From Mervis (published in Science on March 2 2026): “Epstein wanted to give him money to do research on cryptography using DNA and other molecules, a topic that interested both men. Aaronson did not know Epstein’s past and was initially intrigued. Then 29, Aronson turned to what he considered a reliable source: his mother. “Be careful not to get sucked up in the slime-machine going on here,” she wrote back . Her wise counsel, Aaronson says, saved him from doing something he later would have greatly regretted. “If not for my mom, I might have gone and talked at a workshop to kick off the project,” he says. It seems this commentary claims that consulting with your mother prevents you from losing your reputation. Explain four reasons why this claim is unwarranted.

A department head allocates a limited budget to Team A rather than Team B, even though the teams had similar proposals. After the decision, the department head increasingly emphasizes weaknesses in Team B’s proposal and highlights the strengths of Team A’s plan. Explain why the department head’s perception of the two proposals might shift after the decision has already been made.

Because the Great Depression was especially hard on American senior citizens and those with disabilities, the Second New Deal included the 

Nickname for American soldiers in WWI? ________________ Commander of American Expeditionary Forces in WWI? _____________ Name of a jazz musician, poet or artist of the Harlem Renaissance? __________ Name for the group of dissatisfied writers who left the U.S. to live in Paris complaining of American consumerism? ______________________________ Political cartoonist who was against the America First program in 1939 and 1940? _________________ One of the top 3 famous movies of the 1930s? ________________________________ Who was repatriated in the Repatriation Act/ __________________________________

The United States actively practiced _____________ after World War I

A person who opposed immigration in the 1920s because it would dilute what it “meant to be an American” would be subscribing to what type of viewpoint.

Because of the actions of the Federal Reserve, the American money supply ________ in the period form 1929-1932.

II. Short Answer (60%, 20% each) Answer 3 of the following questions. Define all technical concepts that you use (e.g., “3-alls God”, “pragmatic justification”). (i) We read Plato’s Apology this semester, which describes the trial of Socrates. In roughly two paragraphs, explain the story of the oracle (what the oracle’s message was, how Socrates reacted to it, and how Socrates ended up interpreting the message), along with why the story is relevant to Socrates’ defense against the charges. (ii) We’ve studied arguments for and against God’s existence this semester. (These are: the cosmological argument, the design argument, and the problem of evil). In roughly two paragraphs, explain one of these arguments, including at least one objection/response to it that we considered. (iii) We’ve studied skepticism about knowledge this semester (for example, the infinite regress argument and the skepticism considered by Descartes). In roughly two paragraphs, explain what skepticism is, how it is argued for, and how some have tried to respond to it.

This is the link to Desmos:  https://www.desmos.com/scientific

Determine the smallest whole numbers in each box that balance the chemical equation below. Say 1 if the coefficient is one. H2O2 (aq) –> H2O(l)    + O2 (g)   Use speech to respond to how you got the coefficients that balanced the equation.   The scratch box below is not for grade