text:
We were enjoying the cool night air. I lit a cigarette and took a quick harsh drag. My friend sat next me, quiet. He wouldn’t admit his thoughts, but I could see them on his face. I sat with the cigarette between fingers, slowly burning down, quickly giving me a buzz, relieving my stress. He was waiting for a text. I was waiting for anything. That night I wore shorts and a sweater: comfortably chilled. I can’t remember, but it is possible that we had been drinking.

From the vantage point of my friend’s porch we could see them approach her building and stand just outside her door. She was anxious. He, as always, was calm and cool.

I turned to my friend, “Do you see this?” I took a drag, eager for what happened next.

They stood there. Talking. His jeans loose, hems on the concrete, striped hoody, and backwards flat-billed baseball cap, all synonymous with his profile. She wore a skirt, netted leggings underneath, large boots coming half way up her calf, a low cut shirt and a half buttoned up purple cardigan sweater, her sunset red hair kept neat under a black beret. These two friends stood talking in the dark of night; thinking that they were alone in this moment. That for a few minutes the world was theirs. I watched on, ignorant to my friend’s presence and text chimes. In my mind I saw and heard their conversation. She was thanking him for being a good guy to walk her home. He said it was nothing and that he was happy to do it; “No problem.” One of them checked their phone, probably he did. He motioned to go. She asked him to wait. She stepped in for a hug and embraced him. He wasn’t reluctant, he didn’t stop to think about the implications, and he did not consider his girlfriend hundreds of miles away. He didn’t think about how much his girlfriend meant to him, and he didn’t consider how much this girl holding him right now wanted to be more than friends. He held her tight in his arms. And he released first. She held a second longer, understanding that now, given the circumstances, and his obligations, that he could not be with her. She turned to unlock her door; she pulled it open and stood there, holding it. One hand on the door, the other hanging at her side. They said goodbye, he turned and walked away. But she didn’t turn in. She stood there.

I was fixated on her. I wanted to walk over to her and tell her I’m sorry it wouldn’t work out with him. I wanted to run after him and tell him what he’s doing to her. But I couldn’t. I watched her. This image is cast in my mind like stone. The yellow lights on the wall above her emitting their soft enveloping glow. The way she held most of her weight on one foot. Her head cocked slightly to one side and inclined towards his fleeting presence. And my friend reclined on next to me. Cigarette smoke drifting before my face in the breeze.

To me this moment only lasted about fifteen seconds. She watched after him. I saw in her body language how she registered the ramifications of their conversation and interactions. Her body slouched. Her hand fell off the door letting it swing in, stopping against her shoulder. She loosened her firm stance and stepped one foot back to turn, but she couldn’t yet. She had to watch him a few seconds longer; she had to hope that he’d changed; that maybe he did feel the same way for her. Hoped that maybe he’d turn back for her. I could only imagine how long this felt for her, the emotions she felt as he went farther away, without looking back: the impact of his words tonight, the realizations within that hug, the disappointment and despondency of that brief moment. She finally turned in—sad, lonely, defeated. I felt sorry for her. I felt guilty that I had intruded on this moment; that I watched something that was supposed to be private and within only her world.

I finished my cigarette, crushed the butt, and threw it away.

title: A Goodbye (ws please)

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

How did they meet?

answer: It isn't stated

answer: Unknown.

answer: The two friends met when the girl asked the boy to walk her home late one night.

text: Unknown

answer: Not specified.

answer: The two people in the passage met while walking home from somewhere, presumably a bar or event.

text: Unknown

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

Where is his girlfriend?

answer: Somewhere far away, hundreds of miles away

answer: Unknown.

answer: His girlfriend is hundreds of miles away.

answer: The story doesn't mention.

answer: She is hundreds of miles away.

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

Will they meet again?

answer: It seems unlikely.

answer: Unknown.

answer: No, they will not meet again. These two friends said goodbye for the last time that night and there is no indication that they will ever see each other again.

answer: No, they are unlikely to meet again given the circumstances. The passing of one another symbolizes the end of their relationship.

answer: It's not clear.

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

Where is he going?

answer: It seems that he is the boyfriend of the woman they are seeing.

text: He is going back home, to his girlfriend in another location.

refinement: He is going back home, to his girlfriend in another location.

answer: He is going back to his girlfriend who is hundreds of miles away.

answer: Unknown.

answer: He is going back home, to his girlfriend in another location.

answer: The woman she is talking to her friend about a boy she liked who she saw a few minutes ago but did not see him for a while. Since she liked him, she lets her guard down and allowed him to hug her, hence she feels those weren't the last hugs the two of them were to share.

text: He is going back home, to his girlfriend in another location.

refinement: He is going back home, to his girlfriend in another location.

question: Write a ~5 sentence summary.

answer: The narrator smokes a cigarette while watching two friends say goodbye. They are male and female, and the girl loves the guy, but the guy has a girlfriend. The narrator wants to run into the moment and tell the guy how he is making the girl feel. But instead the narrator says nothing and just feels guilty for looking in on a private moment. The narrator finishes their cigarette.

answer: Two friends are having a cigarette on the porch steps. They watch and comment on the activities of an unknown girl and a man. The girl is in love with the man. The man is on his way to his girlfriend.

answer: The narrator shares a cigarette with his friend as they watch a couple outside the girl's building. The narrator reveals that he is disgusted by how the boy with the girl treats her by calmly leaving her when he gets a text while she seems so crushed. He is tempted to walk over and take this all, but notices a worried glance from his friend and shuts his mouth. His friend waits for a text and the narrator is restless. The narrator finishes his cigarette and feels guilty for having watched the girl get crushed.

answer: A friend is waiting for a text while on the porch overlooking his friend's building. She approaches with someone she is dating. The friend watches as they say goodbye; she is sad, defeated and watches the other leave with regret. The friend smokes a cigarette, watching as the goodbye concludes.

text: She is not dating him

refinement: A friend is waiting for a text while on the porch overlooking his friend's building. She approaches with someone she loves but is not dating. The friend watches as they say goodbye; she is sad, defeated and watches the other leave with regret. The friend smokes a cigarette, watching as the goodbye concludes.

answer: On a cool night, a friend and the protagonist witness a friend hug their acquaintance goodbye. It becomes clear that the two are no longer just friends, but are feeling other emotions despite an unspoken obligation to their significant others. The protagonist feels sorry for the acquaintance, who watches the friend walk away with a slumped stance and a sad expression.


split: train

text:
1. There came a horrifyingly bleak moment when silence fell amongst my comrades and myself. Before that the entire world had self destructed right in front of me and this is where the apocalypse revealed itself. The war didn’t end with any patriotic bullshit or grand show of humanity. It ended with this, the most painful silence that I ever felt. I have spent the last 299 days watching children massacre the children of other children with bullets and chemicals, but this is the only thing that will remain in my mind after I’m home. They say you never forget the smell of burning flesh. They say it stays inside of you until you’re dead. If dying is the only thing that can save me from having to live with this memory then it can’t come soon enough.

1. For all of these innocent corpses the sun didn’t rise the next morning. For me it did. Why? I have committed acts of untold evil upon my fellow man and these people did nothing. I now have to try and live knowing that I did this, but for them it is the end.

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

Which month does the narrator go to Auschwitz?

answer: The narrator says that they went on January 27th.

text: A Soldier's Thoughts Upon Entering Auschwitz on January 27, 1945

answer: January.

text: A Soldier's Thoughts Upon Entering Auschwitz on January 27, 1945

answer: January.

text: A Soldier's Thoughts Upon Entering Auschwitz on January 27, 1945

answer: January.

text: A Soldier's Thoughts Upon Entering Auschwitz on January 27, 1945

answer: January

text: A Soldier's Thoughts Upon Entering Auschwitz on January 27, 1945

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

Why did the narrator spend the past 299 days watching children fight?

answer: The narrator spent the past 299 days watching children fight because they were involved in a horrific war. The narrator was horrified by the scene at Auschwitz. Seeing innocent people killed without regard for their lives made the memory unbearable, causing the narrator to feel helpless and fueled an urge to put an end to this.

text:
Does not answer the "why" part of the question.
Information is not provided.

text: I have spent the last 299 days watching children massacre the children of other children with bullets and chemicals, but this is the only thing that will remain in my mind after I’m home. They say you never forget the smell of burning flesh. They say it stays inside of you until you’re dead. If dying is the only thing that can save me from having to live with this memory then it can’t come soon enough.

answer: The text does not explore this.

text: The information is not provided.

answer: It may be implied that children were killing other children.

text: The information is not provided

text: I have spent the last 299 days watching children massacre the children of other children

answer: They weren't fighting. They were massacring another's children.

text: The information is not provided

text: I have spent the last 299 days watching children massacre the children of other children with bullets and chemicals

answer: The narrator has been watching children fight because war did not end in a fulfilling way for him or the victims he has seen. He knows what has happened and what he has done because he has witnessed it firsthand. In Auschwitz he watched the Holocaust unfold before his eyes, including the burning of innocent victims. He did this because it is all he could do in the face of such catastrophic evil.

text: The information is not provided

refinement: The information is not provided, however, it is possible that the narrator has been watching children fight because war did not end in a fulfilling way for him or the victims he has seen. He knows what has happened and what he has done because he has witnessed it firsthand. In Auschwitz he watched the Holocaust unfold before his eyes, including the burning of innocent victims. He did this because it is all he could do in the face of such catastrophic evil.

text: I have spent the last 299 days watching children massacre the children of other children with bullets and chemicals

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

What untold acts of evil has the narrator committed?

answer: The narrator has committed acts of untold evil upon his fellow man, most likely by participating in genocidal actions.

text: External information (genocide). The article does not answer the question.

refinement: The article does not answer the question

text: I have committed acts of untold evil upon my fellow man and these people did nothing

answer: The narrator doesn't say what these acts are.

text: The information is not given

answer: The narrator has committed acts of violence against other human beings. Specifically, he has seen children slaughter one another with guns and chemicals.

text: Does not answer what the narrator has actively done that is considered as an untold act of evil. In fact, the information is not in the text at all.

refinement: The information is not given in the story.

text: I have committed acts of untold evil upon my fellow man and these people did nothing

text: I have spent the last 299 days watching children massacre the children of other children with bullets and chemicals,

answer: The narrator hasn't described the acts.

text: The information is not given

answer: The text does not say.

text: The information is not given

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

On which side has the narrator been fighting?

answer: the narrator fought on the side of the genernators.

text: The text does not say.

answer: The text does not say.

text: The text does not say.

answer: The narrator has been fighting on the side of the Allies, against the Nazis and those fighting on behalf of the Nazis.

text: The text does not say.

answer: The narrator has been fighting on the side of the Nazis.

text: The text does not say.

answer: It describes fighting on one side, then on different sides, but some of the observations apply to both sides which could imply "both sides" as he claims to have witnessed both from his window, but it's unclear if the narrator is on the "responsible" side or not. The narrator wants the war to end badly for both sides.

text: The text does not say.

question: Write a ~3 sentence summary.

answer: A soldier recounts entering Auschwitz for the first time. He was startled by the silence that engulfed his group, and the memory of the smell of burning flesh will never leave him. For these innocent people, the sun did not rise the next day; for the soldier, it did. He questions how he can live with what he has done when these people have no chance of survival, and vowed to die if that is what it takes to leave this memory behind.

text: More than 3 sentences.

refinement: A soldier recounts entering Auschwitz for the first time and being startled by the silence that engulfed his group, and the memory of the smell of burning flesh will never leave him. For these innocent people, the sun did not rise the next day; for the soldier, it did. He questions how he can live with what he has done when these people have no chance of survival, and vowed to die if that is what it takes to leave this memory behind.

text: There came a horrifyingly bleak moment when silence fell amongst my comrades and myself.

text: They say you never forget the smell of burning flesh. They say it stays inside of you until you’re dead. If dying is the only thing that can save me from having to live with this memory then it can’t come soon enough.

text: I have committed acts of untold evil upon my fellow man and these people did nothing.

answer: The narrator describes a situation in which the last remaining elements of society have been decimated away and any faint hope has been taken away from them. Then they smell burning flesh, and become aware of the horrors in the camp which everyone else there accepts. Now, they feel sick to their stomach and ask for death.

text: Before that the entire world had self destructed right in front of me and this is where the apocalypse revealed itself.

text: They say you never forget the smell of burning flesh

text: If dying is the only thing that can save me from having to live with this memory then it can’t come soon enough.

answer: A soldier entered Auschwitz on January 27, 1945, praying not to live long enough to remember the horrors he witnessed there for the rest of his life. The soldier killed and massacred so many people and so desperately wished to die.

text: No confirmation if the soldier did commit the act of killing a lot of people

refinement: A soldier entered Auschwitz on January 27, 1945, praying not to live long enough to remember the horrors he witnessed there for the rest of his life. The narrator has to try and live knowing what he did.

text: If dying is the only thing that can save me from having to live with this memory then it can’t come soon enough.

text: A Soldier's Thoughts Upon Entering Auschwitz on January 27, 1945

text: I have committed acts of untold evil upon my fellow man and these people did nothing.

answer: The narrator enters Auschwitz for the first time on January 27, 1945. They have been witnessing children's fighting one another for 299 days. The narrator says they will never forget the smell of burning flesh, and that they have committed unspeakable acts of evil.

text: A Soldier's Thoughts Upon Entering Auschwitz on January 27, 1945

text: I have spent the last 299 days watching children massacre the children of other children with bullets and chemicals,

text: They say you never forget the smell of burning flesh. They say it stays inside of you until you’re dead.

answer: A Soldier enters Auschwitz and is overwhelmed by the horrors he sees. The death and the smell of burning flesh will stay with him for the rest of his life. He feels guilty for his part in the atrocities committed there and wishes death could come sooner.

text: They say you never forget the smell of burning flesh. They say it stays inside of you until you’re dead.

text: A Soldier's Thoughts Upon Entering Auschwitz on January 27, 1945

text: If dying is the only thing that can save me from having to live with this memory then it can’t come soon enough.


text:
_CONAN THE FORMIDABLE_ is a fantasy novel by American writer Steve Perry, featuring Robert E. Howard's sword and sorcery hero Conan the Barbarian. It was first published in trade paperback by Tor Books in November 1990; a regular paperback edition followed from the same publisher in August 1991, and was reprinted in June 1998.[1]

Plot summary

The novel opens with Conan walking into Shadizar through the Karpash Mountains. He is ambushed by some bandits in the mountains and rescued by a giantess named Teyle. She leads Conan back to her village in the swamp they inhabit at the foot of a mountain. The swamp is also inhabited by Vargs, who are described as “Green dwarves” and act more like goblins or orcs. Upon arriving, he is knocked out by Teyle to be experimented upon by the request of Raseri, the village chieftain and Teyle's father.

Conan awakens inside a cage made from the bones of giants and finds he's being experimented upon by Raseri. Raseri is performing research on the physical endurance of damage in humans. Meanwhile, Dake the freakmaster is on his way to the giant's village with his entourage of Penz the wolfman, Tro the catwoman, Sab the four-armed man, and Kreg his assistant. Dake's mission is to capture a giant and a “green dwarf” for his freak show.

On the way, Dake's freak show is attacked by Vargs, but the creatures are scared off by a massive red demon which Dake summons (which is an illusion). Penz captures one of the Vargs at the behest of Dake. Dake promptly hypnotizes his Varg into servitude. The Varg that is captured turns out to be Vilken, the son of Fosull, a Varg chieftain.

Conan eventually escapes the cage in which he is being held and sets fire to Raseri's hut, sending all of his research on humans into flames. Conan escapes into the swamp, running across some Vargs and killing several of them. Meanwhile, Dake arrives at night in the hopes of capturing a giant for his freak show with the help of Tro the catwoman's night vision. The flaming hut distracts many of the giants and Dake is able to capture Teyle, as well as Morja and Oren, who are also Raseri's children.

As Conan escapes, the giants release their “Hellhounds”, a massive beast with the appearance of a cross between a bear and a wolf. The hellhounds, Vargs, and giants are tracking Conan in that order of following. Soon, Conan slays all the hellhounds. When the Vargs and giants find these corpses, they are amazed. Conan finally escapes the swamp only to be magically captured by Dake.

Figuring that more of his own kind will attract too much attention, Raseri decides to leave the swamp to look for his children by asking the local humans if they have seen a man resembling Conan. Fosull decides on a similar plan, but coats himself in mud (so as not to display his green skin) and follows the cart's tracks, knowing what they look like. Fosull manages to get a ride with a drunken wine seller in his cart. Dake forces Conan to display his strength so that it may be measured. Dake learns that Conan is stronger than all the rest of his freak show combined and sets Conan to use as his strongman for the traveling circus.

Raseri eventually finds Fosull's wagon and learns that the cart in front of him contains a Varg who is tracking their children. Fosull learns that he is being tracked by a giant, but knows not who. Dake exhibits his circus to a village. Eventually, Conan discovers that rage helps in weakening Dake's spell. Soon, Penz reveals he knows a few of Dake's spells.

Fosull and Raseri form a temporary alliance to rescue their children. Dake meets up with a caravan of other merchants. They stop for the night and Dake sends Morja to the leader of the caravan as a gift. Raseri and Fosull have managed to sneak up secretly. This enrages Dake's slaves and they manage to break the spell of entrapment set upon them. The former-slaves, Raseri, and Fosull manage to rescue Morja before she arrives at the merchant's wagon.

The group kills the merchant and several guards in the ensuing battle. Oren throws a rock at Dake as he's reciting his enslavement spell. The spell gets 2/3 done and binds the ex-slaves, Raseri, and Fousull (except for Conan) before the thrown rock smashes Dake's teeth preventing the final articulation of the spell. Conan promptly slays Dake in the process.

Raseri is convinced that the group should not be able to leave knowing how to get to his village of giants. Raseri tells the group that he has a potion which will help them forget how to get to his village. However, his potion is actually a poison. Penz sprinkles a powder (stolen from Dake) that turns all liquid to water into the cups of the slaves while Raseri is not watching. Eveyone drinks the potion and Raseri reveals they are about to die. Fosull, whose drink was not sprinkled with the magical powder, kills Raseri with his poisoned spear and dies shortly afterwards. Raseri's death also prevents the poison from taking effect. Soon, Teyle decides to let the group leave and the book is concluded.

Reception

Don D'Ammassa calls the book “the weakest of Perry's [Conan] pastiches, but still not bad.”[2]

Notes

[1]

[2] D'Ammassa, Don. “Conan the Formidable” (review on Critical Mass). Nov. 7, 2017.

title: Conan the Formidable

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

What does the text say about Dake's freak show?

answer: Dake's freak show summons a red demon that scares off some Vargs, and captures a Varg to use as an attraction. Furthermore, Dake forces Conan to display his strength so that it can be measured. Finally, Dake also exhibits his circus to a village.

text: It is unclear and not essential. I would delete it.

refinement: Furthermore, Dake forces Conan to display his strength so that it can be measured. Finally, Dake also exhibits his circus to a village.

text: It is omitted: Dake and his freakshow are on their way to capture a giant, Teyle, and a dwarf for his freak show. Dake manages to capture Teyle, Morja and Oren, Raseri's children, and Conan. Conan discovers that rage helps in weakening Dake's spell. Raseri and Fosull have managed to sneak up secretly. This enrages Dake's slaves and they manage to break the spell of entrapment set upon them. The slaves in Dake's freakshow break their spells of entrapment, and Conan kills Dake.

refinement: Dake and his freakshow are on their way to capture a giant, Teyle, and a dwarf for his freak show. Dake manages to capture Teyle, Morja and Oren, Raseri's children, and Conan. He exhibits his circus to a village. Dake forces Conan to display his strength. Conan discovers that rage helps in weakening Dake's spell. Raseri and Fosull have managed to sneak up secretly. This enrages Dake's slaves and they manage to break the spell of entrapment set upon them. The slaves in Dake's freakshow break their spells of entrapment, and Conan kills Dake.

answer: Dake is the freakmaster whose entourage includes Penz the wolfman, Tro the catwoman, Sab the four-armed man, and Kreg his assistant. Dake's mission is to capture a giant and a “green dwarf” for his freak show. The freak show is attacked by Vargs (who have green skin) and he manages to capture the son of a Varg chieftan. He then captures the giants Teyle, Morja, and Oren, children of the giant chieftan. Dake exhibits his circus to a village, and this is where he is found and killed - and his slaves freed - by Conan, the Vargs, and the giants.

text: It is omitted that Dake captures Conan.

refinement: Dake is the freakmaster whose entourage includes Penz the wolfman, Tro the catwoman, Sab the four-armed man, and Kreg his assistant. Dake's mission is to capture a giant and a “green dwarf” for his freak show. The freak show is attacked by Vargs (who have green skin) and he manages to capture the son of a Varg chieftan. He then captures the giants Teyle, Morja, and Oren, children of the giant chieftan, and Conan. Dake exhibits his circus to a village, and this is where he is found and killed - and his slaves freed - by Conan, the Vargs, and the giants.

text: It should be 'chieftain' instead of 'chieftan'.

refinement: Dake is the freakmaster whose entourage includes Penz the wolfman, Tro the catwoman, Sab the four-armed man, and Kreg his assistant. Dake's mission is to capture a giant and a “green dwarf” for his freak show. The freak show is attacked by Vargs (who have green skin) and he manages to capture the son of a Varg chieftan. He then captures the giants Teyle, Morja, and Oren, children of the giant chieftain. Dake exhibits his circus to a village, and this is where he is found and killed - and his slaves freed - by Conan, the Vargs, and the giants.

answer: Dake sets out with Penz, Tro, Sab, and Kreg to find a giant and a “green dwarf” for his freak show. Dake summons a red demon (an illusion), which scares Vargs. The Varg that then gets captured is Vilken, the son of a Varg chieftain. Dake hypnotizes Vilken into servitude.

text: I would delete 'Dake summons a red demon (an illusion), which scares Vargs. The Varg that then gets captured is Vilken, the son of a Varg chieftain. Dake hypnotizes Vilken into servitude' as it is not very important.

refinement: Dake sets out with Penz, Tro, Sab, and Kreg to find a giant and a “green dwarf” for his freak show.

text: It is omitted that Dake manages to capture giant Teyle, Morja and Oren, Raseri's children, and Conan. He exhibits his circus to a village. Dake forces Conan to display his strength. Conan discovers that rage helps in weakening Dake's spell. Raseri and Fosull have managed to sneak up secretly. This enrages Dake's slaves and they manage to break the spell of entrapment set upon them. The slaves in Dake's freakshow break their spells of entrapment, and Conan kills Dake.

refinement: Dake sets out with Penz, Tro, Sab, and Kreg to find a giant and a “green dwarf” for his freak show. Dake manages to capture giant Teyle, Morja and Oren, Raseri's children, and Conan. He exhibits his circus to a village. Dake forces Conan to display his strength. Conan discovers that rage helps in weakening Dake's spell. Raseri and Fosull have managed to sneak up secretly. This enrages Dake's slaves and they manage to break the spell of entrapment set upon them. The slaves in Dake's freakshow break their spells of entrapment, and Conan kills Dake.

answer: Dake's freak show includes Penz the wolfman, Tro the catwoman, Sab the four-armed man, and Kreg his assistant. The group captures a Varg who turns out to be Vilken, the son of the Varg chieftain. Dake forces Conan to display his strength, and learns that Conan is stronger than all the rest of his freak show combined. Dake exhibits his circus to a village, and eventually enacts a spell of enslavement.

text: It is omitted that Dake and his freakshow are on their way to capture a giant, Teyle, and a dwarf for his freak show. Dake manages to capture a giant Teyle, Morja and Oren, Raseri's children, and Conan. Conan discovers that rage helps in weakening Dake's spell. Raseri and Fosull have managed to sneak up secretly. This enrages Dake's slaves and they manage to break the spell of entrapment set upon them. The slaves in Dake's freakshow break their spells of entrapment, and Conan kills Dake.

refinement: Dake's freak show includes Penz the wolfman, Tro the catwoman, Sab the four-armed man, and Kreg his assistant. The group captures a Varg who turns out to be Vilken, the son of the Varg chieftain. Dake and his freakshow are on their way to capture a giant, Teyle, and a dwarf for his freak show. Dake manages to capture a giant Teyle, Morja and Oren, Raseri's children, and Conan. He exhibits his circus to a village. Dake forces Conan to display his strength. Conan discovers that rage helps in weakening Dake's spell. Raseri and Fosull have managed to sneak up secretly. This enrages Dake's slaves and they manage to break the spell of entrapment set upon them. The slaves in Dake's freakshow break their spells of entrapment, and Conan kills Dake.

answer: Dake and his freakshow are on their way to capture a giant, Teyle, and a dwarf for his freak show. His freakshow is attacked by Vargs, but they are scared off by a red demon. Penz captures one of the Vargs, who turns out to be Vilken, the son of Fosull (a Varg chieftain). Dake forces Conan to display his strength so that everyone may know how powerful he is. The slaves in Dake's freakshow break their spells of entrapment and rescue Conan.

text: It is omitted that Dake captures Teyle, as well as Morja and Oren, who are also Raseri's children.

refinement: Dake and his freakshow are on their way to capture a giant, Teyle, and a dwarf for his freak show. His freakshow is attacked by Vargs, but they are scared off by a red demon. Penz captures one of the Vargs, who turns out to be Vilken, the son of Fosull (a Varg chieftain). Dake captures Teyle and Morja and Oren, Raseri's children. Dake forces Conan to display his strength so that everyone may know how powerful he is. The slaves in Dake's freakshow break their spells of entrapment and rescue Conan.

text: It is omitted that Dake captures Conan.

refinement: Dake and his freakshow are on their way to capture a giant, Teyle, and a dwarf for his freak show. His freakshow is attacked by Vargs, but they are scared off by a red demon. Penz captures one of the Vargs, who turns out to be Vilken, the son of Fosull (a Varg chieftain). Dake captures Teyle, Morja and Oren, Raseri's children, and Conan. Dake forces Conan to display his strength so that everyone may know how powerful he is. The slaves in Dake's freakshow break their spells of entrapment and rescue Conan.

text: It is omitted that Conan discovers that rage helps in weakening Dake's spell.

refinement: Dake and his freakshow are on their way to capture a giant, Teyle, and a dwarf for his freak show. His freakshow is attacked by Vargs, but they are scared off by a red demon. Penz captures one of the Vargs, who turns out to be Vilken, the son of Fosull (a Varg chieftain). Dake captures Teyle, Morja and Oren, Raseri's children, and Conan. Dake forces Conan to display his strength so that everyone may know how powerful he is. Conan discovers that rage helps in weakening Dake's spell. The slaves in Dake's freakshow break their spells of entrapment and rescue Conan.

text: It is omitted that Dake exhibits his circus to a village.

refinement: Dake and his freakshow are on their way to capture a giant, Teyle, and a dwarf for his freak show. His freakshow is attacked by Vargs, but they are scared off by a red demon. Penz captures one of the Vargs, who turns out to be Vilken, the son of Fosull (a Varg chieftain). Dake captures Teyle, Morja and Oren, Raseri's children, and Conan. He exhibits his circus to a village. Dake forces Conan to display his strength so that everyone may know how powerful he is. Conan discovers that rage helps in weakening Dake's spell. The slaves in Dake's freakshow break their spells of entrapment and rescue Conan.

text: It is omitted that Raseri and Fosull have managed to sneak up secretly. This enrages Dake's slaves and they manage to break the spell of entrapment set upon them

refinement: Dake and his freakshow are on their way to capture a giant, Teyle, and a dwarf for his freak show. His freakshow is attacked by Vargs, but they are scared off by a red demon. Penz captures one of the Vargs, who turns out to be Vilken, the son of Fosull (a Varg chieftain). Dake captures Teyle, Morja and Oren, Raseri's children, and Conan. He exhibits his circus to a village. Dake forces Conan to display his strength so that everyone may know how powerful he is. Conan discovers that rage helps in weakening Dake's spell. Raseri and Fosull have managed to sneak up secretly. This enrages Dake's slaves and they manage to break the spell of entrapment set upon them. The slaves in Dake's freakshow break their spells of entrapment and rescue Conan.

text: It is not explicitly said that they save Conan, only that they manage to break the spell of entrapment set upon them. I would delete this.

refinement: Dake and his freakshow are on their way to capture a giant, Teyle, and a dwarf for his freak show. His freakshow is attacked by Vargs, but they are scared off by a red demon. Penz captures one of the Vargs, who turns out to be Vilken, the son of Fosull (a Varg chieftain). Dake captures Teyle, Morja and Oren, Raseri's children, and Conan. He exhibits his circus to a village. Dake forces Conan to display his strength so that everyone may know how powerful he is. Conan discovers that rage helps in weakening Dake's spell. Raseri and Fosull have managed to sneak up secretly. This enrages Dake's slaves and they manage to break the spell of entrapment set upon them. The slaves in Dake's freakshow break their spells of entrapment.

text: It is omitted that Conan kills Dake.

refinement: Dake and his freakshow are on their way to capture a giant, Teyle, and a dwarf for his freak show. His freakshow is attacked by Vargs, but they are scared off by a red demon. Penz captures one of the Vargs, who turns out to be Vilken, the son of Fosull (a Varg chieftain). Dake captures Teyle, Morja and Oren, Raseri's children, and Conan. He exhibits his circus to a village. Dake forces Conan to display his strength so that everyone may know how powerful he is. Conan discovers that rage helps in weakening Dake's spell. Raseri and Fosull have managed to sneak up secretly. This enrages Dake's slaves and they manage to break the spell of entrapment set upon them. The slaves in Dake's freakshow break their spells of entrapment, and Conan kills Dake.

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

What does the text say about Conan the Barbarian?

answer: Conan the Barbarian is a sword and sorcery hero created by Robert E. Howard, used by Steve Perry in the fantasy novel Conan the Formidable. In the novel, Conan is rescued from bandits by a giantess whose father then imprisons Conan to experiment on. Conan escapes, tracked by the giants, the giants' hellhounds, and Vargs (whose people he killed while escaping). Dake forces Conan into his freak show for his strength, only for Conan to discover that rage helps in weakening Dake's enslavement spell, and ultimately slay Dake.

answer: The text describes Conan as a sword and sorcery hero who is rescued by a giantess and escapes captivity by setting fire to Raseri's hut. Later on, Conan is captured by a travelling freak show led by Dake. However, Conan is able to free himself and kills Dake. The text also mentions that Conan is stronger than all of Dake's freak show combined.

answer: The text describes Conan as a sword and sorcery hero who is rescued by a giantess and captured by a traveling circus. He manages to escape and slay a massive hellhound before being enchanted again. Conan eventually defeats the hypnotist, Raseri, and rescues his companions from a poison.

text: It is inaccurate that Conan kills Rasery. Fosull does.

refinement: The text describes Conan as a sword and sorcery hero who is rescued by a giantess and captured by a traveling circus. He manages to escape and slay a massive hellhound before being enchanted again. Conan eventually defeats the hypnotist.

text: It is not very clear. I would rewrite it.

refinement: The text describes Conan as a sword and sorcery hero who is rescued by a giantess and captured by her father to experiment on. Conan escapes, tracked by the giants, the giants' hellhounds, and Vargs (whose people he killed while escaping). Dake forces Conan into his freak show for his strength. Conan discovers that rage helps in weakening Dake's enslavement spell, and ultimately slays Dake.

answer: Conan the Formidable is a fiction novel by American writer Steve Perry. It also has Patrick D'Lacey as one of the illustrator.

text: It is irrelevant that it also has Patrick D'Lacey as one of the illustrators.

refinement: Conan the Formidable is a fiction novel by American writer Steve Perry.

text: It is omitted that in the novel, Conan is rescued from bandits by a giantess whose father then imprisons Conan to experiment on; Conan escapes, tracked by the giants, the giants' hellhounds, and Vargs (whose people he killed while escaping); Dake captures Conan and forces him into his freak show for his strength; Conan discovers that rage helps in weakening Dake's enslavement spell, and ultimately slays Dake.

refinement: Conan the Formidable is a fiction novel by American writer Steve Perry. In the novel, Conan is rescued from bandits by a giantess whose father then imprisons Conan to experiment on. Conan escapes, tracked by the giants, the giants' hellhounds, and Vargs (whose people he killed while escaping). Dake captures Conan and forces him into his freak show for his strength. Conan discovers that rage helps in weakening Dake's enslavement spell, and ultimately slays Dake.

answer: The text briefly mentions how Conan was a sword and sorcery hero in a fantasy novel by American writer Steve Perry.

text: It is omitted that Conan is rescued from bandits by a giantess whose father then imprisons Conan to experiment on; Conan escapes, tracked by the giants, the giants' hellhounds, and Vargs (whose people he killed while escaping); Dake captures Conan and forces him into his freak show for his strength. Conan ultimately slays Dake.

refinement: The text briefly mentions how Conan was a sword and sorcery hero in a fantasy novel by American writer Steve Perry. In the novel, Conan is rescued from bandits by a giantess whose father then imprisons Conan to experiment on. Conan escapes, tracked by the giants, the giants' hellhounds, and Vargs (whose people he killed while escaping). Dake captures Conan and forces him into his freak show for his strength. Conan ultimately slays Dake.

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

Summarize the use of poison in the story.

answer: Dake uses poison powder to put into the drinks of some of his captives in order to kill them. One of the captives spares some of the drink when he discovers this and poisons Raseri.

text: It is inaccurate that Dake uses poison powder to put into the drinks of some of his captives in order to kill them.

refinement: One of the captives spares some of the drink when he discovers this and poisons Raseri.

text: It is unclear, it should be rewritten.

text: It is omitted that Raseri tells the group that he has a potion that will help them forget how to get to his village. However, his potion is actually poison. Penz sprinkles a powder that turns all liquid into water into the cups of the slaves while Raseri is not watching. Everyone drinks the potion and Raseri reveals they are about to die. Fosull, whose drink was not sprinkled with the magical powder, kills Raseri with his poisoned spear and dies shortly afterward. Raseri's death prevents the poison from taking effect.

refinement: Raseri tells the group that he has a potion that will help them forget how to get to his village. However, his potion is actually poison. Penz sprinkles a powder that turns all liquid into water into the cups of the slaves while Raseri is not watching. Everyone drinks the potion and Raseri reveals they are about to die. Fosull, whose drink was not sprinkled with the magical powder, kills Raseri with his poisoned spear and dies shortly afterward. Raseri's death prevents the poison from taking effect.

answer: Raseri attempts to poison the group. He tells them it's a potion to help them forget where his village is located. Penz saves the slaves from the poison by sprinkling into their cups a powder that turns all liquid to water. Raseri reveals the truth after everyone has drunk, and Fosull (whose drink was not sprinkled with the magical powder) kills Raseri with his poisoned spear. Raseri's death prevents the poison from taking effect.

answer: The use of poison in this story revolves around protecting the village of giants that the titular character of the book, Conan, is eventually captured by. The chieftain, Raseri, takes a poison that is a powerful poison that would kill anyone who consumes it. When he realizes that Conan is being spared due to his usefulness, he sprinkles the poison into cups of the slaves so that they would all die if they leave. However, the poison is thwarted when Penz manages to sneak in a magical dust that causes all liquid to turn into water, before the poison can take effect. Thus, the poison is used as a deterrent to prevent escape.

text: It is not stated that Conan is being spared due to his usefulness.

refinement: The use of poison in this story revolves around protecting the village of giants that the titular character of the book, Conan, is eventually captured by. The chieftain, Raseri, takes a poison that is a powerful poison that would kill anyone who consumes it. He sprinkles the poison into cups of the slaves so that they would all die if they leave. However, the poison is thwarted when Penz manages to sneak in a magical dust that causes all liquid to turn into water, before the poison can take effect. Thus, the poison is used as a deterrent to prevent escape.

text: It is unclear and irrelevant. I would delete it.

refinement: The chieftain, Raseri, takes a poison that is a powerful poison that would kill anyone who consumes it. He sprinkles the poison into cups of the slaves so that they would all die if they leave. However, the poison is thwarted when Penz manages to sneak in a magical dust that causes all liquid to turn into water, before the poison can take effect. Thus, the poison is used as a deterrent to prevent escape.

text: Repetitive. I would delete it.

refinement: The chieftain, Raseri sprinkles the poison into cups of the slaves so that they would all die if they leave. However, the poison is thwarted when Penz manages to sneak in a magical dust that causes all liquid to turn into water, before the poison can take effect. Thus, the poison is used as a deterrent to prevent escape.

text: It is not said that they will die if they leave.

refinement: The chieftain, Raseri sprinkles the poison into cups of the slaves so that they would all die. However, the poison is thwarted when Penz manages to sneak in a magical dust that causes all liquid to turn into water, before the poison can take effect. Thus, the poison is used as a deterrent to prevent escape.

text: It is not stated that the poison is used as a deterrent to prevent escape.

refinement: The chieftain, Raseri sprinkles the poison into cups of the slaves so that they would all die. However, the poison is thwarted when Penz manages to sneak in a magical dust that causes all liquid to turn into water, before the poison can take effect.

answer: Despite intending to be a poison, Raseri's potion actually masks the group's ability to find his village. A powder stolen from Dake turns all liquid into water. It is sprinkled into the group's cups, which leads to their unwitting deaths when they drink the potion.

text: It is not stated that despite intending to be a poison, Raseri's potion actually masks the group's ability to find his village

refinement: A powder stolen from Dake turns all liquid into water. It is sprinkled into the group's cups, which leads to their unwitting deaths when they drink the potion.

text: They do not die.

refinement: Despite intending to be a poison, Raseri's potion actually masks the group's ability to find his village. A powder stolen from Dake turns all liquid into water. It is sprinkled into the group's cups.

text: It is unclear. It should be rewritten.

text: It is omitted that Raseri attempts to poison the group; he tells them it's a potion to help them forget where his village is located; Penz saves the slaves from the poison by sprinkling into their cups a powder that turns all liquid into water; Raseri reveals the truth after everyone has drunk, and Fosull (whose drink was not sprinkled with the magical powder) kills Raseri with his poisoned spear; Raseri's death prevents the poison from taking effect.

refinement: Raseri attempts to poison the group. He tells them it's a potion to help them forget where his village is located. Penz saves the slaves from the poison by sprinkling into their cups a powder that turns all liquid into water. Raseri reveals the truth after everyone has drunk, and Fosull (whose drink was not sprinkled with the magical powder) kills Raseri with his poisoned spear. Raseri's death prevents the poison from taking effect.

answer: Poison is used by Raseri and Fosull against each other, which is why they die in the end.

text: It is omitted that Raseri attempts to poison the group; he tells them it's a potion to help them forget where his village is located; Penz saves the slaves from the poison by sprinkling into their cups a powder that turns all liquid into water; Raseri reveals the truth after everyone has drunk, and Fosull (whose drink was not sprinkled with the magical powder) kills Raseri with his poisoned spear; Raseri's death prevents the poison from taking effect.

refinement: It is omitted that Raseri attempts to poison the group; he tells them it's a potion to help them forget where his village is located; Penz saves the slaves from the poison by sprinkling into their cups a powder that turns all liquid into water; Raseri reveals the truth after everyone has drunk, and Fosull (whose drink was not sprinkled with the magical powder) kills Raseri with his poisoned spear; Raseri's death prevents the poison from taking effect. Poison is used by Raseri and Fosull against each other, which is why they die in the end.

text: It is repeated that poison is used by Raseri and Fosull against each other, which is why they die in the end.

refinement: It is omitted that Raseri attempts to poison the group; he tells them it's a potion to help them forget where his village is located; Penz saves the slaves from the poison by sprinkling into their cups a powder that turns all liquid into water; Raseri reveals the truth after everyone has drunk, and Fosull (whose drink was not sprinkled with the magical powder) kills Raseri with his poisoned spear; Raseri's death prevents the poison from taking effect.


text:
Two-thirds of Britons said they are living an +unfulfilled life, according to a new poll.

Despite an overwhelming majority of people saying they have a bucket list, financial limitations and time restrictions mean most of us have only ticked off between one and five items on it.

Londoners were found to have the most time constraints, having just 83 minutes a day of spare time to do what they want to.

That compares to people in the North-west who have the most time (130 minutes), followed by the South-east (108 minutes), Scotland (107 minutes) and Yorkshire (104 minutes).

But, despite being time-poor those in the capital were found to have the richest lives, with 45 per cent considering themselves fulfilled.

Those who, overall, have more time and fall into the lower end of the spectrum include the South-west, Scotland and Yorkshire, demonstrating that having more time does not necessarily result in feeling as if you have a fulfilled life.

“People think you need more time to chase your dreams, but it’s really the people who have less time that are seeking a richer life," said Dom South, Marketing Director for Old Speckled Hen, which commissioned the research. "It shows that you just need to use your time wisely.

As well as geography, annual earnings also dictate how time-poor people feel.

Forty eight per cent of people who earn between £20,000 – £45,000 claim they don’t have enough time to do what they want in their life. Whereas almost three quarters of those earning more than £45,000 feel that they do.

One in six under the age of 45 considers themselves to be unfulfilled, rising to 20 per cent of people between the ages of 45-54 years old.

 UK news in pictures

Show all 50

Married couples, meanwhile, are twice as likely to have extrovert traits compared to those who haven’t yet tied the knot. They also join their bucket lists together creating a single list and expanding it from five to six items.

Seeking these new experiences generally makes us happier, gives us a better quality of life and gives us more meaning to the limited time we have to actually do what we want to do.

To reward their customers, Old Speckled Hen has launched a competition encouraging fans to submit photos of themselves living a richer life.

_SWNS_

question: Why do Britons think they are living an unfulfilled life?

answer: Limited financial resources

text: The Britons who say that they live unfulfilled lives lack both limited financial and time resources.

refinement: An overwhelming number of Britons say they have a number of unticked items on their bucket list due to time and money restrictions.

text: Forty-eight percent of people earning less than £45,000 claim they have less time to do what they want while almost three-quarters of those earning above the amount feel they do.

answer: They believe they lack the time and money to fulfill their goals.

text: Londoners were found to have just 83 minutes of spare time a day to pursue their interests while other people earning under £45,000 have less means to do what they really want to do.

answer: They say that they have only done a maximum of five things in their bucket list.

text: Ticking one to five things on a bucket list doesn't automatically mean an unfulfilled life.

refinement: Britons report time and financial restrictions as the main obstacles to fulfilling their innermost desires.

text: An overwhelming number of Britons have bucket lists. However, time and financial restrictions mean most have only ticked between one and five items on it.

question: Why are married couples more extroverted?

answer: Information can't be found.

text: No information is given to back up this claim.

answer: Research shows that they join their bucket lists together, creating a single list and expanding it from five to six items. This would lead to a happier life, better quality of life, and more meaning to limited time.

text: The above answer bears no relation to the question.

refinement: No information is given to back up the question's claim.

text: This answer bears no relation to the question.

answer: The married are more extroverted because they have taken on their partner's bucket lists as their own and made a joint effort in completing them.

text: The answer has no relation to the question.

refinement: No information is given to back up this claim.

text: No information is given to back up this claim.

question: Why do people believe that more time means a chance at a more fulfilled life?

answer: It suggests that people do not have enough time to tick off as many items on their bucket list as they would like to.

text: People believe you need more time in order to be able to chase your dreams.

answer: A group of British people surveyed believe that more time means more time for a more fulfilled life.

text: The answer is not related to the question.

refinement: A group of British people surveyed believes more time means a more fulfilled life because you always need more time to chase whatever dreams you have.

answer: Despite this not being the case, most Britons believe this because of their bad time management.

text: This is not the view of most Britons, but the view of Dom South, a Marketing Director for Old Speckled Hen.

refinement: People with less time have a better chance at a fulfilled life if they have good time management, according to Dom South, Marketing Director for Old Speckled Hen, which commissioned the research.

text: The answer is not that relevant to the question.

question: How does this differ in different age groups?

answer: Adolescents and younger are more carefree than people around 45 or older.

text: More people over the age of 45 consider themselves to be unfulfilled, than those younger than 45 years.

answer: One in six under the age of 45 perceives themselves to be unfulfilled; this rate is twice for married couples.

text: The above answer is false. Though one in six people under the age of 45 perceives themselves to be unfulfilled, there is no known percentage for married couples.

refinement: One in six under the age of 45 perceives themselves to be unfulfilled; as for the over-45s, around 20% of them perceived themselves unfulfilled.

answer: Twenty percent of people between the ages 45-54 years old seem to feel more fulfilled than those in younger age groups.

text: The answer is incorrect.

refinement: Twenty percent of people above 45 years old seem to feel less fulfilled than those in younger age groups.

question: Write a ~2 sentence summary.

answer: According to a study by Old Speckled Hen, British citizens are having a time when it comes to having fulfilling experiences.

text: Most Britons are not having fulfilling experiences.

refinement: According to a study by Old Speckled Hen, most British citizens living unfulfilled lives.

answer: According to a new poll, two thirds of Britons say they are living an unfulfilled life financially. Most people surveyed say they only have checked off one or two items from their bucketlists.

text: Most Britons have checked off between one to five things on their bucket list.

refinement: According to a new poll, two-thirds of Britons say they are living an unfulfilled life financially. Most people surveyed say they only have checked off one to five items from their bucketlists.

text: Two-thirds of Britons are living unfulfilled lives due to time and financial restrictions.

answer: The article summarizes a poll that ranks the average British person's daily challenge of living a fulfilled life and checking items off of the bucket list according to the size of the city in which they reside. People living in London are shown to have the least time to actually do what they want to do, but they also have an overwhelmingly favorable view of how much of a bucket list they've been able to check off.

text: People living in the north-west and south-east of England, though have much free time, are more unfulfilled than those with less free time.

answer: A poll reports on Britons in relation to how much they fulfill their life. Two thirds of respondents said they are unfulfilled.

text: Financial and time restrictions have been said to have contributed to up to two-thirds of Britons being unfulfilled.

answer: A large portion of Britons feel they aren't living a fulfilled life despite having a bucket list. The majority of people participating in the poll believed it required more time to chase after their dreams, but a shorter amount of time doesn't necessarily mean less fulfillment.

text: Many Britons believe they not only need time but money to chase after their dreams.

refinement: A large portion of Britons feels they aren't living ideal lives. The majority of people participating in the poll believe it requires more time as well as money to chase after their dreams.

text: A large portion of Britons believes they require more time and more money to chase after their dreams.

answer: Two-thirds of Britons consider themselves unfulfilled, believing they lack the time to reach their goals. Dom South, Marketing Director for Old Speckled Hen, tells readers that research has proven that this is still possible if time is managed better.

text: Many Britons believe they not only need time but also money to chase after their dreams.

refinement: Two-thirds of Britons consider themselves unfulfilled, believing they lack the time as well as money to reach their goals. Dom South, Marketing Director for Old Speckled Hen, tells readers that research has proven people can still fulfill their dreams if they manage their time better.

text: Despite having less time than those living outside of the capital, 45% of Londoners consider themselves fulfilled.


text:
I picked out a whiskey I had never seen before from the shelf at the liquor store. It promised a bevy of flavours I didn’t care for, but it was obscure enough to impress and cheap enough to afford. I brought it to the front and cashed out, after being glared at incredulously by the cashier for some time. My license picture was remarkably unfortunate.

I returned with my prize to a friend’s barren apartment. The previous tenants had systematically extirpated the meager quarters, leaving cracked windows, a broken faucet and sagging door frames. No furniture had been moved in, and the electricity had yet to be engaged.

We began to drink. I wondered politely if there might be a mixer or a chase. He called me a pussy. I cracked the 26 oz bottle and suckled at it, proclaiming to him about the intricacies of this craft whiskey, and how lucky I was to have found it at such a shitty liquor store. It tasted like gasoline.

It was her birthday tonight. I had driven almost two hours to sleep on the floor in a shit hole just to see her and go to her party. I didn’t know anyone there, except my buddy who was also going. We all went to highschool together. It was only 5, but she had texted me asking me to come earlier. I needed a good buzz before that.

I sucked at the bottle, my throat burning. God that’s the good shit I said. My buddy grabbed the bottle and took a swig. He shuddered slightly and told me how good it was. What time did we want to go? Soon I said. Soon? It was only 5. Well she wanted us there early. Yeah but not that early. I called him a fucking retard.

We proceeded out of the dilapidated apartment. My belly was warm and the air was warm, and sweat pooled in my armpits and groin. We called a cab, and waited on the corner of a street for it to come. We got in. It smelled of curry and moist asshole. My buddy sat in the front seat and I leaned in the back fingering my necked whiskey. After a few minutes the cab arrived at her house, and I reached into my back pocket for a damp bill which I passed forward. I exited the fusty vehicle, clutching my 2-6 and rang the doorbell before my buddy had even closed his door.

She answered, surprised. We were there too early. I said we wanted to help set up. She told me we were sweet. It was a worthy prevarication.

I went in the house and introduced myself to her roommates. They were pretty, talkative, and vapid. She went among them, the alpha. Literally taller. In the better program, from the better family. Beautiful. I took a powerful slug of whiskey, and smiled and laughed. I lifted and organized and joked with my buddy and drank more. As I was lifting the keg into an ice-filled tub, she came up behind me and touched my arm. Thanking me. I told her it was my pleasure and concealed my erection.

More friends of hers showed up. The girls went into a room and changed into shorter skirts. The men shook hands firmly and discussed drinking and other important things. I pulled away at my whiskey, receiving fervent compliments for my fortitude with hard liquor. I went on at length about its quality. The liquid pooled hotly in my gut, like blood.

The girls came out of their room shortly before a horde of guests arrived. The keg was tapped and the party began in earnest. She hurried between guests, a red cup in her hands. She drank and laughed and talked. I looked at her and she smiled at me. I felt hot and flushed. Another swig and I’d go talk to her.

But my buddy summoned me to a cramped room. Large men sweating and shouting. Cups askew on the table top. We played a game. I threw the ball disinterestedly across the table missing often. My buddy screamed obscenities and gesticulated wildly. We both drank frequently and lost the game.

I had to sit down for a minute. She was smoking pot in the next room. I could hear her laughter. Had to collect my shit.
One of the players from the cramped room came out. He handed me a bottle of whiskey barbeque sauce and suggested I use it to chase. I dissented. My buddy came out. Don’t be a fucking pussy. Alright. I tilted the nearly empty bottle to my mouth and pulled long. I clutched for the sauce and tipped that to my mouth. People laughed. It tasted better with the sauce.

There she was. Coming at me. Man up. Hey how are you feeling. Real good. You’re really fucked eh. Nah I do this all the time. Drink some water. Okay.

I put my face under the kitchen sink faucet and turned it on. Water ran into my mouth, over my face. I walked back to her, water dribbling down my chin, my shirt wet. Maybe you should go sit down. Alright.

The whiskey barely covered the bottle bottom. I went to take off the cap but it was gone. Fuck it. I killed the bottle and dropped it to the floor. Watch it man. Fuck off dude.

I wandered out the front door. My buddy came up. You gonna puke man? Nah. I do this all the time. He went back inside and I puked all over her porch.

Staggering against the side wall I pulled myself towards her small backyard. I lay down, shivering and vomiting. I felt for the phone in my pocket, and brought it to my face, the tinny blue light illuminating the patch of ill-kempt lawn around me. Fumbling with the microscopic buttons I typed out I’m sorry. I puked three more times before I sent it to her.

Eventually my buddy collected me. You need to go to the hospital dude? Yeah. Well I’m just gonna take you home OK? Alright.
He handed me a bag for the cab. No puking in the cab. I pressed my face against the cool glass, and shut my eyes.

When we arrived at his place I couldn’t climb the stairs. He lifted and pushed me most of the way. We got inside and I went to the washroom and I puked on the floor.

He went to his room; I could hear him talking on the phone. Couldn’t hear what it was but it was about me. I lay on the cool floor, trying not to smell my own vomit. I took out my phone and there was a message from her. It’s fine, thanks for coming.

There was a smiley face.

title: How 'Bout Last Night: A Tale of Drunken Despondency

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

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

answer: The story portrays the friend as someone who drinks heavily and encourages the narrator to do the same. The friend is also uncaring about the ordeals that the narrator goes through as a result of his drunkenness.

text: The statement that the friend is uncaring is an inference and not completely accurate--the answer should use direct evidence from the text instead.

refinement: The story portrays the friend as someone who drinks heavily and encourages the narrator to do the same. When the narrator gets extremely drunk at a party, his friend collects him and takes him home.

answer: They are friends from high school and are both invited to a mutual friend's birthday party, a girl from high school. The narrator's friend lives a couple of hours away from the narrator in a house with no furniture. They drink some whiskey before going to the birthday party. The friend eggs the narrator on, saying he doesn't need anything to dilute the whiskey. After the narrator gets very drunk at the party, he takes the narrator back home.

text: The phrasing of the last sentence could be clearer in terms of pronouns (who is "he"?).

refinement: They are friends from high school and are both invited to a mutual friend's birthday party, a girl from high school. The narrator's friend lives a couple of hours away from the narrator in a house with no furniture. They drink some whiskey before going to the birthday party. The friend eggs the narrator on, saying he doesn't need anything to dilute the whiskey. After the narrator gets very drunk at the party, the friend takes the narrator back home.

answer: The narrator's friend is someone who does not hesitate to participate in excessive drinking and partying. He not only encourages the narrator to drink more but also joins in himself, often losing in drinking games. The friend shows little sympathy or concern for the narrator's condition - he just wants them to continue drinking.

answer: The narrator's friend is an amateur connoisseur of whiskey. The narrator buys an obscure whiskey that the friend approves of. The friend accompanies the narrator to the birthday party; the narrator introduces his friend to the apartment's occupants, townies who seem vapid, and the protagonist takes shots of whiskey with the two of them. The friend plays along during the cramp'd overcrowded room's games, having a drink frequently and screams obscenities. He receives messages from a person on the phone while they talk about the narrator.

text: The answer is unattested

text: The friend's relationship with alcohol should be mentioned.

refinement: The friend frequently drinks and eggs on the narrator to drink.

text: Should mention the party.

refinement: The friend frequently drinks and eggs on the narrator to drink. The narrator and his friend go to a girl's birthday party.

text: The answer should mention how the friend reacts to the narrator's drunkenness.

refinement: The friend frequently drinks and eggs on the narrator to drink. The narrator and his friend go to a girl's birthday party. When the narrator gets extremely drunk at the party, his friend collects him and takes him home.

answer: The narrator shows up at a party where he only knows one other person-the friend he's with. They start drinking together. The narrator drinks more heavily than his friend does and seems to forget him from time to time, because he wonders if he's been left behind by the narrator. At one point he stumbles upon the narrator after being called and passes the narrator a bottle of booze.

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

What does the story say about the birthday girl?

answer: She, the narrator, and the narrator's friend know each other from high school. She asked the narrator to come early, but he arrives earlier than she thought he would. The narrator notes that she's the better-looking, better-educated one in her group of friends, from a better family. He seems interested in her but doesn't get a chance to talk for real. She drinks pot with another group of her friends and tries to help the narrator after realizing he's drunk. In the end, she doesn't seem too bothered by the narrator's behavior.

answer: The main character goes to a party of a girl whom he went to high school and famously knows. He knows how to impress her but he should not be drinking that much. The girl is tall, beautiful, with better family, and a better program. She greets him and thanks him for coming early to help set up. The main character wants to approach her but he has to play the game with his friend and breaks things.

text: The third sentence should make it clear that this is in comparison to her roommates.

refinement: The main character goes to a party of a girl whom he went to high school and famously knows. He knows how to impress her but he should not be drinking that much. The girl is tall, beautiful, with better family, and a better program than her roommates. She greets him and thanks him for coming early to help set up. The main character wants to approach her but he has to play the game with his friend and breaks things.

text: The answer should mention her reaction to his drunkenness.

refinement: The main character goes to a party of a girl whom he went to high school and famously knows. He knows how to impress her but he should not be drinking that much. The girl is tall, beautiful, with better family, and a better program than her roommates. She greets him and thanks him for coming early to help set up. The main character wants to approach her but he has to play the game with his friend and breaks things. She doesn't mind that he gets drunk and vomits on her porch, and thanks him for coming to her party.

text: The statement that the narrator breaks things is unattested.

refinement: The main character goes to a party of a girl whom he went to high school and famously knows. He knows how to impress her but he should not be drinking that much. The girl is tall, beautiful, with better family, and a better program than her roommates. She greets him and thanks him for coming early to help set up. The main character wants to approach her. She doesn't mind that he gets drunk and vomits on her porch, and thanks him for coming to her party.

text: "wants to approach her" should be "has a crush on her".

refinement: The main character goes to a party of a girl whom he went to high school and famously knows. He knows how to impress her but he should not be drinking that much. The girl is tall, beautiful, with better family, and a better program than her roommates. She greets him and thanks him for coming early to help set up. The main character has a crush on her. She doesn't mind that he gets drunk and vomits on her porch, and thanks him for coming to her party.

answer: The narrator arrives at the birthday girl’s house two hours before the party begins. She realizes that the visitors got there two hours earlier than the time she asked them to. She adjusts to the situation and welcomes the visitors. Overtime, she becomes a friendly face at the party. She’s personable, smoke pot in one of the private rooms and is taller than the narrator. She has dark hair and has a darker complexion.

text: The description of her hair is unattested.

refinement: The narrator arrives at the birthday girl’s house two hours before the party begins. She realizes that the visitors got there two hours earlier than the time she asked them to. She adjusts to the situation and welcomes the visitors. Overtime, she becomes a friendly face at the party. She’s personable, smoke pot in one of the private rooms and is taller than the narrator.

text: The narrator's feelings toward her should be mentioned.

refinement: The narrator arrives at the birthday girl’s house two hours before the party begins. The narrator is romantically interested in her. She realizes that the visitors got there two hours earlier than the time she asked them to. She adjusts to the situation and welcomes the visitors. Overtime, she becomes a friendly face at the party. She’s personable, smoke pot in one of the private rooms and is taller than the narrator.

text: Her reaction to the narrator's drunkenness should be mentioned.

refinement: The narrator arrives at the birthday girl’s house two hours before the party begins. The narrator is romantically interested in her. She realizes that the visitors got there two hours earlier than the time she asked them to. She adjusts to the situation and welcomes the visitors. Overtime, she becomes a friendly face at the party. She’s personable, smoke pot in one of the private rooms and is taller than the narrator. She doesn't mind that he gets drunk and pukes on her porch, and thanks him for coming to the party.

text: The answer should mention how she compares to her friends.

refinement: The narrator arrives at the birthday girl’s house two hours before the party begins. The narrator is romantically interested in her. She realizes that the visitors got there two hours earlier than the time she asked them to. She adjusts to the situation and welcomes the visitors. She seems to be the alpha among her roommates, taller, in a better program, and from a better family. Overtime, she becomes a friendly face at the party. She’s personable, smoke pot in one of the private rooms and is taller than the narrator. She doesn't mind that he gets drunk and pukes on her porch, and thanks him for coming to the party.

text: The line about her being a friendly face at the party is unnecessary.

refinement: The narrator arrives at the birthday girl’s house two hours before the party begins. The narrator is romantically interested in her. She realizes that the visitors got there two hours earlier than the time she asked them to. She adjusts to the situation and welcomes the visitors. She seems to be the alpha among her roommates, taller, in a better program, and from a better family. She’s personable, smoke pot in one of the private rooms and is taller than the narrator. She doesn't mind that he gets drunk and pukes on her porch, and thanks him for coming to the party.

text: The claim that she is taller than the narrator is unattested.

refinement: The narrator arrives at the birthday girl’s house two hours before the party begins. The narrator is romantically interested in her. She realizes that the visitors got there two hours earlier than the time she asked them to. She adjusts to the situation and welcomes the visitors. She seems to be the alpha among her roommates, taller, in a better program, and from a better family. She’s personable, smoke pot in one of the private rooms. She doesn't mind that he gets drunk and pukes on her porch, and thanks him for coming to the party.

text: Grammatical errors

refinement: The narrator arrives at the birthday girl’s house two hours before the party begins. The narrator is romantically interested in her. She realizes that the visitors got there two hours earlier than the time she asked them to. She adjusts to the situation and welcomes the visitors. She seems to be the alpha among her roommates, taller, in a better program, and from a better family. She’s personable and smokes pot in one of the private rooms. She doesn't mind that he gets drunk and pukes on her porch, and thanks him for coming to the party.

answer: The birthday girl appears to be popular, attractive, and outgoing. She is surrounded by friends and generally assumed to be successful. Though the protagonist does not seem to particularly like her, he likes the opportunity to be near her. She is important enough in the protagonist's life to warrant a trip from another city.

answer: The story implies that she is the center of attention. She is beautiful and popular while the narrator is a nobody. She is also very forgiving, apparently understanding the questionable behavior of the narrator. In spite of his pathetic and embarrassing behavior, she still appreciates him for coming.


text:
I take a deep breath, adjust my goggles and sprint to the end. My feet barely touch the mass beneath me and I approach the tip of the wing, the wind screaming beautifully past me, a rush like the flow of blood through an artery, like a wave of water crushing a swimmer for a moment before allowing her respite, the swell of breath as you feel a lover’s touch on your thigh, her eyes locking with yours before her lips do the same. My left foot touches the edge, heel to toe; my knee flexes, and for a moment I think I hesitate, but perhaps I don’t and just wish I had. Perhaps I am pushed.  I launch and turn backwards, flipping so I can see the plane behind me, the earth upside down and for a moment, the briefest moment, I’m suspended in the air. According to physics it’s at this moment where I’m not moving in any direction. There is nothing pushing me this way or that, no commitment to worry about, no forces act on me at all. Then I fall towards the earth speeding along towards the cities, commitment, life, reality. For the next several minutes I feel myself speeding up, crushing down at the solid ground. Finally it feels like I’m not falling. I feel suspended again, floating full of life and feeling and power here 10,000 feet above terra firma.

Pushing through the sky like a bottle opener into a cork, I spin and spin diving further and further towards a certainty I cannot escape. Clouds come into view, glorious and looming. I see them so often from the ground they have become meaningless; up here where it’s different I see them for what they are: constantly shifting bodies. Clouds don’t move, they come into being in a different space, while leaving other parts to wisp away into the wind. They pulse and breathe. They hold you for a moment and then release you. Inside the cloud there’s a magic, a concrete feeling of luscious glory that lasts momentarily before I exit. Clouds come and go as do I, entering and exiting them at a velocity best described as wonderful but dizzying.

The ground is closer and more real than ever, and it’s time to pull. Put a stop to this freedom and embrace safety, end the charade of a freewheeling care-free young man and settle down. The equivalent of a wife and minivan, the kids and the bills and the security of others. Someone who doesn’t just give you the thrill and leave you, something that doesn’t feel like a one night stand. Time to plant your feet on solid ground.

I fall, hand on the cord, eyes on the altimeter, and slowly rotate so I fall looking at the sky. Looking at where I was, seeing how far I’ve come and wishing I was one minute ago, three days ago, 6 months ago. Being dropped is terrible, falling is exhilarating, but finding ground again…

Finding ground again is frightening. The idea of walking around miles below where you were and having to work to get back up here to the sky: well honestly it’s goddam awful. I want to be up in the sky again already, looking down at everyone beneath me, I want to be high up again. But no, right now I’m falling; falling increasingly faster and faster. The ground is rushing at me, that which was so unimportant only a moment ago is now so very important.

I think of what it took to get here. The training, the practice, the years of waiting, the checking of gas, wheels, equipment, radio, wings, instruments, and all the work just to reach the air. Learning and practice and practice and trust and building something that could work. Only to find yourself up high above the world, above it all, nothing can touch you. Packing the chute…

Oh god the parachute. I touch the cord handle of the cord and recall this fall isn’t like the others. I’ve been here before, but I always landed softly, holding the plastic handle that was attached to my chute. There’s nothing safe about it this time. This time I will land hard. I’m passed the moment where I can actually deploy and safely land on the ground. I yank hard on the cord and my chute rips open; a chest with ribs broken and a heart looking at the surgeon beating softly with the thump of a speaker. Wind fills the parachute and I feel myself slow down incredibly fast. I look down and I see the ground only one hundred feet away. I brace myself and try to glide in along the ground, I pull my feet up and I pull the cords by me and I look and I scream, my mouth opens wide and it all comes flying out of me. I slide through high grass going far too fast; my body instinctively curls up and I roll along the ground cracking bones, bruising ribs, and generally fucking up my body. I inhale dirt and scrape a gash on my shin that deposits blood on the ground every few feet. The roll last 6 seconds, but I feel like I’ve been tumbling for months. Dust is everywhere and the cloud billows up around me as I finally come to rest on the ground.

Broken, bruised, beaten, busted up and generally destroyed on every level of existence. I cough and blood mixes into the bare grass around me and I contemplate laying here forever. The sun is fading in the west I look over at it, and I watch, laying down in a mixture of brown, red, green, and yellow and realize that there’s nothing that has to happen, there’s nothing that is more important than finding my own strength and standing up to say I’m ready. I slowly rise up to my knees, and then one foot at a time, I stand up. I watch the sun burn the remnants of the day away, a bright orange ball that everyday cooks the world to a crisp, only to show up the next morning to a fresh new set of ingredients; ready to burn again. The sun’s flames lick the ground and for a moment, a lifetime of a moment, the ground glows red along the entire horizon. I shrug off my parachute and look back up the sky.

I’ll be back up there again soon.

title: Falling in Love and Falling out of a Plane

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

What does the story say about the narrator?

answer: The narrator seems to be in the sky. He thinks of what it took to get to that moment. The narrator then realizes that he needs to open their parachute. As he is about to land, he tries his best to glide in along the ground but he ends up injuring himself.

answer: The story indicates that the narrator loves free-falling and revisits that feeling regularly. He is also willing to take risks and doesn't hesitate to jump off planes. The narrator appreciates life and the feeling of being alive and that of being free. He enjoys the freedom from constraints, even though the fall is terrifying at the same time. He is also willing to take a risk on a more grounded life for the sake of something more meaningful. Despite his falls, he knows there is something more important than that.

text: Clumsy sentence structure

refinement: The story indicates that the narrator loves free-falling and revisits that feeling regularly. He is also willing to take risks and doesn't hesitate to jump off planes. The narrator appreciates life and the feeling of being free and alive. He enjoys the freedom from constraints, even though the fall is terrifying at the same time. He is also willing to take a risk on a more grounded life for the sake of something more meaningful. Despite his falls, he knows there is something more important than that.

text: Clumsy sentence

refinement: The story indicates that the narrator loves free-falling and revisits that feeling regularly. He is also willing to take risks and doesn't hesitate to jump off planes. The narrator appreciates life and the feeling of being free and alive. He enjoys the freedom from constraints as he falls, even though the fall is terrifying. He is also willing to take a risk on a more grounded life for the sake of something more meaningful. Despite his falls, he knows there is something more important than that.

text: Unnecessary

refinement: The story indicates that the narrator loves free-falling and revisits that feeling regularly. He is also willing to take risks and doesn't hesitate to jump off planes. The narrator appreciates life and the feeling of being free and alive. He enjoys the freedom from constraints as he falls, even though the fall is terrifying. He is also willing to take a risk on a more grounded life for the sake of something more meaningful.

answer: He is a sky diver. He menaces the thought of growing older and chooses to take the jump for the sake of it; he does because the fall itself is thrilling and he does not want to grow old.  He shows signs of a daredevil personality and does not seem afraid to die because he does not think about crashing when he does it.

text: Strange choice of words but also inaccurate

refinement: He is a skydiver. He jumps because the fall itself is thrilling.  He shows signs of a daredevil personality and does not seem afraid to die because he does not think about crashing when he does it.

text: Clumsy sentence structure

refinement: He is a sky diver. He worries about growing older. He jumps from the plane for the sheer thrill of it. He shows signs of a daredevil personality and does not seem afraid to die because he does not think about crashing when he does it.

text: Clumsy sentence structure.

refinement: He is a sky diver. He worries about growing older. He jumps from the plane for the sheer thrill of it. He shows signs of a daredevil personality and doesn't seem afraid to die.

answer: The narrator is someone who lives for the thrill and exhilaration of feeling alive while falling from high up in the sky. He is someone who appreciates the beauty of all the natural elements, from the clouds to the sun, even when he is going through the pain of falling to the ground. He is also someone who is strong and brave, someone who can step back from the fall and see the beauty in the wreckage and destruction.

text: There is no mention of wreckage and destruction

refinement: The narrator is someone who lives for the thrill and exhilaration of feeling alive while falling from high up in the sky. He is someone who appreciates the beauty of all the natural elements, from the clouds to the sun, even when he is going through the pain of falling to the ground. He is also someone who is strong and brave, someone who can step back from the fall and know that he will do it all over again.

answer: No answer

text: No answer

refinement: This young man is a skydiver who enjoys the excitement and freedom of the fall from the sky so much that he fails to deploy his parachute on time. He ends up injuring himself but he'll jump again sometime soon.

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

What does the story say about its setting?

answer: The setting is not really described. The story appears to be set in an abstract way with little resemblance of a specific area. There are lakes, grasslands, city lights, an airport and its features, a sky and its features, a plane and its features. There are no clear identifiers that the story occurs in a specific area.

text: The setting is in the sky as the skydiver hurtles down to earth.

refinement: The story portrays a setting that is constantly in motion, both literally and figuratively. The change of perspective between falling and landing, along with the descriptions of clouds and the sun, create a sense of constant flux in the sky. It is an environment that is both exciting and frightening, where one must pull oneself together even after a traumatic fall to regain their place in the sky.

answer: The narrator appears to be skydiving. He enjoys being suspended in the air. However, he forgets to pull on his parachute. He pulls his parachute too late which causes him to injure himself as he lands.

text: This is more a summary than a setting.

refinement: The narrator appears to be skydiving. The story is set in the sky as the narrator hurtles down to earth.

answer: The narrator explains how he's pressed his toes against the edge of the plane's wing and is preliminarily anxious about about bungee jumping. He is described as being in the sky until the moment when he fell. It becomes clear that the narrator only thinks this - he is exaggerating and lacks the courage to jump. He reveals that what it took to get where he was includes learning and practice, having to care about the equipment, about the plane, about the town, and a whole lot of other things. He is not prepared mentally to jump and has none of the bravery of the adrenaline junkie. He is described as being up in the contraption with the life of an eagle, yet feeling the insecurity of a cripple.

text: Not supported by the text

refinement: The narrator explains how he's pressed his toes against the edge of the plane's wing and is preliminarily anxious about about bungee jumping. He is described as being in the sky until the moment when he fell. He reveals that what it took to get where he was includes learning and practice, having to care about the equipment, about the plane, about the town, and a whole lot of other things. He is not prepared mentally to jump and has none of the bravery of the adrenaline junkie. He is described as being up in the contraption with the life of an eagle, yet feeling the insecurity of a cripple.

text: Who bungee jumps off a plane wing? Bungee jumping requires a rope. You can't tie yourself to a plane.

refinement: The narrator explains how he's pressed his toes against the edge of the plane's wing and is preliminarily anxious about skydiving. He is described as being in the sky until the moment when he fell. He reveals that what it took to get where he was includes learning and practice, having to care about the equipment, about the plane, about the town, and a whole lot of other things. He is not prepared mentally to jump and has none of the bravery of the adrenaline junkie. He is described as being up in the contraption with the life of an eagle, yet feeling the insecurity of a cripple.

text: He was still in the sky when he fell.

refinement: The narrator explains how he's pressed his toes against the edge of the plane's wing and is preliminarily anxious about skydiving. He reveals that what it took to get where he was includes learning and practice, having to care about the equipment, about the plane, about the town, and a whole lot of other things. He is not prepared mentally to jump and has none of the bravery of the adrenaline junkie. He is described as being up in the contraption with the life of an eagle, yet feeling the insecurity of a cripple.

text: This doesn't answer the question.

refinement: The story portrays a setting that is constantly in motion, both literally and figuratively. The change of perspective between falling and landing, along with the descriptions of clouds and the sun, create a sense of constant flux in the sky. It is an environment that is both exciting and frightening, where one must pull oneself together even after a traumatic fall to regain their place in the sky.

answer: The story describes the experience of jumping out of a plane and falling through the sky. It emphasizes the thrilling sensation of this experience while also acknowledging the dangers and challenges of such a fall. The story suggests that there is beauty in being high up in the sky, but that being on the ground again is frightening. The setting is both exhilarating and dangerous.

answer: The story portrays a setting that is constantly in motion, both literally and figuratively. The change of perspective between falling and landing, along with the descriptions of clouds and the sun, create a sense of constant flux in the sky. It is an environment that is both exciting and frightening, where one must pull themselves together even after a traumatic fall in order to regain their place in the sky.

text: Mixed pronouns

refinement: The story portrays a setting that is constantly in motion, both literally and figuratively. The change of perspective between falling and landing, along with the descriptions of clouds and the sun, create a sense of constant flux in the sky. It is an environment that is both exciting and frightening, where one must pull oneself together even after a traumatic fall to regain their place in the sky.