text:
CHAPTER ONE:
TWO FEET OF SNOW

	Things have changed. I guess you know that. But not just in the obvious way.
Some people  accept the way things are now and I guess that's the easiest way to survive. I wish I was like them, but I'm not. Things are different in us, the survivors.
A shitty day used to mean a lot of things, none of which mattered in the least. And awful day- that's what you said if someone died before their time, or even after. Grandma died, that was 'an awful day' that was the what used to be normal. But today death is commonplace, and if your best friend is bit by a walker and you have to put a bullet in him, that's just another shitty day.
Before it happened, before awful became shitty and shitty was standard, I was on my way to being a writer. I guess that's why I'm doing this now. So if you're reading this it's because I'm dead and I thought someone should know what happened to us. Maybe it will make a difference. Maybe you'll appreciate your companions more than I did mine.
I've been snowed in for the past month, supplies are low. Everything's low. There's no use trying to trek outside, not unless you want to freeze to death. Though that may be a good way to go. The truth is I won't survive the week. Every ounce of energy I have is going into writing this. Some of us will do what we have to to survive. That's not me. It was once, but now I want us all to survive. And the only way to do that is to tell a story and hope people learn from it. This place won't be secret for long- a big house in the middle of nowhere, in the spring this will probably be a territory worth killing for, my words will be found eventually, but for now it's a tomb. And this is my last will and testament.

 * * * *

I guess I can skip the first few months, the only people who don't know what happened that day are those who are still too young to remember it, and this is not a story for children. By the third month I had lost everyone I had known before it started. That's not to say they all died exactly, some I really did just lose. My sister, for example, she was a financial adviser for a fortune five hundred company in London, but she traveled almost daily. I think she was in the  Netherlands when it started here. I don't know where it began really, it seemed to be everywhere all at once. But phones went down pretty soon and I'm ashamed to say I called an ex before I called my sister, and one call is all you got.
I used to call her Bambi so I'll use that name here, Bambi and I were what was left of our family after the divorce, our mom left us when she left our dad. We never forgave her, but then again she never gave us reason to. We were left with a drunk who among other things liked to take his failures out on his children. My sister learned quick that to live outside his rule she'd have to be successful in something. We never had money, so she chose that. Community college and a few math scholarships later she was on her way to a well paying job as an assistant a year after graduation. She moved up the ladder pretty quick, all she had to do was show her bosses that what they were doing was wrong how they could make more money if they followed her advice and it was off to the races for Bambi.
She felt bad about leaving me, like she had inherited some abandoning gene from our mom but I told her to go and live her life, I would graduate soon and by the time I did she would have a place big enough for both of us to share. She'd be traveling most of the time but that just meant I'd pay half the rent on a place I basically had for myself. But when graduation came she was too hot to stop, she had a place in Paris she couldn't give up- living in France was her dream since she was young, and even then she was never there long enough to enjoy it. I told her it was okay, that we would meet up when she came stateside but that turned out to be once or twice a year at the most. She sent me money whenever I was too broke to decline, and she called at least once a month. I can't blame her for succeeding, and I wouldn't want to even if I could. The honest to goodness truth is I was so proud of her for doing what she did, for keeping her head down and just doing the work- for enduring our father until she didn't have to anymore, that I was just happy that she was living the life she'd set for herself. And in a way I was too. I had a studio apartment in downtown Manhattan. I felt like Holden Caufield on his mini vacation after being thrown out of school, or one of Bukowski's barflies. I was living on my own above a bar that never closed, I was smoking cigarettes in my room and staying up all night writing pages and tossing them as soon as I wrote 'The End.'
These are the things that make a writer happy. Not that I was a real writer. More like a professional imitator of styles. If I was in the mood for poetry I'd look at some E.E Cummings and do my best to steal everything he’d written, someone thought I had some potential and paid me an advance to write some generic pieces about being young in the city. I gave him three thousand words on the importance of writing a grocery list before going shopping. I was five hundred dollars in the hole but I didn't care. Debt was just a part of what being a young writer in the city's all about. And that's how it was for a while, just me and my thoughts.
Then, one day, I got a call from a friend I'd known in school. She lived upstate and had asked me to come to her wedding. I didn't even know she was engaged but I told her I'd love to come. I wrote three ten pages essays in an many days for some friends who were going to N.Y.U for the tuxedo money and a graduation speech for the car rental. It had been a long time since I had driven a car- I relished it.
I couldn't get a convertible but I'd been making do with what I had my whole life. What's a convertible compared to a thoughtfully over compensated sound system? I swear just one hour on the road and my throat was fire-red and scratchy from singing full volume by myself.  I spent a quiet night at a roadside motel, I guess that could have been when it all started. I was so tired from the road that I didn't even turn the TV on. The next day I knew I'd probably just barely make the ceremony if I left as soon as soon as I got up so I got fully dressed before leaving. I was dreading the conversation with the hotel manager- “Why're you in a tuxedo? Are you queer 'er some'in?”
But when I went to check out there was no one there. I looked around but I couldn't wait much longer so I wrote down my name and credit card number on a notepad and left. I accidentally took the pen with me- when I got to the car I stopped and almost went back to return it. I decided they probably had plenty of pens, plus I was pretty pissed about not getting any service and feeling justified for having paid at all when I could have just left, the idiot never asked me for an ID or card or anything when I came in, he was almost too drunk to hand me my key. As it turned out, the decision about not returning the pen was what saved my life. And if you think too much on things like that- well if I just did that, or, if I didn't remember to do this- you'll drive yourself mad. Alive is alive is alive. And that's all there is to it. I said I wouldn't go into those first few months but, I guess if I'm to tell you the whole story I should start at the beginning. It was still summer, the hottest I remember. In certain situations, the same questions comes up time and time again, in prison it's what are you in for? Now, when you meet someone new and it looks like you're going to be in the same group for a while you ask “Who was your first kill?” but I always lied. I told anyone who asked that my first kill was the motel manager- the one I never saw after I checked in. I only told the truth once, to a girl named Emily. My first kill was a woman, a mother. And she had her children with her.

title: The Walking Dead: Winter Chronicles

question:
Answer the following question based on the above passage:

Who was Emily?

answer: Cannot be sure.

text: The passage has given some context on who Emily is: "I only told the truth once, to a girl named Emily."

refinement: Emily is the only person the narrator has told the truth about who his first kill is.

answer: Emily was a girl that the narrator met and told the truth to about their first kill.

text: "Their" should be "his" referring to the narrator. The fact that he wears a tuxedo going to a friend's wedding is evidence that he's a man.

refinement: Emily was a girl that the narrator met and told the truth to about his first kill.

answer: A person the narrator told the truth about his first kill to.

answer: Emily was a girl that the narrator gave his first kill to. She had asked him what his first kill was and the narrator told the truth about it being a mother with her children.

text: The first sentence is inaccurate. The narrator did not give his first kill to Emily. He told the truth about who his first kill is to her.

refinement: Emily was a girl that the narrator told the truth about who his first kill is. She had asked him what his first kill was and the narrator told the truth about it being a mother with her children.

text: Although it is a fact that the narrator told Emily the truth, it's not mentioned that she asked him about it.

refinement: Emily was a girl that the narrator told the truth about who his first kill is. He told her it was a mother with her children.

answer: She seemed to have been a person the narrator was supposed to stay with or date. And she was the only person the narrator told the truth about killing a woman and her children.

text: The passage did not hint that Emily and the narrator seemed to have dated or something. The first sentence is inaccurate.

refinement: She was the only person the narrator told the truth about killing a woman and her children.

text: It is omitted that he's talking about his first kill.

refinement: She was the only person the narrator told the truth about his first kill being a woman and her children.

question: Write a ~2 sentence summary.

answer: The story is about a survivor of the zombie apocalypse who reflects on how it changed his life and destroyed relationships he had with family and friends. He is dying and decides to leave a testament for others to learn from his mistakes. Overall, he had always encouraged his sister to reach her potential and be successful in whatever she did. On a trip to visit her in the midst of the apocalypse, he ends up making his first kill on a mother and her children.

text: It's not mentioned that the narrator is on his way to visit her sister in the midst of the apocalypse when he makes his first kill. In fact, according to the passage, he doesn't know where her sister is and is not able to contact her.

refinement: The story is about a survivor of the zombie apocalypse who reflects on how it changed his life and destroyed relationships he had with family and friends. He is dying and decides to leave a testament for others to learn from his mistakes. Overall, he had always encouraged his sister to reach her potential and be successful in whatever she did. His first kill is a mother and her children.

text: "Overall, he had always encouraged his sister to reach her potential and be successful in whatever she did" is unnecessary detail.

refinement: The story is about a survivor of the zombie apocalypse who reflects on how it changed his life and destroyed relationships he had with family and friends. He is dying and decides to leave a testament for others to learn from his mistakes. His first kill is a mother and her children.

text: It's not necessarily his mistakes but his story that the narrator wants people to learn from.

refinement: The story is about a survivor of the zombie apocalypse who reflects on how it changed his life and destroyed relationships he had with family and friends. He is dying and decides to leave a testament for others to learn from his story. His first kill is a mother and her children.

text: The apocalypse did not destroy the relationships he had with family and friends; it just changed everyone's life

refinement: The story is about a survivor of the zombie apocalypse who reflects on how it started to change everyone's life. He is dying and decides to leave a testament for others to learn from his story. His first kill is a mother and her children.

answer: This story excerpt describes the narrator's thoughts on survival after a zombie apocalypse. They share their memories of their sister, their previous debts, and the day the apocalypse happened.

text: There are hints that the narrator is a man, so the pronoun used should be masculine. For example, he wears a tuxedo going to a friend's wedding.

refinement: This story excerpt describes the narrator's thoughts on survival after a zombie apocalypse. He shares his memories of his sister, his previous debts, and the day the apocalypse happened.

text: The apocalypse is still happening as he writes in his journal, so saying " after a zombie apocalypse" and "the day the apocalypse happened" is inaccurate.

refinement: This story excerpt describes the narrator's thoughts on survival during a zombie apocalypse. He shares his memories of his sister, his previous debts, and the day the apocalypse started.

text: "Debt was just a part of what being a young writer in the city's all about" is evidence that the narrator talks about his previous debts.

answer: When the narrator started evacuating from a snow storm he thought for sure he'd never make it. He was on his way to a wedding party when he got stuck in a blizzard. He was happily thinking he had a nice tuxedo all cleaned and pressed for all the interviews for his future bestsellers when the blizzard started.

text: The whole summary is inaccurate.

text: Missing answer

refinement: It's the apocalypse, and the narrator is losing hope of survival. He decides to write on his journal, hoping people learn from it.

answer: The narrator has made it to their last day on earth. They reflect on their life before whatever took place to render everything apart.

text: Although he thinks he's dying, it's not expressed in the passage that it's the narrator's last day on earth.

refinement: The narrator reflects on his life before whatever took place to render everything apart.

text: The narrator is a man. The fact that he wears a tuxedo to his friend's wedding implies that he's a man.

refinement: The narrator reflects on their life before whatever took place to render everything apart.

text: It is omitted that the narrator is losing hope of surviving the zombie apocalypse, reflects on his life, and decides to write a journal, hoping others will read it and learn from it.

refinement: The narrator is losing hope of surviving the zombie apocalypse. He reflects on his life before whatever took place to render everything apart and decides to write a journal, hoping others will read it and learn from it.

answer: The author lived in New York City before the zombie apocalypse in which he lost his sister. He was traveling to a friend's wedding when the outbreak began and decided not to return the hotel's pen, which saved his life. The author's first kill was a mother with her children. He recounts the survivors' struggles, including dwindling resources and his impending death.

text: "He was traveling to a friend's wedding when the outbreak began and decided not to return the hotel's pen, which saved his life" is unnecessary detail that may be removed.

refinement: The author lived in New York City before the zombie apocalypse in which he lost his sister. The author's first kill was a mother with her children. He recounts the survivors' struggles, including dwindling resources and his impending death.

text: The passage does not mention that the narrator lives in New York City.

refinement: It's the zombie apocalypse, and the narrator lost his sister. The author's first kill was a mother with her children. He recounts the survivors' struggles, including dwindling resources and his impending death.

text: The narrator losing his sister during the apocalypse is unnecessary detail.

refinement: It's the zombie apocalypse. The author's first kill was a mother with her children. He recounts the survivors' struggles, including dwindling resources and his impending death.

text: It is omitted that the narrator is writing his life story, hoping others will read it when he's dead.

refinement: It's the zombie apocalypse, and the narrator is writing his life story, hoping others will read it when he's dead. The author's first kill was a mother with her children. He recounts the survivors' struggles, including dwindling resources and his impending death.

text: "The author's first kill was a mother with her children" is an unimportant detail.

refinement: It's the zombie apocalypse, and the narrator is writing his life story, hoping others will read it when he's dead. He recounts the survivors' struggles, including dwindling resources and his impending death.


split: train

text:
I wrote this for my English 12 class, feedback/suggestions would be great. :)

*Red*

The morning light shines through my window, hitting my face, bringing me back into consciousness. I throw off my duvet, and note the absence of my cat from the bed. I need to let him outside, he tends to get stir crazy. I have my fuzzy robe on within a minute, and after making my bed, I head towards the bathroom.

Brush teeth, wash face, comb hair. The morning routine has been drilled into my head for ages. But I like it that way. Orderly.  Routine. I start to make my way back to my bedroom, pausing at the first doorway on my left. It's the twins' room. The door was wide open, but my cat wasn't inside. A bunk bed is in the corner, the top with a bright pink blanket, the bottom with a baby blue one. Toys scattered the floor, a half-full glass of dark red juice sitting on the bedside table. I pick up the worn, stuffed rabbit from the carpet, feeling the threads - they barely holding it together. It was once my toy, but it was given my sister. No one ever asked me if I was okay with that, they just assumed I was finished with such childish things. I never liked the rabbit much anyway, toys seem like a waste of time; but I put the rabbit in the big pocket on the front of my robe.  I walk over to the dresser, running my finger along the edge of it, gazing at my reflection in the mirror on the wall. My dark hair falls just past my shoulders, contrasting the pale skin and light green eyes I inherited from my mother. I have always liked being pale; it makes me feel like a ghost. Like I can be invisible.

I softly close the door behind me as I exit the room, making my way to the next one. I really need to find my cat.

My eldest brother's room is even more messy than the twins'. Clothes and books and magazines and pens and CDs and game controllers and posters everywhere. They covered the now barely visible laminate, futon bed, and red walls - like a collage of my brother and everything he is. The CDs he had bought at a yard sale last weekend lay piled beside the bed. I pick up one of them, the edge of the case was cracked, but the album art was pretty. Abstract and complex. A picture had been thrown to the ground, ripped in two. My brother had recently been broken up with, and seemed very distraught over it. I don't understand his emotions. Why would he feel sad about someone who didn't want him anyway? His face looks happy in the photo. I always wonder what people are really thinking in photographs. Are they really happy? Or are they faking it?

I slam his door as I leave, it had been difficult to close ever since him and my father had been playfully wrestling and broke through it. I remember it sounded like a gunshot, or at least what I thought a gunshot sounded like at the time. So loud and out of place.

The next door was to my parent's room; maybe the cat is hiding in there. My mother tries to keep it orderly, the effort is evident. Clothes folded, but never put away. A small garbage can in the corner, but it hadn't been changed in so long it had begun to overflow. Both of my parents work nine to five jobs and have four children to raise - so keeping a neat room was not a priority. I lay down on the their cozy, king-sized bed, with its deep red comforter and silky white sheets. I could smell my mother's favourite perfume and my father's aftershave that my brother had bought for his birthday. Amateur hand-drawn pictures by my siblings lined the walls, maybe to remind the two that they had something to get up for in the morning. My mother's jewelry lay scattered on her vanity, her beautiful white gold bracelet with little diamonds embedded was right on the edge. She has always told me I could have it someday. I hope that day is soon. I enter the hall and slowly close the door to the room, to avoid that irritating creaking sound it makes sometimes.

I wonder if the cat has gone back to my room.

As I enter, I feel the breeze come in from the open window, blowing my hair behind me. Most of my room is white, the colour always looks neat. I gaze around at my books, all ordered alphabetically. At the bedside table, where my alarm clock and lamp are placed flawlessly parallel to each other. At the closet, where the transparent curtain covering it revealed the neatly hung clothes within. At the desk, where not a single thing is out of place. Perfection.

Hunger hits me suddenly; I should go join my family downstairs. I hang a sharp right outside my door and descend down the staircase, towards the kitchen. I ignore the sticky wetness under my feet as I put some bread in the toaster. The cat was sitting on the counter, looking at me. Almost glaring. How long has he been down here? I wonder why he didn't sleep in my room last night. I cast open the window over the sink, so he can go outside.

I stare out at the cloudy sky through the now open window; an airplane speeds across, and a flock of birds land in a nearby tree. Sometimes, I feel like I'm a bird - floating through life, often with no direction, no feeling. The popping toast breaks the perfect silence that had fallen over my house. I eat it plain, my hunger wouldn't allow for any more delay. I finish the toast, and sigh, my stomach finally satisfied. I feel content.

I turn around, away from the counter and towards my family.

Red smears the walls, the cupboards, the counters, the floors. And the five bodies on the floor. Their unseeing faces and clothes and skin all covered with that ruby red substance. Some dishes and cutlery lay scattered with them, knocked down in the struggle. The colour coats the fallen items and people, blending them all together. Red. So much red.

A scream pierces the air, breaking that beautiful silence once more. A look of horror on our neighbour's face as she walks into the kitchen; I forgot she was coming by to pick up her casserole dish. Maybe she can help me clean up; this is quite a mess. I sit down in the crimson and run my fingers through it as she sobs into the telephone, summoning emergency services. I don't see what the emergency is - there's no saving those who are gone.

title: Red

question:
Answer the following question based on the above passage:

What does the story say about what happened to the narrator's cat?

answer: The narrator searches for her cat and eventually finds her brother with one. The narrator's cat is nowhere to be found, so she claims it must have gone to her room.

text: The response is completely inaccurate. The cat is downstairs on the kitchen counter.

refinement: The narrator searches for the cat and finds it on the kitchen counter.

answer: No answer

text: The question should and can be answered.

refinement: The narrator goes looking for the cat throughout their house and finds it on the kitchen counter.

answer: The narrator's cat is missing, and she is looking for it.

text: The response is missing information about where the cat is.

refinement: The narrator's cat is missing, and she is looking for it. She finds it in the kitchen on top of the counter.

answer: No answer

text: The question should and can be answered.

refinement: The narrator searches for the cat throughout the house, and ends up finding it in the kitchen on the counter.

answer: The narrator never found their cat. That was why there was extra blood in the story-- that of the narrator's cat.

text: The response is false.

refinement: The narrator searches for the cat throughout the house and finds it on top of the kitchen counter.

answer: No answer

text: The question can and should be answered.

refinement: The narrator searches for the cat throughout the house and finds it on top of the kitchen counter.

answer: No answer

text: The question can and should be answered.

refinement: The narrator searches for the cat throughout the house and finds it on top of the kitchen counter.

question:
Answer the following question based on the above passage:

What does the story say about the narrator's family?

answer: No answer

text: The question can and should be answered

refinement: The narrator's family consists of their parents and three other siblings. They are all home when the narrator enters the kitchen. The narrator's parents have four children to raise and work nine-to-five jobs, so keeping a neat room was not a priority. The narrator's mother has always told her she could have her jewelry someday. The narrator seems to be the only one who is not disturbed by the bloody scene. They lay on the floor, dead, in a pool of their own blood.

answer: No answer

text: The question should and can be answered.

refinement: The narrator's family consists of their parents and three other siblings. They are all home when the narrator enters the kitchen. The narrator's parents have four children to raise and work nine-to-five jobs, so keeping a neat room was not a priority. The narrator's mother has always told her she could have her jewelry someday. The narrator seems to be the only one who is not disturbed by the bloody scene. They lay on the floor, dead, in a pool of their own blood.

answer: The narrator's family consists of their parents and four other siblings. They are all home when the narrator enters the kitchen. The narrator's parents have four children to raise and work nine-to-five jobs, so keeping a neat room was not a priority. The narrator's mother has always told her she could have her jewelry someday. The narrator seems to be the only one who is not disturbed by the bloody scene.

text: There are a total of four children, so the response should say that there are three siblings

refinement: The narrator's family consists of their parents and three other siblings. They are all home when the narrator enters the kitchen. The narrator's parents have four children to raise and work nine-to-five jobs, so keeping a neat room was not a priority. The narrator's mother has always told her she could have her jewelry someday. The narrator seems to be the only one who is not disturbed by the bloody scene.

text: The response should include that the entire family, other than the narrator, is dead.

refinement: The narrator's family consists of their parents and three other siblings. They are all home when the narrator enters the kitchen. The narrator's parents have four children to raise and work nine-to-five jobs, so keeping a neat room was not a priority. The narrator's mother has always told her she could have her jewelry someday. The narrator seems to be the only one who is not disturbed by the bloody scene. They lay on the floor, dead, in a pool of their own blood.

text: While the highlighted portion is not inaccurate, it should be removed because while they are home, they are also dead.

refinement: The narrator's family consists of their parents and three other siblings. The narrator's parents have four children to raise and work nine-to-five jobs, so keeping a neat room was not a priority. The narrator's mother has always told her she could have her jewelry someday. The narrator seems to be the only one who is not disturbed by the bloody scene. They lay on the floor, dead, in a pool of their own blood.

answer: The narrator wrote a story as her English 12 class based on her family. The story says that the narrator has four siblings but it doesn't mention their names. It describes some information about the narrator's eldest brother, their mother, and their father. They all seem to be emotionally unavailable to the narrator. The narrator appears a cold person who commits premeditated murder.

text: The highlighted portions of the response are inaccurate and should be removed.

refinement: The story says that the narrator has four siblings but it doesn't mention their names. It describes some information about the narrator's eldest brother, their mother, and their father.

text: The response should include more details that the narrator gives about their family, as well as the fact that they are all dead.

refinement: The story says that the narrator has four siblings and two parents but it doesn't mention their names. Both parents work traditional jobs, so they don't have much time to clean. The narrator finds the entire family dead, laying in a pool of their own blood.

answer: The story says that the narrator has four siblings but it doesn't mention their names. It describes some information about the narrator's eldest brother, their mother, and their father. They all seem to be emotionally unavailable to the narrator.

text: The response is missing information about the size of the family, as well as some of the characteristics described in the passage. It should also include that the family excluding the narrator is dead.

refinement: The story says that the narrator has four siblings and two parents but it doesn't mention their names. Both parents have nine to five jobs. Two of the siblings are twins. They all seem to be emotionally unavailable to the narrator. The narrator's family is dead; they lay dead in a pool of blood in

text: The highlighted sentence is incoherent and should be removed.

refinement: The story says that the narrator has four siblings and two parents but it doesn't mention their names. Both parents have nine to five jobs. Two of the siblings are twins. The narrator's family is dead; they lay dead in a pool of blood in

answer: The narrator's family consists of their parents and four other siblings. They are all home when the narrator enters the kitchen. The narrator's parents have four children to raise and work nine-to-five jobs, so keeping a neat room was not a priority. The narrator's mother has always told her she could have her jewelry someday.

text: While the answer is technically accurate, the answer should be replaced with the fact that the narrator's family is dead.

refinement: The narrator's family consists of their parents and four other siblings. The narrator's parents have four children to raise and work nine-to-five jobs, so keeping a neat room was not a priority. The narrator's mother has always told her she could have her jewelry someday. They are laying on the floor, dead, when the narrator walks in.

answer: The narrator's family consists of her parents and four siblings. Her father and mother both have full-time jobs and try their best to keep the house orderly. Her eldest brother is the most messy, and his girlfriend recently left him, causing him to be sad. Her parents have always told her she could have her mother's white gold bracelet someday.

text: The response should include that the rest of the family is dead.

refinement: The narrator's family consists of her parents and four siblings. Her father and mother both have full-time jobs and try their best to keep the house orderly. Her eldest brother is the most messy, and his girlfriend recently left him, causing him to be sad. Her parents have always told her she could have her mother's white gold bracelet someday. The res of the family lays dead on the floor.

question:
Answer the following question based on the above passage:

What does the story say about the city the narrator lives in?

answer: No answer

answer: No answer

answer: The story does not mention where the narrator lives.

answer: There is no city specified, but it is assumed to be modern.

answer: No answer

answer: This information is not known.

answer: No answer


text:
[This was written five years ago as part of my GCSE English coursework when I was fifteen, so excuse the melodrama.  Feel free to tell me what you think!  My writing style will have no doubt changed since then, so don't think of this as a good example of what I can or can't do.  It's just a self-indulgent little story.]

Jens Silbermann; Traditional Austrian Metalwork.  That’s what the sign on my stall said, and that’s what everyone called me.

“Herr Silbermann!  Guten Morgen!” echoed the voices of Someones I vaguely remembered.  I knew their faces, at least.  I waved back to each one of them.  You rarely got to learn names around here, only faces and voices.   In fact, I think that I was one of the only ones in the entire Christmas market who had a more elaborate sign than just ‘Cakes’ or ‘Candles’.  By appearing to run a more serious business, one which would continue all year round rather than seasonally, I was looked up to by many of the other stallholders.  They could tell that this was my main source of income, and that afforded me respect.  They knew that I stuck it out all year, wherever business went, whatever the weather.

To my constant chagrin, at Christmastime, the business went where it was snowing, where alcohol is consumed to stay awake, and where, if inadequately dressed, one could get frostbitten by looking out of the window.  Why couldn’t we celebrate Christmas in summer?  It’d save us a great number of pains; the ache in my back only one of them.  Insanity comes in many forms, but none so worrying, nay, bewildering, as that of the Christmas shopper.  Working at this stall felt a damn sight like feeding animals, albeit slightly deranged animals with a permanent ‘It looked like fun in the brochure’ frown on their faces.

As it did every year, the towering buildings of the Dresden Old Town loomed over us, their tall and narrow windows threatening to eat us if we looked too closely.  I’d always thought of them with disdain.  After World War Two, most of the original architecture, such as the grand FrauenKirche (The Church of Our Lady) and the Zwinger were left as smouldering ruins.  Since then, massive reconstruction had taken place, restoring the FrauenKirche and others to their former (If not slightly tackier) glory.  One would not have to study the history of Dresden too closely to find out that the New Town was in fact, older than most of the Old Town.

Excavation still went on, to find the foundations of old buildings left under the cobbles of the Old town.  All they were doing was putting off the inevitable; that all the cities would become concrete and metal, places where rainwater would have to flow for miles before it could be absorbed by the earth.  I suppose that some people would prefer to cling to the past, what they used to know, rather than kneel at the feet of change.  Feet that could crush you.

And so, as I worried about feet, and why numbness had already reached mine this early in the day, I looked around to see if I had any potential customers.  Luckily, none happened to be around, six in the morning being a little early for most.  Thank goodness.  God forbid that I’d actually have to socialise yet, I thought, noting how grumpy I was feeling.

To my dismay, another ‘Silbermann’ was setting up on the opposite side of the square, but he didn’t need a sign for people to know his name.  ‘Silber’ meaning silver, and ‘mann’ meaning, well, man, the silver-painted living statue seemed more genuine than me.

He soon noticed that I was paying him attention, and swapped his regal pose for one more comical, in which he was pointing at me in melodramatic horror.  I was curious as to why he was already putting on a show, there being no children or other passers-by to laugh at him.  He’s probably just practising, I surmised, but I changed my mind as I watched his expression change from stricken, to woeful, to that of frozen hysterics.  He was mocking me, and I was quickly becoming unappreciative of his antics.  I told myself that I didn’t have time for his act; that I could ignore him until he got bored.  I focused myself on my work, and managed to attract two customers within the next couple of hours; none bought anything, but I felt a better man for getting on with work, rather than indulging this joker.

I was soon to find the small flaw with that plan.  He didn’t get bored.  My ignoring him only seemed to encourage the madness that this silver man was made of.  Never had I felt the urge to throw something heavy and sharp so greatly.  Luckily for him, I valued the things on my stall too much to use them in offence.  Even luckier, I’d have been arrested for wearing knuckledusters in a place like this.  This being Germany, I suspect a man would be arrested for even contemplating anything the same size, shape, or colour as a set of knuckledusters.  So, I decided, as what little sun we could see rose higher over the marketplace, to sort this matter out personally, man-to-man.  Fist-to-face if needs be.

It took longer than I had anticipated in reaching him; my anger reached its peak before I got there, and fizzled out as I faced him.  His silver doublet, and long, white-blonde hair made him look not feminine, as one would expect, but more statuesque, unreal.  All desire for conflict had left me, and all I could do was clench my fists at my sides, shame shadowing me, enveloping the both of us as if the high flats next to us were blocking out the sun.

title: Silbermann: Traditional Austrian Foolery

question:
Answer the following question based on the above passage:

What does the text say about the setting of the story?

answer: The story takes place during the Christmas market in the old town of Dresden. The narrator, Jens Silbermann, works a stall selling traditional Austrian metalwork.

text: The answer could describe the buildings in greater detail.

refinement: The story takes place during the Christmas market in the old town of Dresden. The narrator, Jens Silbermann, works a stall selling traditional Austrian metalwork. The towering Old Town buildings with tall and narrow windows loom over the New Town.

answer: The story is set in Dresden Old Town, Germany, in a Christmas market that opens at six in the morning. During its Holidays, vendors go to a small north-south alley for sales. Dark, tall buildings surround the town, and excavation still goes on to find the foundations of old buildings left under the cobbles of the Old Town.

text: The buildings are described as tall and narrow rather than tall and dark.

refinement: The story is set in Dresden Old Town, Germany, in a Christmas market that opens at six in the morning. During its Holidays, vendors go to a small north-south alley for sales. Tall, narrow buildings surround the town, and excavation still goes on to find the foundations of old buildings left under the cobbles of the Old Town.

answer: The story takes place in Dresden and focuses on a Christmas market.  The buildings are tall and narrow and the weather is often harsh at Christmastime. The main character, Jens, is noticeably different from many of the other stallholders, being a traditional metalworker. He competes for attention with a living statue that mocks him. Jens eventually confronts the statue, but quickly becomes ashamed when confronted with the man's unique appearance. At the end of the passage, it is clear that the setting is a bustling Christmas market, with buildings looming in the background, and that while there is some conflict, the main focus is Christmas shoppers.

text: The last sentence is redundant.

refinement: The story takes place in Dresden and focuses on a Christmas market.  The buildings are tall and narrow and the weather is often harsh at Christmastime. The main character, Jens, is noticeably different from many of the other stallholders, being a traditional metalworker. He competes for attention with a living statue that mocks him. Jens eventually confronts the statue, but quickly becomes ashamed when confronted with the man's unique appearance.

text: Much of the answer does not pertain to the setting.

refinement: The story takes place in Dresden and focuses on a Christmas market.  The buildings are tall and narrow and the weather is often harsh at Christmastime.

answer: The story takes place in Dresden, Germany, in a place called "Dresden Old Town". World War Two just concluded, and most of the original architecture of Dresden such as the grand Frauenkirche (The Church of Our Lady) and the Zwinger were left as smoldering ruins. Massive reconstruction of the area had taken place, restoring the old buildings to their former glory.

answer: The story takes place in Dresden and focuses on a Christmas market. People entering the market are frenzied and eccentric. The main character and other stall holders look down at the characters who hang around the market all year round, but the protagonist also feels resentment towards a living statue at the market who mocks him and makes his job difficult. The most noticeable feature of the setting is the tall, narrow buildings looming overhead which have been rebuilt since World War Two, and which contrast dramatically with the crumbling Old Town below. People tend to be immoderate at Christmas, and the protagonist is particularly intolerant of a living statue who ridicules him.

text: The final sentence is irrelevant.

refinement: The story takes place in Dresden and focuses on a Christmas market. People entering the market are frenzied and eccentric. The main character and other stall holders look down at the characters who hang around the market all year round, but the protagonist also feels resentment towards a living statue at the market who mocks him and makes his job difficult. The most noticeable feature of the setting is the tall, narrow buildings looming overhead which have been rebuilt since World War Two, and which contrast dramatically with the crumbling Old Town below.

question:
Answer the following question based on the above passage:

What does the story say about Jens Silbermann?

answer: Jens Silbermann is an established craftsman with a serious business. Despite his annoyance with the antics of Silber, the living statue opposite him, he takes his work seriously. Silbermann is embarrassed and angry when he realises Silber is mocking him, but still attempts to confront him on the matter personally. Jens Silbermann is likely driven by his desire to be respected and taken seriously by others.

text: The last line is an interpretation rather than a summary.

refinement: Jens Silbermann is an established craftsman with a serious business. Despite his annoyance with the antics of Silber, the living statue opposite him, he takes his work seriously. Silbermann is embarrassed and angry when he realises Silber is mocking him, but still attempts to confront him on the matter personally.

text: Jens doesn't seem embarrassed. Rather, he seems annoyed.

refinement: Jens Silbermann is an established craftsman with a serious business. Despite his annoyance with the antics of Silber, the living statue opposite him, he takes his work seriously. Silbermann is annoyed and angry when he realises Silber is mocking him, but still attempts to confront him on the matter personally.

answer: Jens Silbermann, Traditional Austrian Metalwork, is in a Christmas Square and working a metal figurine maker. The narrator thinks he has an elaborate sign compared to other stallholders since his metalwork is not seasonal and he plans to create an income all year. He thinks to himself that he's been adding more sophistication to his stall which includes accounting for all the expenses and payroll, even though his stall does not sell in volume as others do. He adds to his banner by spray-painting Traditional Austrian Metalwork.

text: The answer makes it seem as if Jens and the narrator are two different people.

refinement: Jens Silbermann, Traditional Austrian Metalwork, is in a Christmas Square and working a metal figurine maker. He has an elaborate sign compared to other stallholders since his metalwork is not seasonal and he plans to create an income all year. He thinks to himself that he's been adding more sophistication to his stall which includes accounting for all the expenses and payroll, even though his stall does not sell in volume as others do. He adds to his banner by spray-painting Traditional Austrian Metalwork.

text: The line about expenses and payroll is unattested.

refinement: Jens Silbermann, Traditional Austrian Metalwork, is in a Christmas Square and working a metal figurine maker. He has an elaborate sign compared to other stallholders since his metalwork is not seasonal and he plans to create an income all year. He adds to his banner by spray-painting Traditional Austrian Metalwork.

text: The mention of spray-paint is unattested.

refinement: Jens Silbermann, Traditional Austrian Metalwork, is in a Christmas Square and working a metal figurine maker. He has an elaborate sign compared to other stallholders since his metalwork is not seasonal and he plans to create an income all year.

text: The answer does not mention his reaction to Silber.

refinement: Jens Silbermann, Traditional Austrian Metalwork, is in a Christmas Square and working a metal figurine maker. He has an elaborate sign compared to other stallholders since his metalwork is not seasonal and he plans to create an income all year. Though he is annoyed when Silber mocks him with his act, he chooses to ignore Silber's antics and focus on his work.

text: The answer does not mention his confrontation with Silber.

refinement: Jens Silbermann, Traditional Austrian Metalwork, is in a Christmas Square and working a metal figurine maker. He has an elaborate sign compared to other stallholders since his metalwork is not seasonal and he plans to create an income all year. Though he is annoyed when Silber mocks him with his act, he chooses to ignore Silber's antics and focus on his work. In the end, he decides to confront Silber, but his anger fizzles out by the time he comes face to face with him.

answer: Jens Silbermann is a traditional Austrian metalwork who makes metal candlesticks and candle holders, who also calls himself "silversmith." However, he and his business aren't well received by his market due to the fact that he's playing with the word "silver" to describe his metalwork - copper comes from the Latin "coper," which means "tubbing or pipe." Copper is prized for its malleability, ductility, and electrical and thermal conductivity. Silver is often used to make money, or jewelry. Silver is also valued for its electrical conductivity and non-corrosive properties, but frankly, it's not hugely useful in normal life.

text: Much of this answer has nothing to do with the story.

refinement: Jens Silbermann is a traditional Austrian metalwork who makes metal candlesticks and candle holders, who also calls himself "silversmith." However, he and his business aren't well received by his market due to the fact that he's playing with the word "silver" to describe his metalwork - copper comes from the Latin "coper," which means "tubbing or pipe."

text: The story does not state that Jens' business isn't received well.

refinement: Jens Silbermann is a traditional Austrian metalwork who makes metal candlesticks and candle holders, who also calls himself "silversmith."

text: The story does not state that Jens makes candlesticks and candle holders.

refinement: Jens Silbermann is a traditional Austrian metalwork.

text: "metalwork" should be "metalworker".

refinement: Jens Silbermann is a traditional Austrian metalworker.

text: The answer doesn't mention his annoyance with Silber.

refinement: Jens Silbermann is a traditional Austrian metalworker. He is annoyed when a Silbermann (a man painted silver) posts up next to him and starts mocking him.

text: The answer doesn't mention his work ethic.

refinement: Jens Silbermann is a traditional Austrian metalworker. He is annoyed when a Silbermann (a man painted silver) posts up next to him and starts mocking him. Despite his annoyance, he chooses to ignore the Silbermann and continue working.

text: The answer doesn't mention the confrontation.

refinement: Jens Silbermann is a traditional Austrian metalworker. He is annoyed when a Silbermann (a man painted silver) posts up next to him and starts mocking him. Despite his annoyance, he chooses to ignore the Silbermann and continue working. He eventually decides to confront the Silbermann, but his anger quickly fizzles out.

answer: From the text, it is clear that Jens Silbermann is regarded by others as a serious craftsman with a responsible business. Even though he dislikes the Christmas season due to the increased difficulty inherent in his work during that time, Silbermann tries to deal with tricky customers in a professional manner. Nevertheless, Silbermann is annoyed by a living statue named Silber who seems intent on mocking him at every turn. Silbermann expected to take measures to deal with the situation, but in the end found himself intimidated by Silber's looks and demeanor. Silbermann seems deeply ashamed of this fact. Overall, Silbermann is portrayed as a serious, professional businessperson who is often challenged by frivolity.

text: The answer should touch on Jens' work ethic in the face of the annoying Silbermann.

refinement: From the text, it is clear that Jens Silbermann is regarded by others as a serious craftsman with a responsible business. Even though he dislikes the Christmas season due to the increased difficulty inherent in his work during that time, Silbermann tries to deal with tricky customers in a professional manner. Nevertheless, Silbermann is annoyed by a living statue named Silber who seems intent on mocking him at every turn. Despite the annoyance, he chooses to ignore Silber and focus on his work. Silbermann expected to take measures to deal with the situation, but in the end found himself intimidated by Silber's looks and demeanor. Silbermann seems deeply ashamed of this fact. Overall, Silbermann is portrayed as a serious, professional businessperson who is often challenged by frivolity.

text: Silbermann didn't find himself intimidated; rather, his anger fizzled out.

refinement: From the text, it is clear that Jens Silbermann is regarded by others as a serious craftsman with a responsible business. Even though he dislikes the Christmas season due to the increased difficulty inherent in his work during that time, Silbermann tries to deal with tricky customers in a professional manner. Nevertheless, Silbermann is annoyed by a living statue named Silber who seems intent on mocking him at every turn. Despite the annoyance, he chooses to ignore Silber and focus on his work. Silbermann expected to take measures to deal with the situation, but found that his anger fizzled out when he went to confront Silber. Silbermann seems deeply ashamed of this fact. Overall, Silbermann is portrayed as a serious, professional businessperson who is often challenged by frivolity.

text: The final two sentences are unnecessary.

refinement: From the text, it is clear that Jens Silbermann is regarded by others as a serious craftsman with a responsible business. Even though he dislikes the Christmas season due to the increased difficulty inherent in his work during that time, Silbermann tries to deal with tricky customers in a professional manner. Nevertheless, Silbermann is annoyed by a living statue named Silber who seems intent on mocking him at every turn. Despite the annoyance, he chooses to ignore Silber and focus on his work. Silbermann expected to take measures to deal with the situation, but found that his anger fizzled out when he went to confront Silber.

answer: Jens Silbermann is a traditional Austrian metalworker. Metalworking is his main source of income and he has a stall in the square that is open all year round. Running a serious business that isn't dictated by the seasons afforded Jens respect and made other stallholders look up to him. He wonders why Christmas can't be celebrated in the summer when it's not freezing.

question:
Answer the following question based on the above passage:

What does the story say about Silbermann's reaction to the Silver Man living statue that was mocking him?

answer: Silbermann is frustrated and angry by the Silver Man living statue's mocking of him, despite trying to ignore him. He eventually confronts him in order to resolve the issue and stop being mocked.

text: The answer could mention that his anger fizzles out.

refinement: Silbermann is frustrated and angry by the Silver Man living statue's mocking of him, despite trying to ignore him. He eventually confronts him in order to resolve the issue and stop being mocked. When he goes to confront him, his anger fizzles out.

answer: The Silver Man had already started to practice the jests he was so famous for in the town squares by the time Silbermann noticed him. Silbermann became curious as to why he was already putting on a show, there being no children or other passers-by to laugh at him.

text: The answer is irrelevant to the question.

text: The answer should touch on his annoyance.

refinement: Silbermann is annoyed and frustrated by the Silver Man's mocking.

text: The answer should mention Silbermann's decision to ignore the antics and work.

refinement: Silbermann is annoyed and frustrated by the Silver Man's mocking. Despite his anger, he chooses to ignore the Silver Man's antics and focus on his work.

text: The answer should mention the confrontation.

refinement: Silbermann is annoyed and frustrated by the Silver Man's mocking. Despite his anger, he chooses to ignore the Silver Man's antics and focus on his work. Eventually, Silbermann decides to confront the Silver Man, intending to come to blows, but finds that his anger has fizzled out.

answer: His reaction was to ignore him before the Silver Man still did not get bored. Silbermann had the urge to throw something heavy and sharp at the Silver Man. Fortunately for the other man, he valued the things on his stall too much to use them as weapons. Silbermann would have been arrested for wearing knuckledusters. Silbermann decided to sort out the matter personally and went over to face the Silver Man. Silbermann felt inclined to punch the man to settle their rivalry but kept on walking and did nothing.

answer: At first, Silbermann was curious why the man was already putting on a show that early (6 AM) because there were no kids or passersby to laugh at him. He thought the Silver Man living statue was just practicing his act. Silbermann's mind changed, however, when he realized that the Silver Man was mocking him and was quickly becoming unappreciative of the living statue's antics. He decided to be the better man and focus on his work, ignoring the Silver Man completely until he gets bored. Silbermann's plan backfires and encourages more madness from the Silver Man. The living statue's antics make Silbermann so angry, he wants to hurt the other man.

answer: Silbermann became very angry and sought conflict with the living statue. Despite his desire to battle him, he was ashamed when he got there because the Silver Man in question appeared to be so grand and statuesque. Because of this, Silbermann could only merely clench his fists at his sides without further incident.


text:
CLASS A MISDEMEANOR
Maximum jail time: Up to one year in jail (either a county or city jail)
Maximum fine: Up to $2,000

CLASS B MISDEMEANOR
Maximum jail time: Up to six months in jail (either a county or city jail)
Maximum fine: Up to $1,000

CLASS C MISDEMEANOR
Maximum jail time: Up to three months in jail (either a county or city jail)
Maximum fine: No specified maximum (fines are uncommon Class C misdemeanors in Alabama)

WHAT DOES IT MEAN?
Basically it means that if you are sentenced of any of these misdemeanors in Alabama you won't serve more than the max time listed here. In fact, in general you will serve less time because the jail may release you early on good behavior or the judge might actually specify less jail time during sentencing.

CONCURRENT OR CONSECUTIVE?
This is the big question - if you have multiple charges, does the judge specifically say that they are to be served consecutively? If so then you will do the sum of all time from all charges - so if you receive two Class A misdemeanors with 1 year each and they are run consecutively, you will serve 2 years in jail.

If the judge doesn't specify that the sentences are to run consecutive they will run concurrent, meaning you serve each of your sentences at the same time. Using the above scenario, if you are sentenced to serve 1 year each on two Class A misdmeanors, you will actually only serve one year in jail.

question: What is a Class A Misdemeanor?

answer: That information can't be found in the document, but if you are charged with this you can spend up to one year in jail and can pay a fine up to $2000.

text: "That information can't be found in the document, but if you are charged with this" - The model contradicted itself by saying there's no answer, only to provide the correct one.

refinement: That information can't be found in the document, but if you are charged with this you can spend up to one year in jail and can pay a fine up to $2000.

text: "fine up" - change preposition to "of up"

refinement: That information can't be found in the document, but if you are charged with this you can spend up to one year in jail and can pay a fine of up to $2000.

answer: A Class A Misdemeanor fits into the heaviest category of misdemeanors in Alabama with a maximum of one year in county or city jails along with a maximum fine of up to $2,000.

answer: A Class A Misdemeanor is a Misdemeanor with a maximum jail time of up to one year.

text: Missing detail: maximum fine of up to $2,000

refinement: A Class A Misdemeanor is a Misdemeanor with a maximum jail time of up to one year and a maximum fine of up to $2,000.

question: What happens if the judge doesn't specify that the sentences are to run consecutive?

answer: They are served concurrently.

answer: The sentences will run concurrent, which means they they are served at the same time.

text: "means they they are served" - Remove extra "they"

refinement: The sentences will run concurrent, which means they are served at the same time.

answer: If this is the case, they will run concurrent, meaning you serve each of your sentences at the same time.

question: What is the maximum fine of a Class C Misdemeanor?

answer: There are no specified maximums.

text: Grammar and clarity

answer: No maximum price is stated.

text: Change "price" to "fine"

answer: No specific stated maximum.

text: Remove "stated" and add "fine"

question: Why will you serve less time if you have any of these misdemeanors?

answer: The jail may release you early on good behavior or the judge may specify less jail time during sentencing.

answer: Because the jail may release you early on good behavior or the judge might actually specify less jail time during sentencing.

answer: The jail or judge may release you early on good behavior or may specifiy less jail time during sentencing.

text: "The jail or judge" - It isn't an "either-or" situation, because only a judge can specify less jail time during sentencing, not the jail.

refinement: The jail may release you early on good behavior or the judge may specifiy less jail time during sentencing.

text: Spelling and grammar: change "specifiy" to "specify"

refinement: The jail may release you early on good behavior or the judge may specify less jail time during sentencing.

question: Write a ~1 sentence summary.

answer: This document covers the importance of following the sentencing guidelines of a given area so as to avoid

text: "of a given area" - sounds vague. Change to "Alabama"

refinement: This document covers the importance of following the sentencing guidelines in Alabama so as to avoid

text: "so as to avoid" - is incomplete and needs an ending.

refinement: This document covers the importance of following the sentencing guidelines in Alabama so as to avoid excessive fines and jail time.

text: "covers the importance of following the sentencing guidelines" - The document is about the sentencing of misdemeanors in Alabama and does not necessarily state anything about the importance of following sentencing guidelines. Needs a full revision.

refinement: This document covers the three classes of misdemeanors in Alabama, the associated maximum fines and jail time, and explains the difference between concurrent and consecutive charges.

answer: The article details Alabama's Class A misdemeanor, class B misdemeanor, and class C misdemeanor, and the potential jail time for each.

text: Add "and corresponding fines" to the part with "jail time"

refinement: The article details Alabama's Class A misdemeanor, class B misdemeanor, and class C misdemeanor, and the potential jail time and corresponding fines for each.

text: "Class A misdemeanor, class B misdemeanor, and class C misdemeanor" - is too long and can be shortened.

refinement: The article details Alabama's Class A, B, and C misdemeanors, including the potential jail time and corresponding fines for each.

answer: This article describes a brief synopsis of actual crimes in Alabama.

text: The wiki does not describe a brief synopsis of actual crimes in Alabama. Needs a complete overhaul.

refinement: This article details the different misdemeanors in Alabama (Class A, B, C), including the corresponding maximum fine and jail time for each one.

answer: This document describes the punishment details related to cigarette usage.

text: The wiki does not describe the punishment details related to cigarette usage. Needs a complete overhaul.

refinement: This document details the different misdemeanors in Alabama (Class A, B, C), including the corresponding maximum fine and jail time for each one.

answer: This article is about misdemeanours in Alabama.

text: Grammar and spelling: Change "misdemeanours" to "misdemeanors"

refinement: This article is about misdemeanors in Alabama.

text: "This article is about misdemeanors in Alabama." - is too general. Add more details such as different classes of misdemeanors.

refinement: This article is about Class A, B, and C misdemeanors in Alabama.

answer: This document describes Class A, B, and C Misdemeanors in the state of Alabama.


text:
[Lockheed Martin]Defense is an industry with a rich history of consolidation. And we may be looking at yet another blockbuster acquisition with LOCKHEED MARTIN CORP. (NYSE: LMT) prepared to fork over $8 billion for United Technologies Corp.'s (NYSE: UTX) Sikorsky Aircraft.

But will Lockheed Martin buy Sikorsky Aircraft?

It's certainly an intriguing purchase – as is LMT stock.

The consolidation of the defense industry in the 1980s and 1990s has helped to draw the current battle lines for the sector's top players.

Raytheon Co. (NYSE: RTN) has missiles. Northrop Grumman Corp. (NYSE: NOC) has radar. General Dynamics Corp. (NYSE: GD) has gun boats.

And ever since Lockheed Martin got the contract to lead the Joint Strike Fighter (JFS) program – an ambitious project to create the next generation of fighter jets, the F-35, for the Air Force, Navy, and Marine Corps – it looks like Lockheed Martin has a firm grip on the fighter jet market.

It's certainly been the primary Lockheed Martin stock price driver for the year – and will continue to be for years to come.

With this 56-year, $1.4 trillion program, it's estimated that when the F-35 goes operational in 2018, it will capture 50% of the jet fighter market globally, according to Teal Group analyst Richard Aboulafia, as reported by _NATIONAL DEFENSE_ in September 2014.

So what will Sikorsky bring to Lockheed? And ultimately, will Lockheed really buy Sikorsky Aircraft?

Here's what you need to know about this potential marriage.

Why Will Lockheed Martin Buy Sikorsky Aircraft?

Sikorsky is perhaps most well-known for its Black Hawk line of helicopters. Additionally, from former President Dwight Eisenhower to former President George W. Bush, Sikorsky had also built every presidential helicopter.

It was around 2004 that Sikorsky and Lockheed became bitter rivals. Lockheed teamed up with the Anglo-Italian AgustaWestland to battle for a presidential helicopter contract.

The Lockheed-Agusta partnership ultimately beat out Sikorsky with its VH-71, a project that was scuttled by delays and ultimately canceled in 2009 by the Obama administration at the behest of cost-cutting Defense Secretary Robert Gates.

That's where this story gets a little more fascinating…

question: What company is Lockheed Martin thinking of buying?

answer: Lockheed Martin is thinking of buying Sikorsky Aircraft.

answer: Sikorsky Aircraft.

answer: Sikorsky Aircraft.

answer: Sikorsky Aircraft.

question: What does Raytheon Co. have?

answer: Missiles.

answer: Missiles.

answer: Raytheon Co. has missiles.

answer:
A. missiles
B. radar
C. gun boats
D. all of the above

text: This answer is a series of responses.

refinement:
A. missiles
B. radar
C. gun boats
D. all of the above

question: What does Northrop Grumman Corp. have?

answer: Northrop Grumman Corp. has radar.

answer: Radar.

answer: radar

answer: Radar.

question: What does General Dynamics Corps have?

answer:
A. A firm grip on the fighter jet market
B. A history of consolidation
C. A history of building presidential helicopters
D. A history of missiles

text: This answer is a series of answers.

answer: Gun boats.

answer: Gun boats.

answer: General Dynamics Corp. has gun boats.

question: Write a ~2 sentence summary.

answer: The article discusses the chance that Lockheed Martin will buy fellow defense contractor Sikorsky aircraft. It discusses the traditional products of the various defense contractors, before relaying the history of the rivalry between Lockheed and Sikorsky, which began in 2004.

answer: Lockheed Martin is considering buying United Technologies Corp.'s Sikorsky Aircraft. Lockheed Martin is interested in Sikorsky's Black Hawk line of helicopters and the company's history of building presidential helicopters.

answer: Lockheed Martin is considering buying Sikorsky Aircraft. The author speculates on the reasons why Lockheed Martin would buy Sikorsky Aircraft.

answer: Lockheed Martin is reportedly interested in acquiring United Technologies Corp.'s Sikorsky Aircraft, likely in order to gain a foothold in the lucrative helicopter market. The acquisition would be a continuation of the fierce rivalry between Lockheed and Sikorsky, which was most recently seen in a failed bid for a presidential helicopter contract.