"You must pass a college admissions test. Explain what you have to do to achieve this goal."

Prepare with practice tests, prep courses and private tutoring.

Ask a hundred students how to prepare for the SAT or ACT and you will probably get a hundred different answers.

You can invest endless amounts of time and money preparing to take the SAT or ACT, from online practice tests to private tutoring.

We can’t tell you the single best way to prepare for the SAT or ACT, but we can explain three techniques and how to decide which is best for you.

1. Prepare for the SAT or ACT with Practice Tests

If you take a practice SAT or ACT and ace it, you may not need to concentrate on preparation as much as some of your friends.

But even if you think you have the test nailed, you probably should take some sample quizzes online or buy a book or two about the test.

University Language offers 100 questions like those on the reading and writing sections of the SAT. At only $9.99, it’s a great way to maintain your confidence and keep your brain in test-taking shape.

2. Prepare for the SAT or ACT with a Prep Class

If you don’t do well on standardized tests, did badly on a practice test or are simply terrified of test day, ACT and SAT prep courses can help.

The classes involve homework and practice tests. They sometimes offer live online lectures. A physical class, however, will better prepare you for the SAT or ACT because it more closely replicates the environment of the real test.

Not sure about a class? Start to prepare with SAT or ACT prep books from the Princeton Review.

3. Prepare with Individual SAT or ACT Tutoring

If you need more personalized attention to prepare for the SAT or ACT, you can be tutored online or in-person.

Having to answer to a teacher face-to-face can help motivate you to invest the time to prepare for the SAT or ACT. Tutors can tailor your test preparation to your strengths and weaknesses, providing instant feedback and explanations that make sense to you.

Don’t make SAT or ACT test day even more stressful by arriving unprepared. Be honest with yourself about how much time you need to prepare for the SAT or ACT before you study at a US school. If you realize you need the extra work, do it. You will probably be so happy with your higher SAT or ACT score that you will soon forget the chore of preparing!

"Explain what you should do if you want to end a relationship."

You've done everything you can. But you've finally realised that it's time to end your relationship. Understandably you're struggling to do it.

Here's some practical advice to help you bring your relationship to a close. Also what to do if you can't quite bring yourself to end it (even though you know you should).

Please be clear that whilst I put these tips forward as strategies I understand that it's rarely easy - especially in the longest of relationships. You may well be trying to leave someone whom you've loved dearly and dreamt big dreams with. I know it hurts and I hope you will know when it's time to deal with that pain and get on with your life as well as having the courage to follow through.

You're not meant for each other

A relationship not working out is rarely about blaming or there being anything wrong with either you or your partner. It's just that the two of you are not compatible. Remember this when going through the process. The only other significant reasons for break-ups are because of physical or emotional abuse. Virtually everything else is a compatibility issue.

Sometimes the truth hurts

'You're too fat, I don't find you sexually attractive and you're crap in bed'

Would you want to hear that? I doubt it. I also suspect you don't really want to hurt your partner, so sometimes it's best to avoid telling the whole truth. Not lie. Just not go in to all the details where you know it will hurt them.
If you're break up takes a long time, you're going to be asked lots of questions. You're both going to hurt badly in the process. Just don't ever be tempted to use a harsh truth as a weapon to get revenge for you feeling hurt.

Prepare for them asking 'Why?'

Especially when your partner doesn't want the relationship to end they'll question over and over why it's ending - so they can try to change. There's a difficult way and an easy way to answer this (as if any of this could be easy!)
If you answer them with reasons about them, then they still have the option to try to change themselves and you've given them a life line to grab at. They'll definitely start to beg for another chance to change.
If you make it about you, then there's a lot less they can grab on to or argue about to make you change your mind.
Before you approach your partner, explore in writing the main reasons for you wanting to leave. Work through each issue figuring out what it is about youthat's contributed to the issue arising.
For instance, if you end up fighting all the time now, your part in that is you've built up so much resentment in the relationship that you find it impossible to have a civil discussion anymore - which isn't the basis for a good relationship.
Once you've worked through the whole list you're better prepared for initiating the break up, less likely to give your partner a chance to come back at you and probably a whole lot clearer yourself about the reasons that you must leave.

Expect them to hit back (metaphorically!)

At the end of a major relationship very few people will be able to take it in their stride. Sometimes it hurts so much that the only thing they know how to do is to try and hurt you back. That comes in the form mostly of verbal or emotional mud slinging. And yes, you will more than likely hurt as a result of it.
You'll question whether it was the right thing to do. You'll hurt because you'll think that what they've said or done is true. Try to remember, or remind yourself by reading this paragraph again, that they are only trying to hurt you because they feel so hurt inside themselves.
Rather than continue the mud fight, try to be a grown up and leave the argument before you feel the need to sling it right back at them. With all that mud around, it's a slippery slope.

When it's over, it's over

After virtually any length of intimate relationship you're going to yearn to get back together afterwards, even if you're the person that ended the relationship and you knew it was 100% the right decision. This is normal and natural but it's important that you resist it unless you've been apart for months and realize you've made a mistake.
Getting back together after a few days or weeks, just for old time's sake, is generally just another way of extending the pain of a break up. It's motivated by sadness or loneliness and is rarely a good idea. Try to avoid doing this, you only stand to hurt your partner more. And I know that's not what you want to do!

Struggling to break up?

If you've tried everything you can to bring yourself to break up but you just can't do it, it can be a real problem.
I've had clients who've waited more than 3 years before they came to me to deal with leaving a relationship. They're almost certain it's the right thing to do, they've even started fantasising about new relationships, but they just can't bring themselves to take that final step. Or they'd broken up and got back together within a few weeks because it was so painful for them that they just couldn't follow through with it.
If you're in a situation like that and you want to make sure you're making the right decision and follow through with it as quickly and cleanly as you can, then contact me. Let me know briefly what your situation is and I'll see if I can help you through this.

"Tell how to make a new friend."

Whether you're attending a new school or looking for a date, meeting people and making friends can be awkward and challenging. However, it doesn't have to be so hard. Try a few of these simple tips, and you'll be on your way in no time.

1. Listen and Ask Questions

Other people like to know they're being heard and that their ideas are appreciated. By being a good listener, you let others know that you value what they have to say and, by extension, who they are.

You can let others know you're paying attention by making eye contact while they're speaking, then asking a question or two about what they're saying. If the conversation goes well, ask the person for his or her phone number or email, then make plans to hang out.

2. Give a Compliment

Everyone loves an ego boost. Noticing something you like about someone and sharing it with him or her is a great way to forge a connection and start a conversation.

When giving a compliment, be honest and genuine. Even if you're complimenting something very small—like the color of the person's shoes—it's likely to be appreciated. You might even receive a compliment in return!

3. Detach Yourself From Technology -- Temporarily

You're less likely to notice who's interested in you if you're constantly checking your email, voicemail and text messages. Being online or on the phone also sends the message to others that you're unavailable.

Put away your cell phone from time to time and take a look around. Who seems funny or interesting? Which people in the room have you never talked to? Who pays attention to your ideas? Make a mental note and spend a little time getting to know these people face-to-face.

4. Join a Club or Team

Having an interest in common with another person gives both of you something to talk about. No matter if that interest is reading, rugby or rock 'n' roll, pursuing it with other people is fun and gives you a sense of meaning and belonging. Clubs, teams and other groups also work toward common goals, which is inspiring, teaches you how to solve problems and helps you bond with others.

Investigate the clubs and activities at your school or place of worship. Check out the course listings at your local community center, YMCA or parks and recreation department. Form a band or a book club, or start an interest group online. You'll have a circle of friends before you know it.

5. Volunteer

A strong desire to help others is attractive to most people, whether they're looking for a friend or a date. It's also extremely appealing to colleges and scholarship programs. Channeling this desire into a volunteer project is a great way to meet others, build community and work toward common goals.

You can volunteer in your school, community or church. Many teens clean up parks, tutor younger students or help at food pantries, animal shelters or hospitals. Nonprofit organizations always need volunteers as well: Find out if Habitat for Humanity, the Sierra Club, the Red Cross and other nonprofit groups have chapters near where you live. Chances are, you'll find other teens—and nice people of all ages—volunteering their time.

6. Get a Job

Getting a part-time job at a place where other teens work is another way to meet people and work toward common goals. Even if those goals involve folding sweaters or cleaning toilets, you'll have something to complain about -- and bond over -- with others.

7. Form a Study Group

Does your math teacher give super-hard exams? Is your history teacher always giving pop quizzes? Round up a few others from your class to study together each week. Ask your teacher if you could pass around a sign-up sheet or make an announcement about the group after class.

When your group gets together, share notes and chat about class. Find out what your classmates like about the teacher and what they can't stand. Make flash cards together or quiz one another. Bring snacks and share what's going on in your life. You'll have new friends before you know it.

8. Laugh

Letting others know that you think they're funny makes them feel good and shows them you're interested in what they think. It also shows you have a good sense of humor, which is one of the top things teens look for in a person, whether it's a best friend or a boyfriend or girlfriend.

"Describe your favorite game. Explain why it is your favorite."

SONIC COLOURS!!!


OH MY GAWD!!! That game is awesome!! I finally got on Sunday and I'm playing it nonstop! Ok that was a lie, I take breaks and stuff but I'm finally finish beating the game.
*SPOILER ALERT*
That damn last boss is hard as hell, but the whole design is awesome. Oh and I love the credits part, you can turn into all the wisps and destroy the scrolling words! I don't know why some people are giving hate remarks about this game? Maybe they're can't even pass the first level and gave up or something like that.... All I know is that this game is the best sonic game I ever played! Sure the each level can get on your nerves, but I had fun playing it and each level is a sight for sore eyes. Still get used to Sonic's new voice, but I have to say that I love Sonic's old voice.... Maybe I have to get used to it more.... Love Tails' voice though! I was like, "Tails finally sounds like a boy now, YES!!"
Love the song, "Reach for the Stars" Makes me think about how this song is connect to my life, it say so much, it touches mi heart... *sniff*
Anyway~~~~~ Love the game and I hope SEGA comes up with more awesome games like this one!

"Explain the causes and effects of prejudice."

“Blacks are uncivilized.”, “females are emotional.”, “fat guys are stupid.”, “Muslims are terrorists.” … They must have sound familiar. Because there must be one or more that is or was once your own thought. They are prejudices. Prejudice is a prejudgment or comment to objects, a person or a group based on incomplete or unconfirmed information which is unilateral or even mistaken. The feature of prejudices is that it is extensive and usually covering and prejudging individuals with the characteristics of a wider group. Every one of us was born with prejudice, because it is a very important skill for us to survive. Be afraid when darkness falls on you because “dangers are covered within the darkness.” ,spit out when mum is feeding you with bitter medicine because “bitter things are poisonous”, these subconscious actions of a baby are the natural instinct, prejudices that our brain has given to us to avoid dangers. The harm that these born prejudices can bring to our society is negligible. But when prejudice changes from a natural and individual action to a group wide behavior against another group of people, then it becomes not as nice as it was. Back to the year of 1942AD, a Spanish navigator has sailed to the west from the land of Spain to prove his theory that it is possible to reach the eastern empires of China and India by sailing to the west instead of the old paths to the west. His name is Christopher Columbus. But what he found was not what he expected. A land that is entirely stranger to the Europeans, America was discovered. With the spirit of colonialism, European populations started to immigrate to the “New world”. This discovery plus the lack of work power in the new colonies foreshadowed the next 4 centuries of slavery life for the blacks. Beginning from the year 1441, all the way to the year 1865, over one hundred million black slaves were shipped to the land of America from Africa. They were stacked inside the cargo hold side by side like all other goods. The whites gave them each a price, prices no more than tobaccos. The landlords in America will buy these “things” back to their plantations and make them to do dangerous works or manual labor such as mining and planting. The slaves were treated inhumanly, most of them died in a young age. Some numbers of slaves tried to fight back and rebelled but they were squelched. The slave trade has never been repealed until year 1865 when the United Staes of America (Union) won the American civil war. The leader of the Union was the 16th president of the United States of America, Abraham Lincoln. Lincoln opposed the inhuman practices of slavery and realized the huge productivity limit created by slavery. As the abolition of slavery, the blacks have finally gained their freedom.

"Explain the causes and effects of impulse buying."

Impulse buying Impulse buying happens when you get caught up in the hype of a situation and  you buy something without thinking much about it. Impulse items may be new  products, samples or well-established products at unexpected low prices. Situations that play on shoppers impulsiveness include: items on sale tables  that advertise 'huge bargains' or '10% off all items' or the enticement of  announcements that something is half price for the next 5 minutes.  Impulse buying makes you spend money on items you may not really  need or want. To avoid impulse buying you need to ask yourself if you  really need the item or just want it. Shopping tips Have a budget made up and don't spend over this amount. Have a list of items that you intend to buy and stick to it. Be wary of enticements like red-hot specials where an item is  advertised in the store as reduced for the next 5 minutes or  telemarketers saying that if you buy a product or service  during this call they will include something else for free. Compare prices between sellers. You may find that someone is  selling an item at 10% off and another seller is selling the same  thing at a lower price and they're not having a sale. Compare items for price and quality. Examine the goods carefully. Are they exactly what you want.  Sometimes packaging can mislead you about the actual quantity supplied. Keep all receipts. Check out the warranty.

"Explain pollution to a visitor from another planet."

Pollution is contamination by a chemical or other agent that renders part of the environment unfit for intended or desired use. These uses also and very importantly include all wildlife and ecological requirements to sustain life in all its natural forms.

Pollution damages the Earth's land, water and air. It results in contamination of the earth's environment with materials that interfere with human health, the quality of life, and the natural functioning of ecosystems (living organisms and their physical surroundings).

Pollution is usually caused by human actions, but can also be the consequence of natural disasters. Pollution can also occur from disruption or damage to wastewater collection and treatment infrastructure due to severe natural events like hurricanes or flooding. Most types of pollution affect the immediate area surrounding the source, and reduce as you move away from the source.

Pollution is often caused by the garbage that people throw on the ground or into oceans, lakes or rivers.

Pollution exists in many forms and affects many different aspects of the Earth's environment. Some main types of pollution are:-

- Water pollution is a serious global problem and the largest water pollution problem is from sewage contaminating watercourses.

- Air pollution arising from many sources, and is bad in cities. Car transport emissions causes a lot of the air pollution we see. But did you know that air pollution also can exist inside homes and other buildings? Poor ventilation causes about half of the indoor air pollution problems. Air pollution contributes to the greenhouse effect.

- Highway vehicles, and shipping, are major contributor to air pollution worldwide.

- Photochemical air pollution is commonly referred to as 'smog'. Urban air pollution is often caused by a photochemical, and is commonly known as smog.

- Radioactive pollution results from inadequate nuclear safety.

- Light pollution, includes light trespass, over-illumination and astronomical interference.

- Noise is a form of pollution as well but is unlike the others as it is transient; once the pollution stops, the environment is free of it.

Recently, there has been a heightened interest in the intercontinental transport of pollution. European pollution has been tracked to Asia, as well as the Arctic.

Pollution control involves higher production costs for the industries concerned, but failure to implement adequate controls may result in irreversible environmental damage and an increase in the incidence of diseases such as cancer.

Pollution can be achieved by reducing or eliminating waste at the source by modifying production processes, promoting the use of non-toxic or less-toxic substances, implementing conservation techniques, and re-using materials rather than putting them into the waste stream. But even with these new laws air pollution is still on the increase overall throughout the world. This is especially so in the developing countries.

We should all do what we can to minimize pollution and become 'green'.

""Explain how different modern life would be without computers."

Computers are commonly used items in many areas. It is an important thing to people, especially the people who run organizations, industry, etc. . . Almost anything you know is run or made by computers. Cars and jets were designed on computers, traffic signals are run by computers, most medical equipment use computers and space exploration was started with computers. Most of the jobs today require the use of computers. These 'mechanical brains' made a huge impact on our society. It would be hard if we didn't have the computer around.


Let's visualize for a minute. Let's visualize a world without computers. People in the medical field wouldn't have have found a lot of cures to diseases, since most cures were found with the help of computers. Movies like Jurassic Park, Toy Story, A Bug's Life or Godzilla would never have been made without computers because they used computer graphics and animation in them. Pharmacies would have a hard time keeping track with what medications to give to patience. Counting votes would be impossible without computers and most importantly, space exploration wouldn't be possible without the help of computers. It's a pretty tough life without computers. Some may not agree and say, "Well, we don't need computers to live on." They maybe right but mostly, they are wrong. Computers help in curing diseases, make entertainment a lot better, keep track of important records, etc. . . Without computers, all this wouldn't be possible.

"Describe techniques and behavior that makes a person a good driver."

Isn't everyone you know a good driver? Nobody admits to being a bad driver. They always blame someone or something else for their mistakes - "it was the other drivers fault", "it was the car", "it was really bad weather,"...

Fact: nearly all road traffic accidents are caused, to some degree, by the driver.

Learning to drive is a medium to long-term process. Successfully passing the driving test is the minimum standard required to drive solo on the road. Every day will bring new learning experiences, probably right up until the day you hang up the keys; experiences that you may not have come across during the lessons whilst learning to drive.

The majority of people will have a few scares and near misses once they start driving alone; some will have accidents of varying degrees and far too many have serious accidents or even lose their lives whilst driving. The perfect driver doesn't exist. There are far too many factors and variables on today's busy roads for a person to reach "perfection." There is always something new to learn, even for the driver who has been on the road for years.

So what is the most important attribute a driver can develop to keep the motor vehicle a safe means of transport? The answer is attitude. Along with driver skills (learned & developed during training), driver attitude will go a long way in determining how you act behind the wheel. The following five areas can influence driver attitude:

• Responsibility
• Concentration
• Anticipation
• Patience
• Confidence

Together, these qualities make up driver attitude and ultimately, driver behaviour. Let's have a look at these qualities briefly and see how they can affect attitude.

Responsibility: Are you fit to drive? The safety of yourself, your passengers and other road users rests in your hands when in charge of a vehicle - are you feeling tired, feeling ill, taken medicine or have been drinking alcohol recently? Is your journey necessary, particularly in bad weather?You should also take in to account the specific needs of your passengers regarding seatbelts and child car seats or any disability issues they may have - all your responsibility as the driver.

Concentration: Any kind of driving, even for short journeys, requires a high level of concentration. On today's busy roads, even the slightest attention lapse can result in mistakes that can lead to accidents. If you do have to drive while tired, ill or stressed give yourself more time to react to what is going on around you. Remember never to make or answer calls on mobile phones, even when using a hands-free device. You can also be distracted by listening to loud music, eating or drinking, adjusting a navigation device on the move or even in conversation with passengers.

Anticipation: Along with planning and hazard awareness, anticipation is one of the most important skills a driver can use. You should be constantly trying to second-guess the actions of other road users, be prepared to act on what you see and plan accordingly. Always plan for the worst!

Patience: Road rage & bad manners are sadly becoming a part of normal daily driving. I know people who have passed the driving test, only to have a bad experience with another driver and be too scared to get back in to the car. You can't control what another driver does or how they act; try to ignore the behaviour of inconsiderate drivers. You can show by the way you conduct yourself on the road that you are a patient driver and try to show tolerance for the mistakes of others.

Confidence: The more you drive, the more confident as a driver you will become. In the initial stages of learning to drive, a person's confidence grows as they develop the skill of controlling a vehicle. This continues as more complex tasks are introduced, including hazard perception, anticipation and planning until the learner becomes more independent. However, a lot of drivers after passing the practical test become over-confident; this can often lead to careless driving - and a change in attitude to others!

"Discuss the events in the life of your favorite author, sports figure, or performer. Explain how these events relate to the person's achievements."

Thelma Votipka (December 20, 1906, Cleveland, Ohio – October 24, 1972, New York) was an American mezzo-soprano who sang 1,422 performances with the Metropolitan Opera, more than any other woman in the company's history (her nearest rival, Mathilde Bauermeister, sang 1,062).

Educated at Oberlin College, Votipka specialized in comprimario roles.

She was a member of Vladimir Rosing's American Opera Company in the late 1920s and made her debut as the Countess in The Marriage of Figaro on December 14, 1927 in Washington D.C.

She made her Metropolitan debut on December 16, 1935, as Flora in Verdi's La traviata, a role she sang 101 times with the company.

Other frequent roles with the Met included Giovanna in Verdi's Rigoletto (139 performances), Marthe in Gounod's Faust (128), Alisa inDonizetti's Lucia di Lammermoor (116), Frasquita in Bizet's Carmen (112), Marianne in Strauss's Der Rosenkavalier (109), the Priestess in Verdi's Aida (101), Gerhilde in Wagner's Die Walküre (93), and Mamma Lucia in Mascagni's Cavalleria rusticana (72). Mamma Lucia was the role of her final performance, in Dallas, on May 11, 1963.

Votipka shared the stage with many artists on the occasions of their Metropolitan debuts: Marjorie Lawrence, Zinka Milanov, Rose Pauly,Eleanor Steber, Astrid Varnay, Robert Merrill, Victoria de los Ángeles, Hilde Gueden, Charles Anthony, Mattiwilda Dobbs, Nicolai Gedda, andJoan Sutherland.

She returned to the Met on April 16, 1966, to sing in the quintet from Carmen as part of the gala farewell performance at the opera house atBroadway and 39th Street.

She died in New York in 1972.

"What is special about you? Explain what makes you a unique individual."

     I have many qualities and talents that I like, but my personal talent is to draw. I love to draw because my drawing talent makes me proud of whom I am. This talent expresses my feelings and dreams on paper. This talent is special because I sometimes show my pictures to my friends and family and they say that I draw well. I’m able to duplicate any picture; I look at any picture and I can copy it exactly. I love to draw comic books because it expresses how funny I am. I enter a lot of competitions or send my art to this website called Deviant ART to show the world that I draw pretty well for my age. All people can draw if they set their minds to it. A quote I read from a book said, ‘If you can write your name, then you can draw anything.’ Some people don’t believe this because they don’t set their minds to this, but I do. Drawing is a perfect way to express myself because some things might be difficult to say in the open, but putting my feelings on paper is the perfect way for other people, like therapists, to understand.

"Discuss the importance of pride in one's work."

No matter what kind of job you do, it is important to someone. It should also be important to you. The way you do your job, says a lot about you. Even if you are doing something that does seem too impressive, and is definitely not your dream job, you should do it to the best of your ability.

Everybody has to start somewhere, and goals and dreams sometimes get sidetracked by the need to earn money to live on. Nearly any person you ask, can regale you with a story of the awful job he or she had at one time.

Some jobs are dirty. Just like the old saying, "It's a dirty job, but someone's got to do it." The saying is often used in a sarcastic way, but it also has a lot of truth to it. Where would we be without the people who do those dirty jobs and make life easier for everyone else?

So, if you're just starting out in the work force, or you've been downsized and you are working just to make ends meet or trying to climb your way back up, remember... it's not the job that is a measure of your character and dignity. It's the way you perform your job.

Think of your current job as a reference for your next job. Think about how your current employer will describe you when asked for a reference. Are you punctual? Do you have a good attitude? Do you do the best you can? Are you a hard worker, conscientious, and one who pays attention to detail?

If you are currently working a job that you don't care for, encourage yourself by remembering that it is only temporary, a step on the ladder. Also, encourage yourself by taking pride in your work.

"Explain the meaning of diversity."

Diversity implies a wide range of conditions and characteristics. In terms of businesses and their workforces it is about valuing and reaping the benefits of a varied workforce that makes the best of people’s talents whatever their backgrounds. Diversity encompasses visible and non-visible individual differences. It can be seen in the makeup of your workforce in terms of gender, ethnic minorities, disabled people etc., about where those people are in terms of management positions, job opportunities, terms and conditions in the workplace.

Diversity is about respecting individual differences, and people's differences can be many and varied:

Race Culture National origin Region Gender Sexual Orientation Age Marital Status

Politics Religion Ethnicity Disability Socio-economic differences Family structure Health Values And more

Embracing equality and diversity brings to an organisation a wide range of experience, ideas and creativity whilst giving the individual employee a feeling of being enabled to work to their full potential.

Combined together, equality and diversity drive an organisation to comply with anti-discrimination legislation as well as emphasising the positive benefits of diversity such as drawing on a wider pool of talent, positively motivating all employees and meeting the needs of a wider customer base.

Employers are now encouraged to deepen and enrich their “equal opportunities” policies and strategies into an encompassing Equality and Diversity policy with a strategy and action plans that managers, workers and other stakeholders can contribute to and benefit from.

"Explain what cooperation means to you and why it is important

For some time now there have been a lot of things I’ve thought about and a lot of things I’ve wanted to share. But it has been difficult to put them down in words.

Working under the „Building Bridges” motto, I’ve decided to make an effort to put it all down on paper and start writing a blog in an attempt to give you all an idea of my point of view.

The thing that’s been bothering me the most lately is the fact that people around me seem to not fully comprehend the importance of good relationships, may that be between individuals, organizations or even large groups of our society. What I am about to address here are the relationships of the SA and SSER as such with other Baltic universities.

Most of the time, as soon as the topic of improving said relationships is brought up, response is quick: ‘But what do ‘I’ get out of it?’ or ‘We are already the best, there is nothing that we could get from others that would be worth putting effort in’.

It seems obvious to me that improving relationships is an inherently beneficial thing. But it is a large, long-term improvement, and it seems to me that a question about it warrants a thorough answer. I believe strongly that one should always provide solid arguments to back up any idea that one wants to spread, thus I’ve been considering the answer to this question for quite some time. Today I will not spend time listing the emotional and poetic benefits of friendship and harmony. Instead, I would like to address you as a future economist addresses other future economists. I will list some of the „real”, tangible benefits that improved relationships with other Baltic universities would provide.

First of all, by improving cooperation and connection with other universities, SSE Riga polishes its own reputation and recognizability. This consequently attracts the brightest minds to the school, including new students, professors and others, who ultimately will raise the bar for academic achievement and well-being of SSE Riga as well as add value to the diploma. Moreover, I would like to point out that even though public awareness of SSE Riga is undeniable in Latvia, the situation is less bright in Lithuania and even worse in Estonia, where public knowledge of the school in Riga is virtually non-existent. Cooperation with other Baltic universities would allow SSE Riga students to take part in different large-scale events and raise awareness of the school not only among high schools (which is a task already carried out by the Ambassadors’ project) but also among other college students as well as employers and potential sponsors.

Second, the mission of SSE Riga is, among other things, to improve the level of economic development in the Baltic states through education. This is a success already; SSER provides an excellent education, thus preparing a highly competent work force. Yet, why stop here? We might as well broaden our field of action at a relatively low resource cost by sharing our positive experience with other universities, thus encouraging real improvement for the next generation that is taking over the Baltic economy inside as well as outside our own school.

Third, even though we have exceptionally high academic achievements, we can all see that certain issues in the organization of our work remain (say SA’s contact with student body, say the convenience of finding an internship, say time management, say the visual image of SSE Riga). I do agree that we are good at solving these issues efficient as we can. However, shared experience can aid us in discovering solutions that other colleges have employed, inspire us and help us deal with our own problems more creatively and efficiently, broaden our horizons and enable us to see things from a new perspective.

Furthermore, we can create a two-way street. SSE Riga specializes in business and economy. There are universities in all Baltic states that have different specializations, students of which have different skills. Also there are schools with large football fields and concert halls. There are schools with wide social networks. In short, there is a whole assortment of untapped resources. And cooperating with these schools would help SSE Riga students to do their job in a more efficient way or even discover new ways.

So, what I am trying to say here is that one can always improve, no matter how far ahead and self-sufficient one is. Look at, say, the USA economy: no matter how big and powerful it is, it wouldn’t be half as good without its smaller trading partners. In addition, for those who have studied macro and/or International Economics already: there is a concept called comparative advantage, which describes how trade (in my point – a healthy relationship) is advantageous for both sides, even though one might show higher performance in all aspects.

"Describe how communication has changed in the last 20 years."

Communicating information always has been extremely important. Throughout history, some information has had value beyond measure. The lack of information often costs huge amounts of money and, sometimes, many lives.

One example of this took place near New Orleans, Louisiana. Britain and the United States were fighting the War of Eighteen Twelve. The Battle of New Orleans is a famous battle. As in all large battles, hundreds of troops were killed or wounded.

After the battle, the Americans and the British learned there had been no need to fight. Negotiators for the United States and Britain had signed a peace treaty in the city of Ghent, Belgium, two weeks earlier. Yet news of the treaty had not reached the United States before the opposing troops met in New Orleans. The battle had been a terrible waste. People died because information about the peace treaty traveled so slowly.

From the beginning of human history, information traveled only as fast as a ship could sail. Or a horse could run. Or a person could walk.

People experimented with other ways to send messages. Some people tried using birds to carry messages. Then they discovered it was not always a safe way to send or receive information.

A faster method finally arrived with the invention of the telegraph. The first useful telegraphs were developed in Britain and the United States in the eighteen thirties.

The telegraph was the first instrument used to send information using wires and electricity. The telegraph sent messages between two places that were connected by telegraph wires. The person at one end would send the information. The second person would receive it.

Each letter of the alphabet and each number had to be sent separately by a device called a telegraph key. The second person would write each letter on a piece of paper as it was received. Here is what it sounds like. For our example we will only send you three letters: VOA. We will send it two times. Listen closely.

In the eighteen fifties, an expert with a telegraph key could send about thirty-five to forty words in a minute. It took several hours to send a lot of information. Still, the telegraph permitted people who lived in cities to communicate much faster. Telegraph lines linked large city centers. The telegraph soon had a major influence on daily life.

The telegraph provided information about everything. Governments, businesses and individuals used the telegraph to send information. At the same time, newspapers used the telegraph to get information needed to tell readers what was happening in the world. Newspapers often were printed four or five times a day as new information about important stories was received over the telegraph. The telegraph was the quickest method of sending news from one place to another.

On August fifth, eighteen fifty-eight, the first message was transmitted by a wire cable under the Atlantic Ocean. The wire linked the United States and Europe by telegraph. This meant that a terrible mistake like the battle of New Orleans would not happen again.

Reports of daily news events in Europe began to appear in American newspapers. And news of the United States appeared in European newspapers. Information now took only a matter of hours to reach most large cities in the world. This was true for the big cities linked by the telegraph. However, it was different if you lived in a small farming town, kilometers away from a large city. The news you got might be a day or two late. It took that long for you to receive your newspaper.

On November second, nineteen twenty, radio station KDKA in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania broadcast the first radio program. That broadcast gave the results of a presidential election.

Within a few short years, news and information could be heard anywhere a radio broadcast could reach. Radios did not cost much. So most people owned at least one radio. Radio reporters began to speak to the public from cities where important events were taking place.

Political leaders also discovered that radio was a valuable political tool. It permitted them to talk directly to the public. If you had a radio, you did not have to wait until your newspaper arrived. You could often hear important events as they happened.

Some people learned quickly that information meant power. In the nineteen thirties, many countries began controlling information. The government of Nazi Germany is a good example.

Before and during World War Two, the government of Nazi Germany controlled all information the German people received. The government controlled all radio broadcasts and newspapers. The people of Germany only heard or read what the government wanted them to hear or read. It was illegal for them to listen to a foreign broadcast.

After World War Two, a new invention appeared -- television. In industrial nations, television quickly became common in most homes. Large companies were formed to produce television programs. These companies were called networks. Networks include many television stations linked together that could broadcast the same program at the same time.

Most programs were designed to entertain people. There were movies, music programs and game programs. However, television also broadcast news and important information about world events. It broadcast some education programs, too. The number of radio and television stations around the world increased. It became harder for a dictator to control information.

In the nineteen fifties, two important events took place that greatly affected the communication of information. The first was a television broadcast that showed the East Coast and the West Coast of the United States at the same time. A cable that carried the pictures linked the two coasts. So people watching the program saw the Pacific Ocean on the left side of the screen. They saw the Atlantic Ocean on the right side of the screen.

It was not a film. People could see two reporters talk to each other even though a continent separated them. Modern technology made this possible.

The other event happened on September twenty-fifth, nineteen fifty-six. That was when the first telephone cable under the Atlantic Ocean made it possible to make direct telephone calls from the United States to Europe. Less than six years later, in July, nineteen sixty-two, the first communications satellite was placed in orbit around the Earth. The speed of information greatly increased again.

By the year nineteen hundred, big city newspapers could provide people with information that was only hours old. Now, both radio and television, with the aid of satellite communications, could provide information immediately. People who lived in a small village could listen to or watch world events as they happened.

A good example is when American astronaut Neil Armstrong became the first person to walk on the moon. Millions of people around the world watched as he carefully stepped onto the moon on July twentieth, nineteen sixty-nine.

People in large cities, small towns and villages saw the event as it was happening. There was no delay in communicating this important information.

A few years after Neil Armstrong stepped on the moon, the United States Department of Defense began an experiment. That experiment led to a system that could send huge amounts of information around the world in seconds. Experts called it the beginning of the Information Age.