How do other characters interact with Aunt Alexandra in the novel To Kill a Mockingbird?

Aunt Alexandra fusses with Atticus throughout the novel. Alexandra disapproves of the way Atticus is raising his children. Particularly, she is upset with Atticus for not instilling in them a sense of family pride. She tells Atticus that he needs to teach his children the importance of the Finch family name. Atticus attempts to please his sister but feels silly telling his children useless information. She also argues with Atticus about defending Tom Robinson. Alexandra thinks the Atticus made the wrong decision by taking the case and believes it will only adversely affect the family. Atticus defends his choices and continues to make independent decisions despite Alexandra's disapproval.

Aunt Alexandra treats her niece, Scout, with contempt. Scout views her Aunt as an authoritative, callous adult. Their interactions are brief and often controversial. Alexandra is constantly chastising Scout for her "tomboyish" ways. Scout not only disagrees with Alexandra on the topic of fashion but reacts with disdain when she is told not play with Walter Cunningham.

In Chapter 24, Aunt Alexandra hosts the missionary circle at the Finch residence. The neighborhood ladies, which include: Mrs. Merriweather, Mrs. Farrow, Miss Stephanie, and Miss Maudie join the circle to discuss issues throughout Maycomb and abroad. The ladies seem to enjoy Alexandra's company which is why they are in attendance. Scout mentioned earlier in the novel that Alexandra fit in perfectly with the ladies in Maycomb. Mrs. Merriweather makes an indirect comment criticizing Atticus, and Miss Maudie subtly rebukes her. Alexandra gives a look of approval to Maudie, letting her know she appreciates the gesture.

What were some reasons against imperialism?

This answer will focus on American anti-imperialism, though anti-imperialists in other countries held many of the same convictions. People were opposed to imperialism for a very broad array of reasons, some of which may seem contradictory to modern students. Let us look at a few. 

Many argued that imperialism was contrary to American democracy. For most, this was because the United States had its origins in gaining independence from an empire, and having been a...

This answer will focus on American anti-imperialism, though anti-imperialists in other countries held many of the same convictions. People were opposed to imperialism for a very broad array of reasons, some of which may seem contradictory to modern students. Let us look at a few. 

Many argued that imperialism was contrary to American democracy. For most, this was because the United States had its origins in gaining independence from an empire, and having been a colony, it had no business trying to take colonies of its own. In its platform of 1899, the United States Anti-Imperialist League said that "the subjugation of any people is 'criminal aggression' and open disloyalty to the distinctive principles of our Government." 

Another claim often made by anti-imperialists was that imperialism would involve the United States in foreign wars, wars which the nation had been able to keep out of (more or less) for the last century. They watched with unease as European nations built up large navies and armies even as they gobbled up territories around the world, especially in Africa. The connection between imperialism and militarism was strong in the minds of many Americans.

Still others decried the brutality exercised by imperial powers over those they claimed to be helping. Reports of atrocities in the Philippines were read by many Americans, and rather than holding individual American soldiers accountable for them, they tended to view these crimes as endemic to imperialism itself. "We regret," said the Anti-Imperialist League, "that the blood of the Filipinos is on American hands." Mark Twain bitterly satirized the brutality of King Leopold's rule over the Belgian Congo in an imaginary soliloquy that underscored this belief especially well.

Finally, many Americans argued that empire would lead to the absorption of more non-White peoples into the United States. The period of American imperialism also witnessed the advent of Jim Crow in the South--it was a time of extraordinary racism. As South Carolina Senator Ben Tillman, a virulent racist put it, "why do we as a people want to incorporate into our citizenship ten millions more of different or of differing races?" 

So anti-imperialists could oppose the acquisition of colonies for many different and sometimes contradictory reasons. 

What is the structure of interstistial hydrides?

In chemistry, a hydride is an anion of hydrogen. Hydride compounds contain hydrogens that are bonded to metalloids, metals, or other elements or groups that are more electropositive than the hydrogen.

Interstitial hydrides are sometimes referred to as metallic hydrides. This is because interstitial hydrides contain a hydrogen and either a lanthanide, actinide, or a transition metal from the d-block. The metal and hydrogen of an interstitial hydride are connected by a metallic bond. Interstitial hydrides...

In chemistry, a hydride is an anion of hydrogen. Hydride compounds contain hydrogens that are bonded to metalloids, metals, or other elements or groups that are more electropositive than the hydrogen.

Interstitial hydrides are sometimes referred to as metallic hydrides. This is because interstitial hydrides contain a hydrogen and either a lanthanide, actinide, or a transition metal from the d-block. The metal and hydrogen of an interstitial hydride are connected by a metallic bond. Interstitial hydrides have a general formula of MHx. Here, M refers to the metal to which the hydrogen anion is attached. The subscript “x” in the general formula of an interstitial hydride represents the number of hydrogen atoms that are present within the compound.

However, some claim that a general formula cannot be applied to an interstitial hydride. This is because interstitial hydrides make crystal lattices. The hydrogens are found between the “holes” of the metal atoms within an intestinal hydride crystal lattice.  The hydrogens can fill differing numbers of these “holes” within the crystal lattice. Therefore, intestinal hydrides are considered to be nonstoichiometric compounds.

Media has a bias toward A. liberal politicians.B. conservative politicians.C. incumbents, regardless of political party.D. the losers, regardless...

The answer to this will be different based on who you ask.  Conservatives believe strongly that the media is biased against conservatives.  Liberals often believe (though not as much as conservatives do) that the media is biased against them.  However, the most likely answer for this is that the media is biased in favor of incumbents.

Scholars tend to deny that there is any real ideological bias in the media.  They say, instead, that the...

The answer to this will be different based on who you ask.  Conservatives believe strongly that the media is biased against conservatives.  Liberals often believe (though not as much as conservatives do) that the media is biased against them.  However, the most likely answer for this is that the media is biased in favor of incumbents.

Scholars tend to deny that there is any real ideological bias in the media.  They say, instead, that the media is biased in favor of people who can help them get good stories.  Incumbents are good for this.  If media outlets have good relationships with incumbents, they might be able to get information from the incumbents that can help them have good stories. If they stay on the good side of incumbents, they are much more likely to get the sort of inside information that can help them with their stories.  In addition, the media tends to be somewhat biased in favor of those candidates who are ahead in the polls.  Since incumbents are typically ahead, this tends to make the media favor incumbents as well.

So, if you ask regular people, you will probably get a different answer, but academics who study the media would say that a pro-incumbent bias is the most significant of the biases mentioned in this question.

What is the effect of the narrator in "There Will Come Soft Rains"?

The effect of the reportorial voice of the third-person narrator in Ray Bradbury's "There Will Come Soft Rains" is one of a mere presentation of fact without any emotional elements. Thus, it is impersonal and uncaring, imitative of the automatized house itself that no longer has any human occupants, but continues to function until it burns.

Since the technologically automated house cannot be aware of any differences, it continues as it has been programmed, and...

The effect of the reportorial voice of the third-person narrator in Ray Bradbury's "There Will Come Soft Rains" is one of a mere presentation of fact without any emotional elements. Thus, it is impersonal and uncaring, imitative of the automatized house itself that no longer has any human occupants, but continues to function until it burns.

Since the technologically automated house cannot be aware of any differences, it continues as it has been programmed, and the narrator chronicles its operations objectively without any attention to the disaster that has caused the loss of the human occupants. This dispassionate voice draws the reader to the meaninglessness of the operations within the house now that it is unoccupied as it merely records the operations of its own programming.

With the same reportorial voice, the narrator describes the fire which consumes the house. And, senselessly the house still announces the time:

...when each clock strikes the hour insanely before or after the other, a scene of maniac confusion, yet unity...And one voice, with sublime disregard for the situation, read poetry aloud in the fiery study, until all the...wire withered and the circuits cracked.

Again, the same tone of voice reports this devastation as the voice that announces the date to the charred rubble and dead people: "Today is August 5, 2026, today is August 5, 2026, today is...." This voice indicates the insignificance of everything to an oblivious universe.

Why did communism threaten many people?

There are two main reasons why many people in the United States felt threatened by communism.  First, there was the fact that communism went against many core American values.  Second, there was the fact that communism seemed to be an ideology that could subvert people and convert them to its point of view.

Communism is antithetical to many American values.  It goes against our idea that people can and should advance themselves through hard work. ...

There are two main reasons why many people in the United States felt threatened by communism.  First, there was the fact that communism went against many core American values.  Second, there was the fact that communism seemed to be an ideology that could subvert people and convert them to its point of view.

Communism is antithetical to many American values.  It goes against our idea that people can and should advance themselves through hard work.  It goes against the idea of personal responsibility.  Communism tends not to be democratic even though communists claim to represent the people.  Communism is officially atheist when Americans are very religious (and were even more religious in the time when communism was seen as a threat.  In all of these ways, communism went against American values and therefore seemed to be a threat.

Communism also seemed to be a threat because it seemed to be able to insinuate itself into people’s minds.  It seemed to be possible for rational people to be seduced by communist ideas and thereby become communist.  Because of this, communism seemed like a great threat because it could persuade Americans of its truth, thereby undermining the country.

Does Macbeth's reaction to Duncan's murder convince the thanes that Macbeth is as shocked as they are?

Yes and no. Some of the thanes seem persuaded, but others are not. The text makes it clear who is and who is not persuaded.

When Macduff comes upon the horrifically gruesome scene, he passionately cries out in utter shock and disbelief:

O horror, horror, horror! Tongue nor heart
Cannot conceive nor name thee!

Confusion now hath made his masterpiece!
Most sacrilegious murder hath broke ope
The Lord's anointed temple, and stole thence
The life o' the building!

At this point, Macbeth obviously feigns ignorance and innocently enquires:

What is 't you say? the life?

It is obvious from the text that out of all the thanes, Macduff is the one most affected by his liege's death for he speaks with genuine passion when he speaks about his terrifying discovery and later imparts the same to Lady Macbeth. At this pont, Macbeth and Lennox have headed to the king's chamber.

When the two return, Macbeth confesses that he had, in a moment of blind and passionate fury, killed Duncan's two guards who were steeped in the blood of their slain king and were still in possession of their murder weapons. 

It is Macduff who clearly shows his skepticism and suspicion of Macbeth when he asks:

Wherefore did you so?

Macbeth, in an overly accentuated and florid response, using the grandest of metaphors, replies:

Who can be wise, amazed, temperate and furious,
loyal and neutral, in a moment? No man:
The expedition my violent love
Outrun the pauser, reason. Here lay Duncan,
His silver skin laced with his golden blood;
And his gash'd stabs look'd like a breach in nature
For ruin's wasteful entrance: there, the murderers,
Steep'd in the colours of their trade, their daggers
Unmannerly breech'd with gore: who could refrain,
That had a heart to love, and in that heart
Courage to make 's love known?

Lady Macbeth, seeing the danger in Macduff's attitude, seemingly has a faint, distracting attention from her husband. This works, since Macduff immediately turns to her and asks that she be attended to. When Macbeth then states that: 

... I stand; and thence
Against the undivulged pretence I fight
of treasonous malice.

Macduff concurs: 'And so do I.' This strong affirmation by Macduff is essentially a direct challenge to Macbeth, who is probably well aware at this point, of Macduff's suspicion. When Macbeth suggests that the thanes all

briefly put on manly readiness,
And meet i' the hall together.

they all agree and leave for the main hall to discuss further plans. At this point, Macduff is still playing along and being dutiful.

Later in the play, Macduff does not attend Macbeth's coronation. His submission later that their 'old robes' might 'sit better than the new' suggests that he prefers Duncan's rule to Macbeth's, further emphasising his cynicism.