The Concept of Metaphysics and Nature

The Concept of Metaphysics and Nature Everything that happens in nature seems to follow a certain order. For instance, a river has tributaries that flow in a certain direction. The river also follows a certain course and may drain in a larger water body that is far away from where the river originated. For order to exist there has to be a driving force. Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on The Concept of Metaphysics and Nature specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More I believe that there exists a powerful force that dictates the order that nature follows. This force is more powerful than any other force in the universe. I believe that this force is God. God is omnipotent and omnipresent. As God is not physically visible, I therefore believe in the existence of a spiritual realm. This realm consists of other spiritual beings for example angels. I also believe in the existence of free will. Human beings are able to differentiate between right and wrong. They have the free will to choose what to do, be it right or wrong. With the existence of a spiritual realm, I believe in the existence of the soul and life after death. When the physical body dies, the soul lives on in the spiritual realm. A good example of the order in nature is a seed. When a seed is planted, it germinates into a seedling and later grows into a tree. Another example is how insects such as butterflies follow the egg – larva – pupa – adult stages of development. Existence of rivers, lakes, oceans, deserts and forests exhibits order. The different ecosystems support different life forms and this also shows order. For example, numerous species of fish can only survive in fresh water bodies while others can only survive in salty water bodies. None of them however can survive on land. This shows that there is order in nature. Everything that happens is driven by a force. All these forces also require a driving force and this is where God comes in. He is the s upreme force that drives all other forces in nature and in the entire universe. I believe that everything in existence was created by God. I therefore reject the alternative philosophies of existence. These include the theories of evolution and the big bang. It is not possible for an ape to evolve into a human being as the two belong to different species. Evolution cannot explain the existence of other life species like the numerous plants that come in all shapes and sizes. Advertising Looking for essay on philosophy? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More The big bang theory also cannot explain the existence of life and the order in nature. None of the two theories can explain the existence of earth and the other planets or even the existence of life after death and the spiritual realm. Having this understanding will assist me to keep focused in life. I will appreciate the beauty and wonders of nature more. The knowledge o f God will make me live a life that is morally upright. To keep with the Godly ways, I will endeavor to assist the less privileged in the society and to avoid oppressing other people. In order to take care of my body, I will eat healthy meals and exercise regularly. To prepare my soul for the afterlife, I will follow the religious teachings and exercise my free will to choose right over wrong. I will also study hard to gain more knowledge on things that will assist me in life.

Hochdeutsch - How Germans Came to Speak One Language

Hochdeutsch - How Germans Came to Speak One Language Like many countries, Germany contains numerous dialects or even languages within its different states and regions. And just as many Scandinavians claim, the Danes can’t even understand their own language, many Germans have had similar experiences. When you are from Schleswig-Holstein and visit a small village in deep Bavaria, it is more than likely that you will not understand what the indigenous people are trying to tell you. The reason is that a lot of what we now call dialects actually derive from separate languages. And the circumstance that Germans have one fundamentally uniform written language is a big help in our communication. There actually is one man we have to thank for that circumstance: Martin Luther. One Bible for All Believers – One Language for Everyone As you will know, Luther kicked off the Reformation in Germany, making him one of the central figures of the movement in the whole of Europe. One of the focal points of his clerical belief as opposed to the classic Catholic view was that every participant of a church service should be able to understand what the priest read or quoted from the Bible. Up to that point, Catholic services were usually held in Latin, a language most of the people (especially people who didnt belong to the upper class) did not understand. In protest against widespread corruption within the Catholic Church, Luther drafted ninety-five theses that named many of the wrongdoings Luther had identified. They were translated into understandable German and spread all over the German territories. This is usually seen as the trigger of the Reformation movement. Luther was declared an outlaw, and only the patchwork fabric of the German territories provided an environment in which he could hide and live relatively safe ly. He then began to translate the New Testament into German. To be more specific: He translated the Latin original into a mixture of East Central German (his own language) and Upper German dialects. His goal was to keep the text as comprehensible as possible. His choice put speakers of Northern German dialects at a disadvantage, but it seems that this was, language-wise, a general tendency at the time. The â€Å"Lutherbibel† wasn’t the first German Bible. There had been others, none of which could create as much of a fuss, and all of which had been forbidden by the Catholic Church. The reach of Luther’s Bible also benefited from the rapidly expatiating printing presses. Martin Luther had to mediate between translating the â€Å"Word of God† (a highly delicate task) and translating it into a language everyone could grasp. The key to his success was that he stuck to spoken language, which he changed where he deemed it necessary in order to maintain high readability. Luther himself said  that he was trying to write â€Å"living German.† Luther’s German But the importance of the translated bible for the German language rested more in the marketing aspects of the work. The immense reach of the book made it a standardizing factor. Just as we still use some of Shakespeare’s invented words when we speak English, German speakers still use some of Luther’s creations. The fundamental secret of the success of Luther’s language was the length of the clerical controversies his arguments and translations sparked. His opponents soon felt forced to argue in the language that he composed to counter his statements. Exactly because the disputes went so deep and took so long, Luther’s German was dragged all over Germany, making it a common ground for everyone to communicate in. Luther’s German became the single model for the tradition of â€Å"Hochdeutsch† (High German).

The effects of organisational change and the feedback of the change on Dissertation

The effects of organisational change and the feedback of the change on productivity in large organisations (financial industry) - Dissertation Example This large amount of decentralisation rendered in the organisation helps in generating a skilled work atmosphere in the concern which thereby helps in enhancing the productivity of the labour forces. Large amount of technological innovation rendered in the workplace systems through the installation of computer technology works to a great extent in altering the organisational culture to become more sophisticated and much faster in meeting organisational objectives. However it is argued in this regard that mere incorporation of newer processes and technologies in the organisational sphere does not solve the game unless a proper set of practices are regulated for its steady implementation. (Hakanson, 2-5). In regards to the above discussion focus can be rendered on the effects of organisational change like incorporation of information technology resources on the productivity parameter of financial organisations like insurance industries. It is found that the extensive use of information technology in the insurance industry has helped in the effective processing of financial information which helps in the optimal management of insurance claims made by different people. Coupled with the introduction of information technology the organisational systems of the insurance industries also were made to undergo some basic organisational changes like rendering of large scale decentralisation which helped in enhancing productivity. It was observed that the enhanced use of information technology in the insurance industries helped the insurance companies to develop larger network channels. This enhancement in the channel network of the insurance industries helped in augmenting the growth of marketing activities and also eased then premium collection process. Furthermore the increased use of information technology rendered in the insurance industries also helped in reducing the cost of maintenance of distribution and marketing channels. Reduction in the operational cost helped the insurance industries to make large number of investments in incorporating better technological processes and innovation systems thereby enhancing the productivity of the firms. (Matassa, Neirotti, and Paolucci, 1-6). Research Questions and Objectives Research Questions The paper divulges to answer the following research questions in regards to the issue of rendering changes in the organizational structure, systems and processes. Firstly it endeavours to highlight on the degree of changes that can be rendered in the basic organisational structure. Secondly it focuses on the processes through which such organisational changes so planned can be rightly implemented in the existing organisational system. Thirdly the paper endeavours to highlight on the effect of such changes brought about in the organisational structure in affecting the productivity parameter of the companies. Fourthly the paper in regards to the above discussion focuses on the case of a specific industry belonging t o the financial world. Research Objectives The paper while endeavouring to answer

Field Report Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Field Report - Essay Example re resources in the natural history of Victoria and even beyond its boundaries (Melbourne Museum, 2015, retrieved from http://museumvictoria.com.au/melbournemuseum/about-us/). The museum is divided into three venues: immigration museum, science works and the Melbourne Museum. The Melbourne Story exhibition is found in the Melbourne Museum. It shows the history of the Melbourne starting from when the white settlers and  the local indigenous people got into contact. The history is connected in the form of stories, soundscapes, images, artifacts and interactive components. This ensures that the visitors have an insight into the Melbourne story. This story shows the Australian history which covers the rich, poor, settlers, indigenous people, immigrants, and how they survived as Australia developed. The Melbourne Story is a comprehensive exhibition that has abundant information about the city of Melbourne. The collections are presented in such a way that they reveal the extraordinary riches of the city. There is an amazing hand colored lithograph that shows the olden city of Melbourne in 1858 (Museum Victoria, 2001, p. 21). The picture, which was developed by George Rowe, shows the ancient city. The buildings and the mode of dressing simplify a time when Australia was under-developed. Each object in the museum displays a certain historical time, and they are all organized in a chronological manner. All the pictures are taken and printed using the available technology of that particular time. Through this presentation, the museum manages to show the lifestyle and technology of the Australian people at different historical times. There are various jar bells and stuffed animals that create and antique display of the people living in Melbourne during the Victorian period. There is a video footage that covers a football match which is believed to have been taken between 1900 and 1920 (Museum Victoria, 2001, p. 43). The video is of low quality but in relation to the

Issues of grandparents raising grandchildren Essay Example for Free

Issues of grandparents raising grandchildren Essay Abstract This paper explores research regarding the impacts on grandparents and grandchildren when the grandparent assumes the parental role because of some type of parental fall through. The articles find that the financial aspect of raising grandchildren in your later years is quite costly as well is the negative health problems the stress of the situation can cause. This paper mainly looks at Baldocks (2007) research on the affects of every aspect of the new situation on the grandparents and grandchildren. Baldock (2007) and the other research used for this paper all suggest that there are multiple struggles that the grandparents will endure when raising their grandchildren. Issues of Grandparents Raising Grandchildren The clichà © life of a grandparent is usually thought of as taking the grandchildren to the zoo, baking cookies, and making crafts. Grandparents are also around to share their wisdom and experiences with the younger generation, however in todays society the amount of grandparents having to take in their grandchildren due to an issue in the biological parents lives has been on the increase for years (Baldock, 2007, p. 70). This change of role for the grandparents can have various affects on not only the grandparents but the grandchildren as well. There are many reasons as to why grandparents come into the situation where they need to take their grandchildren into their care such as teenage pregnancy, parental abuse, and parental drug and alcohol abuse. No matter how the grandparents come into obtaining their grandchildren each family have their own types of struggles they will have to deal with. Both the grandparents and grandchildren can go through multiple financial, health, and behavioral issues that can either bring the family out on top or hurt them, but many are choosing to overcome the difficulties and persevere through them. Literature Review There are many troubles in todays society with drugs, alcohol, and violence, all which are just a few of the reasons that many parents become unable to properly care for their children. These and many other circumstances are which have led to â€Å"approximately 2.4 million grandparents [being] responsible for raising their grandchildren, many in households without the parents present.† (Poehlmann et al., 2008, 165) The decision to undertake the responsibility of raising your grandchildren is a big one to make, however many times there is no decision to make because the children would end up in the foster care system if it werent for the grandparents. In a study completed in Australia about grandparent run homes, â€Å"of the 31,000 children living with their grandparents, 28,700 childrens biological parents lived elsewhere.† (Baldock, 2007, p. 71) This can make the strain of raising your grandchild even more difficult because of the emotional and financial burdens it may cause. Health Quality of Custodial Grandparents There have been various studies in which they have found that grandparents who take care of their grandchildren have mental and physical aspects of themselves that are in a disarray (Neely-Barnes, Graft, Washington, 2010, p. 87). The role of being a custodial grandparent is difficult not only because it is a new situation which they need to adjust to, but it can also cause physical and mental problems. The situation cause a lot of new emotions and stressors that â€Å"numerous studies have documented elevated rates of depression, parenting stress, health problem, and economic hardship among custodial grandparents.† (Poehlmann et al., 2008, p. 168) Many grandparents are well in their sixtys and so â€Å"when the children arrive, grandparents are unlikely to be prepared for the dramatic and often sudden changes caused by unplanned parenthood.† (Baldock, 2007, p. 73) The grandparents generally see an increase in health related problems because they are put into a situation where they need to focus on the care of their grandchildren which leads to the grandparents health and well-being coming second and in which â€Å"custodial grandparents report worse self-assessed health than noncaregiving grandparents, particularly in the areas of physical functioning, bodily pain, role functioning, social functioning, and general health perception.† (Neely-Barnes et al., 2010, p. 88) Not only are the grandparents not being able to properly maintain their own health, but â€Å"among custodial grandparents, higher levels of depression have been found among unmarried grandparents who were not working.† (p. 88) This new parenting role that the grandparents are put into also effects their social life; â€Å"in one study, half of custodial grandparents reported that they felt isolated from friends in their age group due to their caregiving responsibilities.† (p. 88) Grandparents usually feel worn out by the amount of extra responsibilities they have come to take on which can make them feel worried when they think about having many more years of having to take care of their grandchildren. This type of constant worrying and stress can become quite a negative thing both for the grandparent and grandchild because â€Å"grandparents who are stressed are more likely to become depressed.† (Baldock, 2007, p. 73) Financials When grandparents are put into the situation of bringing their grandchildren into their care, one of the most difficult issues they have to deal with is the financial aspect of raising the children. The financial aspect of raising the grandchildren can be so hard to handle because many of the grandparents are older and even retired which means limited income. â€Å"In around one third of grandparent families (34%), one of both grandparents were employed, while 62% received a government pension, allowance or other benefit as their primary income.† (Baldock, 2007, p. 71) Children are expensive to raise because of the extra clothing, food, and home resources that are used. The grandparents are used to and comfortable with their current lifestyle and then when the unexpected young grandchildren are brought into the picture this can make the once sufficient income turn into financial instability. Grandparents going through legal proceedings can also be another reason finances are put into a bind when the need to take in your grandchildren is needed because â€Å"grandparents are commonly ineligible for legal aid and consequently face disadvantage in proceedings† (Baldock, 2007, p. 72). One way that is used to try to gain some type of extra income for the grandchildren is by â€Å"formalising their parenting role through legal proceedings [which] can be the only way grandparents are able to access financial support.† (p. 72) The cost of providing for their grandchildren and all of the court related procedures needed to be done becomes such a burden that â€Å"some grandparents have mortgaged their homes to undertake legal proceedings.† (p. 72) Impacts on the Family The result of custodial grandparents not only effects just the grandparents and grandchildren, but the whole family. The strain of raising grandchildren can be felt in the children of the grandparents â€Å"some felt resentful that their parents energy was going into raising their grandchildren and their own children missed out on a relationship with their grandparents.† (Baldock, 2007, p. 72) In many families the reason that the grandparents need to raise their grandchildren is due to some type of addiction from the birth parents. This drug use can cause emotional and social problems in the grandparents and grandchildren which can make the â€Å"grandparentsfeel blamed or express a sense of responsibility for their own childrens drug use.†(p. 73) Grandparents often feel as though there was something they could have done to prevent their childrens drug abuse which in turn would have prevented the need for them to raise their grandchildren. This feeling of â€Å"blame and shame exacerbate social isolation and increase psychological anxiety experienced by grandparents and their grandchildren.† (p. 73) The effects on the grandchildren of not having their parent or parents around is difficult to for them to cope with because â€Å"children separated from their parents because of alcohol and other drugs frequently face psychological, emotional and sometimes physical problems.† (Baldock, 2007, p. 71) According to Day and Bazemore (2011: children living without their biological parents typically present with high rates of psychological problems. Yet, by comparison, adolescents living with grandparent caregivers have the lowest levels of both internalizing problems (i.e. depressive symptoms, negative outlook, low self-esteem), and externalizing problems (i.e. nonviolent delinquency, general violent tendencies, and substance abuse.† (p. 103) Position I have first hand experience in the struggles and issues that can arise from a grandparent having to put their lives on hold and take in their grandchildren in order to provide them a loving and stable home. My parents are currently in the process of adopting my two nephews whom they, as well as myself, have taken care of since they were born. My sister is in a rehabilitation program in Northern New Jersey for addiction to pills, cocaine, and heroin and has been in and out of trouble since her early teens. Growing up the way I did because of the situations and conditions that my sister made my family endure has shown me just how difficult and numerous the issues are when raising your grandchildren. My mother is sixty years old and my father is sixty-two, both having some health problems. Health problems associated with age can have a significant affect on how the grandparents are going to be able to act in their new role as caregivers because many grandparents are older and their health is declining. Taking care of a six and a nine year old can be mentally and physically exhausting. My nephews have many psychological issues because their mother is gone and father is hardly around, these emotional troubles of my nephews also effect me and parents too. My nephews have ADHD and are quite sensitive which makes it even more difficult to calm them down if they are feeling upset or angry because they are missing their mother. I find the emotional impact it has on the children and family to be the greatest because of my experience in knowing how difficult is to cope with the entire situation. The financial responsibility for taking grandchildren in can be quite detrimental to the grandparents because many are retired or only working part-time in order to make a little extra money. My father is retired which has made the raising of two new children quite difficult before they received any assistance from the state. While most families receive financial assistance through state and federal aid, there may be certain circumstances in which a family has to come up with the money themselves. Grandparents know how expensive children are because of their past experience in raising their own children, however times have changed and the cost of raising children has significantly increased. This financial burden put onto the grandparents is not a choice they make, but rather something they just have to endure because there is no other option for the grandchildren. Afterthoughts It is obvious that grandparents who have to bring their grandchildren into their home and raise them because of varying circumstances will inevitably face numerous amount of hardships and issues. The grandparents being older makes the task of raising their grandchildren difficult, along with the cost involved in raising them and the legal proceedings that are done in order to protect the children. While the hardships of custodial grandparents is plenty, many â€Å"who have attended support groups say that it has made a positive difference in their lives† (Baldock, 2007, p.73), which can help them to cope with the new situations they are being placed in. Even though raising grandchildren comes with multiple and varying issues that make it difficult to do, â€Å"grandparents who are raising their grandchildren consistently report that the experience adds joy and meaning to their lives and provides them with companionship and a purposeful social and familial role.† (Kropf ; Burnette, 2003, p. 363)

Analysis of William Blakes Poem London Essay -- William Blake London

Analysis of William Blake's Poem London London by William Blake is a poem characterised by its dark and overbearing tone. It is a glimpse at a period of England's history (particularly London) during war and poverty, experienced by the narrator as he walks through the streets. Using personification it draws a great human aspect to its representation of thoughts and beliefs of the narrator. The author uses a rhyme scheme that mirrors the pace of walking. The pace is moderate using an octameter meter, and each stressed syllable is like each footfall of the narrator. As he walks through the streets near the River Thames, he notices the common distress in the faces of the people he passes along the way. The author uses alliteration in line four, 'marks', 'weakness' and 'woe'. It draws emphasis on the feeling of severity and the widespread effect on these people. The narrator starts to envision that the people around him are all chained in "manacles". They are enslaved by the country and disastrous world they live in. Their fears, curses "ban" and cries of their current state are shared. The word â€Å"mind-forg'd† gives one the feeling that these people's minds have formed these "shackles" that inhibit them. The author states this by starting lines five to seven with "In every", and repeating the word "every". He emphasises the fact that every man, woman and child is affected by this shared state. Personification in the words "Man" and "Infant" draws importance to the gene...

Computer structure and logic Essay

Learning Objectives and Outcomes -This assignment addresses the learning objective â€Å"Explain BIOS, POST, and derived processes.† The expected learning outcome that will result from completing the assignment is you will be able to describe the operation of BIOS and POST. In video 1.01 it talks about BIOS and CMOS and how they are different. The difference between BIOS and CMOS is that BIOS stored in ROM, they’re permanent and cannot be edited. On the other hand CMOS stored in RAM, they’re nonvolatile can erase when power goes off and can be edited. BIOS or Basic Input Output System is software stored on a small memory chip on the motherboard. It instructs the computer on how to perform a number of basic functions such as booting and keyboard control. BIOS are also used to identify and configure the hardware in a computer such as the hard drive, floppy drive, optical drive, CPU, and memory. BIOS contain a number of hardware configuration options that can be changed through the setup utility. Saving these changes and restarting the computer applies the changes to the BIOS and alters the way BIOS instructs the hardware to function. CMOS- or complementary metal-oxide-semiconductor is a term usually used to describe the small amount of memory on a computer motherboard that stores the BIOS settings. It is usually powered by a cell battery which are said to last a life time on a motherboard, but will sometimes need to be replaced. Some signs of dead or dying CMOS battery are incorrect or slow system date and time and loss of BIOS setting. Video 1.02 talks about system resources, and talk about how POST work and the various types of system resources. When power is turned on POST or Power-on-self-test is the diagnostic testing sequence that a computer’s basic input/output system runs to determine if the computer keyboard, RAM, disk drives, and other hardware are working correctly. If the necessary hardware is detected and found to be operating properly, the computer begins to boot, but if the hardware is not detected or is found not to be operation properly; the BIOS issues an error message which may be text on the display screen and a series of coded beeps. There are four system resources. IRQ, I/O Addresses, Memory Address, and DMA- direct memory access. †¢An IRQ is an assigned location where the computer can expect a particular device to interrupt it when the device sends the computer signals about its operation. It communicates from hardware device to CPU. †¢An I/O addresses or Input/output is a number used to identify a peripheral device such as a disk, sound card or serial port and it communicates from CPU to device. †¢A Memory Addresses- is the total amount of memory that can be addressed by the computer. They’re instructions and work is stored there. †¢DMA – which stand for Direct Memory Access, is a method of transferring data from the computer’s RAM to another part of the computer without processing it using the CPU, and it communicate from device to memory. †¢MBR- stand for Master Boot Record is a kind of boot sector stored on a hard disk drive or other storage device. †¢EEPROM- stand for Electronically Erasable Programmable ROM is programmable read only memory that can be erased and re-used .

How to Survive the First Year of College Essay

Everyone has a different college experience. The time we spend and relationships we form vary from person to person, but there are some commonalities most freshman experience in their first year in college. What follows are some simple and easy tips and suggestions to help those clueless and frightening incoming freshman survive their first year of college. The first tip of advice I would give anyone to make the most of their experience is to leave or expand comfort zones. To make the most of this time it will be inevitable to leave the bubble that have involuntarily formed over the past four years of high school. It is important to get out there and push the comfort levels that have been formed. Next, it is very important to make new friends. As we move away from high school and drift away from our past relationships, it is vital to form new relationships and make new friends to spend this important time of our lives with. Friends play a key role in our social growth and development. Friends will also play a crucial role in our college experience. They are there to support us and help us through the tough times that we all experience during college. They help us through the homesickness, relationships troubles, and anything else that comes our way and are possibly the single most important factor in surviving college. Another key to thriving in college is to get involved in extra-circular activities, groups, or teams. Getting involved is a great way to accomplish multiple of the above tips. This is an easy way to expand comfort zones and to meet new people in the process. Extra groups provide a good way to fill daily schedules and keep busy in between classes and homework. My next tip, is to go to class and to do the best possible in those classes. However, do not get overly stressed out or to focused on classes. When we become overly stressed nothing productive gets done and that benefits no one. Classes are important, however, missing a couple classes or not getting an A on that exam will not ruin any plans for the future. College is as much  a social experience as an educational one. It is important to find a good balance between the two and not to become consumed by the class work and studying. The next suggestion is the easiest. Find the library. The library is one of the most important buildings on campus. It is a nice quiet place that people go to study whenever they need to. When the dorm or apartment is bustling and focusing becomes too difficult, its nice to have somewhere quiet to go so that you can finish that project or write that essay. Lastly, enjoy your time in college. After college we enter the real world and workplace and it can be a scary thought. My best advice is just to make the most of these years and enjoy it in whatever way works best. So just relax and enjoy your time. College is a rollercoaster ride. No matter what we experience and no matter how different it may be it will have its ups and its downs. But when it comes down to it college is supposed to be one of the best times of our lives. So no matter what happens, the best advice anyone can give is just to enjoy the ride!

History of the Theory of Demographic Transition

History of the Theory of Demographic Transition Introduction The theory of demographic transition was first realized in the ostensible developed nations in the early 1950s. During that period, the nations underwent a process in which the death rate was reduced, and birth rate regulated (Kirk, 1996, p.361). Before the demographic transition, the developed countries experienced high death rates and birth rates, which stabilized the size of population.Advertising We will write a custom report sample on History of the Theory of Demographic Transition specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More However, after an improvement in the living standards, there was a decrease in the death rate and a subsequent reduction in the birth rate. Demographic transition can be defined as the shift from a situation where nations experienced high levels of birth and death rates to a situation where the two (birth and death rates) are low so balancing out (Montgomery, 2010, p.1). The four phases of demographic trans ition Pre-transition phase This phase is characterized by cases of high birth and death rates. The birth and death rate during this stage is depicted to fluctuate with natural events such as floods, disease outbreaks, and droughts among others. In this stage, the size of the population is stagnant and not increasing at a fast rate. Early transition phase During this stage, the death rates are minimized, and as such, the population is noted to increase in size (Rueter, 2003, p.1). This is because of improved healthcare and food supply thus reducing mortality especially in childhood. Middle transition phase During this stage, the population size is driven towards a stable position. This is achieved by a reduction in the birth rate, which is due to several factors such as contraception, urbanization, and improving literacy and employment among the women. Late transition phase This stage is characterized by low birth and death rates, during which, the population is high but stable such that the population growth rate is almost zero (Rueter, 2003, p.1). Factors leading to a decline in the crude birth rate and crude death rate The values of crude birth rate and crude death rates are arrived at by taking the number of births and deaths respectively and dividing them by a thousand. The values are termed as crude because their computation does not take into account differences in ages or sex (Rosenberg, 2011, p.1).Advertising Looking for report on environmental studies? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Factors such as food insecurity, poor living conditions, poor medical services, and use of contraceptives could lead to a decline in the rate of crude birth of a country. On the other hand, improved medical services, food security, and improved living standards will lead to a decline in the crude death rate. Impacts in developed countries Phase four of demographic transition is characterized by a stable po pulation as evidenced in the developed nations. This is normally because of the improved living conditions experienced in those nations. An example is the quality healthcare services provided in the developed nations like the America, which is remarkably different to the kind of healthcare services provided in the developing nations. Secondly, the developed nations experience low cases of unemployment thus better living standards contrary to the developing nations where unemployment is widespread hence poor living conditions. The same case applies to food security whereby the developed nations use modern technology to ensure that they have high food security. On the other hand, the developing nations experience food insecurity, which causes an increase in mortality rates. Suggested programs or initiatives to assist in demographic transition phase four Some of the suggested programs include initiating campaigns on contraceptives and enhancing female literacy to regulate the birth rat e. The developing nations should also improve the quality of healthcare services provision to reduce the death rate. Conclusion From the above discussion, it is clear that demographic transition is of substantial importance to every nation. This is because it has a significant impact on the social and economic developments of the country. All nations, especially the developing ones should ensure that they have attained the fourth phase of demographic transition. Reference List Kirk, D. (1996). The Demographic Transition. Population Studies, 50 (3), 361–387. Montgomery, K. (2010). The Demographic Transition. Web.Advertising We will write a custom report sample on History of the Theory of Demographic Transition specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Rosenberg, M. (2011). Crude Birth Rate. Retrieved from https://www.thoughtco.com/crude-birth-rate-1435459 Rueter, J. (2003). Demographic Transition. Retrieved from http://web.pdx.edu/~ruet erj/courses/casestudies/demographic_transition/index.html

U.S. Citizenship Test Questions

U.S. Citizenship Test Questions On Oct. 1, 2008, the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) replaced the set of questions formerly used as part of the citizenship test with the questions listed here. All applicants who filed for naturalization on or after October 1, 2008, are required to take the new test. In the citizenship test, the applicant for citizenship is asked up to 10 of the 100 questions. The interviewer reads the questions in English and the applicant must answer in English. In order to pass, at least 6 of the 10 questions must be answered correctly. New Test Questions and Answers Some questions have more than one correct answer. In those cases, all acceptable answers are shown. All answers are shown exactly as worded by the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. * If you are 65 years old or older and have been a legal permanent resident of the United States for 20 or more years, you may study just the questions that have been marked with an asterisk. AMERICAN GOVERNMENT A. Principles of American Democracy 1. What is the supreme law of the land? A: The Constitution 2. What does the Constitution do? A: sets up the governmentA: defines the governmentA: protects basic rights of Americans 3. The idea of self-government is in the first three words of the Constitution. What are these words? A: We the People 4. What is an amendment? A: a change (to the Constitution)A: an addition (to the Constitution) 5. What do we call the first ten amendments to the Constitution? A: The Bill of Rights 6. What is one right or freedom from the First Amendment?* A: speechA: religionA: assemblyA: pressA: petition the government 7. How many amendments does the Constitution have? A: twenty-seven (27) 8. What did the  Declaration of Independence  do? A: announced our independence (from Great Britain)A: declared our independence (from Great Britain)A: said that the United States is free (from Great Britain) 9. What are two rights in the Declaration of Independence? A: lifeA: libertyA: pursuit of happiness 10. What is freedom of religion? A: You can practice any religion, or not practice a religion. 11. What is the economic system in the United States?* A: capitalist economyA: market economy 12. What is the rule of law? A: Everyone must follow the law.A: Leaders must obey the law.A: Government must obey the law.A: No one is above the law. B. System of Government 13. Name one branch or part of the government.* A: CongressA: legislativeA: PresidentA: executiveA: the courtsA: judicial 14. What stops one branch of government from becoming too powerful? A: checks and balancesA: separation of powers 15. Who is in charge of the executive branch? A: the President 16. Who makes federal laws? A: CongressA: Senate and House (of Representatives)A: (U.S. or national) legislature 17. What are the two parts of the U.S. Congress?* A: the Senate and House (of Representatives) 18. How many U.S. Senators are there? A: one hundred (100) 19. We elect a U.S. Senator for how many years? A: six (6) 20. Who is one of your states U.S. Senators? A: Answers will vary. [For District of Columbia residents and residents of U.S. territories, the answer is that D.C. (or the territory where the applicant lives) has no U.S. Senators.] * If you are 65 years old or older and have been a legal permanent resident of the United States for 20 or more years, you may study just the questions that have been marked with an asterisk. 21. The House of Representatives has how many voting members? A: four hundred thirty-five (435) 22. We elect a U.S. Representative for how many years? A: two (2) 23. Name your U.S. Representative. A: Answers will vary. [Residents of territories with nonvoting Delegates or resident Commissioners may provide the name of that Delegate or Commissioner. Also acceptable is any statement that the territory has no (voting) Representatives in Congress.] 24. Who does a U.S. Senator represent? A: all people of the state 25. Why do some states have more Representatives than other states? A: (because of) the states populationA: (because) they have more peopleA: (because) some states have more people 26. We elect a President for how many years? A: four (4) 27. In what month do we vote for President?* A: November 28. What is the name of the President of the United States now?* A: Donald J. TrumpA: Donald TrumpA: Trump 29. What is the name of the Vice President of the United States now? A: Michael Richard PenceA: Mike PenceA: Pence 30. If the President can no longer serve, who becomes President? A: the Vice President 31. If both the President and the Vice President can no longer serve, who becomes President? A: the Speaker of the House 32. Who is the Commander in Chief of the military? A: the President 33. Who signs bills to become laws? A: the President 34. Who vetoes bills? A: the President 35. What does the Presidents Cabinet do? A: advises the President 36. What are two Cabinet-level positions? A: Secretary of AgricultureA: Secretary of CommerceA: Secretary of DefenseA: Secretary of EducationA: Secretary of EnergyA: Secretary of Health and Human ServicesA: Secretary of Homeland SecurityA: Secretary of Housing and Urban DevelopmentA: Secretary of InteriorA: Secretary of StateA: Secretary of TransportationA: Secretary of TreasuryA: Secretary of Veterans AffairsA: Secretary of LaborA: Attorney General 37. What does the judicial branch do? A: reviews lawsA: explains lawsA: resolves disputes (disagreements)A: decides if a law goes against the Constitution 38. What is the highest court in the United States? A: the Supreme Court 39. How many justices are on the Supreme Court? A: nine (9) 40. Who is the Chief Justice of the United States? A: John Roberts (John G. Roberts, Jr.) * If you are 65 years old or older and have been a legal permanent resident of the United States for 20 or more years, you may study just the questions that have been marked with an asterisk. 41. Under our Constitution, some powers belong to the federal government. What is one power of the federal government? A: to print moneyA: to declare warA: to create an armyA: to make treaties 42. Under our Constitution, some powers belong to the states. What is one power of the states? A: provide schooling and educationA: provide protection (police)A: provide safety (fire departments)A: give a drivers licenseA: approve zoning and land use 43. Who is the Governor of your state? A: Answers will vary. [Residents of the District of Columbia and U.S. territories without a Governor should say we dont have a Governor.] 44. What is the capital of your state?* A: Answers will vary. [District of Colu*mbia residents should answer that D.C. is not a state and does not have a capital. Residents of U.S. territories should name the capital of the territory.] 45. What are the two major political parties in the United States?* A: Democratic and Republican 46. What is the political party of the President now? A: Republican (Party) 47. What is the name of the Speaker of the House of Representatives now? A: Nancy Pelosi (Pelosi) C: Rights and Responsibilities 48. There are four amendments to the Constitution about who can vote. Describe one of them. A: Citizens eighteen (18) and older (can vote).A: You dont have to pay (a poll tax) to vote.A: Any citizen can vote. (Women and men can vote.)A: A male citizen of any race (can vote). 49. What is one responsibility that is only for United States citizens?* A: serve on a juryA: vote 50. What are two rights only for United States citizens? A: apply for a federal jobA: voteA: run for officeA: carry a U.S. passport 51. What are two rights of everyone living in the United States? A: freedom of expressionA: freedom of speechA: freedom of assemblyA: freedom to petition the governmentA: freedom of worshipA: the right to bear arms 52. What do we show loyalty to when we say the Pledge of Allegiance? A: the United StatesA: the flag 53. What is one promise you make when you become a United States citizen? A: give up loyalty to other countriesA: defend the Constitution and laws of the United StatesA: obey the laws of the United StatesA: serve in the U.S. military (if needed)A: serve (do important work for) the nation (if needed)A: be loyal to the United States 54. How old do citizens have to be to vote for President?* A: eighteen (18) and older 55. What are two ways that Americans can participate in their democracy? A: voteA: join a political partyA: help with a campaignA: join a civic groupA: join a community groupA: give an elected official your opinion on an issueA: call Senators and RepresentativesA: publicly support or oppose an issue or policyA: run for officeA: write to a newspaper 56. When is the last day you can send in federal income tax forms?* A: April 15 57. When must all men register for the Selective Service? A: at age eighteen (18)A: between eighteen (18) and twenty-six (26) AMERICAN HISTORY A: Colonial Period and Independence 58. What is one reason colonists came to America? A: freedomA: political libertyA: religious freedomA: economic opportunityA: practice their religionA: escape persecution 59. Who lived in America before the Europeans arrived? A: Native AmericansA: American Indians 60. What group of people was taken to America and sold as slaves? A: AfricansA: people from Africa * If you are 65 years old or older and have been a legal permanent resident of the United States for 20 or more years, you may study just the questions that have been marked with an asterisk. 61. Why did the colonists fight the British? A: because of high taxes (taxation without representation)A: because the British army stayed in their houses (boarding, quartering)A: because they didnt have self-government 62. Who wrote the Declaration of Independence? A: (Thomas) Jefferson 63. When was the Declaration of Independence adopted? A: July 4, 1776 64. There were 13 original states. Name three. A: New HampshireA: MassachusettsA: Rhode IslandA: ConnecticutA: New YorkA: New JerseyA: PennsylvaniaA: DelawareA: MarylandA: VirginiaA: North CarolinaA: South CarolinaA: Georgia 65. What happened at the Constitutional Convention? A: The Constitution was written.A: The Founding Fathers wrote the Constitution. 66. When was the Constitution written? A: 1787 67. The Federalist Papers supported the passage of the U.S. Constitution. Name one of the writers. A: (James) MadisonA: (Alexander) HamiltonA: (John) JayA: Publius 68. What is one thing Benjamin Franklin is famous for? A: U.S. diplomatA: oldest member of the Constitutional ConventionA: first Postmaster General of the United StatesA: writer of Poor Richards AlmanacA: started the first free libraries 69. Who is the Father of Our Country? A: (George) Washington 70. Who was the first President?* A: (George) Washington B: 1800s 71. What territory did the United States buy from France in 1803? A: the Louisiana TerritoryA: Louisiana 72. Name one war fought by the United States in the 1800s. A: War of 1812A: Mexican-American WarA: Civil WarA: Spanish-American War 73. Name the U.S. war between the North and the South. A: the Civil WarA: the War between the States 74. Name one problem that led to the Civil War. A: slaveryA: economic reasonsA: states rights 75. What was one important thing that Abraham Lincoln did?* A: freed the slaves (Emancipation Proclamation)A: saved (or preserved) the UnionA: led the United States during the Civil War 76. What did the Emancipation Proclamation do? A: freed the slavesA: freed slaves in the ConfederacyA: freed slaves in the Confederate statesA: freed slaves in most Southern states 77. What did Susan B. Anthony do? A: fought for womens rightsA: fought for civil rights C: Recent American History and Other Important Historical Information 78. Name one war fought by the United States in the 1900s.* A: World War IA: World War IIA: Korean WarA: Vietnam WarA: (Persian) Gulf War 79. Who was President during World War I? A: (Woodrow) Wilson 80. Who was President during the Great Depression and World War II? A: (Franklin) Roosevelt * If you are 65 years old or older and have been a legal permanent resident of the United States for 20 or more years, you may study just the questions that have been marked with an asterisk. 81. Who did the United States fight in World War II? A: Japan, Germany, and Italy 82. Before he was President, Eisenhower was a general. What war was he in? A: World War II 83. During the Cold War, what was the main concern of the United States? A: Communism 84. What movement tried to end racial discrimination? A: civil rights (movement) 85. What did Martin Luther King, Jr. do?* A: fought for civil rightsA: worked for equality for all Americans 86. What major event happened on September 11, 2001, in the United States? A: Terrorists attacked the United States. 87. Name one American Indian tribe in the United States. [Adjudicators will be supplied with a complete list.] A: CherokeeA: NavajoA: SiouxA: ChippewaA: ChoctawA: PuebloA: ApacheA: IroquoisA: CreekA: BlackfeetA: SeminoleA: CheyenneA: ArawakA: ShawneeA: MoheganA: HuronA: OneidaA: LakotaA: CrowA: TetonA: HopiA: Inuit INTEGRATED CIVICS A: Geography 88. Name one of the two longest rivers in the United States. A: Missouri (River)A: Mississippi (River) 89. What ocean is on the West Coast of the United States? A: Pacific (Ocean) 90. What ocean is on the East Coast of the United States? A: Atlantic (Ocean) 91. Name one U.S. territory. A: Puerto RicoA: U.S. Virgin IslandsA: American SamoaA: Northern Mariana IslandsA: Guam 92. Name one state that borders Canada. A: MaineA: New HampshireA: VermontA: New YorkA: PennsylvaniaA: OhioA: MichiganA: MinnesotaA: North DakotaA: MontanaA: IdahoA: WashingtonA: Alaska 93. Name one state that borders Mexico. A: CaliforniaA: ArizonaA: New MexicoA: Texas 94. What is the capital of the United States?* A: Washington, D.C. 95. Where is the Statue of Liberty?* A: New York (Harbor)A: Liberty Island[Also acceptable are New Jersey, near New York City, and on the Hudson (River).] B. Symbols 96. Why does the flag have 13 stripes? A: because there were 13 original coloniesA: because the stripes represent the original colonies 97. Why does the flag have 50 stars?* A: because there is one star for each stateA: because each star represents a stateA: because there are 50 states 98. What is the name of the national anthem? A: The Star-Spangled Banner C: Holidays 99. When do we celebrate Independence Day?* A: July 4 100. Name two national U.S. holidays. A: New Years DayA: Martin Luther King, Jr., DayA: Presidents DayA: Memorial DayA: Independence DayA: Labor DayA: Columbus DayA: Veterans DayA: ThanksgivingA: Christmas NOTE: The questions above will be asked of applicants who file for naturalization on or after October 1, 2008. Until then, the Current Set of Citizenship Questions and Answers remains in effect. For those applicants who file prior to October 1, 2008, but are not interviewed until after October 2008 (but before October 1, 2009), there will be an option of taking the new test or the current one.

Political Ethics Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Political Ethics - Essay Example Many political initiatives include national health care, public education reform, the so-called digital information superhighway, affirmative action, disposal of toxic and nuclear wastes, abortion, and immigration. In each instance, the breadth of membership in a particular "we" is at issue. In some of those instances, belonging to a "we" in the first place is at issue (Bernstein, 2002). The duty and responsibility of a political leader is to change life of ordinary people and improve social institutions. In each instance, significant changes loom in the lives of those who belong to a "we." In each instance, competing proposals for transforming an institution-such as health care in the United States-are central features of the debate. n each of these contemporary cases, members of a particular "we" seek ways to protect what is important to them, and they frame the prospects for particular kinds of institutional change in such terms. Even if political leaders drop out their promises it should not considered as ethical behavior. The opportunity to retain the services in any new national system is a case in point about a politics of inclusion tied up in a politics of institutional change (Nader and Krimsky 2004). Members of the political media expose and shame the politics by singing the praises of political persons who make social contributions of their own choosing.

Rational Choice Theory.What is rational in rational choice theory Essay

Rational Choice Theory.What is rational in rational choice theory - Essay Example The factors which derive the utility vary from individual to individual. Rational Choice theory is derived from the theoretical approach of Microeconomics. The rationalizing factor can also be called as the factor which can maximize the happiness or the satisfaction level which an individual derives after consumption. The study of this theory can also be used to determine the long term and the short term results that could be derived from the utilization or the consumption of the product (Archer and Tritter, 2000). This report will be structured to analyze the Rational Choice Theory. The complete theory will be analyzed and discussed relating to the impact of rationality on the choices which the consumers make. The theory and the concept of rationality will be critically analyzed to conclude the relevance and the application of the Rational Choice Theory. The Rational Choice Theory framework studies the societal and the economic factors of a society which determines the level of util ity which the individual determines. Both the factors mentioned are pivotal in determining the level of utility which the individuals derive. The word rationality and the postulates of the Rational Choice Theory differ from each other. Rationality is defined as the sane behavior of the individual to derive maximum utility from the product that is consumed. Rationality differs from Rational Choice Theory because the act of balancing the cost and the advantage that the consumer derives from the use of that product is counted as rational even if the decision made is inappropriate (Zafirovski, 2001). Rationality classifies the decision which is considered to be sane by the complete society but the Rational Choice Theory classifies the utility on the basis of satisfaction derived by the individuals irrespective whether the decision is right or wrong. This factor has been contradicted and debated by most. This report will highlight the importance of understanding the concept of the theory to reach to a conclusion. For this the theory will be critically assessed and commented (Zafirovski, 2001). RATIONAL CHOICE THEORY AND ITS EMPHASIS The emphasis of the Rational Choice Theory is to gain maximum understanding of the human behavior. The postulates that have been proposed in the theory are very vital for deriving the concepts of economics. The use of this theory is not limited only to economics but its application can be prominently admired in disciplines like sociology, political sciences etc. where human behavior plays a very vital role. By studying the behavior of the individuals the choices which they make and their preferences for particular products can be studied (Brinton and Nee, 2001). Assumptions of Rational Choice Theory To summarize the Rational Choice Theory it can be said that the individuals try their level best to make the best buying decisions which they can under the circumstances which they are facing. The assumptions for the application of the theor y are (Carling, 1991): 1. The human behavior and their action are destined for a purpose. The decision of the individual is to sight a goal that is to be achieved. 2. The decisions which the individuals make are prioritized. These set of priorities vary from individual to individual. 3. The decisions made by the individuals are on the basis of rationality. The level of preference of the products varies from individual to individual. This variation is subject to the factors like the utility derived from the consumption of the product, the cost variation of the alternates that are available, the option that is selected is considered to be the best way of maximizing the utility. 4. Social involvements of the individuals