous Christian, Hebrew, and medieval classics such as; The City of God by St. Augustine and Little Flowers of St. Francis. Both were written in Latin, a well known liturgical language of the Catholic Church. This alone can prove the differences in era and style between the books.

Likewise, we can compare each category of literature by analyzing what sets them apart from one another. Greek and Roman narratives usually follow fictional stories that tell of humans, mythical creatures, as well as Gods and Goddesses. The endings however are not always to teach a good lesson or rational and pure behavior. This cannot be said about the narratives of Christian, Hebrew, and Medieval literature which follow stories that teach the way of God and show examples of good morals that lead in the path of religion. The way I see it, Greek and Roman literature held more entertainment value whereas the latter (Christian, Hebrew, and Medieval) were used to demonstrate and inspire for those who followed God.

Chaucer’s Canterbury Tales includes a wide range of humor and diversity within the characters. This is central to its popularity within his audience. The twenty four stories were told by a group of people who had set out on a pilgrimage to Canterbury somewhere around 1380. Even consisting of a tale about a woman who was having an affair with a scholar and to hide from her husband they both had to play out ridiculous scenarios. These stories were not necessarily to teach a lesson or to paint an image of God but to express humor and to entertain, especially during a time where working class people were underestimated and looked down upon.

Boccaccio’s Decameron consists of one hundred stories told by a group of ten people taking refuge from the Plague around 1350. Again, these stories were a form of entertainment, as a way to pass time and lighten the scene. The group of ten told these one hundred stories in the span of ten days, with each person being granted one day to dictate the theme of the stories. Decameron includes tales of love, lust, envy, family, and adventure (ending both tragically and happily).

With all this said, yes I personally do believe that both Chaucer and Boccaccio’s pieces relate closer to Greek and Roman literature rather than that of Christian, Hebrew, and Medieval. But If there is anything I learned from their work, it’s that no matter what situation you may find yourself in, your mind and imagination is a powerful tool that if used correctly, can bring happiness to yourself and those around you.