HORROR
Stephen King Of the past forty years, one name in horror fiction has stood out above the rest, and is forever associated with horror novels: Stephen King. King has won six Horror Guild awards, six Bram Stoker awards, three World Fantasy awards, five Locus awards, and a Lifetime Achievement Award. Some of his most famous works include The Shining, Carrie, Salem’s Lot, and It.
CALCULUS
Integration Integration in calculus deals with two things. The first is to find the antiderivative, which is the inverse transform of the derivative. The other thing integration does is find the value of the area below the curve. Integration is represented by ∫ f(x) dx. And dx equals the difference of xn and xn-1. Two common equations for integration are:
If f(x) = xn, then f(x) dx = xn+1/(n+1)
If f(x) = cxn, then f(x) dx = cxn+1/(n+1)
QUANTUM MECHANICS
The Photoelectric Effect The photoelectric effect was explained by Albert Einstein and led him to win the Nobel Prize in 1921. The photoelectric effect explains that when light shines on a piece of metal, a current will flow through it. The light provides energy to the electrons of the metal’s atoms, which makes them move around and create a current. Not all lights will have this effect, however. Einstein concluded that instead of light being thought of as a wave, light was made of photons that acted like particles.
MANDARIN
Useful Mandarin Phrases Here are some useful phrases to use when traveling to China. Note that these are written in pinyin, which is a phonetic spelling that uses the Latin alphabet (with the inclusion of zh, ch, sh, and no v):
Hello. Nĭ hăo.
Good morning. Zăoān.
Good afternoon. Wŭān.
Good evening. Wănān.
I don’t understand. Wŏ tīngbùdŏng.
Excuse me. Duìbùqĭ.
Where’s the toilet? Cèsuŏ zài năli?
How much is this? Zhège duōshăo qián?
Goodbye. Zàijiàn.
LESSON 22 QUIZ
Gandhi developed Satyagraha, which was:
Another name for Quit India
A march in protest of the British taxing salt
A concept of truth
A commonwealth of civil resisters
Which of the following concerning the Dandi March is true?
The march was 240 miles long and in protest of British taxes on salt.
In Dandi, Gandhi and the protesters made their own salt from the seawater, which was breaking the law.
The march lasted twenty-four days and over 60,000 people were imprisoned.
All of the above.
Robert Louis Stevenson is the author of:
Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde
The Castle of Otranto, A Gothic Story
Dracula
The Shining
Bram Stoker created:
Frankenstein’s Monster
Cthulhu
Dracula
It
The largest value a function has within a specific area is called the:
Minima
Maxima
Limit
Derivative
What does the equation ∫ f(x) dx represent?
Limit
Integration
Power rule
Constant rule
According to quantum mechanics, particles at such microscopic levels behave:
Counterintuitively
According to Newton’s laws
Only like protons
Only like electrons
Which of the following explains that when light shines on a piece of metal, a current will flow through it?
Schrödinger’s Cat
Black body radiation
Bohr’s Model
The photoelectric effect
Which dialect of Mandarin is Standard Chinese based on?
The Northeastern dialect
The Southwestern dialect
The Beijing dialect
The Zhongyuan dialect
What is pinyin?
The phonetic spelling of Mandarin that uses the Latin alphabet
How you say “Excuse me”
A dialect of Mandarin
A form of Mandarin introduced by the Qing Empire
ANSWER KEY: c, d, a, c, b, b, a, d, c, a
Lesson 23
HISTORY: The Russian Revolution
A Century of Repression, The February Revolution, The Bolsheviks, The Summer of 1917, The October Revolution, The Aftermath
LANGUAGE ARTS: Humor
Mark Twain, John Kennedy Toole, P. G. Wodehouse, Terry Pratchett, Douglas Adams, David Sedaris
MATH: Trigonometry
Ratios, The Law of Cosines, The Law of Sines, Radian Measure, Reciprocal Identities, Inverse Trigonometric Functions
SCIENCE: Albert Einstein
About Albert Einstein, Theory of Relativity, E = mc2, Total Eclipse, Brownian Motion, His Brain
FOREIGN LANGUAGE: Cantonese
The Origins, Differences Between Cantonese and Mandarin, Writing System, Phonology, Cantonese Today, Useful Cantonese Phrases
LESSON 23A
THE RUSSIAN REVOLUTION
A Century of Repression Following the Napoleonic wars, ideas of democracy began to spread throughout Europe. Russians, under the rule of Czar Alexander I, began calling for a constitution guaranteeing basic rights. Though Alexander I granted Poland a constitution, he never made his mind up about Russia. Following Alexander’s death, there was great chaos as Nicholas I, the Czar’s younger brother, came to power. The reign of the son of Nicholas I, Alexander II, brought heavy police repression, creating resentment among the people.
HUMOR
Mark Twain Mark Twain is one of the most well-known American humorists. He is the author of such classic books as The Adventures of Tom Sawyer, and Adventures of Huckleberry Finn. The latter is regarded as one of the greatest books in American literature. Even to this day, Twain’s impact in humor can be seen. Every year since 1998, the Kennedy Center has awarded the Mark Twain Prize to those comedic voices that have left an impact on the world. Past winners include Bill Cosby, Richard Pryor, Tina Fey, and George Carlin.
TRIGONOMETRY
Ratios Trigonometry literally means “measurement of triangles,” and that is exactly what it is: the study of triangles. Trigonometry is based on the measurements of right triangles, meaning triangles with right angles, and the ratios of each side. In ratios, you use cardinal and ordinal numbers. Cardinal numbers are the numbers that you use for counting (1, 2, 3, 4, etc.), while ordinal numbers are in the form of first, second, third, fourth, etc. When a large number is a multiple of another smaller number, that smaller number is part of the larger number. For example, 3 is the first multiple of 3, and 9 is the second multiple of 3. A ratio of two numbers is the relationship regarding the relative size. This is expressed in a sentence. For example, if you were asked what ratio has 3 to 9, the answer would be 3 is the third part to 9.
ALBERT EINSTEIN
About Albert Einstein Perhaps one of the most famous scientists of all time, and deservedly so, Albert Einstein lived from 1879 to 1955. Einstein, born in Germany, studied physics and mathematics at Zurich, and he became a Swiss citizen in 1905. In 1909, he became a professor in theoretical physics at the University of Zurich, and a year later, he held the same position at the German University of Prague. In 1913, he was elected to the Prussian Academy of Science in Berlin, and, as he taught at the University of Berlin, he once again became a German citizen. When the Nazi party began to rise in Germany, Einstein left for the United States. He taught at the Institute of Advanced Study in Princeton, New Jersey, until his death.
CANTONESE
The Origins Cantonese originated in southern China. It is the most prestigious dialect of the Yue language. It is believed to have formed following the fall of the Han Dynasty in a.d. 220, due to isolation. By the Tang Dynasty in a.d. 618, Cantonese was its own distinct dialect. Because Hong Kong was a British co
lony from the mid-nineteenth century to the late twentieth century, it was shielded from many of the linguistic reforms of China, most notably, the shift to Mandarin as the standard language.
LESSON 23B
THE RUSSIAN REVOLUTION
The February Revolution Throughout 1916 and 1917, as Russia suffered greatly in World War I and had food shortages, there were many strikes and protests, often leading to violence. February 23, 1917, was the International Women’s Day Festival. The festival turned into a citywide protest of men and women from factories and industries. As Czar Nicholas II ordered the military to attack, many in the military, no longer loyal to the czar, joined the protesters. Chaos broke out in the city. By February 27, over 80,000 troops had mutinied. Nicholas II abdicated, giving power to his brother; however, his brother wouldn’t accept unless chosen by the representative assemblies. The next day, he resigned, and Russia did not have a head of state.
HUMOR
John Kennedy Toole John Kennedy Toole lived from 1937 to 1969. He wrote one of the most well-known comedic novels of the twentieth century, A Confederacy of Dunces. The book was published posthumously in 1980, eleven years after Toole committed suicide at the age of thirty-one. When Toole had finished writing the manuscript of A Confederacy of Dunces, the publisher he sent it to rejected the book. After his death, Toole’s mother insisted that author Walker Percy read the book. He finally did, and fell in love with it. The book was published and the next year, John Kennedy Toole was posthumously awarded the Pulitzer Prize.
TRIGONOMETRY
The Law of Cosines When solving triangles that do not have right angles (known as oblique triangles), the laws of sines and cosines are used. If you need to find the third side, and the other two sides of a triangle and the angle are known, then you use the law of cosines. The formula for the law of cosines is:
c² = a² + b² − 2ab cos θ
For example, if we are given a triangle ABC, side a = 9 inches, side b = 11 inches, and the angle of C is 60°, what is the value of c?
The formula would look like this:
c2 = 92 + 112 – 2(9)(11) cos 60
c2 = 202 - 99
c2 = 103
c =
ALBERT EINSTEIN
Theory of Relativity Einstein’s theory of relativity can be broken up into two parts: the special theory of relativity, first published in 1905; and the general theory of relativity, published in 1915. The special theory of relativity states that regardless of total velocity, the laws of physics remain the same, and the speed of light is always constant. In other words, you cannot know whether you are moving, unless you see another object, but the laws of physics always apply. The general theory of relativity expands upon the ideas from the special theory of relativity, including gravity in the picture. This theory states you cannot know the difference between gravity and inertia, and that gravity, which acts like a force, is not one. Gravity bends space-time.
CANTONESE
Differences Between Cantonese and Mandarin Though both Cantonese and Mandarin share the same basic alphabet, the two languages have very distinct sounds when spoken. Cantonese is thought to be more complex than Mandarin, with up to nine tones compared to Mandarin’s four. The most obvious difference is the location of people who speak these languages. Whereas Mandarin is used in mainland China and Taiwan, Cantonese is spoken in southern China. It is said that when comparing the two, it is like having a duck try to talk to a chicken. Though they are both birds, the species are very different.
LESSON 23C
THE RUSSIAN REVOLUTION
The Bolsheviks Vladimir Lenin, an intellectual who had been known as a revolutionary and socialist, had been living in exile in Switzerland. Lenin saw the political unrest in Russia as the perfect opportunity for him and his party, the Bolsheviks. Lenin negotiated with Germany to be brought back to Russia, and in April of 1917, Lenin returned to great applause. Lenin delivered the April Theses, in which he advocated an end to the war and no cooperation with non-Communists.
HUMOR
P. G. Wodehouse Sir P. G. Wodehouse lived from 1881 to 1975. His first comedic book, Something Fresh, came out in 1915. Wodehouse wrote ninety-six books in his career, and he is most known for his Jeeves and Wooster stories, his very eccentric characters, and multiple layers involved in the plots. Also a playwright and lyricist, Wodehouse wrote lyrics for musicals such as Anything Goes.
TRIGONOMETRY
The Law of Sines For the law of sines, we are dealing with triangles where the sides are the same ratio as the sines of opposite angles. So a : b : c = sin A : sin B : sin C.
So, side a is to b, is to sin A is to sin B, and the same with b to c. In other words:
ALBERT EINSTEIN
E = mc2 From Einstein’s special theory of relativity came one of the most famous mathematical formulas of all time: E = mc2. What this means is that energy (represented by E), equals mass (represented by m) multiplied by the speed of light (represented by c) squared. The speed of light, 186,000 miles per second, is a gigantic number when squared. So, a small amount of mass will create a lot of energy. This equation essentially says that mass is another form of energy.
CANTONESE
Writing System Cantonese literature is more developed than any other Chinese language. Though the writing system uses the same characters as the standard language, it also has additional characters, and some characters even have different meanings. There are also words in Cantonese that do not have any meaning in Mandarin. Instead of a new or different written language, Cantonese is written in the same system as Mandarin, and the words are just pronounced differently.
LESSON 23D
THE RUSSIAN REVOLUTION
The Summer of 1917 During the summer of 1917, Lenin attempted to overthrow the Provisional Government. The coup failed, and many Bolsheviks were arrested as Lenin fled to Finland. However, when it was feared that the minister of war was trying to create a military dictatorship, the Bolsheviks, who had created a military force, the Red Guard, were needed for support. By the fall, the Bolsheviks were gaining popularity, and Leon Trotsky was elected as president of the Petrograd.
HUMOR
Terry Pratchett Sir Terry Pratchett was born in 1948. Pratchett’s work combines humor and fantasy, and his first novel, The Carpet People, was published in 1971. Pratchett’s most well-known books are from his Discoworld series, of which there are currently thirty-six different titles. In 1990, he collaborated with Neil Gaiman on the book Good Omens, a parody of the film The Omen and the end of the world.
TRIGONOMETRY
Radian Measure One revolution in a circle is measured as 2π. This means that half of a circle is π, and that every right angle in a circle is π/2. π/4 is half of a right angle, and thus, it equals 45°. So this means that 2π is actually 360°. To find degrees in radians, the equation you have to follow is:
So to convert 90° into radians, you do:
ALBERT EINSTEIN
Total Eclipse Light photons do not have any mass. They do, however, have energy. And according to Einstein’s formula of E = mc2, energy behaves like mass. This means that light from stars is also bent by the Sun’s gravity. On May 29, 1919, there was a total eclipse. British astronomer Arthur Eddington studied the location of the stars during the eclipse. What he found was that Einstein’s theory was in fact true, and that when looking at the stars during the eclipse, it appeared as if the stars had changed positions, and that the Sun’s gravitational field was in fact affecting the light.
CANTONESE
Phonology The pronunciation of Cantonese is based on the language spoken in the capital of the Guangdong Province, Canton. In the Cantonese syllabary, there are around 630 sounds and 1,760 syllables. The nine different tones have different meanings when combined with syllables. From a phonological standpoint, Cantonese is a much more difficult language to understand than Mandarin.
LESSON 23E
THE RUSSIAN REVOLUTION
The October Revolution Lenin planned a co
up d’état to overthrow the Provisional Government, which was increasingly more ineffective, and replace them with the Bolsheviks. Lenin met with twelve party leaders to persuade them that revolution was necessary. With only ten backing him, Lenin began plotting the revolution. On October 24, 1917, troops that were loyal to the Bolsheviks began taking over government buildings. On October 26, the Provisional Government was arrested and a new provisional government was created with only Bolshevik members.
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