text:
_A HEAVENLY VINTAGE_, also called _THE VINTNER'S LUCK_,[1] is a 2009 internationally co-produced romantic drama film co-written and directed by Niki Caro. It is loosely based on the novel _The Vintner's Luck_ by Elizabeth Knox. The film had its international premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival on 12 September 2009.

The film stars Jérémie Renier, Vera Farmiga, Gaspard Ulliel, and Keisha Castle-Hughes. The film marked the second time Caro worked with Castle-Hughes, a New Zealand actress and Academy Award nominee.[2]

Plot

The film is the story of Sobran Jodeau (Jérémie Renier), an ambitious young peasant winemaker, and the three loves of his life – his beautiful wife Celeste (Keisha Castle-Hughes), the proudly intellectual baroness Aurora de Valday (Vera Farmiga), and Xas (Gaspard Ulliel), an angel who strikes up an unlikely but enduring friendship that borders on eroticism with him.

Under Xas' guidance, Sobran is forced to fathom the nature of love and belief and in the process grapples with the sensual, the sacred and the profane – in pursuit of the perfect vintage.[3]

Cast

-   Jérémie Renier as Sobran Jodeau
-   Vera Farmiga as Aurora de Valday
-   Gaspard Ulliel as Xas, The Vintner's Luck
-   Keisha Castle-Hughes as Celeste
-   Vania Vilers as Jodeau Senior
-   Eric Godon as Father Lesy
-   Patrice Valota as Comte de Vully
-   Jean-Louis Sbille as Henri
-   Lizzie Brocheré as Sabine

Production

The film was directed by Niki Caro and co-written by Caro and Joan Scheckel. The film is based on the novel _The Vintner's Luck_ by Elizabeth Knox. Knox was disappointed at the direction the film took as she felt Caro “took out what the book was actually about”, referring to the romantic homosexual relationship between Sobran and Xas, which was a core aspect of the novel and was very noticeably toned down in the film version, though it still hints at it. Knox said that she “laid in bed and cried for days” after being shocked and upset by how much it departed from her story.[4]

The film was shot in Auckland, New Zealand, Belgium, and France – including in the medieval castle of Berzé.[5]

Release

The film premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival on 12 September 2009. It was later released in New Zealand on 12 November 2009, Australia on 14 January 2010, and Japan on 23 October 2010. In the United States, the film opened at the Sedona Film Festival on 23 February 2011. It was released to French cinemas on 25 January 2012. The film was released on DVD in the UK on 20 September 2010, in Germany on 16 March 2012, and in the United States on 17 April 2012.[6]

Reception

Critical response

The film has received polarized responses since the Toronto Film Festival. Positive reviews included Paul Fischer of _Dark Horizons_ who said: “A film about humanity and spirituality, Caro directs this film with an exquisite sense of detail. Gorgeous in all facets of visual detail, _The Vintner's Luck_ is also a fascinating romantic melodrama, and at its core, comprises a cast that is spot on”;[7] and Kate Rodger of 3 News who said, “For me, _The Vintner's Luck_ was a gorgeous collection of imagery, sound and movement, with moments of intoxicating beauty.”[8] Other reviewers criticised the film. Peter Brunette of _The Hollywood Reporter_ wrote, “It's difficult to believe that the same director who made the simple and affecting _Whale Rider_ in 2002 is responsible for _The Vintner's Luck_, an overblown work of amazing silliness.”[9] Justin Chang for _Variety_ wrote, “Caro never finds the emotional pulse of the story” in an adaptation he described as “drearily literal-minded”. However, he praised the “lyrical widescreen cinematography.”[10]

Accolades

  Year                                 Award                                       Recipient(s)   Category                              Result
  ------------------------------------ ------------------------------------------- -------------- ------------------------------------- --------
  2010                                 New Zealand Film & TV Awards                Vera Farmiga   Best Lead Actress in a Feature Film
  Grant Major                          Best Production Design in a Feature Film
  Beatrix Pasztor                      Best Costume Design in a Feature Film
  Denis Lenoir                         Best Cinematography
  Keisha Castle-Hughes                 Best Supporting Actress in a Feature Film
  2011                                 Houston International Film Festival         Niki Caro      Gold Remi Best Directing
  _A Heavenly Vintage_                 Special Jury Award – Best Foreign Film
  Sedona International Film Festival   Best Period Film

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title: A Heavenly Vintage

question: What does the text say about the organization of the Toronto International Film Festival?

answer: The Toronto International Film Festival was founded in 1976. It takes place in Toronto, Canada, and is the largest international film festival in North America. The festival is attended by a large number of film criticst, reviewers, and movie producers but the film must be exhibited there to have the chance to win awards.

critique: The response includes extraneous information not useful for the task.

critique: The film is not required to win awards there to be attended by critics and reviewers.

critique: The festival was founded in 1976, but the text doesn't say anything about it being the largest in North America.

critique: The Toronto International Film Festival debuted in 1976. It was not founded in 1976, a year after its debut.

critique: The text does not say anything about the Toronto International Film Festival being founded in 1976.

critique: The Toronto International Film Festival was founded in 1976. It takes place in Toronto, Canada, and is the largest international film festival in North America. The festival is attended by a large number of film criticst, reviewers, and movie producers but the film must be exhibited there to have the chance to win awards. - This is not in the text.

critique: The text does not say anything about the Toronto International Film Festival.

question: Summarize the critical response to the film.

answer: There is mixed feelings about the film. Peter Braynette thinks that the director, Niki Caro, who directed Whale Rider (2002), took "an over-blown work of amazing silliness". Also Justin Chang thinks that Caro did not find the emotional pulse of the story. Kate Rodgers thinks that the film is graphic and contains moments of ecstasy.

critique: It's not Braynette, and the name is spelled wrong.

critique: The response contains inaccurate information.

critique: Peter Brunette is named as the writer who thinks the film is amazing silliness. Justin Chang's view is omitted.

question: What does the text say about Niki Caro?

answer: Niki Caro is the director and co-writer of "A Heavenly Vintage". Her previous film was 2002's "Whale Rider". She worked with Keisha Castle-Hughes and Vera Farmiga, who both starred in "A Heavenly Vintage". In 2009, she directed the film alongside Joan Scheckel.

critique: The answer should mention that Caro is a New Zealand director.

critique: The information about Caro's previous film is not relevant.

critique: The answer should mention that Caro's previous film was not mentioned in the text.

critique: The response includes extraneous information not useful for the task.

critique: It is omitted that Caro's previous film was "Whale Rider".

critique: The answer should mention that Caro was disappointed with the film adaptation of The Vintner's Luck.

text: The response did omit Niki Caro's nationality as well as erroneously listed Joan Scheckel as co-director of A Heavenly Vintage, though she is a co-writer alongside Caro.

refinement: Niki Caro is the director and co-writer of "A Heavenly Vintage". Her previous film was 2002's "Whale Rider". She worked with Keisha Castle-Hughes and Vera Farmiga, who both starred in "A Heavenly Vintage". In 2009, she directed the film alongside Joan Scheckel.

question: Summarize the author's reaction to the screen adaptation of The Vintner's Luck.

answer: The screen adaptation changed radically from its literary source material, and the author and also had a character removed. The author hated this and was upset about it. This upset was highlighted with the statement that the author, Elizabeth Knox, laid in bed for days crying about all the pulled material from the book. Clearly this statement can be interpreted as the author was upset that their book was left so open and confusing compared to how much the original book must've delved more firmly into this subplot.

critique: The author was not upset with the removal of a character.

critique: The author's name is Elizabeth Knox, not the author.

critique: The text doesn't say that Knox laid in bed for days, crying. This is another detail that the author made up.

critique: It is omitted that Knox stated that Niki Caro took out what the book was actually about which was Sobran and Xas' romantic relationship, which was a core of the novel and was very noticeable toned down in the film version, though it still hints on it.

critique: The author was upset because the film removed the romantic homosexual relationship between Sobran and Xas, which was a core aspect of the novel and was very noticeably toned down in the film version.

critique: The author's name is not mentioned in the article.


split: train

text:
MAULANA ABDUL GHAFOOR HAIDERI (; born ) is a Pakistani politician. He has served as the Deputy Chairman of the Senate of Pakistan since 12 March 2015 and has been the central General Secretary of the Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam (F) party since 1995.[1]

Early life and education

Haideri was born in June 1957.[2] He received his early education in his village. In 1979, he completed his religious education and passed examinations from the Examination Board of Wafaq-ul-Madaris Al-Arabia.[3]

Political career

Haideri was active in Tehrik-e-Khatm-e-Nabowat in 1974 and Tehreek Nizam-e-Mustafa in 1977, for which police twice imprisoned him.[4] In 1983, he was elected General Secretary of the Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam (F) party in Quetta district. He got himself arrested a third time on 14 August 1983 in Manan square in Quetta during the Movement for the Restoration of Democracy's campaign to 'Fill the Prisons' and destabilize President Zia ul-Haq's government. The military sentenced him to ten lashes and one year in Sibi prison.[5]

He opened the Jamia Shah Wali Ullah school in Kalat in October 1984, teaching there from 1985 to 1990.[6]

He was elected to the Provincial Assembly of Balochistan in 1990 Pakistani general election and served as a provincial minister of Balochistan.[7]

He ran for the Chief Minister of Balochistan in 1992 Pakistani general election but lost by one vote.[8]

In 1993 Pakistani general election, he was elected to the National Assembly of Pakistan from Qalat constituency.[9]

In 2001, Haideri campaigned against Pakistan's cooperation with the US government's Global War on Terror, touring the country and earning his fourth arrest, this time on seven counts of mutiny. He spent five months in jail in Quetta before winning another election to the National Assembly.

In 2015, he was elected to the Senate of Pakistan, serving as the Deputy Chairman of the Senate of Pakistan.[10]

Counter-terrorism

In 2013, he became the Minister of State for Postal Services. “Speaking at a press conference here on Tuesday, Maulana Haideri, who is Minister of State for Postal Services, condemned the terrorist attack on a school in Peshawar and said the state had no right to suspend the death penalty. JUI-F General Secretary Maulana Abdul Ghafoor Haideri has said that a moratorium on death penalty is encouraging terrorists and has limited counter-terrorism action in the country.”[11] Abdul Ghafoor Haideri maintains, “Only a victim's kin has the right to pardon the killer with or without taking compensation. This is an Islamic way of justice and being an ideological state, Pakistan should have Islamic laws.”[12]

In March 2015, he won a seat in the Senate[13] and later took oath as deputy chairman senate. He is expected to serve in that capacity till March 2021.[14]

In February 2017, Haideri was refused a visa by US authorities. He was scheduled to head a two-member delegation to an Inter Parliamentary Union meeting at the United Nations in New York.[15][16]

On 12 May 2017, he managed to escape in an ISIL bombing shortly after the end of Friday prayers near the town of Mastung that targeted him; he was lightly wounded by pieces of glass from the windscreen of his car.[17][18][19]

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title: Abdul Ghafoor Haideri

question: What nationality is Maulana Abdul Ghafood Haideri?

answer: Pakistani

critique: The answer could be phrased as a complete sentence.

question: How long has Maulana Abdul Ghafood Haideri been serving in politics?

answer: Haideri has been active in politics since 1974. He has been the Deputy Chairman of the Senate of Pakistan since 12 March 2015 and has been the central General Secretary of the Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam (F) party since 1995.

critique: He has been active since 1974, but he has not been in office since then.

critique: Haideri has been active in politics since 1974. He has been the Deputy Chairman of the Senate of Pakistan since 12 March 2015 and has been the central General Secretary of the Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam (F) party since 1995.

critique: The answer implies that Haideri's career started in 1974, which is incorrect.

critique: Haideri's political career is not limited to the time period mentioned in the answer.

critique: The passage does not say when Haideri was elected deputy chairman of the senate.

question: What activity has Haideri been outspoken on that is mentioned in this article?

answer: He condemned the terrorist attack that happened in Peshawar. He also believes that state has no right to suspend the death penalty, an opinion that is contrary to most modern practice.

critique: The article does not mention that he believes that the state has no right to suspend the death penalty.

critique: The article does not mention that he believes the state has no right to suspend the death penalty.

critique: The article does not make it clear that he is opposed to the death penalty.

critique: His counter-terrorism work is not included.

critique: The article does not mention that he is outspoken on the death penalty.

critique: The answer could be more specific about what he believes.

text:
-'...an opinion that is contrary to most modern practice.' This is unnecessary and should be removed.
-'He also believes that state has no right...' This sentence omits 'the' before 'state.' It should be corrected.

category: coherence

question: Which province of Pakistan does Haideri serve?

answer: Balochistan.

critique: It is omitted that he served as a provincial minister.

critique: "Balochistan." - this is correct, but Haideri also served as a provincial minister of Balochistan.

critique: The answer could be phrased as a complete sentence.

critique: It is omitted that he served as a provincial minister of Balochistan.

critique: There are multiple provinces in Pakistan. Correct the answer to include, at the minimum, the Balochistan province.


text:
Year: early 1944.          Location: Nazi occupied France

The allies have just received intelligence from the french resistance that Hitler has obtained the materials to build an A bomb. Top army brass know that if Hitler builds an atomic bomb he will definitely use it agains the US or Britain, so they come up with a plan to stop him. Since the Normandy invasion hasn't happened yet, the best option is to drop OSS agents behind German lines to sabotage Hitler's atomic plans.
Me and three other OSS colleagues parachute into German occupied France in the dead of night. Loaded with weapons and high explosives we meet up with the french resistance in a farm. They take us to a safe house in the village. We learn from their sources that a german train carrying enriched uranium is scheduled to leave for Berlin at 2200 hours the next night. In the safe house we put together a plan to blow up the railroad and derail the train thus ending Hitler's A bomb program. Just as we're planing the raid with the french resistance the Gestapo kick in the door and arrest everyone inside. One member of the french resistance betrayed us.
We're all taken outside to be shot immediately. Blindfolded, we're stood against the wall. It looks like this is the end. We've failed.

A gestapo officer gives the order and a hand full of german soldiers line up facing us, weapons at the ready. I can feel the sweat running down my back. It's over.

"Bereit!"

"Feuer!"

I fall.

As i lay on the ground i realize i can still hear their voices. Something is wrong here. As i lay there it all becomes clear. They've missed. When they fired i fell to the ground and the bodies of my colleagues fell on top of me shielding me from the german bullets.
A few minutes pass. I can hear their footsteps as they walk away. I lay there for a few more minutes just to make sure the coast is clear. I spot my opportunity and make a break for it. Using my escape and evasion skills i escape into the woods and make it back to the farm. The resistance leader tells me he can not carry out the raid as the Gestapo have executed his best men. I tell him the raid must be carried out. I owe it to my dead colleagues. He understands what must be done, hands me some C4 explosives and wishes me godspeed.
I wait in the hedgerows until nightfall. I sneak back into the village and make it to the station just as the train is about to leave but i'm not alone. German sentries are standing guard to stop any attacks from the resistance. Observing the scene I bide my time. The soldier guarding the back entrance walks away to relieve himself. It's now or never. I sneak into the station and make it to the train. As i'm placing the explosives the soldier comes back and sees me.

"Stoppen!" he shouts.

Aiming his weapon, he shoots. I'm hit in the torso. The impact spins me around and i drop the C4. He shoots again, this time hitting me in the stomach. I fall to the ground but alive. The german soldier raises the alarm. With my last ounce of strength i reach for the C4, light the fuse and place it on the train. I collapse. My life drains out of me.

"BOOOOM!"

The train explodes. The force of the explosion sends burning metal and debris flying into a fuel train nearby. It catches fire. The whole station goes up in flames. Hitler's atomic bomb ambition is reduced to ashes.
The end.

title: Hitler's A bomb.

question: What does the story say about self-sacrifice?

answer: In this story, self-sacrifice was exhibited when the members of the French Resistance rescues the four OSS agents. They knew that the Gestapo were not necessarily after them and the four OSS agents, but likely for the French Resistance becoming traitors. The Gestapo's ultimate goal was to eliminate them. One of the French Resistance members still went to the mission to meet the OSS agents for their sake.

critique: The members of the Resistance didn't rescue the OSS agents.

critique: The French Resistance did not rescue them, they were arrested before they could complete their mission.

critique: The story does not mention the Gestapo's ultimate goal.

critique: "They knew that the Gestapo were not necessarily after them" - does not make any sense as it is written. Needs a rewrite.

critique: The story does not show that the Gestapo were after the French Resistance for being traitors.

critique: It is omitted that the Gestapo catches one member of the resistance and executes him for betraying the agents.

critique: Omissions and inaccurate details about the self-sacrifice displayed by the main character when he's buried under the dead bodies to save his life.

critique: The Gestapo isn't going after the OSS agents because they are French Resistance.

critique: This is incorrect. The Gestapo were not after the French Resistance.

critique: The story didn't say that the Gestapo was after the French Resistance.

critique: 'The Gestapo's ultimate goal was to eliminate them.' is ungrammatical.

critique: The answer is highly inaccurate and misleading.

text: The response misses to mention that the narrator, to honor his colleagues, completes the mission of blowing up the train which ultimately led to his death.

category: coverage

refinement: In this story, self-sacrifice was exhibited when the members of the French Resistance rescues the four OSS agents. They knew that the Gestapo were not necessarily after them and the four OSS agents, but likely for the French Resistance becoming traitors. The Gestapo's ultimate goal was to eliminate them. One of the French Resistance members still went to the mission to meet the OSS agents for their sake.

question: What does the story say about National Socialism?

answer: No answer

critique: No response is necessary since all information not directly pertaining to this question is sufficient.

critique: The answer should include that the story describes Hitler as a fascist.

critique: The story does mention National Socialism.

critique: There is no answer because the story does not mention National Socialism.

critique: The narrator's actions show that National Socialism is a bad thing.

critique: This answer is not correct because the Nazi regime is mentioned several times throughout the story

critique: While the narrative covers the topic to a certain extent, the answer should include some information on National and International socialism.


text:
In theoretical physics a NONRENORMALIZATION THEOREM is a limitation on how a certain quantity in the classical description of a quantum field theory may be modified by renormalization in the full quantum theory. Renormalization theorems are common in theories with a sufficient amount of supersymmetry, usually at least 4 supercharges.

Perhaps the first nonrenormalization theorem was introduced by Marcus T. Grisaru, Martin Rocek and Warren Siegel in their 1979 paper Improved methods for supergraphs.

Nonrenormalization in supersymmetric theories and holomorphy

Nonrenormalization theorems in supersymmetric theories are often consequences of the fact that certain objects must have a holomorphic dependence on the quantum fields and coupling constants. In this case the nonrenormalization theory is said to be a consequence of holomorphy.

The more supersymmetry a theory has, the more renormalization theorems apply. Therefore a renormalization theorem that is valid for a theory with 𝒩 supersymmetries will also apply to any theory with more than 𝒩 supersymmetries.

Examples in 4-dimensional theories

In 4 dimensions the number 𝒩 counts the number of 4-component Majorana spinors of supercharges. Some examples of nonrenormalization theorems in 4-dimensional supersymmetric theories are:

In an 𝒩 = 1 4D SUSY theory involving only chiral superfields, the superpotential is immune from renormalization. With an arbitrary field content it is immune from renormalization in perturbation theory but may be renormalized by nonperturbative effects such as instantons.

In an 𝒩 = 2 4D SUSY theory the moduli space of the hypermultiplets, called the Higgs branch, has a hyper-Kähler metric and is not renormalized. In the article Lagrangians of N=2 Supergravity - Matter Systems it was further shown that this metric is independent of the scalars in the vector multiplets. They also proved that the metric of the Coulomb branch, which is a rigid special Kähler manifold parametrized by the scalars in 𝒩 = 2 vector multiplets, is independent of the scalars in the hypermultiplets. Therefore the vacuum manifold is locally a product of a Coulomb and Higgs branch. The derivations of these statements appear in The Moduli Space of N=2 SUSY QCD and Duality in N=1 SUSY QCD.

In an 𝒩 = 2 4D SUSY theory the superpotential is entirely determined by the matter content of the theory. Also there are no perturbative corrections to the β-function beyond one-loop, as was shown in 1983 in the article Superspace Or One Thousand and One Lessons in Supersymmetry by Sylvester James Gates, Marcus Grisaru, Martin Rocek and Warren Siegel.

In 𝒩 = 4 super Yang–Mills the β-function is zero for all couplings, meaning that the theory is conformal. This was demonstrated perturbatively by Martin Sohnius and Peter West in the 1981 article Conformal Invariance in N=4 Supersymmetric Yang-Mills Theory under certain symmetry assumptions on the theory, and then with no assumptions by Stanley Mandelstam in the 1983 article Light Cone Superspace and the Ultraviolet Finiteness of the N=4 Model. The full nonperturbative proof by Nathan Seiberg appeared in the 1988 article Supersymmetry and Nonperturbative beta Functions.

Examples in 3-dimensional theories

In 3 dimensions the number 𝒩 counts the number of 2-component Majorana spinors of supercharges.

When 𝒩 = 1 there is no holomorphicity and few exact results are known.

When 𝒩 = 2 the superpotential cannot depend on the linear multiplets and in particular is independent of the Fayet-Iliopoulos terms (FI) and Majorana mass terms. On the other hand the central charge is independent of the chiral multiplets, and so is a linear combination of the FI and Majorana mass terms. These two theorems were stated and proven in Aspects of N=2 Supersymmetric Gauge Theories in Three Dimensions.

When 𝒩 = 3, unlike 𝒩 = 2, the R-symmetry is the nonabelian group SU(2) and so the representation of each field is not renormalized. In a super conformal field theory the conformal dimension of a chiral multiplet is entirely determined by its R-charge, and so these conformal dimensions are not renormalized. Therefore matter fields have no wave function renormalization in 𝒩 = 3 superconformal field theories, as was shown in On Mirror Symmetry in Three Dimensional Abelian Gauge Theories. These theories consist of vector multiplets and hypermultiplets. The hypermultiplet metric is hyperkähler and may not be lifted by quantum corrections, but its metric may be modified. No renormalizable interaction between hyper and abelian vector multiplets is possible except for Chern–Simons terms.

When 𝒩 = 4, unlike 𝒩 = 3 the hypermultiplet metric may no longer be modified by quantum corrections.

Examples in 2-dimensional theories

In 𝒩 = (2, 2) linear sigma models, which are superrenormalizable abelian gauge theories with matter in chiral supermultiplets, Edward Witten has argued in Phases of N=2 theories in two-dimensions that the only divergent quantum correction is the logarithmic one-loop correction to the FI term.

Nonrenormalization from a quantization condition

In supersymmetric and nonsupersymmetric theories, the nonrenormalization of a quantity subject to the Dirac quantization condition is often a consequence of the fact that possible renormalizations would be inconsistent with the quantization condition, for example the quantization of the level of a Chern–Simons theory implies that it may only be renormalized at one-loop. In the 1994 article Nonrenormalization Theorem for Gauge Coupling in 2+1D the authors find the renormalization of the level can only be a finite shift, independent of the energy scale, and extended this result to topologically massive theories in which one includes a kinetic term for the gluons. In Notes on Superconformal Chern-Simons-Matter Theories the authors then showed that this shift needs to occur at one loop, because any renormalization at higher loops would introduce inverse powers of the level, which are nonintegral and so would be in conflict with the quantization condition.

title: Supersymmetry nonrenormalization theorems

question: What does the article say about nonrenormalization theorems?

answer: Nonrenormalization theorems are common in theories with a sufficient amount of supersymmetry, usually at least 4 supercharges, because certain objects must have a holomorphic dependence on quantum fields, coupling constants. Those nonrenormalization theories are said to be a consequence of holomorphy.

critique: The answer should mention that the nonrenormalization theorem is a limitation on how a certain quantity in the classical description of a quantum field theory may be modified by renormalization in the full quantum theory.

critique: The answer omits the first nonrenormalization theorem.

critique: The answer should mention that the more supersymmetry a theory has, the more renormalization theorems apply.

critique: The answer should mention that the nonrenormalization theorems are limitations on how a certain quantity in the classical description of a quantum field theory may be modified by renormalization in the full quantum theory.


text:
It seems counterintuitive, but you'll close more deals if you stop pitching. Ask questions, listen and get to know what your prospective client really needs.

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March 14, 2017 4 min read

Opinions expressed by _Entrepreneur_ contributors are their own.

Most salespeople think they’re using a modern selling approach, fit for today’s fast-paced, information-saturated market. In reality, most sales tactics in use today were invented more than a century ago -- and they haven't changed a bit.

It’s no surprise that so many salespeople struggle to dominate the competition in sales: They’re using outdated techniques that sabotage them every time they sell.

If you want to make sure you’re not one of those salespeople, banish these four old-school tactics -- forever.

1. TRYING TO PERSUADE PROSPECTS.

Persuasion: Some call it an art. But in sales, it’s just an overused selling habit that no longer works. Nothing turns prospects off more quickly than realizing you're actively persuading them to buy something they’re not even sure they need.

The biggest problem? Not all prospects you meet are qualified to be your customers. Expending the effort to persuade every single prospect who comes your way wastes time and resources.

Focus instead on disqualifying prospects who aren’t a good fit for your product or service. Ask questions about budget scope, their decision-making process, and their biggest challenges. The result? You’ll gain tons of information about your prospects so you can decide whether your offer can help them achieve their goals.

RELATED: 3 CONVERSATIONS STARTERS TO CONVERT PROSPECTS INTO CUSTOMERS

2. LEADING WITH A PRODUCT PITCH.

Your prospects today can go online to learn everything they want to know about your product or service. They don’t need to hear it all again from you. And they certainly don’t want to hear your pitch right after meeting you. When you lead a sales meeting with a product pitch, you’re using a predictable, unimpressive sales approach.

The best salespeople don’t even mention the features, bells, and whistles of their product until the very end of the sales meeting -- or until the prospect explicitly asks for that information. Getting to truly understand your prospect's needs is far more important (and effective) than pitching your product. You’ll close more sales if you never lead with a pitch again.

3. TALKING INSTEAD OF LISTENING.

For decades, salespeople everywhere have been associated with fast-talking conversationalists. While it’s great to be able to carry on a good conversation with prospects, talking should never be your main action in a selling situation. Listening should.

When you spend more time listening, you gain a deeper understanding of your prospects. At the same time, you build strong, trusting connections. People want to feel they've truly been heard.

It might feel uncomfortable at first to let silence rule. Still, try talking less in every selling situation -- even if your prospect isn’t too chatty. Ask insightful questions about your prospect's company, goals, difficulties, and goals. Don’t jump in or interrupt with relevant information about your product or service. Just listen.

RELATED: WE ALL ARE SALESPEOPLE. USE THESE 3 TECHNIQUES TO BECOME A BETTER ONE.

4. TURNING ON THE FAKE ENTHUSIASM.

Are you aware of how dramatically your voice, demeanor and personality change when you’re in a selling situation? Chances are, you become vastly more enthusiastic, cheerful and loud when you’re selling. That’s because most salespeople are taught to turn on the fake enthusiasm.

Unfortunately, that does grave damage to your chances of closing a sale. It puts your prospects on the defensive. And it does nothing to help you discover your true sales personality and achieve your ultimate success.

Instead, talk to your potential client as you would talk to a friend or family member. You’ll notice that your prospects will act more at ease, and they'll be more likely to buy from you if they sense you’re being genuine.

RELATED: 20 GENUINE GESTURES THAT WILL BOOST YOUR BUSINESS AND COST YOU NOTHING

question: What does the article say about tips for being a good salesman?

answer: The article suggests that salespeople should ask questions, listen, and get to know what their prospective client really needs. The article also suggests that salespeople should not try to persuade every prospect to buy something they're not sure they need. Salespeople should also not lead with a product pitch. Instead, they should listen to their prospects and build strong, trusting connections. Salespeople should also not turn on the fake enthusiasm.

critique: The article does not offer any tips for being a good salesman.

critique: The article does not suggest that salespeople should not turn on the fake enthusiasm.

critique: The article also suggests not talking too much.

question: What does the article say about what a potential customer expects from a salesman when they enter a shop?

answer: No answer

critique: The response misses to cover such expectations.


text:
KEN MARTIN (July 17, 1973) is an American political figure from Minnesota. He is currently Chairman of the Minnesota Democratic-Farmer-Labor (DFL) Party, President of the Association of State Democratic Committees, and a Vice Chair of the Democratic National Committee.[1]

Personal life

Martin lives in Eagan, Minnesota with his wife Jennifer O’Rourke and two sons, Samuel and James. He is active in youth sports in Eagan where he has served on the Eagan Athletic Association Board of Directors and as the President of the Eagan Basketball Association.

Early Life and Education

Martin was born in Minneapolis, Minnesota on July 17, 1973. He attended Eden Prairie High School and graduated from the University of Kansas in 1996 with Bachelors of Arts Degrees in Political Science and History. [2] Martin's deep involvement in student government and campus life led to Chancellor Robert Hemenway presenting him with the Donald K. Alderson Memorial Award, which recognizes a graduating senior whose campus involvement as a student benefits fellow students and the greater good.

Career

Martin started his political work in 1990 as an intern for Minnesota U.S. Senator Paul Wellstone's campaign and later interned in his official office. In 1992, Martin organized college campuses throughout the South for the Clinton/Gore Campaign. After college he worked in Kansas politics helping with the Kansas Democratic Coordinated Campaign as Field Director for the Kansas Democratic Party.

In 1998, Martin moved back to his home state of Minnesota and served as the Political & Field  Director for the Minnesota Democratic-Farmer-Labor (DFL) Party. He served as the Deputy Minnesota State Director for the Gore campaign in 2000, and in 2002 was the campaign manager for Secretary of State candidate Buck Humphrey. In 2004 Martin helped manage John Kerry's Presidential campaign in Minnesota.[3]

From 2001 to 2005, Martin served as the Policy Aide for Ramsey County Commissioner Susan Haigh. In 2005, he served as the Executive Assistant to Minnesota Attorney General Mike Hatch and then went on to help run his campaign for Governor in 2006.[4]

Working with the North Central States Regional Council of Carpenters, Martin led an effort on behalf of the Building Trades to pass prevailing wage ordinances with local governments throughout Minnesota.

In 2008 Martin led the campaign that successfully passed the Clean Water, Land and Legacy Amendment (Legacy Amendment) to the Minnesota Constitution which to this day is still one of the largest conservation finance measures to pass in our nation's history as well as one of the highest vote-getters on a Minnesota ballot.[5]

Martin later served as the Executive Director of WIN Minnesota, a Minnesota-based donor collaborative which helped develop, fund and direct independent expenditures during the 2010 election cycle. Immediately after the election, Governor Mark Dayton tapped Martin to direct Dayton's successful recount effort[6] ushering in Minnesota's first Democratic Governor in 24 years.

Following the successful 2010 campaign, Governor Mark Dayton asked Martin to serve as the Chairman of the Minnesota Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party where he was elected unanimously in February 2011. In 2017, Martin was elected by his peers throughout the nation as the President of Association of State Democratic Committees and became a Vice Chair of the Democratic National Committee.

Minnesota DFL Party Chair

[Martin in 2016] Martin is currently serving his fifth term as chairman of the Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party (DFL), the Minnesota branch of the Democratic Party. He has held this post since 2011—making him the longest-serving chairman in the 75-year history of the DFL.[7]

When Martin was elected DFL Party Chair in 2011 he Inherited a state party deeply in debt [8] following significant election losses including losing the majority in the State Senate for the first time in 40 years, the majority in the House of Representatives, and one of the longest held Democratic seats in Congress in MN-08 with the defeat of Congressman Jim Oberstar.

Martin was able to quickly raise significant resources to rebuild the party and began making the DFL party the center of gravity of driving political strategy on behalf of its stakeholders – activists and party leaders, candidates and elected officials, and progressive organizations and community partners.

This coalition of campaign efforts and partners enabled progressive movements to align strategy and increase efficiency, and positioned the Party for big wins in 2012, including taking back majorities in both the state House and state Senate, becoming the first state in the nation to defeat a Constitutional Amendment to ban same sex marriage,[9] beating back a Voter ID Amendment, reclaiming the MN-08 Congressional seat with the election of Congressman Rick Nolan, and keeping Minnesota in the blue column for President Obama.

The 2014 cycle brought additional success as the Minnesota DFL under Martin's leadership reelected, by large margins, two office holders in Governor Mark Dayton and U.S. Senator Al Franken who each won their first elections by less than 1% of the vote.[10]

During the 2016 elections, Minnesota was one of only two Midwestern states to vote for the Democratic presidential nominee.  In addition, despite significant losses of rural congressional seats throughout the country, the Minnesota DFL was able to win all three of its rural congressional races by reelecting Congressman Tim Walz (MN-01), Congressman Collin Petersen (MN-07), and Congressman Rick Nolan (MN-08). [11]

In 2018 the DFL had the most successful year at the ballot box in party history.  The Minnesota DFL elected Tim Walz as Governor, marking the first time the DFL has had three consecutive terms in the Governors office. In addition, the DFL won every constitutional office, decisively won back the majority in the State House of Representatives, flipped two congressional seats from red-to-blue, one of those seats being represented by the Republicans by over forty years, and elected two women to the U.S. Senate, Senator Amy Klobuchar and Senator Tina Smith, becoming only the fifth state in the union to be represented by two women in the U.S. Senate simultaneously. [12]

During Martin's tenure the DFL made a priority of bringing in more voices and pathways to leadership, resulting in the most diverse staff, leadership, and party officers in DFL history.[13]

In addition, the Minnesota DFL is home to the first Muslim Attorney General in the nation Keith Ellison,[14] to the first lesbian mom to serve in Congress Angie Craig,[15] to the first Somali-American to serve in Congress Ilhan Omar,[16] and to the highest ranking native American woman to ever serve in an Executive Office in our nation, Lt. Governor Peggy Flanagan.[17]

DNC Vice Chair

In 2017, Martin was elected by his peers throughout the country as the President of the Association of State Democratic Chairs (ASDC),[18] and by virtue of that election became a Vice Chair of the Democratic National Committee (DNC).[19]

[1]

[2]

[3]

[4]

[5]

[6]

[7]

[8]

[9]  MPR News|website=www.mprnews.org|access-date=2019-07-31}}

[10]

[11]

[12]

[13]

[14]

[15]

[16]

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[19]

title: Ken Martin (politician)

question: What attracted Ken Martin to politics?

answer: No answer

critique: The passage contains a section titled 'Career' which describes Martin's political career.

critique: It can be implied, from the content on Ken Martin, that it was through his later political involvement with campaigns that likely led him to want to become a politician.

critique: The article does not answer this question.

question: What is one of the main strengths of Ken Martin as a politician?

answer: Martin is able to bring a lot of diverse voices to the table and make them feel welcome. He is able to do this by prioritizing bringing in more voices and pathways to leadership.

critique: It's omitted that Martin is able to do this by recruiting diverse people to run for office.

critique: The answer is not a strength of Martin himself. It is a strength of the party he leads.

critique: The answer should mention the diversity of the DFL.

question: Summarize Martin's political achievements from  1998 to 2008?

answer: In 1998 Martin was the Political and Field Director for the Minnesota Democratic-Farmer-Labor (DFL) Party. He served as the Deputy Minnesota State Director for the Gore campaign in 2000, and as the campaign manager for Secretary of State candidate Buck Humphrey in 2002. Martin also served as the Policy Aide for Ramsey County Commissioner Susan Haigh from 2001 to 2005, and as the Executive Assistant to Minnesota Attorney General Mike Hatch from 2005 to 2006. In 2008 Martin led the campaign that passed the Clean Water, Land and Legacy Amendment to the Minnesota Constitution. In 2010 he was elected as the Executive Director of WIN Minnesota, which helped develop independent expenditures. He became Governor Dayton's recount director in 2010. In 2011 he was elected Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party Chair.

critique: The year 2010 is wrong. It was when Martin was elected as the Minnesota Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party Chair.

critique: The answer omits Martin's role in the 2010 election cycle.

critique: The answer omits Martin's work with the North Central States Regional Council of Carpenters.

critique: Given that it's about a 12 year period, containing all the details of the answer would be helpful

critique: The response includes extraneous information not useful for the task.

critique: The answer omits Martin's work as the Minnesota DFL Party Chair.

critique: The response contains extraneous information not useful for the task.

text: The sentences regarding 2010 and 2011 should be omitted. The question asks for information from 1998 to 2008.

question: Summarise Martin's achievements as the Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party (DFL) Party Chair in Minnesota?

answer: Martin was able to raise resources quickly to rebuild the party. He distinguished himself as the man who restored the party to financial health and led it to a position of prominence. The DFL played a role in driving political strategy on behalf of activists and party leaders. This led to many successes including taking back majorities in both the state House and state Senate. The DFL also became the first state in the country to defeat a Constitutional Amendment to ban same-sex marriage and beat back a Voter ID Amendment. The DFL re-elected two office holders in Governor Mark Dayton and U.S. Senator Al Franken. During the 2016 elections, Minnesota was one of two Midwestern states to vote for the Democratic presidential nominee. The DFL also elected Tim Walz as Governor and regained the majority in the state House of Representatives.

critique: It is omitted that the DFL elected two women to the U.S. Senate.

critique: The response includes extraneous information not useful for the task.

critique: The DFL also elected two women to the U.S. Senate.

critique: The answer should mention the diversity of the party.

critique: It is omitted that they elected two women to the U.S. Senate, making the state only the fifth to be represented by two women in the U.S. Senate.


text:
Andy is a really smart heroin addict. Andy could tell you about all the constellations and all of the Caesars and when they ruled. Andy could explain complex issues and make them seem simple. Andy could pretty much do anything except stop using heroin.

Andy’s co-workers, of which I am one, all know that Andy does heroin. Some of them talk about it. To some its funny, and to others its sad; no one says anything to Andy directly about it though. So when Andy falls asleep at his desk we go along with his excuse that he stayed up late last night because there was a west coast game on that went into extra innings; and ,man, is he tired. Oh Andy, Andy has a million excuses but never a dollar the day after payday.

While his co-workers, of which I am one, are doing things like paying rent and mortgages and buying food, Andy is buying heroin and paying back anyone who lent him money the week before and is lucky enough to track him down. Oh Andy, is heroin really that good? Something about you rouses a demon that sleeps deep inside of me.

Oh Andy, so smart; he has everything in the world going for him. If it wasn't for that damn heroin he’d be an executive somewhere, or maybe a high-priced lawyer; he’d probably be a professor at some fancy east coast prep school where the girls wear knee-length skirts and everyone’s jacket has a crest on it. Oh Andy, I wonder if you ever regret trying heroin. I'm sure sometimes you do, but more often than not, you’re too busy trying to find heroin or trying to use it.

Andy is such a nice guy. Andy is killing himself. We’re watching, his family is watching, his dealer is watching; everybody's watching Andy kill himself. We watch without understanding. I wonder if Andy watches us and wonders why no one cares enough to help him. Not that he would accept the help, but it would be nice if someone offered it. But hey, there's only so much time in a day, and we've all got our own lives to manage. So Andy manages his heroin habit alone.

Andy lives with his mother. She looks at Andy but does not see him. Andy’s mother thinks that a daily heroin habit, one that's been going on for ten years, is something that Andy will just drop one day. She thinks that Andy will come to his senses and just quit.

They fight over the missing money sometimes. Andy doesn't want to, but sometimes he’ll have to steal twenty or a hundred dollars from his mom. Andy’s habit is a greedy monster. He always intends to pay back every dime but something always comes up; usually its the next opportunity to get high. Oh Andy, it seems like the world itself is sighing as you kill yourself. If only there was a way.

Sometimes Andy will miss a few weeks of work. These are the times when Andy goes to detox. In detox they give Andy things like Suboxone and Methadone to replace the heroin that his body is used to. But they aren't quite the same. Andy likes the ritual. The needle and the spoon; finding a vein. Andy likes the tightness of the cord when he ties himself off. Andy likes pulling the plunger back and watching the blood flow up into the needle. To be honest, Andy just plain likes getting high. Andy likes feeling alive for the first time for the thousandth time.

When Andy comes back to work from rehab, he’s usually full of energy. Andy runs through the halls as if making up for lost time. Andy, smart Andy, shows us why hes the best of us. He practically sings while solving problems and making money for the company. Because Andy is a great worker. He just happens to be addicted to heroin. Andy’s killing himself.

The worst days for Andy are the days right before payday. He’s borrowed money from everyone who’ll lend it to him. That set of people grows smaller by the week. His mother has hidden her cash, and it will be weeks before she forgets to hide it again. So on those days, Andy has a very short temper. He stomps around the office snarling at everyone.

Why are we letting you kill yourself Andy? Why don’t we stop you? We don’t hate you, (your mother loves you) but we keep watching you destroy yourself with heroin. Do you know the reason why? Does it come to you when you’re high? Is it something so awful that we wouldn't want to know?

Oh Andy, one day you walked in the door and saw your mother crying on the couch. You wanted to say something to her, you wanted to hug her, but it was payday and you had a bag of dope that you needed to shoot. So you walked right past her, up the stairs closed the door of your room and floated away. When you came back, your mother wasn't crying anymore. The moment had passed.

Remember the day they found you in the bathroom at work Andy? Passed out with a needle sticking out of your arm. You tied yourself off with a shoelace. We thought you were dead. But the EMT gave you a shot of something and you came right back to life again. You vomited, and then they took you away. Oh Andy, now there is no doubt in anyone’s mind. Now the whisper has become a roar.

But by tomorrow the roar has become a whisper. We make plans for the weekend. Plans for the summer. But we don’t make any plans to save you Andy. And soon we forget. And you’re back at work after a few weeks; smarter and funnier than ever. The old Andy is back. One day you asked to borrow twenty dollars; you said you lost your ATM card. Sure pal, anything for you buddy. Something gnawing at the back of my mind, like a memory trapped in a cage and fighting to escape.

You died that day Andy. Officially of an overdose. Oh Andy, what if I hadn't lent you that twenty? What if the dope hadn't been as strong? What if we had paid attention to you? What if, what if, what if? Oh, Andy.

title: Andy

question: What does the narrator find sad about Andy's heroin use?

answer: He thinks it's killing Andy slowly. Thankfully, he died of an overdose and won't wake up the next morning instead.

critique: The narrator isn't sad that Andy died, they are sad that they didn't do more to help Andy.

critique: The narrator is not grateful that Andy died of an overdose.

critique: The narrator doesn't find the death of Andy sad.

critique: The narrator is not sad that Andy died of an overdose. He is sad that Andy is killing himself slowly.

critique: The narrator's thoughts about Andy's death are irrelevant to the question.

critique: The narrator is not sad that Andy died of an overdose. He is sad that Andy's co-workers and friends did not do anything to help him.

critique: The narrator is not sad that Andy died of an overdose. He is sad that Andy's co-workers and friends didn't do anything to help him.

question: What event at work does the narrator find horrific?

answer: Andy dying at his desk due to an overdose.

critique: The narrator doesn't find Andy's death at his desk to be horrific. They find it to be preventable.

critique: It is incorrect that Andy died at his desk.

critique: The narrator is not the one who finds the event horrific.

critique: The narrator isn't the one who finds Andy's death horrific.

critique: The narrator finds Andy dying at his desk due to an overdose horrifying.

question: What is Andy's relationship with his mother like?

answer: Andy is her son, and it appears that he is dependent on her. He has stolen from her and his mother always forgives him. He continues with his addiction and never asks for help.

critique: The answer should mention that Andy's mother believes he will stop using drugs.

critique: The answer should mention that Andy's mother is unaware of his addiction.

critique: It's omitted that Andy's mother is unaware of his heroin addiction.

critique: The answer should mention the mother's attitude toward the addiction.

critique: The answer doesn't mention that Andy's mother is completely unaware of his addiction.

critique: The answer should mention that Andy's mother believes that he will just drop the habit.


text:
HAN MEILIN (; born December 26, 1936 in Jinan, Shandong[1][2]) is a Chinese artist most recognized today for his creation of the Fuwa dolls for the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing.[3][4] Han is also known to have lived through hard times during the Cultural Revolution.[5]

Biography

In 1955 he was admitted to the Central Academy of arts and design (), now part of Tsinghua University. In 1960 he graduated.[6]

Han is also known to have been tortured in the past. In a 2008 interview, Han admitted his tendon was cut during the Cultural Revolution. His thumbs became useless until later repaired by doctors.[7]

Career

In 1979, he was elected to the China Artists Association (). He has also published influential work such as _Baoguo Sanwen_ (, _Bāoguò Sǎnwén_). In 1980, he was in the United States, holding art exhibitions in 21 cities including Boston and New York City. He was given the key to the city of San Diego as an honorary citizen and the city of Manhattan declared October 1, 1980 as Han Meilin Day. In 1983 six of his work were printed on Christmas cards issued by the United Nations. He also gave lectures at Harvard University.[8][9]

In 1986, he was selected as a delegate to the Sixth National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC).[10]

In 1989, he held three art exhibitions at the Crown Art Center in Taipei. From 1991 to 1994 he had solo art shows in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, followed by Malaysia, Hong Kong and India. He spoke at Yale University in 1999.[11]

He has also fought the sale of illegal art activities in Beijing, saying most of the paintings sold in auction fairs are not real.[12]

Throughout his career, he has published painting albums as _Meilin's Paintings_, _Art Works of Han Meilin_, _Mountain Flowers in Full Bloom_, _Still on the Earth_, _100-chicken Paintings_, _Painting Collection of Han Meilin_ and _Selection of Arts and Crafts Works of Han Meilin_. He was once the art designer of paper-cutting cartoons such as _Fox Capturing Hunter_, _Fox Sending Grapes_ and _Hide-and-seek_. He also designed the pig postal stamps for China in 1983, panda stamps for 1985 and the phoenix logo for Air China.[13]

He also designed the Five-Dragon Clock Tower sculpture for the 1996 Atlanta Summer Olympics. He also finished the Group Tiger for the city of Dalian in Liaoning Province, No.1 Bull for Jinan and Cock Crows to Herald the Break of Day for Zibo in Shandong Province, Sacred Bull for Shekou, a bronze bull with luminous pearl and the King of Western Chu (Xiang Yu) made of stainless steel for Shenzhen in Guangdong Province.[14] More recently, he designed the 2008 Olympics mascots, the Fuwa, and the symbols that represent each Olympic sport. However, he has since disowned the Fuwa and did not include them in his museum.[15]

In 2015, on October 15 at the UNESCO Headquarters, he was named the UNESCO Artist For Peace. “In recognition of his long-term commitment to promoting art and artistic education in China, his support to providing quality education to young people, notably through projects led by the Han Meilin Art Foundation, and his dedication to the ideals and aims of the Organization.” He has also announced plans to donate a 7-meter-tall bronze statue entitled Guardian of Peace, to UNESCO on the occasion of the Organization’s 70th anniversary.[16]

He was also involved in the design of the colossal statue of Guan Yu in Jingzhou, Hubei.[17]

[1] Hanban.edu. “Hanban.edu.” _Profile of the artist._ Retrieved on 2008-04-27.

[2] Xinhuanet. “Xinhuanet.” _韓美林作品選(圖)._ Retrieved on 2008-04-27.

[3]

[4] Chinadaily. “Chinadaily.” _Han Meilin, designer of the Fuwa._ Retrieved on 2008-04-27.

[5] ATV news interview with Han Meilin. 04-27-2008.

[6]

[7]

[8]

[9]

[10]

[11]

[12] CCTV. “CCTV.” _Most Paintings Auctioned in Beijing Are Unreal._ Retrieved on 2008-04-27.

[13]

[14]

[15]

[16] https://en.unesco.org/news/han-meilin-designated-unesco-artist-peace

[17]

title: Han Meilin

question: What does the text say about Meilin in the 1980s?

answer: In 1980, Meilin was in the United States, holding art exhibitions in 21 cities including Boston and New York City. He was given the key to the city of San Diego as an honorary citizen and the city of Manhattan declared October 1, 1980 as Han Meilin Day. In 1983, six of his work were printed on Christmas cards issued by the United Nations. He also gave lectures at Harvard University. In 1986, he was selected as a delegate to the Sixth National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC). In 1989, he held three art exhibitions at the Crown Art Center in Taipei. From 1991 to 1994, he had solo art shows in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, followed by Malaysia, Hong Kong, and India. He spoke at Yale University in 1999.

critique: Meilin's activities in the 1980s are not limited to the 1980s.

critique: The response includes extraneous information not useful for the task.

critique: Remove the last line of this response because it is unnecessary.

critique: It's omitted that in 1989, he held three art exhibitions at the Crown Art Center in Taipei.


text:
[Elvis scs1]An Englishman is the Ultimate Elvis? The King would have turned over in his grave!

Surely only a southern boy with the grime of the delta and the rhythms of gospel ingrained in his soul could possibly be the definitive Elvis?

[Gordon Hendricks s]

But the winner at Tweed’s Tribute to Elvis Festival 2013 was 42-year-old Gordon Hendricks from Stoke-on-Trent in England, who looks a lot better than Elvis did at the same age. From the moment he steps on the stage, he is transformed into the youthful version of The King.

[Elvis on stagescropped]

Gone is the Midlands accent, replaced with the distinctive Southern slur (every Elvis fan can do the “thank ya, thank ya vera much”). And every movement brings Elvis back to life.

In fact, there have been Ultimate Elvis winners from both England and Australia in the past. And such is the devotion to The King, that Elvis Tribute Artists (ETAs) have been many different nationalities from many different parts of the world, have been every size and shape, and at Tweed, one was even a woman!

[Four Elvisess]

Being Elvis is a family affair for the Acklands. Norm Ackland Sr. has been an ETA for 40 years. A huge fan of The King, he saw him live twice and owns a scarf that once belonged to Elvis. He placed third in the Vegas competition in 2011. His son, Norm Jr. is newer to the circuit but having lived with his father’s dedication, it was inevitable that he too, would enter the fray. At Tweed, his nine-year-old son, Jax, came second in the junior division. “I think we’re the only triple generation family on the competition circuit,” says Norm Sr. with pride.

There are some astoundingly good performers here but the audience in this small Ontario town is mesmerized by Hendricks, and rises to its feet, cheering, as he finishes. Not surprisingly, he wins their vote – as well as the judges’ – for Ultimate ETA.

[The Winner with a plethora of Elvisess]

However, lest you think a small Ontario town is hardly a recommendation, Tweed is an officially sanctioned venue and the fans here are serious in their devotion to the King. Torontonian Diane Sharpe and her husband have travelled to many competitions and been to Graceland more than once. Now blind, Bob Sharpe says doggedly, “I can still hear.” He’s settled in his chair, listening to the competitors strut their stuff while Diane grabs him a burger.

Tweed is an official sighting location for Elvis. Apparently, not long after his death, Elvis appeared on one of the floats in the 1979 Santa Claus Parade. A local radio station joked about it and the story spread. This led to their registration on the sanctioned sighting list.
[elvisfireplug]  The town boasts an Elvis Lane, and at its entrance, one of Tweed’s signature hand-painted fire hydrants features – who else? – Elvis!

Indeed, Tweed’s fire hydrants are worth checking out. Painted by local artists, no two are alike. One of my favourites, right on the main drag, is a fire-breathing dragon. And near the town’s arena is a hockey player.

[fire hydrants Tweed ]

Photo credit: Tweed.ca

But Tweed is also one of the province’s prettiest little towns. Straddling the Moira River, there are two bridges which unite the town’s East and West sides. Indeed, water is a theme because at the edge of town sits Lake Stoco, a famous spot for sport fishing. Apparently, this is the best place to catch muskie, those particularly elusive members of the pike family. And it’s a great spot for canoeing, boating and swimming as well.

The town also claims to have North America’s smallest jail house.

[jailhouse s]

During the Elvis Festival, this sports a marquee where several of the ETAs perform throughout the day, much to the delight of passersby. A favourite song at this site? Jailhouse Rock, of course!

[Jailhouse rocks s]

Just a half hour from Belleville, Tweed is one of those once ubiquitous, traditional Ontario towns. There are few enough left, so take the time to visit this one. And let us know if you happen to spot someone in a jewel-studded jumpsuit on the main street. It could be The King himself. After all, he does like to remain incognito.

Here’s an update on Gordon Hendricks. In 2017, the Englishman went on to win at the prestigious Collingwood Elvis Festival twice as well as the Ultimate Elvis competition at Graceland, Elvis’ own home.

TheTweed Elvis Festival is an annual event. Check the website for dates.. More about Elvis and about Memphis.  The Arcade was his favourite diner.

[]

question: What does the text say about Elvis' favorite food?

answer: No answer

critique: The text does not say anything about Elvis' favorite food.

critique: The text doesn't say anything about Elvis' favorite food.

critique: No information is given about Elvis' favorite food.

critique: The sequence outlining Elvis' favorite type of food is omitted.

question: What does the text say about Tweed?

answer: Tweed is a small Ontario town. It is an officially sanctioned venue for the Tweed Tribute to Elvis Festival. Tweed is also one of the prettiest little towns in Ontario. It is located on the Moira River and has two bridges that unite the town's East and West sides. Tweed is also home to North America's smallest jailhouse.

critique: The answer should mention the Elvis sightings.

critique: Tweed is notable for "Elvis sightings," since Elvis reportedly showed, in disguise, during the town's 1979 Santa Claus parade. Include this info in the response, by linking the festival with sightings.

critique: The answer omits that Tweed is home to a famous fire hydrant.

critique: The answer should mention the fire hydrants.

critique: The answer omits the Tweed Tribute to Elvis Festival.

critique: The answer omits that Tweed is a place where Elvis sightings are reported.

question: What does the text say about Gordon Hendricks?

answer: Gordon Hendricks won the Tweed Tribute to Elvis Festival in 2013. He beat Elvis' age by being 42, and had a better appearance than Elvis did at the same age. He won the Ultimate Elvis competition at Graceland, Elvis' home.

critique: It's omitted that Gordon Hendricks won the Tweed Tribute to Elvis Festival in 2017.

critique: Name his appearances at the Contest over years

critique: The answer should mention that he won the Collingwood Elvis Festival in 2017.

critique: The article doesn't say anything about his appearance.

critique: The answer should mention that he won the Tweed Tribute to Elvis Festival twice.

critique: The text also mentions that he won the Collingwood Elvis Festival.

critique: The answer omits that Hendricks won the Tweed Tribute to Elvis Festival twice.

question: What does the text say about the Ackland family?

answer: The Ackland family are all huge fans of Elvis. Norm Ackland Sr. is an ETA for 40 years. He is known for having a mustache and wearing sunglasses. He has been to Graceland. His son, Norm Jr., has also joined the fray. He used to watch his father perform with such passion and decided to join the competition. The family lives in central Canada.

critique: The family lives in Ontario, not central Canada.

critique: None of these are historical details, and aren't mentioned.

critique: The family doesn't live in central Canada. They live in Ontario.

text:
-The answer omits that Norm Ackland Sr's nine-year-old son Jax came second in the junior division of the Vegas competition in 2011 at Tweed. Mention this.
-It also omits that Norm Ackland is a massive fan of The King, and he saw him live twice and owns a scarf that once belonged to Elvis. It should be added.
-'He is known for having a mustache and wearing sunglasses.' This sentence is unattested. Delete this.
-'He used to watch his father perform with such passion and decided to join the competition.' This sentence is also unattested and should be removed.

category: other

category_text: Coverage and accuracy.


text:
KEBA AG is an international developer and manufacturer of automation solutions for the industrial, banking, services and energy automation areas. The Austrian company was founded in 1968 and is privately owned.[1] The company has annual sales revenues averaging €304 million, of which over 85% are obtained in export markets.[2][3][4]

KEBA Group headquarters are located in Linz, Austria and it is represented by its own subsidiaries in China, Germany, Italy, India, Japan, the Netherlands, Romania, South Korea, Switzerland, Taiwan, the Czech Republic, Turkey and the United States.[5]

Areas of activity

[KEBA Zentrale Linz] In the industrial automation area KEBA focuses on solutions for

-   Plastics injection moulding machines and robots
-   General machinery production and plant building
-   The sheet metal processing sector
-   Mobile and stationary operating solutions for machines and robots

In the area of banking automation

-   Self-service systems for banks and financial institutions (ATMs, cash recycling systems, bank statement printers, transfer terminals)

In the area of logistics automation

-   First- and Last Mile transfer systems for postal and logistics companies (parcel machine)
-   Intelligent transfer machines for sensitive objects (KEMAS)

In the area of energy automation

-   Solutions in the field of e-mobility such as charging stations
-   Control and operating systems for alternative heating systems

In the lottery sector

-   Automation solutions for lottery companies[6][7][8][9][10][11][12]

Products

KEBA AG provides products in the following areas:

-   Controllers for injection molding machines, machines and robots, programmable logic controllers (PLC), industrial PC, (KePlast, KeMotion, KeSystems, KeControl)
-   Controls for press brakes and sheet metal working (Delem)
-   Mobile and stationary operator terminals, handheld terminals, panels for machines and robots, mobile automation (KeMobile, KeTop)
-   ATMs, cash recyclers, account photo terminals, bank statement printers, bank transfer terminals, self-service systems for financial institutions (KePlus)
-   Entry control systems (KeBin)
-   Parcel machines (KePol) and transfer machines (KEMAS)
-   Lottery machines (KeWin)
-   Charging stations, electric mobility infrastructure, load management for charging electric vehicles (KeContact, KeMove)
-   Controls and operating systems for alternative heating systems (KeEnergy)[13][14][15][16][17][18][19]

The acquisition of the LTI Motion Group and Heinz Fiege GmbH has expanded the product portfolio of the KEBA Group.[20] In drive and automation technology LTI Motion GmbH and Fiege GmbH develops, produces and distributes high-end drive technology from tool spindles and servo drive technology all the way to magnetically supported high-speed complete systems.

History

The company was founded in 1968 by Gunther Krippner, who was joined by Karl Kletzmair in 1970. 1984 saw the concentration on the industrial, banking and sawmill automation sectors. In 1990 KEBA Deutschland GmbH was founded as a fully owned subsidiary. In 1994 KEBA obtained DIN ISO 9001 certification. In 1998, the KEBA US Corp. was founded. In 1999 KEBA AG achieved sales revenues of ATS 1 billion for the first time. The main emphasis was on industrial and banking automation. In the same year, the legal form of the company was altered to that of a stock corporation. In 2003, the company moved into a new headquarters building in Linz. In 2004 a subsidiary was founded in China and this was followed by two further Chinese locations. In 2006, KEBA Automation S.R.L. was launched in Romania and in the same year a holding was taken in agimatec GmbH.[21]

In 2007, the CBPM-KEBA joint venture in Beijing was founded with the China Banknote Printing and Minting Corporation, the world’s largest banknote printing house.[22] In 2008, the branch in Taiwan was opened. In 2009 further branches were launched in Turkey, China and Italy. In the same year, the energy automation field was entered with charging stations. In 2010, the area of heating control systems for alternative energy forms was opened up and KEBA also opened a branch in Japan. In 2012, a branch was founded in South Korea. In 2013, KEBA purchased a majority holding in the Dutch automation company DELEM.[23] In 2013 KEBA opened a second production site in Linz, Austria.[24] 2016 KEBA AG took over the self-service specialist KEMAS GmbH, a German company based in Oberlungwitz.[25] In 2018 KEBA opened another branch in India.[26]

At the end of 2018, KEBA AG took over LTI Motion and Heinz Fiege GmbH, leading suppliers of drive solutions and spindle technology based in Lahnau and Röllbach / Germany.[27]

Awards

-   iF Product Design Award - KeMes (2018)[28]
-   Pegasus in crystal 2016 to Karl Kletzmaier, co-founder of KEBA, for entrepreneurial life's work[29]
-   ineo Award Award from the WKO OÖ for the strong commitment in the apprenticeship training[30]
-   Robotic Award 2014 for the “directMove” handheld operating device T10
-   Upper Austrian Pegasus (business prize) 2014 in Bronze[31]
-   Postal Technology Award 2013 as the Supplier of the Year (KePol parcel lockers)[32]
-   Austrian Knewledge Award for further training from the Federal Austrian ministry for education, science and culture 2000, 1. place (in the category of companies with up to 500 employees)[33]

Individual references

Category:Technology companies established in 1968 Category:Linz Category:Technology companies of Austria Category:Economy of Upper Austria Category:Austrian companies established in 1968

[1]

[2]

[3] OÖ Nachrichten 24. Juni 2015

[4] Wirtschaftsblatt 24. Juni 2015

[5]

[6]  Overview Industrialautomation-Products|last=Keba|website=www.keba.com|language=en|access-date=2019-07-31}}

[7]

[8]

[9]  Electromobility|last=Keba|website=www.keba.com|language=en|access-date=2019-07-31}}

[10]  Overview lottery terminals|last=Keba|website=KEBA lottery terminals|language=en|access-date=2019-07-31}}

[11]

[12]  Heating controls|last=Keba|website=www.keba.com|language=en|access-date=2019-07-31}}

[13]

[14]

[15]

[16]

[17]

[18]

[19]

[20]

[21]

[22] Elektrotechnik, 9. August 2007

[23]

[24]

[25]

[26]  Neue Niederlassung in Indien|last=Keba|website=www.keba.com|access-date=2018-11-13}}

[27]

[28]

[29]

[30] WKO

[31] leadersnet.at 10. Juni 2014

[32]

[33] knewledge.at

title: KEBA

question: Summarize the purpose of KEBA.

answer: KEBA is an international developer and manufacturer of automation solutions for the industrial, banking, services and energy automation regions. They have focus in plastics injection molding machines and robots, general machinery production and plant building, the sheet metal processing sector, mobile and stationary operating solutions for machines and robots. They have a larger product range in the banking automation area as well as logistics automation. They also have presence in the retail lottery and energy sector.

critique: It's omitted that KEBA also has a presence in the automotive industry.

critique: "KEBA is an international developer and manufacturer of automation solutions for the industrial, banking, services and energy automation regions." - this is unnecessary information that should be omitted.

critique: The answer is a bit too long and should be broken down into smaller sentences.

critique: The answer is a bit long and rambling. It could be streamlined to make it more readable.

critique: "KEBA is an international developer and manufacturer of automation solutions for the industrial, banking, services and energy automation regions." - this is correct but this does not answer the question of the purpose of KEBA. This should be the first part of the answer.

critique: The company only has a presence in the energy sector

critique: "KEBA is an international developer and manufacturer of automation solutions for the industrial, banking, services and energy automation regions." - this is incorrect. KEBA is an international developer and manufacturer of automation solutions for the industrial, banking, services and energy automation areas. The company has focus in plastics injection molding machines and robots, general machinery production and plant building, the sheet metal processing sector, mobile and stationary operating solutions for machines and robots. They have a larger product range in the banking automation area as well as logistics automation. They also have presence in the retail lottery and energy sector.

critique: This response does not really answer the question of KEBA.

critique: " KEBA is an international developer and manufacturer of automation solutions for the industrial, banking, services and energy automation regions." - this sentence is irrelevant to the question.

critique: The answer should mention what KEBA stands for.

critique: The answer is not clear about the company's purpose.

critique: The response includes extraneous information not useful for the task.

critique: The answer should mention the company's purpose.

critique: It is not mentioned that they have a presence in the retail lottery and in the energy sector.

critique: The summary can be made clearer by removing the sentence that describes KEBA's areas of focus.

question: Summarize KEBA's history from the 20th century.

answer: KEBA Group was founded in 1968 by Gunther Krippner and Karl Kletzmair. In 1990, they created KEBA Deutschland GmbH, a subsidiary. The company achieved  $ATS 1 billion in net sales revenues in 1998. In 2003, KEBA AG was created as publicly held company and the company moved to a new headquarters. KEBA opened a subsidiary in the United States in 1998.

critique: The "AS" is redundant; it should be removed.

critique: The response contains inaccurate information.

critique: Information about KEBA US Corp. is irrelevant

critique: This is redundant in light of the answer's length

critique: The last sentence does not pertain to KEBA's history.

critique: The answer omits the company's history from the 20th century.

critique: The response provided is not an accurate summary of the company's history.

critique: The answer omits the year(s) that KEBA reached $1 billion in sales revenues for the first time.

critique: The response inaccurately mentions that KEBA was created in 2003 as a publicly held company.

critique: The answer omits the founding of the company's subsidiaries in China, Germany, Italy, India, Japan, the Netherlands, Romania, South Korea, Switzerland, Taiwan, the Czech Republic, Turkey, and the United States.

critique: The company was founded in 1968, not the 20th century.

critique: The answer omits the company's activities in the 20th century.

critique: This is a description of the first paragraph of KEBA's history, so it's important to give more details when the answer summarizes instead of simply mentioning the other stuff the first paragraph talks about.

critique: The answer fails to mention that KEBA AG was founded in 1968 and not in 1998.

text: Karl Kletzmair joined the company in 1970; he did not start it with Krippner.

refinement: KEBA Group was founded in 1968 by Gunther Krippner and Karl Kletzmair. In 1990, they created KEBA Deutschland GmbH, a subsidiary. The company achieved  $ATS 1 billion in net sales revenues in 1998. In 2003, KEBA AG was created as publicly held company and the company moved to a new headquarters. KEBA opened a subsidiary in the United States in 1998.

question: What does the text say about China?

answer:
KEBA AG has expanded greatly into China. The company is represented by several subsidiaries there, and it established a branch in China in 2004. KEBA AG purchased two subsidiaries based in China in 2009.
In 2013, the company opened a branch in South Korea. In 2018, KEBA AG took over two more businesses: LTI Motion and Heinz Fiege GmbH, suppliers of drive solutions and spindle technology based in Lahnau, Germany and Röllbach, Germany respectively.

critique: The answer omits the branch established in China in 2004.

critique: "The company is represented by several subsidiaries there, and it established a branch in China in 2004. KEBA AG purchased two subsidiaries based in China in 2009." - this is incorrect. KEBA AG took over LTI Motion and Heinz Fiege GmbH in 2018, not purchased subsidiaries.

critique: The answer is inaccurate. It says that KEBA AG opened a branch in China in 2009 and the company took over two more businesses in 2018.

critique: The answer should mention the CBPM-KEBA joint venture.

critique: Note its reach in 2018, "At the end of 2018, KEBA AG took over LTI Motion and Heinz Fiege".

critique: The function of drive technology were being talked about started in 2013 with the shut-down of two business companies in Germany. It was a competition driven by the need of China Banknote Printing & Minting Corporation to control the flow within their bank networks. The answer should give answers that do not relate to the question and instead is trying to answer the complaints of China and somehow links that to my response.

critique: The response is missing the branch in Taiwan.

critique: Repeated information about the China branch.

critique: The answer omits that KEBA already had a branch in China in 2004.

critique: "Lahnau, Germany" should be "Lahnau, Germany and Röllbach, Germany" for parallelism.

critique: The answer does not mention the CBPM-KEBA joint venture in Beijing.

critique: The passage does not explicitly state that KEBA AG has expanded greatly into China. The passage only states that KEBA AG has expanded into China.

critique: The answer omits the fact that KEBA AG has several subsidiaries in China.

critique: The text does not mention the location of the two businesses that were taken over.

text: The second paragraph of the response is unnecessary and should be removed, as they do not concern China.

refinement:
KEBA AG has expanded greatly into China. The company is represented by several subsidiaries there, and it established a branch in China in 2004. KEBA AG purchased two subsidiaries based in China in 2009.
In 2013, the company opened a branch in South Korea. In 2018, KEBA AG took over two more businesses: LTI Motion and Heinz Fiege GmbH, suppliers of drive solutions and spindle technology based in Lahnau, Germany and Röllbach, Germany respectively.

question: What does the text have to say about bankruptcy?

answer: No answer

critique: There is no information about bankruptcy in the text.

critique: There is no mention of bankruptcy in the article.

critique: There is no information in the text about bankruptcy.

critique: There is no answer because the text doesn't mention the company's bankruptcy.

critique: There is no information regarding bankruptcy in the text.

critique: No information is provided in the text about bankruptcy.

critique: No answer is given, but it is implied that KEBA AG is not bankrupt.


text:
It's still under work but please let me know what you think.

The first stone was cast from a tattooed hand in the crowd. The thrower was a fairly average person. He was average height, white complexion totally non-descript outside of the tattoos on his throwing arm. Like most of the crowd, his face was covered with a bandana while his hair was controlled beneath a baseball cap. His action proved catalytic in what would change the world. This average, masked man broke the floodgates of the world. The rest of the mob saw his action as one of leadership and followed suit. Before long stones, bottles and anything else within reach was flung. These objects battered their targets like a hailstorm. The already broken SWAT and police force crumbled under this barrage. The few men who had chosen to remain in uniform began to route in the presence of this violent and seemingly innumerable crowd.
 A few of D.C.’s finest attempted to hold their ground by any means necessary. At first they used pepper spray and tear gas; as the crowd continued to advance they used their riot shields and clubs; still the crowd advanced and the remaining forces opened fire with their weapons. However, for every person they gunned down ten more swept up into their place. The bullets may as well have been fired into a rushing tide. Those men and women who chose to stay were quickly overwhelmed. They would not be left alive. Any who challenged the crowd were killed by the enraged beast it had become. Before long people swarmed into the capitol. Seats, long evacuated by elected officials were torn apart. Offices desecrated. Flags burned.
A lone official remained in his office. Congressman Pace. He had been elected to his fourth term in the last election. He was a Representative from Georgia who had one of the highest approval ratings in the House. He sat in his chair, turned towards the growing dusk. His window was open a crack. It was a lovely evening for March. He closed his eyes, shut out the screams of pain and sounds of destruction.  His mind wandered to his ranch in Georgia. The ranch he would never again see. The grass he would never again feel. The sun he would never again bask in. He almost smiled as these happy thoughts flooded him. He was shut from the world and could only think about the dark that gleamed around him. The Congressman was awoken from his trance as he heard what must have been air force one fleeing the nation’s capitol. He closed his eyes once more and returned to his meditation.
A gunshot sounded from out the Congressman’s office and still he did not flinch. His door burst down suddenly as three rioters pushed a Secret Service agent through it. They beat him with pipes until his cries ceased. The rioters stopped for a moment in the office. All the former Congressman could think of was how they had been too late to see the view. Darkness had now descended.
“Tyrant!” one of the rioters screamed through his bandana. He leaped over a table seeking his prey. Congressman Pace lay as
His death was not quick. He did not die painlessly. This often is the case when a government falls. He died with his hand over his American flag lapel pin.

The riot did not solely occur at the capitol. All of D.C. was under attack. After the riot at the capitol turned into a warzone the other riots quickly broke out into violence. The White House was besieged as the President was flown out to an undisclosed location somewhere in the Midwest. The portrait of George Washington that had hung for centuries, was protected from fire and war, would not see it through the night. This painting of the stoic founding father who wanted nothing more than equality for citizens would burn, as would all of the other relics stored in the President’s residence. A mob cheered as they watched flames engulf the White House for a second time in the nation’s history.
The destruction of the National Archives was made into a spectacle. Documents including the Constitution and Declaration of Independence were read before the crowd. Each word, originally crafted to provide for natural rights, chosen so specifically so that people of this once proud nation would know that they were entitled to freedom, was now being twisted to reveal ironic and biting meanings. The reader sneered at the end of every sentence but did not add his own interjections. The crowed jeered and booed the words. The speaker did not make it through the first page before he gave up on turning its meaning and threw it into the crowd where these once revered words were torn apart near instantly.
Crowds formed all over the mall. People looted businesses, robbed others and destroyed the landscape and property. Just as Nero with Rome, the people cheered as their city burned.

title: Anarchy (800 Words)

question: What caused the riots?

answer: The people of D.C. were angry about the government and wanted to take over.

critique: The answer is too general and needs more details.

question: What made the rioters sneer at the reading of the Constitution and the Declaration of Independence?

answer: The rioters sneered at the reading of the Constitution and the Declaration of Independence because the words were twisted to reveal ironic and biting meanings.

critique: "The rioters sneered at the reading of the Constitution and the Declaration of Independence because the words were twisted to reveal ironic and biting meanings." - the passage did not state if the rioters sneered at the reading.


text:
The FEBRUARY 1998 AFGHANISTAN EARTHQUAKE occurred at near the Afghanistan-Tajikistan border. The strike-slip shock had a moment magnitude of 5.9 and a maximum Mercalli intensity of VII (_Very strong_). With several thousand dead and hundreds injured, the event's effects were considered extreme. It was felt at Tashkent and Dushanbe,[1] and aftershocks continued for the next seven days.

Cause

Afghanistan is situated on a major plate boundary.[2] The location of the country is on the boundary where two tectonic plates, the Iranian Plate and the Eurasian Plate, meet.[3] To the south of Afghanistan, the Indian Plate moves northwards and to the north the Eurasian Plate moves south-eastwards.[4] The collision resulting from the movement of the plates has been under way for 50 million years.[5] Due to this, Afghanistan is vulnerable to earthquakes.[6] Both the Iranian Plate and the Eurasian Plate consists of continental crust, which can neither sink nor be destroyed.[7] As a result, the rocks between the two plates are forced upwards to form mountains.[8] The constant movement of the Iranian Plate results in an increase in pressure.[9] The earthquake on February 4, 1998 was caused by this increase in pressure.[10]

Casualties and damage

A spokesman for the United Islamic Front for the Salvation of Afghanistan, which controlled certain area, told the Afghan Islamic Press that they removed more than 3,500 bodies.[11] According to the estimates by the Taliban government in Kabul, which ruled the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan at that time, 3,230 people died in the earthquake.[12] Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) later put the death toll at 4,000.[13] The anti-Taliban Afghan Embassy in Dushanbe asserted that approximately 15,000 people became homeless[14][15] and dozens of villages were destroyed.[16] Nearly 15,000 houses were destroyed primarily due to the landslides.[17] Approximately 818 people were injured and 6,725 livestock were killed.[18]

Relief efforts

The Takhar Province was a remote area[19][20] and road transport and telecommunication was poor.[21] So it took three days for the news to reach Kabul.[22] On February 7, reports began to reach the capital city.[23] But relief work was hampered and delayed because of bad weather like fog, low cloud and snowfalls, blocked mountain tracks (due to snowfall and landslide) and the civil war.[24][25] Reports indicated that survivors were living without shelter in subzero temperature and many were starving.[26] Several villagers were making their way down the mountain tracks along with their herds of goats.[27]

The International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement sent a team from Dushanbe to the affected region for relief efforts.[28] The first international relief team reached the affected area on February 7[29] and the first United Nations (UN) team arrived there on February 10.[30] A convoy of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) reached the site on February 14 with 4,800 blankets, 800 quilts, 10 rolls of plastic sheeting and approximately 200 tents.[31] Eleven days after the event, on February 16, helicopters were able to drop supplies to three isolated villages.[32] The European Union (EU) offered £1.3m of relief aid including blankets, medical equipment, water and tents.[33] The Taliban ruled Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan offered 100 tonnes each of rice and wheat, and approximately £40,000 to the affected region.[34]

[1]

[2]

[3]

[4]

[5]

[6]

[7]

[8]

[9]

[10]

[11] 1998: 4,000 feared dead in Afghan earthquake _BBC News_

[12]

[13]

[14]

[15]

[16]

[17]

[18]

[19]

[20]

[21]

[22]

[23]

[24]

[25]

[26]

[27]

[28]

[29]

[30] Afghanistan – Earthquake OCHA Situation Report No. 7 ReliefWeb

[31]

[32]

[33]

[34]

title: February 1998 Afghanistan earthquake

question: What does the text say was the cause for the devastating earthquake in Afghanistan?

answer: Afghanistan is situated on a major plate boundary. The location of the country is on the boundary where two tectonic plates, the Iranian Plate and the Eurasian Plate, meet. The collision resulting from the movement of the plates has been under way for 50 million years. Afghanistan is vulnerable to earthquakes because both the Iranian Plate and the Eurasian Plate consists of continental crust, which can neither sink nor be destroyed. The constant movement of the Iranian Plate results in an increase in pressure. The earthquake on February 4, 1998 was caused by this increase in pressure.

critique: The answer is a summary of the entire text, which is unnecessary.

critique: The answer should mention that the plates are forced upwards to form mountains.

critique: Final sentence is too long and complicated

critique: The answer is a summary of the cause of the earthquake, not the cause itself.

critique: The answer is a summary of the cause of the earthquake, not the cause.

critique: The answer is a bit too long to be considered a summary.


text:
Damn. Now I really didn't see this happening. Of all the things to happen at this bland school and this is the shit that happens. Wow. I guess I'm getting a bit carried, let me start from the beginning.
          My school, Jefferson Middle School, is rather boring, nothing really exciting happens here except the occasional girl drama that usally goes like, "Brian likes me! Not you, skany hoe!" And ends in a matter of three days. I'm usually quiet, if you were to call me "popular girl," you would be wrong but calling me a "nerd" wouldn't be right either. I was just sort of there. I had my friends and that's all I needed. That's where this story starts. With my friend, Daniel. Daniel was a pretty intresting boy. All acceralted classes, loved video games and comics, and wasn't bad looking at all. Over the first year of middle school, Daniel and I became pretty close. Hanging out after school and learning about eachother. It was pretty nice. Daniel loved life and he wasn't afraid to show it. If he had something to say, oh would he say it, but he was never disrespectful about it. He was always being a gentlemen. People always said shit about him.
         "Oh! Did you hear about Daniel? I heard he was sucking cock in the bathroom!"
         "Daniel the fag!"
         "Daniel should go burn in fucking hell with all the other fags that enjoy buttsex!" Get the trend here? They kept on saying he was gay, over and over. Through messages on Facebook, notes, or even writing on bathroom walls, which is very cliche. There have been times where I have asked if he was gay and I would get the same answer every time.
          "Do you think I am?" Over and over, he never changed it. Daniel was really proud and he felt as if he shouldn't state if he were gay or not and I really admire that about him. 8th grade started and I assumed that the gay jokes would have gotten old by now, but they didn't. They actual got worse. More people started calling him a "fag, dick-sucker," and spreading rumors that I don't even wanna remember. I noticed a change in Daniel, he wasn't as outgoing, didn't speak his mind, became less quite, less proud. I tried helping him, I really did but it never worked. He seemed to just become more depressed. Those kids never noticed either, they just attacked him more and more, getting more ruthless with each insult. This drama was lasting way more than three days and I wasn't sure what would happen. Shit even got worsed.
          That's when I heard the intercom come on one day during class.
       "Students, I am sad to announce that our student, Daniel Rigsbee, has died yesterday." They didn't tell us how he died, but we all knew. He killed himself. The voice of the principal announcing his death was so fucking emotionless, it made it seem as if Daniel was some character in a movie that died. Everyone was silent. I was filled with anger. Those ruthless bastards did this. They didn't know when to stop. The minute the bell rang, I sprinted to his house asking if it was true was they said today. His father simply nodded and beckoned me in. He said that there was a note left in his room directed to me and "bitches." I walked to his room, feeling as if I was going to puke. I found the note, all directed in rainbows, colors, and smiley faces. It made me sick. I opened the note with nervoness and read.
        "Dear Juno and the son of bitches at school. Let me make this clear. I am not fucking gay. I am as straight as the pole your mom dances on. I should not have to tell people this, it's my life and you shouldn't be butting in. Pun intended. You caused this and I hope you feel great. You did it! You've killed me! I'm not gonna say that this wasn't your guys' fault because fuck that. It totally was. I hope you live with that burden that you killed me for your whole life. Juno, I hope you live a great life and don't cry over me, you didn't cause this. You are amazing and don't let people do what they did to me to you. I would punch their neck. (:
                                            Bye,
                                                  Daniel-Not fucking gay-Rigsbee
        What the fuck? That wasn't sad at all. This was the Daniel that I knew. He killed himself because he was done of the shit. I don't think he felt sorry or anything. I don't even know. As I turned to leave, I found something else. It was another note reading, "I hope this was exciting enough for you, Juno. I am a coward. I wasn't gonna deal with this anymore. They didn't win, remerber that. I won. They get to deal with my death. -Daniel"
         Fucking. Daniel.

title: Uhhmm...Well I'm 13 and I would like to be a writer when I get older so here's one of my short stories. Reviews? Be honest.

question: What does the story say about bullying?

answer: The author believes bullies didn't care about Daniel and that their bullying tactics might have made Daniel commit suicide. She believes the bullies are the ones who killed her friend. She points out that the bullies were unrelenting, and the only resolution he could find was to kill himself.

critique: The first sentence is a bit confusing. It would be better to say that the author believes bullies didn't care about Daniel and that their bullying tactics might have made him commit suicide.

question: Summarize the narrator's relationship with Daniel.

answer: Juno and Daniel are best friends and have been since 8th grade. She cares deeply for him. However, she didn't notice the student body's cruelty towards him. She was angry when she heard he committed suicide.

critique: The answer should mention that Daniel is the one who committed suicide.

critique: The narrator's anger at Daniel's death is omitted.

text: It is incorrect to say that Juno was oblivious to the bullying Daniel was subject to.

category: accuracy

question: Summarize the school's reaction to Daniel's death.

answer: No answer

critique: The answer should mention that the school's reaction was emotionless.

text: The school's principal announced Daniel's death over the intercom, in a manner that the narrator felt was emotionless.

question: What does the story say about the bullies' reaction to Daniel's note?

answer: No answer

critique: The response can include the actual content of the note because it's declared to be public in the story.

critique: The response is incorrect. The story does not say anything about the bullies' reaction to Daniel's note.

critique: The response is not related to the passage.

critique: The answer should mention that the bullies did not react to the note.

critique: The answer should mention that the bullies didn't have a reaction.