In your own words, summarize the plot of The Birch Tree's Gift. Identify a theme in this story, and tell how the story's actions and events bring attention to this theme.

Answer in a complete paragraph (at least five sentences) using rare (restate the question, answer the question, reason why, evidence to support). be sure to use correct capitalization and punctuation. the importance of being earnest presents characters who live for one thing and one thing only—to do whatever will bring them pleasure. what message does the play get across regarding the pursuit of pleasure? is this message positive or negative? give specific examples from the play to support your response. respond in a complete paragraph.

Don't eat the mushroom its poisonous

Read the passage below and answer the question that follows. ‘you make me feel uncivilized, daisy,’ i confessed on my second glass of corky but rather impressive claret. ‘can’t you talk about crops or something? ’ i meant nothing in particular by this remark but it was taken up in an unexpected way. ‘civilization’s going to pieces,’ broke out tom violently. ‘i’ve gotten to be a terrible pessimist about things. have you read ‘the rise of the coloured empires’ by this man goddard? ’ ‘why, no,’ i answered, rather surprised by his tone. ‘well, it’s a fine book, and everybody ought to read it. the idea is if we don’t look out the white race will be—will be utterly submerged. it’s all scientific stuff; it’s been proved.’ in this passage, tom’s ideas about race relations come off as uncivilized. what literary device is fitzgerald using here? irony personification metaphor simile