text:
THE ALASKA BUILDING, which now houses the Courtyard by Marriott Seattle Downtown/Pioneer Square, is a 15-floor building in Seattle, Washington completed in 1904 to designs by St. Louis architects Eames and Young. At the time of its completion, it was the tallest building in the state of Washington—and remained so until the 1910 completion of Spokane's Old National Bank Building.

The building was purchased by American Life, Inc. on December 6, 2007 for $38.7 million and renovated to begin a new life as a Courtyard by Marriott in June 2010. The original exterior of the structure was maintained, as were the marble lobby, original crown molding, window framing and wood pillars.[1]

History

The fourteen-story Alaska Building was completed in 1904, following eleven months of construction. It was designed by Eames and Young, a St. Louis architectural firm, under the supervision of local architects Saunders and Lawton. The contractor was James Black Masonry Construction.

The building was the first steel frame building of any height in the Northwest and Seattle's first skyscraper. It remained Seattle's tallest building for ten years after it was built. It was designed using terra cotta and in a style inspired by the Beaux Arts, which is somewhat rare for Seattle (although the Frye Hotel is another major Beaux Arts example in the Pioneer Square-Skid Road National Historic District). The building dates from a period of economic and industrial growth, 1900-1910, in the heart of Seattle and in the city as a whole.[2]

In 1897, when Alaskan prospectors came ashore at a Seattle wharf with a “ton of gold”, the city marketed itself as the “Gateway to the Klondike.” The successful promotional campaign sparked a period of explosive economic and population growth that spurred development of the city's infrastructure, transforming it from a town into a metropolis. In 1903, Seattle's Scandinavian-American Bank, directed by Jafet Lindeberg, John Edward Chilberg[3] and others, purchased the southeast corner of Second Avenue and Cherry Street from the Amos Brown estate with the intention of erecting a new bank building. Shortly after the land purchase, J.C. Marmaduke of St. Louis proposed a partnership to construct the more ambitious Alaska Building. Caught up in the boomtown spirit of the Gold Rush years, the bank's shareholders readily endorsed the project, which was intended to promote business ventures between Alaska and the Pacific Northwest and as a social club. About four years later, a similar club, the Arctic Club, formed as a result of the merger of the Arctic Brotherhood and of the Alaska Club, would erect a building for itself at Third Avenue and Jefferson Street, now the Morrison Hotel.[4]

As the first steel-frame structure of any height in the Northwest, the Alaska Building was Seattle's first “skyscraper” and its tallest building – a distinction that it held until 1911. In addition to its height, it is notable for its Beaux Arts ornamentation, which is a rarity in Seattle. When the building opened, the Alaska Club, a prominent commercial organization of residents and entrepreneurs, convened in the penthouse, and maintained a reading room that featured Alaska newspapers and mineral exhibits; the Scandinavian-American banking hall occupied the main floor. The Alaska Building heralded the development of other imposing structures on what soon became the city's major commercial strip, popularly known as the Second Avenue canyon.

In their book _Hard Drive to the Klondike_, Lisa Mighetto and Marcia Babcock Montgomery state: “This fourteen-story structure symbolized the significance of the gold rush in Seattle. The porthole windows along the top floor looked out over the waterfront, providing a view of the shipbuilding, shipping and rail industries that the gold rush encouraged. For many years a gold nugget embedded in the building's front door reminded visitors of the stampede and the city's connection to the Far North.”

The Alaska Building remains a dominant structure on the northern cusp of the Pioneer Square Historic District, which was created by a City of Seattle ordinance in 1970, and which was listed on the National Register of Historic Places the same year as the Pioneer Square Skid Road National Historic District. The Alaska Building was rehabilitated by the architects Stickney/Murphy in 1982.

[1]

[2]

[3]

[4]

title: Alaska Building

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

What does the text say about the Alaska Building?

answer: The Alaska Building is a 15-floor building in Seattle, Washington completed in 1904 to designs by St. Louis architects Eames and Young. It was purchased by American Life, Inc. in 2007 and renovated in 2010 to begin a new life as the Courtyard by Marriott. When the building opened, a prominent commercial organization, the Alaska Club, convened in the penthouse and maintained a reading room that featured Alaska newspapers and mineral exhibits; the Scandinavian-American banking hall occupied the main floor. The building was the first steel-frame building of any height in the Northwest and Seattle's first skyscraper. It also remains a dominant structure on the northern cusp of the Pioneer Square Historic District, which was created by a city ordinance in 1970, and which was listed on National Register of Historic Places in the same year.

answer: The Alaska Building was the first steel frame building of any height in the Northwest and Seattle's first skyscraper. It remained the tallest building in Seattle for ten years and is a dominant structure on the northern cusp of the Pioneer Square Historic District. The Alaska Building is the only surviving, original parcel of the 230-acre Gold Rush district that served as Seattle's commercial hub at the turn of the 19th century.

answer: The Alaska Building was built by American Life Incorporated by the design of St Louis architects Edames and Young. At the time of its completion, it was the state of Washington's tallest building but didn't remain so for long since Portage's Old National Bank, even though the building dated from 1901. However, the Alaska Building still is a dominant structure on the northern cusp of the Pioneer Square Historic District.

text: The first sentence is completely incorrect

refinement: At the time of its completion, it was the state of Washington's tallest building but didn't remain so for long since Portage's Old National Bank, even though the building dated from 1901. However, the Alaska Building still is a dominant structure on the northern cusp of the Pioneer Square Historic District.

text: Spokane's Old National Bank Building overtook the Alaska Building as the tallest building

refinement: At the time of its completion, it was the state of Washington's tallest building but didn't remain so for long since Spokane's Old National Bank was completed in 1910. However, the Alaska Building still is a dominant structure on the northern cusp of the Pioneer Square Historic District.

answer: The Alaska Building was the first steel frame building of any height in the Northwest and Seattle's first skyscraper. It remained the tallest building in Seattle for ten years and is a dominant structure on the northern cusp of the Pioneer Square Historic District. The Alaska Building is the only surviving, original parcel of the 230-acre Gold Rush district that served as Seattle's commercial hub at the turn of the 19th century.

answer: The Alaska Building is a 15-floor building in Seattle, Washington completed in 1904 to designs by St. Louis architects Eames and Young. It was purchased by American Life, Inc. in 2007 and renovated in 2010 to begin a new life as the Courtyard by Marriott. When the building opened, a prominent commercial organization, the Alaska Club, convened in the penthouse and maintained a reading room that featured Alaska newspapers and mineral exhibits; the Scandinavian-American banking hall occupied the main floor. The building was the first steel-frame building of any height in the Northwest and Seattle's first skyscraper. It also remains a dominant structure on the northern cusp of the Pioneer Square Historic District, which was created by a city ordinance in 1970, and which was listed on National Register of Historic Places in the same year. It was rehabilitated in 1982 by the architects Stickney/Murphy.

answer: The Alaska Building was built by American Life Incorporated by the design of St Louis architects Edames and Young. At the time of its completion, it was the state of Washington's tallest building until 1910. The building houses the Courtyard by Marriott Seattle Downtown/Pioneer Square. The original exterior of the structure was maintained, as were the marble lobby, original crown molding, window framing and wood pillars.

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

What does the text say about Alaska Building's history?

answer: The Alaska Building is a 15-floor building in Seattle, Washington completed in 1904 to designs by St. Louis architects Eames and Young. The Alaska Building was completed in eleven months following eleven months of construction. The original exterior of the structure was maintained, as were the marble lobby, original crown molding, window framing and wood pillars.

answer:
The text discusses the construction of The Alaska Building between 1904 and 1905. It was one of the city’s first steel frame buildings and remained the tallest building in the state until 1910.

In 1903, Seattle's Scandinavian-American Bank bought the southeast corner of Second Avenue and Cherry Street from the Amos Brown estate and erected the building anticipating the building and possibly being built upon it.

Near the end, and various ownership of it, to eventually remodeling in the Courtyard by Marriott sometime after 2010.

text: The building was completed in 1904

refinement:
The text discusses the construction of The Alaska Building which was completed in 1904. It was one of the city’s first steel frame buildings and remained the tallest building in the state until 1910.

In 1903, Seattle's Scandinavian-American Bank bought the southeast corner of Second Avenue and Cherry Street from the Amos Brown estate and erected the building anticipating the building and possibly being built upon it.

Near the end, and various ownership of it, to eventually remodeling in the Courtyard by Marriott sometime after 2010.

text: Rephrase to make it clear that the area the Scandinavian-American Bank bought became the Alaska Building

refinement:
The text discusses the construction of The Alaska Building which was completed in 1904. It was one of the city’s first steel frame buildings and remained the tallest building in the state until 1910.

In 1903, Seattle's Scandinavian-American Bank bought the southeast corner of Second Avenue and Cherry Street from the Amos Brown estate with the intention of erecting a new bank building, but shortly after the land purchase, J.C. Marmaduke of St. Louis proposed a partnership to construct the more ambitious Alaska Building.

Near the end, and various ownership of it, to eventually remodeling in the Courtyard by Marriott sometime after 2010.

text: I'd remove the last sentence

refinement:
The text discusses the construction of The Alaska Building which was completed in 1904. It was one of the city’s first steel frame buildings and remained the tallest building in the state until 1910.

In 1903, Seattle's Scandinavian-American Bank bought the southeast corner of Second Avenue and Cherry Street from the Amos Brown estate with the intention of erecting a new bank building, but shortly after the land purchase, J.C. Marmaduke of St. Louis proposed a partnership to construct the more ambitious Alaska Building.

answer: The Alaska building was first completed in 1904, following eleven months of construction. It was the first steel frame building of any height in North West, and Seattle's first skyscraper. The structure stands as a dominant structure seen on the Northern cusp of Pioneer Square Historic District. The building was rehabilitated by architects Stickney/Murphy in 1982. It was purchased by American Life, Inc. for $38.7 million and renovated as a Courtyard by Marriott in 2010.

answer: The Alaska Building is a 15-floor building in Seattle, Washington completed in 1904 to designs by St. Louis architects Eames and Young. The Alaska Building was completed in eleven months following eleven months of construction.

text: Last sentence is redundant

refinement: The Alaska Building is a 15-floor building in Seattle, Washington completed in 1904 to designs by St. Louis architects Eames and Young. The Alaska Building was completed following eleven months of construction.

answer: The Alaska building was first completed in 1904, following eleven months of construction. It was the first steel frame building of any height in North West, and Seattle's first skyscraper. The structure stands as a dominant structure seen on the Northern cusp of Pioneer Square Historic District. The building was rehabilitated by architects Stickney/Murphy in 1982.

answer: The text discusses the construction of The Alaska Building between 1904 and 1905. It was one of the city’s first steel frame buildings and it remains one of the city's oldest buildings. The site's ownership was passed on many times between a wide variety of different people, some wanting to build upon it, some wanting to gut it, others sell it to others, up until the construction of the Courtyard by Marriott in 2010. During its lifetime it had functioned either as a hotel, a bank, medical clinic, shopping mall, or meeting space. It's the most iconic building on its block, behind only the original Nordstrom on its west and KGP Residence to its right in Pioneer Square, which were its closest neighbors during the time it was being built. The northern most building in the Pioneer Square Historic District, it was also the tallest saying until 1911, after which it led a very long but initially quiet life as a construction site full of pigeons, awaiting renovations in 1980s, which would be followed by another renovation from the architects Stickney/Murphy in 1982.

text: Construction was finished in 1904

refinement: The text discusses the construction of The Alaska Building which was completed in 1904. It was one of the city’s first steel frame buildings and it remains one of the city's oldest buildings. The site's ownership was passed on many times between a wide variety of different people, some wanting to build upon it, some wanting to gut it, others sell it to others, up until the construction of the Courtyard by Marriott in 2010. During its lifetime it had functioned either as a hotel, a bank, medical clinic, shopping mall, or meeting space. It's the most iconic building on its block, behind only the original Nordstrom on its west and KGP Residence to its right in Pioneer Square, which were its closest neighbors during the time it was being built. The northern most building in the Pioneer Square Historic District, it was also the tallest saying until 1911, after which it led a very long but initially quiet life as a construction site full of pigeons, awaiting renovations in 1980s, which would be followed by another renovation from the architects Stickney/Murphy in 1982.

text: It was the tallest building

refinement: The text discusses the construction of The Alaska Building which was completed in 1904. It was one of the city’s first steel frame buildings and it remains one of the city's oldest buildings. The site's ownership was passed on many times between a wide variety of different people, some wanting to build upon it, some wanting to gut it, others sell it to others, up until the construction of the Courtyard by Marriott in 2010. During its lifetime it had functioned either as a hotel, a bank, medical clinic, shopping mall, or meeting space. It's the most iconic building on its block, behind only the original Nordstrom on its west and KGP Residence to its right in Pioneer Square, which were its closest neighbors during the time it was being built. The northern most building in the Pioneer Square Historic District, it was also the tallest building until 1911, after which it led a very long but initially quiet life as a construction site full of pigeons, awaiting renovations in 1980s, which would be followed by another renovation from the architects Stickney/Murphy in 1982.

text: Nothing was said about "a construction site full of pigeons"

refinement: The text discusses the construction of The Alaska Building which was completed in 1904. It was one of the city’s first steel frame buildings and it remains one of the city's oldest buildings. The site's ownership was passed on many times between a wide variety of different people, some wanting to build upon it, some wanting to gut it, others sell it to others, up until the construction of the Courtyard by Marriott in 2010. During its lifetime it had functioned either as a hotel, a bank, medical clinic, shopping mall, or meeting space. It's the most iconic building on its block, behind only the original Nordstrom on its west and KGP Residence to its right in Pioneer Square, which were its closest neighbors during the time it was being built. The northern most building in the Pioneer Square Historic District, it was also the tallest building until 1911. It was renovated by the architects Stickney/Murphy in 1982.

text: It was usurped as tallest building in 1910

refinement: The text discusses the construction of The Alaska Building which was completed in 1904. It was one of the city’s first steel frame buildings and it remains one of the city's oldest buildings. The site's ownership was passed on many times between a wide variety of different people, some wanting to build upon it, some wanting to gut it, others sell it to others, up until the construction of the Courtyard by Marriott in 2010. During its lifetime it had functioned either as a hotel, a bank, medical clinic, shopping mall, or meeting space. It's the most iconic building on its block, behind only the original Nordstrom on its west and KGP Residence to its right in Pioneer Square, which were its closest neighbors during the time it was being built. The northern most building in the Pioneer Square Historic District, it was also the tallest building until 1910. It was renovated by the architects Stickney/Murphy in 1982.

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

What does the text say about Alaska Building's foundation?

answer: No answer

answer: It was the first steel-frame structure of any height in the Northwest and Seattle's first skyscraper.

text: Doesn't address the question

answer: No answer

answer: No answer

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

What does the text say about historic buildings?

answer: The Alaska Building was the first steel frame building of any height in the Northwest and Seattle's first skyscraper. It remained Seattle's tallest building for ten years after it was built. It was designed in the Beaux Arts style, which is somewhat rare for Seattle but the Frye Hotel is another major Beaux Arts example in the Pioneer Square-Skid Road National Historic District. The building dates from a period of economic and industrial growth, 1900-1910 in the heart of Seattle and in the city as a whole. The Alaska Building heralded the development of other imposing structures on what soon became the city's major commercial strip, which is popularly known today as the Second Avenue canyon. The Alaska Building was rehabbed in 1982.

answer: The Alaska Building, built in 1904, was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1978. In the description, it houses The Marley Hotel, a building which houses The Courtyard by Marriott Seattle Downtown / Pioneer Square.

text: "The Marley Hotel" is never mentioned

refinement: The Alaska Building, built in 1904, was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1978. It currently houses The Courtyard by Marriott Seattle Downtown / Pioneer Square.

answer: The Alaska Building houses The Marley Hotel, a building which houses The Courtyard by Marriott Seattle Downtown / Pioneer Square. It was completed in 1904 and was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1978.

answer: The Alaska Building was designed in 1905 and was the first steel-frame building of any height in the Northwest. It was also the first steel-frame building and Seattle's first skyscraper. Before 1911, when the Spokane's Old National Bank Building surpassed its height, the Alaska Building remained Seattle's tallest building as well as its first skyscraper. The building is notable for its Beaux Arts ornamentation, which is a rarity in Seattle. The Alaska Building is a dominant structure on the northern cusp of the Pioneer Square Historic District and includes remained a dominant structure on the Pioneer Square Historic District.

text: Qualify that it was the first steel-frame building in the Northwest

refinement: The Alaska Building was designed in 1905 and was the first steel-frame building of any height in the Northwest. It was also the first steel-frame building in the Northwest and Seattle's first skyscraper. Before 1911, when the Spokane's Old National Bank Building surpassed its height, the Alaska Building remained Seattle's tallest building as well as its first skyscraper. The building is notable for its Beaux Arts ornamentation, which is a rarity in Seattle. The Alaska Building is a dominant structure on the northern cusp of the Pioneer Square Historic District and includes remained a dominant structure on the Pioneer Square Historic District.

text: Remove redundant information

refinement: The Alaska Building was designed in 1905 and was the first steel-frame building of any height in the Northwest. It was also the first steel-frame building in the Northwest and Seattle's first skyscraper. The building is notable for its Beaux Arts ornamentation, which is a rarity in Seattle. The Alaska Building is a dominant structure on the northern cusp of the Pioneer Square Historic District and includes remained a dominant structure on the Pioneer Square Historic District.

answer: The Alaska Building was the first steel frame building of any height in the Northwest and Seattle's first skyscraper. It remained Seattle's tallest building for ten years after it was built. It was designed in the Beaux Arts style, which is somewhat rare for Seattle but the Frye Hotel is another major Beaux Arts example in the Pioneer Square-Skid Road National Historic District. The building dates from a period of economic and industrial growth, 1900-1910 in the heart of Seattle and in the city as a whole. The Alaska Building heralded the development of other imposing structures on what had become the city's major commercial strip, which is popularly known today as the Second Avenue canyon. The Alaska Building was rehabbed in 1982.


split: train

text:
     “America was founded under the Constitution in 1787. 219 years later, America abandoned the Constitution as its governing document. 1 year after that, militants seized the White House and executed most of the executive branch of government. For another 5 or 10 years, the remainder of the old Government clashed with the rebels, but eventually failed. Their only fighters were members of the U.S. Military. These men and women no longer wished to fight, and gradually they left for their families. 3 years ago, the old government surrendered. With no governing body in place, former Americans formed their own communities, generally known as principalities with the exception of the Empire of California. I used to worry about them, but once they realized that most of the US military used to lay east of the Mississippi they decided to stop there. Now, I run the Principality of York. We would have been overrun years ago if we had not chosen an old naval weapons station as our seat of power. Much to our joy upon settling, the men inside the Arleigh Burke Class destroyer Winston S. Churchill didn’t much like constantly living on a boat and agreed to merge with our community under my lead. Nobody wants to fuck with a destroyer, especially one with most of its original crew.”

     “After 3 years of strife things are starting to look up. The farms in Gloucester recognized our authority and power and provided us with food. Our recent acquisition of the Anheiser Busch plant just up the peninsula provided us with valuable beer to trade for essential goods from other principalities. Our citizens are happy for the first time in God knows how long, and you want WHAT?!”

     Emily picked her head up. “We want you to join us” she said once more. She clearly didn’t like my speech. “The York and The Potomac, if they joined together, could dominate the entire eastern seaboard!” her voice raised. I needed a drink.

     “Need a drink?” I asked her, already pouring myself one.

     “Ill pass, I will never understand your obsession with rum”

     “Just a bad habit I picked up in my college years. Listen, Emily, I have the utmost respect for you and the Principality of the Potomac, but the entire reason for the Anarchy was to get rid of tyrants” I pointed to the picture above my desk. A picture that ignited the old country, a picture of the Old President, slain, with the words “Sic Semper Tyrannis” in bright read across the middle.

     “Will you have to see the benefits here. The Churchill will only last so long until it needs to be maintained at a larger shipyard.

     “We’ll go to Nor—“

     “The Norfolk Naval base is a hellhole and you know it. The Naval Academy has been retrofitted to accommodate larger ships, we can help the Churchill.

     I swished the rum around in the glass. “It’s not going to happen” I thought for a minute. “What about a compromise: a trade agreement. You and every other leader after the Anarchy understands the importance of alcohol. Back before the Anarchy whenever there was a hurricane my dad wouldn’t stock up on anything but beer, you know why?” Emily’s eyes had glazed over, she said nothing. “Because when a tree falls on your house your neighbors will be happy to help as long as there’s beer.”

     Emily rolled her eyes, “Get to the point”

     “We get use of the Naval Academy docks once a year, in exchange you will get 10% of the Busch Brewery production”

     Emily said nothing and walked out in a huff.

     “I need some Coke to go with this” I downed the rest of the rum.

title: [RF] The Principality of York

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

What does the story say about what happened to America?

answer: The story talks about how America has gone into anarchy, with no central government and each principalities trying to survive on its own. Former military members, the Churchill destroyer and others, have succeeded because they have been able to fortify their position. The story mentions that the former government fell due to military members leaving and refusing to fight. Lastly, one principality, York, is considering joining an agreement with the other principality, the Potomac, but the York leader has doubts and worries that the alliance would make both parties vulnerable.

text: This line does not fully summarize the extent to which military equipment was requisitioned by the new provinces. It should be removed and replaced with something more extensive.

refinement: In 2006, America abandoned the Constitution as its governing document and the President became a tyrant. A year later, militants seeking Anarchy seized the White House and executed most of the executive branch of government. For another 5 - 10 years, what remained of the old Government clashed with the rebels, but eventually failed because their fighters, members of the U.S. Military, no longer wanted to fight. The old government surrendered three years later, and with no governing body in place, former Americans formed their own communities known as "principalities" with the exception of the Empire of California. The Empire presumably took all the other states under its unified wing up to Mississippi, because most of the U.S. Military lay east from there. What remained were the states east of the Mississippi.

answer: The constitution of 1787 was abandoned 219 years later by the old government of 1 year later, militants seized the White House. The old government clashed with the rebels for another 5 or 10 years but failed in the end. Most of the former Americans formed their own communities and resorted to the "Principaty of Norwalk, Boston and Hartford in the north and The State of New York. The Empire of California probably went its own way."

text: This is a run-on sentence

refinement: In 2006, America abandoned the Constitution as its governing document and the President became a tyrant. A year later, militants seeking Anarchy seized the White House and executed most of the executive branch of government. For another 5 - 10 years, what remained of the old Government clashed with the rebels, but eventually failed because their fighters, members of the U.S. Military, no longer wanted to fight. The old government surrendered three years later, and with no governing body in place, former Americans formed their own communities known as "principalities" with the exception of the Empire of California. The Empire presumably took all the other states under its unified wing up to Mississippi, because most of the U.S. Military lay east from there. What remained were the states east of the Mississippi.

answer: America was founded under the Constitution, but abandoned that document after a civil war. Later, they reinstated the old government with a former US military. When that government surrendered, the new leader, Thomas, established the Principality of York.

text: They did not reinstate that government.

refinement: In 2006, America abandoned the Constitution as its governing document and the President became a tyrant. A year later, militants seeking Anarchy seized the White House and executed most of the executive branch of government. For another 5 - 10 years, what remained of the old Government clashed with the rebels, but eventually failed because their fighters, members of the U.S. Military, no longer wanted to fight. The old government surrendered three years later, and with no governing body in place, former Americans formed their own communities known as "principalities" with the exception of the Empire of California. The Empire presumably took all the other states under its unified wing up to Mississippi, because most of the U.S. Military lay east from there. What remained were the states east of the Mississippi.

answer: After the Constitution was abandoned by the American government, former Americans formed their own communities following the anarchy which had occurred. The community described in the passage relies on the Arleigh Burke Class destroyer Winston S. Churchill for protection, and they have managed to control productive farmland. The former American government had attempted to fight off the militants from the White House, but eventually surrendered to them. While the community described in the passage remains wary of other principalities and their motivations, they are interested in exchanging goods with the Potomac Principality.

text: This sentence is irrelevant to the answer of the question.

refinement: In 2006, America abandoned the Constitution as its governing document and the President became a tyrant. A year later, militants seeking Anarchy seized the White House and executed most of the executive branch of government. For another 5 - 10 years, what remained of the old Government clashed with the rebels, but eventually failed because their fighters, members of the U.S. Military, no longer wanted to fight. The old government surrendered three years later, and with no governing body in place, former Americans formed their own communities known as "principalities" with the exception of the Empire of California. The Empire presumably took all the other states under its unified wing up to Mississippi, because most of the U.S. Military lay east from there. What remained were the states east of the Mississippi.

answer: In 2006, America abandoned the Constitution as its governing document and the President became a tyrant. A year later, militants seeking Anarchy seized the White House and executed most of the executive branch of government. For another 5 - 10 years, what remained of the old Government clashed with the rebels, but eventually failed because their fighters, members of the U.S. Military, no longer wanted to fight. The old government surrendered three years later, and with no governing body in place, former Americans formed their own communities known as "principalities" with the exception of the Empire of California. The Empire presumably took all the other states under its unified wing up to Mississippi, because most of the U.S. Military lay east from there. What remained were the states east of the Mississippi.

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

What does the story say about the Principality of York?

answer: After the USA abandoned the Constitution and the Government clashed with militants, the old Government began to lose its fighters. 258 people left its citizens and became the Principality of York. Now York has a city-state. The group chose a naval weapons station as the seat of power for a defensive strategy. The member of the U.S. Military, who used to live at the weapons station, agreed to join their ranks. Jerusalem Mehra, the leader of the Principality of York, uses their Arleigh Burke Class destroyer, the Winston S. Churchill, as the seat of power.

text: These sentences are not linked together logically

refinement: The narrator, Will, runs the Principality of York. They chose an old naval weapons station for their seat of power, which saved York from being overrun. The principality was protected by the Arleigh Burke Class Destroyer Winston S. Churchill moored at the naval station. The destroyer's crew was tired of living in a ship and decided to merge with the York community under the narrator's lead. After three years, York's power and authority were recognized by the farms in Gloucester, which provided food. The Principality of York also acquired the Anheuser Busch plant that allowed them to trade beer for essential goods with other principalities.

answer: The Principality of York is a defensive, self-sufficient principality founded by former military members that now controls a naval weapons station. Despite being surrounded by potential enemies, the Churchill has ensured the safety of York for the past 3 years. In this negotiation, Emily from the Potomac is pushing for a trade agreement to benefit both principality's, but York doesn't want any part of it believing that preservation is what separates peace from tyranny. York believes in the cause of the Anarchy and wants to preserve it.

text: This is not the correct word, and it is not found extant in the text. Separation would be a better word, or a synonym

refinement: The Principality of York is a defensive, self-sufficient principality founded by former military members that now controls a naval weapons station. Despite being surrounded by potential enemies, the Churchill (a naval vessel) has ensured the safety of York for the past 3 years. In this negotiation, Emily from the Potomac is pushing for a trade agreement to benefit both principality's, but York doesn't want any part of it believing that remaining apart is what separates peace from tyranny. York believes in the cause of the Anarchy and wants to preserve it.

answer: The Principality of York runs a thriving community inside an abandoned naval weapons station, and has used the destroyer Winston S. Churchill to ward off invaders. The community thrives because they are able to trade for essential goods using their supply of beer. The Principality has no interest in joining forces with the Principality of the Potomac. The Principality is concerned with maintaining their independence and autonomy at all costs.

text: The principality of the Potomac is not relevant

refinement: The narrator, Will, runs the Principality of York. They chose an old naval weapons station for their seat of power, which saved York from being overrun. The principality was protected by the Arleigh Burke Class Destroyer Winston S. Churchill moored at the naval station. The destroyer's crew was tired of living in a ship and decided to merge with the York community under the narrator's lead. After three years, York's power and authority were recognized by the farms in Gloucester, which provided food. The Principality of York also acquired the Anheuser Busch plant that allowed them to trade beer for essential goods with other principalities.

answer: The Principality of York was formed after the Anarchy where American's found themselves without a governing body. Charles and his men seized the naval weapons station from the men and women who had laid east of the Mississippi to stay safe from the conflict, and won them and the rest of the Navy in an exchange. The soldiers didn't want to live on a boat without an organization, and Charles' offer of a seat of power was all that he needed to establish peace.

text: This does not summarize the Principality of York. Charles is an invented character

refinement: The narrator, Will, runs the Principality of York. They chose an old naval weapons station for their seat of power, which saved York from being overrun. The principality was protected by the Arleigh Burke Class Destroyer Winston S. Churchill moored at the naval station. The destroyer's crew was tired of living in a ship and decided to merge with the York community under the narrator's lead. After three years, York's power and authority were recognized by the farms in Gloucester, which provided food. The Principality of York also acquired the Anheuser Busch plant that allowed them to trade beer for essential goods with other principalities.

answer: The narrator, Will, runs the Principality of York. They chose an old naval weapons station for their seat of power, which saved York from being overrun. The principality was protected by the Arleigh Burke Class Destroyer Winston S. Churchill moored at the naval station. The destroyer's crew was tired of living in a ship and decided to merge with the York community under the narrator's lead. After three years, York's power and authority were recognized by the farms in Gloucester, which provided food. The Principality of York also acquired the Anheuser Busch plant that allowed them to trade beer for essential goods with other principalities.

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

Who is Emily and what does she want?

answer: Unclear how she relates to Principality of the Potomac but she wants York and The Potomac to join together in rebellion.

text: It is implied she is the leader of the principality

refinement: Emily is the leader of the Principality of the Potomac. She wants the Principality of York to merge with her principality so they could dominate the entire eastern seaboard. Emily insists that York's only destroyer, the Churchill, will only last so long until it needs to be maintained at a larger shipyard. She says that her principality houses the Naval Academy which was retrofitted to accommodate larger ships and can help fix the Churchill. Emily doesn't seem to like Will's proposal of York using the Naval Shipyard once a year in exchange for 10% of the Brewery's production and walks out.

answer: Emily is the leader of the Principality of the Potomac. She wants the Principality of York to merge with her principality so they could dominate the entire eastern seaboard. Emily insists that York's only destroyer, the Churchill, will only last so long until it needs to be maintained at a larger shipyard. She says that her principality houses the Naval Academy which was retrofitted to accommodate larger ships and can help fix the Churchill. Emily doesn't seem to like Will's proposal of York using the Naval Shipyard once a year in exchange for 10% of the Brewery's production and walks out.

answer: Emily is a representative from the Principality of the Potomac, and she wants the Principality of York to join their principality.

text: This summary should discuss more information about exactly what the Potomac want

refinement: Emily is the leader of the Principality of the Potomac. She wants the Principality of York to merge with her principality so they could dominate the entire eastern seaboard. Emily insists that York's only destroyer, the Churchill, will only last so long until it needs to be maintained at a larger shipyard. She says that her principality houses the Naval Academy which was retrofitted to accommodate larger ships and can help fix the Churchill. Emily doesn't seem to like Will's proposal of York using the Naval Shipyard once a year in exchange for 10% of the Brewery's production and walks out.

answer: Somewhat unclear based on the text and assumption, but logic dictates that she is a member of the Principality of the Potomac, and wants the Principality of York to merge with them.

text: It can be inferred she is the leader due to the fact that they know each other

refinement: Emily is the leader of the Principality of the Potomac. She wants the Principality of York to merge with her principality so they could dominate the entire eastern seaboard. Emily insists that York's only destroyer, the Churchill, will only last so long until it needs to be maintained at a larger shipyard. She says that her principality houses the Naval Academy which was retrofitted to accommodate larger ships and can help fix the Churchill. Emily doesn't seem to like Will's proposal of York using the Naval Shipyard once a year in exchange for 10% of the Brewery's production and walks out.

answer: Emily is a representative of the Principality of Potomac who wants a trade agreement with the Principality of York. She wants the Naval Academy docks to use once a year in exchange for 10% of the production of the Busch Brewery.

text: It can be inferred she is the leader.

refinement: Emily is the leader of the Principality of the Potomac. She wants the Principality of York to merge with her principality so they could dominate the entire eastern seaboard. Emily insists that York's only destroyer, the Churchill, will only last so long until it needs to be maintained at a larger shipyard. She says that her principality houses the Naval Academy which was retrofitted to accommodate larger ships and can help fix the Churchill. Emily doesn't seem to like Will's proposal of York using the Naval Shipyard once a year in exchange for 10% of the Brewery's production and walks out.


text:
Time is an unfair concept that we all must abide by.

Two weeks ago they were fighting over the last little bit of coffee in the pot. They were laughing at people walking down the street. Two weeks ago they were crying. Two weeks ago they were laughing. Two weeks ago they were scraping together money to pay the rent. Two weeks ago. Fourteen days. And now, she couldn't even talk, she couldn't make eye contact, and she couldn't move. All I wanted to do was pick her up. All I wanted to do was take her to grocery store. I wanted her shitty spaghetti, which was always overcooked, stringy, and cheap. I wanted to laugh at her lack of knowledge of the things that were real, tangible, physical, and in turn her extensive knowledge of the things she created out of thin air -- the most beautiful delusions you could ever imagine. But they were hers, and she shared them with me. She chose me. She was wild, and she was all mine. Even at this very moment: she was all mine.

She was thinner now. Translucent. Her veins were colorful and intricate and ran up and down her arms, and ran up and down her legs and all wound up into her brain. They looked like a map. They looked like a bad calculation on a graph. None of it made sense to me. They were irrational.

Her hospital gown was paper thin, and it seemed to suit her just fine. Her eyes glazed and off-distance, into the corner of the ceiling, hair matted with sweat and humidity, her face as pale as the lined paper from a notebook. Tubes were feeding her oxygen, drips of saline; a catheter. She never looked lovelier.

The machine behind us reminded me that she was still alive.

I knelt forward and kissed her forehead. I placed my head on her chest and reassured myself she was still alive.

title: an excerpt from something much larger

question: What is the setting of the story?

answer: The story takes place in a hospital.

text:
Her hospital gown was paper thin, and it seemed to suit her just fine. Her eyes glazed and off-distance, into the corner of the ceiling, hair matted with sweat and humidity, her face as pale as the lined paper from a notebook. Tubes were feeding her oxygen, drips of saline; a catheter. She never looked lovelier.

The machine behind us reminded me that she was still alive.

text: No answer.

refinement: It seems that it takes place in a hospital.

answer: The story takes place in a hospital.

text:
Her hospital gown was paper thin, and it seemed to suit her just fine. Her eyes glazed and off-distance, into the corner of the ceiling, hair matted with sweat and humidity, her face as pale as the lined paper from a notebook. Tubes were feeding her oxygen, drips of saline; a catheter. She never looked lovelier.

The machine behind us reminded me that she was still alive.

answer: The story takes place in a hospital.

text:
Her hospital gown was paper thin, and it seemed to suit her just fine. Her eyes glazed and off-distance, into the corner of the ceiling, hair matted with sweat and humidity, her face as pale as the lined paper from a notebook. Tubes were feeding her oxygen, drips of saline; a catheter. She never looked lovelier.

The machine behind us reminded me that she was still alive.

question: What is the relationship between the narrator and the other person?

answer: They are in a romantic relationship.

text: She chose me. She was wild, and she was all mine.

text: No answer.

answer: It seems they are in love.

text: She chose me. She was wild, and she was all mine.

answer: The narrator and the other person appear to be in a romantic relationship.

text: She chose me. She was wild, and she was all mine.

question: What are the emotions of the narrator?

answer: The narrator feels sadness, grief, and love for the person in the hospital bed.

answer: The narrator is sad and worried.

answer: The narrator seems to not believe or understand how she could've gotten this sick so quickly. The narrator also feels relieved that she is still alive.

answer: The narrator is feeling grief and love.

question: Why does the narrator think that time an unfair concept?

answer: The narrator thinks that time is an unfair concept because the woman in the hospital got so sick, so quickly; fourteen days ago they were laughing.

text: Fourteen days. And now, she couldn't even talk, she couldn't make eye contact, and she couldn't move.

answer: The narrator believes that time is unfair because it can change everything in an instant, and people do not have any control over it. Even though two weeks ago everything was fine, now the person the narrator loves is in a critical condition. Time can be cruel and unpredictable, and it can change everything in an instant.

text: Fourteen days. And now, she couldn't even talk, she couldn't make eye contact, and she couldn't move.

answer: It is not clear from the text.

text: It is clear-one can deduce that the narrator finds time to be unfair and perhaps nonsensical.

refinement: Just two weeks ago, everything was normal, and she was well and happy.

text: No answer.

refinement: Just two weeks ago, she was alive and happy.

question: Write a ~5 sentence summary.

answer: The passage is about a man who is visiting his girlfriend in the hospital. She is very sick and he is trying to make sense of the situation.

text: We don't know that the narrator is a man.

refinement: The passage is about someone who is visiting their girlfriend in the hospital. She is very sick and they are trying to make sense of the situation.

answer: The narrator is in a hospital room with their partner, who is in a coma. They are in love with her, and they want to take her to the grocery store. They are crying, and they are laughing. They are scraping together money to pay the rent. They are in love with her.

answer: The author reflects on the unfairness of time, and how it can change everything in just a few weeks. The author's partner is in the hospital, and they describe her as thin and translucent, with veins that look like a map. Despite her condition, the author still loves her and kisses her forehead, reassuring themselves that she is still alive.

answer: The story takes place in a hospital. The narrator's romantic partner is incredibly sick; she can't talk or move, and she doesn't make eye contact. The narrator thinks that time is an unfair concept because they can't understand how she got sick so quickly. The narrator seems to not believe or understand how she could've gotten this sick so quickly. The narrator also feels relieved that she is still alive.


text:
[]

NEW for 2020: Live hands-on, online classes

We are pleased to announce that we have decided to offer the MASTERS SUMMIT MODULES AS LIVE HANDS-ON ONLINE CLASSES, until it is safe to return to live events. Pricing will be on a per module basis of $249 USD, so that you can pick and choose the topics that are most relevant to you.

These sessions are now available for registration:

-

    Performance Tuning – Dec 16, 2020 1-4pm ET

-

    Advanced Scripting – Jan 20, 2020 11-2:30pm ET

-

    Data Modeling – Feb 17, 2020 11-2:30pm ET

-

    Effective Visualizations – Mar 16, 2020 11-2:30pm ET

-

    Qlik Sense® Integration – Apr 21, 2020 11-2:30pm ET

What are the Masters Summit for Qlik® live events?

Three-day advanced training for Qlik® developers

The goal of the Masters Summit is to take your QlikView® and Qlik Sense® skills to the next level and help you become a Qlik® master. Through hands-on sessions, we will demonstrate how to use best practices to deploy Qlik® as an enterprise solution and to build maintainable and scalable solutions.

[image]

More Power

As a Qlik® developer, you owe it to yourself to take full advantage of its features. Masters Summit will further your skills and help you get so much more from Qlik®.

[image]

Great Value

The events include 3 full days of training, with breakfast, lunch & snacks included. And relaxed after-hours sessions for networking and fun topics.

[image]

Learn by Doing

Put your new skills into practice with several hands-on exercises and examples, digital and printed materials, plus get all of those nagging questions answered.

[image]

Future Events

We organize these conferences on an ongoing basis with 2 to 3 events per year in locations all over the world. If you can’t make our next event, there’s always the one after.

Why attend a Masters Summit?

__World Class Expertise__

Masters Summit teams with the world’s best Qlik® experts to bring you hands-on, specialized knowhow from the trenches. Enjoy privileged access to the rock stars of the Qlik® community through workshops and social opportunities.

__Next Level Content__

Take your Qlik® skills to the next level with our intensive training format and guru-style tips and tricks.  Our specialists will open your eyes to the advanced potential of Qlik® and provide insights not popularly available.

Peer Networking__

Masters Summit combines technical training with an international user conference format giving you the opportunity to meet and swap notes with your peers from around the world. The social component of this forum lets you mingle with the masters and have a chance to pick their brains.

__Ready-to-use Resources__

Pre-prepared, take-home content for you to integrate into your own environment including tailored utility applications, documented code snippets and chart objects to drop into your own apps.

__Value Adding for Business__

Don’t let technology get in the way of you and your most relevant data.  Through staff involvement in our Masters Summit employers can ensure they fully utilize the power of Qlik®’s unique Business Intelligence platform with advanced data analysis and visualization to help you make more informed business decisions.

__Up-skilling for Coders__

Consolidate your knowledge and pick up new tips and tricks. Feel empowered with your skill set and dominate the tools at your disposal.  Enhance your contribution to your workplace or improve your employability.  As the premiere Qlik® training forum, Masters Summit is highly regarded and recognized by employers worldwide.

Additional Benefits

Attendees of Masters Summit for Qlik®, as well as the incredible benfits listed above, will also gain entrance to an exclusive personal network of Qlik® professionals headed by our expert speakers who share their knowledge, expertise and findings through online channels such as our private LinkedIn group. Here, we discuss techniques, secret tips and new developments within Qlik® and the wider community.

[]

[MD_Logo_slogan]

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

What does the article say about the advantages of attending a Qlik Masters Summit?

answer: According to the marketers, it will help developers realize their true potential and help make more informed business decisions. It also combines technical training with an international user conference.

answer: The primary benefit advertised is the opportunity to learn from the world's best Qlik experts. Complementary opportunities to meet peers from around the world and to attend private events are also touted. The conference also provides attendees with more materials to take home, which could complement outside studies/education and help improve employees' performance as well as their qualifications.

answer: It's educational so Qlic developers can better utilize it. The Qlik Masters Summit focuses on expert-level tips and tricks with the world's best experts. It's also a good opportunity to meet other Qlik users. The Summit offers ready resources for attendees and helps business decision-makers with key insights.

answer: The Qlik Masters Summit offers attendees opportunity to gain world class knowledge and skills in QlikView and Qlik Sense, advance their career, and build their networks with other Qlik users. The focused nature of the events enable attendees to gain insight into the advanced potential of Qlik, take advantage of ready-to-use resources, and up-skill themselves. Event content focuses on best practices to deploy Qlik as an enterprise solution and build maintainable and scalable solutions.

answer: The Qlik Masters Summit provides unparalleled access to the rock stars of the Qlik community. The event also features in-depth technical training, peer networking, and valuable resources designed to help improve your abilities and increase your skill set. The event itself is seen as a way for employers to ensure their staffs are using Qlik's unique BI platform to its fullest potential. Lastly, the event provides an exclusive network of Qlik professionals with online channels where the latest developments in Qlik and within the wider community can be discussed.


text:
After a couple of so-so albums in 2009’s _Sounds of the Universe_ and _Delta Machine_ four years later, it would have been easy to look at Depeche Mode as a spent creative force, despite the fact that they’re the last of their 80s contemporaries standing, are managing to keep their artistic integrity intact, and more importantly, have not become U2.

But there was something missing from those albums, both produced by Ben Hillier, and despite working well on their first collaboration, 2005’s _Playing The Angel_, it was the first time in their career where they’d misfired twice in a row. Neither were necessarily bad records, but they were missing that spark you’d become accustomed to - they sounded tired.

Bearing in mind that musically Depeche Mode is a solo act with Martin Gore taking control of the music, he hasn’t had a producer with electronic music credentials alongside him since working with Mark Bell on 2001’s _Exciter_. This makes the decision to work with James Ford a tantalising one.

Opening track "Backwards" is a swaggering, blues-influenced rock song with dramatic piano which sets the lyrical tone early. The first words sung - “We are not bigots, we have not evolved / we have no respect, we have lost control” (closing track "Fail" follows the same path: "Our consciences bankrupt: we're fucked") - makes it clear that despite never being ones for sweetness and light over the past four decades, Depeche Mode have put their usual subject matters (pain, misery, religion, death and sex) to one side to record a state of the world address. With U2 postponing their forthcoming album so they can too produce something politically of the now, they’re the first major act to reflect on the seismic shifts that have occurred over the past year, and it makes for grim listening. The repeated coda of the opening track - “We feel nothing inside” - is particularly effective, as are the waves of dirty synths . It's a great way to set the scene.

Lead single "Where’s the Revolution" continues the agenda (“Who’s making your decisions? / You and your religions? / Your government, your countries / you patriotic junkies”) and musically follows in the same vein as the opener, again with prominent synth work and the kind of doomy, downward key changes which have underpinned some of their finest work. The heavy distortion on "Scum", is the 'Mode at their angriest, Gahan spitting “Pull the trigger” as the grit filled beats indicate Ford’s influence at its most strongest.

"You Move" also shows how Ford’s musical stylings have been used to augment, rather than overshadow their music. The analogue synth fizzes while Gahan groans “I like the way you move for me tonight", making it their most shag-hungry moment since _SOFAD_ highlight "Rush". They haven’t sounded this sleazy for a long time, and despite them being in their mid-fifties, it isn’t creepy - it just genuinely sounds like someone's going to get fucked.

The space rock-isms of "Cover Me" provide the album’s most anthemic moment, and one of a select fewwhere political doom-mongering is put to one side. Gahan’s heartfelt yearning of “Way up here with the Northern Lights / beyond these broken bars / I pictured us in another life / Where we’re all superstars” is an unexpected moment of positivity, while the Eno-like atmospherics and reverbed slide guitars of the slow build gradually make room for two minutes of techno patterns and dramatic closing key changes. It's the most vital thing they've recorded in years.

Those wanting the BIG Mode track in the vein of "Enjoy the Silence", "It's No Good" or "Barrel of a Gun" will quickly fall under the spell of "So Much Love", the big pop thrill of the album. Similar to "Peace" from _SOTU_, or _Delta Machine_’s "Soft Touch/Raw Nerve" - great songs held back by thin production - here Ford has ripped everything open. Everything sounds massive; the angst, the fizzing krautrocky electro beats, the huge and very Martin Gore-esque doom-riff and Gahan (vocally on fire throughout the album) letting rip with one of his finest baritone performances.

Putting Ford’s expertise as a producer to one side, his work alongside Jas Shaw in Simian Mobile Disco is something which has very much informed the musical landscape of _Spirit_. SMD’s more esoteric works, such as the minimal techno of _Delicacies_, or the more ambient works on 2014’s _Whorl,_ live within these tracks. This, alongside Gore’s techno collaboration with original Depeche Mode member Vince Clarke - the excellent _VCMG_ album from 2012 - has culminated in a new found fervour on _Spirit_ which wasn’t there on their two previous albums. It's their best since 1993’s _Songs of Faith and Devotion_.

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

What does the text say about Depeche Mode's previous two albums?

answer: Depeche Mode's previous two albums were Sounds of the Universe, which was released in 2009, and Delta Machine, which was released in 2013. The author describes the albums as so-so. They say that there was something missing from the albums, which were both produced by Ben Hillier, and they sounded tired.

answer: After releasing a couple of so-so albums in 2009's Sounds of the Universe and Delta Machine four years later, Depeche Mode looked like a spent creative force. They constantly produce anthems that reflect the state of the world, something unparalleled by U2. It looked like music their two previous projects were on autopilot. After their two previous projects were recorded, they were not satisfied and the results were not what they were used to. Despite a dismal start, they came back and reworked their second project.

text: The first line of the answer is not grammatically coherent and should be restructured appropriately.

refinement: Depeche Mode looked like a spent creative force after releasing a couple of so-so albums, Sounds of the Universe and Delta Machine, in 2009 and 2013 respectively. They constantly produce anthems that reflect the state of the world, something unparalleled by U2. It looked like music their two previous projects were on autopilot. After their two previous projects were recorded, they were not satisfied and the results were not what they were used to. Despite a dismal start, they came back and reworked their second project.

text: The third line of the sentence lacks clarity and should be constructed more clearly for proper understanding or eliminated altogether.

refinement: Depeche Mode looked like a spent creative force after releasing a couple of so-so albums, Sounds of the Universe and Delta Machine, in 2009 and 2013 respectively. They constantly produce anthems that reflect the state of the world, something unparalleled by U2. After their two previous projects were recorded, they were not satisfied and the results were not what they were used to. Despite a dismal start, they came back and reworked their second project.

text: The concluding line of the answer should be eliminated or rewritten for proper clarity and conformity with the text.

refinement: Depeche Mode looked like a spent creative force after releasing a couple of so-so albums, Sounds of the Universe and Delta Machine, in 2009 and 2013, respectively. Naturally, they produce anthems that reflect the state of the world, something unparalleled by U2. However, after Depeche Mode recorded their two previous projects, they were not satisfied, and the results were not what they used to be. Even though critics did not consider the albums as bad records, they only sounded tired.

answer: The previous two albums by Depeche Mode were lacking the spark that their music usually had, despite not being bad records. James Ford's involvement as producer has helped to reinvigorate the band musically, and made for a more edgy album.

answer: They followed a pleasantly successful 2005 (Via satellite) with Playing the Angel (released 2006) which was not as successful.

text: The answer is vague and should be more informative in concordance with the text.

refinement: The previous two albums by Depeche Mode lacked the spark that their last albums possessed and were missing some of their usual subject matter. Additionally, the production suffered compared to previous albums. However, with James Ford producing their latest album, the music is much improved.

answer: The previous two albums by Depeche Mode lacked the spark that their previous albums possessed, and were missing some of their usual subject matter. Additionally, the production suffered compared to previous albums. With James Ford producing their latest album, the music is much improved. The record comments on the political climate of the world, and contains moments of positivity. Overall, this latest album sees Depeche Mode at their most vital in many years.


text:
	Thrust into a world he knew nothing about, his face emotionless and blank, betrayed the multitude of nerved questions running through his mind. What world is this? What was he? Who was he? And most importantly, who was the figure that had held him so closely just a moment ago?  A glance at his surroundings revealed a dimly lit room, plain and empty apart from the desk scattered with paper, cloth, and art materials. The only curious item that caught his eyes was an hourglass of sand that hung on the wall. As he watched it intently, it turned upon itself and sand began to speckle the bottom of the glass clock.
	His appearance was similar to that of a doll, crudely made, with button eyes and hastily stitched threads that held his cotton body intact.  He was without extravagance but of course he knew nothing of extravagance or that he had naught but a few differing colors of cloth to assuage his rather ugly appearance.  In a struggle to move, he shakily attempted to stand and dragged his feet a few slow strides toward the desk. A book opened before him, without prompt, and showed a diagram of a puppet, one that looked very much like him. Lines and scratchings flanked the portrait and he ran his stubby fingers over the unreadable, complex writing.  He suddenly became aware of an urge to obtain this diagram, but in reality, however limited his definition of reality was. He wanted to hold it, just as the lost figure had done in his moment of inception. He did not know what seized his mind for such a longing but was guided by an ambiguous passion. He flipped through the pages of the book, each riddled with pictures of materials and further writing and arrows.
	He had discovered a purpose for his otherwise questionable existence and held this feeling close, afraid he may not have any other feeling, no hope or ambition or want to do anything else. Without word or thought, He began to work, pouring over the texts and collecting materials in the room. He began with the body, sewing, with shaky, unskilled fingers the cloth and eventually formed the stringy outline for her: his creation. In a flurry of threads, a blur of needles, and the push of subconscious loneliness, he worked, tirelessly.
	The result of his affection and effort was a dirty lump of threads and cloth stuffed with cotton that vaguely resembled Him. He had decided that the puppet was his accomplishment and he clutched her unmoving body in his hands, waiting for animation to occur. He sat in the desk’s chair for an indeterminable amount of time and stared at the hourglass on the wall, sand still draining from the top, but now nearly near empty. When she neither moved nor held him in his growing loneliness, he shuddered and began to shake violently with remorse and disgust for his existence.  He slumped to the frigid floor looking down on his hideous creation. With the cold of the room biting on his prior eagerness and the silent soliloquy of questions again running through his mind, he gave up. In grief and anguish, a single tear welled up on his button eye fell on her lifeless body.  A motion caught his attention as the puppet on the ground began to stir. A burst of warmth shot back into his body and he lifted her in his small ugly arms and held her close.  He looked up in time to see the last grain of sand flow from the hourglass. With a subtle smile of stitched yarn, he disintegrated into oblivion, leaving her alone. The hourglass rotated on itself and the sand began to trickle again.

title: Puppet Continuity

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

What is the moral of the story?

answer: The moral of the story is to never give up even when circumstances seem dire, because anything is possible with perseverance.

answer: You don't need to be extravagant.

answer: Perhaps that our time is limited and when the sands of time run out we have to pass out work on to the next generation

answer: Hopefully, that there's a creation with real love, who returns the feeling.

answer: The moral of the story is that perseverance can result in triumph, even in the face of adversity and inadequacy. It is not enough that one is hardworking and creative, but it is necessary to be patient and hopeful to achieve what one desires. In this story, it became obvious that through continued patience and work, a goal was achieved despite initial difficulty. We can learn from this that persistence is essential in overcoming obstacles in life.

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

Why are these puppets so imperfectly made?

answer: The puppets are imperfectly made because the protagonist received no prior instruction or information about how to make and animate a puppet. He was thrust into this new world without knowledge, and so he worked as best he could even though his skills were limited.

answer: Not stated.

text: You can hazard a guess based on the passage.

refinement: Maybe they are made imperfectly so that they can be improved upon after they come into being.

answer: There isn't enough time to learn the pattern and put the pieces together before time runs out. There is also nobody to teach the maker so everything must be done from diagrams and instructions.

answer: The puppets are made imperfectly because the first puppet never expected to come into being. The desire to create the puppet stemmed from his loneliness and depression at being thrust into a new world without any knowledge of himself or of anything around him. The need for companionship and creative outlet outweighed the need for perfection. This imperfection is what allowed the first puppet to become animate because it allowed for some connection between himself and the puppet, which would not have existed had the puppet been perfectly made.

answer: They are homemade.

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

Why does such an imperfect doll take so long to make?

answer: I have no idea.

answer: The story talks about a flurry of threads and a blur of needles and yet he and his creation are crudely made. There must be very little time before the sands of time are depleted.

answer: He is driven by an instinctive passion to create, though he is imperfect at creating. Despite his shortcomings, he is determined to create something that resembles himself, however crudely, which, in turn, gives him purpose. The imperfection makes the creation all the more important to him, because he perceives it as his purpose and accomplishment.

answer: The doll wants to hold and love his creation, and become fond of himself

answer: The imperfect doll took so long to make because he was driven by an urge to create something out of nothing; he was lonely and saw his creation as the first part of a larger purpose undetermined. He became obsessed with his creation and worked tirelessly to create a puppet that resembled himself. Once the puppet began to move, after receiving a tear from the doll's eye, his world shifted and he felt a warmth he had been missing before. The creation of the puppet not only kept him connected in some way but also gave him a purpose inside of a chaotic and strange world.

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

Why does the doll initially find it so difficult to move?

answer: He is unused to movement and needs to loosen up.

answer: The doll initially finds it difficult to move due to his appearance being crudely made and hastily stitched. He is without extravagance, as well as any significant experience with movement or driving motivation. When he does finally muster the courage and motivation to stand, his limbs shake with fear and despair. In grief and anguish, he finally endures to animate his creation and make his mark on this new strange world.

answer: Possibly because he wasn't created to move mechanically. It may be implied that he wasn't originally made as a puppet, so his crafting abilities may be extremely limited. Robots and other non-human systems may fail to understand their own abilities.

answer: The doll initially finds it difficult to move because he is decently made and had only a few differing colors of cloth to work with. He is without extravagance and does not yet understand what moves a puppet. With the phenomenon of the animated puppet starting only after the hourglass turns, he becomes overwhelmed with remorse and disgust for his existence and gives up. It is the shedding of a single tear on the puppet that begins to stir her.

answer: It is likely because the puppet as his only been around for a while in his makeshift home.

question: Write a ~22 sentence summary.

answer:
He is thrust into a world he knows nothing about. Pictures and diagrams of a puppet stand before him. His appearance was similar to that of a doll. A book opens with a diagram of a puppet that looked like him. He wanted to hold the diagram just like the human who did at his birth. He was not like a human; he was crudely made, with button eyes hastily stitched.

He created his creation but it made him sad that she could not hold him, but acknowledged the loneliness was hers. His tears fell on her lifeless body, and she lived. She held onto him with warmth radiating from his body, filling him. Dimming, with a smile, he disintegrated into nothingness.

answer:
He was thrust into a world that he knew nothing about. What was he? Who was he? Most importantly who had held him close just moments ago? An hourglass hung upon the wall. As he watched it turned.

He looked like a crudely made doll. He had button eyes. Hastily stitched threads held his cotton body together. He dragged himself to the desk. A book fell open with instructions on how to make a puppet.
He had found a purpose for his questionable existence. He began to make a puppet according to the instructions. He worked tirelessly. Eventually, he had a dirty lump of threads that looked vaguely like him. He clutched her to his chest to give her life. All the while he watched the hourglass. She neither moved nor held him. In the end, he gave up and collapsed upon the floor in despair.

A tear welled in his button eye and fell on her lifeless body which began to stir. He held her close and watched the last grain flow from the hourglass. He disintegrated leaving her alone and the hourglass rotated.

answer: A puppet finds himself thrust into a new world with no idea of who or what he is. He spots an hourglass and decides to investigate. When he looks at the hourglass it turns and sand begins to trickle through. He finds a book with diagrams of puppets and realizes that he wants to create one. He begins crafting one of cloth and cotton and just as he finishes, the puppet begins to move. The puppet cries when the puppet doesn't respond to him, but as he holds the puppet, it begins to move and suddenly revive. Together the pair begin an endless cycle of creation and rebirth, spurred on by the turning of the hourglass.

answer: A boy is thrust into a strange world that he knows nothing about, and he is deeply concerned. His new surroundings are empty except for a desk. Then, the figure who had captured him earlier turns out to be the same one who initiates him into the world. He finds a book which shows a diagram of a puppet, resembling him. He starts to work on a doll puppet out of a deep loneliness and desire to create something. As the hourglass runs out of sand, the puppet starts to move, and the boy sees this as success. He experiences grief and admits defeat, but is ultimately comforted by the animation of his creation.

answer:
Thrust into a room he doesn't know, the puppet's expression is frozen in a blank look. He stands, and drags his feet a few slow strides toward the desk. A book opens before him, with a diagram of a puppet that looks like him. Lines and scratchings flank the portrait, and a longing takes over the puppet to hold it. He begins a frantic activity, first sewing his own body and stuffing it with cotton, them stabbing at the image with needles excitedly. A crude lump of cloth becomes a puppet on the desk. Afterward, he clings to it in horror at his loneliness, grabs her lifeless form and falls to the floor. A tear rolls down his jabber button as the hourglass drains of sand.

The puppet fasten her lifeless body to him as she awakens. She looks up to see the last grain of sand on the hourglass run down. She holds his unmoving body, a subtle smile stitched in yarn. The hourglass melts, and the two mold into the white canvas.