Friday, September 6, 2019

What Is a Hero Essay Example for Free

What Is a Hero Essay What is a hero? To me a hero is not somebody with the ability to fly, run fast, bench over a 1000, shoot lasers out of their eyes, fart fire balls, pee lava, or control other people’s minds. A hero is just an average man who fights to solve a common problem in today’s society. A hero is a random citizen that rises to the a occasion and performs an action of superhero proportions. A hero is somebody as average as you and me that sees a problem and takes it upon themselves to fix it. There are many examples of heroes in our modern day world. Some heroes are the brave, courageous, and valiant men and women that serve in our military. These are people that are just like you and I. They do not have any extraordinary superpowers besides an unwavering sense of duty towards this country and the people that inhabit it. They travel across oceans and leave their friends and family behind so that they can fight to defend people that they don’t even know and to secure the lifestyle that so many of us take for granted. Some, even make the ultimate sacrifice†¦ their lives. Another common place to find a hero is in a police officer. These heroes are very similar to a soldier except that they fight their battles in the very streets that we call home and instead of fighting against other countries they fight against the very people that call this glorious country home. They sit in a smelly car for entire days staking out criminals to secure our welfare and our security. They put their lives on the line to make sure that the â€Å"scumbags† that seek to destroy this country are off the streets. These men (or women) also lack superhuman abilities. The only thing that they have is a sense of duty towards their country. The most common place to find a hero is also some of the places that you go to every day. One of these places would be at the grocery store. For example if you witness somebody holding the door for another then congratulations you have just watched a hero at action. Another common place to watch a hero in action is on a street. If you watch a strapping young man help a helpless elderly women across the street then you have witnessed another act of heroism. Heroes are just common people that have the courage to solve a problem that they see in today’s community. Heroes are not rare. They can be found almost everywhere you look. They are at places that you go too every day. Heroes can also be found in places that you do not travel very often. They can be found in the Armed Forces as well in the Police Department. But it does not require acts of epic proportion to make you a  hero. Small acts of unnoticed kindness is what I think really makes you a hero.

Thursday, September 5, 2019

Ethics in social research

Ethics in social research Ethics in research has been around since World War II and is still to this day a growing concern among researchers. The main aim of the researcher is to ensure that their studies are directed toward worthwhile goals and that the welfare of their subjects and their research colleagues is protected. Alan Kimmel, 1988 There are several reasons why it is important for an investigator to adhere to ethical standards in research. First, some of these norms promote the aims of research, such as knowledge, truth, and avoidance of error. For example, prohibitions against fabricating, forging, or misrepresenting research data to promote the truth and avoid error. Second, since research often involves a great deal of cooperation and coordination among many different people in different disciplines and institutions, many of these ethical standards promote the values that are essential to collaborative work, such as trust, accountability, mutual respect, and fairness. For instance, one particular ethical norm, confidentiality, is designed to protect intellectual interests while encouraging collaboration among the participants. Third, ethical norms in research also help to build public support for research. People are more likely to fund research project if they can trust the quality and integrity of research (this particular example is relevant to the scenario being assessed.) Finally, many of the standards of research promote a variety of other important moral and social values, such as social responsibility, human rights, and compliance with the law So although all these codes, policies and principles are very important and useful but like any set of rules they do not cover every situation that arises in research, they are often conflicting and require considerable interpretation. It is therefore important for the researcher to learn how to interpret, assess and apply various research rules and how to make decisions about how to act in various circumstances. The vast majority of decision making in the conduct of research involves the straightforward application of ethical policies. Ethical issues that are encountered in applied social research are both subtle and complex, raising difficult moral dilemmas that, from the outside, appear unresolvable. With these dilemmas the researcher is required to strike a delicate balance between the scientific or social requirement of methodology and the human rights and values potentially threatened by the research. Privacy and confidentiality are two ethical issues that are crucial to social researchers who request individuals to share with them their thoughts attitudes and experiences. The ethical social researcher is one who is aware of ways in which privacy and confidentiality may be jeopardised and safeguarded and is knowledgeable about the effects of privacy and confidentiality on consent. The nature of privacy concerns has changed over time as social scientists have become more involved in identifying social problems and testing possible solutions through field research (Boruch Cecil, 1979) Organisational research focus is directed toward personnel relating issues, including the testing and appraisal of employees for personnel decisions. In conducting these investigations, researchers and consultants may seek to improve on organisations capacities to achieve various goals (e.g. profit for a business, its employees quality of work life or the impact of the organisation on communities in isolate rural areas. Evaluation research is a major type of applied research, typically undertaken by social scientists to determine if ongoing social programs are working as they should. Evaluations tend to focus on programs that are beneficial in nature, such as remedial education, health care and job training programs. The results of an evaluation study, in revealing whether a social program is accomplishing what was intended can have immediate impact on social policy and political decisions regarding the programs fate whether it should be continued or stopped, its budget and personnel increased or cut backs made. There are a number of vested interests in the design and implementation of evaluation studies and because their results are likely to affect peoples jobs, education and health. Like research conducted in organisations, evaluation research raises some unique ethical questions about whose interests are served an whose point of view should be represented during the research process (Kidder Judd, 1986) With this particular scenario there are two different situations where ethical issues will arise. Firstly, you begin to suspect that food is being stolen from the kitchen and the viability of the project may be at risk. From a researchers point of view suspicions would need to be backed up with hard evidence. If you were to say to you manager, you run the risk of them discharging you and not allowing you to carry out anymore research how could you possibly imagine that of any of their staff? Although on the other hand if your manager was to take you suspicions on board and further investigate the matter over a closely surveyed period of time, they may benefit and appreciate your integrity that you hold with the company. In a case like this it is often difficult for the evaluator to separate their research role from their role as a work experience placement student. You have been promised the confidentiality of the staff and if you were to say anything about the stolen food it could affect your research and you rapport with the staff. The staff may turn against you and refuse to cooperate after you telling the boss on one of their colleagues. Throughout the research you must remember what the objective is and if you remain silent with your suspicions, will your results in anyway end up being bias? This will reflect an untrue outcome and the company could face further scrutiny from the funding body. There is also the legality aspect for the researcher to consider and stealing is against the law, could you live with yourself if you thought that you were covering up for a criminal, no matter how small the offence was? In failing to voice your suspicions Kimmel, (1988) stated you legally could face prosecution as an accessory after the fact for failure to report a crime. If I were to be placed in this situation I personally would confront the manager of the company and explain my situation with regards to my research. I believe that stealing is wrong and should not take place no matter how big or small the offence is. Although I can understand why somebody may not say and not only put their research at rick but their social responsibility. The second scenario where the researcher will be confronted by ethical dilemmas is in carrying out the interviews with some of the senior citizens that are receiving these Meals on Wheels. To carry out interviews you will need the consent of the person involved, some elderly clients may not like the prospect of being intimated with questions. The elderly are of the vulnerable sector in our population and should be informed of why the interview is taking place and the effects that their answers could have on the survival and funding of the business while always remembering the objectivity of the research and expressing it in clarity to the senior citizens. The interview will involve asking how they feel about receiving their Meals on Wheels, how they approve of the service and how would they feel if this service was to be taken away from them? This could cause distress and emotional shock among the elderly, especially if they thought that their opinion meant the deciding factor of whe ther the company received funding to continue its business. Many of the elderly could largely depend on this service and there must be no deception in making them fully aware why the interviews are taken place. The senior citizens should be made aware that the researcher will be evaluating and publishing their results to the company and will have to give an open and honest account of what has been said in the interviews. The researcher is under the obligation from the code of ethics so as not to fabricate the data in anyway. The researcher, if a member of the local community, may feel tempted to fabricate the interview responses so as the company will receive their funding to finance this project as they realise how vital this scheme is for the elderly in this isolated rural area but as Kimmel noted personnel values may play a significant role in social research, therefore researchers must be careful enough to protect the integrity of their inquiries through careful data collection and analysis and accurate and objective reporting of their research findings. If I were the researcher in carrying out the interviews I would make the elderly entirely aware of the project and encourage them to see how they are beneficiaries of it. This in return will boost their confidence of the company and help portray a better interview for the research. After all if you were a senior citizen who lived in an isolated area and the only person you may see everyday is the delivery driver of Meals on Wheels, wouldnt you appreciate the service? Not only are they providing a food service but they also help to bring a warm and friendly atmosphere into the home. In conclusion ethical decision making is neither a perfectly rational nor entirely timeless enterprise, and even after a considered judgement about the issues involved in a given situation has been made, doubts about whether or not ones subsequent behaviour was ethical may remain. As we continue to proceed with social research in applied settings, we can expect a growing wealth of documentation on the conditions under which certain interventions are successful in reducing certain social problems and on what side effects might be anticipated as a result of their implementation. To proceed ethically it is important for social researchers to bear in mind that their first obligation is to those persons who cooperate with and participate in the research process, and that it is their interests that first must be considered during the preparatory stages of program development. References Kimmel, A (1988) Ethics and Values in Applied Social Research Sage Publications London

Wednesday, September 4, 2019

Human Rights and the British Class System

Human Rights and the British Class System According to http://woodlands-junior.kent.sch.uk/customs/questions/class.htm â€Å"Britain was once a class-ridden society.† Class was a staple part of the British way of life. Today, multiculturalism and a changing economy are gradually eroding the British class system, but some features of the system still remain. What is Class? Sociologists define social class as the grouping of people by occupations. Doctors and lawyers and university teachers are given more status than unskilled labourers. The different positions represent different levels of power, influence and money. The British society is often considered to be divided into three main groups of classes: the Upper Class, the Middle Class, and the Lower or Working Classs This is known as the Class system The Different Class Systems There are three main class divisions. The Upper Classes tends to consist of people with inherited wealth, and includes some of the oldest families, with many of them being titled aristocrats. The upper classes are not only defined by their title, but also by their education, and their pastimes which includes the traditional sporting life involving hunting, shooting and fishing, as well as a great deal of horse riding for both leisure and as a competitive pursuit. The Middle Classes are the majority of the population of Britain today. They include industrialists, professionals, businesspeople and shop owners. Working class people are mostly agricultural, mine and factory workers. Status You can tell which class people belong to by the way they speak (accent), their clothes, their interests, the way that they educate their children, or even the type of food they eat.† Homeless People What would it be like to be homeless? Imagine not knowing where you will sleep tonight. On a practical level, how would it feel not to have a bath for weeks and to wear dirty clothes every day? I think most of us would agree with the line from John Payne’s poem Home, Sweet Home: â€Å"Be it ever so humble, there is no place like home†. Yet thousands of people in the UK have no home of their own. We have all seen people asking for money, who seem to have all their possessions in a plastic bag, and nowhere to go. Although these people who are sleeping rough in doorways are the most visible, homelessness also includes those who are placed in hostels, bed and breakfast or other temporary accommodation, or local authority housing. It is difficult to understand how people become homeless and research shows that they are all ages, from all areas and backgrounds. There are charities that support the homeless and Centrepoint is a national organisation that focuses on young people. It provides emergency night shelters and short stay hostels. Their research shows that more than 80% of the young people who turn to Centrepoint for help are homeless due to family breakdown, abuse or eviction. Some young people become homeless following the death of a parent. It seems a double blow to be bereaved and homeless. However, often these vulnerable young people find themselves sleeping rough before seeking help. Many of these 16 to 20 year olds have no qualifications or means of supporting themselves financially. I feel that if our society wants these people to become self-sufficient, it is essential to offer help in the form of housing, and assisting them to either return to school, or to gain qualifications through training programmes to improve their chances of finding worthwhile employment. Tragically, many homeless young people are â€Å"befriended† by drug addicts or encouraged into prostitution. For those who have run away from home as a result of abuse, one wonders how bad their home circumstances must have been if they would prefer to face the risks of addiction and sexually transmitted disease. Of course it is not only young people who become homeless. Older people can face homelessness when they lose their jobs and are evicted from their homes because they cannot pay the rent. Sometimes these people have physical or mental health problems as well. Unfortunately in some circumstances these people either have no family, or their families are unable or unwilling to help them. Single homeless people are not a high priority for housing assistance and are therefore more likely to be sleeping rough, huddled under a bridge, trying to keep warm with newspapers. Other homeless people are ex-offenders. They have paid for their crime and yet they find themselves unable to find a job and therefore without resources. It is sad that many people coming out of prison have nowhere to go and may eventually end up in prison again. Often these people have been exposed to drugs in prison and will resort to dealing as a means of making money. Anyone is capable of turning to crime out of desperation, ending up harming others in an attempt to steal money. If people become homeless as a result of family breakdown or employment problems, should we not as a society make a stronger effort to help these people? Homelessness and having no money creates a climate for crime which is what we want to prevent. One of the ways of preventing it could be to offer more support to people before they find themselves homeless. For example, young people could have anonymous safe places to go to if they are in abusive situations. They should know that there is at least one adult at school who they can talk to, or a number they can phone. Although there are charities offering phone line assistance, it is not sufficient. The people who receive the least sympathy, it seems, are the mothers with small children. Although they may not be sleeping rough, these families are often in very cramped accommodation and they cannot really make it feel like a home. If they are fortunate enough to be given council housing they are often envied or disliked by others and made to feel that they have been given something they do not deserve. However, we do not know their circumstances and they may have been the victims of sexual abuse or domestic violence. It would be far better for them and their children to be in a safe place than to risk further violence. Homelessness is a problem all over the world. Places affected by flooding and earthquakes suddenly have thousands of people whose homes have been demolished and who have no possessions. Places in Africa that experience severe drought conditions force people to try to find food elsewhere. Unfortunately the result is often groups of homeless people who are starving.According to the United Nations, more than 100 million people worldwide have no housing whatsoever. This becomes a serious Human Rights issue and although we might like to think it is mainly a problem in the developing countries, the truth is that in first world countries such as the UK and United States, the number of homeless is growing. Although it is helpful to donate to charities who offer help, or to give people food, more needs to be done. Adequate housing needs to be available and we have to change our attitude towards people who may be in dire circumstances through no fault of their own. Bibliography Capdevila, G HUMAN RIGHTS: More Than 100 Million Homeless Worldwide http://ipsnews.net/interna.asp?idnews=28086 Payne, J Clari; or, the Maid of Milan: an Opera. London: John Miller, 1823. See http://www.poetry-archive.com/p/home_sweet_home.html Pleace, N and Fitzpatrick, S (2004) Centrepoint Youth Homelessness index http://www.centrepoint.org.uk/documents/Centrepoint_YorkResearch-report.pdf

Christ :: essays research papers

Christ: VICTORY!! "It is finished!" John 19:30. What Christ is referring to here is the accomplished salvation of the people. What that means is that when we are saved, we do not have to put out burnt sacrifices up to Him. It is no longer needed because Christ died for us, which took away the iniquities of our sin. He did this out of great love for us. This is exemplified in John 3:16 "For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten son that who so ever belief in him shall have eternal life!". That verse is very important to us, or should be, because in a way, one could base his/her relationship with the Lord upon it. The reason is because God loved us so much that he did that for us so that is the least that we could do. In Genesis 3:15 it says that we will be punished for our sins. Yes, that is true, but God will forgive and forget them if we repent. You see this is not possible without Jesus dying for our sins. In Romans 5:6-8 it says that Christ died for all of us. Even the bad ones, ALL. This is a sign of the Victory that Christ had won a victory here. The reason is because of all of the lives that he saved and will later be saved. In Romans 5 it says that Jesus died for All Sinners! We are all sinners so his death was for all. When Jesus says that "It is finished", he can also be referring to the older predictions of Christ’s' life. There is one in particular that it might have been talking about in Isaiah. That is the one in which Isaiah talks of the life of Jesus and the crucifixion, in very short and brief detail. The suffering in which Jesus took for us lasted all through the night, and then in the morning a sword was thrusted into His side to see if he was alive. After the water poured out of His side, you can say that it is officially over. In my heart it is not completely over, just that of that era. Jesus will always live in my heart and not until the very end times is it over in my heart. When the life of Jesus was over, at the same exact time God tore the cloth in the temple from the top to the bottom. The reason it had to have been God is that no one would be capable of tearing it from the top.

Tuesday, September 3, 2019

Training and Development at Toyota Motor Manufacturing of Indiana Essay

Training and Development at Toyota Motor Manufacturing of Indiana (TMMI) The main problem that Toyota Motor Manufacturing of Indiana, commonly known as TMMI, faces in the training and development of its employees is getting their group leaders trained. This program is structured so the group leaders can learn decision-making, leadership, communicating, problem-solving, and analytical skills to bridge the gap between the upper management and the team members on the assembly line. The problem with getting group leaders trained is the fact that they also work on the line. The production of vehicles is the primary reason they are there, and it is very hard to pull them away from the line to train them. This does not make sense in an automobile manufacturing plant, but the production of vehicles gets in the way of the training of group leaders. Kirkpatrick’s A Practical Guide for Supervisory Training and Development mentions that the main issue with on-the-job training is the actual job itself. On-the-job training is the main type of training that is used at this time, so TMMI is â€Å"up to speed† with everyone else with the training program they are using. It is just a matter of â€Å"getting the bugs worked out† of the program since they are such a new company. TMMI is located in Princeton, Indiana, which is approximately 25 miles north of Evansville on Highway 41. They first opened their doors in 1997 for the development of orientation. In February of 1998, team members started to enter the plant for the first time. In September of the same year, the supervisory program was introduced at Toyota. To begin training, group leaders were brought from the Kentucky plant, as well as from Japan, in order to instill the correct corporate culture into TMMI’s team members. Some managers of the TMMI plant were sent to Japan for training at the Toyota headquarters. Toyota of Indiana was to specialize in the production of the Tundra pickup truck and this process began in December of 1998. This was initially the only vehicle to be built in Princeton, but now the plant is being expanded to produce the new Sequoia sports utility vehicle that Toyota is adding to its line. The Siena mini van, which is currently made at the Kentucky plant, will also be produced at TMMI in the near future. When the expansion is complete, Toyota will provide work for over 4300 Souther... ...ked together. It was easier once we knew how everyone else’s work ethics and how they usually went about trying to solve problems and tackling assignments. The only thing that really changed about the way our group worked was we started taking initiative and grabbing parts of the project to finish. Overall, this project has been a huge learning experience for all of us. References Davis, Tom-TMMI Group Leader. Personal Interview. March 2000. Kirkpatrick, D.L. (1971). A Practical Guide for Supervisory Training and Development. Reading, Massachusetts: Addison-Wesley Publishing Company. Nowack, K.M., Hartley, J., and Bradley, W. (1999). â€Å"How to Evaluate Your 360 Feedback Efforts†. Training & Development, Vol.53. â€Å"Supervisory training program available†. (1996). Air Conditioning Heating & Refrigeration News, Vol.197, p.101. Uiterwijk, J. (1998). â€Å"Test Center Comparison: Web-based training solutions; The virtual classroom; Education is the key to a motivated and loyal workforce, but it is the first to go in a budget crisis†. InfoWorld, Vol. 20. Wilson, Tracy-HR, Training and Development. Telephone Interview. January 2000.

Monday, September 2, 2019

Accouting Practice Exam

FACULTY OF BUSINESS ACC100 ACCOUNTING 1 Sample examination TIME: 9. 20 – 12. 30 Hours WRITING TIME: Three (3) hours READING TIME: Ten (10) minutes MATERIALS SUPPLIED BY UNIVERSITY: Answer Booklets (4 x 6 page) General Purpose Answer Sheet GPAS-200R MATERIALS PERMITTED IN EXAMINATION: Writing implements, including a 2B pencil and an eraser Battery operated, hand held, no print facility calculator NUMBER OF QUESTIONS: Part A: Thirty Part B: Four (30) multiple choice (4) questionsINSTRUCTIONS TO CANDIDATES: 1. Enter your name and student number and sign in the space provided at the bottom of this page. You must also enter your name and number in pencil on the multiple choice answer sheet, and upon the answer booklet. This examination consists of THIRTY (30) multiple choice questions in Part A and FOUR (4) questions in Part B. ALL questions must be answered. Part A (Multiple choice): Students must answer questions 1 – 30 on the answer sheet provided.Use a black lead pencil No 2 to fill in completely the letter box corresponding to the most correct answer. To change your answer, erase completely and remark. There are no marks deducted for incorrect answers. Candidates are advised to show all workings in Part B clearly labelling them as such. This examination is worth 60% of the final assessment. Students must pass the final exam to pass the subject. INSTRUCTIONS TO INVIGILATORS: 1 QUESTION PAPER MUST NOT BE RETAINED BY THE CANDIDATE. 2. 3.STUDENT NAME: ____________________________________ STUDENT No: _________________ STUDENT SIGNATURE: _____________________________________________________________ MULTIPLE CHOICE (1 mark each) Record your answers in pencil on the General Purpose Answer Sheet provided. 1 Purchasing inventory for cash has the following dual effect on the accounting equation: A B C D 2 increases an asset and increases a liability increases an asset and increases another asset decreases an asset and increases owner's equity decreases an as set and increases an assetPurchasing office furniture partly for cash and partly on credit affects the accounting equation by: A B C D increasing an asset, increasing a liability and a decreasing an asset increasing an asset, decreasing a liability and decreasing an asset decreasing an asset, increasing a liability and increasing owner's equity decreasing an asset, decreasing a liability and decreasing owner's equity 3All of the following equations of the basic accounting equation are correct except: A B C D assets = liabilities + owner's equity economic resources = claims on economic resources assets – liabilities = owner's equity assets + owner's equity = liabilities 4 A business had assets of $260,000 and liabilities of $75,000. How much is its owner's equity? A B C D $0 $185,000 $335,000 $260,000 5 The business document that reports assets, liabilities and owner's equity is called the: A B C D financial statement transaction statement of financial position (balance sheet) statement of financial performance (profit and loss statement) 6 Terri operates a beauty salon. During the first month of operation Terri performed the following transactions: i ii iii iv v vi invested $2,000 in the business prepaid rent of $1000 purchased $1,500 of furniture on credit purchased $100 of supplies for cash paid $300 on the furniture purchased in iii purchased an antique mirror for $1,000, paying cash of $500 and putting $500 on credit. Using the accounting equation, the final balance on both sides is: A B C D 7 3,900 3,700 4,300 4,400Use the following information to calculate the balance in John's Capital account. Balance of accounts for John's Cleaning on 31 March Accounts Payable Accounts Receivable Cash at bank Equipment Supplies Bill Payable John, Capital A B C D $20,000 $17,500 $18,000 $15,000 $ 1,000 $ 1,500 $ 500 $20,000 $ 1,000 $ 4,000 ? 8 Under the cash basis of accounting: A B C D Net profit is the excess of cash inflows from revenue over cash outflows for expenses Revenue is recognized when goods are sold Expenses are recognized when costs are consumed B and C 3 Judy's Hairdressing Salon uses cash accounting. During 2005 the salon reported $41,000 in wages paid on the income statement. At year-end 2005 wages owing but unpaid were $2,400. If the salon changed to accrual accounting, how much would be reported as wages expense for 2005? A B C D $38,600 $41,000 $43,400 $42,600 10 Which of the following statements concerning accrual accounting is true? A B C D Net profit is the excess of cash inflows from revenue over cash outflows for expenses Revenue is recognised when earned and expenses when incurred.When there are credit transactions the accrual approach gives a better measure of economic performance than the cash approach B and C 11 Joe uses cleaning supplies on a daily basis. Under the accrual basis of accounting these supplies should be an expense of the period in which they are: A B C D Ordered Received Paid for Used 12 Prepaid i nsurance is reported as: A B C D An asset in the balance sheet A liability in the balance sheet An expense in the income statement B and C 13 Which of the following could be reported as a prepaid expense?A B C D A maintenance agreement paid in advance for the next two years Wages owing at the end of the period Rent collected in advance from tenants Interest income unpaid at the end of the period 14 According to an inventory count Cally Printing had office supplies amounting to $100 at year-end. It had $50 of supplies at the start of the year and had purchased $600 of supplies during the year. What was the supplies expense for the year? A B C D $650 $600 $550 $500 4 15 Which of the following statements relating to the Accumulated Depreciation account is correct? A B C D It normally is a balance on the left hand side of a T-account.It reflects the portion of the cost of an asset that has been assigned to expense since the item was purchased It provides information to users on the mark et value of assets It is classified as a liability in the balance sheet The following data relates to questions 16 to 18. Pam's Machine Hire purchased a machine for $6,300 on 1 July 2008. The machine had an estimated life of 7 years, at which time it was expected to have a sales value of $700. The straight-line method of depreciation was used. 16 What was the amount of depreciation charged as an expense on the machine by Pam's Machine Hire for year ended 30 June 2009?A B C D 17 $771 $800 $900 $1,600 What was the balance of the Accumulated Depreciation – Machine account in the books of Pam's Machine Hire at 30 June 2009 following the adjusting entry? A B C D $800 $1,600 $2,400 $2,700 18 What was the book value of the machine in the books of Pam's Machine Hire at 30 June 2009 following the adjusting entry? A B C D $5,600 $3,900 $5,400 $5,500 5 19 Tom purchased two vehicles for his business on 1 January 2009. These vehicles cost $50,000 each and have a useful life of 5 years wit h an expected residual of $20,000 each.The adjusting entry required for depreciation on the two vehicles on 30 June 2005 is: A B C D Increase Accumulated Depreciation $6,000; Increase Depreciation Expense $6,000 Increase Depreciation Expense $12,000; Decrease Accumulated Depreciation $12,000 Increase Accumulated Depreciation $12,000; Decrease Depreciation Expense $12,000 Increase Depreciation Expense $6,000; Decrease Accumulated Depreciation $6,000 20 Unearned revenue is an example of a(n): A B C D Accrual Liability Asset Expense 21 Rent collected from a tenant in advance is considered: A B C D Unearned Revenue Prepaid Expense A liability Both A and C 2 On 1 July 2009 Zoe's Bar & Bistro rented out part of its property at a rate of $12,000 per year. On that date, nine months rent was collected in advance and was recorded as an increase to a liability account. At 31 December 2009, (Zoe's year-end) which of the following adjusting entries should be made? A B C D Increase Cash, $6,000; Increase Rent Revenue, $6,000 Decrease Rent Revenue, $3,000; Increase Unearned Rent Revenue $3,000 Decrease Unearned Rent Revenue, $6,000; Increase Rent Revenue, $6,000 Increase Rent Receivable, $6,000; Increase Rent Revenue, $6,000 23Working capital is determined by A B C D subtracting total liabilities from total assets adding current liabilities to total assets subtracting current liabilities from current assets adding total liabilities to current assets 6 24 Decision-makers may use liquidity ratios to measure a company's financial flexibility. An example of a liquidity ratio would be the A B C D return on total assets current ratio gross profit ratio accounts receivable turnover The following information pertains to question 25. Maria's Coffee reported $56 000 for current assets and $10 500 for other assets. It also had $17 000 of current liabilities.Maria's quick assets totalled $22 000, and its long-term liabilities totalled $10 000. 25 Determine Maria's working capital A B C D 26 $5 000 $39 000 $56 500 $12 500 The following entry appeared in the general journal of the SoHo Realty Company: Office Supplies Cash Accounts Payable 2,500 500 2,000 Which of the following statements is not true about the transaction recorded in the journal entry above? A B C D SoHo's cash decreased by $500 Liabilities increased as a result of the transaction SoHo's signed a note as part of the transaction The asset, office supplies, increased as a result of the transaction 27 End of year records from Sally's Boutique show: $ Cash 20 Salaries Payable 10 Rent Expense 100 Interest Expense 50 Prepaid Rent 30 Salary Expense 20 Rent collected in advance 20 During the closing process the total debit to the Profit and Loss Summary account would be: A B C D $90 $100 $80 $170 28 Muffy Company reported the following for 2009 and 2010: Accounts receivable, 31 December, 2009 Accounts receivable, 31 December, 2010 Sales for 2010 $ 7 000 3 000 85 000 How much cash was collected from customers during 2010? A B C D $81 000 $85 000 $89 000 $75 000Use the following information to answer Questions 29 and 30 2010 $ 20 000 50 000 54 000 130 000 6 000 230 000 127 000 560 000 340 000 2009 $ 22 000 44 000 51 000 129 000 10 000 221 000 125 000 554 000 336 000 Cash at bank Marketable securities Accounts Receivable Inventory Prepaid expenses Plant and equipment Current liabilities Sales revenue (on account) Cost of goods sold 8 29 The current ratio for 2010 is: A B C D 2. 15:1 2. 05:1 1. 88:1 1. 75:1 30 Receivables turnover for 2010 is: A B C D 10. 4 times 21. 3 times 4. 10 times 10. 7 times 9 PART B: (ALL QUESTIONS TO BE ANSWERED) ANSWER QUESTION IN A NEW ANSWER BOOKLET.Question 1 Part A Recording transactions (20 marks) (10 marks) Matthew James Services Pty Ltd began a business consultancy service on 1 July 2010. The company uses a perpetual inventory system. The following transactions occurred during the first month of operations: July 2 Shareholders invested $46000 in the busine ss in exchange for shares in the company. 2 Paid $20000 for the first six month's rent. 2 Paid Local Energy Corp $300 as a deposit on electricity. 3 Purchased and installed shop fittings for a total cost of $21500 by issuing a cheque for $11500 and igning a commercial loan agreement for $10000. 4 Purchased supplies for $1580 4. Purchased $20000 worth of inventory for cash 6 Paid advertising expense of $1750. 16 Recorded sales for the first half of the month of $16480 in cash and $275 on account. Cost of inventory sold during the period was $7650. 20 Paid insurance expense for the first year of $1250. 23 Received a $50 payment from customers on account. 28 Paid salaries of $1500. 31 Recorded revenue for the second half of the month of $22729 in cash and $530 on account. Cost of inventory sold during the period was $10890. 1 Paid telephone account of $110 by cheque. Use the following account titles and numbers: Cash at Bank, 100; Accounts Receivable, 101; Supplies, 103; Inventory 104; Deposits, 105; Shop Fittings, 110; Loan Payable, 200; Share Capital, 300; Retained Profits, 310; Dividends, 320; Sales, 400; Cost of Goods Sold, 450 Rent expense, 500; Advertising expense, 501; Insurance expense, 502; Telephone expense, 503; Salary expense, 504. Required: 1. Prepare the general journal entries to record the above transactions. 10 Question 1 Part B Financial Statements (10 marks)The adjusted trial balance of Crossing Australia Limited at 30 April 2009, after all adjustments, is as follows: Crossing Australia Ltd Adjusted Trial Balance as at 30 April 2009 Account Cash at Bank Accounts Receivable Supplies Prepaid Insurance Equipment Accumulated Depreciation – equipment Building Accumulated Depreciation – building Land Accounts Payable Interest payable Wages payable Unearned Service revenue Bill payable, non-current Share capital Service Revenue Depreciation expense – equipment Depreciation expense – building Wages expense Interest expense I nsurance expense Electricity and gas expense Supplies expense Total Dr 1,370 43,740 3,690 2,290 63,930 28,430 74,330 18,260 20,000 19,550 2,280 830 3,660 69,900 64,200 98,550 6,900 3,710 60,310 5,370 8,170 4,970 6,880 305,660 Cr 305,660 Required: Prepare a classified Income Statement and a Balance Sheet for Crossing Australia Limited. 11 Question 2 ANSWER QUESTION IN A NEW ANSWER BOOKLET. Question 2 Part A Financial statement analysis (15 marks) (10 marks) The following information has been extracted from the financial statements and the notes of Softwoods Ltd. 010 Cash assets Marketable securities Receivables Inventories Prepaid expenses Property plant and equipment Current liabilities Credit sales Cost of Goods Sold Total liabilities Total assets Net profit $34 100 110 000 74 800 187 000 4 400 308 000 183 700 979 000 587 400 593 000 650 000 98 000 2009 $37 400 104 500 77 000 173 800 6 600 269 500 167 200 951 500 573 000 567 000 612 000 83 000 Receivables and inventories balances i n 2008 were the same as 2009. Required: Calculate the following for 2010 and 2009: 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. Current ratio Inventory turnover ratio Receivables turnover ratio Net profit ratio Debt to total assets ratio What conclusions can you come to in relation to Softwoods Ltd's liquidity, profitability and solvency? 12 Question 2 Part B Journalise adjusting entries (5 marks)The trial balance of Please-Pass-Me at 30 June 2010, the end of the financial year, is as follows: Pass-Me-Please Trial Balance as at 30 June 2010 Account Cash at Bank Accounts Receivable Supplies Furniture and fixtures Accumulated Depreciation furniture and fixtures Building Accumulated Depreciation building Accounts Payable Salary Payable Unearned Service revenue Capital Drawings Service Revenues Salary Expense Supplies Expense Depreciation Expense – furniture and fixtures Depreciation Expense – building Miscellaneous Expense Total Dr 198,000 370,000 6,000 100,000 40,000 250,000 130,000 380,000 45,000 29 3,000 65,000 286,000 172,000 Cr 13,000 1,174,000 1,174,000 Data needed for the adjusting entries include: a. b. c. d. e. f. Supplies on hand at year-end, $2,000 Depreciation on furniture and fixtures, $20,000 Depreciation on building, $10,000 Salaries owed but not yet paid, $5,000 Accrued service revenue, $12,000 Of the $45,000 balance of Unearned Service Revenue, $32,000 was earned during the current financial year. Required: Prepare the adjusting general journal entries. 13Question 3 ANSWER QUESTION IN A NEW ANSWER BOOKLET. Hardly Normal Ltd (15 marks) As at 30 June 2008 the company's cash account in its GL has a debit balance of $5,815. 30. The bank statement balance as at 30 June 2008 showed a balance of $7,075. 80 Cr The following additional information was noted: †¢ The bank collected a direct deposit of $1200 for Hardly Normal from a debtor and charged $10 for doing so. On 30 June the bank statement showed a debit entry of $550 for a dishonoured cheque deposited by hardl y Normal from IN Debt, a customer. The 30 June cash receipts of $1,819. 60 were not included in the bank deposits for June. They did not get processed until 1 July. Company cheque no. 480 issued to Joe Bloggs, a creditor, for $492 cleared the bank in June but it had been incorrectly recorded and posted in the company's records as $429. The bank service charge for June was $25. Interest of $48 was received. It had not been previously accrued for. Unpresented cheques at 30 June totalled $2,480. 10. †¢ †¢ †¢ †¢ †¢ †¢ Required 1. 2. Prepare the necessary adjusting entries to the company's GL as at 30 June 2008. Prepare the bank reconciliation statement as at 30 June 2008 (include workings for adjusting the GL). 14 Question 3 Part B Internal Control (5 marks) Fred Firkenstirker has worked for Derek Shonk Solicitors for several years. Fred hasn't taken a holiday in the last three years. One of Fred's primary duties is to open the mail and list the cheques rec eived.He also takes cash from clients when they leave. At times it is so hectic that Fred doesn't bother with giving clients a receipt for the cash paid on their accounts. He assures them he will see to it that they receive the proper credit. When the traffic is slow in the office Fred offers to help Mary post the payments received from clients to the accounts receivable ledger. She is always happy to receive his help, because he is a very conscientious worker. Required: Identify any principles of internal control that may be violated in this solicitor's office situation. 15 Question 4 Statement of Cash Flows (20 marks) ANSWER QUESTION IN A NEW ANSWER BOOKLET.Choice Brother Pty Limited Balance Sheet 30 June 2010 Current assets Cash at bank Accounts receivable Total current assets Non-current assets Property, plant and equipment: at cost Accumulated depreciation Total non-current assets Total assets Current liabilities Accounts payable Salaries payable Total liabilities NET ASSETS Ow ner's equity Share Capital Retained Profits TOTAL OWNER'S EQUITY 10,000 11,950 21,950 10,000 4,280 14,280 29,800 3,500 33,300 21,950 35,220 1,000 36,220 14,280 33,000 (17,000) 16,000 55,250 20,000 (8,000) 12,000 50,500 8,750 30,500 39,250 13,500 25,000 38,500 30 June 2009 Other information extracted from Choice Brothers Pty Limited Income Statement for the year ended 30 June 2010 as follows: Sales Revenue Gain on disposal of PPE Salaries Expense Other Expenses (ex. Dep. ) Net Profit Other information: †¢ 141,250 1,000 50,000 71,580 7,670 Equipment that originally cost the company $10,000 was sold during the year.The accumulated depreciated on the equipment sold was $4,000. Accounts payable balance relates to amounts owning that are classified under ‘Other Expenses' †¢ 16 Required 1. Calculate the following cash flows: a) receipts from customers b) payments to employees c) payments for other expenses d) payments for property, plant and equipment e) receipts from the s ale of property, plant and equipment (10 marks) 2. Prepare the company's Cash Flows Statement for the year ended 30 June 2010. (10 marks) 17 Indicative examination solutions Part A: Multiple Choice 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 D A D B C B C A C D D A A C B B A D A B D C C B B C D C B D 18PART B Question 1 Question 1 Part A Recording transactions Matthews James Services Pty Ltd General Journal Date 2010 2 Jul Account titles and explanation Cash Share Capital (Issued shares) Rent expense Cash (Paid first 6 months rent) Deposit Cash (Deposit on electricity) Post. Ref 100 300 Debit 46,000 46,000 Credit (20 marks) (10 marks) 2 Jul 500 100 20,000 20,000 2 Jul 105 100 300 300 3 Jul Shop Fittings 110 21,500 Loan Payable 200 10,000 Cash 100 11,500 (Purchased shop fittings paid part by cash and part covered by a loan agreement) Supplies Cash (Paid for supplies) Inventory Cash (Paid cash for inventory) Advertising Expense Cash (Paid advertisi ng expense) 103 100 1,580 1,580 4 Jul 4 Jul 104 100 20,000 20,000 6 Jul 01 100 1,750 1,750 16 Jul Cash 100 Accounts Receivable 101 Sales 400 Cost of Goods Sold 450 Inventory 104 (To record first half month sales) 20 Jul Insurance Expense Cash (Paid 1 year insurance policy) 502 100 16,480 275 16,755 7,650 7,650 1,250 1,250 19 23 Jul Cash 100 Accounts Receivable 101 (To record collection of accounts receivable) 28 Jul Salary Expense Cash (Paid salaries) 504 100 50 50 1,500 1,500 31 Jul Cash 100 Accounts Receivable 101 Sales 400 Cost of Goods Sold 450 Inventory 104 (To record second half month sales) 31 Jul Telephone expense Cash (Paid Telephone expense) 503 100 22,729 530 23,259 10,890 10,890 110 110 20 Question 1 Part BFinancial Statements Crossing Australia Ltd Income Statement For the Year Ended 30 April 2009 (10 marks) Revenues: Service revenue Expenses: Wage expense Interest expense Depreciation expense – equipment Supplies expense Insurance expense Electricity and gas exp ense Depreciation expense – building Total expenses Net profit $98,550 $60,310 8,170 6,900 6,880 5,370 4,970 3,710 96,310 $2,240 21 Question 1 Part B continued Crossing Australia Ltd Balance Sheet As at 30 April 2009 Assets Current Assets Cash at Bank Accounts Receivable Supplies Prepaid Insurance Total current assets Non-Current Assets Equipment Less: Acc. Depreciation Building Less: Acc.Depreciation Land Total Non-Current Assets TOTAL ASSETS Liabilities Current Liabilities Accounts Payable Interest Payable Wages Payable Unearned Service Revenue Total Current Liabilities Non-Current Liabilities Bill Payable TOTAL LIABILITIES NET ASSETS Owner’s Equity Share Capital Retained Profits OWNER’S EQUITY $ 1, 370 43,740 3, 690 2, 290 $ 51,090 $63,930 (28,430) 74,330 (18,260) $35,500 56,070 20,000 111,570 $162,660 $19,550 2,280 830 3,660 26,320 69,900 96,220 $66,440 64,200 2,240 $66,440 22 Question 2 Question 2 Part A Financial statement analysis (15 marks) (10 marks) Fo rmulae 1. Current ratio = Current assets/ Current liabilities 2. Stock turn (Inventory turnover) = COGS/ Average inventory 3. Debtors turn (Receivables turnover) = Net sales/ Average net receivables 4. Net profit ratio = net profit/net sales 5.Debt to total assets ratio = total liabilities/total assets Calculations 2010 Current assets: $34,100 + $110,000 + $74,800 + $187,000 + $4,400 = $410,300 2009 Current assets: $37,400 + $104,500 + $77,000 + $173,800 + $6,600 = $399,300 2010 Average inventory: ($187,000 + $173,800)/2 2009 Average inventory: $173, 800 * assumed 2008 and 2009 same balances 2010 Average receivables: ($74,800 + $77,000)/2 = $75,900 2009 Average receivables: $77,000 * assumed 2008 and 2009 same balances 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. Current ratio Stock turn Debtors turn Net profit Debt to assets 2010 410,300/183,700 = 2. 23 587,400/180,400 = 3. 26 979,000/75,900 = 12. 90 98,000/979,000 = 10% 593,000/650,000 = . 91 2009 399,300/167,200 = 2. 39 573,000/173,800 = 3. 1 951,500/77,000 = 12. 35 83,000/951,500 = 8. 7% 567,000/612,000 = . 92 Liquidity – Although it has declined slightly in 2004, Softwoods is financially sound in the short term with more than $2 in current assets to meet every $1 in current liabilities Profitability – Net profit ratio has improved marginally in 2004 with Softwoods able turning 10c of every $1 of sales into profit. For a complete picture however the ratio would need to be compared to industry. Softwoods is collecting its debtors balances at the rate of more than 12 times per year and therefore slightly better than once a month. Stock turnover however is rather slow at just over three times per year.Of course the nature of the industry would need to be considered to assess whether this level of turnover was within expectations. Solvency – Softwoods is carrying a high level of long term debt with barely enough assets to cover liabilities. This raises some concern about their long term viability 23 Question 2 Part B J ournalising adjusting entries Pass-Me-Please General Journal 30 June 2010 (5 marks) a) Dr Supplies Expense Cr Supplies b) Dr Depreciation Expense Cr Acc Depreciation (F&F) c) Dr Depreciation Expense Cr Acc Depreciation (Building) d) Dr Salaries Expense Cr Salary Payable e) Dr Accounts Receivable Cr Service Revenues f) Dr Unearned Service Revenue Cr Service Revenues 4,000 4,000 20,000 20,000 10,000 10,000 5,000 5,000 12,000 12,000 32,000 32,000 24Question 3 Question 3 Part A Date Bank reconciliation Debit (15 marks) (10 marks) Credit Account Titles and Explanation June 30 Cash at Bank Bank Charges Accounts Receivable 30 Accounts Receivable – IN Debt Cash at Bank 30 Accounts Payable – Joe Bloggs Cash at Bank 30 Bank Charges Cash at Bank 30 Cash at Bank Interest Revenue 1,190 10 1,200 550 550 63 63 25 25 48 48 (1) Original Cash at Bank account balance Add: Interest Collection of note receivable ($1,200 less collection fee $10) Less: Dishonoured cheque Error in recording c heque no. 2480 Bank service charge Adjusted Cash at Bank account balance $5,815. 30 48. 00 1,190. 00 ($550. 00) (63. 00) (25. 0) 1,238. 00 7,053. 30 (638. 00) $6,415. 30 Hardly Normal Limited Bank Reconciliation Statement As at 30 June 2007 Balance as per bank statement Add: Outstanding deposits Less: Unpresented cheques Balance as per Cash at Bank Account (1) Workings $7,075. 80 1,819. 60 8,895. 40 (2,480. 10) $6,415. 30 25 Question 3 Part B Internal Control (5 marks) This may not be an exhaustive list. Additional control issues identified must actually link to the scenario provided in the question. Violations: 1. It is Mary's responsibility to post payments to patient accounts. In allowing Fred to assist her, the establishment of responsibility principle is violated. 2.Although it appears to be a small office, it is not appropriate that Fred opens the mail, receives and records cash receipts from clients, and also appears to have custody of cash. This situation violates the segreg ation of duties principle. By posting to clients' accounts it would be possible to post credits to patient accounts and pocket the cash. 3. The documentation principle is violated when clients are not given cash receipts. Although many professional offices do not have cash registers, computerised or manual receipts are customary and necessary. 4. Independent internal verification is also being violated. There is no independent counting of the cash and comparison to total receipts. 5. Other controls are being violated. There is no mention of Fred being bonded. Also, personnel should be required to take olidays to increase the likelihood of fraud being detected. 26 Question 4 Required 1 Statement of Cash Flows (20 marks) Receipts from customers = Sales revenue + opening accounts receivable – closing accounts receivable = 141,250 + 25,000 – 30,500 = 135,750 ? Payments to employees = salaries expense + opening salaries payable – closing salaries payable = 50,000 + 1 ,000 – 3,500 = 47,500 ? Payments for other operating expenses = other operating expenses + opening accounts payable – closing accounts payable = 71,580 + 35,220 – 29,800 = 77,000 ? Payment for purchases of PPE = increase in cost value of PPE + cost value of PPE sold = 13,000 + 10,000 = 23,000 ?Receipts from sale of PPE (is a two step process) = Original cost of assets – accumulated depreciation = carrying value of asset sold = 10,000 – 4,000 = 6,000 Carrying value of asset sold + profit on disposal (OR less loss on disposal) = 6,000 + 1,000 = 7,000 Required 2 Choice Brothers Pty Limited Cash Flows Statement (Partial) For the Year Ended 30 June 2010 Cash flows from operating activities $ Cash collections: From customers Cash payments: To employees For other operating expenses Net cash generated by operating activities Cash flows from investing activities Cash collections: From sale of PPE Cash payments: For purchase of PPE Net cash generated by inve sting activities Net movement in cash Opening balance in cash 1 July 2009 Closing balance in cash 30 June 2010 135,750 (47,500) (77,000) 11,250 ? 7,000 (23,000) (16,000) (4,750) 13,500 8,750 27 28

Sunday, September 1, 2019

Memory Essay

Autobiographic memories are known to be frequently inaccurate. In fact, when a person recalls the past, the images of real events are intermingled with events that either never occurred or are distorted so severely that there is little opportunity to recognize the true happenings in them. This occurs because of the operation of certain principles of memory that render exact memories difficult and almost unrealistic. These principles include schemas and mechanisms of interference explaining why memories can often be inaccurate and misleading. Schemas Schemas directly affect human perception of the outer world, other people. They are even more significant in the conceptualization of what one is and what one believes oneself to be. A person operating on a schema has a distinct perception of one’s own self that fits into a framework pre-specified in the schema. This framework includes a variety of attributes directly related to the life of an individual. An elderly woman could see her life as one of a devoted Christian. In such a case, she can be willing to shove away the memories that do not demonstrate such a trend in her life. Thus, she may be willing to repress memories of youthful fun that do not fit into her current beliefs and attitudes so that she could feel more comfortable about her past. This can occur not because of intended self-deception, but because of the stated schema that operates at the subconscious level. A man whose schema is that of a courageous hero will live the life based on this schema. In this case, he will tend to repress memories of his childhood episodes in which he acted as a coward or a villain, in his own current perception. Such incidents will not fit into his schema and thus are repressed as conflicting. The schema in this way governs not only what occurs in the present, but also memories of the past. Interference Interference is another powerful influence on the mechanisms of memory that makes remembrance of the past often inaccurate. It occurs because a human mind cannot store infinite amounts of information. When new information comes in, it may interfere with the older layers. Interference falls into two types: proactive interference and retroactive interference. The first kind occurs when â€Å"an older memory interferes with remembering a newer memory† (Borree, 2002). This is especially relevant to the successive study of several foreign languages when the knowledge of the previously studied language can interfere with the knowledge of the current one. Retroactive interference, in contrast, occurs when â€Å"newer memories interfere with older ones† (Borree, 2002). The latter type is more relevant to the exploration of autobiographic memory inaccuracy. When the current information conflicts with older layers, it can take precedence over them. A person who has achieved high socioeconomic status in the present may inaccurately believe that his past was also more glorious than it really was. A common occurrence is to see the harsh treatment from parents as intolerable abuse when one is consistently told, for instance, in a therapy course, that he or she was the victim of abuse. Evidence shows that â€Å"some of the people who remembered terrible things like being abused as children were discovered to have created these memories under pressure from their therapists† (Borree, 2002). When people in society are continuously being told about abuse in families, they tend to see their past in the same light, inventing instances of abuse even where they were not present. This represents a case of interference where the past interferes with the present. Repression Repression is a term that was introduced by Sigmund Freud, the psychologist who invented the psychoanalysis theory. According to him, memories can be repressed if they are too painful or disagreeable to people. Humans tend to â€Å"push painful memories out of our awareness and into a deep, dark place called â€Å"the unconscious mind† (Borree, 2002). This mechanism, too, can explain how memories are stored in places from which they are never retrieved. This distorts the real picture of the past events. Manipulation Many people with susceptible psyche can fall prey to conscious manipulation that leads to the change in their memories post factum. A skilful person using hypnosis can put them in this state. Manipulation can be used in a less conspicuous manner – through the use of specific language, for instance. The lawyer in court who uses the word â€Å"tragedy† to describe the misfortunes of the victim will force the victim to believe that he or she has indeed been through a terrible tragedy. Conclusion Distortions of events in autobiographic memory can arise for a number of reasons. Schemas, interference, repression and manipulation are just a few mechanisms that can affect human memories. In each case, the result is the distorted perception of the past reality which is influenced by the current cognitive state of the individual. Reference Boeree, C.G. (2002). Memory. Retrieved August 2, 2006, from http://www.ship.edu/~cgboeree/memory.html                   Â