text:
The eyes opened, it was morning.

With a soft sigh, the body rose from the bed and looked up with a blissful awareness.  It was early and had never felt so perfect.

A lens watched in the distance as the radiant light shone from in the distance, remaining thus as the body entered and exited the shower.

The closet's door, across from the bathroom's, opened as steam poured from the now clean room.  A light came from within which was set upon by the face.

A warm glow emitted from the room...

The eyes opened to a new world, the shower - moments ago - left behind.  The heat was intense, the world was filled with stars... or blinking bulbs, rather.  The lights had a rhythm and a pulse felt physically, beyond just the eyes.  There was a certain singing harmony that was abuzz within ones bones, not unpleasant, but not wholly relaxing.  The hands reached out to rub some lights, which upon the touch was adjusted to a dimmer shade, a red, instead of green.

A lens watched in the distance, the augmented picture adjusted as a man appeared in front of the body.  The man, dressed not unwell, did appear on edge:  his hair short, but obviously suffering trauma from recent stressful activities, his collar loose, and his words fast and short.  The words were unheard, but motions of deep negativity were erupted from both figures.  What appeared a shout came from the mouth of the freshly arrived man, and his figured disappeared.  The chest thumped what appeared a chuckle and at once moved to another set of lights, the reds turned blue as the new lights turned a vibrant yellow.

The room flashed once, brightly....

With a hard sigh, the body sat down, and the face peered at the wall of monitors.  The eyes watched.  Though each screen, a new message, a new image, a new video, a graph, a new color mapping, and of course the list.  The list that plagued the brain everyday, that drove the heart to sadness, and the legs to jittering.  The list was that of those to whom this officer was assigned.  Justice and society exist in tandem, they were under both protection and surveillance as all were, likely to go about lives as mundane as a trip to the park, or possibly exciting as hyperchuting along the oil skims.  These ones were a special assignment, requested, and was being fulfilled with great earnest.  The backgrounds, random meetings, visits...whispers, all observed and analyzed - all safe, all secure.

These things were not what troubled the officer, these things were hardly of concern to one as experienced, and born so far removed from the first Consolidation.  At this point, these things were accepted - but, not force.  Initially, everything came by expensive options, never by force.  Then, as technology goes - things that were once prohibitly expensive, become reasonably cheap; things that were unheard of, became a nuisance of regularity; as the world became more accessible, less accessibility was needed.  Today, things were grander then before the Consolidation, but they were also more within reach.  The first grand breakthrough didn't just bring about the rise of quality of life through some vaguerity, no - it brought with it an equally of the playing fields, it provided better distribution of time, energy, and people; brought about a reduction in global fatalities, crimes, and illiteracy; it brought some of the best minds into the world since before the turn of the century; it literally healed our planet - so it goes and the day goes on.

What troubled the officer was the lack of any real desire for some.  These individuals on the screen would grow to know, as the officer did, that there is a plateau, that there is a point where you stop and look around, but see nowhere up to go, but you see the world around.  That is what had happened yesterday, but that was beyond the current scope of thought now.  The officer imagined that the screens were off, and the hand moved instinctively towards the controls - these control lights dimmed, the screens went black.  Rising from the chair, the officer turned towards the open glowing doorway behind the desk and exited.

The room flashed twice, dimly....

The body walked through the dimly lit hallway and found a resting chair and rested.

title: [SP][MS][SF] Today, There; Today, Here

question: What does the story say about the theme of equality?

answer: The story is set in a world where technology has advanced to the point where people can be monitored and tracked. The officer is assigned to monitor and track a group of people. The officer is troubled by the lack of desire for some of the people on the list. The officer imagines that the screens are off and the hand moves instinctively towards the controls. The officer turns towards the open glowing doorway behind the desk and exits.

critique: The theme of equality does not come up in the story.

critique: The answer is irrelevant to the question.

question: Summarize the body's movements over the course of the story.

answer: The body rises from the bed, enters and exits the shower, sits down, and then rises from the chair.

critique: The body rises from the bed, enters and exits the shower, sits down, and then rises from the chair.

text: There are more instances of body movements in the story than what is written in the response.

question: What does the story say about the body's family?

answer: No answer

critique: The passage does not mention anything about the body's family.

critique: The response never answers the question and instead brings up another question.

critique: The answer should mention that the story does not mention the body's family.

critique: The response misses to mention that the story does not mention anything about the body's family.

critique: The story does not mention the body's family.


split: train

text:
EDNOR GARDENS-LAKESIDE is a large community in northeast Baltimore, Maryland. It is bounded by 33rd Street to the south, Hillen Road to the east, Ellerslie Avenue to the west, and Argonne Drive, The Alameda, Loch Raven Boulevard, and Roundhill Road to the north. Ednor Gardens was part of a large planned community that was built out from the 1920s through the 1950s by Edward Gallagher, one of Baltimore's most prolific homebuilders at the time. It is notable among its neighbors for the quality of the homes and extensive landscaping. Until it was torn down in 2002, Memorial Stadium (home to the Baltimore Colts and Ravens football teams and Orioles baseball team) was located in Ednor Gardens-Lakeside.

History

The entire Ednor Gardens-Lakeside community is located on the former estate of General Samuel Smith, who fought in the Revolutionary War. The property was later transferred to the Garrett family, who owned the B&O Railroad and were one of Baltimore's most powerful families in the 19th century. When Robert Garrett died in 1896, he ceded 1,400 acres of the property to his widow, Mary Garrett. In 1923, Mary Garrett (who had since remarried) sold a 49-acre parcel to Edward Gallagher, a prominent real estate developer, for $146,299. Other transactions occurred until Gallagher controlled much more land. Gallagher named his new development Ednor Gardens, for his two sons, Edward and Norman, by taking the first few letters of their names.[1]

Gallagher set out to build rowhomes unlike anything that had been built in Baltimore to date. He was inspired by the stately English-style mansions in nearby Guilford and Roland Park, but wanted to create a more affordable option. The solution was to incorporate the unique styling into a rowhouse. The first homes rose on East 36th Street in 1925. Unlike many other housing developments at the time, there was no streetcar access to Ednor Gardens, so Gallagher built rear-access garages into every house, correctly predicting the coming of the Automobile Age. The unique houses were popular and sold quickly, leading other prominent developers to copy the English style in new projects around the city.

Development of Ednor Gardens-Lakeside continued through the 1930s, 40s and 50s. Newer rowhouses, which were built north and east of the original Ednor Gardens development, were constructed of brick and lacked the decorative qualities of English-style homes nearby. In the early 1930s, Gallagher was sued by another developer, Frank Novak, who had built some detached single family homes in the Lakeside community next to Lake Montebello. Believing that Gallaghers' rowhouses caused his property to depreciate, Novak won the lawsuit and forced Gallagher to build detached homes on land adjacent to Lakeside.[2]

Despite changes in surrounding communities during the latter half of the 20th century, Ednor Gardens-Lakeside remained relatively stable.

Memorial Stadium Redevelopment

The first stadium at the site was built in 1922 and was called Baltimore Stadium or Venable Stadium. It hosted a variety of smaller events, most notably college football games. It became the home to the Baltimore Orioles in 1944 when the team's previous stadium in Abell burned down. In 1950, the stadium was expanded to become Memorial Stadium. At its largest, Memorial Stadium seated 65,000 fans. The Orioles played their last game at the stadium in 1991 before departing for the newly constructed Oriole Park at Camden Yards in downtown Baltimore. The Baltimore Stallions and Baltimore Ravens football teams played at Memorial Stadium between 1994 and 1997. Memorial Stadium was demolished in 2002.

The demolition of the stadium and its parking lots left a giant 32-acre hole in the center of the Ednor Gardens-Lakeside community. The City awarded a nonprofit developer, Govans Ecumenical Development Corporation (GEDCO) the responsibility of creating and executing a new master plan for the site. The development, christened Stadium Place has an oval-shaped road around the center of the parcel, with a multipurpose athletic field for baseball, football and lacrosse in the middle. The field was developed the Cal Ripken Sr. Foundation. As of 2013, Maryland's largest YMCA sits on the southwest corner of the site, and GEDCO has built four large senior apartment buildings on the eastern edge of the site. Future plans call for more senior apartment buildings and a small commercial center on the southeast corner.

Demographics

As of the 2010 Census, there are 5,185 people living in Ednor Gardens-Lakeside

The community association is named the Ednor Gardens-Lakeside Community Association. The homes range from large single family homes to semi-detached and townhouses in a number of different styles. A majority of homes are owner-occupied.[3]

Demographics

According to the 2000 US Census, 5,070 people live in Ednor Gardens-Lakeside with 81.3% African-American and 16% White. The median family income is $54,358 and 94% of the houses are occupied and 84.5% of those are occupied by the home's owner.[4]

Government Representation

+-----------------+-----------------+-----------------+-----------------+
| Community       | State           | Congressional   | City Council    |
|                 | District        | District        | District        |
+=================+=================+=================+=================+
| Ednor Gardens   | 43rd            | 7th             | 14th            |
+-----------------+-----------------+-----------------+-----------------+
| Representatives | Anderson,       | Mfume           | Clarke          |
|                 | Washington,     |                 |                 |
|                 | McIntosh        |                 |                 |
+-----------------+-----------------+-----------------+-----------------+
|  |
+-----------------+-----------------+-----------------+-----------------+

Notes

[1]

[2] Hayward, Mary Ellen and Charles Belfoure. The Baltimore Rowhouse. New York: Princeton Architectural Press, 1999. Pages 145-60.

[3]

[4]

title: Ednor Gardens-Lakeside, Baltimore

question: Summarize the inception and construction of the Ednor Gardens-Lakeside community.

answer: Ednor Gardens-Lakeside's inception began on the estate of General Samuel Smith, a Revolutionary War veteran, and founder of the community. When his property was passed on to the Garrett's, the B&O Railroad, and Baltimore's most powerful family, it went on to later be developed as Ednor Gardens-Lakeside by real estate developer, Edward Gallagher. The community saw continuous growth through the 1920s through the 1950s by extended subdivision, beginning with the Garrett family found property.

critique: Gallagher did not found the community, he was a real estate developer.

critique: The Garrett family was already found the property when General Smith passed it on to them.

critique: The last sentence is not related to the question and should be removed.

critique: The Garrett family found the property, not acquired it.

critique: Following revision of the answer, it is 66% accurate. Sources of information were used adequately.

critique: The answer is inaccurate and needs a complete rewrite.

critique: The Garrett family did not found the property.

critique: The answer should mention the significance of the development.

critique: "The community saw continuous growth through the 1920s through the 1950s by extended subdivision, beginning with the Garrett family found property." - repetitive and inaccurate.

critique: The Garrett family's property was sold to Edward Gallagher in 1923.

critique: The answer is confusing and poorly structured.

critique: The family name of General Samuel Smith is not necessary

critique: The answer is not clear about the Garrett family.

critique: Gallagher did not build the community, but he was its founder.

text: The phrasing of the answer makes it seem as if the property was passed on to B&O Railroad--it should be made clear that the Garrett family owned the B&O Railroad.

category: coherence

refinement: Ednor Gardens-Lakeside's inception began on the estate of General Samuel Smith, a Revolutionary War veteran, and founder of the community. When his property was passed on to the Garrett's, the B&O Railroad, and Baltimore's most powerful family, it went on to later be developed as Ednor Gardens-Lakeside by real estate developer, Edward Gallagher. The community saw continuous growth through the 1920s through the 1950s by extended subdivision, beginning with the Garrett family found property.

question: Describe what might have happened if Novak hadn't won the lawsuit.

answer: Gallagher may have never built detached houses in the Lakeside community.

critique: The answer could be clearer in its pronoun use.

critique: This does not describe what might have happened if Novak hadn't won the lawsuit.

critique: The answer does not mention the consequences of Gallagher not building detached houses in Lakeside.

critique: It's omitted that Gallagher may also have never wanted to build the condos on the site.

critique: It is not guaranteed that Gallagher would have never built detached houses in the Lakeside community.

critique: Gallagher would have built detached houses in the Lakeside community.

critique: The answer could be more specific about the effects of the lawsuit.

critique: It's likely not all of Ednor Gardens would have been built.

critique: "Gallagher named his new development Ednor Gardens, for his two sons, Edward and Norman, by taking the first few letters of their names" is a critical piece of information that suggests that Gallagher would have incorporated the names of his sons in his new projects.

critique: There is no evidence that Gallagher would not have built detached homes had the lawsuit gone in his favor.

critique: This response is incorrect, as the answer to this question is not explicitly stated in the text.

critique: The answer is not related to the question.


text:
_MR. INCREDIBLE AND PALS_ is a 2005 American animated short film produced by Pixar which was included as a bonus feature on the DVD release of its 2004 feature film _The Incredibles_.[1] It features the characters of Mr. Incredible and Frozone from the feature, plus a “cute animal” rabbit sidekick named Mister Skipperdoo, chasing and capturing the supervillain Lady Lightbug.

The film is animated in the style of limited animation that intentionally parodies the low budget and low-quality television Saturday-morning cartoons that aired regularly during the 1950s and 1960s.

During this time, television animation studios were contracted to turn out high quantities of product on low budgets, which resulted in many television cartoons that have been derided and mocked by television critics, film and animation historians, and audiences in general. _Mr. Incredible and Pals_ uses a number of the cost-saving techniques and tropes found in these shows, such as:

-   Still shots of drawn scenes, rather than actual frame by frame animation.
-   Actual footage of live actors' mouths moving instead of animated lips on the characters, a technique known as Synchro-Vox. The most well-known example of this form of “animation” was the _Clutch Cargo_ series.
-   A Cold War era plot pitting true, freedom-loving American superheroes against a stereotypical “Communist” supervillain.
-   The sidekick being ensnared by the supervillain so that complete emphasis can be placed on the main hero, who nevertheless thanks the sidekick for his involvement in stopping the villain.
-   Frozone speaking in forced “beatnik” slang, showing the out of touch depiction of minority characters in animated works at the time.
-   A “cute animal” sidekick only added for “children's appeal.” In this film, a glasses-wearing rabbit named Mister Skipperdoo does nothing but hop up and down, yet his actions are seen as crucial to solving the “mystery” that comprises the plot of the episode.

_Mr. Incredible and Pals_ is the first of three short films produced by Pixar Animation Studios, which were animated in traditional 2D hand-drawn animation rather than computer animation. The second film, _Your Friend the Rat,_ was produced in 2007, and included as part of the DVD release of _Ratatouille._ The third, _Day & Night_, produced in 2010, was theatrically released with _Toy Story 3_.

The latter two films feature a combination of hand-drawn and CGI animation.

Plot

The episode begins with Mr. Incredible, Frozone and Mr. Skipperdoo filling the viewers in on previous events. An evil villainess named Lady Lightbug (described by Mr. Incredible as “sinister, yet lovely”) has stolen the West River Bridge, leaving cars stuck on both sides of the river. Resolving to amend the situation, Frozone builds a temporary bridge of ice and the three skate away to find their nemesis.

Arriving at an abandoned funfair, Mr. Incredible searches for Lady Lightbug by lifting up various objects while stating that she is not under any of them. Mr. Skipperdoo hops to point out that the missing bridge is above him. Suddenly, Lady Lightbug flies out and informs them all of her evil plan to steal the free world's bridges, creating massive traffic jams and thus destroying their economies.

She then proceeds to shoot a line of radioactive silk out of her abdomen, ensnaring Frozone and leaving all as lost. Mr. Incredible throws a Ferris wheel at her, to which she dodges. He then hops in a roller coaster, which takes off flying toward Lady Lightbug. Mr Incredible then knocks her out of the air, defeating her.

The missing bridge is restored and everything returns to normal thanks to Mr. Incredible, Frozone and Mr. Skipperdoo; Mr. Incredible adds, “and democracy.” The end of the episode features a brief teaser of the next episode which features a gigantic anthropomorphic ear of corn yelling, “I’ll crush you, Mr. Incredible!” before laughing evilly as the two prepare to fight.

Cast

-   Roger Jackson as The Narrator/Evil Cornhead
-   Pete Docter as Mr. Incredible
-   Michael Asberry as Frozone
-   Celia Shuman as Lady Lightbug

Commentary

In addition to the many in jokes and animation references included in this film, Craig T. Nelson and Samuel L. Jackson provided a DVD commentary for the fictional show, acting in character as Mr. Incredible and Frozone as if sitting down and watching this for the first time in years.

The in-universe background behind _Mr. Incredible and Pals_ stated that many years before the Supers were banned, Mr. Incredible and Frozone licensed their names and images to a television animation company, and this was the pilot episode for an animated television series that never aired due to the Super ban. The two supers are watching this pilot for the first time several years after it was produced.

The commentary of the two characters provides additional entertainment for the DVD's viewers, as they react with shock and disbelief to the poor quality of the film.

While Mr. Incredible appears to display only apathy for the show, Frozone is aghast and disgusted at its campiness and supposed racism (the show's version of himself appears to be white, or “tan” as Mr. Incredible puts it). He is also annoyed by Mr. Skipperdoo. By the end of the short, Frozone is so annoyed that he walks out of the commentary at the end, demanding the episode never be aired.

References in other media

The novel _Incredibles 2: A Real Stretch: An Elastigirl Prequel Story_ mentions the film several times, referring to it as _Mr. Incredible and Friends_. In the novel, the film is something Mr. Incredible and Frozone are initially excited for. But after getting to watch it, Frozone immediately lambasts it for how it portrays him and the fact that the film makes them fight alongside a bunny. Mr. Incredible then speaks to Rick Dicker, the agent for the NSA Government, who agrees to shelve the film.

[1]

title: Mr. Incredible and Pals

question: Summarize the plot of Mr. Incredible and Pals.

answer: Mr. Incredible, Frozone and Mister Skipperdoo are on the hunt for Lady Lightbug. She has stolen the West River Bridge, and the heroes need to restore it. Lady Lightbug catches them, but Mr. Incredible defeats her. The bridge is restored, and the episode ends with a teaser for a coming episode featuring a fight between the superhero Mr. Incredible and a giant corn.

critique: The bridge is not restored by the end of the episode.

critique: "the episode ends with a teaser for a coming episode featuring a fight between the superhero Mr. Incredible and a giant corn." - must mention that the teaser is for the next episode featuring a giant anthropomorphic ear of corn as the villain.

critique: "Mr. Incredible, Frozone and Mister Skipperdoo" - the names of the characters are repeated twice.

critique: The bridge is not restored by the heroes.

critique: The bridge is already restored when the episode ends.

critique: The answer should mention that the episode is a parody of low-budget television cartoons.

critique: The bridge is not restored at the end of the episode.

critique: It's omitted that the episode is animated in the style of limited animation that intentionally parodies the low budget and low-quality television Saturday-morning cartoons that aired regularly during the 1950s and 1960s.

question: Summarize the in-universe explanation of Mr. Incredible and Pals.

answer: Mr. Incredible and Pals is a 2005 American animated short film produced by Pixar. It features the characters of Mr. Incredible and Frozone from the feature, plus a "cute animal" rabbit sidekick named Mister Skipperdoo, chasing and capturing the supervillain Lady Lightbug. The film is animated in the style of limited animation that parodies low-budget and low-quality television Saturday-morning cartoons that aired during the 1950s and 1960s.

critique: The answer should mention the in-universe explanation of the film.

critique: The answer should mention that the film is a pilot for an animated TV series.

critique: The answer should mention that the film was included as a bonus feature on the DVD release of The Incredibles.

critique: The answer should mention that the film is a pilot for an animated television series that never aired.

critique: Add resources to history:TV tropes, Mark Kausler

critique: The answer should mention that the film is a pilot episode for an animated television series that never aired.

question: Summarize the tropes and cost-cutting techniques used in Mr. Incredible and Pals.

answer: Mr. Incredible and Pals uses many cost-cutting techniques and tropes found in low-budget Saturday morning cartoons of the 1950s and 1960s.

critique: The answer doesn't mention the specific cost-cutting techniques and tropes used in the film.

critique: The answer could be more specific about the techniques used.

critique: The answer should mention some of the tropes and cost-cutting techniques used in the film.

critique: The answer should mention the specific techniques used.

critique: The answer should mention some of the techniques used.

critique: In addition to the tropes and cost-cutting techniques mentioned in the passage, the answer could also mention the later innovation of Syncho-Vox.

critique: The answer should mention some of the tropes used.


text:
THE SILENT POETS is a Japanese electronic duo (now solo project). They have released six original albums and more than seven remix albums/EPs until now. Gaining international recognition, Silent Poets has been featured in countless music/fashion magazines, and in over 30 compilations around the world ranging from the USA, UK, France, Germany, and Italy, including the well known “Cafe Del Mar” compilation.

Their music style is in the best Acid Jazz / Down-tempo traditions and have something in common with such artists as their countryman DJ Krush, United Future Organization, DJ Cam, etc. Among the characteristic features the deep piano parts, rich colourful orchestra sound and undulating charming rhythm could be highlighted. The Silent Poets collaborate with such electronic / pop / rap music stars as ACO, Port Of Notes, Coldcut, Frederic Galliano, Attica Blues, Yasushi Ide, DJ Vadim, Kid Loco, Towa Tei, Spiritual Vibes, Shakkazombie, Ken Hirai, and Ursula Rucker.

The Silent Poets speak the universal language of music, whether amongst themselves on the instrumental “Mass” (off 1996's _Firm Roots_) or supported by guests such as Last Poets Jalaluddin Mansur Nuriddin and Sulieman El-Hadi on “Inquizative, Derivative” (off 1994's _Words and Silence_).

History

Silent Poets was formed by Michiharu Shimoda in 1991. Their first meaningful work was the album _Potential Meeting_ released in 1992 on Toy's Factory. After releasing their fifth album _To Come..._, Hiruno left the group and Silent Poets became Shimoda's solo project. After that Shimoda composed music for fashion shows, released a huge number of remixes. The 2005 album, _Sun_, was released after a six year gap in recordings.

Discography

CD

-   _Potential Meeting_ (1993, Toy's Factory)
-   _Words and Silence_ (1994, Toy's Factory)
-   _drawing_ (1995 Toy's Factory)
-   _Firm Roots_ (1996, Toy's Factory)
-   _For Nothing_ (1997, Toy's Factory)
-   _To Come..._ (1999, Toy's Factory)
-   _Sun_ (2005, Rush! Production)
-   _Another Trip from Sun_ (2013 Another Trip)
-   _dawn_ (2018 Another Trip)

Singles and EPs

-   “La Vie”/“Shalom” 12“ (1994, Bellissima Records)
-   “Drawing” CD/LP (1995, Toy's Factory)
-   _Cherry Tree EP_ CD/12 (1997, Toy's Factory)
-   _Sugar Man EP_ CD (1999, Toy's Factory)
-   “Save the Day” 12“ (2000, Yellow Productions)
-   “Someday” 12“ (2000, Yellow Productions)

Soundtrack

-   _A Woman Like You_ (1993)
-   _Tori_ (2004)
-   _Death Stranding_ (2019)

Compilations

-   Cafe Del Mar vol 2 (dos), 1995
-   Funkungfusion from Ninja Tunes, 1998
-   X-Mix: Fast Forward & Rewind[1]

[1]

title: Silent Poets

question: What does the article say about J-Rock?

answer: No answer

critique: The answer should mention that the question is not answered.

question: How can the effect of Hiruno's departure be seen in the Silent Poets' records?

answer: They released more shoddy production albums that had longer gaps between.

critique: There is no evidence to suggest that the quality of their album dropped after Hiruno left.

critique: The response inaccurately mentions that the Silent Poets released more shoddy production albums after Hiruno left, however the response does not mention anything about the Silent Poets' records after Hiruno left.

critique: The response is incorrect and does not answer the question.

critique: The response is incorrect. The Silent Poets released a six year gap in recordings after Hiruno left.


text:
This is a story I just wrote, that isn't finished yet. I've been feeling down lately and It's helped to write stuff down. It's kind of a fictionalized reflection of myself. Please don't bash too hard on my writing or grammer, this is the first thing I've written for a long time.

Alexa

Her sparklingly beautiful hazel eyes were locked to his. Dark auburn hair and thick black rimmed glasses covered part of her small freck covered face. A slight smile rose her cheeks. He smiled back, causing his heart rate rise exponentially.  A feeling manifested in the pit of his stomach which he had never felt before. David would usually be trying to cope with his inconfidence by looking away, but for some reason this time was different, he didn’t care. The ice cream that she had scooped was starting drip onto her red blouse. As soon as she realized it was dripping all over her shirt, a middle aged mother with her two children started blabbering to her about not listening. Seven seconds was how long it lasted, and that was the end of it. She looked away, cleaned off the melting ice cream and attended to the demandingly ungrateful customers. The moment that David may never receive ever again had passed, forever. Seven seconds was how long it lasted, it was pure mental ecstasy. David craved these moments, but he thought they can’t happen in real life. He was probably the shyest person he knew, mostly because he doesn’t know that many people. In Fact, he only has one real friend, who only communicates on his terms with an outdated instant message service. David did not introduce himself to this beautiful redhead, instead he looked away awkwardly, got up and left. While walking to his appartment in a terrible neighborhood in Seattle, David mentally tortured himself for making this decision, because he knew that he would never see her ever again. David never speaks to anyone without them initiating first, it is a curse deep inside his being that he wish could just tear up into tiny pieces and burn them. Still, the image of her sparkly dark red hair was burned to his eyeballs, and it made him think about his choices and how he could have acted differently.

Her imperfections were his favourite part about her. Her freckles were many and her small breasts were stunning in her red top. She was 11 out of 10. David told himself he “would do anything to just say, hello.”, but that wasn’t true and he knew it. He just didn’t know how to deal with the situation. David locked his apartment door, made himself a microwave burrito and went on to his laptop. This is the place where you can guarantee he’ll be for most days and nights. Reddit, netflix and 4chan were the usual. He didn’t use facebook much, since he didn’t have any friends. 2am approached and David told himself to go to sleep. So David did his nightly routine that consists of brushing teeth and and masturbating to clothed pictures of cute normal girls, since he wasn’t fond of big breasted asian hardcore porn. He wasn’t sure if he was being creepy or appreciating reality. After laying back and thinking in his pitch dark room, he couldn’t stop thinking about this girl. He didn’t even know her name, he just knew her face and in this moment, his dream of being an computer programming superstar looked so distant, he had come to an painful realization, his life might not turn out how he planned.

David was 20 years old, mildly overweight but had a decent face, at least he thought so. His voice was very deep and monotone and he always wore dark blue jeans and some kind of geeky t-shirt. He starred at her, taking in her beauty. He couldn't get passed how beautiful her hair was, and that he was actually in the same room as her. The sunset shining from the window behind her blinded David's view, but it made the moment more exciting. She started laughing and looking down and kind of embarassed. The light shining from her eyes was more intense than anything he had ever encountered. It was the cutest and sexiest thing David had ever whitnessed. Then her smile faded and the sunlight shining through the large window began to engulph her. Whiteness surrounded her and David's eyes began to ache. "Are you okay?" David heard a girl's voice say. Then a loud alarm which sounded as if it were a firetruck screeched into David's ears. David awoke, his eyes clouded and his underware was surprisingly dry. David smacked the alarm clock which read 11:14am. He stayed in bed for a few minutes regaining his conciousness and thinking about her, and his life. He struggles with the things that most people might say are no struggle at all, but dispite all of that, David said to himself "Today is the day."

title: Alexa

question: What does the girl with the auburn hair do for a living?

answer: She works at an ice cream shop.

critique: The girl works at an ice cream shop, but it is not stated what she does there.

critique: It is incorrect that she works at an ice cream shop.

critique: It is not stated that she works at an ice cream shop.

critique: It misses to mention that she works at an ice cream shop.

critique: The answer should be a complete sentence.

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

question: Why is David so disappointed with himself when he walks away from the girl?

answer: He is disappointed with himself because he didn't introduce himself to the girl.

critique: While this is necessary for an accurate conclusion, it still misses on many levels. It should tell us why his failure to introduce himself is so important.

critique: The answer should mention that he regrets not talking to her.

critique: David doesn't think he would have introduced himself because he is shy.

critique: The question doesn't ask why he is disappointed with himself.

critique: He is also disappointed because he didn't talk to her.

critique: It is omitted that he regrets not talking to her.

question: Why is David so shy?

answer: He doesn't know many people.

critique: David's shyness has nothing to do with the number of people he knows.

critique: The answer should be more specific about the reason for his shyness.

critique: The answer should mention his lack of confidence.

critique: It's omitted that he has an inferiority complex.

critique: It is omitted that he doesn't initiate conversations with others.

text: That information can't be found.

category: accuracy

question: What occurrence leads to David's decision at the end of the story?

answer: David has had a dream about the girl who works at the ice cream shop.

critique: It is not stated that the dream leads to his decision.

critique: The answer should clarify that the dream was about a girl that he saw at the ice cream shop.

critique: The answer should mention that the girl is the one who wakes him up.

critique: The answer comes from outside the story and should be omitted, as it is useless.

critique: It is omitted that the girl is the one that wakes him up.

critique: The answer should mention that David decides to talk to the girl.

critique: "David has had a dream about the girl who works at the ice cream shop." - is incorrect. David had a dream about a girl he saw at the ice cream shop.


text:
She left for a reason. Leanna calmly reminded herself of the simple truth that she seemingly couldn’t wrap her head around. It was even written across her mirror in whiteboard marker.

“You left for a reason”

The words mocked her every morning when she brushed her teeth and every night when she took out her contacts. Of course she left for a reason, and she didn’t just leave, she left. Leanna moved to a different city, found a new job, spent time with new friends. The only thing in her life that wasn’t new was the fact that she thought about Anthony all day.

Two months wasn’t enough time to make it all okay. But Leanna hoped more than she bothered to admit that if she spent enough time pretending that she didn’t believe in love, eventually she would forget that she had ever felt love in the first place.
------
Nowadays she didn’t believe in anything. Her nights bled into her days. If Leanna were to look back at the previous four months, she would find an endless parade of bartenders pouring rum and faceless men leaving her apartment. She wasn’t happy, but she wasn’t sad. And sometimes, she often told herself, not being sad is enough.

She was restless. Leanna didn’t know what more she should want, and she didn’t bother looking. A new quote made its way onto her mirror.

“Love is a lie.”

She scoffed at the few who bothered to disagree with her.  There was no part of her that missed Anthony, which seemed to prove her new eternal truth was fact.  How could something that faded so quickly possibly have been real in the first place?

Leanna charmed men with her indifference, and sent them packing when they told her how much she meant to them. There was no place for sentiment in her life, and she wasn’t afraid to admit it. Occasionally people would tell her there was more to living. Allegedly a life without emotion wasn’t much of a life at all.  She gave them the same expression generally reserved for hopeless romantics.
------
She met a writer. He drank more than she did, and enjoyed the sex just as much. They spent their days together and usually their nights. His words filled her life and enchanted her in a way she had forgotten. She read every book he lent her, usually more than once. Stories he’d written, and sometimes even his diary, filled her spare time. With every word he wrote, she told herself more firmly that she adored him.

His stories ran through her thoughts, and one day she replaced the echo of a mantra written across her mirror.

“Wanderlust”

They took trips together to vineyards and breweries and distant state parks where they spent the weekend camping. She still wasn’t happy, but when she was lost in books, the days bled into weeks into months. She was certain she’d never leave so long as he kept writing.

The writer struggled to keep her attention, but his stories grew stale. Trying to tame the girl was a full time job, and often his typewriter went days without a glance. His adoration of her stole his imagination. No longer were his dreams filled with astronauts, tigers, and foreign lands. He thought only of her.

The magic was broken when he proposed. She remembered she didn’t believe in love and she laughed. She reminded him that he hadn’t written anything in weeks, and she walked out the door. The writer was devastated. He phoned a friend in a different city and left that night.
-----
He had bought a white board marker on the trip to his new city, and a new typewriter. Richard vowed never to fall in love again. His first order of business in the new apartment was to write on his bathroom mirror.

“Get your shit together.”

The simple sentence, written in his slanting print seemed to laugh at him. For the amount of joy the words took in watching him piece his life together he might as well have written, “Schadenfreude.”  Richard struggled to start writing once more, and to that effect he took up drinking as a second profession.

Many a night Richard would stumble home and barely pull off his shoes before falling into bed. Every morning he brushed the taste of stale cigarettes and lonely women off his teeth before pouring a glass of whiskey and sitting down at the typewriter. His best work was a result of those months. Publishers asked about his books, and girls fawned over his stories.

Richard was always cautious of girls who loved his work. After the last girl, he took the ability to even read off his list of deal breakers. He was alone, and he liked it that way.
-----
Richard’s liver protested at the whiskey he drank. He ignored its complaints and changed nothing about his life. If he was going to die, Richard was determined to die the death of an artist. He silently proved his point by smoking twice as many cigarettes and drinking twice as much whiskey. The only love in his life was his typewriter. When sat in front of it, he often forgot there was a world outside of his cramped apartment.

His books had sold well and he could’ve left, but Richard never did. He
stared at the new mantra written across his mirror.

“Art is Pain.”

He remembered the girl who had loved his words.  He wrote about her. Occasionally he contemplated sending her a copy of his most recent novel, but never did. Richard was alone. He wasn’t happy, but he wasn’t sad. Sometimes it’s enough to just not be sad.

title: Mantras (about love and moving on)

question: Summarize the motivations of the main characters.

answer: The main character, Leanna, aims to delude herself into thinking that her former lover does not matter to her. Anthony is rotten in her heart and her mind, no matter how hard she tries to forget. Remembering him can mean nights of drinking and meaningless satisfaction in fleeting connections. She crafts blank mantras at work in order to maintain sanity. The writer is driven by a quest to stay in the moment, to pursue love and the emotions that stem from it. Leanna is reluctant to give this up because it seems to be the only way to endure her misfortunes.

critique: The phrase "The main character, Leanna, aims to delude herself into thinking that her former lover does not matter to her" makes no sense and should be eliminated.

critique: The last sentence is not supported by the text.

critique: The writer is not driven by a quest to stay in the moment, but by a quest to stay away from love.

critique: The writer is not driven by a quest to stay in the moment.

critique: The writer is driven by a quest to stay in the moment, to pursue love and the emotions that stem from it.

critique: This is not mentioned in the story, but it is accurate.

critique: The writer is not trying to stay in the moment. He is trying to forget the girl who broke his heart.

critique: There's a false equivalence between Anthony and Leanna. She's trying to forget about him (hence moving to a new city), as opposed to Anthony being rotten in her heart and mind. Leanna rejects love and the emotions that stem from it, not the pursuit of love.

critique: "The writer is driven by a quest to stay in the moment, to pursue love and the emotions that stem from it. Leanna is reluctant to give this up because it seems to be the only way to endure her misfortunes." - irrelevant to the question.

critique: Leanna's mantras are not crafted while working.

critique: The last sentence is irrelevant to the question.

question: What does the text say about how to love living?

answer: No answer

critique: There is nothing about how to love living in the text other than one can be happy by not being sad, which is not why Leanna changes her mantra from "You left for a reason" to something positive like "wanderlust".

critique: It misses to mention that the narrator seems to have found a way to love living, but Richard hasn't.

critique: There are no conclusions about how to love living drawn from the text

critique: The answer is incorrect because it misses the point on how to love living.

critique: No answer is given in the text, but the story highlights romantic love and moving on after a breakup.

critique: The right answer can be constructed from the text.


text:
LOS ANGELES | vriNDUSTRIES COMPLEX | SUBJECT: THADDEUS JAMES | 2127

For the first time in as long as he could remember, Thaddeus James could walk.

He could smell the scent of rain-soaked dirt, feel the smooth and oily backs of the amphibians crawling on the ground next to him. The luscious green of the forest filled his retinas, and the chirps and chatters of the animals created a sonic landscape for Thaddeus to admire.

And though his body sat still, his mind, his senses, told him that he was walking. So he walked. His legs needed no rehabilitation, there was no soreness and fatigue, and as James sat in Room 0 of the complex – wires snaking out of his cranium and into a machine - he walked through the jungle.

-------------------

LOS ANGELES | vriNDUSTRIES COMPLEX | SUBJECT: REDACTED | 2129

**2 YEARS HAVE PASSED**

Thaddeus ran about in a corn field on this day. Whatever his mind willed was granted, his greatest pleasantries becoming his reality. Next to him – not in the jungle, but in Room 0 – stood George Connors. A man of 24, he looked into the still, yet glowing eyes of his father Thaddeus. He noticed a woman passing by in the open door behind him.

“Lydia, how much longer does he have?”

She walked into the room, analyzing the data on the screens lining the far wall.

“Somewhere between 5 and 6 days, it looks like. I do sincerely hope you find this cure, George.”

George ignored that last, empty remark. Lydia only knew his name because he was her boss, and he figured she only cared about his circumstances for the same reason. For all he knew, she wouldn’t give a damn about him and his father any other way.

George walked over to Room 127 to attend another matter.

It was a luxurious room indeed. Like Room 0, this area was fully lit, with a warm incandescent glow contrasting with the metal sheen of the floors and walls.

In the middle of it sat a woman - her eyes still yet painfully vibrant – internally writhing and screaming in pain, but externally resting calmly.

Within her head, the woman was being tortured. Her deepest, darkest fear – that of snakes – tormented her, the creatures slithering on her skin, biting unrestrainedly, she was scared, so scared that the snakes would kill her and *oh god why are they doing this to me please GOD PLEASE MAKE IT STO-*

“Pause it,” commanded George.

The scientist in front of the machine typed a command, and the woman’s eyes began to move. She looked up to George - out of a terrible internal reality - in a desperate plea.

“DON’T YOU PUT ME BACK! PLEASE, GOD, DON’T PUT ME BACK!” she pleaded.

“YOU WILL ADDRESS ME BY MY NAME, YOU APATHETIC SHIT!” George screamed.

He addressed the scientist standing by the machine.

“Hadley, give her a mental shock.”

Hadley turned a dial, and the woman became blank. In her mind, she writhed, screamed, shouted, and begged for mercy at the intense pain beginning to spread through her body, but this pain was shown only on a screen. Her physical body was unaffected. Internally crying, she regained her senses to see Hadley dialing a switch back down.

“Now,” whispered George with a shaky voice, “you are going to tell me how I can save my father.”

When George’s father was injured in the Great War of 2125, it was George who stood by his side. George was the one to provide financial support, and to rally in anger when MedCorp denied Thaddeus leg prosthetics in pursuit of political neutrality. And in 2127, when Thaddeus became ill, it was George who vacated Room 0 of his virtual reality complex. He knew that if his father could live without the needs of a physical life to drag him down, Thaddeus could enjoy an extended life in the co-reality of the machine and his mind.  But the mind, even, needs the power of a heart and blood, and the energy produced by the human lung. This body was beginning to fail its mind, and Thaddeus would die if George couldn’t find a way to save him.

Somebody had to know how.

Thus, George modified the code in vriNCORPORATED’s machines. Its business uses, sexual diversions, entertainment industry, became inexistent, replaced – without the consent of those in the machines - with a docile simulation that asked its users to solve Thaddeus’s sickness. But when that didn’t work, George knew that extracting this answer would be harder. He devised a torture simulation to feed off of his subjects’ fears. Maybe, they would offer sympathies to a dying man in light of an experience worse than death. His beloved scientists maybe even have had the answers. But someone had to run the show, and the threat of being placed in the machine was reason enough for confidentiality.

Meanwhile, *the woman refused to speak.*

She stammered, yes, but no words came out. Her mentally tortured soul cried out for help in Room 127, but her mind blocked the useless words from ever reaching her mouth.

“This one’s useless, Hadley. Kill her off.”

Hadley entered a command, and the eyelids of the woman in the middle of the room closed.

George closed his eyes for a second as well, to think.

*“Someone in this damned building will give me the answers I need, Dad. I promise you your life.”*

George Conners walked out of the room, stepped down the hallway, and entered Room 128.

title: [SF] The Complex

question: What are George's motivations for wanting to save Thaddeus at all costs?

answer: George is motivated to save Thaddeus because Thaddeus has been a father figure to him, and he feels that he owes it to Thaddeus to try and save him.

critique: The answer is not fully accurate. It should be rewritten.

text: Thaddeus is George's father.


text:
WATER PRIVATIZATION IN GUAYAQUIL began with the decision taken in 1995 to privatize drinking water supply and sewerage in Guayaquil, the largest city and economic capital of Ecuador, through a concession contract. In preparation for privatization, the previously separate water and sewer utilities were merged into a single utility in 1996. The new utility began a modernization process and began to improve its performance. In parallel, the international bidding for the concession was prepared by Banque Paribas as the international advisor and was supported by the Inter-American Development Bank. The latter made a loan that was signed in October 1997 conditional upon the decision to award a concession. The 30-year concession agreement between the city government and the private company Interagua was signed in 2001. The contract was “poor-friendly”, requiring the private company to keep tariffs constant for the first five years and to connect new users in poor areas “at no cost”.[1] At the same time, the former municipal water and sewer utility ECAPAG became the regulatory agency for the new private utility. Interagua is a consortium led by the Spanish company Proactiva Medio Ambiente,[2] which in turn is supported by the Spanish construction firm FCC and the French water company Veolia Environnement.[3] In 2012 the regulator ECAPAG was transformed into the Municipal Public Drinking Water and Sanitation Company of Guayaquil in what may be a first step towards the municipalization of the concession.

Financing and investments

The investments undertaken by the concessionaire are financed through retained earnings, the municipality and the State Bank of Ecuador. The government funds are deposited into a trust fund that the concessionnaire can only access under certain conditions. For the 2011-2016 period investments of US$ 380 million are expected to be financed by the concessionnaire (US$ 107.5 million), the municipality and the State Bank of Ecuador (US$ 150 million)[4] as well as the national government and the proceedings of a tax called Special Improvement Contributions (Contribucion Especial de Mejoriamiento, CEM).

Impact

Before the concession, 50% of the city had only 10 hours service per day.[5] In parts of the city water was supplied only 2 to 4 hours per day, often at low pressure.[6] Commercial and physical losses in water distribution, technically called non-revenue water, stood at a staggering 79 percent. Only 46 percent of water bills were actually collected. And only 26 percent of all connections were metered.[7]

During its first five years the company brought 24 hours service to all the city and served an additional 55,000 families, mostly low income in the southern part of the city.[8] Access to water supply increased from 64 percent in 2000 to 72 percent in 2003, and access to sewerage has grown from 46 percent to 55 percent during the same period.[9] According to an article written by Interagua for public relations all the “formally developed areas” of the city had access to piped water at “reasonable pressure” in 2012.[10] However, according to Interagua's own annual report 2009-2010, only an estimated 82 percent of the population (almost 2 million out of a population of 2.43 million) had access to piped water and 67 percent had access to sewerage in July 2010.[11] In 10 years access to piped water supply thus increased from 64 to 82 percent. Customers who gained access to piped water supply were able to consume twice as much water while paying one fifth of what they paid before, when they had bought it from vendors distributing it in tankers. Tankers charged US$ 3.50 per cubic meter, while Interagua charges only 34 cents per cubic meter for the first 15 cubic meters per month.[12]

The concessionaire also increased billing efficiency - the share of bills issued that are paid - to about 75 percent by 2003. The number of staff was reduced by 43 percent between 2001 and 2003. This brought the number of staff per 1,000 connections down to less than 3, a level that is consistent with international good practice for an efficient utility.[13]

Some of the remaining challenges are fluctuating water pressure and high levels of non-revenue water, consisting of both physical and commercial water losses. This is shown by the reports of the independent technical auditor who reviews annually the performance of Interagua. While the report confirmed that in 2010 at least 95 percent of all customers received water at a pressure above the minimum pressure, defined as 5 meters of water column (0.5 bar) in the center of the city and 8 meters of water column (0.8 bar) in the North of the city, the report contained no data about pressure variations and maximal pressure.[14] Interagua wants to achieve constant pressure throughout its service area by 2015 or 2016.[15] In 2010 the level of non-revenue water was 62 percent.[16] This level is much higher than the average in Colombia (49 percent) or in Peru (44 percent).

There have been complaints of poor water quality in marginal communities. Residents of Guasmo Sur complained of turbid, foul smelling water that is not fit for consumption and residents of Suburbio Oeste have struggled through both a hepatitis outbreak and periodic issues of decreased chlorine content/increased fecal content in the samples from their sector in 2004.[17]

Comparison with public water management in Quito

A 2006 study conducted for the Inter-American Development Bank came to the conclusion that compared to Quito, which is served by a publicly managed water utility, water quality was worse in Guayaquil, the poor had less access to piped water and water tariffs were higher. In terms of trends, the study concluded that between 1995 and 2005 “poor homes decreased their likelihood of having access to water in Guayaquil relative to Quito”.[18]

[1]

[2]

[3]

[4]

[5]

[6]

[7]

[8] ECAPAG:La Concesión - Primeros 5 años

[9]

[10]

[11]

[12] Paul Constance, IDB America:A fair price - In Guayaquil, Ecuador, a privatized water service bets that poor consumers will like metered water, November 2003

[13]

[14]

[15]

[16]

[17]

[18]

title: Water privatization in Guayaquil

question: What does the article say about Ecuador's rivers?

answer: No answer

critique: The response is incorrect and there is information about the rivers in Ecuador.

critique: The answer should mention that the article does not mention anything about Ecuador's rivers.

critique: The answer should mention that the article does not mention any rivers.

critique: The answer should state that the article does not mention any rivers in Ecuador.

question: What does the article say about the successes of water privatization in Guayaquil?

answer: The new water and sewer utility began a modernization process and began to improve its performance. The company brought 24 hours service to all the city and served an additional 55,000 families, mostly low income in the southern part of the city. Access to water supply increased from 64 percent in 2000 to 72 percent in 2003, and access to sewerage has grown from 46 percent to 55 percent during the same period. The company also increased billing efficiency to about 75 percent by 2003. The number of staff was reduced by 43 percent between 2001 and 2003. This brought the number of staff per 1,000 connections down to less than 3, a level that is consistent with international good practice for an efficient utility.

critique: It's omitted that in the 10 years between the start of water privatization in Guayaquil and 2010, access to piped water increased from 64 to 82 percent.

question: What does the article say about the failures of water privatization in Guayaquil?

answer: The city had only 10 hours service per day before the privatization. More than half of the city had only 2 to 4 hours of water supply, at low pressure. Commercial and physical loss in water distribution stood at 79 percent. Only 46 percent of water bills were collected. Only 26 percent of all connections were metered.

critique: The answer should mention the poor water quality in marginal communities.

critique: The response is missing the part about the poor quality of water in marginal communities.

critique: The answer does not mention the water quality problems.

critique: "The city had only 10 hours service per day before the privatization." - the sentence is confusing without any context of the lack of water. Needs a complete rewrite.

text: The answer cites statistics from before there was privatization, not after.


text:
Express. Home of the Daily and Sunday Express. [express_logo_christmas]

PROOF, as if it were needed, that house prices in many areas of the UK stayed steady over the summer, was released by the Land Registry this morning, confirming that house prices in some regions crept up slightly in August.

PUBLISHED: 16:34, Wed, Oct 17, 2018

| UPDATED: 17:00, Wed, Oct 17, 2018

[]

Cottage in Yorkshire, where property prices are increasing (Image: Ian Forsyth/Getty Images)

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Whilst parts of the UK are currently expecting a downturn in the wake of Brexit uncertainty, the Land Registry data, which is based on completed transactions, provides evidence that some parts of the country are still seeing a positive environment for sellers and buyers.

The East Midlands, North East and Yorkshire and the Humber are all seeing prices increase modestly month on month by 1.5, 1.4 and 1.2 per cent respectively.

However, true to recent form, prices in the capital and its commuter-belt of the South East, together with the South West all saw property values fall over the same period by anywhere up to 0.5 per cent.

According to the Land Registry data, the average UK property value is now £232,797 with prices seeing an average rise of 3.2 per cent.

Although the figures are slightly historic, they do underpin what has been observed by other house price indices previously, and as such are considered by many industry professionals as a reliable benchmark in terms of values.

But is Brexit really having that much of an impact on housing market activity? The answer is that clearly, it depends where you are in the country.

In London and the surrounding areas, there is definitely sensitivity due to the ongoing negotiations around the UK’s divorce from the rest of Europe, mainly linked to employment where jobs may be at risk, depending on what deal is agreed. Here, the market is stagnating due to lack of confidence and activity.

[]

PM May and Jean-Claude Juncker: Brexit is just over five months away (Image: JOHN THYS/AFP/Getty Images)

However, in areas where jobs are based more on the local economy and therefore not as much impacted by the outcome of Brexit negotiations, prices are increasing and transaction numbers remain solid.

As Nick Leeming, Chairman of estate agents Jackson-Stops, commented: “It is positive to see the East and West Midlands once again reporting strong annual house price growth, demonstrating greater levels of confidence in the face of our impending exit from the EU.

“London experienced a slight dip in prices both on the month and the year, but given we are in the midst of an uncertain and politically challenging time, this is hardly surprising.”

Nick continued: “Now Brexit is just over five months away, it will be interesting to see what is addressed in Philip Hammond’s Budget statement at the end of the month.”

Mike Scott, chief property analyst at online estate agents Yopa, also expects the currently observed trends to continue into next year.

He suggested we will see: “Continued house price growth led by the Northern and Western regions, while London and the Southern and Eastern regions of England will stagnate or even fall back a little.”

[]

Average UK property value is now £232,797 with prices seeing an average rise of 3.2 per cent (Image: Dan Kitwood/Getty Images)

Mike added: “However, growth rates since the 2008 credit crunch are still far higher in the South East than in the rest of the country, and the North and West will have to grow at a faster rate for some time if they are to catch up to the same relative position as ten years ago.”

But is house price growth really relevant to those who, for the foreseeable future at least, are staying put?

According to Brian Murphy, Head of Lending for Mortgage Advice Bureau an increase in prices can be helpful, as he explained: “Whilst it’s easy to dismiss house prices as not particularly relevant unless you’re moving home, the reality is the better rates on remortgage deals are reserved for those with more equity in their property.

[]

Philip Hammond is to announce his budget statement in a few weeks (Image: TOBY MELVILLE/ REUTERS)

“Therefore, those who are perhaps currently taking a more cautious approach and have decided to stay in their current home for the moment, may find that if the value of their property has increased, they are able to access cheaper remortgage rates as a result.”

Many lenders have held their rates at competitive levels since the Bank of England raised interest rates over two months ago, possibly as a way to tempt new customers on to the books before the end of this year.

With the possibility of a breakthrough in Theresa May’s dialogue with her European counterparts over the next couple of days, should a deal be announced we may yet see a late Autumn bounce as the positive impacts of a known outcome kick-start the market, due to the pent-up demand we’ve seen over the last few months.

question: Summarize the impact of Brexit on house prices.

answer: It is noted that while there are places negatively affected by Brexit uncertainty and jobs are endangered, money is leaving these areas to be invested in areas that have less uncertainty and threats of loss.

critique: "It is noted that while there are places negatively affected by Brexit uncertainty and jobs are endangered, money is leaving these areas to be invested in areas that have less uncertainty and threats of loss." - this is unattested.

critique: It is not specified that the money is leaving places affected by Brexit uncertainty.

critique: The answer is not related to the question.

critique: The article does not mention these changes.

critique: Unclear whether it's a good or bad thing, as stated in the article. Needs to state that it may be a good or bad thing.

critique: No sufficient evidence indicates leaving money behind to be invested elsewhere.

critique: The question is not about the money leaving but the house prices.

critique: It is not stated that money is leaving these areas to be invested in areas that have less uncertainty and threats of loss.

critique: The source does not say anything about money leaving areas.

critique: According to the article, the places where prices are increasing are not negatively affected by Brexit uncertainty.

critique: There is no evidence that this is the case.

question: Summarize the context surrounding Brexit.

answer: On June 23, 2016, the United Kingdom voted in favor of leaving the European Union by a margin of 51.89% to 48.11%. The reason behind this referendum was to give almost 3 million votes to leave the EU, which were then based on a rigid plan, which prompts the rise of nationalism as well as reduction of migrant workers who are needed as laborers to support the British economy. The referendum led to subsequent panic as both consumers underwent a loss of confidence and professionals suffered from the uncertainty in the home values. Some areas like London and its surrounding areas became the primary focus, since it highly depends on the local economy that is, in this case, drastically affected by the Brexit negotiations. With such high risks for Brexit, house prices may go either up or down, thus prompting uncertainty in the market at the time.

critique: The United Kingdom's referendum was not in favor of leaving the European Union. The country was voting on whether to leave or remain a member of the EU.

critique: The answer should mention that the referendum led to a push for higher prices in some areas.

critique: "The referendum led to subsequent panic as both consumers underwent a loss of confidence and professionals suffered from the uncertainty in the home values." - this is inaccurate. The real reason for the panic was due to the uncertainty surrounding the negotiations.

critique: This is not the reason behind the referendum.

critique: The answer is not related to the question.

critique: The last sentence is not relevant to the question: "Summarize the context surrounding Brexit."

critique: The UK voted to leave the EU by a margin of 51.89% to 48.11%.

critique: The answer is a mouthful and should be rewritten for clarity.

critique: This is inaccurate and not relevant to the question

critique: The last sentence is not relevant to the question.

critique: The answer omits the context behind the referendum.

critique: The text does not mention the reason behind the referendum.

critique: The answer is not relevant to the question.

critique: This response does not include the true details about what Brexit is, where it stands in the world and in the UK, and how the home values go up or down in different places based on their reliance on the economy.

question: What does the article say about home owners that are not moving?

answer: Increased house values provide the better remortgage rates for those who are staying put.

critique: The statement that increased house values provide better remortgage rates is not relevant to the question.

critique: The answer misses to mention that the better rates are reserved for those who have more equity in their property.

critique: The answer is incoherent without further explanation.

critique: The answer should mention that the increased house values are helpful for those who are staying put.

critique: Does not mention how the unstaying owners are impacted by increased house values and how they can use it to their advantage.

critique: The answer is missing the part about the increased rates.

critique: This is not the only thing mentioned about home owners that are not moving.

critique: The answer should include the context of the current British housing market.

critique: The answer should include the name of the lender.

critique: The answer should mention that the better rates are reserved for those with more equity in their property.

critique: The answer should include a mention of the increased equity.

critique: The answer does not mention the benefits of the higher house values to ordinary homeowners.

question: Describe the local economy sustaining house price growth in East and West Midlands.

answer: Estate agents, Jackson Stops says it is positive to see the East and West Midlands once again reporting strong annual house price growth, demonstrating greater levels of confidence in the face of the UK's impending exit from the EU.

critique: The answer does not address the question.

critique: This is a description of the reason for the growth, not a description of the local economies.

critique: The answer does not mention the local economy sustaining house price growth in the East and West Midlands.

critique: The answer could be clearer in its pronoun use.

critique: Doesn't mention local economy sustaining growth.

critique: The response does not answer the question.

critique: The answer fails to describe the local economy.

critique: The answer should mention the local economy.

critique: The opening of "Estate agents" is a bit misleading and misrepresents the section of the text.

critique: "Greater levels of confidence" is vague and subjective. In addition, "face of our" is confusing.

critique: Change "face" to "face of" to properly use direct discourse.

critique: The question is about the local economy that sustains house price growth, not about Brexit


text:
[Burn]Every beginning has its end; the employment road is no different. People find dream jobs, they leave for better opportunities, and sometimes they are fired from a nightmare that started in bliss. Despite the commonly held perception that “people don’t leave their jobs, they leave their managers,” a study from LinkedIn found that most employees quit due to a lack of advancement opportunities.

Remember the case of CBS affiliate KTVA reporter Charlene “Charlo Greene” Egbe, who made everyone in the broadcast area aware of her grievances? Egbe brought quitting into a whole new playing field. Not only was she reporting on the hot topic of marijuana legalization in Alaska, she explicitly quit her position while on air. Egbe announced her ownership of the Alaskan Cannabis Club and afterwards exclaimed that she quit.

Now, not all employees will leave their position as hastily or begrudgingly. In Egbe’s case, she left her broadcast position at KTVA in order to follow a path she was passionate about — an opportunity she wouldn’t have had in her position with the CBS partner. As a recruiter, you can help to prevent former employees from becoming disgruntled. After all, you’re the first one they talk to about the company and the position. Their first impressions of the job rely on you. The opportunities they will and won’t have are dependent upon what you convey.

GOAL ALIGNMENT

As previously stated, Egbe’s passion wasn’t in the news business. She wanted to make a bigger, more profound difference in her community. Her goals did not match those of the organization, so she followed them elsewhere. This is why matching the right candidate to the right position is so important. Culturally and functionally, pairing talent to a job can mean the success of both the new hire and the company. When a new hire is successful in the position, it means a lower turnover rate. Andre Lavoie, entrepreneur and CEO of ClearCompany, explained why goal alignment is important for employee satisfaction and company success:

  _“Understanding how individual employee work ladders up to larger organizational goals allows for an in-depth understanding of progress. Additionally, it ensures your workers understand their value and contributions to the company. This helps improve employee engagement and leads to a happier company culture. Implementing a goal-centric system makes certain your people are working towards the right goals, preventing costly misalignment.”_

EXIT INTERVIEWS

It’s inevitable. Companies are going to have employees that aren’t happy about quitting because of workplace conflicts or lack of appreciation. However, to prevent _future_ disgruntled former employees, hiring managers can sit down with the former employees to conduct exit interviews and communicate findings to keep recruiters in the loop. Find out exactly where the company went wrong and what it can do better. One-fifth of employees who voluntarily leave their jobs do so because they are simply bored. There is a direct correlation between boredom and few or no opportunities for internal advancements. Employees want to be challenged; it isn’t enough to have attractive benefits.

Deborah Muller, CEO of HR Acuity, said that exit interviews are often not as effective as they could be because the HR team just goes through the motions. In order to change anything in the company or hiring process, you can’t simply ask the questions and file them away: you have to actually pay attention and act on them. Muller said:

  _“The_ _exit interview represents the chance to collect information_ _that safeguards the organization from employment litigation, increases engagement,and reduces turnover, but that is rarely what happens.”_

Charlene Egbe is not the only employee who has left their job in a less-than-tactful manner. Goal misalignment can be prevented before a candidate is even hired. Proper recruiting inhibits employees from becoming complacent or unhappy with their work.

However, in the event an employee resigns from their position because they are unhappy at their job, a lot can be learned from exit interviews. The catch is, you have to actually pay attention to them. Going through the motions of an exit interview won’t do anything to reduce turnover or increase employee engagement. In fact, if you’re only going through the motions, you might as well just not do them – except for the fact they serve as legal protection for the company (so you really should).

_What are you doing to prevent disgruntled employees?_

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[Sarah Duke]

Sarah Duke is a Content Creator at Red Branch Media, a marketing and advertising firm that serves the Human Resources and Recruiting markets. Red Branch Media has grown from a simple consultancy to a full-service B2B marketing agency. Duke brings a history of Public Affairs experience to Red Branch and enjoys writing about the HCM Marketplace. Google+ Profile

question: What does the text say about the road to finding one's dream job?

answer: No answer

critique: The answer should mention that the text does not mention the road to finding one's dream job.

critique: The answer should mention that the text says that the road to finding one's dream job is not always easy.

critique: The article does mention the road to finding one's dream job.

critique: The answer is incorrect. It should state that the road to finding one's dream job is not always easy.

critique: The text offers some information on the road to finding one's dream job.

critique: Christabel Egbe made everyone in her broadcast area aware of her grievances and announced her ownership of the Alaskan Cannabis Club before announcing that she quit.

critique: The answer should mention that the road to finding one's dream job is not always easy.

question: What does the text say about the amount of free will employees and employers have in the workplace?

answer: Charlene Egbe, aCCTV reporter from the United States, was known for quitting her job on-air, saying "Fuck it, I quit". Egbe's passion was elsewhere and she actively looked for positions that allowed her to pursue that passion. This anecdote indicates that employees sometimes have the freedom to quit their jobs or look for another one, disillusioned or dissatisfied as they might be. Egbe's case happened because of a match or mismatch between what she felt she was cut out for and what her employer thought. This suggests that employees sometimes want to pursue personal passions while employers sometimes want to foist company-centered agendas.

critique: The answer does not closely address the question. The CD for the text notes: "Page 275: Free will in the workplace: modern workplaces have not offered a great degree of freedom to employees. Employees have little freedom to choose their positions, choose the projects they work on, and receive rewards from their companies. Employees receive instructions from managers when they join the company and are assigned to specific units or position depending on their qualifications..."

text: The answer is subjective and is not evidenced in the text.

question: What does this article say about the types of employment available in the United States?

answer: No answer


text:
Riot

The street was full, packed from side to side. Hundreds, thousands of people, streamed down the avenue.

A low roar came from the crowd. Windows shattered as they passed store fronts. Car alarms sounded, and then faltered and fell into submission. Street signs were bent, and then disappeared into the bulk of people.

They kept marching forward, an unstoppable mass of humanity. Maybe it was caused by ever increasing taxes, it could have been a court judgment that they didn’t agree with, possibly their sports team won a championship. They could have been rebelling against unfair laws, or wars they didn’t agree with.

The angry mob of people may have been supporting any cause that could be imagined, yet it didn’t stop the fact that they were marching through their own city, destroying their own stores and their own cars, ruining the streets that their tax dollars paid for. Their reasons for rebellion didn’t stop the fact that when a man fell down the crowd didn’t pause, it still pushed forward. Feet marched right over their fallen brothers and sisters.

Ahead of them was a monument. A depiction of freedom maybe, or possibly a building that housed their government’s leaders, ahead of them could have simply been an open area where the group could disperse. But blocking their way was a single line of armed troops.

Dressed in black riot gear, helmets with plastic visors hanging down over their faces, men stood holding tall shields, armed with large automatic weapons. In front of them were sandbags and red and white striped saw horses. Behind them were big black vehicles, armored to the teeth, like children’s toys.

From the top of one vehicle stood a speaker and from that speaker an emotionless voice demanded that the people halt and disband. The speaker warned of the use of deadly force if they continued.

But the crowd had no choice; even if the people in front stopped they would be trampled by the people surging forward behind them. That wasn’t what they thought though. The force behind them made them feel unstoppable. As a single unit of people they felt invincible.

The gap between the two forces closed. Weapons were drawn, cocked and aimed.

A final warning was given to the crowd, the speaker sounded like it didn’t expect any sort of change to actually occur.

A man, dressed in black, held a gun and aimed it into the crowd. His mouth moved, the word ‘Ready’ was heard. His eyes focused on where his bullet would be sent. He opened his mouth again, ‘Aim’ came out of it. Which was redundant, everyone had already planned on where their projectiles would be placed. ‘Fire’, was the final word that was heard before people started to fall down before them.

Guns fired rapidly, automatic weapons built for slaughtering people sawed through the oncoming mass of humanity. They fell in lines. Like waves they crashed to the cold asphalt.

The gunmen showed no emotion as they laid people down to rest, they were coldly following orders. There was no moral objection; morals played no part in their job.

The onrushing people marched over their fallen brethren, stepped over the slippery bodies and pushed closer to the men who were firing upon them before they fell in heaps themselves.

Guns began smoking. Empty shells popped out and piled up on the ground at the feet of the men dressed in black.

The crowd seemed to be never ending, only slightly slowed by the mounds of the fallen bodies that they had to overcome on their way to their goal behind the men who protected it with deadly force.
The men worked like machines reloading their weapons, bodies lubricated by sweat, silently repeating trained motions.

Guns began to overheat, and were automatically discarded, traded for side arms. The mob of people seemed to pick up their pace, getting closer as hot assault rifle after hot assault rifle was replaced by cool, single shot, side arm.

The crowd over took the saw horses first, still falling to bullets, still piling up and being walked over. The wood splintered crushed under the trampling force of the publics will.

Next they overcame the sandbags, which were soon hidden underneath the smashed and bleeding faces, arms, legs and torsos of those who fell while crossing them. Bullets screamed, cutting through air and flesh, destroying.

Finally, as they approached the men dressed in black, whose job it was to protect what was behind them, whose task it was to keep order, while they were still falling to bullets being fired and they over too even them. Black uniform after black uniform, the men were engulfed by the oncoming crowd. One gun after another went silent.

In the end, after hundreds of bodies had been tallied, after the crowd had stormed whatever had been their destination. Men and women were laid into the ground. Those men in black who shot down the oncoming crowd were laid in graves besides those who they shot. Their tombstones shared the same last names as those people from the oncoming crowd that they were laid next to.

In the end, we seek a moral. Yet we may find only chaos.

title: Riot

question: How does the whole passage support its final sentence?

answer: The passage describes a riot in which a group of people are shot by armed troops. The rioters are killed and buried next to the troops. The passage ends by saying that we seek a moral, but we may find only chaos.

critique: The graves belong to the rioters and the rioters belong to the victims

critique: The answer could be clearer in its pronoun use.

critique: The response misses to mention that the rioters and the troops have the same last name.

critique: The answer should be more specific about the moral being sought.

text: It should be mentioned that the morals that the rioters were fighting for resulted in their deaths, the death of others, and destruction of property.

category: coverage

question: Summarize the primary source of tension in the article.

answer: The primary source of tension in the article is the riots of angry, seemingly unjustified people throughout their own cities, destroying town hall and stores and tramping over each other. The rioters are intent on being unstoppable, no matter what. There are several armed forces trying to stop the rioters, but they are overrun by the sheer force of the crowd.

critique: Missing 'angry mob' in third sentence. Past tense issues in the response. 'Unstoppable crowd of people' in second sentence, should be 'ungovernable crowd'. The ongoing destruction of cities, stores and cars is incorrect as the destruction was described to be in the aftermath of the shootings and not prior to that. Also, the tense use of 'by the time that the shooting was over' is awkward propositional construction and should be rewritten.

critique: The answer omits the fact that the rioters are intent on getting to something behind the armed forces.

text: Another part of the source of tension is that the armed forces were fighting back against the rioters.

question: What was the plan for this event?

answer: The plan for this event was to riot and destroy their own city. The rioters could not have been thinking about the consequences of their actions.

critique: The answer need not be a 'true' declaration'-it is a judgment.

critique: The plan was to march on the government building

critique: The response is incorrect. The rioters could have been thinking about the consequences of their actions.

text: It's omitted that part of the plan was to reach a monument or a building that was behind the line of armed forces.


text:
_'Edmund (or EDMOND) Meyrick_' (or MEYRICKE) (1636 – 24 April 1713) was a Welsh cleric and benefactor of Jesus College, Oxford, where scholarships are still awarded in his name. He is a member of the Meyrick family.

Life

Meyrick was born at Garthlwyd, Llandderfel (near Bala, Merionethshire) and christened in Llandderfel on 11 June 1636. He attended four schools, including one year at Ruthin School, before matriculating at Jesus College, Oxford in 1656. He was elected to a scholarship in 1658 and obtained his BA degree in 1659.[1] He was ordained both deacon and priest by Robert Skinner, Bishop of Oxford, on 30 August 1660 in the chapel of New College, Oxford.[2] In 1662, he was elected to a probationary Fellowship of the college, but married in 1663 and became ineligible for a full fellowship. He became vicar of Eynsham on 10 August 1663.[3] He was chaplain to Richard, Earl of Carbery — the Meyricks and the Carberys being related – and this connection led to Meyrick's appointment to a number of lucrative positions in West Wales.[4] Meyrick became vicar of Llangathen in 1665, vicar of Llanegwad and a Canon of St David's Cathedral in 1667, rector of Burton, Pembrokeshire in 1670, treasurer of St David's in 1690 and rector of Penboyr in 1713. He was also a canon of Christ College, Brecon and vicar of Carmarthen; he held many of these positions at the same time. He died in Carmarthen, where he was then living, on 24 April 1713, and was buried in St Peter's Church; a memorial to him was placed on the north wall of the chancel.[5]

Bequests

Meyrick's wife and only child had predeceased him, enabling a more generous disposition of his assets.[6] He had extensive property interests, in both North and South Wales. The family seat was in Ucheldre, Gwyddelwern, Merionethshire and Meyrick also owned several houses in Carmarthen.[7] In 1708, he set up a charity school in Carmarthen but for some reason directed in his will that the school and master should be moved to Bala, where it became the Bala Grammar School.[8] The will provided for an annual payment of £15 to the schoolmaster together with the use of the schoolhouse, and £15 per year for clothing for the students.[9]

His will, dated 25 March 1712, said: He left family property in Denbighshire and Merionethshire, as well as his Carmarthen property after expiration of some life interests, to the college to provide six scholarships of £10 and six exhibitions of £8. The scholarships and exhibitions were to be awarded to Jesus College students from North Wales, until they obtained their Master of Arts degree or were receiving more than £40 per year from a parish appointment. Any surplus was to be used to buy advowsons so that the College might present one of the scholars (or in default of a suitable scholar, a Meyrick exhibitioner or a North Wales fellow of the College) to a parish position.[10] Whilst the estate produced a surplus, only one living was purchased by the trustees, that of the rectory of Llandow in 1735. Further increases in the surplus led to an increase in payments to Bala School and to the scholars and exhibitioners, and to the purchase of other property in Cheltenham and Carmarthen.[11][12] This proved to be a profitable investment since, by 1840, the college had received more than £10,000 through the sale of trust land near Cheltenham for railway purposes. Payments to Bala School ended in 1862, when the annual payments were commuted for a lump-sum payment of £5,333.[13]

Meyrick scholarships and exhibitions are still awarded to students at Jesus College, based on academic merit. Students performing consistently at a first-class standard during the year in the opinion of their tutors may be awarded a Meyrick scholarship, with consistent performance at upper second to first-class standard potentially leading to the award of a Meyrick exhibition.[14] The restriction in Meyrick's bequest that the scholarships were for students from North Wales only was relaxed in 1857 to cover students from all of Wales and Monmouthshire.[15][16] The restrictions have been further relaxed and students who were not born in Wales are also now eligible for a Meyrick scholarship or exhibition if they are the child of a native of Wales, are able to speak Welsh or they were educated for the last three years of secondary school in Wales.[17]

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[13] Baker, p. 62

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[16] Hardy, p. 197

[17]

title: Edmund Meyrick

question: Describe Meyrick's relationship to Wales.

answer: He appears to have had strong ties to Wales. He attended schools there, was a clergyman there, and owned a house there.

critique: He is buried in Wales, which may be more indicative of the strength of the relationship to Wales.

critique: It is omitted that he was also a member of the Meyrick family.

critique: "He appears to have had strong ties to Wales" is not a very specific answer to the question. It would be better to rewrite the answer completely.

critique: Meyrick had extensive property interests in North and South Wales.

critique: He also held several positions in West Wales.

critique: The response misses to mention that he was also a benefactor of Jesus College, Oxford, where scholarships are still awarded in his name.

critique: It would help if it is stated that Meyrick was a clergyman based in West Wales.

critique: It should be pointed out that his most lucrative connections were in West Wales, not all of Wales

critique: Meyrick also received many lucrative positions in West Wales.

critique: He also seems to have had an extensive property portfolio in Wales.

critique: This is an accurate fact, but it does not show the extent of Meyrick's relationship to Wales.

critique: Meyrick was a clergyman in Wales, but the answer should mention that he was also a benefactor of Jesus College, Oxford.

critique: The response misses to mention that Meyrick was a Welsh cleric and benefactor of Jesus College, Oxford, where scholarships are still awarded in his name.

question: When did Meyrick live?

answer: 1636 to 1713

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

critique: The answer should give the dates in a proper format.

critique: He died in 1713, but this doesn't mean that he was born in 1636.

critique: The answer should be written in a full sentence.

critique: Include the month and year of Meyrick's death in the answer.

critique: It is omitted that he was born in 1636 and died in 1713.