Do you think Manifest Destiny helped shape the United States?

Manifest Destiny was the nineteenth-century concept that the United States had the right and "destiny" to expand its borders to encompass everything west to the Pacific. The phrase, first used by journalist John O'Sullivan, connoted American racial and cultural supremacy, and trumpeted the uniqueness of American democracy. It was a powerful ideology that drove the rapid expansion of the United States in the 1830s and 1840s, a period that witnessed the annexation of Texas, the settlement of a border dispute with Great Britain in the Oregon Territory, and the conquest of a vast expanse of land controlled by Mexico. Clearly, Manifest Destiny shaped the physical expanse of the United States. In many ways, though, it was one iteration of a persistent idea in American history—the idea of American exceptionalism. This concept was influential in promoting American imperialism and in U.S. global leadership during World War II and beyond. The ambition and the self-confidence central to Manifest Destiny have remained important in American history.

What book does Montag bring to the refugee camp?

Montag does not bring a physical book to the refugee camp. When Granger asks what he has to offer, Montag says he has part of the Book of Ecclesiastes and some of Revelation. These are books from the Bible. Montag adds that he has these texts partly (memorized) in his head. The refugees have one other man who knows the Book of Ecclesiastes but Granger says, "If anything should happen to Harris, you are the Book of Ecclesiastes." Montag will therefore become the book. 

"Ecclesiastes" translates to "Gatherer," "Teacher," or "Preacher." This is fitting considering the fact that these refugees try to gather, remember, and teach the great works of literature. Ecclesiastes is basically an autobiography. The narrator gives advice on how to live life. One of the messages is that, since death is inevitable for everyone, the best thing to do is to live and appreciate life. 

So I commended pleasure, for there is nothing good for a man under the sun except to eat and to drink and to be merry, and this will stand by him in his toils throughout the days of his life which God has given him under the sun. (Eccles. 8:15) 

Among other themes in Ecclesiastes is the notion that one should humble himself/herself before God, and in that humility, he/she should follows God's commandments and pursue wisdom. This is the honorable way to live: pursuing wisdom and appreciating life. There is a pessimistic tone to Ecclesiastes but this goes along with the teachings of doing one's best in life despite all of the bad things in the world. These notions apply to Montag in significant ways. 

How does Gatsby navigate the journey from dreams to reality? What kind of course does he follow, and how is he changed by the journey?

Jay Gatsby's dream is to win Daisy, the love of his life. They meet when they are both young, but the wealthy, sophisticated Daisy refuses his proposal of marriage, because Gatsby is from humble beginnings and has no money. Daisy instead marries Tom Buchanan, a wealthy man who is unfaithful to her. Gatsby, whose real name is James Gatz, decides he must win Daisy at any cost, and he embarks upon a concerted effort to amass wealth.

Five years after Daisy refuses his proposal, Gatsby is a millionaire who owns a fancy mansion in the suburbs of New York City. It is hinted at that Gatsby's money is not earned honestly, and he associates with men who are known to be involved in bootlegging and other illegal activities, like Meyer Wolfsheim. It is the height of the Prohibition era, which took place from 1920 to 1933, and Gatsby's parties are lavish affairs where copious amounts of alcohol are consumed: this alone points to his willingness to bend or break the rules.

This seems to point to a certain recklessness of character; but one could also see the romantic appeal of a man so in love that he will do literally anything, including risk going to prison, to obtain the woman he loves. He follows what many might call a dangerous course, but it is one that brings him success, both financially and personally, if one considers that his wealth attracts Daisy to him once again.

When Gatsby and Daisy meet up again, they almost immediately rekindle their romance. She is impressed by his wealth; in one dramatic scene, he shows her his closet full of shirts, tossing them onto the bed and floor, and she holds them, becoming emotional as she contemplates the wealth that can provide such beautiful clothing. Gatsby surrounds himself with beautiful things, because he knows Daisy will like them. He goes out of his way to decorate his house in a way he thinks will please her. Gatsby becomes well-versed in this wealthy and sophisticated lifestyle; despite the poverty of his youth, his obsession with Daisy compels him to become the rich and admiration-worthy man that he thinks she will leave her husband for.

Gatsby gets so caught up in this youthful fantasy that he loses sight of the fact that Daisy is actually very shallow and not really worth sacrificing his integrity. His ability to become so wealthy so quickly in pursuit of a woman who rejected him because "rich girls don't marry poor boys" suggests that he might have indeed been capable of being a great man, if he had been motivated by something more than a desire to impress a materialistic lover. In the end Gatsby achieves great wealth, but not wisdom. 

In 1984, what is the emblem of the junior anti-sex league ?

In 1984, a narrow scarlet sash is the emblem of the junior anti-sex league. Because the anti-sex league campaigns for celibacy (it wants children produced through artificial insemination) and attracts particularly gung-ho Party members, when Winston sees Julia with the scarlet sash wrapped around her overalls, he feels a distaste for her. He even suspects she might be a spy. He perceives the sash as forbidding, and it signals to him that Julia is a devoted Party member, living in a de-sexualized arena of "hockey fields and cold baths and community hikes" that Winston hates. 

The sash and Julia's membership in the anti-sex league provide a convincing cover for Julia, who likes to have a good time, including affairs with men. She throws herself into the anti-sex league with gusto, marching in parades and handing out leaflets, as this allows her the freedom to engage in sexual escapades unsuspected.

What materials does photosynthesis produce?

Photosynthesis is the process by which plants (that contain chlorophyll) convert light energy from the sun to chemical energy. The balanced chemical equation can be written as:

`6CO_2 + 6H_2O + sunlight -> C_6H_12O_6 + 6O_2`

In this process, plants use up carbon dioxide and water and in the presence of sunlight convert them to glucose and oxygen. 

These two products are very useful. Glucose is then converted to energy and/or other molecules for the plant's growth and maintenance and is then directly/indirectly consumed as food by other organisms. Oxygen is needed for the survival of all the aerobic species on Earth, including human beings. This process also controls the carbon dioxide levels in the atmosphere and this is the reason plants are considered a sink for carbon dioxide. 

Hope this helps.

How does Shakespeare use Act 3 in A Midsummer Nights Dream to prove Lysander's statement "the course of true love never did run smooth" to be true?

Events become zany in Act III, the high point of the play's comedy, as love potions enter in and mix-ups occur. A little magic on the part of Puck puts an ass's head on Bottom, and a love potion dropped in Titania's eyes causes her to fall in love with the ass-headed Bottom. She's really in love with Oberon, but it will take this diversion for her to give up the Indian boy who has caused her quarrel with Oberon and get her back together again with her true love.

This is also the Act where Puck mistakenly puts the love juice into Lysander's eyes instead of Demetrius's, so that when Lysander wakes up, he falls in love with Helena. Comic mayhem ensues: Hermia can't understand why Lysander, who a few hours ago ran away with her out of love, now despises her and loves Helena. Meanwhile, Helena thinks Lysander's love language is all a joke, meant to mock her. When Oberon uses a love potion to ensure Demetrius will fall in love with Helena, as he meant from the start, the comedy gets even zanier: Helena now thinks she is being mocked by both men pretending to be lovesick, while Hermia is furious and jealous, and the two men are ready to fight over Helena. In none of these cases is true love running smooth. Lysander is no longer in love with Hermia, Helena doesn't believe either man is in love with her, Hermia is confused and the men are at each other's throats.

When does the story of "By the Waters of Babylon" take place ?

The story takes place in the future.  There has been some kind of apocalypse called the Great Burning.  All we know about the Great Burning is that “fire fell out of the sky.”  We do know that John’s world is our world in the future because he lives in the area around what was once New York City.

 It is forbidden to cross the great river and look upon the place that was the Place of the Gods—this is most strictly forbidden. We do not even say its name though we know its name. It is there that spirits live, and demons—it is there that there are the ashes of the Great Burning. 

John’s people think that we were gods.  They are afraid to touch metal, and only priests are allowed to do so.  They are supposedly the only ones who can touch the metal without dying.  John’s father is a priest, and he is training to be a priest.

As part of this training, John goes on a quest to follow a dream to what was once New York City.  He sees the old buildings and technology, and realizes that the gods were once people.  These “gods” are the bodies of dead human beings.  He decides that this is the foundation of a lost civilization, and his society can rebuild it.

We shall go to the Place of the Gods—the place newyork—not one man but a company. We shall look for the images of the gods and find the god ASHING and the others—the gods Lincoln and Biltmore and Moses. But they were men who built the city, not gods or demons.

Like many post-apocalyptic societies, John’s is ruled by fear.  John, the new generation, decides that he wants to change things.  He will not be afraid.  He wants to reunite his people and build on the legacy of the past to renew the former society.