10. Consider a perfectly competitive firm that has enough ca…

10. Consider a perfectly competitive firm that has enough capacity to produce up to 5 rubber balls (RB).  Suppose it costs firm $1 to make just one RB; $2.10 to make 2 RB; $3.90 to make 3 RB; $6.90 to make 4 RB; and $10.90 to make 5 RB.  How many RB will the firm make if the market price for RB is $3.10?

Reading Passage for Final Writing Exam The idiom “the early…

Reading Passage for Final Writing Exam The idiom “the early bird catches the worm” conveys the idea that those who act promptly or take the initiative are more likely to succeed or seize opportunities before others. This expression underscores the value of proactivity, foresight, and discipline in both personal and professional pursuits. The phrase draws from the natural world, where birds that wake up early are able to find the most abundant food before the competition. In human terms, it suggests that those who begin their work or tasks early, with careful planning and dedication, are better positioned to achieve their goals. Whether it’s an entrepreneur who begins their day before sunrise to prepare for meetings or a student who starts revising well in advance of exams, the principle remains the same: early preparation leads to greater success. For example, a writer who sets aside time each morning to work on their manuscript may be able to finish their novel sooner and with more precision than one who procrastinates. “The early bird catches the worm” is not merely a call for early risers, but rather a reminder that time is a valuable resource that should be used wisely. In today’s fast-paced world, where opportunities are often fleeting, acting swiftly and consistently gives individuals a competitive edge. It emphasizes that diligence, responsibility, and a forward-thinking mindset often pay off in the long run, ensuring that those who prepare ahead are not only ready for success, but poised to make the most of the opportunities that come their way. Final Essay Prompts (Select One) Reflect on a time when starting early or being proactive helped you or someone you know achieve a goal or overcome a challenge. Describe the situation, the actions you or someone you know took, and the outcome. Support your main points with specific details, reasons, and examples. The Power of Time ManagementUsing the idiom “the early bird catches the worm,” write an essay discussing the importance of time management and taking initiative in achieving personal or professional goals. Provide examples from your own life or from successful individuals to support your argument, and explain how effective planning can lead to success.

Reading Passage for Final Writing Exam Have you heard about…

Reading Passage for Final Writing Exam Have you heard about the idiom “to cut corners?” This phrase comes from driving. It’s when you come to a sharp turn in the road and, instead of going all the way to the corner, you go straight across and cut off the corner to save time by shortening the distance you travel. Cutting corners in this sense means doing something badly or cheaply because things were left out of a process that should not have been. Cutting corners could imply laziness or complacency. If someone says “I won’t cut corners just to save money. I put quality first,” it means doing something poorly in order to save time or money. You can find many examples of someone cutting corners on the news and on newspaper’s or magazine’s headlines that create scandals to get the consumers’ attention. For example, “Teachers were virtually giving answers to students in order to boost standardized test scores,” or “A local flagship company was being fined millions of dollars for price fixing.” (taken from: https://www.bloomsbury-international.com/student-ezone/idiom-of-the-week/1694-to-cut-corners/) Final Essay Prompts (Select One) Describe a time in your life when you had to cut corners in order to finish something fast or buy something cheaper. Support your main points with specific details, reasons, and examples. Describe a time in the life of someone you know well had to cut corners in order to finish something fast or buy something cheaper. Support your main points with specific details, reasons, and examples.

Reading Passage for Final Writing Exam Do you skip school, f…

Reading Passage for Final Writing Exam Do you skip school, fudge on your taxes, or cheat on exams? You’re not alone. Many people break the rules now and then. If, like most people, you break rules from time to time, you understand the paradox here. We think of ourselves as good and honest citizens despite daily acts (one to two on average) of cheating, lying, or otherwise breaking the rules in seemingly innocuous ways. We might exaggerate our own performance to our supervisor or look for loopholes on our taxes; we stand in the express line with too many groceries, litter, text while driving, play hooky from work, buy clothes to wear to a party and then return them for a refund; we knowingly accept too much change from a cashier, board planes before our seat is called, enjoy pirated movies and tunes, blow past speed limits, or lie to give our kids an advantage.  The closer researchers look at everyday transgressions, though, the more they’re convinced there’s something to rule breaking. Character isn’t the real driver; it’s social and situational forces that strongly influence bad behavior. Often, not a lot of conscious awareness goes into when or to what extent we push ethical boundaries. We might break the rules under some conditions and in some mindsets, but not in others. Morality is so malleable that just thinking about breaking a rule can change the way we behave. And, of course, in knowing why we transgress, we can defend our actions—for better and for worse. (Taken from: https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/articles/201411/are-these-rules-worth-breaking) Final Essay Prompts (Select One) Though some say that “rules are meant to be broken,” breaking the rules often has serious consequences. Write about a time when you broke the rules and what happened as a result. Support your main points with specific details, reasons, and examples. Though some say that “rules are meant to be broken,” breaking the rules often has serious consequences. Tell about a time when someone you know well broke the rules and what happened as a result. Support your main points with specific details, reasons, and examples.

Reading Passage for Final Writing Exam A blessing in disguis…

Reading Passage for Final Writing Exam A blessing in disguise seems unfortunate at first. Often, it refers to a situation that someone does not want to be in or results that he or she did not want. However, after careful reflection, what at first seemed to be a stroke of misfortune turns out to be beneficial. Oftentimes, people learn through their struggles and come out of difficult situations having grown as a result of those challenges.  Consider the following example: “When Tom broke up with me, I was upset for months. But, really, the breakup turned out to be a blessing in disguise because he was in a lot of debt.” Although she was upset about breaking up, the woman recognized the benefit, or blessing, of not having to pay off Tom’s debt. Another example could be when a goal is not fulfilled. If someone wants a promotion at work and is passed over, he or she could feel upset. However, not getting the promotion would be a blessing in disguise if a new position better suited to that person opened up later. Many people may even refer to life-changing events as blessings in disguise. Someone who had a child out of wedlock may have felt stressed at first about the prospect of being a single parent, but he or she may later refer to the child as a blessing in disguise because of the joy the child brings.  (taken from: https://writingexplained.org/idiom-dictionary/blessing-in-disguise) Final Essay Prompts (Select One) Describe a time in your life when something that seemed to be negative turned out to be positive. Support your main points with specific details, reasons, and examples. Describe a time in the life of someone you know well when something that seemed to be negative turned out to be positive. Support your main points with specific details, reasons, and examples.