A solar eclipse is a special astronomical event. It happens when the moon comes between the earth and the sun and blocks people’s view of the sun. Solar eclipses can be either total, annular, or partial. A total eclipse happens when the sun is completely blocked from view by the moon. An annular eclipse is seen when the moon blocks the sun, but a portion of the sun can be seen around the edges of the moon. The last type of solar eclipse is a partial eclipse. It occurs when only part of the sun is covered from view of the moon. If you decide to view a solar eclipse, it is very important to do it safely as you could damage or destroy your vision. Solar eclipses are exciting to view.
Isaac Newton was a student at Cambridge University when the black death, also called the Great Plague, struck nearby London again. It was a horrible disease that the people did not know how to cure. Thousands died. Misery, despair, and fear were everywhere. Soon fear turned to panic. Riots broke out in the streets. London was locked down, and Cambridge was closed. Isaac retreated to his mother’s home in the countryside. Isaac Newton had many questions about the universe. He did not let the closing of the school close his mind. He used the time to experiment and think. One day he went into his mother’s garden. It was a beautiful sunny day, but he hardly noticed. He was sitting in the shade of an apple tree, deep in thought. As he sat there, an apple fell from the tree. It plummeted straight down.
That caused him to ask questions. Why did the apple fall straight down? Why did it fall at all? Why did it not float in the air or fall up? And why do all things fall to the ground when not supported? Why does everything seem stuck to the earth? To answer his questions, Newton developed a new kind of math. He labored over many equations. He eventually figured out that all objects attract other objects. He reasoned that since the earth is so large, its force must be very strong. So, when the apple broke from the branch, it was pulled toward the center of the earth by this force. He believed that this was the same force that kept the moon from flying away from the earth. He wrote about it in a book called Principia. He called his idea the Law of Universal Gravitation. Isaac Newton discovered much about gravity!
Epilogue
The story of the falling apple is likely true, though the apple probably did not fall on his head as some stories say. The incident is included in Stukeley’s biography of Isaac Newton, Memories of Sir Isaac Newton’s Life
A professor asked a student what inspired him to write his essay. The student replied, “The due date.” This joke certainly grabs a reader’s attention. That is what a hook is supposed to do. There are five types of hooks to use in an essay which include, the inverted pyramid, a fact, an anecdote, a rhetorical question, or a bold pronouncement.
The first type of great hook is called the inverted pyramid. It can be thought of as an upside down pyramid. The top is the hook, and the hook slowly narrows down to the thesis with the middle as a transition sentence. Using the example of The Odyssey, you might write: “Usually, you would offer hospitality with love and care, but in The Odyssey, people think from a different perspective. In The Odyssey, people show hospitality because of fear. One theme in The Odyssey by Homer is that fear can control you.”
The next type of hook to use in your essay is stating a fact or a statistic from a reliable source about what you are writing. Starting your essay with a fact or an interesting statistic really draws the interest of the reader. Again, using an example of The Odyssey: “In The Odyssey, hospitality is a sign of respect for the gods which is an important value according to an IPL.org article on the role of hospitality. Some people learned this the hard way which resulted in their death. This caused fear to spread among the others. One theme in The Odyssey by Homer is that fear can control you.”
The third type of hook you should use in your essay is grabbing the audience's attention by using an anecdote or a personal experience. An anecdote is a small story that explains a point that you are trying to make. For example, “When someone knocks on your door for water, you hand them water but you do not invite them in. We have to be careful of strangers but we still hand them water out of love for our fellow man. In Ancient Greece, you would invite them in, supply them with food and water, and offer a place to sleep. This was because of xenia. Xenia means hospitality which Ancient Greece offered out of fear in case the guest was a god in disguise. One theme in The Odyssey by Homer is that fear can control you.” An anecdote draws the audience in just as a personal experience will.
The fourth type of hook that grabs the attention of the reader is using a rhetorical question. A rhetorical question asks the reader a question without wanting an answer. This type of hook is easy and often overused. Make sure to use this hook with caution. For example, “Do you offer xenia to strangers? What does it mean? Xenia is the Ancient Greek word for hospitality. It was offered out of fear. One theme in The Odyssey by Homer is that fear can control you.”
The last type of great hook to use in your essay is a bold pronouncement. Stating a bold pronouncement immediately draws the attention of the reader. This causes the reader to be interested and keep reading. Here is an example, “Not letting even one stranger into your home when they knock will be the last thing you do. This was what the Ancient Greeks thought to be true. Believing this, Ancient Greeks handed over the key of their homes to fear. One theme in The Odyssey by Homer is that fear can control you.”
These five different types of hooks are important for a good essay. The most crucial hook to use is the inverted pyramid. All great students should know how to use all five of these inspirational hooks.
The second hook is called fact or statistic. It is imperative that this hook be from a reliable source. If you used this type of hook, then your first paragraph might start: There are 660,000 people in the United States that use Airbnb. Air B&Bs are actually similar in some ways to the ancient Greek form of hospitality, called xenia. In Ancient Greece, people would let strangers into their homes, and supply them with food, shelter, and comfort. Unlike modern day Air B&Bs, the ancient Greek visitor would, in return, leave the host a gift. This ancient form of hospitality was called xenia. Xenia was not granted, as with modern Air B&B owners, out of care for fellow man, the hope to meet new and interesting people, or even to serve as a tour guide for a beloved city. Xenia was not even a small business venture as is often the case with Air B&B hosts. Xenia was rooted in fear. Ancient Greeks believed that strangers might be gods in disguise, and if they failed to show hospitality to the visitor, they might be punished.
Discreteness: Language is built up from discrete units (signs, words, sounds) that can be combined in order to communicate new ideas. *2
What is meant by discreteness of human language? A major difference between animal language and human language is the discreteness of human language. This refers to the uniqueness of the sounds used in human languages. Every language use a set of different sounds. Each of these sounds is different from the rest and are combined to form new meanings. A sound can be repeated, or combined with another to form a new meaning. But, animal languages do not have this feature of discreteness.*1
Displacement: refers to the ability to communicate about things or events that are distant in time or space
What is meant by displacement feature of human language? A major difference between animal language and human language is the displacement feature of human language. It means that human language can overcome the limitations of time and space. Animal communication is designed for here and now. But, human language can relate to events removed in time and space.*1
Productivity: refers to the ability to produce and understand an infinite number of messages by combining the units differently. *2
What is meant by productivity of human language? A major difference between animal language and human language is the productivity of human language. This refers to the human ability to combine limited linguistic signs to produce new sentences and expressions. Animals are incapable of this as animal signals have fixed reference.*1
According to Dr Bishop there are animals who display some of the qualities, e.g. with their waggle dance, the bees exhibit the property of displacement and great apes like chimpanzee have learnt a modified sign language and demonstrated discreteness, as they are able to combine multiple signs into phrases. The video shows other examples of animal communication systems that display some of the qualities required to be considered a language but none actually gathers all four.
Whether it is a PB&J at a picnic or a foot long meatball sub for dinner, sandwiches are a simple, savory, and portable option for any meal of the day. We take them for granted today, but what were the first sandwiches? When did all this deliciousness start? Who invented the sandwich?
The first recorded mention of a sandwich-like meal dates all the way back to the1st Century B.C. Ancient Jewish Rabbi Hillel the Elder is reported to have started the Passover tradition of putting lamb, mixed nuts and herbs between two pieces of unleavened bread.
In the Middle Ages people used thick slices of stale bread, called “trenchers”, as plates for meats and vegetables! That created an open-faced sandwich, although the bread was sometimes too stale to eat. The bread plate was often fed to dogs and farm animals.
In the 17th Century, taverns in the Netherlands started to serve something that was a lot more like the sandwiches we enjoy today. They would hang cured beef from the ceilings of the taverns. Then they would cut from these hanging pieces of meat. The sliced chunks of meat were served together with bread and butter for customers.
Slowly the sandwich started appearing among aristocrats as a late-night meal. The Earl of Sandwich steps into the history of this convenient and delicious part of history. The sandwich got its name from this man. He was an 18th Century English nobleman named John Montague. He was also the 4th Earl of Sandwich, who regularly ordered meat between two pieces of bread. The story goes that he did this because he could enjoy his meat and continue to play cards. He could play and take bites without his hands becoming messy or greasy. Soon people started ordering “the same as Sandwich”, and the name has stuck ever since! Even though he is not the actual inventor of sandwiches, Sandwich is the name that has gone down in history.
By the 19th Century the sandwich had become popular all over Europe, especially in England because of the industrial revolution. During the industrial revolution, people needed easy-to-make, easy-to-carry lunchesthat would fill them up for a long day of work. Every class of person enjoyed sandwiches. Today there are sandwiches of all different kinds and flavors and for every situation. People enjoy the bite sized cucumber sandwiches at high tea as well as a good ol’ ham sandwich in a typical American lunch bag.
QUESTIONS
PART A How well did you understand?
1) How far back can we trace the first sandwich?
a) 1st Century B.C. - Ancient Jewish Rabbi Hillel the Elder
b) Middle Ages "trenchers"
c) 17th Century, taverns in the Netherlands
d) 18th Century English nobleman John Montague. He was the 4th Earl of Sandwich
2) What were "trenchers"?
a) a Philadelphia cheesesteak
b) meat and veggies on stale bread
c) finger sandwiches served at high tea
d) meat and herbs on unleavened bread
3) Who was the Earl of Sandwich?
a) Margaret Thatcher
b) Rabbi Hillel the Elder
c) John Montague
d) President Biden
4) During the industrial revolution, people needed
a) easy-to-make, easy-to-carry lunches
b) home pizza delivery
c) personal chefs
d) Kosher bakeries
5) Bite sized cucumber sandwiches are usually associated with
a) dinner in China
b) football tailgate parties
c) Superbowl parties
d) high tea
B VOCABULARY & HISTORY
Which word or words fit the following definitions?
1) This is the quintessential American sandwich found in your school lunches.(Quintessential means the typical example of something)
1) What are 3 examples of food you can (politely) eat with your hands?
You may not use the "sandwich" as one of your answers.
a)
b)
c)
2) What is “high tea”?
3) Twenty years ago, the most common sandwich for kids was peanut butter and jelly. Is this a sandwich you are allowed to bring to school? Why?
4) What is your favorite sandwich and why? Write a short essay to answer this question in the form of a fictional essay. Use the 5 senses in your description. (@ least 125 words) Remember, write a fictional essay that INCLUDES the required info. NOs remain the same.
5) What is yeast? Why is it important for leavened bread? How does it work?
Write a factual explanation that is interesting and accurate. (@ least 125 words)
Siberian tigers live in the far north, where the temperatures fall to minus 50º F. Beneath their golden and black coats, they have thick layers of fat for insulation.
Though the male tigers are loners, the females live in family units. They nurse their cubs in secluded dens. After two weeks the cubs open their eyes, and their teeth begin growing. Within three months they begin exploring outdoors.
While still nursing them, the females bring them meat to eat. When they are five to six months old, the cubs begin to accompany their mothers on hunting trips. Before they are one year old they start to hunt for themselves.
Siberian tigers prefer to eat wild pigs and deer, but they catch smaller game, too. They must search for prey persistently, for only a tenth of their hunting trips prove successful. When they capture a large animal they eat what they can, then drag the rest to a hiding place to finish later. When game is scarce, they often range hundreds of miles to find food. Their determination keeps them going.
Are you determined enough to work hard for what is good, pure, and worthwhile? Or, do you shrug your shoulders and quit? Wise King Solomon 1 asked, “Did you fail in a day of adversity?”2If your goals are just, worthwhile and pure, don’t give up! In the book of Galatians you find this wonderful advice, “Let us not grow tired of doing good, for in due time we shall reap our harvest, if we do not give up.”3 Like the Siberian tiger on its hunt, try until you succeed.
FOOTNOTES
1 King Solomon, also called Jedidiah, was an incredibly wise king of the United Kingdom of Israel and succeeded his father, King David. The dates of King Solomon's reign are about 970–931 BC which are in alignment with the dates of King David's reign.
The wind was gently playing with her hair, and she had never felt such happiness before. Smiling, she walked ___________ . With complete confidence she ____________ .
WHERE IS SHE, WHAT'S HAPPENING, AND WHAT HAPPENS NEXT?
Why was it so dark in the room? Toby took a tentative step toward the light switch. Could he find it in the dark? Just as his hand touched the switch, __________________.
WHERE IS HE, WHAT'S HAPPENING, AND WHAT HAPPENS NEXT?
In the jungle, a strange plant can be found. It is called the strangler fig. This plant starts as a tiny seed. These seeds are delicious food for birds and they spread them far and wide when they are flying. When one of the tiny seeds is dropped by a bird and falls onto a tree trunk, the poor tree’s future changes. The seed puts out threadlike roots which get nourishment from the air.
At first the strangler fig is small and looks harmless, but it grows quickly. Soon it has shoots going both up into the air and down into the soil. Large leaves develop which keep sunlight from the tree. Its roots entwine themselves around the tree trunk stealing nourishment from it. The strangler fig gets bigger and bigger. It gets stronger and stronger. It becomes more and more of a threat to the survival of the tree. Gradually it strangles the tree to death.
This dangerous plant reminds us of bad habits. They seem so harmless at first, but oh, how quickly they grow! Maybe it is not keeping your promises, putting things off, or never being on time. Maybe it is a little lie, stealing something, or cheating at school. Like the strangler fig, these habits become stronger and stronger. The bad habits that brought momentary pleasure become entwined in our lives. They strangle us. We eventually become their slaves. The famous seventeenth century poet, John Dryden, made this sage observation, “First we make our habits, and then our habits make us.”
This is part of MLK’s iconic I Have a Dream speech
Let us not wallow in the valley of despair, I say to you today, my friends.
So even though we face the difficulties of today and tomorrow, I still have a dream. It is a dream deeply rooted in the American dream. I have a dream that one day this nation will rise up and live out the true meaning of its creed: We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal.
I have a dream that one day on the red hills of Georgia, the sons of former slaves and the sons of former slave owners will be able to sit down together at the table of brotherhood.
I have a dream that one day even the state of Mississippi, a state sweltering with the heat of injustice, sweltering with the heat of oppression will be transformed into an oasis of freedom and justice.
I have a dream that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin but by the content of their character. I have a dream today.
I have a dream that one day down in Alabama with its vicious racists, with its governor having his lips dripping with the words of interposition and nullification, one day right down in Alabama little black boys and black girls will be able to join hands with little white boys and white girls as sisters and brothers. I have a dream today.
I have a dream that one day every valley shall be exalted, every hill and mountain shall be made low, the rough places will be made plain, and the crooked places will be made straight, and the glory of the Lord shall be revealed, and all flesh shall see it together.
This is our hope. This is the faith that I go back to the South with.
Mrs. Cortez' MNEMONIC
Let us not wallow in the v____ of despair, I say to you today, my fr____s.
So even though we face the difficulties of today and tomorrow, I still have a _____. It is a _______ deeply rooted in the A______ ______.
I ____ __ ______ ____ one day this _____ will rise up and live out the true meaning of its creed: We hold these truths to be ____-______, that all men are created _______.
I ____ __ ______ ____ one day on the red ____ of Georgia, the sons of former slaves and the sons of former slave owners will be able to sit down together at the _____ of brotherhood.
I ____ __ ______ ____ one day even the state of M_______, a state sweltering with the heat of injustice, sweltering with the heat of oppression will be transformed into an ______ of freedom and justice.
I ____ __ ______ ____ my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their _____ but by the content of their ch________.
I ____ __ ______ ____ today.
I ____ __ ______ ____ one day down in A_______ with its vicious racists, with its g________ having his lips dripping with the words of interposition and nullification, one day right down in A_______ , little black _____ and ______ ______ will be able to join hands with little wh_____ _____ and ______ ______ as sisters and ______.
I ____ __ ______ today.
I ____ __ ______ ____ one day every v_____ shall be exalted, every hill and m_______ shall be made low, the rough places will be made plain, and the crooked places will be made _______, and the glory of ____ _____ shall be revealed, and all flesh shall see it together.
This is our h_____. This is the f_____ that I go back to the S_____ with.
