1. In her introduction to Stiff, Mary Roach remarks that "death makes us helplessly polite."Why is it that we're compelled to use polite language when discussing death? Why are we often afraid

to discuss it in the way Roach has done here?

[1] nothing that comes from the desert expresses its extremes better than the unhappy growth of the tree yuccas. tormented, thin forests of it stalk drearily in the high mesas, particularly in that triangular slip that fans out eastward from the meeting of the sierras and coastwise hills. the yucca bristles with bayonet-pointed leaves, dull green, growing shaggy with age like an old [5] man's tangled gray beard, tipped with panicles of foul, greenish blooms. after its death, which is slow, the ghostly hollow network of its woody skeleton, with hardly power to rot, makes even the moonlight fearful. but it isn't always this way. before the yucca has come to flower, while yet its bloom is a luxurious, creamy, cone-shaped bud of the size of a small cabbage, full of sugary sap. the indians twist it deftly out of its fence of daggers and roast the prize for their [10] own delectation why does the author use the words "bayonet-pointed" (line 4) and "fence of daggers" (line 9) to describe the leaves of the yucca tree? . to create an image of the sharp edges of the plant to emphasize how beautiful the plant's leaves are to explain when and where the plant grows to show how afraid the author is of the plant

Read these lines from stanza 5 of the poem, “they shot wook kim” and answe the question. hung in the air/over that petroleum morgue that night. what does the use of the phrase “petroleum morgue” best suggest? an atmosphere of chemical detachment an unsettling place of ultimate rest a dark street containing a lifeless body an area containing putrid substances and smells

Healthcare costs are becoming an issue for many americans. in just two years, the average family has seen an increase of 3 percent in insurance costs. the increase rises to 25 percent when you include families who buy insurance on an exchange. at this rate, health care will soon be completely unaffordable for most americans. therefore, lowering the cost of health insurance must be a priority for lawmakers. which statement best explains why the argument is logical? a.)the argument incorporates empirical and anecdotal evidence. b.)the argument includes a strong counterclaim and a fair rebuttal. c.)the argument contains relevant reasons supported with facts and data. d.)the argument includes a personal experience as an emotional appeal.