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{ "paragraphs": [ { "context": "Cromwell is a British 1970 historical drama film written and directed by Ken Hughes . It is based on the life of Oliver Cromwell , who led the Parliamentary forces during the English Civil War and , as Lord Protector , ruled Great Britain and Ireland in the 1650s . It features an ensemble cast , led by Richard Harris as Cromwell and Alec Guinness as King Charles I , with Robert Morley as Edward Montagu , 2nd Earl of Manchester and Timothy Dalton as Prince Rupert of the Rhine . \n \n The film received 2 Oscar nominations during the 43rd Academy Awards held in 1971 , winning 1 for Best Costume Design by Vittorio Nino Novarese , nevertheless losing another for Best Original Score , composed by Frank Cordell . It was also nominated for a British Academy of Film and Television Award ( BAFTA ) in Costume Design and a Golden Globe for Best Original Score . At the 7th Moscow International Film Festival in 1971 it won the award for Best Actor ( Richard Harris ) , and was nominated for the Golden Prize as Best Picture ( Ken Hughes ) . \n \n Plot \n \n Oliver Cromwell is a devout Puritan , a country squire , magistrate and former member of Parliament . King Charles I 's policies , including the enclosing of common land for the use of wealthy landowners and the introduction of `` Popish '' and `` Romish '' rituals into the Church of England have become increasingly grating to many , including Cromwell . In fact Charles regards himself as a devout Anglican , permitting his French Queen to practise Roman Catholicism in private but forbidding her to bring up the young Prince of Wales in that faith . Cromwell plans to take his family to the New World , but , on the eve of their departure , he is persuaded by his friends to stay and resume a role in politics . \n \n Charles has unenthusiastically summoned Parliament for the first time in eleven years , as he needs money to fight wars against both the Scots and the Irish . Although to appease the Commons he reluctantly agrees to execute his hated adviser the Earl of Strafford , the Parliament of England will still not grant him his requests unless he agrees to reforms that could lead to a constitutional monarchy . Committed to the divine right of kings , and under pressure from his queen to stand firm , Charles refuses . When he attempts to arrest five members of Parliament ( in reality Cromwell was not one of them ) , war breaks out in England itself , Parliament against the king , both sides convinced that God is on their side . \n \n When the Parliamentary forces in which Cromwell is a cavalry officer proved ineffective , he , along with Sir Thomas Fairfax , sets up the New Model Army and soon turns the tide against the king . The army 's discipline , training and numbers secure victory and Cromwell 's cavalry proves to be the deciding factor . With his army defeated , Charles goes so far as to call on help from Catholic nations , which disgusts his Protestant supporters . He is finally defeated but , a brave man in his own way , he still refuses to give in to the demands of Cromwell and his associates for a system of government in which Parliament will have as much say in the running of the country as the king . \n \n Cromwell—who has had to maintain discipline in the highly politicised New Model Army by hanging a ringleader of an incipient mutiny—later hears from Sir Edward Hyde , the king 's once-loyal adviser , that Charles has secretly been raising a Catholic army to resume the war against Parliament . He and his supporters thus have Charles put on trial for treason . Charles , found guilty and sentenced to death , faces execution bravely and even his most ardent critics are moved by his dignity and the fact that he has forgiven his captors . There is little celebration or satisfaction over his death , even on Cromwell 's part . \n \n However , Parliament soon proves itself just as useless in governing the country and , like the late king , Cromwell is forced to undertake a coup d'etat . But where Charles failed , Cromwell succeeds : his troops remove the MPs from the House of Commons , leaving Cromwell sitting symbolically alone in the Chamber as virtual dictator . \n \n The film ends with a voice-over stating that Cromwell served very successfully for five years as Lord Protector before", "qas": [ { "answers": [ { "answer_start": 335, "text": "alec guinness" } ], "id": "sfq_6932--Cromwell_(film).txt", "qid": "sfq_6932", "question": "\"Which actor played the roles of Fagin in the 1948 version of Oliver Twist, and King Charles I in the 1970 film, \"\"Cromwell\"\"?\"" } ] } ] }

{ "paragraphs": [ { "context": "Karachi ( , / ALA-LC : , ) is the largest and most populous city in Pakistan and 7th most populous urban city in the world . It is the capital of Sindh province of Pakistan . It is the main seaport and financial center of Pakistan . Karachi is also known as City of Lights mainly due to the city 's night life ; it is famous for being a city that never sleeps . Karachi metro has an estimated population of over 23.5 million people , and area of approximately 3527 km2 , resulting in a density of more than 6,000 people per square kilometre ( 15,500 per square mile ) . \n \n Karachi is the 7th largest urban agglomeration in the world , and the second largest in the Muslim world . It is also the world 's 7th least expensive city to live based on cost of living . It is Pakistan 's centre of banking , industry , economic activity and trade and is home to Pakistan 's largest corporations , including those involved in textiles , shipping , the automotive industry , entertainment , the arts , fashion , advertising , publishing , software development and medical research . The city is a hub of higher education in South Asia and the Muslim world . \n \n Karachi is also ranked as a beta world city . It was the capital of Pakistan until Islamabad was constructed as a capital to spread development evenly across the country and to prevent it from being concentrated in Karachi . Karachi is the location of the Port of Karachi and Port Bin Qasim , two of the region 's largest and busiest ports . After the independence of Pakistan , the city population increased dramatically when hundreds of thousands of Muslim Muhajirs from India and from other parts of South Asia came to settle in Karachi . \n \n The city is located on the Arabian Sea coastline . It is also known as the Uroos ul Bilaad , `` The Bride of the Cities , '' the `` City of Lights '' and the `` City of the Quaid , '' having been the birth and burial place of Quaid-e-Azam , the Great Leader , Muhammad Ali Jinnah , the founder of Pakistan , who made the city his home after Pakistan 's independence from the British Raj on 14 August 1947 . The term `` City of Lights '' was first used during Ayub era when new buildings , residential and recreational areas were constructed . During British Raj , it was also described as `` Paris of Asia . '' According to PricewaterhouseCoopers , in 2009 , Karachi had a total GDP of $ 78 billion with conservative projections expecting it to rise to $ 193 billion in 2025 . The city generates 35 % of Pakistan 's tax revenue and is a transit point for majority of its trade . \n \n History \n \n Founding and early history \n \n The Late Palaeolithic and Mesolithic sites found by the Karachi University team on the Mulri Hills , in front of Karachi University Campus , constitute one of the most important archaeological discoveries made in Sindh during the last 50 years . The last hunter-gatherers , who left abundant traces of their passage , repeatedly inhabited the Hills . Some 20 different locations of flint tools were discovered during the surface surveys . \n \n Karachi was known to the ancient Greeks by many names : Krokola , the place where Alexander the Great camped to prepare a fleet for Babylonia after his campaign in the Indus Valley ; Morontobara ( probably Manora island near Karachi harbour ) , from whence Alexander 's admiral Nearchus set sail ; and Barbarikon , a port of the Bactrian kingdom . It was later known to the Arabs as Debal from where Muhammad bin Qasim led his conquering force into South Asia in AD 712 . \n \n Karachi was reputedly founded as `` Kolachi '' by Baloch tribes from Balochistan and Makran , who established a small fishing community in the area . Descendants of the original community still live in the area on the small island of Abdullah Goth , which is located near the Karachi Port . The original name `` Kolachi '' survives in the name of a well-known Karachi locality named Mai Kolachi in Balochi . \n \n Mughal Empire \n \n Mirza Ghazi Beg , the Mughal administrator of Sindh , is among the first historical figures credited for the development of coastal Sindh ( consisting of regions such as the Makran coast and the Indus delta ) , including the cities of Thatta , Bhambore and Karachi .", "qas": [ { "answers": [ { "answer_start": 802, "text": "indus" } ], "id": "odql_3622--Karachi.txt", "qid": "odql_3622", "question": "Which river rises on the Tibetan Plateau, flows northwest and then south and southwest to enter the Arabian Gulf in the Seven Rivers area south of Karachi?" } ] } ] }

{ "paragraphs": [ { "context": "Middlesbrough Football Club is a professional association football club based in Middlesbrough , North Yorkshire , England . Formed in 1876 , they have played at the Riverside Stadium since 1995 , their second ground since turning professional in 1889 . They played at Ayresome Park for 92 years , from 1903 to 1995 . \n \n They were one of the founding members of the Premier League in 1992 . The club 's main rivals are Sunderland and Newcastle United . There is also a rivalry with Yorkshire club Leeds United . \n \n The club 's highest league finish to date was third in the 1913–14 season and they have only spent two seasons outside of the Football League 's top two divisions . The club came close to folding in 1986 after experiencing severe financial difficulties before it was saved by a consortium led by then board member and later chairman Steve Gibson . Middlesbrough were deducted three points for failing to fulfil a fixture against Blackburn Rovers in the 1996–97 Premier League season and subsequently relegated . They were promoted the following season and spent 11 seasons in the top division before being relegated again in 2009 . \n \n Middlesbrough won the League Cup in 2004 , the club 's first and only major trophy . They reached the 2006 UEFA Cup Final , but were beaten by Spanish side Sevilla . After seven years in the Championship , Middlesbrough secured promotion to the Premier League in 2016 after finishing in second place . \n \n The club 's traditional kit is red with white detailing . The various crests throughout the club 's history , the most recent of which was adopted in 2007 , incorporate a lion rampant . \n \n History \n \n They won the FA Amateur Cup in 1895 and again in 1898 . The club turned professional in 1889 , but reverted to amateur status in 1892 . They turned professional permanently in 1899 . After three seasons , they won promotion to the First Division , where they would remain for the next . \n \n In 1903 , the club moved to Ayresome Park , their home for the next . In 1905 , the club sanctioned the transfer of Alf Common for £1,000 , a record fee . Over the next few years , their form fluctuated greatly , rising to sixth in 1907–08 before dropping to 17th two seasons later . The club rose to their highest league finish to date , third , in 1913–14 . World War I soon intervened and football was suspended . \n \n Before league football resumed , Middlesbrough won the Northern Victory League , but the team were unable to maintain their previous form and finished the 1919–20 season in mid-table . They remained in the First Division for the next few seasons , but were relegated in 1923–24 after finishing bottom , ten points adrift of their nearest rivals . Three seasons later , they won the Division Two title . During that season , debutant George Camsell , who had signed from Third Division North side Durham City the previous season , finished with a record 59 league goals , which included nine hat-tricks . He would continue as top scorer for each of the next ten seasons . Their tenure back in the top flight lasted only one season , and the club were relegated . They were promoted at the first attempt in 1928–29 , winning another Second Division title . The club remained in the First Division until 1954 . \n \n The decade before the war saw the emergence of Wilf Mannion and George Hardwick , both of whom would go on to become England internationals in the years ahead . Middlesbrough climbed to fourth in the last full season before World War II and were expected to challenge for the title next season , but the war intervened . After the war , the club was unable to recover the form of the previous seasons and hovered around mid-table and exited in the early rounds of the FA Cup . Soon afterwards , the team began to falter , eventually suffering relegation in 1953–54 . This was the start of a 20-year spell outside the top division , but saw the emergence of one of the club 's top goalscorers , Brian Clough , who scored 204 goals in 222 games , before he left for Sunderland . Over that period , Middlesbrough maintained reasonable progress in the Second Division but were never serious contenders for promotion . After a fourth-place finish in 1962–63 , the club endured a steady decline and were relegated to the Third Division for the first", "qas": [ { "answers": [], "id": "dpql_5458--Middlesbrough_F.C..txt", "qid": "dpql_5458", "question": "On which river does Middlesbrough stand?" } ] } ] }

{ "paragraphs": [ { "context": "Newton 's laws of motion are three physical laws that , together , laid the foundation for classical mechanics . They describe the relationship between a body and the forces acting upon it , and its motion in response to those forces . They have been expressed in several different ways , over nearly three centuries , and can be summarised as follows . \n \n The three laws of motion were first compiled by Isaac Newton in his Philosophiæ Naturalis Principia Mathematica ( Mathematical Principles of Natural Philosophy ) , first published in 1687.See the Principia on line at [ http : //ia310114.us.archive.org/2/items/newtonspmathema00newtrich/newtonspmathema00newtrich.pdf Andrew Motte Translation ] Newton used them to explain and investigate the motion of many physical objects and systems . [ http : //members.tripod.com/~gravitee/axioms.htm Andrew Motte translation of Newton 's Principia ( 1687 ) Axioms or Laws of Motion ] For example , in the third volume of the text , Newton showed that these laws of motion , combined with his law of universal gravitation , explained Kepler 's laws of planetary motion . \n \n Overview \n \n Newton 's laws are applied to objects which are idealised as single point masses , in the sense that the size and shape of the object 's body are neglected to focus on its motion more easily . This can be done when the object is small compared to the distances involved in its analysis , or the deformation and rotation of the body are of no importance . In this way , even a planet can be idealised as a particle for analysis of its orbital motion around a star . \n \n In their original form , Newton 's laws of motion are not adequate to characterise the motion of rigid bodies and deformable bodies . Leonhard Euler in 1750 introduced a generalisation of Newton 's laws of motion for rigid bodies called Euler 's laws of motion , later applied as well for deformable bodies assumed as a continuum . If a body is represented as an assemblage of discrete particles , each governed by Newton 's laws of motion , then Euler 's laws can be derived from Newton 's laws . Euler 's laws can , however , be taken as axioms describing the laws of motion for extended bodies , independently of any particle structure . \n \n Newton 's laws hold only with respect to a certain set of frames of reference called Newtonian or inertial reference frames . Some authors interpret the first law as defining what an inertial reference frame is ; from this point of view , the second law only holds when the observation is made from an inertial reference frame , and therefore the first law can not be proved as a special case of the second . Other authors do treat the first law as a corollary of the second . The explicit concept of an inertial frame of reference was not developed until long after Newton 's death . \n \n In the given interpretation mass , acceleration , momentum , and ( most importantly ) force are assumed to be externally defined quantities . This is the most common , but not the only interpretation of the way one can consider the laws to be a definition of these quantities . \n \n Newtonian mechanics has been superseded by special relativity , but it is still useful as an approximation when the speeds involved are much slower than the speed of light . \n \n Newton 's first law \n \n The first law states that if the net force ( the vector sum of all forces acting on an object ) is zero , then the velocity of the object is constant . Velocity is a vector quantity which expresses both the object 's speed and the direction of its motion ; therefore , the statement that the object 's velocity is constant is a statement that both its speed and the direction of its motion are constant . \n \n The first law can be stated mathematically when the mass is a non-zero constant , as , \n \n \\sum \\mathbf { F } 0\\ ; \\Leftrightarrow\\ ; \\frac { \\mathrm { d } \\mathbf { v } } { \\mathrm { d } t } \n 0 . \n \n Consequently , \n * An object that is at rest will stay at rest unless a force acts upon it . \n * An object that is in motion will not change its velocity unless a force acts upon it . \n \n This is known as uniform motion . An object continues to do whatever it happens to be doing unless a force is exerted upon it", "qas": [ { "answers": [ { "answer_start": 2345, "text": "inertia" } ], "id": "qw_1865--Newton's_laws_of_motion.txt", "qid": "qw_1865", "question": "What is the name for the inherent property of matter to retain its state of rest or uniform motion in a straight line unless acted upon by external forces?" } ] } ] }

{ "paragraphs": [ { "context": "The Voyage of the Beagle is the title most commonly given to reissues of the book written by Charles Darwin and published in 1839 as his Journal and Remarks , bringing him considerable fame and respect . This was the third volume of The Narrative of the Voyages of H.M . Ships Adventure and Beagle , and covers Darwin 's part in the second survey expedition of the ship HMS Beagle , which set sail from Plymouth Sound on 27 December 1831 under the command of Captain Robert FitzRoy , R.N .. Due to the popularity of Darwin 's account , the publisher reissued it later in 1839 as Darwin 's Journal of Researches , and the revised second edition published in 1845 used this title . A republication of the book in 1905 introduced the title The Voyage of the `` Beagle '' . \n \n While the expedition was originally planned to last two years , it lasted almost five—the Beagle did not return until 2 October 1836 . Darwin spent most of this time exploring on land ( three years and three months on land ; 18 months at sea ) . \n \n The book is a vivid and exciting travel memoir as well as a detailed scientific field journal covering biology , geology , and anthropology that demonstrates Darwin 's keen powers of observation , written at a time when Western Europeans were exploring and charting the whole world . Although Darwin revisited some areas during the expedition , for clarity the chapters of the book are ordered by reference to places and locations rather than by date . Darwin 's notes made during the voyage include comments illustrating his changing views at a time when he was developing his theory of evolution by natural selection and includes some suggestions of his ideas , particularly in the second edition of 1845 . \n \n Publication of FitzRoy 's narrative and Darwin 's book \n \n Darwin was invited by FitzRoy to contribute the natural history section to the captain 's account of the Beagle 's voyage , and using his field notes and the journal which he had been sending home for his family to read , completed this section by September 1837 . FitzRoy had to edit the notes of the previous captain of the Beagle , as well as write his own account of the voyage and the previous expeditions of two ships . The account was completed and published in May 1839 as the Narrative of the Surveying Voyages of His Majesty 's Ships Adventure and Beagle in four volumes . Volume one covers the first voyage under Commander Phillip Parker King , volume two is FitzRoy 's account of the second voyage . Darwin 's Journal and Remarks , 1832—1835 forms the third volume , and the fourth volume was a lengthy appendix . FitzRoy 's account includes Remarks with reference to the Deluge in which he recanted his earlier interest in the geological writings of Charles Lyell and his remarks to Darwin during the expedition that sedimentary features they saw `` could never have been effected by a forty days ' flood '' , asserting his renewed commitment to a literal reading of the Bible . [ http : //darwin-online.org.uk/content/frameset ? itemID \n F10.2 & viewtypetext & pageseq \n 776 A very few Remarks with reference to the Deluge . ] , CHAPTER XXVIII of – See also Robert FitzRoy # HMS Beagle 's second voyage . He had married on the ship 's return , and his wife was very religious . \n \n Darwin 's contribution proved remarkably popular and the publisher , Henry Colburn of London , took it upon himself to reissue Darwin 's text in August with a new title page as Journal of Researches into the Geology and Natural History of the various countries visited by H.M.S . Beagle apparently without seeking Darwin 's permission or paying him a fee . \n \n Second edition : changing ideas on evolution \n \n The second edition of 1845 incorporated extensive revisions made in the light of interpretation of the field collections and developing ideas on evolution . This edition was commissioned by the publisher John Murray , who actually paid Darwin a fee of £150 for the copyright . The full title was modified to Journal of Researches into the Natural History and Geology of the countries visited during the voyage of H.M.S . Beagle round the world . \n \n In the first edition , Darwin remarks in regard to the similarity of Galápagos wildlife to that on the South American continent , `` The circumstance would be explained , according to the views of some authors , by saying that the creative power", "qas": [ { "answers": [ { "answer_start": 18, "text": "beagle" } ], "id": "qg_1444--The_Voyage_of_the_Beagle.txt", "qid": "qg_1444", "question": "May 22, 1826 saw Charles Darwin leaving on his first voyage. Aboard what ship was he sailing?" } ] } ] }

{ "paragraphs": [ { "context": "A full moon is the lunar phase that occurs when the Moon is completely illuminated as seen from the Earth . This occurs when the moon is in opposition to the Sun ( when it is on the opposite side of the Earth from the Sun ; more precisely , when the ecliptic longitudes of the Sun and Moon differ by 180 degrees ) . This means that the hemisphere of the Moon that is facing the Earth ( the near side ) is almost fully illuminated by the Sun and appears round ( while the far side is almost completely unilluminated ) . \n \n Lunar eclipses can occur only at full moon , where the Moon 's orbit allows it to pass through the Earth 's shadow . Lunar eclipses do not occur every month because the Moon usually passes above or below the Earth 's shadow ( which is mostly restricted to the ecliptic plane ) . Lunar eclipses can occur only when the full moon occurs near the two nodes of the orbit , either the ascending or descending node . This causes eclipses to only occur about every 6 months , and often 2 weeks before or after a solar eclipse at new moon at the opposite node . \n \n The time interval between similar lunar phases—the synodic month—averages about 29.53 days . Therefore , in those lunar calendars in which each month begins on the new moon , the full moon falls on either the 14th or 15th of the lunar month . Because calendar months have a whole number of days , lunar months may be either 29 or 30 days long . \n \n Characteristics \n \n A full moon is often thought of as an event of a full night 's duration . This is somewhat misleading because the Moon seen from Earth is continuously becoming larger or smaller ( though much too slowly to notice with the naked eye ) . Its absolute maximum size occurs at the moment expansion has stopped . For any given location , about half of these absolute maximum full moons will be potentially visible , as the other half occur during the day , when the full moon is below the horizon . Many almanacs list full moons not just by date , but by their exact time as well , usually in Coordinated Universal Time ( UTC ) . Typical monthly calendars that include phases of the Moon may be off by one day if intended for use in a different time zone . \n \n Full moons are generally a poor time to conduct astronomical observations , because the bright reflected sunlight from the Moon overwhelms the dimmer light from stars . \n \n On 12 December 2008 , the full moon occurred closer to the Earth than it had been at any time for the previous 15 years . \n \n On 19 March 2011 , another super full moon occurred , closer to the Earth than at any time for the previous ~18 years . ( cycle ) \n \n Formula \n \n The date and approximate time of a specific full moon ( assuming a circular orbit ) can be calculated from the following equation : \n d = 20.362955 + 29.530588861 \\times N + 102.026 \\times 10^ { -12 } \\times N^2 \n where d is the number of days since 1 January 2000 00:00:00 in the Terrestrial Time scale used in astronomical ephemerides ; for Universal Time ( UT ) add the following approximate correction to d : \n -0.000739 - ( 235 \\times 10^ { -12 } ) \\times N^2 days \n where N is the number of full moons since the first full moon of 2000 . The true time of a full moon may differ from this approximation by up to about 14.5 hours as a result of the non-circularity of the moon 's orbit . See New moon for an explanation of the formula and its parameters . \n \n The age and apparent size of the full moon vary in a cycle of just under 14 synodic months , which has been referred to as a full moon cycle . \n \n In folklore and tradition \n \n Full moons are traditionally associated with temporal insomnia ( inability to sleep ) , insanity ( hence the terms lunacy and lunatic ) and various `` magical phenomena '' such as lycanthropy . Psychologists , however , have found that there is no strong evidence for effects on human behavior around the time of a full moon . They find that studies are generally not consistent , with some showing a positive effect and others showing a negative effect . In one instance", "qas": [ { "answers": [ { "answer_start": 2902, "text": "january" } ], "id": "qb_7259--Full_moon.txt", "qid": "qb_7259", "question": "The ‘Wolf Moon’ is the name of the full moon which occurs during which month of the year?" } ] } ] }

{ "paragraphs": [ { "context": "Bagpipes is a wind instrument using enclosed reeds fed from a constant reservoir of air in the form of a bag . Though the Scottish Great Highland bagpipes are the best known in the Anglophone world , bagpipes have been played for centuries throughout large parts of Europe , northern Africa , and western Asia , including Turkey , the Caucasus , and around the Persian Gulf . The term `` bagpipe '' is equally correct in the singular or plural , although in the English language , pipers usually refer to the bagpipes as `` the pipes '' , `` a set of pipes '' or `` a stand of pipes . '' \n \n Construction \n \n A set of bagpipes minimally consists of an air supply , a bag , a chanter , and usually at least one drone . Many bagpipes have more than one drone ( and , sometimes , more than one chanter ) in various combinations , held in place in stocks—sockets that fasten the various pipes to the bag . \n \n Air supply \n \n The most common method of supplying air to the bag is through blowing into a blowpipe , or blowstick . In some pipes the player must cover the tip of the blowpipe with their tongue while inhaling , but most blowpipes have a non-return valve that eliminates this need . \n \n An innovation , dating from the 16th or 17th century , is the use of a bellows to supply air . In these pipes , sometimes called `` cauld wind pipes '' , air is not heated or moistened by the player 's breathing , so bellows-driven bagpipes can use more refined or delicate reeds . Such pipes include the Irish uilleann pipes , the Scottish border pipes and Lowland pipes ; Northumbrian smallpipes , pastoral pipes and English Border pipes in Britain , and the musette de cour in France . \n \n Bag \n \n The bag is an airtight reservoir that can hold air and can be used to regulate its flow , enabling the player to maintain continuous sound . The player keeps the bag inflated by blowing air into it through a blowpipe or pumping air into it with a bellows . Materials used for bags vary widely , but the most common are the skins of local animals such as goats , dogs , sheep , and cows . More recently , bags made of synthetic materials including Gore-Tex have become much more common . However , a drawback of the synthetic bag is the potential for fungal spores to colonise the bag because of a reduction in necessary cleaning , with the associated danger of lung infection . An advantage of a synthetic bag is that they have a zip which allows the user to fit a more effective moisture trap to the inside of the bag . \n \n Bags cut from larger materials are usually saddle-stitched with an extra strip folded over the seam and stitched ( for skin bags ) or glued ( for synthetic bags ) to reduce leaks . Holes are then cut to accommodate the stocks . In the case of bags made from largely intact animal skins the stocks are typically tied into the points where limbs and the head joined the body of the whole animal , a construction technique common in Central Europe . \n \n Chanter \n \n The chanter is the melody pipe , played with two hands . Almost all bagpipes have at least one chanter ; some pipes have two chanters , particularly those in North Africa , the Balkans in Southern Europe , and Southwest Asia . A chanter can be bored internally so that the inside walls are parallel ( or `` cylindrical '' ) for its full length , or it can be bored in a conical shape . \n \n The chanter is usually open-ended , so there is no easy way for the player to stop the pipe from sounding . Thus most bagpipes share a constant , legato sound where there are no rests in the music . Primarily because of this inability to stop playing , technical movements are used to break up notes and to create the illusion of articulation and accents . Because of their importance , these embellishments ( or `` ornaments '' ) are often highly technical systems specific to each bagpipe , and take many years of study to master . A few bagpipes ( such as the musette de cour , the uilleann pipes , the Northumbrian smallpipe , the piva and the left chanter of the surdulina ) have closed ends or stop the end on the player 's leg", "qas": [ { "answers": [ { "answer_start": 675, "text": "chanter" } ], "id": "bt_1656--Bagpipes.txt", "qid": "bt_1656", "question": "On which of the pipes of a set of bagpipes is the tune fingered" } ] } ] }

{ "paragraphs": [ { "context": "The Order of Friars Minor Capuchin ( ; postnominal abbr . O.F.M.Cap . ) is an Order of friars in the Catholic Church , among the chief offshoots of the Franciscans . The worldwide head of the Order , called the Minister General , is currently Mauro Jöhri . \n \n History \n \n Origins \n \n The Order arose in 1520 when Matteo da Bascio , an Observant Franciscan friar native to the Italian region of the Marches , said he had been inspired by God with the idea that the manner of life led by the friars of his day was not the one which their founder , St. Francis of Assisi , had envisaged . He sought to return to the primitive way of life of solitude and penance as practiced by the founder of their Order . \n \n His religious superiors tried to suppress these innovations , and Friar Matteo and his first companions were forced into hiding from Church authorities , who sought to arrest them for having abandoned their religious duties . They were given refuge by the Camaldolese monks , in gratitude for which they later adopted the hood ( or cappuccio ) worn by that Order — which was the mark of a hermit in that region of Italy — and the practice of wearing a beard . The popular name of their Order originates from this feature of their religious habit . \n \n In 1528 , Friar Matteo obtained the approval of Pope Clement VII and was given permission to live as a hermit and to go about everywhere preaching to the poor . These permissions were not only for himself , but for all such as might join him in the attempt to restore the most literal observance possible of the Rule of St. Francis . Matteo and the original band were soon joined by others . Matteo and his companions were formed into a separate province , called the Hermit Friars Minor , as a branch of the Conventual Franciscans , but with a Vicar Provincial of their own , subject to the jurisdiction of the Minister General of the Conventuals . The Observants , the other branch of the Franciscan Order at that time , continued to oppose the movement . \n \n Rules of the Order \n \n In 1529 , they had four houses and held their first General Chapter , at which their particular rules were drawn up . The eremitical idea was abandoned , but the life was to be one of extreme austerity , simplicity and poverty — in all things as near an approach to St Francis ' ideals as was practicable . Neither the monasteries nor the Province should possess anything , nor were any loopholes to be resorted to for evading this law . No large provision against temporal wants should be made , and the supplies in the house should never exceed what was necessary for a few days . Everything was to be obtained by begging , and the friars were not allowed even to touch money . \n \n The communities were to be small , eight being fixed as the normal number and twelve as the limit . In furniture and clothing extreme simplicity was enjoined and the friars were discalced , required to go bare-footed — without even sandals . Like the Observants , the Capuchins wore a brown habit . Their form , however , was to be of the most simple form , i.e . only of a tunic , with the distinctive large , pointed hood reaching to the waist attached to it , girdled by the traditional woolen cord with three knots . By visual analogy , the Capuchin monkey and the cappuccino style of coffee are both named after the shade of brown used for their habit . \n \n \n Besides the canonical choral celebration of the Divine Office , a portion of which was recited at midnight , there were two hours of private prayer daily . The fasts and disciplines were rigorous and frequent . The great external work was preaching and spiritual ministrations among the poor . In theology the Capuchins abandoned the later Franciscan School of Scotus , and returned to the earlier school of St. Bonaventure . \n \n Early setbacks \n \n The movement at the outset of its history underwent a series of severe blows . Two of the founders left it : Matteo Serafini of Bascio ( Matteo Bassi ) returning to the Observants , while his first companion , on being replaced in the office of Vicar Provincial , became so insubordinate that he had to be expelled from the Order . Even more scandalously , the third", "qas": [ { "answers": [ { "answer_start": 346, "text": "franciscan friar" } ], "id": "sfq_16366--Order_of_Friars_Minor_Capuchin.txt", "qid": "sfq_16366", "question": "Capuchins belong to which larger religious order of monks?" } ] } ] }

{ "paragraphs": [ { "context": "Thomas Edward Patrick Brady , Jr. ( born August 3 , 1977 ) , is an American football quarterback for the New England Patriots of the National Football League ( NFL ) . \n \n After playing college football for the University of Michigan , Ann Arbor , Michigan , Brady was drafted by the Patriots in the sixth round of the 2000 NFL draft . In Brady 's 14 seasons as a starter , the Patriots have earned six trips to the Super Bowl ( the most for any quarterback , ever ) , winning four games . \n \n Brady has won three Super Bowl MVP ( Super Bowl XXXVI , XXXVIII , and XLIX ) and two league MVP awards ( 2007 and 2010 ) , has been selected to 11 Pro Bowls , and has led his team to more division titles ( 13 ) than any other quarterback in NFL history . Brady is fifth all-time in career passing yards , and third in career touchdown passes . His career postseason record is 22–9 . He has won more playoff games than any other quarterback , and appeared in more playoff games than any player at any position . \n \n Brady led the Patriots when they set the NFL record for the longest consecutive win streak , including the playoffs , with 21 straight wins in the 2003 and 2004 seasons . He set the record for most consecutive playoff wins with 10 , and in 2007 , he led the Patriots to the first undefeated regular season since the season was expanded to 16 games . He has thrown for more passing yards and touchdowns than any quarterback in NFL postseason history , and has the sixth highest career passer rating of all time ( 96.6 ) among quarterbacks with at least 1,500 career passing attempts . \n \n As a result of his abundance of both regular and postseason accolades , many analysts and sports writers consider Brady as one of the greatest quarterbacks in NFL history , if not the greatest . Other analysts and sports writers consider Brady 's legacy has been tarnished by his involvement in Deflategate . \n \n Brady and Joe Montana are the only players in NFL history to win multiple NFL MVP and Super Bowl MVP awards . In 2007 , he was named NFL Most Valuable Player ( MVP ) , and the Associated Press named him Male Athlete of the Year , the first NFL player so honored since 1990 . He became the first quarterback to throw for 50 touchdowns in a season . In 2010 , he was unanimously chosen as the NFL MVP , becoming the first player since 1986 to be unanimously chosen as MVP , and was ranked as the top player in the NFL Top 100 , a poll of league players . He set the NFL record for consecutive passes without an interception ( 358 ) , and broke his own record for the highest season touchdown to interception ratio , among players who have started a full season , at 9:1 . \n \n Brady and the Patriots head coach , Bill Belichick , have combined to form the most successful quarterback-coach tandem in NFL history , winning 172 regular season games and 22 postseason games together , as well as appearing in six Super Bowls together . All of these events set new NFL records . \n \n Early life \n \n Brady was born in San Mateo , California , the only son and fourth child of Galynn Patricia ( née Johnson ) and Thomas Brady , Sr . He has three older sisters named Nancy , Julie , and Maureen . He was raised Catholic . His father is of Irish descent , while his mother has Norwegian , Polish , and Swedish ancestry . \n \n Brady regularly attended San Francisco 49ers games at Candlestick Park in the 1980s , where he became a fan of quarterback Joe Montana ; since then , Brady has mentioned Montana as one of his inspirations and an idol . At the age of four , Brady attended the 1981 NFC Championship against the Dallas Cowboys , in which Montana threw The Catch to Dwight Clark . Brady attended football camp at the College of San Mateo as a child , where he learned to throw the football from camp counselor and quarterback Tony Graziani . He grew up as a Los Angeles Lakers and Boston Celtics fan . \n \n Brady attended Junípero Serra High School in San Mateo , graduating in 1995 at St. Mary 's Cathedral . He played football , basketball , and baseball in high school . He played against", "qas": [ { "answers": [ { "answer_start": 105, "text": "new england patriot" } ], "id": "sfq_22351--Tom_Brady.txt", "qid": "sfq_22351", "question": "Tom Brady has been the starting quarterback for which NFL team since 2000?" } ] } ] }

{ "paragraphs": [ { "context": "Buttermilk refers to a number of dairy drinks . Originally , buttermilk was the liquid left behind after churning butter out of cream . This type of buttermilk is known as traditional buttermilk . \n \n The term buttermilk also refers to a range of fermented milk drinks , common in warm climates ( e.g. , the Balkans , the Middle East , Turkey , Afghanistan , Pakistan , Nepal , India , Sri Lanka , Nicaragua and the Southern United States ) where unrefrigerated fresh milk sours quickly , as well as in colder climates , such as Scandinavia , Ireland , the Netherlands , Germany , Poland , Slovakia , Slovenia , Croatia and the Czech Republic . This fermented dairy product known as cultured buttermilk is produced from cow 's milk and has a characteristically sour taste caused by lactic acid bacteria . This variant is made using one of two species of bacteria—either Lactococcus lactis or Lactobacillus bulgaricus , which creates more tartness . \n \n The tartness of buttermilk is due to acid in the milk . The increased acidity is primarily due to lactic acid produced by lactic acid bacteria while fermenting lactose , the primary sugar in milk . As the bacteria produce lactic acid , the pH of the milk decreases and casein , the primary milk protein , precipitates , causing the curdling or clabbering of milk . This process makes buttermilk thicker than plain milk . While both traditional and cultured buttermilk contain lactic acid , traditional buttermilk tends to be less viscous , whereas cultured buttermilk is more viscous . \n \n Buttermilk can be drunk straight , and it can also be used in cooking . Soda bread is a bread in which the acid in buttermilk reacts with the rising agent , sodium bicarbonate , to produce carbon dioxide which acts as the leavening agent . Buttermilk is also used in marination , especially of chicken and pork , whereby the lactic acid helps to tenderize , retain moisture , and allows added flavors to permeate throughout the meat . \n \n Traditional buttermilk \n \n Originally , buttermilk referred to the liquid left over from churning butter from cultured or fermented cream . Traditionally , before cream could be skimmed from whole milk , the milk was left to sit for a period of time to allow the cream and milk to separate . During this time , naturally occurring lactic acid-producing bacteria in the milk fermented it . This facilitates the butter churning process , since fat from cream with a lower pH coalesces more readily than that of fresh cream . The acidic environment also helps prevent potentially harmful microorganisms from growing , increasing shelf-life . However , in establishments that used cream separators , the cream was hardly acidic at all . \n \n On the Indian subcontinent , the term `` buttermilk '' refers to the liquid left over after extracting butter from churned cream . Today , this is called traditional buttermilk . Traditional buttermilk is still common in many Indian , Nepalese , and Pakistani households , but rarely found in Western countries . \n In Southern India and in the states of Punjab , Gujarat and Rajasthan , buttermilk topped with sugar , salt , cumin , asafoetida , or curry leaves is a common accompaniment in every meal . \n \n Cultured buttermilk \n \n Commercially available cultured buttermilk is milk that has been pasteurized and homogenized ( with 1 % or 2 % fat ) , and then inoculated with a culture of Lactococcus lactis ( formerly known as Streptococcus lactis ) plus Leuconostoc citrovorum to simulate the naturally occurring bacteria in the old-fashioned product . Some dairies add colored flecks of butter to cultured buttermilk to simulate residual flecks of butter that can be left over from the churning process of traditional buttermilk . \n \n Condensed buttermilk and dried buttermilk have increased in importance in the food industry . Buttermilk solids are used in ice cream manufacturing , as well as being added to pancake mixes . Adding specific strains of bacteria to pasteurized milk allows more consistent production . \n \n In the early 1900s , cultured buttermilk was labeled artificial buttermilk , to differentiate it from traditional buttermilk , which was known as natural or ordinary buttermilk . \n \n Acidified buttermilk \n \n Acidified buttermilk is a related product made by adding a food-grade acid ( such as lemon juice ) to milk . It can be produced by mixing 1 tablespoon of vinegar or lemon juice per 1 cup of milk and letting it sit until it curdles , about 10 minutes . Any level of fat content for the milk", "qas": [ { "answers": [ { "answer_start": 1615, "text": "soda bread" } ], "id": "qz_6182--Buttermilk.txt", "qid": "qz_6182", "question": "Which traditional Irish loaf is made using flour, bicarbonate of soda and buttermilk" } ] } ] }

{ "paragraphs": [ { "context": "The Sith is an organization in the fictional Star Wars universe . It is an ancient interstellar quasi-religious kratocratic government led by those who seize power through force or cunning . Sith characters are characterized by their lust for power and their desire to destroy the Jedi Order ; they are frequently depicted throughout the franchise as amoral , sadistic , vindictive and violent . \n \n The term `` Sith '' originally referred to a species of Force-sensitive sentients indigenous to the planets Korriban and Ziost ; these people were later enslaved and ruled by exiled `` Dark Jedi '' from the Galactic Republic . Following centuries of interbreeding and mixing of cultures between the aliens and the exiles , the Sith would no longer be identified by their race , but by their dedication to the ancient Sith philosophy . The Sith Order established several Sith Empires , initiated many galactic wars , and have undergone numerous incarnations throughout their existence . The Banite Sith Order , as depicted in the Original trilogy and Prequel trilogy , was founded by Darth Bane ; this Sith dynasty lasted between circa `` 1,000 BBY-4 ABY '' ; ( Before Battle of Yavin/After Battle of Yavin ; `` 0 ABY '' being the destruction of the first Death Star ) ending with the death of Palpatine and Darth Vader . During this `` Banite dynasty '' there existed only two Sith members at a time : a master and an apprentice . As Darth Sidious explained in the Prequel trilogy , `` the Dark Side of the Force is a pathway to many abilities some consider to be unnatural '' . \n \n Overview \n \n The Sith are dedicated to sith philosophy and to mastering the dark side of the Force . The Sith members , known as Sith Lords or Dark Lords of the Sith , traditionally use the title Darth-prefix before their Sith name . The Sith are the archenemies of the quasi-religious Jedi and , like them , their main weapon is the lightsaber . While Jedi are subservient to the Force and aid the Galactic Republic by utilizing the Force for peace , knowledge and defense , the Sith prefer to exploit the Force for power , aggression or personal gain ; desires that inevitably led to both imperial conquest and their own self-destruction . \n \n Sources and analogues \n \n The word `` sith '' was first used in the novelization of Star Wars , as a title for Darth Vader , the `` Dark Lord of the Sith '' . The Sith were not formally introduced or mentioned on-screen until the release of Star Wars : Episode I – The Phantom Menace , in 1999 , though they had been named in some Expanded Universe works before that time . \n \n Not every `` Dark Side '' -user is a Sith ; nor is every `` Light Side '' -user a Jedi . Dark Jedi is the name given in the Star Wars universe to antihero fictional characters attuned to the Force and adept in its dark side . The concept of `` Dark Jedi '' is not endorsed anywhere within the movie trilogies . They exist by that name only in the Star Wars Expanded Universe , including video games such as Star Wars : Knights of the Old Republic and the Star Wars : Jedi Knight series ; the term is never used in any of the seven Star Wars films . \n \n Because the term Sith was never spoken in the original trilogy ( although Darth Vader was described as `` Lord of the Sith '' in the published screenplay ) , early Expanded Universe products usually considered the `` evil Jedi , '' those who joined the dark side of the Force , as `` Dark Jedi . '' In his novel series The Thrawn Trilogy , author Timothy Zahn labeled Sith Lord Darth Vader and Emperor Palpatine as Dark Jedi , and the term `` Sith '' was never mentioned in the series until later reprints of the novels . \n \n Appearances ( chronological order ) \n \n ; Star Wars Saga series \n * Star Wars : Episode I – The Phantom Menace ( Sidious and Maul ) \n * Star Wars : Episode II – Attack of the Clones ( Sidious and Tyranus ) \n * Star Wars : Episode III – Revenge of the Sith ( Sidious , Tyranus , and Vader ) \n * Star Wars Episode IV : A New Hope ( Vader ) \n * Star Wars Episode V : The Empire Strikes Back ( Sidious and Vader ) \n * Star Wars Episode VI : Return of the", "qas": [ { "answers": [ { "answer_start": 1917, "text": "lightsaber" } ], "id": "qb_5176--Sith.txt", "qid": "qb_5176", "question": "In the Star Wars series of films what is the name of the fictional weapon, consisting of a polished hilt which projects a blade of plasma, used by the Jedi and the Sith?" } ] } ] }

{ "paragraphs": [ { "context": "The Southdown is a small , dual-purpose English sheep , raised primarily for meat . The Southdown breed was originally bred by John Ellman of Glynde , near Lewes , East Sussex , about 200 years ago . His work was continued by Jonas Webb of Babraham in Cambridgeshire , who developed the larger animal of today . It was exported to New Zealand and was used in the breeding of the Canterbury lamb . \n \n This sheep was involved with crossbreeding to develop other breeds : \n \n * with existing stock , the Hampshire , \n * via the Hampshire , the Oxford Down \n * with the Norfolk Horn , the Suffolk . \n \n The Southdown in Britain is recognised by the Rare Breeds Survival Trust as a native breed , although today it is popular amongst the smaller scale breeders of sheep . \n \n Characteristics \n \n It has been split into two sub-breeds . The Southdown raised by commercial growers today , is larger than the `` traditional '' Southdown of years past . North American Southdowns are also taller than their English counterparts . The original blood line of the English Southdowns are the `` Baby Doll '' Southdowns in the US . They have been selected specifically for their smaller size of the original blood lines and a focus on wool and hobby breeding rather than commercial meat production . In California and New Zealand , they are placed in vineyards to graze weeds because they are too short to reach the grapes on the vines . Fimrite , P. [ http : //www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi ? f \n /c/a/2011/04/01/BAVP1INGPN.DTL Napa sheep slaughter solved : Culprits were cougars . ] San Francisco Chronicle April 1 , 2011 . Retrieved 2011-04-01 . Baby Doll breeders claim that their sheep are closer to the old , traditional , English Southdown than are the commercial Southdown sheep being grown today . \n \n Mature weights for rams range from 190 lb ( 86 kg ) to 230 lb ( 104 kg ) ; ewes weigh from 130 lb ( 59 kg ) to 180 lb ( 81 kg ) . From mature ewes , fleece weights are between 5 lb ( 2.25 kg ) and 8 lb ( 3.6 kg ) with a yield of 40 % to 55 % . The fleeces are considered medium wool type with a fiber diameter of 23.5 to 29.0 microns and a numerical count of 54 to 60 . The staple length ranges from 1.5 inches ( 4 cm ) to 2.5 inches ( 6 cm ) . \n \n History \n \n \n An estimated 110,000 sheep were in Sussex as early as 1341 . At the time , their wool was second only to the Hereford sheep in fineness and quality . \n \n In 1780 , John Ellman realized the potential of these animals and set out to standardize the Southdown breed . In the 19th century and first half of the 20th century , they were found in large numbers , especially in the South Downs near Lewes . \n \n In 1813 , Arthur Young estimated 200,000 ewes were kept on the eastern South Downs and commented , `` the amazing number they keep is one of the most singular circumstances in the sheep husbandry of England '' . \n \n The principal reason for the large concentrations of Southdown sheep on downland farms over these centuries was their role in the maintenance of soil fertility . The large flocks grazed the open downs by day and at dusk they came down to the lower arable land for folding . The downland soils are chalky and not naturally fertile , so the close-folding by the sheep on small areas manured and trod the soil . This meant wheat could be grown successfully the following year . With the gradual introduction of new crops such as field turnips , swedes , kohl rabi and other forage crops , the folding system took off , increasing in parallel with expanding human population . The system reached its zenith in the years from about 1845 to 1880 . \n \n The 20th century brought the establishment of pedigree recording . By 1911 , 359 registered Southdown flocks contained some 114,495 breeding ewes throughout Britain . \n \n Much remained the same until the First World War , when the Southdown flocks declined with some rapidity , as shepherds and farm workers went off to war . By 1922 , the 359 pedigree flocks had shrunk to 245 . From then until 1939 , the registered Southdown flocks numbered around 200 . Folding flocks were no longer economical and smaller flocks averaged only 135 ewes apiece .", "qas": [ { "answers": [ { "answer_start": 48, "text": "sheep" } ], "id": "qw_2351--Southdown_sheep.txt", "qid": "qw_2351", "question": "Cotswold, Southdown, Dorset, Lonk and Lincoln are breeds of what animal?" } ] } ] }

{ "paragraphs": [ { "context": "Oxford ( ) is a city in the South East region of England and the county town of Oxfordshire . With a population of 159,994 it is the 52nd largest city in the United Kingdom , and one of the fastest growing and most ethnically diverse . Oxford has a broad economic base . Its industries include motor manufacturing , education , publishing and a large number of information technology and science-based businesses , some being academic offshoots . \n \n The city is known worldwide as the home of the University of Oxford , the oldest university in the English-speaking world . Buildings in Oxford demonstrate notable examples of every English architectural period since the late Saxon period . Oxford is known as the `` city of dreaming spires '' , a term coined by poet Matthew Arnold . \n \n History \n \n Medieval \n \n Oxford was first settled in Saxon times and was initially known as `` Oxenaforda '' , meaning `` Ford of the Oxen '' ( according to the English Place-Name Society , who base their result on a passing reference in Florence of Worcester 's work `` Chronicon ex chronicis '' ) ; fords were more common than bridges at that time . It began with the establishment of a river crossing for oxen around AD 900 . In the 10th century , Oxford became an important military frontier town between the kingdoms of Mercia and Wessex and was on several occasions raided by Danes . \n \n Oxford was heavily damaged during the Norman Invasion of 1066 . Following the conquest , the town was assigned to a governor , Robert D'Oyly , who ordered the construction of Oxford Castle to confirm Norman authority over the area . The castle has never been used for military purposes and its remains survive to this day . D'Oyly set up a monastic community in the castle consisting of a chapel and living quarters for monks ( St George in the Castle ) . The community never grew large but it earned its place in history as one of Britain 's oldest places of formal education . It was there that in 1139 Geoffrey of Monmouth wrote his History of the Kings of Britain , a compilation of Arthurian legends . \n \n In 1191 , a city charter stated in Latin , \n \n Oxford 's prestige was enhanced by its charter granted by King Henry II , granting its citizens the same privileges and exemptions as those enjoyed by the capital of the kingdom ; and various important religious houses were founded in or near the city . A grandson of King John established Rewley Abbey for the Cistercian Order ; and friars of various orders ( Dominicans , Franciscans , Carmelites , Augustinians and Trinitarians ) all had houses of varying importance at Oxford . Parliaments were often held in the city during the 13th century . The Provisions of Oxford were instigated by a group of barons led by Simon de Montfort ; these documents are often regarded as England 's first written constitution . \n \n Richard I of England ( reigned 6 July 1189 – 6 April 1199 ) and John , King of England ( reigned 6 April 1199 – 19 October 1216 ) the sons of Henry II of England , were both born at Beaumont Palace in Oxford , on 8 September 1157 and 24 December 1166 respectively . A plaque in Beaumont Street commemorates these events . \n \n University of Oxford \n \n The University of Oxford is first mentioned in 12th century records . Of the hundreds of Aularian houses that sprang up across the city , only St Edmund Hall ( c. 1225 ) remains . What put an end to the halls was the emergence of colleges . Oxford 's earliest colleges were University College ( 1249 ) , Balliol ( 1263 ) and Merton ( 1264 ) . These colleges were established at a time when Europeans were starting to translate the writings of Greek philosophers . These writings challenged European ideology , inspiring scientific discoveries and advancements in the arts , as society began to see itself in a new way . These colleges at Oxford were supported by the Church in the hope of reconciling Greek philosophy and Christian theology . The relationship between `` town and gown '' has often been uneasy – as many as 93 students and townspeople were killed in the St Scholastica Day Riot of 1355 . \n \n The sweating sickness epidemic in 1517 was particularly devastating to Oxford and Cambridge where it killed half of both cities ' populations , including many students and dons . \n \n Christ Church Cathedral", "qas": [ { "answers": [], "id": "odql_10081--Oxford.txt", "qid": "odql_10081", "question": "Which Welsh seaport is linked to London by the A40?" } ] } ] }

{ "paragraphs": [ { "context": "McDonald 's is the world 's largest chain of hamburger fast food restaurants , serving around 68 million customers daily in 119 countries across 36,538 outlets . Founded in the United States in 1940 , the company began as a barbecue restaurant operated by Richard and Maurice McDonald . In 1948 , they reorganized their business as a hamburger stand using production line principles . Businessman Ray Kroc joined the company as a franchise agent in 1955 . He subsequently purchased the chain from the McDonald brothers and oversaw its worldwide growth . \n \n A McDonald 's restaurant is operated by either a franchisee , an affiliate , or the corporation itself . The McDonald 's Corporation revenues come from the rent , royalties , and fees paid by the franchisees , as well as sales in company-operated restaurants . According to a 2012 BBC report , McDonald 's is the world 's second largest private employer—behind Walmart—with 1.9 million employees , 1.5 million of whom work for franchises . \n \n McDonald 's primarily sells hamburgers , cheeseburgers , chicken , french fries , breakfast items , soft drinks , milkshakes , and desserts . In response to changing consumer tastes , the company has expanded its menu to include salads , fish , wraps , smoothies and fruit . \n \n History \n \n The business began in 1940 , with a restaurant opened by brothers Richard and Maurice McDonald at 1398 North E Street at West 14th Street in San Bernardino , California ( at ) . Their introduction of the `` Speedee Service System '' in 1948 furthered the principles of the modern fast-food restaurant that the White Castle hamburger chain had already put into practice more than two decades earlier . The first McDonald 's with the arches opened in Phoenix , Arizona in March 1953 . The original mascot of McDonald 's was a man with a chef 's hat on top of a hamburger-shaped head whose name was `` Speedee '' . By 1967 , Speedee was eventually replaced with Ronald McDonald when the company first filed a U.S. trademark on a clown-like man having puffed-out costume legs . \n \n On May 4 , 1961 , McDonald 's first filed for a U.S. trademark on the name `` McDonald 's '' with the description `` Drive-In Restaurant Services '' , which continues to be renewed through the end of December 2009 . On September 13 that same year , the company filed a logo trademark on an overlapping , double-arched `` M '' symbol . By September 6 , 1962 , this M-symbol was temporarily disfavored , when a trademark was filed for a single arch , shaped over many of the early McDonald 's restaurants in the early years . Although the `` Golden Arches '' logo appeared in various forms , the present version as a letter `` M '' did not appear until November 18 , 1968 , when the company applied for a U.S. trademark . \n \n The present corporation dates its founding to the opening of a franchised restaurant by businessman Ray Kroc in Des Plaines , Illinois on April 15 , 1955 , the ninth McDonald 's restaurant overall ; this location was demolished in 1984 after many remodels . Kroc later purchased the McDonald brothers ' equity in the company and led its worldwide expansion , and the company became listed on the public stock markets ten years later . Kroc was also noted for aggressive business practices , compelling the McDonald brothers to leave the fast-food industry . Kroc and the McDonald brothers all feuded over control of the business , as documented in both Kroc 's autobiography and in the McDonald brothers ' autobiography . The San Bernardino restaurant was demolished in 1976 ( 1971 , according to Juan Pollo ) and the site was sold to the Juan Pollo restaurant chain . This area now serves as headquarters for the Juan Pollo chain , as well as a McDonald 's and Route 66 museum . With the expansion of McDonald 's into many international markets , the company has become a symbol of globalization and the spread of the American way of life . Its prominence has also made it a frequent topic of public debates about obesity , corporate ethics and consumer responsibility . \n \n Corporate overview \n \n Facts and figures \n \n McDonald 's restaurants are found in 118 countries and territories around the world and serve 68 million customers each day . McDonald 's operates 36,525 restaurants worldwide , employing more than 420,000 people . There are currently a total of 6,444 company-owned locations and 30,081 franchised locations , which includes 21,147 locations franchised to", "qas": [ { "answers": [], "id": "bb_6310--McDonald's.txt", "qid": "bb_6310", "question": "How many years old was the McDonalds fast food company in 2015?" } ] } ] }

{ "paragraphs": [ { "context": "An hors d'oeuvre ( ; ) , appetizer , or starter is a small dish served before a meal . Some hors d'oeuvres are served cold , others hot . Hors d'oeuvres may be served at the dinner table , or in the bedroom , as a part of the meal or they may be served before seating . Formerly , hors d'oeuvres were also served between courses . \n \n Typically smaller than a main dish , it is often designed to be eaten by hand ( with minimal use of cutlery ) . \n \n Names \n \n Hors d'oeuvre in French means `` outside the work '' —that is , `` not part of the ordinary set of courses in a meal '' . The French spelling is the same for singular and plural usage ; in English , the typographic ligature is usually replaced by the digraph , with the plural commonly written hors d'oeuvres and pronounced . \n \n `` Appetizer '' is a synonym for hors d'oeuvre . \n \n `` Starter '' is sometimes used to denote an hors d'oeuvre , sometimes to denote more substantial courses , known in Europe and North America as entrées . \n \n Origins \n \n A small number of food historians believe that the tradition may have begun in Russia , where small snacks of fish , caviar and meats were common after long travels . However , it may be that the custom originated in China , possibly coming through Steppes , into Russia , Scandinavia , France and other European countries . The tradition may have reached Italy , Greece and the Balkan nations through Russia or Persia . Many national customs are related , including the Swedish smörgåsbord , Russian zakuska , Lebanese mezze , and Italian antipasto . During the Roman Period the meal practice was to have two main courses which were supplemented before the meal with small amounts of fish , vegetables , cheeses , olives and even stuffed dormice . These would be served at the start of the meal known as either gustatio or promulsis . The Greeks called the appetizer course propoma . \n \n French etymology \n \n During the Middle Ages formal French meals were served with entremets between the serving of plates . These secondary dishes could be either actual food dishes , or elaborate displays and even dramatic or musical presentations . In the 14th century , recipes for entremets were mostly made with meat , fish , pork and vegetables . By the 15th century the elaborate display and performances were served up between courses , and could be edible or displays of subjects relevant to the host , created in butter sculpture or other types of crafted work . With the introduction in the 17th century of service à la française , where all the dishes are laid out at once in very rigid symmetrical fashion , entremets began to change in meaning but were still mainly savoury . Along with this came elaborate silver and ceramic table displays as well as pièces montées . The entremets were placed between the other dishes within the main work of the meal . \n \n At about this time in the 17th century , smaller dishes began to be served by being placed outside the main work of symmetrically placed dishes . These were known as hors d'oeuvre . Hors d'oeuvres were originally served as a canapé of small toasted bread with a savoury topping before a meal . The first mention of the food item was by François Massialot in 1691 , mentioned in his book : Le cuisinier roial et bourgeois ( The Royal and Bourgeois Cook ) and explained as `` Certain dishes served in addition to those one might expect in the normal composition of the feast '' . In the French publication Les plaisirs de la table , Edouard Nignon stated that hors d'oeuvres originated in Asia . He went on to state that the French considered hors-d'oeuvres to be superfluous to a well cooked meal . Service à la française continued in Europe until the early 19th century . After the 19th century the entremet would become almost exclusively a sweet dish or dessert with the British custom of the `` savoury '' being the only remaining tradition of the savoury entremet . \n \n The style of formal dining changed drastically in the 19th century , becoming successive courses served one after the other over a period of time . Some traditional hors d'oeuvres would remain on the table throughout the meal . These included olives , nuts , celery and radishes . The changing , contemporary hors d'oeuvres , sometimes called `` dainty dishes ''", "qas": [ { "answers": [ { "answer_start": 1555, "text": "antipasto" } ], "id": "sfq_1427--Hors_d'oeuvre.txt", "qid": "sfq_1427", "question": "Hors D'Oeuvres, usually consisting of marinated vegetables, or cured meats, are known by what name in Italy?" } ] } ] }

{ "paragraphs": [ { "context": "A war elephant is an elephant that is trained and guided by humans for combat . \n \n The war elephant 's main use was to charge the enemy , breaking their ranks and instilling terror . Elephantry are military units with elephant-mounted troops . \n They were first employed in India , the practice spreading out across south-east Asia and westwards into the Mediterranean . Their most famous use in the West was by the Greek King Pyrrhus of Epirus and in significant numbers by the armies of Carthage , including briefly by Hannibal . \n \n In the Mediterranean , improved tactics reduced the value of the elephant in battle , while their availability in the wild also decreased . In the east , where supplies of animals were greater and the terrain ideal , it was the advent of the cannon that finally concluded the use of the combat elephant at the end of the 19th century , thereafter restricting their use to engineering and labour roles . \n \n Taming \n \n The first elephant species to be tamed was the Asian Elephant , for use in agriculture . Elephant taming - not full domestication , as they are still captured in the wild , rather than being bred in captivity - may have begun in any of three different places . The oldest evidence comes from the Indus Valley Civilization , around roughly 4500 BC . Archaeological evidence for the presence of wild elephants in the Yellow River valley during the Shang Dynasty ( 1600–1100 BC ) of China may suggest that they also used elephants in warfare . The wild elephant populations of Mesopotamia and China declined quickly because of deforestation and human population growth : by c. 850 BC the Mesopotamian elephants were extinct , and by c. 500 BC the Chinese elephants were seriously reduced in numbers and limited to areas well south of the Yellow River . \n \n Capturing elephants from the wild remained a difficult task , but a necessary one given the difficulties of breeding in captivity and the long time required for an elephant to reach sufficient maturity to engage in battle . It is commonly thought that all war elephants were male because of males ' greater aggression , but it is rather because a female elephant in battle will run from a male ; therefore only males could be used in war , whereas female elephants were more commonly used for logistics . \n \n Antiquity \n \n India , Persia , and Alexander the Great \n \n There is uncertainty as to when elephant warfare first began . The earliest Indian Vedic hymns , the Rigveda , dating from the late 2nd and early 1st millennia BC , make reference to the use of elephants for transport - especially Indra and his divine white elephant , Airavata - but make no reference to the use of elephants in war , focusing instead on Indra 's role in leading horse cavalry . The later stories of the Mahabharata and the Ramayana , dating from around the 4th century BC , do however mention elephant warfare , suggesting its introduction during the intervening period . The ancient Indian kings certainly valued the elephant in war , some stating that an army without elephants is as despicable as a forest without a lion , a kingdom without a king or as valour unaided by weapons . ' \n \n From India , military thinking on the use of war elephants spread westwards to the Persian Empire , where they were used in several campaigns and in turn came to influence the campaigns of Alexander the Great . The first confrontation between Europeans and the Persian war elephants occurred at the Alexander 's Battle of Gaugamela ( 331 BC ) , where the Persians deployed fifteen elephants . These elephants were placed at the centre of the Persian line and made such an impression on the Macedonian troops that Alexander felt the need to sacrifice to the God of Fear the night before the battle - but according to some sources the elephants ultimately failed to deploy in the final battle owing to their long march the day before . Alexander won resoundingly at Gaugamela , but was deeply impressed by the enemy elephants and took these first fifteen into his own army , adding to their number during his capture of the rest of Persia . \n \n By the time Alexander reached the borders of India five years later , he had a substantial number of elephants under his own command . When it came to defeating Porus , who ruled in the Punjab region of modern-day Pakistan , Alexander found himself facing a considerable force", "qas": [ { "answers": [ { "answer_start": 490, "text": "carthage" } ], "id": "qw_3175--War_elephant.txt", "qid": "qw_3175", "question": "One of Hannibal's most famous achievements was at the outbreak of the Second Punic War, when he marched an army, which included war elephants, from Iberia over the Pyrenees and the Alps into northern Italy with the intention of attacking Rome. What city was he from?" } ] } ] }

{ "paragraphs": [ { "context": "The Barber of Seville , or The Futile Precaution ( ) is an opera buffa in two acts by Gioachino Rossini with an Italian libretto by Cesare Sterbini . The libretto was based on Pierre Beaumarchais 's French comedy Le Barbier de Séville ( 1775 ) . The première of Rossini 's opera ( under the title Almaviva , o sia L'inutile precauzione ) took place on 20 February 1816 at the Teatro Argentina , Rome . \n \n Rossini 's Barber has proven to be one of the greatest masterpieces of comedy within music , and has been described as the opera buffa of all `` opere buffe '' . Even after two hundred years , it remains a popular work . \n \n Composition history \n \n Rossini 's opera recounts the events of the first of the three plays by French playwright Pierre Beaumarchais that revolve around the clever and enterprising character named Figaro . Mozart 's opera Le nozze di Figaro , composed 30 years earlier in 1786 , is based on the second part of the Beaumarchais trilogy . The first Beaumarchais play was originally conceived as an opéra comique , but was rejected as such by the Comédie-Italienne . The play as it is now known was premiered in 1775 by the Comédie-Française at the Théâtre des Tuileries in Paris . \n \n Other operas based on the first play were composed by Giovanni Paisiello ( his Il barbiere di Siviglia premiered in 1782 ) , by Nicolas Isouard in 1796 , and then by Francesco Morlacchi in 1816 . Though the work of Paisiello triumphed for a time , only Rossini 's version has stood the test of time and continues to be a mainstay of operatic repertoire . On 11 November 1868 , two days before Rossini 's death , the composer Costantino Dall'Argine ( 1842–1877 ) premiered an opera based on the same libretto as Rossini 's work , bearing a dedication to Rossini . The premiere was not a failure , but critics condemned the `` audacity '' of the young composer and the work is now forgotten . \n \n Rossini was well known for being remarkably productive , completing an average of two operas per year for 19 years , and in some years writing as many as four . Musicologists believe that , true to form , the music for Il Barbiere di Siviglia was composed in just under three weeks , Osborne , Richard 2007 , [ http : //books.google.com/books ? id \n hFR1f2PURh0C & pg=PA39 pp . 38–41 ] . although the famous overture was actually recycled from two earlier Rossini operas , Aureliano in Palmira and Elisabetta , regina d'Inghilterra and thus contains none of the thematic material in Il Barbiere di Siviglia itself . \n \n Performance history \n \n The premiere of Rossini 's opera at the Teatro Argentina in Rome was a disastrous failure : the audience hissed and jeered throughout , and several on-stage accidents occurred . However , many of the audience were supporters of one of Rossini 's rivals , Giovanni Paisiello , who played on mob mentality to provoke the rest of the audience to dislike the opera . Paisiello had already composed The Barber of Seville and took Rossini 's new version to be an affront to his version . In particular , Paisiello and his followers were opposed to the use of basso buffo , which is common in comic opera . The second performance met with quite a different fate , becoming a roaring success . The original French play , Le Barbier de Séville , endured a similar story : poorly received at first , only to become a favorite within a week . \n \n The opera was first performed in England on 10 March 1818 at the King 's Theatre in London in Italian , soon followed on 13 October at the Covent Garden Theatre by an English version translated by John Fawcett and Daniel Terry . It was first performed in America on 3 May 1819 in English ( probably the Covent Garden version ) at the Park Theatre in New York . It was given in French at the Théâtre d'Orléans in New Orleans on 4 March 1823 , and became the first opera ever to be performed in Italian in New York , when Manuel Garcia ( who played Almaviva ) and his Italian troupe opened their first season there with Il barbiere on 29 November 1825 at the Park Theatre . The cast of eight had three other members of his family , including the 17-year-old Maria-Felicia , later known as Maria Malibran . \n \n The role of Rosina was originally written for a contralto .", "qas": [ { "answers": [ { "answer_start": 4, "text": "barber" } ], "id": "qb_8631--The_Barber_of_Seville.txt", "qid": "qb_8631", "question": "Gioachino Rossini wrote the opera ‘The ‘what’ of Seville’?" } ] } ] }

{ "paragraphs": [ { "context": "The Colossus of Rhodes ( ) Kolossos means `` giant statue '' . R. S. P. Beekes has suggested a Pre-Greek proto-form * koloky- ( Etymological Dictionary of Greek , Brill , 2009 , p. 740 ) . was a statue of the Greek titan-god of the sun Helios , erected in the city of Rhodes , on the Greek island of the same name , by Chares of Lindos in 280 BC . One of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World , it was constructed to celebrate Rhodes ' victory over the ruler of Cyprus , Antigonus I Monophthalmus , whose son unsuccessfully besieged Rhodes in 305 BC . Before its destruction in the earthquake of 226 BC , the Colossus of Rhodes stood over 30 m high , making it the tallest statue of the ancient world at the time . \n \n As of 2015 , there are tentative plans to build a new Colossus at the location of the original . \n \n Siege of Rhodes \n \n In the late 4th century BC , Rhodes , allied with Ptolemy I of Egypt , prevented a mass invasion staged by their common enemy , Antigonus I Monophthalmus . \n \n In 304 BC a relief force of ships sent by Ptolemy arrived , and Antigonus 's army abandoned the siege , leaving most of their siege equipment . To celebrate their victory , the Rhodians sold the equipment left behind for 300 talents and decided to use the money to build a colossal statue of their patron god , Helios . Construction was left to the direction of Chares , a native of Lindos in Rhodes , who had been involved with large-scale statues before . His teacher , the sculptor Lysippos , had constructed a 22 m bronze statue of Zeus at Tarentum . \n \n Construction \n \n Construction began in 292 BC . Ancient accounts , which differ to some degree , describe the structure as being built with iron tie bars to which brass plates were fixed to form the skin . The interior of the structure , which stood on a 15 m high white marble pedestal near the Mandraki harbour entrance , was then filled with stone blocks as construction progressed . Other sources place the Colossus on a breakwater in the harbour . The statue itself was over 30 m tall . Much of the iron and bronze was reforged from the various weapons Demetrius 's army left behind , and the abandoned second siege tower may have been used for scaffolding around the lower levels during construction . Upper portions were built with the use of a large earthen ramp . During the building , workers would pile mounds of earth on the sides of the colossus . Upon completion all of the earth was removed and the colossus was left to stand alone . After twelve years , in 280 BC , the statue was completed . Preserved in Greek anthologies of poetry is what is believed to be the genuine dedication text for the Colossus . \n \n Modern engineers have put forward a plausible hypothesis for the statue construction , based on the technology of those days ( which was not based on the modern principles of earthquake engineering ) , and the accounts of Philo and Pliny who both saw and described the remains . \n \n The base pedestal was at least 60 ft in diameter and either circular or octagonal . The feet were carved in stone and covered with thin bronze plates riveted together . Eight forged iron bars set in a radiating horizontal position formed the ankles and turned up to follow the lines of the legs while becoming progressively smaller . Individually cast curved bronze plates 60 in square with turned-in edges were joined together by rivets through holes formed during casting to form a series of rings . The lower plates were 1 in in thickness to the knee and 3/4 inch thick from knee to abdomen , while the upper plates were 1/4 to 1/2 inch thick except where additional strength was required at joints such as the shoulder , neck , etc . \n \n Destruction \n \n The statue stood for 54 years until Rhodes was hit by the 226 BC earthquake , when significant damage was also done to large portions of the city , including the harbour and commercial buildings , which were destroyed . The statue snapped at the knees and fell over onto the land . Ptolemy III offered to pay for the reconstruction of the statue , but the oracle of Delphi made the Rhodians afraid that they had offended Helios , and they declined to rebuild it .", "qas": [ { "answers": [ { "answer_start": 236, "text": "helios" } ], "id": "qg_418--Colossus_of_Rhodes.txt", "qid": "qg_418", "question": "One of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World was the Colossus of Rhodes, a mammoth statue of what Greek god?" } ] } ] }

{ "paragraphs": [ { "context": "Sir Antony Mark David Gormley , ( born 30 August 1950 ) is a British sculptor . His best known works include the Angel of the North , a public sculpture in Gateshead in the North of England , commissioned in 1994 and erected in February 1998 , Another Place on Crosby Beach near Liverpool , and Event Horizon , a multi-part site installation which premiered in London in 2007 , around Madison Square in New York City , in 2010 , in São Paulo , in 2012 , and in Hong Kong in 2015-16 . \n \n Early life \n \n The youngest of seven children born to a German mother and an Irish father , Gormley has stated that his parents chose his initials , `` AMDG '' to have the inference ' - `` to the greater glory of God '' . Gormley grew up in a Roman Catholic family living in Hampstead Garden Suburb . He attended Ampleforth College a Benedictine boarding school in Yorkshire , before reading archaeology , anthropology and the history of art at Trinity College , Cambridge , from 1968 to 1971 . He travelled to India and Sri Lanka to learn more about Buddhism between 1971 and 1974 . After attending Saint Martin 's School of Art and Goldsmiths in London from 1974 , he completed his studies with a postgraduate course in sculpture at the Slade School of Fine Art , University College , London , between 1977 and 1979 . \n \n While at the Slade , he met Vicken Parsons , who was to become his assistant and , in 1980 , his wife , as well as a successful artist in her own right . Gormley said of her : \n \n The couple have three children , a daughter and two sons . \n \n Career \n \n Gormley 's career began with a solo exhibition at the Whitechapel Art Gallery in 1981 . Almost all his work takes the human body as its subject , with his own body used in many works as the basis for metal casts . \n \n Gormley describes his work as `` an attempt to materialise the place at the other side of appearance where we all live . '' Many of his works are based on moulds taken from his own body , or `` the closest experience of matter that I will ever have and the only part of the material world that I live inside . '' His work attempts to treat the body not as an object but a place and in making works that enclose the space of a particular body to identify a condition common to all human beings . The work is not symbolic but indexical – a trace of a real event of a real body in time . \n \n The 2006 Sydney Biennale featured Gormley 's Asian Field , an installation of 180,000 small clay figurines crafted by 350 Chinese villagers in five days from 100 tons of red clay . The appropriation of others ' works caused minor controversy and some of the figurines were stolen in protest . Also in 2006 , the burning of Gormley 's 25-metre high The Waste Man formed the zenith of the Margate Exodus . \n \n In 2007 , Gormley 's Event Horizon , consisting of 31 life-size and anatomically correct casts of his body , four in cast iron and 27 in fiberglass , was installed on top of prominent buildings along London 's South Bank , and installed in locations around New York City 's Madison Square in 2010 . Gormley said of the New York site that `` Within the condensed environment of Manhattan 's topography , the level of tension between the palpable , the perceivable and the imaginable is heightened because of the density and scale of the buildings '' and that in this context , the project should `` activate the skyline in order to encourage people to look around . In this process of looking and finding , or looking and seeking , one perhaps re-assess one 's own position in the world and becomes aware of one 's status of embedment . '' Critic Howard Halle said that `` Using distance and attendant shifts of scale within the very fabric of the city , [ Event Horizon ] creates a metaphor for urban life and all the contradictory associations – alienation , ambition , anonymity , fame – it entails . `` Event Horizon : Mad . Sq . Art . : Antony Gormley [ http : //eventhorizonnewyork.org/ Madison Square installation guide ] \n \n In July 2009 , Gormley presented One & Other , a Fourth Plinth commission , an invitation for", "qas": [ { "answers": [], "id": "qz_1307--Antony_Gormley.txt", "qid": "qz_1307", "question": "What is the name of the statue by Antony Gormley that stands near the A1 motorway in Gateshead?" } ] } ] }

{ "paragraphs": [ { "context": "were the military nobility and officer caste of medieval and early-modern Japan . \n \n In Japanese , they are usually referred to as or . According to translator William Scott Wilson : `` In Chinese , the character 侍 was originally a verb meaning `` to wait upon '' or `` accompany persons '' in the upper ranks of society , and this is also true of the original term in Japanese , saburau . In both countries the terms were nominalized to mean `` those who serve in close attendance to the nobility '' , the pronunciation in Japanese changing to saburai . According to Wilson , an early reference to the word `` samurai '' appears in the Kokin Wakashū ( 905–914 ) , the first imperial anthology of poems , completed in the first part of the 10th century . \n \n By the end of the 12th century , samurai became almost entirely synonymous with bushi , and the word was closely associated with the middle and upper echelons of the warrior class . The samurai were usually associated with a clan and their lord , were trained as officers in military tactics and grand strategy , and they followed a set of rules that later came to be known as the bushidō . While the samurai numbered less than 10 % of then Japan 's population , their teachings can still be found today in both everyday life and in modern Japanese martial arts . \n \n History \n \n Asuka and Nara periods \n \n Following the Battle of Hakusukinoe against Tang China and Silla in 663 AD , which led to a retreat from Korean affairs , Japan underwent widespread reform . One of the most important was that of the Taika Reform , issued by Prince Naka-no-Ōe ( Emperor Tenji ) in 646 AD . This edict allowed the Japanese aristocracy to adopt the Tang dynasty political structure , bureaucracy , culture , religion , and philosophy . As part of the Taihō Code of 702 AD , and the later Yōrō Code , the population was required to report regularly for census , a precursor for national conscription . With an understanding of how the population was distributed , Emperor Mommu introduced a law whereby 1 in 3–4 adult males was drafted into the national military . These soldiers were required to supply their own weapons , and in-return were exempted from duties and taxes . This was one of the first attempts by the Imperial government to form an organized army modeled after the Chinese system . It was called `` Gundan-Sei '' ( : ja : 軍団制 ) by later historians and is believed to have been short-lived . \n \n The Taihō Code classified most of the Imperial bureaucrats into 12 ranks , each divided into two sub-ranks , 1st rank being the highest adviser to the Emperor . Those of 6th rank and below were referred to as `` samurai '' and dealt with day-to-day affairs . Although these `` samurai '' were civilian public servants , the name is believed to have derived from this term . Military men , however , would not be referred to as `` samurai '' for many more centuries . \n \n Heian period \n \n In the early Heian period , during the late 8th and early 9th centuries , Emperor Kammu sought to consolidate and expand his rule in northern Honshū , and sent military campaigns against the Emishi , who resisted the governance of the Kyoto-based imperial court . Emperor Kammu introduced the title of sei ' i-taishōgun ( ) , or Shogun , and began to rely on the powerful regional clans to conquer the Emishi . Skilled in mounted combat and archery ( kyūdō ) , these clan warriors became the Emperor 's preferred tool for putting down rebellions ; the most well known of which was Sakanoue no Tamuramaro . Though this is the first known use of the `` Shogun '' title , it was a temporary title , and was not imbued with political power until the 13th century . At this time ( the 7th to 9th century ) , the Imperial Court officials considered them to be merely a military section under the control of the Imperial Court . \n \n Ultimately , Emperor Kammu disbanded his army . From this time , the Emperor 's power gradually declined . While the Emperor was still the ruler , powerful clans around Kyoto assumed positions as ministers , and their relatives bought positions as magistrates . To amass wealth and repay their debts , magistrates often imposed heavy taxes , resulting in many farmers becoming landless . Through protective agreements", "qas": [ { "answers": [ { "answer_start": 1141, "text": "bushidō" } ], "id": "sfq_7151--Samurai.txt", "qid": "sfq_7151", "question": "\"What is the name for the \"\"Code of Living\"\" followed by the Samurai?\"" } ] } ] }

{ "paragraphs": [ { "context": "Suzanne Marie Collins ( born August 10 , 1962 ) is an American television writer and novelist , best known as the author of The New York Times best selling series The Underland Chronicles and The Hunger Games trilogy ( which consists of The Hunger Games , Catching Fire , and Mockingjay ) . \n \n Early life \n \n Collins was born on August 10 , 1962 in Hartford , Connecticut , to Jane Brady Collins ( b.1932 ) and Lt. Col. Michael John Collins ( 1931–2003 ) , a U.S. Air Force officer who served in the Korean War , Vietnam War , and was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross and Bronze Star . She is the youngest of four children , who include Kathryn ( b.1957 ) , Andrew ( b.1958 ) , and Joan ( b.1960 ) . As the daughter of a military officer , she and her family were constantly moving . She spent her childhood in the eastern United States . Collins graduated from the Alabama School of Fine Arts in Birmingham in 1980 as a Theater Arts major . She completed her Bachelor of Arts degree from Indiana University in 1985 with a double major in theater and telecommunications . In 1989 , Collins earned her M.F.A . in dramatic writing from the New York University Tisch School of the Arts . \n \n Career \n \n Collins ' career began in 1991 as a writer for children 's television shows . She worked on several television shows for Nickelodeon , including Clarissa Explains It All , The Mystery Files of Shelby Woo , Little Bear , and Oswald . She was also the head writer for Scholastic Entertainment 's Clifford 's Puppy Days . She received a Writers Guild of America nomination in animation for co-writing the critically acclaimed Christmas special , Santa , Baby ! \n \n After meeting children 's author James Proimos while working on the Kids ' WB show Generation O ! , Collins was inspired to write children 's books herself . Her inspiration for Gregor the Overlander , the first book of The New York Times best selling series The Underland Chronicles , came from Alice in Wonderland , when she was thinking about how one was more likely to fall down a manhole than a rabbit hole , and would find something other than a tea party . Between 2003 and 2007 she wrote the five books of the Underland Chronicles : Gregor the Overlander , Gregor and the Prophecy of Bane , Gregor and the Curse of the Warmbloods , Gregor and the Marks of Secret , and Gregor and the Code of Claw . During that time , Collins also wrote a rhyming picture book , When Charlie McButton Lost Power ( 2005 ) , illustrated by Mike Lester . \n \n In September 2008 , Scholastic Press released The Hunger Games , the first book of a trilogy by Collins . The Hunger Games was partly inspired by the Greek myth of Theseus and the Minotaur . Another inspiration was her father 's career in the Air Force , which gave her insight to poverty , starvation , and the effects of war . The trilogy 's second book , Catching Fire , was released in September 2009 , and its third book , Mockingjay , was released on August 24 , 2010 . Within 14 months , 1.5 million copies of the first two Hunger Games books were printed in North America alone . The Hunger Games was on The New York Times Best Seller list for more than 60 weeks in a row . Lions Gate Entertainment acquired worldwide distribution rights to a film adaptation of The Hunger Games , produced by Nina Jacobson 's Color Force production company . Collins adapted the novel for film herself . Directed by Gary Ross , filming began in late spring 2011 , with Jennifer Lawrence portraying main character Katniss Everdeen . Josh Hutcherson played Peeta Mellark and Liam Hemsworth played Gale Hawthorne . The subsequent two novels were adapted into films as well , with the latter book split into two installments . \n \n As a result of the significant popularity of The Hunger Games books , Collins was named one of Time magazine 's most influential people of 2010 . In March 2012 , Amazon announced that Collins had become the best-selling Kindle author of all time . Amazon also revealed that Collins had written 29 of the 100 most highlighted passages in Kindle ebooks—and on a separate Amazon list of recently highlighted passages , Collins had written 17 of the top 20 . \n \n Personal life \n \n Collins resides in Sandy Hook , Connecticut , within", "qas": [ { "answers": [ { "answer_start": 2696, "text": "minotaur" } ], "id": "tb_95--Suzanne_Collins.txt", "qid": "tb_95", "question": "Suzanne Collins said that the main theme in The Hunger Games was derived from a Greek myth in which King Minos has Athens send seven youths and seven maidens to what monster?" } ] } ] }

{ "paragraphs": [ { "context": "A comic strip is a sequence of drawings arranged in interrelated panels to display brief humor or form a narrative , often serialized , with text in balloons and captions . Traditionally , throughout the 20th century and into the 21st , these have been published in newspapers and magazines , with horizontal strips printed in black-and-white in daily newspapers , while Sunday newspapers offered longer sequences in special color comics sections . With the development of the internet , they began to appear online as web comics . \n \n There were more than 200 different comic strips and daily cartoon panels in American newspapers alone each day for most of the 20th century , for a total of at least 7,300,000 episodes . \n \n Strips are written and drawn by a comics artist or cartoonist . As the name implies , comic strips can be humorous ( for example , `` gag-a-day '' strips such as Blondie , Bringing Up Father , Marmaduke , and Pearls Before Swine ) . \n \n Starting in the late 1920s , comic strips expanded from their mirthful origins to feature adventure stories , as seen in Popeye , Captain Easy , Buck Rogers , Tarzan , and The Adventures of Tintin . Soap-opera continuity strips such as Judge Parker and Mary Worth gained popularity in the 1940s . All are called , generically , comic strips , though cartoonist Will Eisner has suggested that `` sequential art '' would be a better genre-neutral name . \n \n In the UK and the rest of Europe , comic strips are also serialized in comic book magazines , with a strip 's story sometimes continuing over three pages or more . Comic strips have appeared in American magazines such as Liberty and Boys ' Life and also on the front covers of magazines , such as the Flossy Frills series on The American Weekly Sunday newspaper supplement . \n \n History \n \n Storytelling using a sequence of pictures has existed through history . One medieval European example in textile form is the Bayeux Tapestry . Printed examples emerged in 19th-century Germany and in 18th-century England , where some of the first satirical or humorous sequential narrative drawings were produced . William Hogarth 's 18th century English cartoons include both narrative sequences , such as A Rake 's Progress , and single panels . \n \n The Biblia pauperum ( `` Paupers ' Bible '' ) , a tradition of picture Bibles beginning in the later Middle Ages , sometimes depicted Biblical events with words spoken by the figures in the miniatures written on scrolls coming out of their mouths—which makes them to some extent ancestors of the modern cartoon strips . \n \n In China , with its traditions of block printing and of the incorporation of text with image , experiments with what became lianhuanhua date back to 1884 . \n \n Newspapers \n \n The first newspaper comic strips appeared in North America in the late 19th century . The Yellow Kid is usually credited as the first . However , the art form combining words and pictures developed gradually and there are many examples which led up to the comic strip . \n \n Swiss author and caricature artist Rodolphe Töpffer ( Geneva , 1799–1846 ) is considered the father of the modern comic strips . His illustrated stories such as Histoire de M. Vieux Bois ( 1827 ) , first published in the USA in 1842 as The Adventures of Obadiah Oldbuck or Histoire de Monsieur Jabot ( 1831 ) , inspired subsequent generations of German and American comic artists . In 1865 , German painter , author , and caricaturist Wilhelm Busch created the strip Max and Moritz , about two trouble-making boys , which had a direct influence on the American comic strip . Max and Moritz was a series of severely moralistic tales in the vein of German children 's stories such as Struwwelpeter ( `` Shockheaded Peter '' ) ; in one , the boys , after perpetrating some mischief , are tossed into a sack of grain , run through a mill , and consumed by a flock of geese . Max and Moritz provided an inspiration for German immigrant Rudolph Dirks , who created the Katzenjammer Kids in 1897 . Familiar comic-strip iconography such as stars for pain , sawing logs for snoring , speech balloons , and thought balloons originated in Dirks ' strip . \n \n Hugely popular , Katzenjammer Kids occasioned one of the first comic-strip copyright ownership suits in the history of the medium . When Dirks left William Randolph Hearst for the promise of a better salary under Joseph Pulitzer , it was an unusual move", "qas": [ { "answers": [], "id": "qg_2941--Comic_strip.txt", "qid": "qg_2941", "question": "Sept 4, 1950 saw the introduction of the comic strip Beetle Bailey. On what fictional military installation does the comic strip take place?" } ] } ] }

{ "paragraphs": [ { "context": "The ethnic groups in Europe are the focus of European ethnology , the field of anthropology related to the various ethnic groups that reside in the nations of Europe . According to German monograph Minderheitenrechte in Europa co-edited by Pan and Pfeil ( 2002 ) there are 87 distinct peoples of Europe , of which 33 form the majority population in at least one sovereign state , while the remaining 54 constitute ethnic minorities . The total number of national minority populations in Europe is estimated at 105 million people , or 14 % of 770 million Europeans . \n \n Modern ethnic Europeans are a recent and ongoing evolution . The original anatomically modern human migrants to Europe from Africa arrived 40,000 years ago ; these prehistoric Europeans were predominantly dark skinned , short of stature , lactose intolerant , and looked dramatically different in comparison to modern Europeans . The genetic lineage of Europe mysteriously transformed about 4,500 years ago , with changes in diet , body size and skin pigmentation , when Central Asian and West Asian migrants arrived with taller height and light skin genes , respectively . There is no precise or universally accepted definition of the terms `` ethnic group '' or `` nationality '' . In the context of European ethnography in particular , the terms ethnic group , people ( without nation state ) , nationality , national minority , ethnic minority , linguistic community , linguistic group , linguistic minority and genetic haplogroup are used as mostly synonymous , although preference may vary in usage with respect to the situation specific to the individual countries of Europe . \n \n Overview \n \n There are eight peoples of Europe ( defined by their language ) with more than 30 million members residing in Europe . These eight groups between themselves account for some 465 million or about 65 % of European population : \n # Russians ( c. 95 million residing in Europe ) , \n # Germans ( c. 82 million ) , \n # French ( c. 60 million ) , \n # British ( c. 60 million ) , \n # Italians ( 55 million ) , \n # Spanish ( c. 50 million ) , \n # Ukrainians ( 38–55 million ) , \n # Poles ( c. 38 million ) . \n \n About 20–25 million residents ( 3 % ) are members of diasporas of non-European origin . The population of the European Union , with some five hundred million residents , accounts for two thirds of the European population . \n \n Both Spain and the United Kingdom are special cases , in that the designation of nationality , Spanish and British , may controversially take ethnic aspects , subsuming various regional ethnic groups , see nationalisms and regionalisms of Spain and native populations of the United Kingdom . Switzerland is a similar case , but the linguistic subgroups of the Swiss are not usually discussed in terms of ethnicity , and Switzerland is considered a `` multi-lingual state '' rather than a `` multi-ethnic state '' . \n \n Linguistic classifications \n \n Of the total population of Europe of some 730 million ( as of 2005 ) , over 80 % or some 600 million fall within three large branches of Indo-European languages , viz. , Slavic , Italic ( Romance ) and Germanic . The largest groups that do not fall within these three are the Greeks ( about 12 million ) and the Albanians ( about 8 million ) . Beside the Indo-European languages there are two other major language families on the European continent : Turkic languages and Uralic languages . The Semitic languages that dominate the coast of northern Africa as well as the Near East are preserved in Malta , a Mediterranean archipelago . Basque is a linguistic isolate unrelated to any other languages inside or outside of Europe . \n \n Indo-European languages \n \n There are approximately 641 million residents in the family of the Indo-European languages divided into linguistic branches and peoples . \n \n Language isolates \n \n Caspian \n \n Kartvelian \n \n Pontic \n \n Vasconic \n \n Mongolic languages \n \n Semitic languages \n \n Europe has a population of about 2 million ethnic Jews ( mostly also counted as part of the ethno-linguistic group of their respective home countries ) : \n * Ashkenazi Jews ( about 1.4 million , mostly German and French ) \n * Italian Jews ( some 50,000 , mostly Italian ) \n * Karaites ( less than 4,000 in Poland and Lithuania ) \n * Mizrahi Jews ( about 0.3 million , mostly French ) \n * Romaniotes ( some 6,000 , mostly Greek", "qas": [ { "answers": [], "id": "sfq_19533--Ethnic_groups_in_Europe.txt", "qid": "sfq_19533", "question": "Which European country includes a representation of an armillary sphere on its national flag?" } ] } ] }

{ "paragraphs": [ { "context": "Sir Edward German ( 17 February 1862 – 11 November 1936 ) was an English musician and composer of Welsh descent , best remembered for his extensive output of incidental music for the stage and as a successor to Arthur Sullivan in the field of English comic opera . \n \n As a youth , German played the violin and led the town orchestra , also beginning to compose music . While performing and teaching violin at the Royal Academy of Music , German began to build a career as a composer in the mid-1880s , writing serious music as well as light opera . In 1888 , he became music director of Globe Theatre in London . He provided popular incidental music for many productions at the Globe and other London theatres , including Richard III ( 1889 ) , Henry VIII ( 1892 ) and Nell Gwynn ( 1900 ) . He also wrote symphonies , orchestral suites , symphonic poems and other works . He also wrote a considerable body of songs , piano music , and symphonic suites and other concert music , of which his Welsh Rhapsody ( 1904 ) is perhaps best known . \n \n German was engaged to finish The Emerald Isle after the death of Arthur Sullivan in 1900 , the success of which led to more comic operas , including German 's popular Merrie England ( 1902 ) and Tom Jones ( 1907 ) . He also wrote the Just So Song Book in 1903 to Rudyard Kipling 's texts and continued to write orchestral music . German wrote little new music of his own after 1912 , but he continued to conduct until 1928 , the year in which he was knighted . \n \n Life and career \n \n German was born German Edward Jones in Whitchurch , Shropshire , England , the second of five children . He was the older of two sons of John David Jones , a liquor merchant , brewer , church organist and lay preacher at the local Congregational chapel , and Elizabeth ( Betsy ) Cox ( d. 1901 ) , a teacher of Bible classes for young women . His first name was an anglicised form of the Welsh name `` Garmon . '' His parents called him Jim.Prince , John . [ http : //www.naxos.com/mainsite/blurbs_reviews.asp ? item_code \n 8.660270-71 & catNum660270 & filetype \n About % 20this % 20Recording & languageEnglish # From liner notes for the 2009 recording of Tom Jones ] , Naxos 2009 He began to study piano and organ with his father at the age of five . At the age of six , he formed a boys ' concert band to perform locally , teaching himself the violin , composition , and music arrangement in the process . He later sang alto in the church choir and participated in family entertainments above his uncle 's grocery shop , often playing piano duets and performing comic sketches with his elder sister , Ruth , who died when he was 15.Rees , Brian . [ http : //www.oxforddnb.com/view/article/33378 `` German , Sir Edward ( 1862–1936 ) '' , ] Oxford Dictionary of National Biography , Oxford University Press , 2004 , accessed 13 October 2008 He also wrote comic poems . His younger sisters were named Mabel and Rachel . \n \n In his mid-teens , German 's parents attempted to apprentice him to a shipbuilding firm , as they believed their son had an aptitude for engineering . His studies at a boarding-school in Chester had been delayed by a serious illness , however , and so he was turned away as too old to begin an apprenticeship . In his teens he formed a second band , a quintette , including himself on the violin , his sister on the pianoforte or the bass , and three friends of the family . He prepared the orchestrations for this band . He also led the town orchestra , did some amateur acting , and sang comic songs in local village halls . \n \n The Royal Academy \n \n At the age of 18 , following private study with Cecil Walter Hay of Shrewsbury , the conductor of the Whitchurch choral society , German entered the Royal Academy of Music , where he eventually changed his name to J. E. German ( and later simply Edward German ) to avoid confusion with another student named Edward Jones . He continued his studies of violin and organ , also beginning a more formal study of composition under Ebenezer Prout.Scowcroft , Philip . [ http : //www.musicweb-international.com/classrev/2001/Dec01/Edward_German.htm `` Edward German : Serious or Light ? '' ] MusicWeb-International , 1 December 2001 Many of German 's student", "qas": [ { "answers": [ { "answer_start": 1211, "text": "merrie england" } ], "id": "sfq_21126--Edward_German.txt", "qid": "sfq_21126", "question": "What is the title of the comic opera by Edward German set in the court of Queen Elizabeth I?" } ] } ] }

{ "paragraphs": [ { "context": "Pepsi ( stylized in lowercase as pepsi , formerly stylized in uppercase as PEPSI ) is a carbonated soft drink that is produced and manufactured by PepsiCo . Created and developed in 1893 and introduced as Brad 's Drink , it was renamed as Pepsi-Cola on August 28 , 1898 , then to Pepsi in 1961 , and in select areas of North America , `` Pepsi-Cola Made with Real Sugar '' as of 2014 . \n \n History \n \n The drink Pepsi was first introduced as `` Brad 's Drink '' in New Bern , North Carolina , United States , in 1893 by Caleb Bradham , who made it at his drugstore where the drink was sold . It was renamed Pepsi Cola in 1898 , named after the digestive enzyme pepsin and kola nuts used in the recipe . The original recipe also included sugar and vanilla .. Soda Museum ( archived April 15 , 2001 ) Bradham sought to create a fountain drink that was appealing and would aid in digestion and boost energy . [ http : //www.pepsistore.com/history.asp The History of the Birthplace of Pepsi-Cola ] . Pepsistore.com . Retrieved on February 4 , 2012 . \n \n In 1903 , Bradham moved the bottling of Pepsi-Cola from his drugstore to a rented warehouse . That year , Bradham sold 7,968 gallons of syrup . The next year , Pepsi was sold in six-ounce bottles , and sales increased to 19,848 gallons . In 1909 , automobile race pioneer Barney Oldfield was the first celebrity to endorse Pepsi-Cola , describing it as `` A bully drink ... refreshing , invigorating , a fine bracer before a race . '' The advertising theme `` Delicious and Healthful '' was then used over the next two decades . In 1926 , Pepsi received its first logo redesign since the original design of 1905 . In 1929 , the logo was changed again . \n \n In 1931 , at the depth of the Great Depression , the Pepsi-Cola Company entered bankruptcy—in large part due to financial losses incurred by speculating on the wildly fluctuating sugar prices as a result of World War I . Assets were sold and Roy C. Megargel bought the Pepsi trademark . Megargel was unsuccessful , and soon Pepsi 's assets were purchased by Charles Guth , the President of Loft , Inc. Loft was a candy manufacturer with retail stores that contained soda fountains . He sought to replace Coca-Cola at his stores ' fountains after Coke refused to give him a discount on syrup . Guth then had Loft 's chemists reformulate the Pepsi-Cola syrup formula . \n \n On three separate occasions between 1922 and 1933 , The Coca-Cola Company was offered the opportunity to purchase the Pepsi-Cola company , and it declined on each occasion . \n \n Pepsi-Cola trademark \n \n The original trademark application for Pepsi-Cola was filed on September 23 , 1902 with registration approved on June 16 , 1903 . In the application 's statement , Caleb Bradham describes the trademark and indicated that the mark was in continuous use for his business since August 1 , 1901 . The Pepsi-Cola 's description is a flavoring syrup for soda water . The trademark expired on April 15 , 1904 . \n \n A second Pepsi-Cola trademark is on record with the USPTO . The application date submitted by Caleb Bradham for the second trademark is Saturday , April 15 , 1905 , with the successful registration date of April 15 , 1906 , over three years after the original date . Curiously , in this application , Caleb Bradham states that the trademark had been continuously used in his business `` and those from whom title is derived since in the 1905 application the description submitted to the USPTO was for a tonic beverage '' . The federal status for the 1905 trademark is registered and renewed and is owned by PepsiCo of Purchase , New York . \n \n In 2014 , the 1940 wordmark was used again and replacing the current wordmark on many cans . \n \n Rise \n \n During the Great Depression , Pepsi gained popularity following the introduction in 1936 of a 12-ounce bottle . With a radio advertising campaign featuring the jingle `` Pepsi-Cola hits the spot / Twelve full ounces , that 's a lot / Twice as much for a nickel , too / Pepsi-Cola is the drink for you '' , arranged in such a way that the jingle never ends . Pepsi encouraged price-watching consumers to switch , obliquely referring to the Coca-Cola standard of 6.5 ounces per bottle for the price of five cents ( a nickel ) , instead of the", "qas": [ { "answers": [ { "answer_start": 0, "text": "pepsi" } ], "id": "odql_149--Pepsi.txt", "qid": "odql_149", "question": "Which US soft drink was invented by Caleb Brabham, and was originally sold under the name of 'Brad's Drink'?" } ] } ] }

{ "paragraphs": [ { "context": "Western Australia ( abbreviated as WA ) is a state occupying the entire western third of Australia . It is bounded by the Indian Ocean to the north and west , the Great Australian Bight and Southern Ocean to the south , the Northern Territory to the north-east and South Australia to the south-east . Western Australia is Australia 's largest state with a total land area of 2,529,875 square kilometres ( 976,790 sq mi ) , and the second-largest country subdivision in the world – however , a significant part of it is sparsely populated . The state has about 2.6 million inhabitants , around 11 % of the national total . 92 % of the population lives in the south-west corner of the state . \n \n The first European visitor to Western Australia was the Dutch explorer Dirk Hartog , who visited the Western Australian coast in 1616 . The first European settlement of Western Australia occurred following the landing by Major Edmund Lockyer on 25 December 1826 on an expedition on behalf of the New South Wales colonial government . He established a convict-supported military garrison at King George III Sound , at present-day Albany , and on 21 January 1827 formally took possession of the western third of the continent for the British Crown . This was followed by the establishment of the Swan River Colony in 1829 , including the site of the present-day capital , Perth . \n \n York was the first inland settlement in Western Australia . Situated 97 kilometres east of Perth , it was settled on 16 September 1831 . \n \n Western Australia achieved responsible government in 1890 , and federated with the other British colonies in Australia in 1901 . Today its economy mainly relies on mining , agriculture and tourism . The state produces 46 % of Australia 's exports . Western Australia is the second-largest iron ore producer in the world . \n \n Geography \n \n Western Australia is bounded to the east by longitude 129°E , the meridian 129 degrees east of Greenwich , which defines the border with South Australia and the Northern Territory , and bounded by the Indian Ocean to the west and north . The International Hydrographic Organization ( IHO ) designates the body of water south of the continent as part of the Indian Ocean ; in Australia it is officially gazetted as the Southern Ocean . \n \n The total length of the state 's eastern border is 1862 km . There are 20781 km of coastline , including 7892 km of island coastline . The total land area occupied by the state is 2.5 million km2 . \n \n Natural history \n \n Geology \n \n The bulk of Western Australia consists of the extremely old Yilgarn craton and Pilbara craton which merged with the Deccan Plateau of India , Madagascar and the Karoo and Zimbabwe cratons of Southern Africa , in the Archean Eon to form Ur , one of the oldest supercontinents on Earth ( 3 – 3.2 billion years ago ) . \n \n Because the only mountain-building since then has been of the Stirling Range with the rifting from Antarctica , the land is extremely eroded and ancient , with no part of the state above 1,245 metres ( 4,085 ft ) AHD ( at Mount Meharry in the Hamersley Range of the Pilbara region ) . Most of the state is a low plateau with an average elevation of about 400 metres ( 1,200 ft ) , very low relief , and no surface runoff . This descends relatively sharply to the coastal plains , in some cases forming a sharp escarpment ( as with the Darling Range/Darling Scarp near Perth ) . \n \n The extreme age of the landscape has meant that the soils are remarkably infertile and frequently laterised . Even soils derived from granitic bedrock contain an order of magnitude less available phosphorus and only half as much nitrogen as soils in comparable climates in other continents . Soils derived from extensive sandplains or ironstone are even less fertile , nearly devoid of soluble phosphate and also deficient in zinc , copper , molybdenum and sometimes potassium and calcium . \n \n The infertility of most of the soils has required heavy application by farmers of chemical fertilisers , particularly superphosphate , insecticides and herbicides . These have resulted in damage to invertebrate and bacterial populations . The grazing and use of hoofed mammals and , later , heavy machinery through the years have resulted in compaction of soils and great damage to the fragile soils . \n \n Large-scale land clearing for agriculture has damaged habitats for native flora and fauna . As a result ,", "qas": [ { "answers": [ { "answer_start": 1365, "text": "perth" } ], "id": "wh_3546--Western_Australia.txt", "qid": "wh_3546", "question": "Which city, the largest on the Australian west coast, is the capital of the state of Western Australia ?" } ] } ] }

{ "paragraphs": [ { "context": "Tapioca is a starch extracted from cassava root ( Manihot esculenta ) . This species is native to the North Region of Brazil , but spread throughout the South American continent . The plant was carried by Portuguese and Spanish explorers to most of the West Indies , and continents of Africa and Asia , including the Philippines and Taiwan . It is now cultivated worldwide . \n \n A staple food in many world regions , tapioca is used as a thickening agent in various foods . \n \n Etymology and origin \n \n In Brazil , cassava is called mandioca or aipim while its starch is called tapioca , a word derived from the word tipi'óka , its name in the Tupí language spoken by natives when the Portuguese first arrived in the Northeast Region of Brazil . This Tupí word refers to the process by which the cassava starch is made edible . \n \n Production \n \n Tapioca is one of the purest forms of starch food , and the production varies from region to region . \n \n The cassava plant has either red or green branches with blue spindles on them . The root of the green-branched variant requires treatment to remove linamarin , a cyanogenic glycoside occurring naturally in the plant , which otherwise may be converted into cyanide . Konzo ( also called mantakassa ) is a paralytic disease associated with several weeks of almost exclusive consumption of insufficiently processed bitter cassava . \n \n In the North and Northeast of Brazil , traditional community based production of tapioca is a by-product of manioc flour production from cassava roots . In this process , the manioc ( after treatment to remove toxicity ) is ground to a pulp with a small hand- or diesel-powered mill . This masa is then squeezed to dry it out . The wet masa is placed in a long woven tube called a tipiti . The top of the tube is secured while a large branch or lever is inserted into a loop at the bottom and used to stretch the entire implement vertically , squeezing a starch-rich liquid out through the weave and ends . This liquid is collected and the water allowed to evaporate , leaving behind a fine-grained tapioca powder similar in appearance to corn starch . \n \n Commercially , the starch is processed into several forms : hot soluble powder , meal , pre-cooked fine/coarse flakes , rectangular sticks , and spherical `` pearls '' . Pearls are the most widely available shape ; sizes range from about 1 mm to 8 mm in diameter , with 2–3 mm being the most common . \n \n Flakes , sticks , and pearls must be soaked well before cooking , in order to rehydrate , absorbing water up to twice their volume . After rehydration , tapioca products become leathery and swollen . Processed tapioca is usually white , but sticks and pearls may be colored . Traditionally , the most common color applied to tapioca has been brown , but recently pastel colors have been available . Tapioca pearls are generally opaque when raw , but become translucent when cooked in boiling water . \n \n Brazil in South America , Thailand in Asia , and Nigeria in Africa are the world 's largest producers of cassava . Currently , Thailand accounts for about 60 % of worldwide exports . \n \n Uses \n \n Nutritional value \n \n Tapioca predominantly consists of carbohydrates , with each cup containing 23.9 grams for a total of 105 calories ; it is low in saturated fat , protein and sodium . It has no significant essential vitamins or dietary minerals . One serving of tapioca pudding contains no dietary fiber , a small amount of oleic acid , and no omega-3 or omega-6 fatty acids . \n \n Flatbreads \n \n A casabe is a thin flatbread made from bitter cassava root without leavening . It was originally produced by the indigenous Arawak and Carib peoples because these roots were a common plant of the rain forests where they lived . In eastern Venezuela , many indigenous groups still make casabe . It is their chief bread-like staple . Indigenous communities , such as the Ye-Kuana , Kari-Ña , Yanomami , Guarao or Warao descended from the Caribe or Arawac nations , still make casabe . \n \n To make casabe , the starchy root of bitter cassava is ground to a pulp , then squeezed to expel a milky , bitter liquid called yare . This carries the poisonous substances with it out of the pulp . Traditionally , this squeezing is done in a sebucan , an 8 to 12 ft long", "qas": [ { "answers": [ { "answer_start": 35, "text": "cassava root" } ], "id": "odql_5959--Tapioca.txt", "qid": "odql_5959", "question": "From the roots of which plant is Tapioca made?" } ] } ] }

{ "paragraphs": [ { "context": "North Dakota ( ; locally ) is the 39th state of the United States , having been admitted to the union on November 2 , 1889 . \n \n It is located in the Upper Midwestern region of the United States , bordered by the Canadian provinces of Saskatchewan and Manitoba to the north , Minnesota to the east , South Dakota to the south , and Montana to the west . The state capital is Bismarck , and the largest city is Fargo . North Dakota is the 19th most extensive but the 4th least populous and the 4th least densely populated of the 50 United States . \n \n North Dakota has weathered the Great Recession of the early 21st century with a boom in natural resources , particularly a boom in oil extraction from the Bakken formation , which lies beneath the northwestern part of the state . The development has driven strong job and population growth , and low unemployment . \n \n Geography \n \n North Dakota is located in the U.S. region known as the Great Plains . The state shares the Red River of the North with Minnesota on the east ; South Dakota is to the south , Montana is to the west , and the Canadian provinces of Saskatchewan and Manitoba are north . North Dakota is situated near the middle of North America with a stone marker in Rugby , North Dakota marking the `` Geographic Center of the North American Continent '' . With an area of 70762 sqmi , North Dakota is the 19th largest state . \n \n The western half of the state consists of the hilly Great Plains , and the northern part of the Badlands to the west of the Missouri River . The state 's high point , White Butte at 3506 ft , and Theodore Roosevelt National Park are located in the Badlands . The region is abundant in fossil fuels including natural gas , crude oil and lignite coal . The Missouri River forms Lake Sakakawea , the third largest man-made lake in the United States , behind the Garrison Dam . \n \n The central region of the state is divided into the Drift Prairie and the Missouri Plateau . The eastern part of the state consists of the flat Red River Valley , the bottom of glacial Lake Agassiz . Its fertile soil , drained by the meandering Red River flowing northward into Lake Winnipeg , supports a large agriculture industry . Devils Lake , the largest natural lake in the state , is also found in the east . \n \n Eastern North Dakota is overall flat ; however , there are significant hills and buttes in western North Dakota . Most of the state is covered in grassland ; crops cover most of eastern North Dakota but become increasingly sparse in the center and farther west . Natural trees in North Dakota are found usually where there is good drainage , such as the ravines and valley near the Pembina Gorge and Killdeer Mountains , the Turtle Mountains , the hills around Devil 's Lake , in the dunes area of McHenry County in central North Dakota , and along the Sheyenne Valley slopes and the Sheyenne delta . This diverse terrain supports nearly 2,000 species of plants . The state of North Dakota is home to the geographical center of North America located near Rugby , North Dakota \n \n Climate \n \n North Dakota has a continental climate with hot summers and cold winters . The temperature differences are rather extreme because of its far inland position and being in the center of the Northern Hemisphere , with roughly equal distances to the North Pole and the Equator . As such , summers are almost subtropical in nature , but winters are cold enough to ensure plant hardiness is very low . \n \n History \n \n Aboriginal American peoples lived in what is now North Dakota for thousands of years before the coming of Europeans . Their tribes included the Mandan people , the Dakota people and the Yanktonai : the latter two from the Lakota peoples . The first European to reach the area was the French-Canadian trader La Vérendrye , who led an exploration party to Mandan villages in 1738 . \n In 1762 the region became part of Spanish Louisiana until 1802 . \n \n Dakota Territory was settled sparsely by European Americans until the late 19th century , when the railroads were constructed into the region . With the advantage of grants of land , they vigorously marketed their properties , extolling the region as ideal for agriculture . An omnibus bill for statehood for North Dakota , South Dakota", "qas": [ { "answers": [ { "answer_start": 276, "text": "minn" } ], "id": "qz_2935--North_Dakota.txt", "qid": "qz_2935", "question": "If the US states that border Canada from west to east are Washington, Idaho, Montana, and North Dakota, what comes next?" } ] } ] }

{ "paragraphs": [ { "context": "Jennifer Worth RN RM ( 25 September 1935 – 31 May 2011 ) was a British nurse and musician . She wrote a best-selling trilogy of memoirs about her work as a midwife practising in the poverty-stricken East End of London in the 1950s : Call the Midwife , Shadows of the Workhouse and Farewell to The East End . A television series , Call the Midwife , based on her books , began broadcasting on BBC One on 15 January 2012 . \n \n Biography \n \n Worth , born Jennifer Lee in Clacton-on-Sea , Essex , was raised in Amersham , Buckinghamshire . After leaving school at the age of 15 she learned shorthand and typing and became the secretary to the head of Dr Challoner 's Grammar School . She then trained as a nurse at the Royal Berkshire Hospital , Reading , and moved to London to receive training to become a midwife . \n \n Lee was hired as a staff nurse at the London Hospital in Whitechapel in the early 1950s . With the Sisters of St John the Divine , an Anglican community of nuns , she worked to aid the poor . She was then a ward sister at the Elizabeth Garrett Anderson Hospital in Bloomsbury , and later at the Marie Curie Hospital in Hampstead . \n \n She married the artist Philip Worth in 1963 , and they had two daughters . ( Philip Worth appears as a character in the 2014 Christmas Special at the end of the third season of the TV series Call the Midwife , portrayed by Ronald Pickup ) . Worth retired from nursing in 1973 to pursue her musical interests . \n \n In 1974 , she was appointed a licentiate of the London College of Music , where she taught piano and singing . She obtained a fellowship in 1984 . She performed as a soloist and with choirs throughout Britain and Europe . She later began writing , and her first volume of memoirs , Call the Midwife , was published in 2002 . The book became a bestseller when it was reissued in 2007 . Shadows of the Workhouse ( 2005 ; reissued 2008 ) and Farewell to the East End ( 2009 ) also became bestsellers . The trilogy sold almost a million copies in the UK alone . In a fourth volume of memoirs In the Midst of Life , published in 2010 , Worth reflects on her later experiences caring for the terminally ill . \n \n Activism \n \n Worth was highly critical of Mike Leigh 's 2004 film Vera Drake , for depicting the consequences of illegal abortions unrealistically . She argued that the method shown in the movie , far from being fairly quick and painless , was in fact almost invariably fatal to the mother . \n \n Death \n \n Worth died on 31 May 2011 , having been diagnosed with cancer of the oesophagus earlier in the year . The first episode of the television series Call the Midwife was dedicated to her . \n \n Publications \n \n * Eczema and Food Allergy : The Hidden Cause ? ISBN 978-1872560182 ( 1997 ) \n * Call the Midwife ( First book in the Midwife trilogy ) ISBN 978-0297868781 ( 2002 ) \n * Shadows of the Workhouse ( Second book in the Midwife trilogy ) ISBN 978-0297853268 ( 2005 ) \n * Farewell to the East End ( Third book in the Midwife trilogy ) ISBN 978-0753823064 ( 2009 ) \n * In the Midst of Life ISBN 978-0297859581 ( 2010 )", "qas": [ { "answers": [], "id": "sfq_25099--Jennifer_Worth.txt", "qid": "sfq_25099", "question": "The memoirs of Jennifer Worth form the basis of which BBC TV drama series?" } ] } ] }

{ "paragraphs": [ { "context": "A nation state is a type of state that conjoins the political entity of a state to the cultural entity of a nation , from which it aims to derive its political legitimacy to rule and potentially its status as a sovereign state if one accepts the declarative theory of statehood as opposed to the constitutive theory.Such a definition is a working one : `` All attempts to develop terminological consensus around `` nation '' resulted in failure '' , concludes . Walker Connor , in [ ] discusses the impressions surrounding the characters of `` nation '' , `` ( sovereign ) state '' , `` nation state '' , and `` nationalism '' . Connor , who gave the term `` ethnonationalism '' wide currency , also discusses the tendency to confuse nation and state and the treatment of all states as if nation states . In Globalization and Belonging , Sheila L. Crouche discusses `` The Definitional Dilemma '' ( pp . 85ff ) . \n A state is specifically a political and geopolitical entity , whilst a nation is a cultural and ethnic one . The term `` nation state '' implies that the two coincide , in that a state has chosen to adopt and endorse a specific cultural group as associated with it . `` Nation state '' formation can take place at different times in different parts of the world . \n \n The concept of a nation state can be compared and contrasted with that of the multinational state , city state , empire , confederation , and other state formations with which it may overlap . The key distinction is the identification of a people with a polity in the `` nation state . '' \n \n History and origins \n \n The origins and early history of nation states are disputed . A major theoretical question is : `` Which came first , the nation or the nation state ? '' Scholars such as Steven Weber , David Woodward , and Jeremy Black have advanced the hypothesis that the nation state did n't arise out of political ingenuity or an unknown undetermined source , nor was it an accident of history or political invention ; but is an inadvertent byproduct of 15th-century intellectual discoveries in political economy , capitalism , mercantilism , political geography , and geography combined together with cartography and advances in map-making technologies . It was with these intellectual discoveries and technological advances that the nation state arose . For others , the nation existed first , then nationalist movements arose for sovereignty , and the nation state was created to meet that demand . Some `` modernization theories '' of nationalism see it as a product of government policies to unify and modernize an already existing state . Most theories see the nation state as a 19th-century European phenomenon , facilitated by developments such as state-mandated education , mass literacy and mass media . However , historians also note the early emergence of a relatively unified state and identity in Portugal and the Dutch Republic . \n \n In France , Eric Hobsbawm argues , the French state preceded the formation of the French people . Hobsbawm considers that the state made the French nation , not French nationalism , which emerged at the end of the 19th century , the time of the Dreyfus Affair . At the time of the 1789 French Revolution , only half of the French people spoke some French , and 12-13 % spoke it `` fairly '' , according to Hobsbawm . \n \n During the Italian unification , the number of people speaking the Italian language was even lower . The French state promoted the unification of various dialects and languages into the French language . The introduction of conscription and the Third Republic 's 1880s laws on public instruction , facilitated the creation of a national identity , under this theory . \n \n Some nation states , such as Germany or Italy , came into existence at least partly as a result of political campaigns by nationalists , during the 19th century . In both cases , the territory was previously divided among other states , some of them very small . The sense of common identity was at first a cultural movement , such as in the Völkisch movement in German-speaking states , which rapidly acquired a political significance . In these cases , the nationalist sentiment and the nationalist movement clearly precede the unification of the German and Italian nation states . \n \n Historians Hans Kohn , Liah Greenfeld , Philip White and others have classified nations such as Germany or Italy , where cultural unification preceded state unification , as ethnic nations", "qas": [ { "answers": [], "id": "qw_6783--Nation_state.txt", "qid": "qw_6783", "question": "Which country left the British Commonwealth in 1949?" } ] } ] }

{ "paragraphs": [ { "context": "Al Jazeera ( ' , literally `` The Peninsula '' , referring to the Arabian Peninsula ) , also known as JSC ( Jazeera Satellite Channel ) , is a Doha-based state-funded broadcaster owned by the Al Jazeera Media Network , which is partly funded by the House of Thani , the ruling family of Qatar . Initially launched as an Arabic news and current affairs satellite TV channel , Al Jazeera has since expanded into a network with several outlets , including the Internet and specialty TV channels in multiple languages . \n \n Al Jazeera is among the largest news organizations with 80 bureaus around the world . Al Jazeera is owned by the government of Qatar . While Al Jazeera officials have stated that they are editorially independent from the government of Qatar , this assertion has been disputed . \n \n The original Al Jazeera channel 's willingness to broadcast dissenting views , for example on call-in shows , created controversies in the Arab States of the Persian Gulf . The station gained worldwide attention following the outbreak of war in Afghanistan , when it was the only channel to cover the war live , from its office there . \n \n Al Jazeera has been called a propaganda outlet for the Qatari government and its foreign policy , by analysts and by news reporters , including former Al Jazeera reporters . The network is sometimes perceived to have mainly Islamist perspectives , promoting the Muslim Brotherhood , and having a pro-Sunni and an anti-Shia bias in its reporting of regional issues . It also accused of having an anti-Western bias . However , Al Jazeera insists it covers all sides of a debate , it says it presents Israel 's view , Iran 's view and even aired videos released by Osama bin Laden . \n \n Etymology \n \n In Arabic , ' literally means `` the island '' . However , it refers here \n to the Arabian Peninsula , which is ' , abbreviated to ' . ( Compare the Arabic name al-Jazira ( Arabic : الجزيرة `` the island '' ) for Upper Mesopotamia , another area of land almost entirely surrounded by water . ) \n \n History \n \n Launch \n \n Al Jazeera Satellite Channel now known as ( AJA ) was launched on 1 November 1996 following the closure of the BBC 's Arabic language television station , a joint venture with Orbit Communications Company . The BBC channel had closed after a year and a half when the Saudi government attempted to suppress information , including a graphic report on executions and prominent dissident views . \n \n The Emir of Qatar , Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa , provided a loan of QAR 500 million ( $ 137 million ) to sustain Al Jazeera through its first five years , as Hugh Miles detailed in his book Al Jazeera : The Inside Story of the Arab News Channel That Is Challenging the West . Shares were held by private investors as well as the Qatar government . \n \n Al Jazeera 's first day on the air was 1 November 1996 . It offered 6 hours of programming per day ; increased to 12 hours by the end of 1997 . It was broadcast to the immediate neighborhood as a terrestrial signal , and on cable , as well as through satellites ( which was also free to users in the Arab world ) , although Qatar , like many other Arab countries , barred private individuals from having satellite dishes until 2001 . \n \n At the time of Al Jazeera 's launch , Arabsat was the only satellite broadcasting to the Middle East , and for the first year could only offer Al Jazeera a weak C-band transponder that needed a large satellite dish for reception . A more powerful Ku-band transponder became available as a peace-offering after its user , Canal France International , accidentally beamed 30 minutes of pornography into ultraconservative Saudi Arabia . \n \n Al Jazeera was not the first such broadcaster in the Middle East ; a number had appeared since the Arabsat satellite , a Saudi Arabia-based venture of 21 Arab governments , took orbit in 1985 . The unfolding of Operation Desert Storm on CNN International underscored the power of live television in current events . While other local broadcasters in the region would assiduously avoid material embarrassing to their home governments ( Qatar had its own official TV station as well ) , Al Jazeera was pitched as an impartial news source and platform for discussing issues relating to the Arab world . \n \n In presenting `` The opinion and the other opinion '' (", "qas": [ { "answers": [ { "answer_start": 1777, "text": "island" } ], "id": "bb_4939--Al_Jazeera.txt", "qid": "bb_4939", "question": "Al Jazeera means 'The (What?)'?" } ] } ] }

{ "paragraphs": [ { "context": "John Francis Donaldson , Baron Donaldson of Lymington , PC , QC ( 6 October 1920 – 31 August 2005 ) was a senior British judge who served as Master of the Rolls for ten years , from 1982-92 . He is best known in some circles for his role as presiding judge in the infamous Guildford Four miscarriage of justice , especially his closing remarks where he regretted his inability to hang those wrongly convicted . \n \n Early and private life \n \n He was born at 6 King Street , St Marylebone , London , the son of Malcolm Donaldson ( 1884-1973 ) , consultant gynaecologist , and his first wife , Evelyn Helen Marguerite , née Gilroy . His father was a Harley Street-based gynaecologist . \n \n Donaldson attended first Charterhouse and then Trinity College , Cambridge . He served as chairman of the Federation of University Conservative and Unionist Associations , and harboured ambitions of becoming a Conservative Party Member of Parliament . He was an Independent Ratepayers Councillor for the County Borough of Croydon from 1949-53 . \n \n After graduating with a lower second class degree in 1941 , he joined the war effort as a commissioned officer in the Royal Signals . He then served with the Guards Armoured Divisional Signals , both domestically and in North-West Europe , until the end of the war in 1945 . He served in the military government of Schleswig-Holstein , and was demobbed as a lieutenant-colonel aged 25 . \n \n He married [ http : //wickhamhistory.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/MARY-DONALDSON-1.pdf Dorothy Mary Warwick ] ( later known as Dame Mary Donaldson ) , in 1945 , having met her at Middlesex Hospital where she was working as a nurse . She later became the first woman to be a Member of the City of London Court of Common Council , the first female Alderman , the first female Sheriff and , finally , in 1983 , the first female Lord Mayor of London . Together , they had two daughters and a son ; his wife predeceased him in October 2003 . \n \n Legal career \n \n Donaldson was called to the Bar in 1946 as a Harmsworth Scholar at the Middle Temple . He joined the chambers of Sir Henry Willink , QC at 3 Essex Court and built a successful tort and commercial practice . He was made a Queen 's Counsel in 1961 , and became a High Court Judge when he was appointed to the Queen 's Bench Division and knighted in 1966 at the age of 45 . He remained the youngest High Court judge for a number of years . \n \n He became the first ( and last ) President of the National Industrial Relations Court ( NIRC , also known as the Industrial Relations Tribunal ) from its formation by Ted Heath 's Conservative government in 1971 under the Industrial Relations Act 1971 until it was abolished in 1974 . The trades unions , pointing to his Tory inclinations in his youth , nicknamed him `` Black Jack '' , and 181 Members of Parliament ( MPs ) signed a House of Commons motion calling for his dismissal . \n \n Two months after Margaret Thatcher was elected in 1979 , he became a Lord Justice of Appeal , thus was automatically appointed to the Privy Council . He replaced Lord Denning as Master of the Rolls and Records of the Chancery of England in 1982 , becoming the presiding officer of the civil division of the Court of Appeal of England and Wales , where he pushed forward modernisation efforts , including the introduction of skeleton arguments in civil appeals , judgments being `` handed down '' rather than read , and enhanced case management . \n \n Donaldson decided in O'Kelly v. Trusthouse Forte plc [ 1983 ] ICR 728 , Donaldson 's early reforms would later be overtaken by the Civil Procedure Rules introduced by a later Master of the Rolls , Lord Woolf . In 1988 he was elevated to the House of Lords as a Life Peer : Baron Donaldson of Lymington , of Lymington in the County of Hampshire . \n \n Criticism \n \n In his various roles , Donaldson was involved in many high-profile cases from the 1970s onwards . He presided over the trials of the Guildford Four in 1975 and the Maguire Seven in 1976 , and was later criticised in Sir John May 's interim report of his inquiry into the miscarriages of justice . At the trials , he achieved a degree of notoriety for declaring in his closing remarks that he wished the men had been indicted for high treason , which still carried the", "qas": [ { "answers": [], "id": "odql_12800--John_Donaldson,_Baron_Donaldson_of_Lymington.txt", "qid": "odql_12800", "question": "Which post was held by Lord Denning from 1962 to 1982 and Lord Donaldson from 1982 to 1992?" } ] } ] }

{ "paragraphs": [ { "context": "SpongeBob SquarePants is an American animated television series created by marine biologist and animator Stephen Hillenburg for Nickelodeon . The series chronicles the adventures and endeavors of the title character and his various friends in the fictional underwater city of Bikini Bottom . The series ' popularity has made it a media franchise , as well as the highest rated series to ever air on Nickelodeon , and the most distributed property of MTV Networks . The media franchise has generated $ 8 billion in merchandising revenue for Nickelodeon . \n \n Many of the ideas for the series originated in an unpublished educational comic book titled The Intertidal Zone , which Hillenburg created in 1989 . He began developing SpongeBob SquarePants into a television series in 1996 upon the cancellation of Rocko 's Modern Life , and turned to Tom Kenny , who had worked with him on that series , to voice the title character . SpongeBob was originally going to be named SpongeBoy , and the series was to be called SpongeBoy Ahoy ! , but these were both changed , as the name was already trademarked . \n \n Nickelodeon held a preview for the series in the United States on May 1 , 1999 , following the television airing of the 1999 Kids ' Choice Awards . The series officially premiered on July 17 , 1999 . It has received worldwide critical acclaim since its premiere and gained enormous popularity by its second season . A feature film , The SpongeBob SquarePants Movie , was released in theaters on November 19 , 2004 , and a sequel was released on February 6 , 2015 . On July 21 , 2012 , the series was renewed and aired its ninth season , beginning with the episode `` Extreme Spots '' . \n \n The series has won a variety of awards , including six Annie Awards , eight Golden Reel Awards , two Emmy Awards , 12 Kids ' Choice Awards , and two BAFTA Children 's Awards . Despite its widespread popularity , the series has been involved in several public controversies , including one centered on speculation over SpongeBob 's intended sexual orientation , and another focusing on the perceived declining quality of the show 's content since the release of the first film . In 2011 , a newly described species of mushroom , Spongiforma squarepantsii , was named after the cartoon 's title character . \n \n Premise \n \n Characters \n \n The series revolves around its title character and his various friends . SpongeBob SquarePants is an energetic and optimistic sea sponge ( although his appearance more closely resembles a kitchen sponge ) who lives in a sea pineapple and loves his job as a fry cook at the Krusty Krab . He has a pet snail , Gary , who meows like a cat . Living two houses down from SpongeBob is his best friend Patrick Star , a dim-witted yet friendly pink starfish who lives under a rock . Despite his `` mental setbacks '' , Patrick still sees himself as intelligent . Squidward Tentacles is SpongeBob 's next-door neighbor and co-worker at the Krusty Krab . Squidward is an arrogant and ill-tempered octopus who lives in an Easter Island moai and dislikes his neighbors ( especially SpongeBob ) for their childlike behavior . He enjoys playing the clarinet and painting self-portraits , but hates his job as a cashier . \n \n Another close friend of SpongeBob is Sandy Cheeks , a squirrel from Texas . She is a scientist and an expert in karate . She lives in an underwater tree dome ( a tree Sandy brought with her that is entrapped in a clear glass dome locked by a tight , hand-turned seal ) . When outside of her dwelling , she wears an astronaut-like suit because she can not breathe underwater . Mr. Krabs , a miserly crab obsessed with money , is the owner of the Krusty Krab restaurant and SpongeBob 's boss . His rival , Plankton , is a small green copepod who owns a low-rank fast-food restaurant called the Chum Bucket , located across the street from the Krusty Krab . Plankton spends most of his time planning to steal the secret recipe for Mr. Krabs ' popular Krabby Patty burgers , so as to gain the upper hand and put the Krusty Krab out of business . \n \n Other recurring characters appear throughout the series , such as SpongeBob 's ever-suffering driving teacher Mrs . Puff ; Mr. Krabs ' whiney teenage whale daughter Pearl ; Plankton 's intelligent yet sarcastic computer wife Karen ; the muscular lifeguard of Goo Lagoon , Larry the Lobster ; a pirate", "qas": [ { "answers": [ { "answer_start": 2640, "text": "gary" } ], "id": "dpql_3975--SpongeBob_SquarePants.txt", "qid": "dpql_3975", "question": "What is the name of SpongeBob SquarePants’ (sic) pet snail?" } ] } ] }

{ "paragraphs": [ { "context": "Our Man In Havana ( 1958 ) is a novel set in Cuba by the British author Graham Greene . He makes fun of intelligence services , especially the British MI6 , and their willingness to believe reports from their local informants . The book predates the Cuban Missile Crisis , but certain aspects of the plot , notably the role of missile installations , appear to anticipate the events of 1962 . \n \n It was adapted into a film of the same name in 1959 , directed by Carol Reed and starring Alec Guinness ; in 1963 it was adapted into an opera by Malcolm Williamson , to a libretto by Sidney Gilliat , who had worked on the film . In 2007 , it was adapted into a play by Clive Francis . \n \n Background \n \n Greene joined MI6 in August 1941 . In London , Greene had been appointed to the subsection dealing with counter-espionage in the Iberian peninsula , where he had learned about German agents in Portugal sending the Germans fictitious reports which garnered them expenses and bonuses to add to their basic salary . One of these agents was `` Garbo '' , a Spanish double agent in Lisbon , who gave his German handlers disinformation , by pretending to control a ring of agents all over England . In fact he invented armed forces movements and operations from maps , guides and standard military references . Garbo was the main inspiration for Wormold , the protagonist of Our Man In Havana . \n \n Remembering the German agents in Portugal , Greene wrote the first version of the story in 1946 , as an outline for a film script , with the story set in Estonia in 1938 . The film was never made , and Greene soon realised that Havana – which he had visited several times in the early 1950s – would be a much better setting , the absurdities of the Cold War being more appropriate for a comedy . \n \n Plot \n \n The novel , a black comedy , is set in Havana during the Fulgencio Batista regime . James Wormold , a vacuum cleaner retailer , is approached by Hawthorne , who offers him work for the British secret service . Wormold 's wife had left him and now he lives with his sixteen-year-old beautiful , devoutly Catholic but materialistic and manipulative daughter Milly . Since Wormold does not make enough money to pay for Milly 's extravagances , he accepts the offer of a side job in espionage . Because he has no information to send to London , Wormold fakes his reports using information found in newspapers and invents a fictitious network of agents . Some of the names in his network are those of real people ( most of whom he has never met ) and some are made up . Wormold only tells his friend and World War I veteran , Dr. Hasselbacher , about his spy work , hiding the truth from Milly . \n \n At one point , he decides to make his reports `` exciting '' and sends to London sketches of vacuum cleaner parts , telling them that those are sketches of a secret military installation in the mountains . In London nobody except Hawthorne , who alone knows Wormold sells vacuum cleaners , doubts this report . But Hawthorne does not report his doubts for fear of losing his job . In the light of the new developments , London sends Wormold a secretary , Beatrice Severn , and a radio assistant codenamed `` C '' with much spy paraphernalia . \n \n On arriving , Beatrice tells Wormold she has orders to take over his contacts . Her first request is to contact the pilot Raúl . Under pressure , Wormold develops an elaborate plan for his fictitious agent `` Raúl '' but , to his surprise , a real person with the same name is killed in an apparent car accident . From this point , Wormold 's manufactured universe overlaps with reality , with threats made to his `` contacts '' . Together , Beatrice ( who does n't realise the contacts are imaginary ) and Wormold try to save the real people who share names with his fictional agents . \n \n Meanwhile , London passes on the information that an unspecified enemy ( implied to be a Soviet contact ) intends to poison Wormold at a trade association luncheon where Wormold is the speaker . It would seem that his information has worried local operatives who now seek to remove him – London is pleased by this , as it validates his work . Wormold goes to the", "qas": [ { "answers": [ { "answer_start": 72, "text": "graham green" } ], "id": "sfq_12543--Our_Man_in_Havana.txt", "qid": "sfq_12543", "question": "\"Who wrote \"\"Our Man in Havana\"\"?\"" } ] } ] }

{ "paragraphs": [ { "context": "George Smiley is a fictional character created by John le Carré . Smiley is an intelligence officer working for `` The Circus '' , the British overseas intelligence agency . He is a central character in the novels Call for the Dead , A Murder of Quality , Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy , The Honourable Schoolboy , and Smiley 's People , and a supporting character in The Spy Who Came in from the Cold , The Looking Glass War and The Secret Pilgrim . \n \n Early life \n \n Although Smiley has no concrete biography beyond that offered briefly at the beginning of Call for the Dead , le Carré does leave clues in his novels . \n \n Smiley was probably born around 1906 ( or 1915 on the revised chronology ) to middle class parents in the South of England , and attended a minor public school and an antiquated Oxford college of no real distinction ( in the 1982 BBC television adaptation of Smiley 's People , he refers to himself as a fellow of Lincoln College ) , studying modern languages with a particular focus on Baroque German literature . In July 1928 , while considering post-graduate study in that field , he was recruited into the Circus by his tutor Jebedee . \n \n He underwent training and probation in Central Europe and South America , and spent the period from 1935 until approximately 1938 in Germany recruiting networks under cover as a lecturer . In 1939 , with the commencement of World War II , he saw active service not only in Germany , but also in Switzerland and Sweden . Smiley 's wartime superiors described him as having `` the cunning of Satan and the conscience of a virgin '' . \n \n In 1943 , he was recalled to England to work at Circus headquarters , and in 1945 successfully proposed marriage to Lady Ann Sercomb , a beautiful , aristocratic , and libidinous young lady working as a secretary there . Ann would prove a most unfaithful and rather condescending wife . In the same year , Smiley left the Service and returned to Oxford . However , in 1947 , with the onset of the Cold War , Smiley was asked to return to the Service , and in early 1951 moved into counter-intelligence work , where he would remain for the next decade . During that period , Smiley first met his Soviet nemesis , Karla , in a Delhi prison . Karla proved impossible to crack , taking Smiley 's lighter for good measure , a gift to Smiley from wife Ann . \n \n In the novels \n \n The early novels \n \n Smiley first appeared in Call for the Dead , le Carré 's debut novel . At the start of the novel , set around 1960 , Smiley has fallen from grace and is working in a relatively menial intelligence job , including security-clearing civil servants . He spends much of the story bemoaning the loss of the talented agents who were his mentors and their replacement by such talentless civil-service bureaucrats as the current head of service , Maston , who refers to himself as the `` Ministers ' Adviser on Intelligence '' and is widely , if secretly , mocked . Over the course of the story , Smiley resigns from the Circus in anger on the spur of the moment while unravelling an East German spy ring , clearing his own name in so doing , and restoring his reputation while remaining in retirement at tale 's end , despite Maston 's pleadings . It is while pursuing a sedate life of scholastic research in German literature at a university in the West Country ( probably Exeter ) that he is called upon to investigate a murder at a fictional public school in le Carré 's next novel , A Murder of Quality . \n \n Le Carré was propelled to international renown by The Spy Who Came in from the Cold , his third novel . Smiley , a minor but pivotal character in the story , still retired , but revealed during the story to be back in the Circus as one of the top aides to `` Control '' , Maston 's mysterious successor as the Circus ' chief . Smiley and his assistant Peter Guillam have actually turned the brutal head of East German intelligence into a British double agent . The events in this book take place around 1962 , after the construction of the Berlin Wall . \n \n Smiley appears again in The Looking Glass War , le Carré 's fourth novel , though only in a peripheral role , occupying the", "qas": [ { "answers": [], "id": "odql_1039--George_Smiley.txt", "qid": "odql_1039", "question": "Who plays 'George Smiley' in the 2011 film adaptation of 'Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy'?" } ] } ] }

{ "paragraphs": [ { "context": "Smallpox was an infectious disease caused by either of two virus variants , Variola major and Variola minor . The disease is also known by the Latin names Variola or Variola vera , derived from varius ( `` spotted '' ) or varus ( `` pimple '' ) . The disease was originally known in English as the `` pox '' or `` red plague '' ; the term `` smallpox '' was first used in Britain in the 15th century to distinguish variola from the `` great pox '' ( syphilis ) . The last naturally occurring case of smallpox ( Variola minor ) was diagnosed on 26 October 1977 . \n \n Infection with smallpox is focused in small blood vessels of the skin and in the mouth and throat before disseminating . In the skin it results in a characteristic maculopapular rash and , later , raised fluid-filled blisters . V. major produced a more serious disease and had an overall mortality rate of 30–35 percent . V. minor caused a milder form of disease ( also known as alastrim , cottonpox , milkpox , whitepox , and Cuban itch ) which killed about 1 percent of its victims . Long-term complications of V. major infection included characteristic scars , commonly on the face , which occur in 65–85 percent of survivors . Blindness resulting from corneal ulceration and scarring , and limb deformities due to arthritis and osteomyelitis were less common complications , seen in about 2–5 percent of cases . \n \n Smallpox is believed to have emerged in human populations about 10,000 BC . The earliest physical evidence of it is probably the pustular rash on the mummified body of Pharaoh Ramses V of Egypt . The disease killed an estimated 400,000 Europeans annually during the closing years of the 18th century ( including five reigning monarchs ) , J. N. Hays ( 2005 ) . `` [ https : //books.google.com/books ? id \n GyE8Qt-kS1kC & pgPA151 & dq \n & lr & hl \n en & cd23 # v \n onepage & qfalse Epidemics and pandemics : their impacts on human history ] '' . ABC-CLIO . p.151 . ISBN 1-85109-658-2 and was responsible for a third of all blindness . Of all those infected , 20–60 percent—and over 80 percent of infected children—died from the disease . Smallpox was responsible for an estimated 300–500 million deaths during the 20th century . As recently as 1967 , the World Health Organization ( WHO ) estimated that 15 million people contracted the disease and that two million died in that year . \n \n After vaccination campaigns throughout the 19th and 20th centuries , the WHO certified the global eradication of smallpox in 1979 . Smallpox is one of two infectious diseases to have been eradicated , the other being rinderpest , which was declared eradicated in 2011 . \n \n Classification \n \n There were two clinical forms of smallpox . Variola major was the severe and most common form , with a more extensive rash and higher fever . Variola minor was a less common presentation , and a much less severe disease , with historical death rates of 1 percent or less . Subclinical ( asymptomatic ) infections with variola virus were noted but were not common . In addition , a form called variola sine eruptione ( smallpox without rash ) was seen generally in vaccinated persons . This form was marked by a fever that occurred after the usual incubation period and could be confirmed only by antibody studies or , rarely , by virus isolation . \n \n Signs and symptoms \n \n The incubation period between contraction and the first obvious symptoms of the disease is around 12 days . Once inhaled , variola major virus invades the oropharyngeal ( mouth and throat ) or the respiratory mucosa , migrates to regional lymph nodes , and begins to multiply . In the initial growth phase the virus seems to move from cell to cell , but around the 12th day , lysis of many infected cells occurs and the virus is found in the bloodstream in large numbers ( this is called viremia ) , and a second wave of multiplication occurs in the spleen , bone marrow , and lymph nodes . The initial or prodromal symptoms are similar to other viral diseases such as influenza and the common cold : fever of at least , muscle pain , malaise , headache and prostration . As the digestive tract is commonly involved , nausea and vomiting and backache often occur . The prodrome , or preeruptive stage , usually lasts 2–4 days . By days 12–15 the first visible lesions—small reddish spots called enanthem—appear on mucous", "qas": [ { "answers": [ { "answer_start": 76, "text": "variola major" } ], "id": "qw_7519--Smallpox.txt", "qid": "qw_7519", "question": "In 1979, a World Health Organization commission of scientists certified the global eradication of which human infectious disease, the first (and only) one to be completely eradicated from nature?" } ] } ] }

{ "paragraphs": [ { "context": "Florida ( Spanish for `` land of flowers '' ) is a state located in the southeastern region of the United States . The state is bordered to the west by the Gulf of Mexico , to the north by Alabama and Georgia , to the east by the Atlantic Ocean , and to the south by the Straits of Florida and Cuba . Florida is the 22nd most extensive , the 3rd most populous , and the 8th most densely populated of the United States . Jacksonville is the most populous city in Florida , and the largest city by area in the contiguous United States . The Miami metropolitan area is the eighth-largest metropolitan area in the United States . Tallahassee is the state capital . \n \n A peninsula between the Gulf of Mexico , the Atlantic Ocean , and the Straits of Florida , it has the longest coastline in the contiguous United States , approximately 1350 mi , and is the only state that borders both the Gulf of Mexico and the Atlantic Ocean . Much of the state is at or near sea level and is characterized by sedimentary soil . The climate varies from subtropical in the north to tropical in the south . The American alligator , American crocodile , Florida panther , and manatee can be found in the Everglades National Park . \n \n Since the first European contact was made in 1513 by Spanish explorer Juan Ponce de León – who named it La Florida ( `` land of flowers '' ) upon landing there in the Easter season , Pascua Florida – Florida was a challenge for the European colonial powers before it gained statehood in the United States in 1845 . It was a principal location of the Seminole Wars against the Native Americans , and racial segregation after the American Civil War . \n \n Today , Florida is distinctive for its large Cuban expatriate community and high population growth , as well as for its increasing environmental issues . The state 's economy relies mainly on tourism , agriculture , and transportation , which developed in the late 19th century . Florida is also renown for amusement parks , orange crops , the Kennedy Space Center , and as a popular destination for retirees . \n \n Florida culture is a reflection of influences and multiple inheritance ; Native American , European American , Hispanic and Latino , and African American heritages can be found in the architecture and cuisine . Florida has attracted many writers such as Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings , Ernest Hemingway and Tennessee Williams , and continues to attract celebrities and athletes . It is internationally known for golf , tennis , auto racing and water sports . \n \n History \n \n By the 16th century , the earliest time for which there is a historical record , major Native American groups included the Apalachee ( of the Florida Panhandle ) , the Timucua ( of northern and central Florida ) , the Ais ( of the central Atlantic coast ) , the Tocobaga ( of the Tampa Bay area ) , the Calusa ( of southwest Florida ) and the Tequesta ( of the southeastern coast ) . \n \n European arrival \n \n Florida was the first part of the continental United States to be visited and settled by Europeans . The earliest known European explorers came with the Spanish conquistador Juan Ponce de León . Ponce de León spotted and landed on the peninsula on April 2 , 1513 . He named the region La Florida ( `` land of flowers '' ) . The story that he was searching for the Fountain of Youth is a myth . \n \n `` In May 1539 , Conquistador Hernando de Soto skirted the coast of Florida , searching for a deep harbor to land . He described seeing a thick wall of red mangroves spread mile after mile , some reaching as high as 70 ft , with intertwined and elevated roots making landing difficult . Very soon , 'many smokes ' appeared 'along the whole coast ' , billowing against the sky , when the Native ancestors of the Seminole spotted the newcomers and spread the alarm by signal fires '' . The Spanish introduced Christianity , cattle , horses , sheep , the Spanish language , and more to Florida . Both the Spanish and French established settlements in Florida , with varying degrees of success . In 1559 , Don Tristán de Luna y Arellano established a settlement at present-day Pensacola , making it the first attempted settlement in Florida , but it was abandoned by 1561 . \n \n In 1565 , the Spanish settlement", "qas": [ { "answers": [ { "answer_start": 156, "text": "gulf of mexico" } ], "id": "jp_4572--Florida.txt", "qid": "jp_4572", "question": "What ocean gulf borders 5 states, including Florida and Texas?" } ] } ] }

{ "paragraphs": [ { "context": "Lassi ( la-SEE ) is a popular traditional yogurt-based drink from the Indian Subcontinent and originates from the Punjab . Lassi is a blend of yogurt , water , spices and sometimes , fruit . Traditional lassi ( a.k.a. , `` salted lassi '' , or simply , `` lassi '' ) is a savoury drink , sometimes flavoured with ground and roasted cumin . Sweet lassi , however , contains sugar or fruits , instead of spices . Salted mint lassi is highly favoured in Bangladesh . \n \n In Dharmic religions , yogurt sweetened with honey is used while performing religious rituals . Less common is lassi served with milk and topped with a thin layer of clotted cream . Lassis are enjoyed chilled as a hot-weather refreshment , mostly taken with lunch . With a little turmeric powder mixed in , it is also used as a folk remedy for gastroenteritis . In Pakistan , salted lassi is often served with almost all kinds of meals , and is mostly made at home by simply whisking salt in yogurt and water . It is also sold at most dairy shops selling yogurt and milk , and both the salty and sweet variety are available . \n \n Variations \n \n Traditional mild sweet ( or salty ) lassi \n \n This form of lassi is more common in North India and Punjab provinces of Pakistan . It is prepared by blending yogurt with water and adding sugar and other spices to taste . Salt can be substituted in place of sugar . The resulting beverage is known as salted lassi . This is similar to ayran or doogh . \n \n Sweet lassi \n \n Sweet lassi is a form of lassi flavoured with sugar , rosewater and/or lemon , strawberry or other fruit juices . Saffron lassis , which are particularly rich , are a specialty of Rajasthan and Gujarat in India and Sindh in Pakistan . Makkhaniya lassi is simply lassi with lumps of butter in it ( makkhan is the Gujarati , Hindi , Sindhi and Punjabi word for butter ) . It is usually creamy like a milkshake . \n \n Mango lassi \n \n Mango lassi is gaining popularity worldwide . It is made from yogurt , water and mango pulp . It may be made with or without additional sugar . It is widely available in UK , Malaysia , Singapore , the United States , and in many other parts of the world . In various parts of Canada , mango lassi is a cold drink consisting of sweetened kesar mango pulp mixed with yogurt , cream , or ice cream . It is served in a tall glass with a straw , often with ground pistachio nuts sprinkled on top . \n \n Bhang lassi \n \n Bhang lassi is a special , narcotic lassi that contains bhang , a liquid derivative of cannabis , which has effects similar to other eaten forms of cannabis . It is legal in many parts of India and mainly sold during Holi , when pakoras containing bhang are also sometimes eaten . Uttar Pradesh is known to have licensed bhang shops , and in many places one can buy bhang products and drink bhang lassis . \n \n Chaas \n \n Chaas or chaach is a salted drink like lassi , difference being that chaas contains more water than lassi and has the butterfat removed , so its consistency is not as thick as lassi . Salt and jeera ( cumin seeds ) is usually added for taste and sometimes even fresh coriander . Fresh ground ginger and green chillies may also be added as seasoning . Chaas is popular in the Indian states of Gujarat and Rajasthan , where it is a common accompaniment at mealtime . It aids digestion and is an excellent coolant in the Indian and Pakistani summers . It is called majjige in Kannada , taak in Marathi , majjiga in Telugu , moru in Tamil and Malayalam , mahi in the Madheshi languages , and ghol in Bengali . \n \n Cultural references \n \n A 2008 print \n and television ad campaign for HSBC , written by Jeffree Benet of JWT Hong Kong , tells a tale of a Polish washing machine manufacturer 's representative sent to India to discover why their sales are so high there . On arriving , the representative investigates a lassi parlor , where he is warmly welcomed , and finds several washing machines being used to mix it . The owner tells him he is able to `` make ten times as much lassi as I used to ! '' \n \n On his No Reservations television program ,", "qas": [ { "answers": [ { "answer_start": 42, "text": "yogurt" } ], "id": "sfq_4348--Lassi.txt", "qid": "sfq_4348", "question": "\"What is the main ingredient in the Indian drink, \"\"lassi\"\"?\"" } ] } ] }

{ "paragraphs": [ { "context": "Marion Davies ( January 3 , 1897 – September 22 , 1961 ) was an American film actress , producer , screenwriter , and philanthropist . \n \n Davies was already building a solid reputation as a film comedian when newspaper tycoon William Randolph Hearst , with whom she had begun a romantic relationship , took over management of her career . Hearst financed Davies ' pictures , promoted her heavily through his newspapers and Hearst Newsreels , and pressured studios to cast her in historical dramas for which she was ill-suited . For this reason , Davies is better remembered today as Hearst 's mistress and the hostess of many lavish events for the Hollywood elite . In particular , her name is linked with the 1924 scandal aboard Hearst 's yacht when one of his guests , film producer Thomas Ince , died . \n \n In the film Citizen Kane ( 1941 ) , the title character 's second wife—an untalented singer whom he tries to promote—was widely assumed to be based on Davies . But many commentators , including Citizen Kane writer/director Orson Welles himself , have defended Davies ' record as a gifted actress , to whom Hearst 's patronage did more harm than good . She retired from the screen in 1937 , choosing to devote herself to Hearst and charitable work . \n \n In Hearst 's declining years , Davies provided financial as well as emotional support until his death in 1951 . She married for the first time eleven weeks after his death , a marriage which lasted until Davies died of stomach cancer in 1961 at the age of 64 . \n \n Early life \n \n Davies was born Marion Cecilia Douras on January 3 , 1897 , in Brooklyn , the youngest of five children born to Bernard J. Douras ( 1857–1935 ) , a lawyer and judge in New York City ; and Rose Reilly ( 1867–1928 ) . Her father performed the civil marriage of Gloria Gould Bishop . Her elder siblings included Rose , Reine , and Ethel . A brother , Charles , drowned at the age of 15 in 1906 . His name was subsequently given to Davies ' favorite nephew , screenwriter Charles Lederer , the son of Davies ' sister Reine Davies . \n \n The Douras family lived near Prospect Park in Brooklyn . The sisters changed their surname to Davies , which one of them spotted on a real-estate agent 's sign in the neighborhood . Even at a time when New York was the melting pot for new immigrants , having a British surname greatly helped one 's prospects – the name Davies has Welsh origins . \n \n Educated in a New York convent , Davies left school to pursue a career . She worked as a chorus girl in Broadway revues and modeled for illustrators Harrison Fisher and Howard Chandler Christy . In 1916 , Davies was signed on as a Ziegfeld girl in the Ziegfeld Follies . \n \n Career \n \n Early career \n \n After making her screen debut in 1916 , modelling gowns by Lady Duff-Gordon in a fashion newsreel , she appeared in her first feature film in the 1917 Runaway Romany . Davies wrote the film , which was directed by her brother-in-law , prominent Broadway producer George W. Lederer . The following year she starred in two films – The Burden of Proof and Cecilia of the Pink Roses . Playing mainly light comic roles , she quickly became a film personality appearing with major male stars , making a small fortune , which enabled her to provide financial assistance for her family and friends . \n \n In 1918 , Hearst started the movie studio Cosmopolitan Productions to promote Davies ' career and also moved her with her mother and sisters into an elegant Manhattan townhouse at the corner of Riverside Drive and W. 105th Street . Cecilia of the Pink Roses in 1918 was her first film backed by Hearst . She was on her way to being the most infamously advertised actress in the world . During the next ten years she appeared in 29 films , an average of almost three films a year . One of her most known roles was as Mary Tudor in When Knighthood Was in Flower ( 1922 ) , directed by Robert G. Vignola , with whom she collaborated on several films . \n \n Hearst and Cosmopolitan Pictures \n \n By the mid-1920s , however , Davies ' career was often overshadowed by her relationship with William Randolph Hearst and their social life at San Simeon and Ocean House in Santa Monica ; the latter dubbed by Colleen", "qas": [ { "answers": [], "id": "odql_7381--Marion_Davies.txt", "qid": "odql_7381", "question": "Which comedian played Charlie Chaplin in Peter Bogdanovitch's 2001 film 'The Cat's Meow'?" } ] } ] }

{ "paragraphs": [ { "context": "High Noon is a 1952 American Western film directed by Fred Zinnemann and starring Gary Cooper . In nearly real time , the film tells the story of a town marshal forced to face a gang of killers by himself . The screenplay was written by Carl Foreman . The film won four Academy Awards ( Actor , Editing , Music-Score , Music-Song ) and four Golden Globe Awards ( Actor , Supporting Actress , Score , Cinematography-Black and White ) . The award-winning score was written by Russian-born composer Dimitri Tiomkin . \n \n In 1989 , High Noon was selected for preservation in the United States National Film Registry by the Library of Congress as being `` culturally , historically , or aesthetically significant '' , entering the registry during the NFR 's first year of existence . \n \n In Chapter XXXV of The Virginian by Owen Wister , there is a description of a very similar incident . Trampas ( a villain ) calls out the Virginian , who has a new bride waiting whom he might lose if he goes ahead with the gunfight . High Noon has even been described as a `` straight remake '' of the 1929 film version of The Virginian . \n \n Plot \n \n Will Kane ( Gary Cooper ) , the long-time marshal of Hadleyville in New Mexico Territory , has just married pacifist Quaker Amy Fowler ( Grace Kelly ) and turned in his badge . He intends to become a storekeeper in another town ; but word arrives that Frank Miller ( Ian MacDonald ) , a criminal brought to justice by Kane and sentenced to hang , has been pardoned on an unspecified legal technicality . He has vowed revenge on Kane , and will be arriving by train at high noon . Miller 's gang—his younger brother Ben ( Sheb Wooley ) , Jack Colby ( Lee Van Cleef ) , and Jim Pierce ( Robert J. Wilke ) —await his arrival at the train station . \n \n Kane leaves town with Amy , but has second thoughts : He knows that Miller and his gang will wreak havoc on Hadleyville and its people in his absence , and then hunt him down anyway . He turns back . Harvey Pell ( Lloyd Bridges ) , Kane 's former deputy who resigned after Kane did not recommend him as his successor , agrees to stand with Kane in exchange for that recommendation . Kane refuses to buy Pell 's assistance . \n \n Kane visits Helen Ramírez ( Katy Jurado ) , who was Miller 's lover , then Kane 's , and now Pell 's , to warn her of Miller 's imminent arrival . Helen is aware of the danger ; she has sold her business and prepares to leave town to avoid Miller , and to avoid seeing Kane killed . Judge Percy Mettrick ( Otto Kruger ) , who sentenced Miller , is leaving as well , and encourages Kane to do the same . Amy gives Kane an ultimatum : She is leaving on the noon train , with or without him . \n \n Will reclaims his badge and scours the town for help , with little success . The marshal who preceded him can not help due to his advanced age . The tavern and the church yield no volunteers . Many townspeople believe that Kane 's departure would defuse the situation ; others would welcome Kane 's demise . Even his good friends the Fullers are at odds . Mildred Fuller ( Eve McVeagh ) wants her husband Sam ( Harry Morgan ) to speak with Kane when he comes to their home , but he makes her claim he is not home while he hides in another room . \n \n As high noon grows near , Kane again discusses the situation with Pell at the stables . Their conversation becomes an argument , and then a full-blown fist fight . Kane finally knocks his former deputy and friend senseless , then goes into the street to face Miller and his gang alone . He guns down Ben Miller and Colby , but is wounded in the process . Helen and Amy both board the train , but Amy gets off when she hears the gunfire . Choosing her husband 's life over her religious beliefs , she shoots Pierce from behind . Miller then takes Amy hostage , to force Kane into the open ; but Amy distracts Miller long enough to give Kane a clear shot , and he shoots Miller dead . \n \n The gunsmoke clears and the townspeople begin to emerge ; Kane glares at them with contempt", "qas": [ { "answers": [ { "answer_start": 1135, "text": "will kane" } ], "id": "qf_991--High_Noon.txt", "qid": "qf_991", "question": "What character was played by Gary Cooper in 'High Noon'?" } ] } ] }

{ "paragraphs": [ { "context": "Maureen O'Hara ( born Maureen FitzSimons ; 17 August 192024 October 2015 ) was an Irish actress and singer . The famously red-headed O'Hara was known for her beauty and playing fiercely passionate but sensible heroines , often in westerns and adventure films . She worked on numerous occasions with director John Ford and longtime friend John Wayne , and was one of the last surviving stars from the Golden Age of Hollywood . \n \n O'Hara grew up in the Dublin suburb of Ranelagh to an `` eccentric '' devout Catholic family , and aspired to become an actress from a very young age . She trained with the Rathmines Theatre Company from the age of 10 and at the Abbey Theatre from the age of 14 . She was given a screen test , which was deemed unsatisfactory , but Charles Laughton saw potential and arranged for her to co-star with him in Alfred Hitchcock 's Jamaica Inn in 1939 . She moved to Hollywood the same year to appear with him in the production of The Hunchback of Notre Dame , and was given a contract by RKO Pictures . From there , she went on to enjoy a long and highly successful career , and acquired the nickname `` The Queen of Technicolor '' , something which she detested , believing that people saw her only for her beauty rather than talent . O'Hara gained a reputation in Hollywood for bossiness and prudishness , avoiding the partying lifestyle . She appeared in films such as How Green Was My Valley ( 1941 ) ( her first collaboration with John Ford ) , The Black Swan with Tyrone Power ( 1942 ) , The Spanish Main ( 1945 ) , Sinbad the Sailor ( 1947 ) , the Christmas classic Miracle on 34th Street ( 1947 ) with John Payne and Natalie Wood and Comanche Territory ( 1950 ) . \n \n O'Hara made her first film with Wayne , the actor with whom she is most closely associated , with Rio Grande ( 1950 ) . This was followed by The Quiet Man ( 1952 ) , her best-known film , and The Wings of Eagles ( 1957 ) , by which time her relationship with Ford had deteriorated . Such was her strong chemistry with Wayne that many assumed they were married or in a relationship . In the 1960s O'Hara increasingly turned to more motherly roles as she aged , appearing in films such as The Deadly Companions ( 1961 ) , The Parent Trap ( 1961 ) and The Rare Breed ( 1966 ) . She retired from the industry in 1971 after starring with Wayne one final time in Big Jake , but returned 20 years later to appear with John Candy in Only the Lonely ( 1991 ) . In the late 1970s , O'Hara helped run her third husband 's flying business in St Croix in the American Virgin Islands , and edited a magazine , but later sold them to spend more time in Glengariff in Ireland . She was married three times , and had one daughter , Bronwyn , born in 1944 to her second husband . Her autobiography , 'T is Herself , was published in 2004 and became a New York Times Bestseller . In November 2014 , she was presented with an Honorary Academy Award with the inscription `` To Maureen O'Hara , one of Hollywood 's brightest stars , whose inspiring performances glowed with passion , warmth and strength '' . \n \n Early life and education \n \n Born on 17 August 1920 , O'Hara began life as Maureen FitzSimons on Beechwood Avenue in the Dublin suburb of Ranelagh . She states that she was `` born into the most remarkable and eccentric family I could have possibly hoped for '' . O'Hara was the second oldest of six children of Charles and Marguerite ( née Lilburn ) FitzSimons , and the only red-headed sibling in the family . Her father was in the clothing business and bought into Shamrock Rovers Football Club , a team O'Hara supported from childhood . She inherited her beauty and singing voice from her mother , a former operatic contralto and successful women 's clothier who in her younger years was widely considered to have been one of Ireland 's most beautiful women . O'Hara noted that whenever her mother left the house , men would leave their houses just so they could catch a glimpse of her in the street . O'Hara 's siblings were Peggy , the oldest , and younger Charles , Florrie , Margot , and Jimmy . Peggy dedicated her life to a religious order , becoming a Sister of Charity", "qas": [ { "answers": [], "id": "bb_8151--Maureen_O'Hara.txt", "qid": "bb_8151", "question": "In which 1963 film is Maureen O'Hara spanked by John Wayne?" } ] } ] }

{ "paragraphs": [ { "context": "The Sarah Jane Adventures is a British science fiction television programme , that was produced by BBC Cymru Wales for CBBC , created by Russell T Davies starring Elisabeth Sladen . The programme is a spin-off of the long-running BBC science fiction programme Doctor Who and is aimed at a younger audience than Doctor Who . It focuses on the adventures of Sarah Jane Smith , an investigative journalist who , as a young woman , had numerous adventures across time and space . \n \n The series debuted on BBC One with a 60-minute special , `` Invasion of the Bane '' , on 1 January 2007 , and broadcast through to 2011 . It was nominated for a British Academy Children 's Award in 2008 in the Drama category , and for a BAFTA Cymru in 2009 in the Children 's Drama category . The programme won a Royal Television Society 2010 award for Best Children 's Drama . \n \n Series \n \n A full series of ten 25-minute episodes began on 24 September 2007 . The first series consisted of five two-part stories , and a second series , comprising six two-part stories , began airing on 29 September 2008 . A third series , once again comprising six two-part stories to make a total of twelve episodes , with Russell T Davies serving as executive producer , aired from 15 October 2009 to 20 November 2009 . \n \n The fourth series was aired from 11 October 2010 . An episode of another spin-off series , Sarah Jane 's Alien Files , was shown immediately after each of the first episodes of the stories . Filming for three of six two-part serials planned for the fifth series was completed prior to Elisabeth Sladen 's death on 19 April 2011 . Although some UK media , including the Sun , reported in early May 2011 that production of the series was to continue , the BBC has stated explicitly that no further episodes will be filmed . The fifth series was broadcast starting 3 October 2011 on Mondays and Tuesdays . It finished just two weeks later on 18 October 2011 . \n \n Background and development \n \n In 2006 , Children 's BBC expressed an interest in producing a Doctor Who spin-off . Their initial idea was `` a drama based on the idea of a young Doctor Who '' , but Russell T Davies vetoed this . `` Somehow , the idea of a fourteen-year-old Doctor , on Gallifrey inventing sonic screwdrivers , takes away from the mystery and intrigue of who he is and where he came from , '' said Davies . He suggested instead a series based on the Doctor 's former companion Sarah Jane Smith . \n \n The character of Sarah Jane Smith , played by Sladen , appeared in Doctor Who from 1973 to 1976 , alongside Jon Pertwee as the Third Doctor and later Tom Baker as the Fourth Doctor . A pilot episode for another Doctor Who spin-off series , K-9 and Company , made in 1981 , featured Sarah Jane and the robot dog K-9 ; however , a full series was never commissioned . Sarah Jane and K-9 returned to Doctor Who in various media many times over the years , most notably in the 20th anniversary special The Five Doctors ( 1983 ) , and in episodes School Reunion ( 2006 ) , The Stolen Earth / Journey 's End ( 2008 ) and The End of Time ( 2010 ) . \n \n Sarah Jane is frequently voted the most popular Doctor Who companion by both Doctor Who fans and members of the general public . \n The prospect of a new television series focusing on Sarah Jane was first rumoured in The Sun in March 2006 , prior to the airing of `` School Reunion '' ; the report at that time suggested that Sarah Jane and K-9 would both appear in the series . The fact that a Sarah Jane series was being developed was first confirmed in the BBC 's in-house newsletter , Ariel , in early August 2006 . These early rumours were associated with the working title Sarah Jane Investigates . \n \n K-9 's only appearances in the show 's first two series were a cameo in the special and an appearance in the last episode of the first series . This was due to the concurrent development of the independently produced children 's series , K-9 , which features a remodelled version of K-9 with only indirect nods to Doctor Who . However , in 2009 the robot appeared with the Sarah Jane Adventures cast in a sketch for Comic Relief , and K-9", "qas": [ { "answers": [ { "answer_start": 260, "text": "doctor who" } ], "id": "odql_11168--The_Sarah_Jane_Adventures.txt", "qid": "odql_11168", "question": "'The Sarah Jane Adventures' was a spin-off from which t.v. programme?" } ] } ] }

{ "paragraphs": [ { "context": "Christiaan Huygens , FRS ( or ; ) ( ) ( 14 April 1629 – 8 July 1695 ) was a prominent Dutch mathematician and scientist . He is known particularly as an astronomer , physicist , probabilist and horologist . \n \n Huygens was a leading scientist of his time . His work included early telescopic studies of the rings of Saturn and the discovery of its moon Titan , the invention of the pendulum clock and other investigations in timekeeping . He published major studies of mechanics and optics , and a pioneer work on games of chance . \n \n Early life \n \n \n \n Christiaan Huygens was born on 14 April 1629 in The Hague , into a rich and influential Dutch family , the second son of Constantijn Huygens . Christiaan was named after his paternal grandfather . His mother was Suzanna van Baerle . She died in 1637 , shortly after the birth of Huygens ' sister . The couple had five children : Constantijn ( 1628 ) , Christiaan ( 1629 ) , Lodewijk ( 1631 ) , Philips ( 1632 ) and Suzanna ( 1637 ) . \n \n Constantijn Huygens was a diplomat and advisor to the House of Orange , and also a poet and musician . His friends included Galileo Galilei , Marin Mersenne and René Descartes . Huygens was educated at home until turning sixteen years old . He liked to play with miniatures of mills and other machines . His father gave him a liberal education : he studied languages and music , history and geography , mathematics , logic and rhetoric , but also dancing , fencing and horse riding . \n \n In 1644 Huygens had as his mathematical tutor Jan Jansz de Jonge Stampioen , who set the 15-year-old a demanding reading list on contemporary science . Descartes was impressed by his skills in geometry . \n \n Student years \n \n His father sent Huygens to study law and mathematics at the University of Leiden , where he studied from May 1645 to March 1647 . Frans van Schooten was an academic at Leiden from 1646 , and also a private tutor to Huygens and his elder brother , replacing Stampioen on the advice of Descartes . Van Schooten brought his mathematical education up to date , in particular introducing him to the work of Fermat on differential geometry . \n \n After two years , from March 1647 , Huygens continued his studies at the newly founded College of Orange , in Breda , where his father was a curator : the change occurred because of a duel between his brother Lodewijk and another student . Constantijn Huygens was closely involved in the new College , which lasted only to 1669 ; the rector was André Rivet . Christiaan Huygens lived at the home of the jurist Johann Henryk Dauber , and had mathematics classes with the English lecturer John Pell . He completed his studies in August 1649 . He then had a stint as a diplomat on a mission with Henry , Duke of Nassau . It took him to Bentheim , then Flensburg . He took off for Denmark , visited Copenhagen and Helsingør , and hoped to cross the Øresund to visit Descartes in Stockholm . It was not to be . \n \n While his father had wished Christiaan to be a diplomat , it also was not to be . In political terms , the First Stadtholderless Period that began in 1650 meant that the House of Orange was not in power , removing Constantijn Huygens 's influence . Further , the father realised that his son had no interest in such a career . \n \n Early correspondence \n \n Huygens generally wrote in French or Latin . While still a college student at Leiden he began a correspondence with the intelligencer Mersenne , who died quite soon afterwards in 1648 . Mersenne wrote to Constantijn on his son 's talent for mathematics , and flatteringly compared him to Archimedes ( 3 January 1647 ) . The letters show the early interests of Huygens in mathematics . In October 1646 there is the suspension bridge , and the demonstration that a catenary is not a parabola . In 1647/8 they cover the claim of Grégoire de Saint-Vincent to squaring the circle ; rectification of the ellipse ; projectiles , and the vibrating string . Some of Mersenne 's concerns at the time , such as the cycloid ( he sent Evangelista Torricelli 's treatise on the curve ) , the centre of oscillation , and the gravitational constant , were matters Huygens only took seriously towards the end of the 17th century . Mersenne", "qas": [ { "answers": [ { "answer_start": 382, "text": "pendulum clock" } ], "id": "qw_9702--Christiaan_Huygens.txt", "qid": "qw_9702", "question": "Christiaan Huygens has been credited with inventing what in the 1650s?" } ] } ] }

{ "paragraphs": [ { "context": "The British Empire comprised the dominions , colonies , protectorates , mandates and other territories ruled or administered by the United Kingdom . It originated with the overseas possessions and trading posts established by England between the late 16th and early 18th centuries . At its height , it was the largest empire in history and , for over a century , was the foremost global power . By 1922 the British Empire held sway over about 458 million people , one-fifth of the world 's population at the time , and covered more than 13000000 sqmi , almost a quarter of the Earth 's total land area . As a result , its political , legal , linguistic and cultural legacy is widespread . At the peak of its power , the phrase `` the empire on which the sun never sets '' was often used to describe the British Empire , because its expanse around the globe meant that the sun was always shining on at least one of its territories . \n \n During the Age of Discovery in the 15th and 16th centuries , Portugal and Spain pioneered European exploration of the globe , and in the process established large overseas empires . Envious of the great wealth these empires generated , England , France , and the Netherlands began to establish colonies and trade networks of their own in the Americas and Asia . A series of wars in the 17th and 18th centuries with the Netherlands and France left England ( and then , following union between England and Scotland in 1707 , Great Britain ) the dominant colonial power in North America and India . \n \n The independence of the Thirteen Colonies in North America in 1783 after the American War of Independence caused Britain to lose some of its oldest and most populous colonies . British attention soon turned towards Asia , Africa , and the Pacific . After the defeat of France in the Revolutionary and Napoleonic Wars ( 1792–1815 ) , Britain emerged as the principal naval and imperial power of the 19th century ( with London the largest city in the world from about 1830 ) . Unchallenged at sea , British dominance was later described as Pax Britannica ( `` British Peace '' ) , a period of relative peace in Europe and the world ( 1815–1914 ) during which the British Empire became the global hegemon and adopted the role of global policeman . In the early 19th century , the Industrial Revolution began to transform Britain ; by the time of the Great Exhibition in 1851 the country was described as the `` workshop of the world '' . The British Empire expanded to include India , large parts of Africa and many other territories throughout the world . Alongside the formal control it exerted over its own colonies , British dominance of much of world trade meant that it effectively controlled the economies of many regions , such as Asia and Latin America . Domestically , political attitudes favoured free trade and laissez-faire policies and a gradual widening of the voting franchise . During this century , the population increased at a dramatic rate , accompanied by rapid urbanisation , causing significant social and economic stresses . To seek new markets and sources of raw materials , the Conservative Party under Benjamin Disraeli launched a period of imperialist expansion in Egypt , South Africa , and elsewhere . Canada , Australia , and New Zealand became self-governing dominions . \n \n By the start of the 20th century , Germany and the United States challenged Britain 's economic lead . Subsequent military and economic tensions between Britain and Germany were major causes of the First World War , during which Britain relied heavily upon its empire . The conflict placed enormous strain on the military , financial and manpower resources of Britain . Although the British Empire achieved its largest territorial extent immediately after World War I , Britain was no longer the world 's pre-eminent industrial or military power . In the Second World War , Britain 's colonies in South-East Asia were occupied by Imperial Japan . Despite the final victory of Britain and its allies , the damage to British prestige helped to accelerate the decline of the empire . India , Britain 's most valuable and populous possession , achieved independence as part of a larger decolonisation movement in which Britain granted independence to most territories of the empire . The transfer of Hong Kong to China in 1997 marked for many the end of the British Empire . Fourteen overseas territories remain under British sovereignty . After independence , many former British colonies joined the Commonwealth of Nations ,", "qas": [ { "answers": [], "id": "sfq_2898--British_Empire.txt", "qid": "sfq_2898", "question": "The codename 'Corporate' was give to which post war British military operation?" } ] } ] }

{ "paragraphs": [ { "context": "The United Nations Educational , Scientific and Cultural Organization ( UNESCO ) is a specialized agency of the United Nations ( UN ) . Its purpose is to contribute to peace and security by promoting international collaboration through educational , scientific , and cultural reforms in order to increase universal respect for justice , the rule of law , and human rights along with fundamental freedom proclaimed in the United Nations Charter . \n It is the heir of the League of Nations ' International Committee on Intellectual Cooperation . \n \n UNESCO has 195 member states and nine associate members . Most of its field offices are `` cluster '' offices covering three or more countries ; national and regional offices also exist . \n \n UNESCO pursues its objectives through five major programs : education , natural sciences , social/human sciences , culture and communication/information . Projects sponsored by UNESCO include literacy , technical , and teacher-training programmes , international science programmes , the promotion of independent media and freedom of the press , regional and cultural history projects , the promotion of cultural diversity , translations of world literature , international cooperation agreements to secure the world cultural and natural heritage ( World Heritage Sites ) and to preserve human rights , and attempts to bridge the worldwide digital divide . It is also a member of the United Nations Development Group . \n \n UNESCO 's aim is `` to contribute to the building of peace , the eradication of poverty , sustainable development and intercultural dialogue through education , the sciences , culture , communication and information '' . Other priorities of the organization include attaining quality Education For All and lifelong learning , addressing emerging social and ethical challenges , fostering cultural diversity , a culture of peace and building inclusive knowledge societies through information and communication . \n \n The broad goals and concrete objectives of the international community — as set out in the internationally agreed development goals , including the Millennium Development Goals ( MDGs ) — underpin all UNESCO 's strategies and activities . \n \n History \n \n UNESCO and its mandate for international co-operation can be traced back to the League of Nations resolution on 21 September 1921 , to elect a Commission to study feasibility . \n On 18 December 1925 , the International Bureau of Education ( IBE ) began work as a non-governmental organization in the service of international educational development . \n However , the work of these predecessor organizations was largely interrupted by the onset of World War II . \n \n After the signing of the Atlantic Charter and the Declaration of the United Nations , the Conference of Allied Ministers of Education ( CAME ) began meetings in London which continued between 16 November 1942 to 5 December 1945 . \n On 30 October 1943 , the necessity for an international organization was expressed in the Moscow Declaration , agreed upon by China , the United Kingdom , the United States and the USSR . \n This was followed by the Dumbarton Oaks Conference proposals of 9 October 1944 . \n Upon the proposal of CAME and in accordance with the recommendations of the United Nations Conference on International Organization ( UNCIO ) , held in San Francisco in April–June 1945 , a United Nations Conference for the establishment of an educational and cultural organization ( ECO/CONF ) was convened in London 1–16 November 1945 with 44 governments represented . A prominent figure in the initiative for UNESCO was Rab Butler , the Minister of Education for the United Kingdom . At the ECO/CONF , the Constitution of UNESCO was introduced and signed by 37 countries , and a Preparatory Commission was established . \n The Preparatory Commission operated between 16 November 1945 , and 4 November 1946—the date when UNESCO 's Constitution came into force with the deposit of the twentieth ratification by a member state . \n \n The first General Conference took place from 19 November to 10 December 1946 , and elected Dr. Julian Huxley to the post of Director-General . \n The Constitution was amended in November 1954 when the General Conference resolved that members of the Executive Board would be representatives of the governments of the States of which they are nationals and would not , as before , act in their personal capacity . \n This change in governance distinguished UNESCO from its predecessor , the CICI , in terms of how member states would work together in the organization 's fields of competence . As member states worked together over time to realize UNESCO 's mandate , political and historical factors have shaped the organization 's operations in particular during the Cold War", "qas": [ { "answers": [ { "answer_start": 48, "text": "cultur" } ], "id": "sfq_10106--UNESCO.txt", "qid": "sfq_10106", "question": "For what does the C stand in the acronym UNESCO?" } ] } ] }

{ "paragraphs": [ { "context": "A poster is any piece of printed paper designed to be attached to a wall or vertical surface . Typically posters include both textual and graphic elements , although a poster may be either wholly graphical or wholly text . Posters are designed to be both eye-catching and informative . Posters may be used for many purposes . They are a frequent tool of advertisers ( particularly of events , musicians and films ) , propagandists , protestors and other groups trying to communicate a message . Posters are also used for reproductions of artwork , particularly famous works , and are generally low-cost compared to original artwork . The modern poster , as we know it , however , dates back to the 1840s and 1850s when the printing industry perfected colour lithography and made mass production possible . '' \n \n History \n \n Introduction \n \n According to the French historian Max Gallo , `` for over two hundred years , posters have been displayed in public places all over the world . Visually striking , they have been designed to attract the attention of passers-by , making us aware of a political viewpoint , enticing us to attend specific events , or encouraging us to purchase a particular product or service . `` Gallo , Max , The Poster in History , ( 2002 ) W.W. Norton The modern poster , as we know it , however , dates back to the mid-nineteenth century , when several separate but related changes took place . First , the printing industry perfected colour lithography and made mass production of large and inexpensive images possible . Second , government censorship of public spaces in countries like France was lifted . And finally , advertisers began to market mass-produced consumer goods to a growing populace in urban areas . \n \n `` In little more than a hundred years '' , writes poster expert John Barnicoat , `` it has come to be recognized as a vital art form , attracting artists at every level , from painters like Toulouse-Lautrec and Mucha to theatrical and commercial designers . `` Barnicoat , John , Posters : A Concise History , ( 1985 ) Thames and Hudson They have ranged in styles from Art Nouveau , Symbolism , Cubism , and Art Deco to the more formal Bauhaus and the often incoherent hippie posters of the 1960s . \n \n Mass production \n \n Posters , in the form of placards and posted bills , have been used since earliest times , primarily for advertising and announcements . Purely textual posters have a long history : they advertised the plays of Shakespeare and made citizens aware of government proclamations for centuries . However , the great revolution in posters was the development of printing techniques that allowed for cheap mass production and printing , including notably the technique lithography which was invented in 1796 by the German Alois Senefelder . The invention of lithography was soon followed by chromolithography , which allowed for mass editions of posters illustrated in vibrant colours to be printed . \n \n Developing art form \n \n By the 1890s , the technique had spread throughout Europe . A number of noted French artists created poster art in this period , foremost amongst them Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec , Jules Chéret , Eugène Grasset , Adolphe Willette , Pierre Bonnard , Louis Anguetin , Georges de Feure and Henri-Gabriel Ibels . Chéret is considered to be the `` father '' of advertisement placards . He was a pencil artist and a scene decorator , who founded a small lithography office in Paris in 1866 . He used striking characters , contrast and bright colours , and created over 1000 advertisements , primarily for exhibitions , theatres , and products . The industry soon attracted the service of many aspiring painters who needed a source of revenue to support themselves . \n \n Chéret developed a new lithographic technique that suited better the needs of advertisers : he added a lot more colour which , in conjunction with innovative typography , rendered the poster much more expressive . Not surprisingly , Chéret is said to have introduced sex in advertising or , at least , to have exploited the feminine image as an advertising ploy . In contrast with those previously painted by Toulouse-Lautrec , Chéret 's laughing and provocative feminine figures , often called `` chérettes , '' meant a new conception of art as being of service to advertising . \n \n Posters soon transformed the thoroughfares of Paris , making the streets into what one contemporary called `` the poor man ’ s picture gallery . '' Their commercial success was such that some fine artists", "qas": [ { "answers": [], "id": "bt_3074--Poster.txt", "qid": "bt_3074", "question": "\"What did \"\"loose lips\"\" do, according to a popular rhyming WW2 slogan\"" } ] } ] }

{ "paragraphs": [ { "context": "The Gibson is a mixed drink made with gin and vermouth , and often garnished with a pickled onion . The oldest published recipe for the Gibson is found in the 1908 book , The World 's Drinks And How To Mix Them by William Boothby . \n \n Other pre-prohibition recipes for the Gibson exist . They all omit bitters and none of them garnish with an onion . Some garnish with citrus twists . Others use no garniture at all . No known recipe for the Gibson garnishes with an onion before 1922 . Some sources persist in using other garnishment than the onion into the 1930s and beyond , but still none use bitters . \n \n The drink is traditionally made with gin , but the vodka Gibson is also common . \n \n History \n \n The exact origin of the Gibson is unclear , with numerous popular tales and theories about its genesis . According to one popular theory Charles Dana Gibson is responsible for the creation of the Gibson , when he supposedly challenged Charley Connolly , the bartender of the Players Club in New York City , to improve upon the martini 's recipe , so Connolly simply substituted an onion for the olive and named the drink after the patron . \n \n Gibson could have been the Californian popular onion farmer as seen in the publication Hutchings ' illustrated California magazine : Volume 1 ( p. 194 ) by James Mason Hutchings in 1857 : \n \n Other stories involve different Gibsons , such as an apocryphal American diplomat who served in Europe during Prohibition . Although he was a teetotaller , he often had to attend receptions where cocktails were served . To avoid an awkward situation , Gibson would ask the staff to fill his martini glass with cold water and garnish it with a small onion so that he could pick it out among the gin drinks . \n A similar story postulates a savvy investment banker named Gibson , who would take his clients out for the proverbial three-martini business lunches . He purportedly had the bartender serve him cold water , permitting him to remain sober while his clients became intoxicated ; the cocktail onion garnish served to distinguish his beverage from those of his clients . \n \n Another version now considered more probable of the origin story given by Charles McCabe of the San Francisco Chronicle states it is from San Francisco . In 1968 McCabe interviewed Allan P. Gibson ( 1923–2005 ) and included the story in his Dec. 9 , 1968 column , as well as in his book The Good Man 's Weakness . A.P . Gibson remembered that when he was a boy , his great-uncle , prominent San Francisco businessman Walter D. K. Gibson ( 1864–1938 ) , was said to have created it at the Bohemian Club in the 1890s . Charles Clegg , when asked about it by Herb Caen , also said it was from San Francisco . Eric Felton , writing in the Wall Street Journal , May 30 , 2009 `` A Thoroughly Western Cocktail '' considers this version correct ; he cites Ward Thompson , a Bohemian Club member whose mention of it in 1898 is the first recorded in print . Although bartenders ' guides sometimes gave the recipe as 50/50 gin and vermouth , Gibsons in the early days were much drier than other martinis . \n \n A third version , supported by Kazuo Uyeda in `` Cocktail Techniques '' , states that Gibsons started as very dry martinis garnished with a cocktail onion to distinguish them from traditional martinis , but as the fondness for drier martinis became popular the onion became the only difference . \n \n There is no direct evidence that Charles Dana , or any other Gibson , created the drink . But , Charles Dana Gibson was certainly the artist who created the 'Gibson girl ' illustrations—popular from the 1890s through about the time of the first world war . It has been suggested that the Gibson girl was the first widespread visual standard for beauty in American women . Given that ubiquity and popularity , it is also very possible that the drink was simply named after the Gibson girl . This possibility is , perhaps , less appealing to some who prefer to associate famous drinks with notable historic persons .", "qas": [ { "answers": [ { "answer_start": 38, "text": "gin" } ], "id": "sfq_1532--Gibson_(cocktail).txt", "qid": "sfq_1532", "question": "Which spirit is included in the cocktail 'Gibson'?" } ] } ] }

{ "paragraphs": [ { "context": "Anton Pavlovich Chekhov ( ; , ; 29 January 1860 – 15 July 1904 ) was a Russian playwright and short story writer who is considered to be among the greatest writers of short fiction in history . His career as a playwright produced four classics and his best short stories are held in high esteem by writers and critics . `` Stories ... which are among the supreme achievements in prose narrative . '' [ http : //books.guardian.co.uk/critics/reviews/0 , ,489891,00.html Vodka miniatures , belching and angry cats , ] George Steiner 's review of The Undiscovered Chekhov , in The Observer , 13 May 2001 . Retrieved 16 February 2007 . Along with Henrik Ibsen and August Strindberg , Chekhov is often referred to as one of the three seminal figures in the birth of early modernism in the theatre . Chekhov practiced as a medical doctor throughout most of his literary career : `` Medicine is my lawful wife '' , he once said , `` and literature is my mistress . '' \n \n Chekhov renounced the theatre after the disastrous reception of The Seagull in 1896 , but the play was revived to acclaim in 1898 by Constantin Stanislavski 's Moscow Art Theatre , which subsequently also produced Chekhov 's Uncle Vanya and premiered his last two plays , Three Sisters and The Cherry Orchard . These four works present a challenge to the acting ensemble as well as to audiences , because in place of conventional action Chekhov offers a `` theatre of mood '' and a `` submerged life in the text '' . \n \n Chekhov had at first written stories only for financial gain , but as his artistic ambition grew , he made formal innovations which have influenced the evolution of the modern short story . He made no apologies for the difficulties this posed to readers , insisting that the role of an artist was to ask questions , not to answer them . \n \n Biography \n \n Childhood \n \n Anton Chekhov was born on the feast day of St. Anthony the Great ( 17 January Old Style ) 29 January 1860 , the third of six surviving children , in Taganrog , a port on the Sea of Azov in southern Russia . His father , Pavel Yegorovich Chekhov , the son of a former serf , was from a village Vilkhovatka near Kobeliaky ( Poltava Region in modern-day Ukraine ) and ran a grocery store . A director of the parish choir , devout Orthodox Christian , and physically abusive father , Pavel Chekhov has been seen by some historians as the model for his son 's many portraits of hypocrisy.Wood , 78 . Chekhov 's mother , Yevgeniya ( Morozova ) , was an excellent storyteller who entertained the children with tales of her travels with her cloth-merchant father all over Russia . Simmons , 18 . `` Our talents we got from our father , '' Chekhov remembered , `` but our soul from our mother . `` From the biographical sketch , adapted from a memoir by Chekhov 's brother Mihail , which prefaces Constance Garnett 's translation of Chekhov 's letters , 1920 . \n In adulthood , Chekhov criticised his brother Alexander 's treatment of his wife and children by reminding him of Pavel 's tyranny : `` Let me ask you to recall that it was despotism and lying that ruined your mother 's youth . Despotism and lying so mutilated our childhood that it 's sickening and frightening to think about it . Remember the horror and disgust we felt in those times when Father threw a tantrum at dinner over too much salt in the soup and called Mother a fool . '' Another insight into Chekhov 's childhood came in a letter to his publisher and friend Alexei Suvorin : `` From my childhood I have believed in progress , and I could not help believing in it since the difference between the time when I used to be thrashed and when they gave up thrashing me was tremendous . '' Letter to Suvorin , 27 March 1894 . [ http : //www.gutenberg.org/etext/6408 Letters of Anton Chekhov . ] \n \n Chekhov attended the Greek School in Taganrog and the Taganrog Gymnasium ( since renamed the Chekhov Gymnasium ) , where he was kept down for a year at fifteen for failing an examination in Ancient Greek.Bartlett , 4–5 . He sang at the Greek Orthodox monastery in Taganrog and in his father 's choirs . In a letter of 1892 , he used the word `` suffering '' to describe his childhood and recalled : \n \n He later became an atheist . \n \n In", "qas": [ { "answers": [ { "answer_start": 1854, "text": "anton chekhov" } ], "id": "sfq_4407--Anton_Chekhov.txt", "qid": "sfq_4407", "question": "Who wrote the play 'The Cherry Orchard'?" } ] } ] }

{ "paragraphs": [ { "context": "Kismet is a musical with lyrics and musical adaptation ( as well as some original music ) by Robert Wright and George Forrest , adapted from the music of Alexander Borodin , and a book by Charles Lederer and Luther Davis , based on Kismet , the 1911 play by Edward Knoblock . The story concerns a wily poet who talks his way out of trouble several times ; meanwhile , his beautiful daughter meets and falls in love with the young Caliph . \n \n The musical was first produced on Broadway in 1953 and won the Tony Award for best musical in 1954 . It was also successful in London 's West End and has been given several revivals . A 1955 film version was released by MGM . \n \n Production history \n \n The musical was commissioned by Edwin Lester , founder and director of the Los Angeles Civic Light Opera , who conceived of a musical based on the 1911 play Kismet by Edward Knoblock . Lester had previously produced Song of Norway , with the same composing team , adapting the melodies of Edvard Grieg . For Kismet , the writers seized upon the melodies of Alexander Borodin , which they felt had a suitable exotic flavor and lush melodies.Ouzounian , Richard . Liner notes from 2007 UK re-issue of the CD , Naxos.com \n \n Kismet premiered in Los Angeles and then moved to San Francisco in the summer and autumn of 1953.Green , Stanley and Green , Kay . [ http : //books.google.com/books ? id \n KDKFHniTy1YC & pgPA158 `` Kismet '' ] . Broadway Musicals , Show By Show ( ed 5 ) , Hal Leonard Corporation , 1996 , p. 158 ISBN 0-7935-7750-0 A successful change during the tryouts was to transform the character of Hajj from being merely a beggar to also being a poet . Charles Lederer became producer as well as book writer . The production moved to Broadway on December 3 , 1953 , playing at the Ziegfeld Theatre . The director was Albert Marre , with choreography by Jack Cole and sumptuous settings and costumes by Lemuel Ayers . The original cast starred Alfred Drake as the poet Hajj , Doretta Morrow as his daughter Marsinah , Richard Kiley as the young Caliph of Baghdad , Henry Calvin as the Wazir and Joan Diener as Lalume , the vampy wife of the evil Wazir . Bodybuilder Steve Reeves played the wizard 's guard , a mute role . Bill Johnson later took over the role of Hajj , and Elaine Malbin the role of Marsinah . Columbia Masterworks Records recorded the original Broadway cast in late 1953 ; the recording was later reissued on CD by Masterworks Broadway Records . \n \n The show opened on Broadway in the midst of a newspaper strike , Bloom , Ken ; Vlastnik , Frank ; Orbach , Jerry . [ http : //books.google.com/books ? id \n V7WOS5w6mzwC & pgPA166 & dq \n % 22Alfred+Drake % 22+Kismet+Wright & hlen # v \n onepage & q % 22Alfred % 20Drake % 22 % 20Kismet % 20Wright & f \n false Broadway Musicals : The 101 Greatest Shows of All Time ] Broadway Musicals : The 101 Greatest Shows of All Time , Black Dog Publishing , 2008 , ISBN 1-57912-313-9 , p. 166 and since newspaper reviews were unavailable , the producers used television advertising to promote the show . The musical caught the popular attention and ran for a successful 583 performances , winning the 1954 Tony Award for Best Musical . The strike may have ultimately assisted the popularity of the show , since the reviews , arriving a few weeks after the opening , were not all favorable . The critic of Time magazine , punning on the name of the composer Borodin , disparaged the score as `` a lot of borrowed din . '' Walter Kerr wrote that `` It 's the sort of show that would sell its soul for a joke , and the jokes should be better at the price . `` Miletich , Leo N. [ http : //books.google.com/books ? idIccZwW_kk_cC & pg \n PA27 & dq % 22Alfred+Drake % 22+Kismet+Wright & hl \n en # vonepage & q \n % 22Alfred % 20Drake % 22 % 20Kismet % 20Wright & ffalse Broadway 's prize-winning musicals ] Broadway 's prize-winning musicals , Psychology Press , 1993 , ISBN 1-56024-288-4 , p. 28 William Hawkins , however , wrote that it was `` noisy , spectacular , and vigorous . ... It is melodic and gay '' . Bloom and Vlastnik noted that it was the score that made the show successful , as the songs `` Stranger in Paradise ''", "qas": [ { "answers": [ { "answer_start": 154, "text": "alexander borodin" } ], "id": "dpql_1705--Kismet_(musical).txt", "qid": "dpql_1705", "question": "The 1953 Broadway musical Kismet is based on the works of which classical composer?" } ] } ] }

{ "paragraphs": [ { "context": "The International Criminal Police Organization ( ) ICPO or INTERPOL , is an intergovernmental organization facilitating international police cooperation . It was established as the International Criminal Police Commission ( ICPC ) in 1923 and adopted its telegraphic address as its common name in 1956 . \n \n Interpol has an annual budget of around €78 million , most of which is provided through annual contributions by its membership of 190 countries ( as of 2015 ) . The organization 's headquarters is in Lyon , France . It is the second largest political organization after the United Nations in terms of international representation . In 2013 , the Interpol General Secretariat employed a staff of 756 , representing 100 member countries . Its current Secretary-General is Jürgen Stock , the former deputy head of Germany 's Federal Criminal Police Office . He replaced Ronald Noble , a former United States Under Secretary of the Treasury for Enforcement , who stepped down in November 2014 after serving 14 years . Interpol 's current President is Mireille Ballestrazzi , former Deputy Central Director of the French Judicial Police . Her predecessor was Khoo Boon Hui , former Commissioner of the Singapore Police Force . \n \n To keep Interpol as politically neutral as possible , its charter forbids it , at least in theory , from undertaking interventions or activities of a political , military , religious , or racial nature or involving itself in disputes over such matters . Its work focuses primarily on public safety and battling terrorism , crimes against humanity , environmental crime , genocide , war crimes , organized crime , piracy , illicit traffic in works of art , illicit drug production , drug trafficking , weapons smuggling , human trafficking , money laundering , child pornography , white-collar crime , computer crime , intellectual property crime , and corruption . \n \n History \n \n In the first part of the 20th century , several efforts were taken to formalize international police cooperation , but they initially failed . Among these efforts were the First International Criminal Police Congress in Monaco in 1914 , and the International Police Conference in New York in 1922 . The Monaco Congress failed because it was organized by legal experts and political officials , not by police professionals , while the New York Conference failed to attract international attention . \n \n In 1923 , a new initiative was taken at the International Criminal Police Congress in Vienna , where the International Criminal Police Commission ( ICPC ) was successfully founded as the direct forerunner of Interpol . Founding members included police officials from Austria , Germany , Belgium , Poland , China , Egypt , France , Greece , Hungary , Italy , the Netherlands , Romania , Sweden , Switzerland , and Yugoslavia . The United Kingdom joined in 1928 . The United States did not join Interpol until 1938 , although a US police officer unofficially attended the 1923 congress . \n \n Following Anschluss in 1938 , the organization fell under the control of Nazi Germany , and the Commission 's headquarters were eventually moved to Berlin in 1942 . Most members withdrew their support during this period . From 1938 to 1945 , the presidents of Interpol included Otto Steinhäusl , Reinhard Heydrich , Arthur Nebe , and Ernst Kaltenbrunner . All were generals in the SS , and Kaltenbrunner was the highest ranking SS officer executed after the Nuremberg Trials . \n \n After the end of World War II in 1945 , the organization was revived as the International Criminal Police Organization by officials from Belgium , France , Scandinavia and the United Kingdom . Its new headquarters were established in Saint-Cloud , a suburb of Paris . They remained there until 1989 , when they were moved to their present location in Lyon . \n \n Until the 1980s , Interpol did not intervene in the prosecution of Nazi war criminals in accordance with Article 3 of its Charter , which prohibited intervention in `` political '' matters . \n \n In July 2010 , former Interpol President Jackie Selebi was found guilty of corruption by the South African High Court in Johannesburg for accepting bribes worth €156,000 from a drug trafficker . After being charged in January 2008 , Selebi resigned as president of Interpol and was put on extended leave as National Police Commissioner of South Africa . He was temporarily replaced by Arturo Herrera Verdugo , the National Commissioner of Investigations Police of Chile and former vice president for the American Zone , who remained acting president until October 2008 and the appointment of Khoo Boon Hui . \n \n On 8 November 2012 , the 81st", "qas": [ { "answers": [ { "answer_start": 508, "text": "lyon" } ], "id": "sfq_7955--Interpol.txt", "qid": "sfq_7955", "question": "The headquarters of Interpol are in which city?" } ] } ] }

{ "paragraphs": [ { "context": "`` Too Shy '' is a song written and recorded by English band Kajagoogoo , released in 1983 . The first single from their debut album White Feathers , the song was an immediate hit and reached number one on the UK Singles Chart for two weeks . It was also very successful in other European countries , spending five weeks at number one in Germany , and reaching number two in Switzerland , and number four in Sweden , Austria and the Netherlands . \n \n Assisted by heavy rotation on MTV , the song later became a success in the United States , peaking at number 5 on the Billboard Hot 100 . `` Too Shy '' is Kajagoogoo 's only significant hit in the US , where the band is widely regarded as a one-hit wonder . In the UK , however , Kajagoogoo had further hits , including two more top 10 singles : `` Ooh to Be Ah '' and `` Big Apple '' , both in 1983 . \n \n Production \n \n `` Too Shy '' was written by Kajagoogoo and produced by Duran Duran keyboardist Nick Rhodes and Colin Thurston , the latter of whom had produced Duran Duran 's first two albums . In 2006 , `` Too Shy '' was ranked number 27 on VH1 's 100 Greatest Songs of the 80 's and number 9 on VH1 's `` 100 Greatest One Hit Wonders of the 80s . '' \n \n Music video \n \n The video for the song cast model Carolyn Espley ( later wife of Dennis Miller ) as a waitress cleaning up a nightclub at the end of the night . As the band performs the song on the club stage , she has visions of dancers from different eras populating the dance floor . \n \n Chart performance \n \n The song was an immediate hit , topping the UK Singles Chart for two weeks . It was also very successful in other European countries , spending five weeks at number one in Germany , and reaching number two in Switzerland , and number four in Sweden , Austria and the Netherlands . \n \n The 12 '' maxi single 's B-side , `` Take Another View '' , a non-album track , often performed live , was included on the 2004 re-issue of White Feathers , which contained several bonus tracks , including the instrumental version of `` Too Shy '' , originally featured on the B-sides of both the 7 '' and 12 '' singles . \n \n Weekly charts \n \n Year-end charts \n \n Certifications and sales \n \n Appearances \n \n The song can also be heard in the Rockstar video game Grand Theft Auto : Vice City Stories , played on the in-game radio station Wave 103 . It also appears as a collectable cassette tape in Metal Gear Solid V : The Phantom Pain . A Simlish version of the song is also featured in the The Sims 2 expansion pack , The Sims 2 : Open for Business . The song is also featured in Marvel 's Ghost Rider : Spirit of Vengeance .", "qas": [ { "answers": [ { "answer_start": 61, "text": "kajagoogoo" } ], "id": "qf_2892--Too_Shy.txt", "qid": "qf_2892", "question": "Who had a 1983 hit with 'Too Shy'?" } ] } ] }

{ "paragraphs": [ { "context": "Alvah Curtis Roebuck ( January 9 , 1864 – June 18 , 1948 ) was a manager at , Sears , Roebuck and Company with his partner Richard Warren Sears . \n \n Early life \n \n Alvah Curtis Roebuck was born on January 9 , 1864 in Lafayette , Indiana . He began work as a watchmaker in a Hammond , Indiana , jewelry store at age 12 . \n \n Career \n \n Roebuck co-founded Sears , Roebuck and Company with Richard Warren Sears in 1891 . \n \n In 1895 , Roebuck asked Sears to buy him out for about $ 20,000 . At Richard Sears ' request , Roebuck took charge of a division that handled watches , jewelry , optical goods , and , later , phonographs , magic lanterns and motion picture machines . His business interests did not end with Sears . He later organized and financed two companies : a manufacturer and a distributor of motion picture machines and accessories . Roebuck also served as president ( 1909–1924 ) of Emerson Typewriter Company , where he invented an improved typewriter , called the `` Woodstock . '' \n \n After several years in semi-retirement in Florida , the financial losses he suffered in the stock market crash of 1929 forced Roebuck to return to Chicago . By 1933 , Roebuck had rejoined Sears , Roebuck and Co. , where he largely devoted his time to compiling a history of the company he helped found . \n \n In September 1934 , a Sears store manager asked Roebuck to make a public appearance at his store . After an enthusiastic public turnout , Roebuck went on tour , appearing at retail stores across the country for the next several years . \n \n Personal life and death \n \n Roebuck married Sarah Blanche Lett . They resided in Tujunga , Los Angeles , California . They had a son , Alvah Curtis Roebuck , Jr. , who also resided in Tujunga , and a daughter , who resided in Evanston , Illinois with her husband Raymond H. Keeler . \n \n Roebuck died on June 18 , 1948 while visiting his daughter in Evanston , Illinois . He was 84 years old . He was buried at the Acacia Park Cemetery in Chicago , Illinois .", "qas": [ { "answers": [ { "answer_start": 492, "text": "richard sears" } ], "id": "qg_3392--Alvah_Curtis_Roebuck.txt", "qid": "qg_3392", "question": "Dying of kidney failure on Sept 28, 1914, which business magnate partnered with Alvah Roebuck to found a still existing department store?" } ] } ] }

{ "paragraphs": [ { "context": "In many countries , Kilometre Zero ( also written km 0 ) or similar terms in other languages ( also known as Zero mile marker , control stations or control points ) is a particular location ( often in the nation 's capital city ) , from which distances are traditionally measured . They were markers where drivers could set their odometers to follow directions in early guide books . \n \n A similar notion also exists for individual roads ( that is , all locations on the road have a number , depending on their distance from that location ) , and for individual cities ( often the city 's central post office is used for this ) . \n \n The most famous such marker of which any part survives from ancient times is the Milliarium Aureum ( `` Golden Milestone '' ) of the Roman Empire , believed to be the literal origin for the maxim that `` all roads lead to Rome '' . \n \n Countries \n \n Argentina \n \n Argentina marks Kilometre Zero with a monolith in Plaza Congreso in Buenos Aires . The work of the brothers Máximo and José Fioravanti , the structure was placed on the north side of Plaza Lorea on October 2 , 1935 ; it was moved to its present location on May 18 , 1944 . An image of Our Lady of Luján ( honored on the monolith as `` the patron saint of the national road network '' ) appears on the monolith 's north face , a relief map of Argentina is on the south face , plaques in honor of José de San Martín are west , and on its eastern side , the date of the decree and the name of the relevant authorities . \n \n Australia \n \n Highways in Australia are usually built and maintained by the states and territories . In the state of New South Wales , highway distances ( mileages ) were traditionally measured from a sandstone obelisk in Macquarie Place in Sydney , designed by Francis Greenway in 1818 . The obelisk lists the distances to various locations in New South Wales at the time . For the railway , it is located at platform 1 of Sydney Central Station . \n \n Byzantine Empire \n \n The Byzantine Empire had an arched building , the Milion of Constantinople , as the starting-place for the measurement of distances for all the roads leading to the other cities . \n In the 1960s , some fragments were discovered and erected in its original location , now in the district of Eminönü , Istanbul , Turkey . \n \n Canada \n \n Origin point of the Trans-Canada Highway in Victoria , British Columbia , on the southern end of Vancouver Island . Also the Mile 0 point for the Alaska Highway in Dawson Creek . \n \n Chile \n \n All national distances from Santiago originate at the Km . 0 plaque , located at the Plaza de Armas main square in downtown Santiago . ( Coordinates : . ) \n \n Chile 's Autopista Central – Eje Norte-Sur ( the eastern segment of the Panamerican Highway that passes through Santiago ) has its Kilometre Zero at the intersection with the Alameda del Libertador Bernardo O'Higgins , the capital 's main avenue . ( Coordinates : . ) \n \n China \n \n China Railways ' 0 km is located at the entrance to the Fengtai Yard on the Jingguang Line just outside Beijing . This point was historically the start of the line ; the marker is a simple concrete marker , with `` 0 '' painted on it . There is no ceremonial plaque . \n \n The kilometre zero point for highways is located at Tiananmen Square , just outside the Zhengyangmen Gate . It is marked with a plaque in the ground , with the four cardinal points , four animals , and `` Zero Point of Highways , China '' in English and Chinese . \n \n Cuba \n \n Cuba 's Kilometre Zero is located in its capital Havana in El Capitolio . Embedded in the floor in the centre of the main hall is a replica 25 carat ( 5 g ) diamond , which marks Kilometre Zero for Cuba . The original diamond , said to have belonged to Tsar Nicholas II of Russia and have been sold to the Cuban state by a Turkish merchant , was stolen on 25 March 1946 and mysteriously returned to the President , Ramón Grau San Martín , on 2 June 1946 . It was replaced in El Capitolio by a replica in 1973 . \n \n Dominican Republic \n \n DR-1", "qas": [ { "answers": [], "id": "sfq_3831--Kilometre_zero.txt", "qid": "sfq_3831", "question": "Distances from Paris are measured from Kilometre Zero, at which building is this situated?" } ] } ] }

{ "paragraphs": [ { "context": "Sir Anthony Peter McCoy OBE ( born 4 May 1974 ) , commonly known as A. P. McCoy or Tony McCoy , is a Northern Irish former horse racing jockey . Based in the UK and Ireland , McCoy rode a record 4,358 winners , and was Champion Jockey a record 20 consecutive times , every year he was a professional . He stands 1.78 m ( 5'10 '' ) , taller than most jockeys . \n \n McCoy recorded his first winner in 1992 at age 17 . On 7 November 2013 he rode his 4,000th winner , riding Mountain Tunes to victory at Towcester . Even in his first season riding in Britain , as an apprentice for trainer Toby Balding , McCoy won the Conditional Jump Jockeys Title with a record 74 winners for a conditional jockey . McCoy claimed his first Champion Jockey title in 1995/96 and went on to win it every year until his retirement in 2015 . \n \n McCoy has won almost every big race there is to win . His most high-profile winners include the Cheltenham Gold Cup , Champion Hurdle , Queen Mother Champion Chase , King George VI Chase and the 2010 Grand National , riding Do n't Push It . \n \n He was named BBC Sports Personality of the Year in 2010 , becoming the first jockey to win the award , and in December 2013 he was named RTÉ Sports Person of the Year . He was knighted in January 2016 . \n \n Career \n \n McCoy rode his first winner of his career on the Jim Bolger trained Legal Steps , in a flat race at Thurles racecourse in Ireland , on 26 March 1992 at the age of 17 . McCoy served as an apprentice at Jim Bolger 's stable for the initial part of his career . Whilst riding work for Bolger one morning , McCoy suffered a nasty fall and broke his leg on the gallops . By the time McCoy recovered from his leg break , he had continued to grow taller and as a result it was decided that the best option was to become a jump jockey . Success in Ireland soon led to a move across the Irish Sea , and he began riding in England in 1994 . His first win in England came at Exeter on 7 September 1994 riding the Gordon Edwards trained Chickabiddy to a length victory . In his first season in England , McCoy served as a conditional jockey for successful trainer Toby Balding , which culminated in winning the Conditional Jump Jockeys Title in 1995 . The following season he became champion jockey for the first time . \n \n McCoy had burst on the scene as a result of his first season riding in Britain and soon attracted the attention of leading trainer Martin Pipe and , then , upcoming ( and now current Champion Trainer ) Paul Nicholls . McCoy joined forces with powerful trainer Martin Pipe in 1997 and between them they proved to be an exceptionally strong partnership which dominated the sport . \n \n By the end of the decade McCoy had set a new National Hunt record for winners in a season ( 253 ) , equaled the record of five winners at the 1998 Cheltenham Festival , and became the fastest jockey to reach the 100 winner mark in a season in 2001 . He went on to beat the long-standing record of Gordon Richards for the total number of winners ridden in a season , which stood since 1947 . McCoy has said he counts this as his biggest achievement , despite his multiple Champion Jockey titles and big race victories . \n \n He beat Richards ' record of 269 winners in a season on Valfonic at Warwick on 2 April 2002 . He achieved a new high of 289 winners , and on 27 August 2002 , at Uttoxeter , his victory on Mighty Montefalco meant he had surpassed Richard Dunwoody 's all time jumps record and was now the leading jumps jockey . He became the first jump jockey to ride 2,500 winners when getting Kanpai up to score at Huntingdon on 3 October 2006 . McCoy rode his 3000th winner at Plumpton on the Nicky Henderson trained Restless D'Artaix in the Tyser & Co Beginners ' Chase on 9 February 2009 . \n \n In spite of wins in the biggest races on the jumps racing calendar , including the Cheltenham Gold Cup , Champion Hurdle , Queen Mother Champion Chase , and King George VI Chase , it was the Grand National which had eluded McCoy . The nearest he had in the National were three third-place", "qas": [ { "answers": [], "id": "sfq_23806--Tony_McCoy.txt", "qid": "sfq_23806", "question": "At which racecourse did Tony McCoy have his last professional race on a horse called Box Office in April 2015?" } ] } ] }

{ "paragraphs": [ { "context": "The Helmut Lang fashion brand was created by Austrian fashion designer Helmut Lang ( born 10 March 1956 ) in 1986 . The Helmut Lang brand still exists today , but has been carried on without Lang 's involvement since 2005 . \n \n The label \n \n Helmut Lang , a fashion autodidact , set up a made-to-measure fashion studio in Vienna in 1977 and opened a boutique there in 1979 , at the age of 23 . His clothes were fairly successful in his native Austria , and , after presenting his work as part of an exhibition titled `` l'Apocalypse Joyeuse '' at the Centre Pompidou in Paris , initiated by the Austrian government , he branched out successfully to Paris in 1986 and created the label `` Helmut Lang '' . \n \n At this time in the late 1980s and early 1990s , minimalist fashion was at its height . His clothes were made with very sharp lines and careful cuts , creating basic but extremely elegant silhouettes in high quality and often high-tech fabrics . His work has been compared to Rei Kawakubo and Yohji Yamamoto for his sometimes austere , intellectual designs . \n \n Lang is known for his minimalist , deconstructivist , and often severe designs . His fashion house became famous in the late 1980s for its simple but refined designs , its slim suits in black or white , its denim collection , and the use of high-tech fabrics . Helmut Lang fashions were sold in upscale department stores and through select retailers , as well as in signature Helmut Lang stores around the world . In 1999 , Lang entered into a partnership with Prada Group which resulted in the acquisition of the Helmut Lang brand by Prada in 2004 , and Mr. Lang 's departure from the label in 2005 . Prada consequently sold it to Link Theory of Japan in 2006 . Link Theory re-launched the Helmut Lang label with new designers in 2007 . Since then , Helmut Lang fashions have been available again at upscale department stores and signature Helmut Lang boutiques worldwide . \n \n New York City \n \n Lang moved to New York in 1997 and subsequently set up his company 's headquarters in 80 Greene St. in SoHo in 1998 . In New York , he decided in April 1998 , three days before his designs were to be presented to a New York audience , to show his collection through a live internet broadcast to the world , via the newly created company 's web site . As a first in the fashion industry , ads for the brand could be seen on New York taxi tops from 1998 to 2004 . The following season he announced to show his collections not only before New York Fashion Week , but also before the Milan and Paris runway shows . As a result , with many American designers following suit , New York Fashion Week was permanently moved up six weeks to herald the established runway shows . [ http : //www.nytimes.com/2005/05/26/fashion/thursdaystyles/26helmut.html ? pagewanted=print Helmut Lang - New York Times ] From 2000 on , unconventional print ads for the brand were placed with National Geographic magazine . [ http : //www.nytimes.com/2005/05/26/fashion/thursdaystyles/26helmut.html Helmut Lang - New York Times ] \n \n Helmut Lang fashion \n \n Throughout the years , both a women 's and men 's line existed , kept under a single name and always presented in one fashion show . Underwear ( 1995 ) and jeans ( 1996 ) lines as well as accessories , such as footwear ( 1990 ) and fragrances ( 1999 ) were launched , but otherwise the brand was kept unified to solidify its identity and strength . \n \n The runway show venues for the Helmut Lang label were switched from Paris ( until 1998 ) to New York by Mr. Lang and back again to Paris by Prada ( from 2002 to 2005 ) . The collections/presentations used to be called ' ( `` working sessions '' ) by Mr. Lang . \n \n Prada partnership \n \n In 1999 , Milan-based fashion house Prada acquired 51 % of the Helmut Lang company in the course of a multi-brand strategy , which also included the acquisition of German fashion label Jil Sander . \n \n After alleged disputes with Prada Group 's CEO Patrizio Bertelli on how the brand should be continued , and after Mr. Lang had sold his remaining shares to Prada in October 2004 , he left his own label in January 2005 . Lang joined the growing number of designer departures , including Jil Sander from her own label at Prada and Tom Ford from Gucci", "qas": [ { "answers": [ { "answer_start": 45, "text": "austria" } ], "id": "qb_7655--Helmut_Lang_(fashion_brand).txt", "qid": "qb_7655", "question": "Fashion designer Helmut Lang was born in which country?" } ] } ] }

{ "paragraphs": [ { "context": "Michael Ashley Ball , ( born 27 June 1962 ) is an English actor , singer and broadcaster , who is known for his work in musical theatre . He made his West End debut in 1985 playing Marius in the original London production of Les Misérables , and went on star in 1987 as Raoul in The Phantom of the Opera . In 1989 , he reached number two in the UK singles chart with `` Love Changes Everything '' , a song taken from the musical Aspects of Love , where he played Alex . He played the role in London and on Broadway . \n \n In 1992 , Ball represented the United Kingdom in the Eurovision Song Contest , finishing second with the song `` One Step Out of Time '' . In 1995 , he reprised the role of Marius in Les Misérables : The Dream Cast in Concert . His other West End roles include Georgio in Passion ( 1997 ) and Caractacus Potts in Chitty Chitty Bang Bang ( 2002 ) . He has twice won the Olivier Award for Best Actor in a Musical . He won in 2008 for his role as Edna Turnblad in Hairspray , and then in 2013 for the title role in the revival of Sweeney Todd : The Demon Barber of Fleet Street . \n \n Ball was awarded the OBE ( Officer of the Order of the British Empire ) in the 2015 Birthday Honours for his services to musical theatre . \n \n Early life \n \n Ball was born in Bromsgrove , Worcestershire to a Welsh mother and an English father . His father trained as an Austin apprentice at the Longbridge plant and went on to become a successful businessman , although he had originally wanted to be an actor . Ball 's maternal grandfather was a coal miner . His maternal grandmother was protective of the family . Ball has a sister , Katherine , almost a decade his junior . He moved to Dartmoor with his parents when he was three years old . He has never had singing lessons , but as a boy he learned to sing by singing along to music : for example , songs by Ella Fitzgerald , Mahalia Jackson and Frank Sinatra . When he was 11 years old he went to Plymouth College , an independent boarding school , because his parents thought this would give him a good education , but he did not fit into the academic and sporting environment at the school at that time , and he was unhappy there . \n \n Ball was interested in the theatre and his father took him to see shows in the school holidays , including a Royal Shakespeare Company production at the Royal Shakespeare Theatre of King Lear , which impressed him as a youngster of about 14 years old . He joined a youth theatre , which led to his studying drama at Guildford School of Acting , where he found an environment that suited him . As a student he went busking on Saturdays in Guildford town with a female student friend to earn a little extra money . He graduated in 1984 . After his graduation , Ball 's singing career rapidly got off the ground . His maternal grandmother , having a musical ear , was proud of Ball 's early singing achievements ; she died suddenly , however , of a heart attack about one week before his debut in The Pirates of Penzance . \n \n Theatre \n \n See also : Complete list of stage credits \n \n In 1984 , after he had left drama school , Ball 's first part was in Godspell at Aberystwyth Arts Centre , after which he worked for a few months in rep in Basingstoke , but his first major break was a star part in the production of The Pirates of Penzance at Manchester Opera House ; at an open audition he was selected from about 600 applicants who formed a queue to do singing , acting , and dancing interviews , which were held in three separate rooms . His next important role came when Cameron Mackintosh cast him as Marius in the original London cast of Les Misérables , but he caught glandular fever and he took six or seven weeks off sick to recover from the associated tonsillitis and post-viral fatigue . When he returned to work he was still suffering from fatigue , and began to get on-stage panic attacks — overwhelming anxiety , a rapid heartbeat , sweating , and problems with vision . These also started happening at other times , such as when he was going to work .", "qas": [ { "answers": [ { "answer_start": 982, "text": "hairspray" } ], "id": "dpql_3751--Michael_Ball_(singer).txt", "qid": "dpql_3751", "question": "In which musical did Michael Ball play Edna Turnblad in the West End?" } ] } ] }

{ "paragraphs": [ { "context": "James Keir Hardie ( 15 August 1856 - 26 September 1915 ) was a Scottish socialist and the first Labour Member of Parliament . \n \n Hardie started work at the age of seven , but was rigorously educated at home by his parents , and later attended night school . Working in the mines , he soon became a full-time trade union organiser . His leadership of the failed Ayrshire miners ’ strike of 1881 made such an impact on the mine-owners that they granted important concessions for fear of future industrial action . \n \n Having won the parliamentary seat of West Ham South as an independent candidate in 1892 , he helped to form the Independent Labour Party ( ILP ) the following year . In 1900 he helped to form the union-based Labour Representation Committee , soon renamed the Labour Party , with which the ILP later merged . Hardie was also a lay preacher and temperance campaigner , who supported votes for women , self-rule for India , home-rule for Scotland , and an end to segregation in South Africa . At the outbreak of World War I , he tried to organise a pacifist general strike , but died soon afterwards . \n \n Biographer Kenneth O. Morgan has limned Hardie 's personality : \n I found him a man who was not only an idealistic crusader , but a pragmatist , anxious to work with radical Liberals whose ideology he largely shared , subtle in building up the Labour alliance with the trade unions and the other socialist bodies , and supremely flexible in his political philosophy , a very generalised socialism based on a secularised Christianity rather than Marxism . ‘ Socialists , ’ he proclaimed , 'made war on a system not a class ' .... He was no economist and was ill-informed on many issues , but he had uniquely the charisma and vision that any radical movement needs . \n \n Early life \n \n James Keir Hardie was born on 15 August 1856 in a two-roomed cottage on the western edge of Newhouse , North Lanarkshire , near Holytown , a small town close to Motherwell in Scotland . His mother , Mary Keir , was a domestic servant and his stepfather , David Hardie , was a ship 's carpenter . ( He had little or no contact with his natural father , a Lanarkshire miner named William Aitken . ) The growing family soon moved to the shipbuilding burgh of Govan near Glasgow , where they made a life in a very difficult financial situation , with his father attempting to maintain continuous employment in the shipyards rather than practising his trade at sea — never an easy proposition given the boom-and-bust cycle of the industry . \n \n Hardie 's first job came at the early age of 7 , when he was put to work as a message boy for the Anchor Line Steamship Company . Formal schooling henceforth became impossible , but his parents spent evenings teaching him to read and write , skills which proved essential for future self-education . A series of low-paying entry-level jobs followed for the boy , including work as an apprentice in a brass-fitting shop , work for a lithographer , employment in the shipyards heating rivets , and time spent as a message boy for a baker for which he earned 4 shillings and 6 pence a week . \n \n A great lockout of the Clydeside shipworkers took place in which the unionised workers were sent home for a period of six months . With its main source of support terminated , the family was forced to sell all its possessions for food , with James ' meagre earnings the only remaining cash income . One sibling took ill and died in the miserable conditions which followed , while the pregnancy of his mother limited her ability to work . Making matters worse , young James lost his job for twice going late . In desperation , his father returned to work at sea , while his mother moved from Glasgow to Newarthill , where her mother still lived . \n \n At the age of 10 years , Hardie went to work in the mines as a `` trapper '' — opening and closing a door for a 10-hour shift in order to maintain the air supply for miners in a given section . Hardie also began to attend night school in Holytown at this time . \n \n Hardie 's father returned from the sea and went to work on a railway line being constructed between Edinburgh and Glasgow . When this work was completed , the family moved to the village of", "qas": [ { "answers": [ { "answer_start": 0, "text": "james" } ], "id": "qb_5681--Keir_Hardie.txt", "qid": "qb_5681", "question": "What was the first name of Labour politician Keir Hardie Sr?" } ] } ] }

{ "paragraphs": [ { "context": "Roland Fabien Berrill ( 1897–1962 ) was an Australian whose claim to notability is as the co-founder ( with the English barrister Lancelot Ware ) of Mensa , the international society for intellectually gifted people . \n \n The founding of Mensa \n \n Mensa was founded by Roland Berrill and Lancelot Ware at Lincoln College , Oxford , England on 1 October 1946 . They originally called it the `` High IQ Club '' . Lance Ware had the initial idea for the society , but Berrill founded Mensa in the usual sense : he supplied the start-up cash , wrote some initial idiosyncratic pamphlets and became Mensa 's first Secretary . \n \n Berrill was an unashamed elitist , who regretted the passing of an aristocratic tradition . He regarded Mensa as `` an aristocracy of the intellect '' . He noticed with some disappointment that a majority of Mensans appeared to have come from humble homes . \n \n At an early Mensa organizational meeting , one of the people present proposed that black people be excluded from Mensa . This was met by shocked silence . Then Berrill proposed that the motion be amended to exclude `` green people with yellow stripes '' instead . This amended motion passed , with one vote against . If the minutes of that meeting had not been lost , that statute might still be on the books of Mensa . \n \n Berrill died a few years later , having recruited in total around 400 people by self-administered IQ tests . \n \n Personal life \n \n Berrill was born in Australia in 1897 , but left with his family in 1901 and went to London . Although he was called to the bar , he never practised as a barrister but lived on the dividends of his investments . \n \n He spent most of the rest of his life in England . He had brief trips to Tangier in 1936 , New York in 1937 and Durban , South Africa in 1959 . On November 22 , 1948 , he spoke at the Socratic Club in Oxford , combining with Father Victor White , on the topic `` Beyond Myth and Dogma '' at Lady Margaret Hall . \n \n Berrill was thick-set and sturdy , with a full well-tended dark beard and moustache . He had confident , protruding eyes , and firm , pleasant voice that revealed his English upper-class schooling , not his antipodean birth . He believed in palmistry , phrenology , astrology and dianetics . These views were not popular within Mensa , and he was regarded by Mensans as `` deficient in normal scepticism '' . \n \n Berrill was a member of The Men 's Dress Reform Movement ; he desired more colour in men 's clothes , and objected to the uniformity common in those days . He never married .", "qas": [ { "answers": [ { "answer_start": 149, "text": "mensa" } ], "id": "qw_10567--Roland_Berrill.txt", "qid": "qw_10567", "question": "Roland Berrill, an Australian barrister, and Dr. Lancelot Ware, a British scientist and lawyer, founded which international organsation in the UK in 1946?" } ] } ] }

{ "paragraphs": [ { "context": "Somerset is a county in South West England which borders Gloucestershire and Bristol to the north , Wiltshire to the east , Dorset to the south-east and Devon to the south-west . It is bounded to the north and west by the Severn Estuary and the Bristol Channel , its coastline facing southeastern Wales . Its traditional border with Gloucestershire is the River Avon . Somerset 's county town is Taunton . \n \n Somerset is a rural county of rolling hills such as the Blackdown Hills , Mendip Hills , Quantock Hills and Exmoor National Park , and large flat expanses of land including the Somerset Levels . There is evidence of human occupation from Paleolithic times , and of subsequent settlement in the Roman and Anglo-Saxon periods . The county played a significant part in the consolidation of power and rise of King Alfred the Great , and later in the English Civil War and the Monmouth Rebellion . The city of Bath is famous for its substantial Georgian architecture and is a UNESCO World Heritage Site . \n \n Toponymy \n \n Somerset 's name derives from Old English Sumorsǣte , short for Sumortūnsǣte , meaning `` the people living at or dependent on Sumortūn '' ( Somerton ) . The first known use of Somersæte is in the law code of King Ine who was the Saxon King of Wessex from 688 to 726 , making Somerset along with Hampshire , Wiltshire and Dorset one of the oldest extant units of local government in the world . An alternative suggestion is the name derives from Seo-mere-saetan meaning `` settlers by the sea lakes '' . \n \n The people of Somerset are mentioned in the Anglo-Saxon Chronicles entry for AD 845 , in the inflected form `` Sumursætum '' , and the county is recorded in the entry for 1015 using the same name . The archaic name Somersetshire was mentioned in the Chronicles entry for 878 . Although `` Somersetshire '' was in common use as an alternative name for the county , it went out of fashion in the late 19th century , and is no longer used possibly due to the adoption of `` Somerset '' as the county 's official name after the establishment of the county council in 1889 . As with other counties not ending in `` shire , '' the suffix was superfluous , as there was no need to differentiate between the county and a town within it . \n \n The Old English name is used in the motto of the county , Sumorsǣte ealle , meaning `` all the people of Somerset '' . Adopted as the motto in 1911 , the phrase is taken from the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle . Somerset was a part of the Anglo-Saxon kingdom of Wessex , and the phrase refers to the wholehearted support the people of Somerset gave to King Alfred in his struggle to save Wessex from Viking invaders . \n \n Somerset is Gwlad yr Haf in Welsh , Gwlas an Hav in Cornish and Bro an Hañv in Breton , which all mean `` Country of the Summer '' . \n \n Somerset settlement names are mostly Anglo-Saxon in origin , but some hill names include Brittonic Celtic elements . For example , an Anglo-Saxon charter of 682 refers to Creechborough Hill as `` the hill the British call Cructan and we call Crychbeorh '' ( `` we '' being the Anglo-Saxons ) . Some modern names are Brythonic in origin , such as Tarnock , while others have both Saxon and Brythonic elements , such as Pen Hill . \n \n History \n \n The caves of the Mendip Hills were settled during the Palaeolithic period , and contain extensive archaeological sites such as those at Cheddar Gorge . Bones from Gough 's Cave have been dated to 12,000 BC , and a complete skeleton , known as Cheddar Man , dates from 7150 BC . Examples of cave art have been found in Aveline 's Hole . Some caves continued to be occupied until modern times , including Wookey Hole . \n \n The Somerset Levels—specifically dry points at Glastonbury and Brent Knoll— also have a long history of settlement , and are known to have been settled by Mesolithic hunters . Travel in the area was facilitated by the construction of one of the world 's oldest known engineered roadways , the Sweet Track , which dates from 3807 BC or 3806 BC . Brunning , Richard ( 2001 ) . `` The Somerset Levels . '' In : Current Archaeology , Vol . XV , ( No . 4 ) , Issue Number 172 ( Wetlands Special Issue ) , ( February 2001", "qas": [ { "answers": [ { "answer_start": 0, "text": "somerset" } ], "id": "qb_268--Somerset.txt", "qid": "qb_268", "question": "The village of Cheddar is in which English county?" } ] } ] }

{ "paragraphs": [ { "context": "In both astrology and historical astronomy , the zodiac ( Greek : ζῳδιακός , zōidiakos ) is a circle of twelve 30° divisions of celestial longitude that are centered upon the ecliptic , the apparent path of the Sun across the celestial sphere over the course of the year . The paths of the Moon and visible planets also remain close to the ecliptic , within the belt of the zodiac , which extends 8-9° north or south of the ecliptic , as measured in celestial latitude . Because the divisions are regular , they do not correspond exactly to the boundaries of the twelve constellations after which they are named . \n \n Historically , these twelve divisions are called signs . Essentially , the zodiac is a celestial coordinate system , or more specifically an ecliptic coordinate system , which takes the ecliptic as the origin of latitude , and the position of the Sun at vernal equinox as the origin of longitude . \n \n Usage \n \n The zodiac was in use by the Roman era , based on concepts inherited by Hellenistic astronomy from Babylonian astronomy of the Chaldean period ( mid-1st millennium BC ) , which , in turn , derived from an earlier system of lists of stars along the ecliptic . The construction of the zodiac is described in Ptolemy 's vast 2nd century AD work , the Almagest . \n \n The term zodiac derives from Latin zōdiacus , which in its turn comes from the Greek ( zōdiakos kyklos ) , meaning `` circle of animals '' , derived from ( zōdion ) , the diminutive of ( zōon ) `` animal '' . The name is motivated by the fact that half of the signs of the classical Greek zodiac are represented as animals ( besides two mythological hybrids ) . \n \n Although the zodiac remains the basis of the ecliptic coordinate system in use in astronomy besides the equatorial one , the term and the names of the twelve signs are today mostly associated with horoscopic astrology . The term `` zodiac '' may also refer to the region of the celestial sphere encompassing the paths of the planets corresponding to the band of about eight arc degrees above and below the ecliptic . The zodiac of a given planet is the band that contains the path of that particular body ; e.g. , the `` zodiac of the Moon '' is the band of five degrees above and below the ecliptic . By extension , the `` zodiac of the comets '' may refer to the band encompassing most short-period comets . \n \n History \n \n Early history \n \n The division of the ecliptic into the zodiacal signs originates in Babylonian ( `` Chaldean '' ) astronomy during the first half of the 1st millennium BC , likely during Median/ '' Neo-Babylonian '' times ( 7th century BC ) . \n The classical zodiac is a modification of the MUL.APIN catalogue , which was compiled around 1000 BC . \n Some of the constellations can be traced even further back , to Bronze Age ( Old Babylonian ) sources , including Gemini `` The Twins '' , from MAŠ.TAB.BA.GAL.GAL `` The Great Twins '' , and Cancer `` The Crab '' , from AL.LUL `` The Crayfish '' , among others . \n \n Babylonian astronomers at some stage during the early 1st millennium BC divided the ecliptic into twelve equal zones of celestial longitude to create the first known celestial coordinate system : a coordinate system that boasts some advantages over modern systems ( such as the equatorial coordinate system ) . The Babylonian calendar as it stood in the 7th century BC assigned each month to a sign , beginning with the position of the Sun at vernal equinox , which , at the time , was depicted as the Aries constellation ( `` Age of Aries '' ) , for which reason the first sign is still called `` Aries '' even after the vernal equinox has moved away from the Aries constellation due to the slow precession of the Earth 's axis of rotation . \n \n Because the division was made into equal arcs , 30° each , they constituted an ideal system of reference for making predictions about a planet 's longitude . However , Babylonian techniques of observational measurements were in a rudimentary stage of evolution and it is unclear whether they had techniques to define in a precise way the boundary lines between the zodiacal signs in the sky . Thus , the need to use stars close to the ecliptic ( ±9° of latitude ) as a set of observational reference points to help positioning", "qas": [ { "answers": [], "id": "qb_2134--Zodiac.txt", "qid": "qb_2134", "question": "People born on 29th February have which Zodiac sign?" } ] } ] }

{ "paragraphs": [ { "context": "Dame Agatha Mary Clarissa Christie , Lady Mallowan , DBE ( née Miller ; 15 September 1890 – 12 January 1976 ) was an English crime novelist , short story writer and playwright . She also wrote six romances under the name Mary Westmacott including Giant 's Bread , but she is best known for the 66 detective novels and 14 short story collections that she wrote under her own name , most of which revolve around the investigative work of such characters as Hercule Poirot , Jane Marple , Parker Pyne , Ariadne Oliver , Harley Quin/Mr Satterthwaite and Tommy and Tuppence Beresford . She wrote the world 's longest-running play , a murder mystery , The Mousetrap . In 1971 she was made a Dame for her contribution to literature . \n \n Christie was born into a wealthy upper-middle-class family in Torquay , Devon . She served in a hospital during the First World War before marrying and starting a family in London . She was initially unsuccessful at getting her work published , but in 1920 The Bodley Head press published her novel The Mysterious Affair at Styles , featuring the character of Hercule Poirot . This launched her literary career . \n \n The Guinness Book of World Records lists Christie as the best-selling novelist of all time . Her novels have sold roughly 2 billion copies , and her estate claims that her works come third in the rankings of the world 's most-widely published books , behind only Shakespeare 's works and the Bible . According to Index Translationum , she remains the most-translated individual author – having been translated into at least 103 languages . And Then There Were None is Christie 's best-selling novel , with 100 million sales to date , making it the world 's best-selling mystery ever , and one of the best-selling books of all time . \n \n Christie 's stage play The Mousetrap holds the record for the longest initial run : it opened at the Ambassadors Theatre in the West End on 25 November 1952 and is still running after more than 25,000 performances . In 1955 Christie was the first recipient of the Mystery Writers of America 's highest honour , the Grand Master Award . Later the same year , Witness for the Prosecution received an Edgar Award by the MWA for Best Play . In 2013 , The Murder of Roger Ackroyd was voted the best crime novel ever by 600 fellow writers of the Crime Writers ' Association . \n \n On 15 September 2015 , coinciding with Christie 's 125th birthday , And Then There Were None was voted as the `` World 's Favourite Christie '' , followed closely by Murder on the Orient Express and The Murder of Roger Ackroyd . Most of her books and short stories have been adapted for television , radio , video games and comics , and more than thirty feature films have been based on her work . \n \n Life and career \n \n Childhood : 1890–1901 \n \n Agatha Mary Clarissa Miller was born on 15 September 1890 into a wealthy upper middle-class family in Ashfield , Torquay , Devon . Her mother , Clara Boehmer , was an Englishwoman who was born in Belfast in 1854 to Captain Frederick Boehmer and Mary Ann West , the couple 's only daughter . Clara Boehmer had four brothers , one of whom died young . Captain Boehmer was killed in a riding accident while stationed on Jersey in April 1863 , leaving Mary Ann ( Agatha Christie 's grandmother ) to raise her children alone on a meagre income . Under financial strain , she sent Clara ( Christie 's mother ) to live with her aunt Margaret Miller ( née West ) , who had married a wealthy American , Nathaniel Frary Miller , in 1863 . The couple lived in Prinsted , West Sussex . Clara stayed with Margaret , and there she met her future husband , an American stockbroker named Frederick Alvah Miller , who was the son of Nathaniel . \n \n Christie 's father Frederick was a member of the American upper class , and had been sent to Switzerland for his education . He was considered personable and friendly by those who knew him . He soon developed a romantic relationship with Clara , and they were married in April 1878 . Their first child , Margaret Frary Miller ( 1879–1950 ) , was born in Torquay , where the couple were renting lodgings , while their second , Louis `` Monty '' Montant ( 1880–1929 ) , was born in the U.S. state of New York , where Frederick was on a", "qas": [ { "answers": [ { "answer_start": 5, "text": "agatha mary clarissa" } ], "id": "sfq_14580--Agatha_Christie.txt", "qid": "sfq_14580", "question": "Which author wrote using the pen name Mary Westmacott?" } ] } ] }

{ "paragraphs": [ { "context": "Norwich South is a constituency in Norfolk represented in the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom . It elects one Member of Parliament ( MP ) by the first past the post system of election , and was created for the 1950 general election . \n \n The constituency is currently represented by Clive Lewis of the Labour Party . \n \n Boundaries \n \n 1950-1974 : The County Borough of Norwich wards of Ber Street , Conesford , Earlham , Eaton , Lakenham , Nelson , St Stephen , and Town Close . \n \n 1974-1983 : The County Borough of Norwich wards of Bowthorpe , Earlham , Eaton , Lakenham , Mancroft , Nelson , St Stephen , and Town Close . \n \n 1983-1997 : The City of Norwich wards of Bowthorpe , Eaton , Heigham , Henderson , Lakenham , Mancroft , Nelson , St Stephen , Thorpe Hamlet , Town Close , and University . \n \n 1997-2010 : The City of Norwich wards of Bowthorpe , Eaton , Heigham , Henderson , Lakenham , Mancroft , Nelson , St Stephen , Thorpe Hamlet , Town Close , and University ; the District of Broadland ward of Brundall ; and the District of South Norfolk wards of Cringleford and Colney , and New Costessey . \n \n 2010–present : The City of Norwich wards of Bowthorpe , Eaton , Lakenham , Mancroft , Nelson , Thorpe Hamlet , Town Close , University , and Wensum , and the District of South Norfolk ward of New Costessey . \n \n The constituency is one of two covering the city of Norwich , the other being Norwich North . \n \n ; 2010 Changes \n Following their review of parliamentary constituencies in Norfolk that concluded in 2004 , the Boundary Commission for England created a slightly modified Norwich South constituency . The changes took effect at the 2010 general election . \n \n Changes were necessary in order to re-align the constituency boundaries with the new local government ward boundaries introduced in South Norfolk and Norwich in 2003 and 2004 respectively . Norfolk also received an additional , ninth constituency , by the Boundary Commission . The part of the Crome ward around Morse Road became part of Norwich North , while the area around Mousehold Street in Thorpe Hamlet moved into Norwich South . The villages of Cringleford and Colney were lost to South Norfolk constituency . Brundall ward , which was from 1997 to 2010 within the boundaries of this constituency , went to the new seat of Broadland . \n \n History \n \n The constituency was created for the 1950 general election , when the 2-seat Norwich constituency was divided into Norwich North and Norwich South . The Labour MP for this seat from 1997 to 2010 was Charles Clarke who served in cabinet for five years from 2001 to 2006 , first as Minister without Portfolio , then as Secretary of State for Education and Skills and latterly as Home Secretary . \n \n Norwich South was by far Labour 's safest seat in Norfolk throughout the Thatcher years and up until 2005 . Although it was lost to the Conservatives in 1983 , it was regained by Labour in 1987 and was the only Labour seat in Norfolk until 1997 . In 2005 the Labour majority was cut by over 5000 leaving Norwich North as the safest Labour seat in the county . \n \n The seat was considered a true three way marginal in the 2010 election between the incumbent Labour party the Liberal Democrats and the Conservatives . The seat was also targeted by the Green Party . The seat was won by the Liberal Democrats with the lowest percentage share of the vote in a constituency in the 2010 election . The loss was considered to be an embarrassment for the Labour Party as it was the seat of a former Home Secretary . \n \n In the 2015 election , Norwich South was the Green Party 's number one target seat , and due to the tiny majority of just 310 votes for the Liberal Democrat Simon Wright over Labour in the previous election , was a key Labour target . In the event , Wright came fourth with under half his 2010 vote , behind the Greens , Conservatives and Labour , whose left-wing candidate Clive Lewis won the seat with a 10.6 % swing from the Liberal Democrats to Labour . The Green Party share of the vote actually fell by 1 % compared to 2010 , with the Conservative vote slightly increasing . \n \n Members of Parliament \n \n Elections \n \n Elections in the 2010s \n \n *", "qas": [ { "answers": [ { "answer_start": 2570, "text": "charles clarke" } ], "id": "sfq_1764--Norwich_South_(UK_Parliament_constituency).txt", "qid": "sfq_1764", "question": "Which former Home Secretary is MP for Norwich South?" } ] } ] }

{ "paragraphs": [ { "context": "The domestic goat ( Capra aegagrus hircus ) is a subspecies of goat domesticated from the wild goat of southwest Asia and Eastern Europe . \n \n The goat is a member of the family Bovidae and is closely related to the sheep as both are in the goat-antelope subfamily Caprinae . There are over 300 distinct breeds of goat . Goats are one of the oldest domesticated species , and have been used for their milk , meat , hair , and skins over much of the world . In 2011 , there were more than 924 million live goats around the globe , according to the UN Food and Agriculture Organization . \n \n Female goats are referred to as `` does '' or `` nannies ; '' intact males are called `` bucks '' or `` billies ; '' and juveniles of both sexes are called `` kids '' . Castrated males are called `` wethers '' . Goat meat from younger animals is called `` kid '' or cabrito ( Spanish ) , while meat from older animals is known simply as `` goat '' or sometimes called chevon ( French ) , or in some areas `` mutton '' ( which more often refers to adult sheep meat ) . \n \n Etymology \n \n The Modern English word goat comes from Old English gāt `` she-goat , goat in general '' , which in turn derives from Proto-Germanic * gaitaz ( cf . Dutch/Icelandic geit , German Geiß , and Gothic gaits ) , ultimately from Proto-Indo-European * ǵʰaidos meaning `` young goat '' ( cf . Latin haedus `` kid '' ) , itself perhaps from a root meaning `` jump '' ( assuming that Old Church Slavonic zajęcǐ `` hare '' , Sanskrit jihīte `` he moves '' are related ) . To refer to the male , Old English used bucca ( giving modern buck ) until ousted by hegote , hegoote in the late 12th century . Nanny goat ( females ) originated in the 18th century and billy goat ( for males ) in the 19th . \n \n History \n \n Goats are among the earliest animals domesticated by humans . The most recent genetic analysis confirms the archaeological evidence that the wild Bezoar ibex of the Zagros Mountains are the likely origin of almost all domestic goats today . \n \n Neolithic farmers began to herd wild goats primarily for easy access to milk and meat , as well as to their dung , which was used as fuel , and their bones , hair and sinew for clothing , building and tools . The earliest remnants of domesticated goats dating 10,000 years before present are found in Ganj Dareh in Iran . Goat remains have been found at archaeological sites in Jericho , Choga Mami Djeitun and Çayönü , dating the domestication of goats in Western Asia at between 8000 and 9000 years ago . \n \n Studies of DNA evidence suggests 10,000 years BP as the domestication date . \n \n Historically , goat hide has been used for water and wine bottles in both traveling and transporting wine for sale . It has also been used to produce parchment . \n \n Anatomy and health \n \n Goats are considered small livestock animals , compared to bigger animals such as cattle , camels and horses , but larger than microlivestock such as poultry , rabbits , cavies , and bees . Each recognized breed of goats has specific weight ranges , which vary from over 300 lb for bucks of larger breeds such as the Boer , to 45 to for smaller goat does . Within each breed , different strains or bloodlines may have different recognized sizes . At the bottom of the size range are miniature breeds such as the African Pygmy , which stand 16 to at the shoulder as adults . \n \n Most goats naturally have two horns , of various shapes and sizes depending on the breed . Goats have horns unless they are `` polled '' ( meaning , genetically hornless ) or the horns have been removed , typically soon after birth . There have been incidents of polycerate goats ( having as many as eight horns ) , although this is a genetic rarity thought to be inherited . The horns are most typically removed in commercial dairy goat herds , to reduce the injuries to humans and other goats . Unlike cattle , goats have not been successfully bred to be reliably polled , as the genes determining sex and those determining horns are closely linked . Breeding together two genetically polled goats results in a high number of intersex individuals among the offspring", "qas": [ { "answers": [], "id": "tc_600--Goat.txt", "qid": "tc_600", "question": "What legendary fire-breathing female monster had a lion's head, a goat's body and a dragon's tail?" } ] } ] }

{ "paragraphs": [ { "context": "Denmark ( ; ) is a Scandinavian country in Europe . The southernmost and smallest of the Nordic countries , it is south-west of Sweden and south of Norway , The island of Bornholm is offset to the east of the rest of the country , in the Baltic Sea . and bordered to the south by Germany . The Kingdom of Denmark , . See also : Danish Realm is a sovereign state that comprises Denmark proper and two autonomous constituent countries in the North Atlantic Ocean : the Faroe Islands and Greenland . Denmark has an area of , and a population of 5.7 million . The country consists of a peninsula , Jutland , and an archipelago of 443 named islands , of which around 70 are inhabited , with Zealand , the largest and featuring the capital and largest city Copenhagen . The islands are characterised by flat , arable land and sandy coasts , low elevation and a temperate climate . \n \n The unified kingdom of Denmark emerged in the 10th century as a proficient seafaring nation in the struggle for control of the Baltic Sea . Denmark , Sweden and Norway were ruled together under the Kalmar Union , established in 1397 and ending with Swedish secession in 1523 . Denmark and Norway remained under the same monarch until outside forces dissolved the union in 1814 . The deterioration of the Kingdom of Norway , caused by the Black Death , made it possible for Denmark to inherit an expansive colonial empire from this union—of which the Faroe Islands and Greenland are remnants . Beginning in the 17th century , there were several cessions of territory ; these culminated in the 1830s with a surge of nationalist movements , which were defeated in the 1864 Second Schleswig War . Denmark remained neutral during World War I . In April 1940 , a German invasion saw brief military skirmishes while the Danish resistance movement was active from 1943 until the German surrender in May 1945 . An industrialised exporter of agricultural produce in the second half of the 19th century , Denmark introduced social and labour-market reforms in the early 20th century that created the basis for the present welfare state model with a highly developed mixed economy . \n \n The Constitution of Denmark was signed on 5 June 1849 , ending the absolute monarchy which had begun in 1660 . It establishes a constitutional monarchy—the current monarch is Queen Margrethe II—organised as a parliamentary democracy . The government and national parliament are seated in Copenhagen , the nation 's capital , largest city and main commercial centre . Denmark exercises hegemonic influence in the Danish Realm , devolving powers to handle internal affairs . Home rule was established in the Faroe Islands \n in 1948 ; in Greenland home rule was established in 1979 and further autonomy in 2009 . Denmark became a member of the European Economic Community ( now the EU ) in 1973 , maintaining certain opt-outs ; it retains its own currency , the krone . It is among the founding members of NATO , the Nordic Council , the OECD , OSCE , and the United Nations ; it is also part of the Schengen Area . \n \n Danes enjoy a high standard of living and the country ranks highly in some metrics of national performance , including education , health care , protection of civil liberties , democratic governance , prosperity and human development . The country ranks as having the world 's highest social mobility , a high level of income equality , is the least corrupt country in the world , has one of the world 's highest per capita incomes , and one of the world 's highest personal income tax rates . A large majority of Danes are members of the Lutheran State Church , though the Constitution guarantees freedom of religion . \n \n Etymology \n \n The etymology of the word Denmark , and especially the relationship between Danes and Denmark and the unifying of Denmark as a single kingdom , is a subject which attracts debate . This is centred primarily on the prefix `` Dan '' and whether it refers to the Dani or a historical person Dan and the exact meaning of the - '' mark '' ending . \n \n Most handbooks derive the first part of the word , and the name of the people , from a word meaning `` flat land '' , related to German Tenne `` threshing floor '' , English den `` cave '' . The -mark is believed to mean woodland or borderland ( see marches ) , with probable references to the border forests in south Schleswig", "qas": [ { "answers": [ { "answer_start": 294, "text": "kingdom of denmark" } ], "id": "qz_3458--Denmark.txt", "qid": "qz_3458", "question": "Greenland is an autonomous constituant country within which European kingdom?" } ] } ] }

{ "paragraphs": [ { "context": "A musical instrument is an instrument created or adapted to make musical sounds . In principle , any object that produces sound can be a musical instrument—it is through purpose that the object becomes a musical instrument . The history of musical instruments dates to the beginnings of human culture . Early musical instruments may have been used for ritual , such as a trumpet to signal success on the hunt , or a drum in a religious ceremony . Cultures eventually developed composition and performance of melodies for entertainment . Musical instruments evolved in step with changing applications . \n \n The date and origin of the first device considered a musical instrument is disputed . The oldest object that some scholars refer to as a musical instrument , a simple flute , dates back as far as 67,000 years . Some consensus dates early flutes to about 37,000 years ago . However , most historians believe that determining a specific time of musical instrument invention is impossible due to the subjectivity of the definition and the relative instability of materials used to make them . Many early musical instruments were made from animal skins , bone , wood , and other non-durable materials . \n \n Musical instruments developed independently in many populated regions of the world . However , contact among civilizations caused rapid spread and adaptation of most instruments in places far from their origin . By the Middle Ages , instruments from Mesopotamia were in maritime Southeast Asia , and Europeans played instruments from North Africa . Development in the Americas occurred at a slower pace , but cultures of North , Central , and South America shared musical instruments . By 1400 , musical instrument development slowed in many areas and was dominated by the Occident . \n \n Musical instrument classification is a discipline in its own right , and many systems of classification have been used over the years . Instruments can be classified by their effective range , their material composition , their size , etc . However , the most common academic method , Hornbostel-Sachs , uses the means by which they produce sound . The academic study of musical instruments is called organology . \n \n Definition and basic operation \n \n A musical instrument makes sounds . Once humans moved from making sounds with their bodies—for example , by clapping—to using objects to create music from sounds , musical instruments were born . Primitive instruments were probably designed to emulate natural sounds , and their purpose was ritual rather than entertainment . The concept of melody and the artistic pursuit of musical composition were unknown to early players of musical instruments . A player sounding a flute to signal the start of a hunt does so without thought of the modern notion of `` making music '' . \n \n Musical instruments are constructed in a broad array of styles and shapes , using many different materials . Early musical instruments were made from `` found objects '' such a shells and plant parts . As instruments evolved , so did the selection and quality of materials . Virtually every material in nature has been used by at least one culture to make musical instruments . One plays a musical instrument by interacting with it in some way—for example , by plucking the strings on a string instrument . \n \n Archaeology \n \n Researchers have discovered archaeological evidence of musical instruments in many parts of the world . Some finds are 67,000 years old , however their status as musical instruments is often in dispute . Consensus solidifies about artifacts dated back to around 37,000 years old and later . Only artifacts made from durable materials or using durable methods tend to survive . As such , the specimens found can not be irrefutably placed as the earliest musical instruments . \n \n In July 1995 , Slovenian archaeologist Ivan Turk discovered a bone carving in the northwest region of Slovenia . The carving , named the Divje Babe Flute , features four holes that Canadian musicologist Bob Fink determined could have been used to play four notes of a diatonic scale . Researchers estimate the flute 's age at between 43,400 and 67,000 years , making it the oldest known musical instrument and the only musical instrument associated with the Neanderthal culture . However , some archaeologists and ethnomusicologists dispute the flute 's status as a musical instrument . German archaeologists have found mammoth bone and swan bone flutes dating back to 30,000 to 37,000 years old in the Swabian Alps . The flutes were made in the Upper Paleolithic age , and are more commonly accepted as being the oldest known musical instruments . \n \n Archaeological", "qas": [ { "answers": [ { "answer_start": 416, "text": "drum" } ], "id": "qg_2899--Musical_instrument.txt", "qid": "qg_2899", "question": "What can be a musical instrument, a type of brake, and a type of cylindrical container?" } ] } ] }

{ "paragraphs": [ { "context": "Facebook ( stylized as facebook ) is a for-profit corporation and online social networking service based in Menlo Park , California , United States . The Facebook website was launched on February 4 , 2004 by Mark Zuckerberg , along with fellow Harvard College students and roommates , Eduardo Saverin , Andrew McCollum , Dustin Moskovitz , and Chris Hughes . \n \n The founders had initially limited the website 's membership to Harvard students ; however , later they expanded it to higher education institutions in the Boston area , the Ivy League schools , and Stanford University . Facebook gradually added support for students at various other universities , and eventually to high school students as well . Since 2006 , anyone age 13 and older has been allowed to become a registered user of Facebook , though variations exist in the minimum age requirement , depending on applicable local laws . The Facebook name comes from the face book directories often given to United States university students . \n \n After registering to use the site , users can create a user profile , add other users as `` friends '' , exchange messages , post status updates and photos , share videos , use various applications ( apps ) , and receive notifications when others update their profiles . Additionally , users may join common-interest user groups organized by workplace , school , or other topics , and categorize their friends into lists such as `` People From Work '' or `` Close Friends '' . In groups , editors can pin posts to top . Additionally , users can complain about or block unpleasant people . Because of the large volume of data that users submit to the service , Facebook has come under scrutiny for their privacy policies . \n \n Facebook , Inc. held its initial public offering ( IPO ) in February 2012 , and began selling stock to the public three months later , reaching an original peak market capitalization of $ 104 billion . On July 13 , 2015 , Facebook became the fastest company in the Standard & Poor 's 500 Index to reach a market cap of $ 250 billion . Facebook has more than 1.65 billion monthly active users as of March 31 , 2016 . \n \n History \n \n 2003–2006 : Thefacebook , Thiel investment , and name change \n \n Zuckerberg wrote a program called Facemash on October 28 , 2003 while attending Harvard University as a sophomore ( second year student ) . According to The Harvard Crimson , the site was comparable to Hot or Not and used `` photos compiled from the online facebooks of nine houses , placing two next to each other at a time and asking users to choose the 'hotter ' person '' \n \n To accomplish this , Zuckerberg hacked into protected areas of Harvard 's computer network and copied private dormitory ID images . Harvard did not have a student `` Facebook '' ( a directory with photos and basic information ) at the time , although individual houses had been issuing their own paper facebooks since the mid-1980s , and Harvard 's longtime Freshman Yearbook was colloquially referred to as the `` Freshman Facebook '' . Facemash attracted 450 visitors and 22,000 photo-views in its first four hours online . \n \n The site was quickly forwarded to several campus group list-servers , but was shut down a few days later by the Harvard administration . Zuckerberg faced expulsion and was charged by the administration with breach of security , violating copyrights , and violating individual privacy . Ultimately , the charges were dropped . Zuckerberg expanded on this initial project that semester by creating a social study tool ahead of an art history final exam . He uploaded 500 Augustan images to a website , each of which was featured with a corresponding comments section . He shared the site with his classmates , and people started sharing notes . \n \n The following semester , Zuckerberg began writing code for a new website in January 2004 . He said that he was inspired by an editorial about the Facemash incident in The Harvard Crimson . On February 4 , 2004 , Zuckerberg launched `` Thefacebook '' , originally located at thefacebook.com . \n \n Six days after the site launched , Harvard seniors Cameron Winklevoss , Tyler Winklevoss , and Divya Narendra accused Zuckerberg of intentionally misleading them into believing that he would help them build a social network called HarvardConnection.com . They claimed that he was instead using their ideas to build a competing product . The three complained to The Harvard Crimson and the newspaper began an investigation . They", "qas": [ { "answers": [], "id": "jp_3540--Facebook.txt", "qid": "jp_3540", "question": "What instant messaging service did Facebook purchase for $19 billion in 2014?" } ] } ] }

{ "paragraphs": [ { "context": "The domestic dog ( Canis lupus familiaris or Canis familiaris ) is a domesticated canid which has been selectively bred over millennia for various behaviours , sensory capabilities , and physical attributes . \n \n Although initially thought to have originated as an artificial variant of an extant canid species ( variously supposed as being the dhole , golden jackal , or gray wolf ) , extensive genetic studies undertaken during the 2010s indicate that dogs diverged from an extinct wolf-like canid in Eurasia 40,000 years ago . Being the oldest domesticated animal , their long association with people has allowed dogs to be uniquely attuned to human behavior , as well as thrive on a starch-rich diet which would be inadequate for other canid species . \n \n Dogs perform many roles for people , such as hunting , herding , pulling loads , protection , assisting police and military , companionship and , more recently , aiding handicapped individuals . This influence on human society has given them the sobriquet , `` man 's best friend '' . \n \n Etymology \n \n The term `` domestic dog '' is generally used for both domesticated and feral varieties . The English word dog comes from Middle English dogge , from Old English docga , a `` powerful dog breed '' . The term may possibly derive from Proto-Germanic * dukkōn , represented in Old English finger-docce ( `` finger-muscle '' ) . The word also shows the familiar petname diminutive -ga also seen in frogga `` frog '' , picga `` pig '' , stagga `` stag '' , wicga `` beetle , worm '' , among others . The term dog may ultimately derive from the earliest layer of Proto-Indo-European vocabulary . \n \n In 14th-century England , hound ( from ) was the general word for all domestic canines , and dog referred to a subtype of hound , a group including the mastiff . It is believed this `` dog '' type was so common , it eventually became the prototype of the category `` hound '' . By the 16th century , dog had become the general word , and hound had begun to refer only to types used for hunting . The word `` hound '' is ultimately derived from the Proto-Indo-European word * kwon- `` dog '' . \n \n A male canine is referred to as a dog , while a female is called a bitch . The father of a litter is called the sire , and the mother is called the dam . ( Middle English bicche , from Old English bicce , ultimately from Old Norse bikkja ) The process of birth is whelping , from the Old English word hwelp . A litter refers to the multiple offspring at one birth which are called puppies or pups from the French poupée . \n \n Taxonomy \n \n The dog is classified as Canis lupus familiaris under the Biological Species Concept and Canis familiaris under the Evolutionary Species Concept.Wang , Xiaoming ; Tedford , Richard H. ; Dogs : Their Fossil Relatives and Evolutionary History . New York : Columbia University Press , 2008 \n \n In 1758 , the taxonomist Linnaeus published in Systema Naturae a categorization of species which included the Canis species . Canis is a Latin word meaning dog , and the list included the dog-like carnivores : the domestic dog , wolves , foxes and jackals . The dog was classified as Canis familiaris , which means `` Dog-family '' or the family dog . On the next page he recorded the wolf as Canis lupus , which means `` Dog-wolf '' . In 1978 , a review aimed at reducing the number of recognized Canis species proposed that `` Canis dingo is now generally regarded as a distinctive feral domestic dog . Canis familiaris is used for domestic dogs , although taxonomically it should probably be synonymous with Canis lupus . '' In 1982 , the first edition of Mammal Species of the World listed Canis familiaris under Canis lupus with the comment : `` Probably ancestor of and conspecific with the domestic dog , familiaris . Canis familiaris has page priority over Canis lupus , but both were published simultaneously in Linnaeus ( 1758 ) , and Canis lupus has been universally used for this species '' , which avoided classifying the wolf as the family dog . The dog is now listed among the many other Latin-named subspecies of Canis lupus as Canis lupus familiaris . \n \n In 2003 , the ICZN ruled in its Opinion 2027 that if wild animals and their domesticated derivatives are regarded as one species , then the scientific name of that species is", "qas": [ { "answers": [], "id": "qb_6394--Dog.txt", "qid": "qb_6394", "question": "What breed of dog is a Blenheim?" } ] } ] }

{ "paragraphs": [ { "context": "Four-wheel drive , 4×4 ( `` four by four '' ) , and 4WD , is a form of drivetrain capable of providing power to all wheel ends of a two-axled vehicle simultaneously . It may be full-time , or on-demand , and is typically linked via a transfer case which provides and an additional output drive-shaft , along with additional gear ranges . \n \n A four-wheeled vehicle with power supplied to both axles may sometimes be described as `` all-wheel drive '' ( AWD ) . However , `` four-wheel drive '' typically refers to a set of specific components and functions , and/or intended offroad application , which generally complies with modern use of the terminology . \n \n Definitions \n \n 4x4/4WD/AWD systems were developed in many different markets and used in many different vehicle platforms . There is no universally accepted set of terminology to describe the various architectures and functions . The terms used by various manufactures often reflect marketing rather than engineering considerations or significant technical differences between systems . \n \n 4×4 \n \n Four-by-four ( 4×4 ) refers to the general class of vehicles . The first figure represents the total wheels ( more precisely , axle ends ) , and the second , the number that are powered . Syntactically , 4×2 means a four-wheel vehicle that transmits engine power to only two axle-ends : the front two in front-wheel drive or the rear two in rear-wheel drive . Alternatively , a 6×4 vehicle has three axles , any two of which provide power to two wheel ends each . \n \n 4WD \n \n Four wheel drive ( 4WD ) refers to vehicles with two axles providing power to four wheel ends . In the North American market the term generally refers to a system that is optimized for off-road driving conditions . The term `` 4WD '' is typically designated for vehicles equipped with a transfercase which switches between 2WD and 4WD operating modes , either manually or automatically . \n \n AWD \n \n All wheel drive ( AWD ) historically was synonymous with `` four-wheel drive '' on four-wheeled vehicles , and six-wheel drive on 6×6s , and so on , being used in that fashion at least as early as the 1920s . MEYER , DONALD E. THE FIRST CENTURY OF GMC TRUCK HISTORY [ https : //www.gmheritagecenter.com/docs/gm-heritage-archive/historical-brochures/GMC/100_YR_GMC_HISTORY_MAR09.pdf ] `` By December [ 1939 ] , GMC had orders for more than 4,400 all-wheel-drive military trucks . '' Today in the United States the term is applied to both heavy vehicles as well as light passenger vehicles . When referring to heavy vehicles the term is increasingly applied to mean `` permanent multiple-wheel drive '' on 2×2 , 4×4 , 6×6 or 8×8 drive train systems that include a differential between the front and rear drive shafts . This is often coupled with some sort of anti-slip technology , increasingly hydraulic-based , that allows differentials to spin at different speeds but still be capable of transferring torque from a wheel with poor traction to one with better . Typical AWD systems work well on all surfaces , but are not intended for more extreme off-road use . When used to describe AWD systems in light passenger vehicles it describes a system that either applies power to all four wheels ( permanently or on demand ) and targeted as improving on road traction and performance , particularly in inclement conditions , rather than for off road applications . \n \n Some all wheel drive electric vehicles solve this challenge using one motor for each axle , thereby eliminating a mechanical differential between the front and rear axles . An example of this is the dual motor variant of the Tesla Model S , which on a millisecond scale can control the power distribution electronically between its two motors . \n \n IWD \n \n Individual-wheel drive ( IWD ) was coined to identify those electric vehicles whereby each wheel is driven by its own individual electric motor . This system essentially has inherent characteristics that would be generally attributed to four-wheel drive systems like the distribution of the available power to the wheels . However , because of the inherent characteristics of electric motors , torque can be negative , as seen in the Rimac Concept One and SLS AMG Electric . This can have drastic effects , as in better handling in tight corners . \n \n The term IWD can refer to a vehicle with any number of wheels . For example , the Mars rovers are 6-wheel IWD . \n \n Design \n \n Differentials \n \n Two wheels fixed to the same axle turn at the same speed as a vehicle goes", "qas": [ { "answers": [], "id": "sfq_2137--Four-wheel_drive.txt", "qid": "sfq_2137", "question": "\"Which car manufacturer produces the \"\"Grand Vitara\"\", 4 x 4 model?\"" } ] } ] }

{ "paragraphs": [ { "context": "In botany , a tree is a perennial plant with an elongated stem , or trunk , supporting branches and leaves in most species . In some usages , the definition of a tree may be narrower , including only woody plants with secondary growth , plants that are usable as lumber or plants above a specified height . Trees are not a taxonomic group but include a variety of plant species that have independently evolved a woody trunk and branches as a way to tower above other plants to compete for sunlight . In looser senses , the taller palms , the tree ferns , bananas and bamboos are also trees . Trees tend to be long-lived , some reaching several thousand years old . The tallest known tree , a coast redwood named Hyperion , stands high . Trees have been in existence for 370 million years . It is estimated that there are just over 3 trillion mature trees in the world . \n \n A tree typically has many secondary branches supported clear of the ground by the trunk . This trunk typically contains woody tissue for strength , and vascular tissue to carry materials from one part of the tree to another . For most trees it is surrounded by a layer of bark which serves as a protective barrier . Below the ground , the roots branch and spread out widely ; they serve to anchor the tree and extract moisture and nutrients from the soil . Above ground , the branches divide into smaller branches and shoots . The shoots typically bear leaves , which capture light energy and convert it into sugars by photosynthesis , providing the food for the tree 's growth and development . Flowers and fruit may also be present , but some trees , such as conifers , instead have pollen cones and seed cones ; others , such as tree ferns , produce spores instead . \n \n Trees play a significant role in reducing erosion and moderating the climate . They remove carbon dioxide from the atmosphere and store large quantities of carbon in their tissues . Trees and forests provide a habitat for many species of animals and plants . Tropical rainforests are one of the most biodiverse habitats in the world . Trees provide shade and shelter , timber for construction , fuel for cooking and heating , and fruit for food as well as having many other uses . In parts of the world , forests are shrinking as trees are cleared to increase the amount of land available for agriculture . Because of their longevity and usefulness , trees have always been revered , with sacred groves in various cultures , and they play a role in many of the world 's mythologies . \n \n Definition \n \n Although `` tree '' is a term of common parlance , there is no universally recognised precise definition of what a tree is , either botanically or in common language . In its broadest sense , a tree is any plant with the general form of an elongated stem , or trunk , which supports the photosynthetic leaves or branches at some distance above the ground . Trees are also typically defined by height , with smaller plants from being called shrubs , so the minimum height of a tree is only loosely defined . Large herbaceous plants such as papaya and bananas are trees in this broad sense . \n \n A commonly applied narrower definition is that a tree has a woody trunk formed by secondary growth , meaning that the trunk thickens each year by growing outwards , in addition to the primary upwards growth from the growing tip . Under such a definition , herbaceous plants such as palms , bananas and papayas are not considered trees regardless of their height , growth form or stem girth . Certain monocots may be considered trees under a slightly looser definition ; while the Joshua tree , bamboos and palms do not have secondary growth and never produce true wood with growth rings , they may produce `` pseudo-wood '' by lignifying cells formed by primary growth . \n \n Aside from structural definitions , trees are commonly defined by use , for instance as those plants which yield lumber . \n \n Overview \n \n The tree growth habit is an evolutionary adaptation found in different groups of plants : by growing taller , trees are able to compete better for sunlight . Trees tend to be long-lived , some reaching several thousand years old , as well as tall . Trees have modified structures such as thicker stems composed of specialized cells that add structural strength and durability ,", "qas": [ { "answers": [], "id": "sfq_17386--Tree.txt", "qid": "sfq_17386", "question": "By what name is the tree Fagus sylvatica more commonly known?" } ] } ] }

{ "paragraphs": [ { "context": "Giuseppe Fortunino Francesco Verdi ( ; 9 or 10 October 1813 – 27 January 1901 ) was an Italian opera composer . \n \n Verdi was born near Busseto to a provincial family of moderate means , and developed a musical education with the help of a local patron . Verdi came to dominate the Italian opera scene after the era of Bellini , Donizetti and Rossini , whose works significantly influenced him , becoming one of the pre-eminent opera composers in history . \n \n In his early operas Verdi demonstrated a sympathy with the Risorgimento movement which sought the unification of Italy . He also participated briefly as an elected politician . The chorus `` Va , pensiero '' from his early opera Nabucco ( 1842 ) , and similar choruses in later operas , were much in the spirit of the unification movement , and the composer himself became esteemed as a representative of these ideals . An intensely private person , Verdi however did not seek to ingratiate himself with popular movements and as he became professionally successful was able to reduce his operatic workload and sought to establish himself as a landowner in his native region . He surprised the musical world by returning , after his success with the opera Aida ( 1871 ) , with three late masterpieces : his Requiem ( 1874 ) , and the operas Otello ( 1887 ) and Falstaff ( 1893 ) . \n \n His operas remain extremely popular , especially the three peaks of his 'middle period ' : Rigoletto , Il trovatore and La traviata , and the bicentenary of his birth in 2013 was widely celebrated in broadcasts and performances . \n \n Life \n \n Childhood and education \n \n Verdi , the first child of Carlo Giuseppe Verdi ( 1785–1867 ) and Luigia Uttini ( 1787–1851 ) , was born at their home in Le Roncole , a village near Busseto , then in the Département Taro and within the borders of the First French Empire following the annexation of the Duchy of Parma and Piacenza in 1808 . The baptismal register , prepared on 11 October 1813 , lists his parents Carlo and Luigia as `` innkeeper '' and `` spinner '' respectively . Additionally , it lists Verdi as being `` born yesterday '' , but since days were often considered to begin at sunset , this could have meant either 9 or 10 October . Verdi himself , following his mother , always celebrated his birthday on 9 October . \n \n Verdi had a younger sister , Giuseppa , who died aged 17 in 1833 . From the age of four , Verdi was given private lessons in Latin and Italian by the village schoolmaster , Baistrocchi , and at six he attended the local school . After learning to play the organ , he showed so much interest in music that his parents finally provided him with a spinet . Verdi 's gift for music was already apparent by 1820–21 when he began his association with the local church , serving in the choir , acting as an altar boy for a while , and taking organ lessons . After Baistrocchi 's death , Verdi , at the age of eight , became the official paid organist . \n \n The music historian Roger Parker points out that both of Verdi 's parents `` belonged to families of small landowners and traders , certainly not the illiterate peasants from which Verdi later liked to present himself as having emerged ... Carlo Verdi was energetic in furthering his son 's education ... something which Verdi tended to hide in later life ... [ T ] he picture emerges of youthful precocity eagerly nurtured by an ambitious father and of a sustained , sophisticated and elaborate formal education . '' \n \n In 1823 , when he was 10 , Verdi 's parents arranged for the boy to attend school in Busseto , enrolling him in a Ginnasio—an upper school for boys—run by Don Pietro Seletti , while they continued to run their inn at Le Roncole . Verdi returned to Busseto regularly to play the organ on Sundays , covering the distance of several kilometres on foot . At age 11 , Verdi received schooling in Italian , Latin , the humanities , and rhetoric . By the time he was 12 , he began lessons with Ferdinando Provesi , maestro di cappella at San Bartolomeo , director of the municipal music school and co-director of the local Società Filarmonica ( Philharmonic Society ) . Verdi later stated : `` From the ages of 13 to 18 I wrote a motley assortment of pieces : marches for band", "qas": [ { "answers": [ { "answer_start": 1216, "text": "aida" } ], "id": "dpql_5945--Giuseppe_Verdi.txt", "qid": "dpql_5945", "question": "Which opera did Verdi supposedly compose for the opening of the Suez Canal?" } ] } ] }

{ "paragraphs": [ { "context": "A carriage is a wheeled vehicle for people , usually horse-drawn ; litters ( palanquins ) and sedan chairs are excluded , since they are wheelless vehicles . The carriage is especially designed for private passenger use and for comfort or elegance , though some are also used to transport goods . It may be light , smart and fast or heavy , large and comfortable . Carriages normally have suspension using leaf springs , elliptical springs ( in the 19th century ) or leather strapping . A public passenger vehicle would not usually be called a carriage – terms for such include stagecoach , charabanc and omnibus . Working vehicles such as the ( four-wheeled ) wagon and ( two-wheeled ) cart share important parts of the history of the carriage , as is the fast ( two-wheeled ) chariot . \n \n Overview \n \n The word carriage ( abbreviated carr or cge ) is from Old Northern French cariage , to carry in a vehicle . The word car , then meaning a kind of two-wheeled cart for goods , also came from Old Northern French about the beginning of the 14th century ; it was also used for railway carriages , and was extended to cover automobile around the end of the nineteenth century , when early models were called horseless carriages . \n \n A carriage is sometimes called a team , as in `` horse and team '' . A carriage with its horse is a rig . An elegant horse-drawn carriage with its retinue of servants is an equipage . A carriage together with the horses , harness and attendants is a turnout or setout . A procession of carriages is a cavalcade . \n \n History \n \n Prehistory \n \n Some horsecarts found in Celtic graves show hints that their platforms were suspended elastically . Four-wheeled wagons were used in prehistoric Europe , and their form known from excavations suggests that the basic construction techniques of wheel and undercarriage ( that survived until the age of the motor car ) were established then . \n \n Chariot \n \n The earliest recorded sort of carriage was the chariot , reaching Mesopotamia as early as 1900 BCE . Used typically for warfare by Egyptians , the near Easterners and Europeans , it was essentially a two-wheeled light basin carrying one or two passengers , drawn by one to two horses . The chariot was revolutionary and effective because it delivered fresh warriors to crucial areas of battle with swiftness . \n \n Roman carriage \n \n First century BC Romans used sprung wagons for overland journeys . It is likely that Roman carriages employed some form of suspension on chains or leather straps , as indicated by carriage parts found in excavations . \n \n Ancient Chinese carriage \n \n The kingdoms of the Zhou Dynasty and Warring States were also known to have used carriages as transportation . With the decline of these civilizations these techniques almost disappeared . \n \n Medieval carriage \n \n The medieval carriage was typically a four-wheeled wagon type , with a rounded top ( 'tilt ' ) similar in appearance to the Conestoga Wagon familiar from the USA . Sharing the traditional form of wheels and undercarriage known since the Bronze Age , it very likely also employed the pivoting fore-axle in continuity from the ancient world . Suspension ( on chains ) is recorded in visual images and written accounts from the 14th century ( 'chars branlant ' or rocking carriages ) , and was in widespread use by the 15th century.Julian Munby , ‘ From Carriage to Coach : What Happened ? ’ , in Robert Bork and Andrea Kann ( eds ) The art , science , and technology of medieval travel ( Ashgate , 2008 ) , pp.41–53 . Carriages were largely used by royalty , aristocrats ( and especially by women ) , and could be elaborately decorated and gilded . These carriages were on four wheels often and were pulled by two to four horses depending on how they were decorated ( elaborate decoration with gold lining made the carriage heavier ) . Wood and iron were the primary requirements needed to build a carriage and carriages that were used by non-royalty were covered by plain leather . \n \n Another form of the carriage was the pageant wagon of the 14th century . Historians debate on the structure and size of pageant wagons however , they are generally miniature house-like structures that rest on four to six wheels depending on the size of the wagon . The pageant wagon is significant because up until the 14th century most carriages were on two or 3 wheels ; the chariot", "qas": [ { "answers": [], "id": "odql_7874--Carriage.txt", "qid": "odql_7874", "question": "What is the name of the four-wheeled horse-drawn convertible carriage, named after a town in Germany, used in Blackpool?" } ] } ] }

{ "paragraphs": [ { "context": "Good-Bye to All That , an autobiography by Robert Graves , first appeared in 1929 , when the author was 34 years old . `` It was my bitter leave-taking of England , '' he wrote in a prologue to the revised second edition of 1957 , `` where I had recently broken a good many conventions '' . The title may also point to the passing of an old order following the cataclysm of the First World War ; the inadequacies of patriotism , the rise of atheism , feminism , socialism and pacifism , the changes to traditional married life , and not least the emergence of new styles of literary expression , are all treated in the work , bearing as they did directly on Graves ' life . The unsentimental and frequently comic treatment of the banalities and intensities of the life of a British army officer in the First World War gave Graves fame , notoriety and financial security , but the book 's subject is also his family history , childhood , schooling and , immediately following the war , early married life ; all phases bearing witness to the `` particular mode of living and thinking '' that constitute a poetic sensibility . \n \n Laura Riding , Graves ' lover , is credited with being a `` spiritual and intellectual midwife '' to the work . \n \n Wartime experiences \n \n A large part of the book is taken up by his experience of the First World War , in which Graves served as a lieutenant , then captain in the Royal Welch Fusiliers , with the equally famous Siegfried Sassoon . Good-Bye to All That provides a detailed description of trench warfare , including the tragic incompetence of the Battle of Loos and the bitter fighting in the first phase of the Somme Offensive . \n \n Wounds \n \n In the Somme engagement , Graves was wounded while leading his men through the cemetery at Bazentin-le-petit church on 20 July 1916 . The wound initially appeared so severe that military authorities erroneously reported to his family that he had died . While mourning his death , Graves 's family received word from him that he was alive , and put an announcement to that effect in the newspapers . \n \n Reputed atrocities \n \n The book contains a second-hand description of the killing of German prisoners of war by British troops . Although Graves had not witnessed any and knew of no large massacres , he had been told about a number of incidents in which prisoners had been killed individually or in small groups . Consequently he was prepared to believe that a proportion of Germans who surrendered never made it to prisoner-of-war camps . `` Nearly every instructor in the mess '' he wrote , `` could quote specific instances of prisoners having been murdered on the way back . The commonest motives were , it seems , revenge for the death of friends or relatives , [ and ] jealousy of the prisoner 's trip to a comfortable prison camp in England '' . \n \n Post-war trauma \n \n Graves was severely traumatised by his war experience . After being wounded in the lung by a shell blast , he endured a squalid five-day train journey with unchanged bandages . During initial military training in England , he received an electric shock from a telephone that had been hit by lightning , which caused him to stammer and sweat so badly that he did not use a phone again for twelve years . Upon his return home , he describes being haunted by ghosts and nightmares . [ https : //scholar.google.com/scholar ? hl \n en & lr & q \n cache : yhpAPPEXBNcJ : digitalcommons.trinity.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi % 3Farticle % 3D1017 % 26context % 3Dtrickstersway+ `` The Other : For Good and For Ill '' ] by Prof. Frank Kersnowski in Trickster 's Way , Volume 2 , Issue 2 , 2003 \n \n Critical responses \n \n Siegfried Sassoon and his friend Edmund Blunden ( whose First World War service had been in a different regiment ) took umbrage at the contents of the book . Sassoon 's complaints mostly related to Graves 's depiction of him and his family , whereas Blunden had read the memoirs of J. C. Dunn and found them at odds with Graves in some places . The two men took Blunden 's copy of Good-Bye to All That and made marginal notes contradicting some of the text . That copy survives and is held by the New York Public Library . Graves 's father , Alfred Perceval Graves , also incensed at some aspects of Graves 's book ,", "qas": [ { "answers": [ { "answer_start": 43, "text": "robert graves" } ], "id": "sfq_8581--Good-Bye_to_All_That.txt", "qid": "sfq_8581", "question": "Whose autobiography was Goodbye To All That?" } ] } ] }

{ "paragraphs": [ { "context": "The First Transcontinental Railroad ( known originally as the `` Pacific Railroad '' and later as the `` Overland Route '' ) was a contiguous railroad line constructed in the United States between 1863 and 1869 west of the Mississippi and Missouri Rivers to connect the Pacific coast at San Francisco Bay with the existing eastern U.S. rail network at Council Bluffs , Iowa . The rail line was built by three private companies largely financed by government bonds and huge land grants : the original Western Pacific Railroad Company between Oakland/Alameda and Sacramento , California ( 132 mi ) , the Central Pacific Railroad Company of California eastward from Sacramento Promontory Summit , Utah Territory ( U.T . ) ( 690 mi ) , and the Union Pacific westward to Promontory Summit from the road 's statutory Eastern terminus at Council Bluffs on the eastern shore of the Missouri River opposite Omaha , Nebraska ( 1085 mi ) . \n \n Opened for through traffic on May 10 , 1869 , with the ceremonial driving of the `` Last Spike '' ( later often called the `` Golden Spike '' ) with a silver hammer at Promontory Summit , the road established a mechanized transcontinental transportation network that revolutionized the settlement and economy of the American West by bringing these western states and territories firmly and profitably into the `` Union '' and making goods and transportation much quicker , cheaper , and more flexible from coast to coast . \n \n Paddle steamers linked Sacramento to the cities and their harbor facilities in the San Francisco Bay until 1869 , when the CPRR completed and opened the WP grade ( which the CPRR had acquired in 1867–68 ) to Alameda and Oakland ( MP 6 ) . \n \n The first transcontinental passengers arrived at Alameda Wharf on September 6 , 1869 , where they transferred to the steamer Alameda which carried them across the Bay to San Francisco . On November 8th of the same year , the western terminus of the railroad was changed to Oakland Wharf . Service between San Francisco [ MP 0 ] and Oakland Pier [ MP 6 ] would continue to be provided by ferry . \n \n The CPRR eventually purchased 53 miles of UPRR-built grade from Promontory Summit ( MP 828 ) to Ogden , U.T . ( MP 881 ) , which became the interchange point between trains of the two roads . The transcontinental line was popularly known as the Overland Route after the principal passenger rail service that operated over the length of the line until 1962 . \n \n History \n \n The completion of a Pacific railroad marked the culmination of a decades-long movement to build such a line beginning as early as 1832 when Dr. Hartwell Carver published an article in the New York Courier & Enquirer advocating the building of a transcontinental railroad from Lake Michigan to Oregon , and in 1847 he submitted a Memorial to Congress entitled `` Proposal for a Charter to Build a Railroad from Lake Michigan to the Pacific Ocean '' seeking a charter to build such a road . In 1856 the Select Committee on the Pacific Railroad and Telegraph of the US House of Representatives began its Report recommending the adoption of a proposed Pacific railroad bill by stating that : `` The necessity that now exists for constructing lines of railroad and telegraphic communication between the Atlantic and Pacific coasts of this continent is no longer a question for argument ; it is conceded by every one . In order to maintain our present position on the Pacific , we must have some more speedy and direct means of intercourse than is at present afforded by the route through the possessions of a foreign power . '' \n \n Preliminary exploration \n \n With strong congressional support and under the direction of the Department of War ( then run by Jefferson Davis ) the Pacific Railroad Surveys ( 1853–1855 ) were an extensive series of explorations of the American West to explore possible routes for a transcontinental railroad across North America . The expeditions included surveyors , scientists , and artists and resulted in an immense body of data covering at least 400000 sqmi on the American West . `` These twelve volumes ... constitute probably the most important single contemporary source of knowledge on Western geography and history and their value is greatly enhanced by the inclusion of many beautiful plates in color of scenery , native inhabitants , fauna and flora of the Western country . '' Published by the United States War Department from 1855 to 1860 , the surveys contained significant material on natural history , including many illustrations of", "qas": [ { "answers": [], "id": "qw_16200--First_Transcontinental_Railroad.txt", "qid": "qw_16200", "question": "What date was the US Transcontinental Railroad completed?" } ] } ] }

{ "paragraphs": [ { "context": "Gillette is a brand of men 's safety razors and other personal care products including shaving supplies , owned by the multi-national corporation Procter & Gamble ( P & G ) . \n \n Based in Boston , Massachusetts , United States , it was originally owned by The Gillette Company , a supplier of products under various brands until that company merged into P & G in 2005 . The Gillette Company was founded by King C. Gillette in 1901 as a safety razor manufacturer . \n \n Under the leadership of Colman M. Mockler Jr. as CEO from 1975–91 , the company was the target of three takeover attempts , from Ronald Perelman and Coniston Partners . On October 1 , 2005 , Procter & Gamble finalized its merger with the Gillette Company . \n \n The Gillette Company 's assets were incorporated into a P & G unit known internally as `` Global Gillette '' . In July 2007 , Global Gillette was dissolved and incorporated into Procter & Gamble 's other two main divisions , Procter & Gamble Beauty and Procter & Gamble Household Care . Gillette 's brands and products were divided between the two accordingly . However , both the Gillette R & D center in Boston , Massachusetts as well as the Gillette South Boston Manufacturing Center ( known as `` Gillette World Shaving Headquarters '' ) , still exist as functional working locations under the Procter & Gamble-owned Gillette brand name . Gillette 's subsidiaries Braun and Oral-B , among others , have also been retained by P & G . \n \n Older products \n \n Double-edged safety razors \n \n The first safety razor using the new disposable blade went on sale in 1903 . Gillette maintained a limited range of models of this new type razor until 1934 and the introduction of the `` Aristocrat '' . The great innovation of this new model was the `` Twist to Open '' , or TTO design , which made blade changing much easier than it had been previously , wherein the razor head had to be detached from the handle . \n \n 1947 saw the introduction of the new `` Super Speed '' model , also a TTO design . This was updated in 1954 , with different versions being produced to shave more closely—the degree of closeness being marked by the color of the handle tip . \n \n In 1958 , the first `` adjustable '' razor was produced . This allowed for an adjustment of the blade to increase the closeness of the shave . The model , in various versions , remained in production until 1986 . \n \n The Super Speed razor was again redesigned in 1966 and given a black resin coated metal handle . It remained in production until 1988 . A companion model , `` The Knack '' , with a longer plastic handle , was produced from 1966 to 1976 . In Europe , the Knack was sold as `` Slim Twist '' and `` G2000 '' from 1978 to 1988 , a later version known as `` G1000 '' was made in England and available until 1998 . A modern version of the Tech , with a plastic thin handle , is still produced and sold in several countries under the names 7 O'clock , Gillette , Nacet , Minora , Rubie and Economica . \n \n Newer products \n \n * Techmatic was a single blade razor introduced in the mid-1960s . It featured a disposable cartridge with a razor band which was advanced by means of a lever . This exposed an unused portion the band and was the equivalent of five blades . \n * Adjustable Techmatic is a version of the Techmatic dating from 1970 . The adjustable version featured user-selection of shave closeness on the cartridge . The adjustable version was interchangeable with the non-adjustable version . Both versions of the Techmatic and their cartridges have been discontinued . \n * Trac II was the world 's first two-blade razor , debuting in 1971 . Gillette claimed that the second blade cut the number of strokes required and reduced facial irritation . \n * Trac II Plus is an identical model but adds a lubricating strip at the top of the blade . The blades and handles are interchangeable . \n * The European versions of the Trac II and Trac II Plus are known as the GII and GII Plus respectively . \n In the Asian market GII Plus razor blades are manufactured for the Asian market . \n \n Trac II blades are still made by American and foreign razor blade companies . American Safety Razor Company make a Trac II version", "qas": [ { "answers": [], "id": "sfq_14953--Gillette_(brand).txt", "qid": "sfq_14953", "question": "Ariel, Gillette, Duracell and Oral-B are all brands of which global giant?" } ] } ] }

{ "paragraphs": [ { "context": "Frederick is a city and the county seat of Frederick County in the State of Maryland . Frederick has been an important crossroads community since it was located in colonial times at the intersection of an important north–south Indian trail , and east–west routes to the Chesapeake Bay both at Baltimore and what became Washington , D.C. and across the Appalachian mountains to the Ohio River watershed . It is a part of the Washington-Arlington-Alexandria , DC-VA-MD-WV Metropolitan Statistical Area , which is part of a greater Washington-Baltimore-Arlington , DC-MD-VA-WV-PA Combined Statistical Area . The city 's population was 65,239 people at the 2010 United States Census , making it the second-largest incorporated city in Maryland , behind Baltimore . \n \n Frederick is home to Frederick Municipal Airport ( IATA : FDK ) , which primarily accommodates general aviation traffic , and to the county 's largest employer U.S. Army 's Fort Detrick bioscience/communications research installation . \n \n History \n \n Prehistory \n \n Located where Catoctin Mountain ( the easternmost ridge of the Blue Ridge mountains ) meets the rolling hills of the Piedmont region , the Frederick area became a crossroads even before European explorers and traders arrived . Native American hunters ( known to Virginia colonists as `` Susquehannocks '' , which might be Algonquian-speaking Shawnee or more likely Seneca or Tuscarora or other members of the Iroquois Confederation ) followed the Monocacy River from the Susquehanna River watershed in Pennsylvania to the Potomac River watershed and the lands of the more agrarian and maritime Algonquian peoples , particularly the Lenape of the Delaware valley or the Piscataway or Powhatan of the lower Potomac watershed and Chesapeake Bay . This became known as the Monocacy Trail or even the Great Indian Warpath , with some travelers continuing southward through the `` Great Appalachian Valley '' ( Shenandoah Valley , etc . ) to the western Piedmont in North Carolina , or traveling down other watersheds in Virginia toward the Chesapeake Bay , such as those of the Rappahannock , James and York Rivers . \n \n Colonial era \n \n The earliest European settlement was slightly north of Frederick in Monocacy , Maryland . Founded before 1730 , when the Indian trail became a wagon road , Monocacy was abandoned before the American Revolutionary War , perhaps due to the river 's periodic flooding or hostilities predating the French and Indian War , or simply Frederick 's better location with easier access to the Potomac River near its confluence with the Monocacy . \n \n Daniel Dulany—a land speculator—laid out `` Frederick Town '' by 1745 . Three years earlier , All Saints Church had been founded on a hilltop near a warehouse/trading post . Sources disagree as to which Frederick the town was named for , but the likeliest candidates are Frederick Calvert , 6th Baron Baltimore ( one of the proprietors of Maryland ) , Frederick Louis , Prince of Wales , or Frederick `` The Great '' of Prussia . Most sources favor Calvert . \n \n In 1742 , Maryland 's General Assembly made Frederick the county seat of Frederick County , which then extended to the Appalachian mountains ( areas further west being disputed between the colonies of Virginia and Pennsylvania until 1789 ) . The current town 's first house was built by a young German Reformed schoolmaster from the Rhineland Palatinate named Johann Thomas Schley ( died 1790 ) , who led a party of immigrants ( including his wife , Maria Von Winz ) to the Maryland colony . The Palatinate settlers bought land from Dulany on the banks of Carroll Creek , and Schley 's house stood at the northwest corner of Middle Alley and East Patrick Street into the 20th century . Schley 's settlers also founded a German Reformed Church ( today known as Evangelical Reformed Church , and part of the UCC ) . Probably the oldest house still standing in Frederick today is Schifferstadt , built in 1756 by German settler Joseph Brunner and now the Schifferstadt Architectural Museum . \n \n Schley 's group was among the many Pennsylvania Dutch ( ethnic Germans ) ( as well as Scots-Irish and French and later Irish ) who migrated south and westward in the late-18th century . Frederick was an important stop along the migration route that became known as the Great Wagon Road , which came down from Gettysburg , Pennsylvania and Emmitsburg , Maryland and continued south following the Great Appalachian Valley through Winchester and Roanoke , Virginia . Another important route continued along the Potomac River from near Frederick , to Hagerstown , where it split . One branch crossed the Potomac River near Martinsburg , West Virginia and continued", "qas": [ { "answers": [], "id": "qw_10505--Frederick,_Maryland.txt", "qid": "qw_10505", "question": "\"Who, at 95 years of age, supposedly waved the Union flag out of the window of her house in Frederick, Maryland while Stonewall Jackson's troops were passing, and is the subject of a 1864 poem: \"\"Shoot, if you must, this old gray head, But spare your country's flag,\"\" she said.\"\"?\"" } ] } ] }

{ "paragraphs": [ { "context": "Charles Henry `` Charlie '' Christian ( July 29 , 1916 – March 2 , 1942 ) was an American swing and jazz guitarist . \n \n Christian was an important early performer on the electric guitar , and a key figure in the development of bebop and cool jazz . He gained national exposure as a member of the Benny Goodman Sextet and Orchestra from August 1939 to June 1941 . His single-string technique , combined with amplification , helped bring the guitar out of the rhythm section and into the forefront as a solo instrument . John Hammond and George T. Simon called Christian the best improvisational talent of the swing era . In the liner notes to the 1972 Columbia album Solo Flight : The Genius of Charlie Christian , Gene Lees writes that , `` Many critics and musicians consider that Christian was one of the founding fathers of bebop , or if not that , at least a precursor to it . '' \n \n Christian 's influence reached beyond jazz and swing . In 1990 , he was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame under the early influence category . Christian was raised in Oklahoma City and was one of many musicians who jammed along the city 's `` Deep Deuce '' section on N.E . Second Street . In 2006 Oklahoma City renamed a street in its Bricktown entertainment district Charlie Christian Avenue . \n \n Early life \n \n Christian was born in Bonham , Texas , but his family moved to Oklahoma City , Oklahoma when he was a small child . His parents were musicians and he had two brothers , Edward , born in 1906 , and Clarence , born in 1911 . All three sons were taught music by their father , Clarence Henry Christian . Clarence Henry was struck blind by fever , and in order to support the family he and the boys would work as buskers , on what the Christians called `` busts . '' He would have them lead him into the better neighborhoods where they would perform for cash or goods . When Charles was old enough to go along , he first entertained by dancing . Later he learned guitar , inheriting his father 's instruments upon his death when Charles was 12 . \n \n He attended Douglass School in Oklahoma City , and was further encouraged in music by instructor Zelia N. Breaux . Charles wanted to play tenor saxophone in the school band , but she insisted he try trumpet instead . As he believed playing the trumpet would disfigure his lip , he quit to pursue his interest in baseball , at which he excelled . \n \n In a 1978 interview with Charlie Christian biographer Craig McKinney , Clarence Christian said that in the 1920s and '30s Edward Christian led a band in Oklahoma City as a pianist and had a shaky relationship with trumpeter James Simpson . Around 1931 , he took guitarist `` Bigfoot '' Ralph Hamilton and began secretly schooling the younger Charles on jazz . They taught him to solo on three songs , `` Rose Room '' , `` Tea for Two '' , and `` Sweet Georgia Brown '' . When the time was right they took him out to one of the many after-hours jam sessions along `` Deep Deuce '' , Northeast Second Street in Oklahoma City . \n \n `` Let Charles play one , '' they told Edward . `` Ah , nobody wants to hear them old blues , '' Edward replied . After some encouragement , he allowed Charles to play . `` What do you want to play ? '' he asked . All three songs were big in the early 1930s and Edward was surprised that Charles knew them . After two encores , Charles had played all three and `` Deep Deuce '' was in an uproar . He coolly dismissed himself from the jam session , and his mother had heard about it before he got home.Wayne Goins and Craig McKinney , A Biography of Charlie Christian : Jazz Guitar 's King of Swing , pp . 18-20 , 137 399 \n \n Charles fathered a daughter , Billie Jean Christian ( December 23 , 1932 – July 19 , 2004 ) by Margretta Lorraine Downey of Oklahoma City , Oklahoma . \n \n Charles soon was performing locally and on the road throughout the Midwest , as far away as North Dakota and Minnesota . By 1936 he was playing electric guitar and had become a regional attraction . He jammed with many of the big name performers traveling through Oklahoma City including Teddy Wilson and", "qas": [ { "answers": [], "id": "sfq_20648--Charlie_Christian.txt", "qid": "sfq_20648", "question": "Which instrument did Lionel Hampton introduce to jazz?" } ] } ] }

{ "paragraphs": [ { "context": "Mauritius ( ; ) , officially the Republic of Mauritius ( ) , is an island nation in the Indian Ocean about 2000 km off the southeast coast of the African continent . The country includes the island of Mauritius , Rodrigues [ 560 km east ] , and the outer islands ( Agaléga , St. Brandon and two disputed territories ) . The islands of Mauritius and Rodrigues ( 172 km southwest ) form part of the Mascarene Islands , along with nearby Réunion , a French overseas department . The area of the country is 2,040 km2 . The capital and largest city is Port Louis . \n \n The island of Mauritius was visited during the Middle Ages by the Arabs and then by the Portuguese , who named it Dina Arobi and Cirne , respectively . The island was uninhabited until the Dutch Republic established a colony in 1638 , with the Dutch naming the island after Prince Maurice van Nassau . The Dutch colony was abandoned in 1710 , and , five years later , the island became a French colony and was named Isle de France . Due to its strategic position , Mauritius was known as the `` star and key '' of the Indian Ocean . \n \n Mauritius became an important base on the trade routes from Europe to the East before the opening of the Suez Canal and was involved in the long power struggle between the French and the British . The French won the Battle of Grand Port , their only naval victory over the British during these wars , but they could not prevent the British from landing at Cap Malheureux three months later . They formally surrendered on the fifth day of the invasion , 3 December 1810 , on terms allowing settlers to keep their land and property , the use of the French language , and the law of France in criminal and civil matters . Under British rule , the island became the Empire 's main sugar-producing colony . In the 20th century , movements to improve labour laws and introduce political reforms began to be organized , a process that accelerated after World War II . The country became an independent state on 12 March 1968 , following the adoption of a new constitution . In 1992 , Mauritius became a republic within the Commonwealth of Nations . \n \n The sovereignty over the Chagos Archipelago is disputed between Mauritius and the United Kingdom ( UK ) . The UK excised the archipelago from Mauritian territory prior to Mauritian independence in 1965 . It gradually depopulated the archipelago 's indigenous population and leased its biggest island , Diego Garcia , to the United States . Mauritius also claims sovereignty over Tromelin Island from France . \n \n The people of Mauritius are multiethnic , multi-religious , multicultural and multilingual . The island 's government is closely modelled on the Westminster parliamentary system , and Mauritius is highly ranked for democracy and for economic and political freedom . Along with the other Mascarene Islands , Mauritius is known for its varied flora and fauna , with many species endemic to the island . The island is widely known as the only known home of the dodo , which , along with several other avian species , was made extinct by human activities relatively shortly after the island 's settlement . \n \n Etymology \n \n The first historical evidence of the existence of an island now known as Mauritius is on a map produced by the Italian cartographer Alberto Cantino in 1502 . From this , it appears that Mauritius was first named Dina Arobi during the Middle Ages by Arab sailors , the first people to visit the island . \n \n In 1507 Portuguese sailors visited the uninhabited island . The island appears with a Portuguese name Cirne on early Portuguese maps , probably from the name of a ship in the 1507 expedition . Another Portuguese sailor , Dom Pedro Mascarenhas , gave the name Mascarenes to the Archipelago . \n \n In 1598 a Dutch squadron under Admiral Wybrand van Warwyck landed at Grand Port and named the island Mauritius , in honour of Prince Maurice van Nassau , stadholder of the Dutch Republic . Later the island became a French colony and was renamed Isle de France . On 3 December 1810 the French surrendered the island during the Napoleonic Wars . Under British rule , the island 's name reverted to Mauritius . Mauritius is also commonly known as Maurice and Île Maurice in French , Moris in Mauritian Creole . \n \n History \n \n The island of Mauritius was uninhabited before its first recorded visit", "qas": [ { "answers": [ { "answer_start": 3018, "text": "dodo" } ], "id": "sfq_15270--Mauritius.txt", "qid": "sfq_15270", "question": "The island of Mauritius was home to which extinct bird?" } ] } ] }

{ "paragraphs": [ { "context": "Sacred mountains are central to certain religions and are the subjects of many legends . For many , the most symbolic aspect of a mountain is the peak because it is believed that it is closest to heaven or other religious worlds . Many religions have some sacred mountains - that either are or were considered holy ( such as Mount Olympus in Greek mythology ) or are related to famous events ( like Mount Sinai in Judaism and descendant religions ) . In some cases , the sacred mountain is purely mythical , like the Hara Berezaiti in Zoroastrianism . Volcanoes , such as Mount Etna in Italy , were also considered sacred . Mount Kailash is believed to be the abode of the Hindu deity Shiva . Mount Etna was believed to have been the home of Vulcan , the Roman god of fire . \n \n Ancient myths and practices \n \n Mount Olympus is the highest mountain peak in Greece . It was once regarded as the “ home of the Greek Gods/The Twelve Olympians of the Hellenistic World '' . It was also considered the site of the War of the Titans ( Titanomachy ) where Zeus and his siblings defeated the Titans . \n \n Mount Othrys is a mountain in Central Greece , which is believed to be the home of the Titans during the ten-year war with the Gods of Mount Olympus . \n \n Mount Ida , also known as Mountain of the Goddess , refers to two specific mountains : one in the Greek island of Crete and the other in Turkey ( formerly known as Asia Minor ) . \n \n Mount Ida is the highest mountain on the island of Crete is the sacred mountain of the Titaness Rhea , also known as the mother of the Greek Gods . It is also believed to be the cave where Greek God Zeus was born and raised . \n \n The other Mt . Ida is located in Northwestern Turkey alongside the ruins of Troy ( in reference to the Hellenistic Period ) . The mountain was dedicated to Cybele , the Phrygian ( modern-day Turkey ) version of Earth Mother . Cybele was the goddess of caverns and mountains . Some refer to her as the “ Great Mother ” or “ Mother of the Mountain ” . The mythic Trojan War is said to have taken place at Mount Ida and that the Gods gathered upon the mountaintop to observe the epic fight . Mount Ida in Turkey is also represented in many of the stories of Greek author Homer such as Iliad and Odyssey . \n \n Mount Athos , located in Greece , is also referred to as the Holy Mountain . It has great historical connections with religion and classical mythology . In religion it is believed that after the Ascension of the Lord , the Virgin Mary landed on the island and came upon a pagan temple . It was there that the pagan practitioners converted from paganism to Christianity . The Virgin Mary then blessed the land and claimed it her own . \n \n In Classic mythology , Mount Athos is named after the Thracian giant who battled Poseidon , God of the Sea , during the clash of the titans and Gods . It is also said that Greek historian was given the task of creating a canal through the mountain after the failed journey of Persian leader , Xerxes . Overtime , Alexander the Great has become associated with the mountain for his worldly powers . The myth states that Roman architect Dinocrates had wanted to carve Alexander the Great 's figure onto the top of the mountain in tribute to him . \n \n The ancient Inca displayed a connection with death and their mountains . It is well known by scholars that the Inca sensed a deep reservoir of spirituality along the mountain range . Situating their villages in the mountains , they felt these places acted as portal to the gods . Ritual child sacrifices called Capachochas were conducted annually , where the most precious gift that could be given ( innocent , blemishless , perfect human life ) would be sacrificed to the gods . Tremendous effort would be taken as the sacrificial victims would be paraded alive throughout the cities , with multiple festivals and feasts taking place . The final destination would be the tops of some of the highest mountains near their villages , leaving these sacrifices to freeze in the snow . These would take place during great times of distress , during times of famine , violent periods of war , and even during times of political shift . This", "qas": [ { "answers": [ { "answer_start": 325, "text": "mount olympus" } ], "id": "jp_4184--Sacred_mountains.txt", "qid": "jp_4184", "question": "What mountain was the home of the Greek gods?" } ] } ] }

{ "paragraphs": [ { "context": "Brigadoon is a musical with a book and lyrics by Alan Jay Lerner and music by Frederick Loewe . Songs from the musical such as `` Almost Like Being in Love '' have become standards . The story involves two American tourists who stumble upon Brigadoon , a mysterious Scottish village which appears for only one day every hundred years . Tommy , one of the tourists , falls in love with Fiona , a young woman from Brigadoon . \n \n The original production opened on Broadway in 1947 and ran for 581 performances . It starred David Brooks , Marion Bell , Pamela Britton , and Lee Sullivan . Brigadoon then received a West End production opening in 1949 that ran for 685 performances , and many revivals followed . A 1954 film version starred Gene Kelly and Cyd Charisse . A 1966 television version starred Robert Goulet and Peter Falk . \n \n Background \n \n Lyricist and book writer Alan Jay Lerner and composer Frederick Loewe had previously collaborated on three musicals ; the first , Life of the Party , closed during pre-Broadway tryouts , and the second and third , What 's Up ? and The Day Before Spring had met with moderate success.Bloom and Vlastnik , p. 40 Inspired by Rodgers and Hammerstein 's successful collaborations Oklahoma ! and Carousel , they created Brigadoon , about a magical village in the Scottish highlands.Kantor , Michael , and Maslon , Laurence . Broadway : The American Musical . New York : Bullfinch Press , 2004 , p. 205 . ISBN 0-8212-2905-2 Like Oklahoma ! and Carousel , Brigadoon included a serious love story as the main plot and a lighter romance as subplot . Thematically , the musical depicted the contrast between empty city life and the warmth and simplicity of the country , focusing on a theme of love transcending time.Suskin , pp . 103–107 Agnes de Mille , who had previously choreographed Oklahoma ! and Carousel , was hired as choreographer , and her work for Brigadoon incorporated elements of traditional Scottish folk dance ; her dances for the musical included a traditional sword dance , a chase scene , and a funeral dance . Though Lerner and Loewe originally took Brigadoon to producer Billy Rose , Cheryl Crawford was the producer who actually brought Brigadoon to Broadway . Lerner explained the change in producer by saying `` The contract which [ Billy Rose ] wished us to sign negated Abraham Lincoln 's Emancipation Proclamation that freed the slaves '' . Under Loewe 's guidance , Ted Royal received a sole orchestrator credit for his work on the original production . His atmospheric arrangements have been frequently used for the revivals . \n \n The New York Timess theatre critic George Jean Nathan wrote that Lerner 's book was based on a much older German story by Friedrich Gerstäcker , later translated by Charles Brandon Schaeffer , about the mythical village of Germelshausen that fell under a magic curse . However , Lerner denied that he had based the book on an older story , and , in an explanation published in The New York Times , stated that he did n't learn of the existence of the Germelshausen story until after he had completed the first draft of Brigadoon.Lerner , Alan . The Street Where I Live . W.W. Norton & Company , New York . 1978 , p. 26 Lerner said that in his subsequent research , he found many other legends of disappearing towns in various countries ' folklore , and he pronounced their similarities `` unconscious coincidence '' . \n \n Lerner 's name for his imaginary locale was probably based on a well-known Scottish landmark , the Brig o ' Doon ( Bridge of Doon ) . Other sources suggest that the fictional village 's name was constructed from the Celtic word `` briga '' , which means `` town '' ( such as in the old city names of Segobriga and Brigantium ) and the Scottish Gaelic `` dùn '' , which means a fort . The name may also be a reference to the Celtic goddess Brigid . However the simplest explanation remains the most likely . \n \n Synopsis \n \n ; Act I \n New Yorkers Tommy Albright and Jeff Douglas have traveled to the Scottish Highlands on a game-hunting vacation , but they get lost on their first night out . They begin to hear music ( `` Brigadoon '' ) coming from a nearby village that does not appear on their map of the area . They head over there to get directions back to their inn , and find a fair in progress ( `` McConnachy Square '' ) ,", "qas": [ { "answers": [ { "answer_start": 0, "text": "brigadoon" } ], "id": "dpql_1112--Brigadoon.txt", "qid": "dpql_1112", "question": "Which Scottish village appears for only one day every one hundred years?" } ] } ] }

{ "paragraphs": [ { "context": "Australia ( , , ) , officially the Commonwealth of Australia , is a country comprising the mainland of the Australian continent , the island of Tasmania , and numerous smaller islands . It is the world 's sixth-largest country by total area . Neighbouring countries include Papua New Guinea , Indonesia and East Timor to the north ; the Solomon Islands and Vanuatu to the north-east ; and New Zealand to the south-east . \n \n For about 50,000 years before the first British settlement in the late 18th century , Australia was inhabited by indigenous Australians , \n who spoke languages grouped into roughly 250 language groups . After the European discovery of the continent by Dutch explorers in 1606 , Australia 's eastern half was claimed by Great Britain in 1770 and initially settled through penal transportation to the colony of New South Wales from 26 January 1788 . The population grew steadily in subsequent decades ; the continent was explored and an additional five self-governing crown colonies were established . On 1 January 1901 , the six colonies federated , forming the Commonwealth of Australia . Since federation , Australia has maintained a stable liberal democratic political system that functions as a federal parliamentary constitutional monarchy comprising six states and several territories . The population of 24 million is highly urbanised and heavily concentrated in the eastern states and on the coast . \n \n Australia is a developed country and one of the wealthiest in the world , with the world 's 12th-largest economy . In 2014 Australia had the world 's fifth-highest per capita income . Australia 's military expenditure is the world 's 13th-largest . With the second-highest human development index globally , Australia ranks highly in many international comparisons of national performance , such as quality of life , health , education , economic freedom , and the protection of civil liberties and political rights . Australia is a member of the United Nations , G20 , Commonwealth of Nations , ANZUS , Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development ( OECD ) , World Trade Organization , Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation , and the Pacific Islands Forum . \n \n Name \n \n The name Australia ( pronounced in Australian English ) is derived from the Latin Terra Australis ( `` southern land '' ) a name used for putative lands in the southern hemisphere since ancient times . The earliest recorded use of the word Australia in English was in 1625 in `` A note of Australia del Espíritu Santo , written by Sir Richard Hakluyt '' , published by Samuel Purchas in Hakluytus Posthumus , a corruption of the original Spanish name `` Austrialia del Espíritu Santo '' ( Southern Land of the Holy Spirit ) for an island in Vanuatu . The Dutch adjectival form Australische was used in a Dutch book in Batavia ( Jakarta ) in 1638 , to refer to the newly discovered lands to the south . \n The first time that the name Australia appears to have been officially used was in a despatch to Lord Bathurst of 4 April 1817 in which Governor Lachlan Macquarie acknowledges the receipt of Matthew Flinders ' charts of Australia . On 12 December 1817 , Macquarie recommended to the Colonial Office that it be formally adopted . In 1824 , the Admiralty agreed that the continent should be known officially as Australia . \n \n History \n \n Prehistory \n \n Human habitation of the Australian continent is estimated to have begun between 42,000 and 48,000 years ago , possibly with the migration of people by land bridges and short sea-crossings from what is now Southeast Asia . These first inhabitants may have been ancestors of modern Indigenous Australians . At the time of European settlement in the late 18th century , most Indigenous Australians were hunter-gatherers , with a complex oral culture and spiritual values based on reverence for the land and a belief in the Dreamtime . The Torres Strait Islanders , ethnically Melanesian , were originally horticulturists and hunter-gatherers . The northern coasts and waters of Australia were visited sporadically by fishermen from Maritime Southeast Asia . \n \n European arrival \n \n The first recorded European sighting of the Australian mainland , and the first recorded European landfall on the Australian continent , are attributed to the Dutch navigator Willem Janszoon . He sighted the coast of Cape York Peninsula in early 1606 , and made landfall on 26 February at the Pennefather River near the modern town of Weipa on Cape York.Davison , Hirst and Macintyre , p. 233 . The Dutch charted the whole of the western and northern coastlines and named the island continent `` New Holland '' during the 17th", "qas": [ { "answers": [ { "answer_start": 274, "text": "papua new guinea" } ], "id": "jp_1472--Australia.txt", "qid": "jp_1472", "question": "What country is geographically closest to Australia?" } ] } ] }

{ "paragraphs": [ { "context": "A fighter-bomber is a fighter aircraft that has been modified , or used primarily , as a light bomber or attack aircraft . It differs from bomber and attack aircraft primarily in its origins , as a fighter that has been adapted into other roles , whereas bombers and attack aircraft are developed specifically for bombing and attack roles . \n \n Although still used , the term fighter-bomber has less significance since the introduction of rockets and guided missiles into aerial warfare . Modern aircraft with similar duties are now typically called multirole combat aircraft or strike fighters . \n \n Development \n \n Prior to World War II , general limitations in available engine and aeronautical technology required that each proposed military aircraft have its design tailored to a specific prescribed role . Engine power grew dramatically during the early period of the war , roughly doubling between 1939 and 1943 . The Bristol Blenheim , a typical light bomber of the opening stages of the war , was originally designed in 1934 as a fast civil transport to meet a challenge by Lord Rothermere , owner of the Daily Mail . It had two Bristol Mercury XV radial engines of 920 hp each , a crew of three , and its payload was just 1,200 lbs of bombs . The Blenheim suffered disastrous losses over France in 1939 when it encountered Messerschmitt Bf 109s , and light bombers were quickly withdrawn . \n \n In contrast , the Vought F4U Corsair fighter — which entered service in December 1942 — had in common with its eventual U.S. Navy stablemate , the Grumman F6F Hellcat and the massive , seven-ton USAAF Republic P-47 Thunderbolt — a single Pratt & Whitney R-2800 Double Wasp radial engine of 2,000 hp in a much smaller , simpler and less expensive single-seat aircraft , and was the first aircraft design to ever fly with the Double Wasp engine in May 1940 . With less airframe and crew to lift , the Corsair 's ordnance load was either four High Velocity Aircraft Rockets or 2,000 lbs of bombs ; a later version could carry eight rockets or 4,000 lbs of bombs . The massive , powerful 18-cylinder Double Wasp engine weighed almost a ton—half as much again as the V12 Rolls-Royce Merlin and twice as much as the 9-cylinder Bristol Mercury that powered some heavy fighters . \n \n Increased engine power meant that many existing fighter designs could carry useful bomb loads , and adapt to the fighter-bomber role . Notable examples include the Focke-Wulf Fw 190 , Hawker Typhoon and Republic P-47 Thunderbolt . Various bombing tactics and techniques could also be used : some designs were intended for high-level bombing , others for low-level semi-horizontal bombing , or even for low-level steep dive bombing as exemplified by the Blackburn Skua and North American A-36 Apache . \n \n Larger twin-engined aircraft were also used in the fighter-bomber role , especially where longer ranges were needed for naval strikes . Examples include the Lockheed P-38 Lightning , the Bristol Beaufighter ( developed from a torpedo bomber ) , and de Havilland Mosquito ( developed from an unarmed fast bomber ) . The Beaufighter MkV had a Boulton-Paul turret with four 0.303 in ( 7.7 mm ) machine guns mounted aft of the cockpit but only two were built . Bristol 's Blenheim was even pushed into service as a fighter during the Battle of Britain but it was not fast enough . Equipped with an early Airborne Interception ( AI ) radar set , however , it proved to be an effective night fighter . \n \n First World War \n \n The first single seat fighters to drop bombs were on the Western Front , when fighter patrols were issued with bombs and ordered to drop them at random if they met no German fighters . The Sopwith Camel , the most successful Allied aircraft of the First World War with 1,294 enemy aircraft downed , was losing its edge by 1918 , especially over 12,000 ft. During the final German offensive in March 1918 , it dropped 25 lb Cooper bombs on advancing columns : whilst puny by later standards , the four fragmentation bombs carried by a Camel could cause serious injuries to exposed troops . Pilot casualties were also high . The Royal Aircraft Factory S.E.5 . was used in the same role . \n \n The Royal Flying Corps received the first purpose-built fighter-bomber just as the war was ending . It was not called a fighter bomber at the time , but a Trench Fighter as that was what it was designed to attack . The Sopwith Salamander was based on the Sopwith Snipe fighter", "qas": [ { "answers": [ { "answer_start": 3034, "text": "de havilland" } ], "id": "sfq_4793--Fighter-bomber.txt", "qid": "sfq_4793", "question": "In WW2 which company manufactured the Mosquito fighter-bomber?" } ] } ] }

{ "paragraphs": [ { "context": "Reynard ( ; ; ; ) is the main character in a literary cycle of allegorical Dutch , English , French and German fables . Those stories are largely concerned with Reynard , an anthropomorphic red fox and trickster figure . His adventures usually involve him deceiving other anthropomorphic animals for his own advantage or trying to avoid retaliations from them . His main enemy and victim across the cycle is his uncle , the wolf Isengrim ( or Ysengrim ) . While the character of Reynard appears in later works , the core stories were written during the Middle Ages by multiple authors and are often seen as parodies of medieval literature such as courtly love stories and chansons de geste , as well as a satire of political and religious institutions . \n \n Etymology of the name \n \n Theories about the origin of the name Reynard are : \n * from the Germanic man 's name Reginhard , which came from 'regin ' = `` the divine powers of the old Germanic religion '' and `` hard '' : `` made hard by the gods '' , but with the disuse of the old Germanic religion was later likely interpreted as `` rain-hard '' meaning `` staying steady under a rain of blows from weapons in battle '' or similar . \n * from the Germanic man 's name Reginhard ( later condensed to Reinhard ) , which comes from 'regin ' `` counsel '' and 'harti ' \n `` strong '' , denoting someone who is wise , clever , or resourceful . \n \n The traditional French word for `` fox '' was goupil from Latin vulpecula . Because of the popularity of the Reynard stories , renard became the standard French word for `` fox '' and goupil is now dialectal or archaic . \n \n In medieval European folklore and literature \n \n The figure of Reynard is thought to have originated in Lorraine folklore from where it spread to France , the Low Countries , and Germany . An extensive treatment of the character is the Old French Le Roman de Renart written by \n Pierre de Saint-Cloud around 1170 , which sets the typical setting . Reynard has been summoned to the court of king Noble , or Leo , the lion , to answer charges brought against him by Isengrim the wolf . Other anthropomorphic animals , including Bruin the bear , Baldwin the ass , Tibert ( Tybalt ) the cat , all attempt one stratagem or another . The stories typically involve satire whose usual butts are the aristocracy and the clergy , making Reynard a peasant-hero character . The story of the preaching fox found in the Reynard literature was used in church art by the Catholic Church as propaganda against the Lollards . Reynard 's principal castle , Maupertuis , is available to him whenever he needs to hide away from his enemies . Some of the tales feature Reynard 's funeral , where his enemies gather to deliver maudlin elegies full of insincere piety , and which feature Reynard 's posthumous revenge . Reynard 's wife Hermeline appears in the stories , but plays little active role , although in some versions she remarries when Reynard is thought dead , thereby becoming one of the people he plans revenge upon . Isengrim ( alternate French spelling : Ysengrin ) is Reynard 's most frequent antagonist and foil , and generally ends up outwitted , though he occasionally gets revenge . \n \n Ysengrimus \n \n Reynard appears first in the medieval Latin poem Ysengrimus , a long Latin mock-epic written c. 1148-1153 by the poet Nivardus in Ghent , that collects a great store of Reynard 's adventures . He also puts in an early appearance in a number of Latin sequences by the preacher Odo of Cheriton . Both of these early sources seem to draw on a pre-existing store of popular culture featuring the character . \n \n Roman de Renart \n \n The first `` branch '' ( or chapter ) of the Roman de Renart appears in 1174 , written by Pierre de St . Cloud , although in all French editions it is designated as `` Branch II '' . The same author wrote a sequel in 1179—called `` Branch I '' —but from that date onwards , many other French authors composed their own adventures for Renart li goupil ( `` the fox '' ) . There is also the text Reinhard Fuchs by Heinrich der Glïchezäre , dated to 1180 . \n \n Pierre de St . Cloud opens his work on the fox by situating it within the larger tradition of epic poetry , the fabliaux", "qas": [ { "answers": [], "id": "odql_4179--Reynard.txt", "qid": "odql_4179", "question": "In the 13th century French tales about 'Reynard the Fox', what is the name of the cockerel?" } ] } ] }

{ "paragraphs": [ { "context": "The Royal Air Force ( RAF ) is the United Kingdom 's aerial warfare force . Formed towards the end of the First World War on 1 April 1918 , it is the oldest independent air force in the world . Following victory over the Central Powers in 1918 the RAF emerged as , at the time , the largest air force in the world . Since its formation , the RAF has taken a significant role in British military history , in particular , playing a large part in the Second World War where it fought its most famous campaign , the Battle of Britain . \n \n The RAF 's mission is to support the objectives of the British Ministry of Defence ( MoD ) , which are to `` provide the capabilities needed : to ensure the security and defence of the United Kingdom and overseas territories , including against terrorism ; to support the Government ’ s foreign policy objectives particularly in promoting international peace and security . '' The RAF describe its mission statement as `` ... [ to provide ] An agile , adaptable and capable Air Force that , person for person , is second to none , and that makes a decisive air power contribution in support of the UK Defence Mission . '' The mission statement is supported by the RAF 's definition of air power , which guides its strategy . Air power is defined as `` the ability to project power from the air and space to influence the behaviour of people or the course of events . '' \n \n Today the Royal Air Force maintains an operational fleet of various types of aircraft , described by the RAF as being `` leading-edge '' in terms of technology . This largely consists of fixed-wing aircraft , including : fighter and strike aircraft , airborne early warning and control aircraft , ISTAR and SIGINT aircraft , aerial refueling aircraft and strategic and tactical transport aircraft . The majority of the RAF 's rotary-wing aircraft form part of the tri-service Joint Helicopter Command in support of ground forces . Most of the RAF 's aircraft and personnel are based in the UK , with many others serving on operations ( principally Afghanistan ) or at long-established overseas bases ( Ascension Island , Cyprus , Gibraltar , and the Falkland Islands ) . Although the RAF is the principal British air power arm , the Royal Navy 's Fleet Air Arm and the British Army 's Army Air Corps also deliver air power which is integrated into the maritime , littoral and land environments . \n \n History \n \n Origins \n \n While the British were not the first to make use of heavier-than-air military aircraft , the RAF is the world 's oldest independent air force : that is , the first air force to become independent of army or navy control . It was founded on 1 April 1918 , with headquarters located in the former Hotel Cecil , during the First World War , by the amalgamation of the Royal Flying Corps ( RFC ) and the Royal Naval Air Service ( RNAS ) . At that time it was the largest air force in the world . After the war , the service was drastically cut and its inter-war years were relatively quiet , with the RAF taking responsibility for the control of Iraq and executing a number of minor actions in other parts of the British Empire . The RAF 's naval aviation branch , the Fleet Air Arm , was founded in 1924 but handed over to Admiralty control on 24 May 1939 . \n \n The RAF developed the doctrine of strategic bombing which led to the construction of long-range bombers and became its main bombing strategy in the Second World War . \n \n Second World War \n \n The RAF underwent rapid expansion prior to and during the Second World War . Under the British Commonwealth Air Training Plan of December 1939 , the air forces of British Commonwealth countries trained and formed `` Article XV squadrons '' for service with RAF formations . Many individual personnel from these countries , and exiles from occupied Europe , also served with RAF squadrons . By the end of the war the Royal Canadian Air Force had contributed more than 30 squadrons to serve in RAF formations , similarly , approximately a quarter of Bomber Command 's personnel were Canadian . Additionally , the Royal Australian Air Force represented around nine percent of all RAF personnel who served in the European and Mediterranean theaters . \n \n In the Battle of Britain in 1940 , the RAF ( supplemented by 2 Fleet Air", "qas": [ { "answers": [], "id": "sfq_8530--Royal_Air_Force.txt", "qid": "sfq_8530", "question": "In the RAF, what is the rank immediately above Squadron Leader?" } ] } ] }

{ "paragraphs": [ { "context": "AFC Bournemouth is a professional association football club based in Bournemouth , Dorset , that plays in the Premier League , the top tier of the English football league system . Formed in 1890 as Boscombe St. John 's Institute F.C. , the club was reformed in 1899 as Boscombe F.C .. They changed to Bournemouth and Boscombe Athletic F.C . in 1923 , before settling on their current name in 1972 . Nicknamed The Cherries , since 1910 Bournemouth have played their home games at Dean Court . Their home colours are red and black striped shirts , with black shorts and socks . \n \n AFC Bournemouth have won the second and third tiers of English football , and were twice champions of the fourth tier . They have also won the Southern League , the Football League Trophy , and the Football League Third Division South Cup . \n \n Currently managed by Eddie Howe , the 2015–16 season was AFC Bournemouth 's first ever in England 's top division . \n \n History \n \n Boscombe F.C . \n \n Although the exact date of the club 's foundation is not known , there is proof that it was formed in the autumn of 1899 out of the remains of the older Boscombe St. John 's Lads ' Institute F.C . The club was originally known as Boscombe F.C .. The first president was Mr. J. C. Nutt . \n \n In their first season , 1899–1900 , Boscombe F.C . competed in the Bournemouth and District Junior League . They also played in the Hants Junior Cup . During the first two seasons , they played on a football pitch in Castlemain Avenue , Pokesdown . From their third season , the team played on a pitch in King 's Park . In the 1905–06 season , Boscombe F.C . graduated to senior amateur football . \n \n In 1910 , the club was granted a long lease upon some wasteland next to Kings Park as the clubs football ground by President J. E. Cooper-Dean . With their own ground , named Dean Court after the benefactor , the club continued to thrive and dominated the local football scene . Also in 1910 , the club signed their first professional football player B. Penton . \n \n Around about this time , the club obtained their nickname `` The Cherries , '' with two foremost tales on how the club gained the nickname . First , because of the cherry-red striped shirts that the team played in and , perhaps less plausible , because Dean Court was built adjacent to the Cooper-Dean estate , which , it is erroneously assumed , encompassed numerous cherry orchards . \n \n For the first time , during the 1913–14 season , the club competed in the FA Cup . The club 's progress , however , was halted in 1914 with the outbreak of World War I , and Boscombe F.C . returned to the Hampshire League . \n \n In 1920 , the Third Division was formed and Boscombe were promoted to the Southern League , finding moderate success . \n \n Bournemouth and Boscombe Athletic Football Club \n \n To make the club more representative of the district , the name was changed to Bournemouth and Boscombe Athletic Football Club in 1923 . During the same year , the club was elected to the Football League . The first league match was in Swindon on 25 August 1923 , which Bournemouth lost 3–1 . The first league game at Dean Court was also against Swindon , where Bournemouth gained their first league point after a 0–0 draw . \n \n Initially , Bournemouth struggled in the Football League but eventually established themselves as a Third Division club . Bournemouth and Boscombe Athletic Football Club remain on the records as the longest continuous members of the Third Division . \n \n As a league club , Bournemouth had to wait until after the Second World War before winning their first trophy . This was accomplished as they beat Walsall in the Third Division ( South ) Cup in the final at Stamford Bridge . \n \n AFC Bournemouth \n \n Under manager John Bond , the club adopted the more streamlined AFC Bournemouth name in 1972 . At the same time , the club adopted a new badge as a symbol of the club 's progress . The stripes in the background were based on the club shirt , while in the foreground is the profile of a player heading the ball , in honour of Dickie Dowsett , a prolific scorer for the club in the 1950s and 1960s . \n \n Their red and black", "qas": [ { "answers": [ { "answer_start": 0, "text": "afc bournemouth" } ], "id": "dpql_6045--A.F.C._Bournemouth.txt", "qid": "dpql_6045", "question": "What is the nickname of Football Premiership club Bournemouth?" } ] } ] }

{ "paragraphs": [ { "context": "Events \n \n Below , the events of World War II have the `` WWII '' prefix . \n \n January \n \n * January 4 – WWII : Axis powers : Luftwaffe General Hermann Göring assumes control of most war industries in Germany . \n * January 6 – WWII : Winter War : General Semyon Timoshenko takes command of all Soviet forces . \n * January 8 \n * * WWII : Winter War – Battle of Suomussalmi : The Soviet 44th Rifle Division is destroyed by Finnish forces . \n * * WWII : Food rationing begins in Great Britain . \n * January 9 – WWII ; British submarine is sunk . \n * January 10 – WWII : Mechelen incident : A German plane carrying secret plans for the invasion of western Europe makes a forced landing in Belgium , leading to mobilization of defense forces in the Low Countries . \n * January 19 – The Three Stooges short subject comedy film You Nazty Spy ! is released , the first Hollywood parody of Adolf Hitler and the Nazis , with Moe Howard portraying `` Moe Hailstone '' as the Hitler-parody lead . \n * January 26 – Brisbane , Australia swelters through its hottest day ever , 43.2 degrees Celsius ( 109.76 Fahrenheit ) . \n * January 27 – WWII : A peace resolution introduced in the Parliament of South Africa is defeated 81–59 . \n * January 29 – Three gasoline-powered trains carrying factory workers crash and explode while approaching Ajikawaguchi Station , Yumesaki Line ( Nishinari Line ) , Osaka , Japan , killing at least 181 people and injuring at least 92 . \n \n February \n \n * February 1 – WWII : Winter War – Soviet forces launch a major assault on Finnish troops occupying the Karelian Isthmus . \n * February 2 – Vsevolod Meyerhold is executed in the Soviet Union on charges of treason and espionage . He is cleared of all charges 15 years later in the first waves of de-Stalinization \n * February 7 – RKO release Walt Disney 's second full-length animated film , Pinocchio . \n * February 9 – Mae West & W. C. Fields join comedic forces for My Little Chickadee with tremendous success . The film becomes one of the highest grossing of the year . \n * February 10 – Tom and Jerry make their debut in Puss Gets the Boot . However it is not until 1941 that their current names are adopted . \n * February 16 – WWII : Altmark Incident : The British destroyer pursues the German tanker Altmark into the neutral waters of Jøssingfjord in southwestern Norway and frees the 290 British seamen held aboard . \n * February 22 – In Tibet , province of Ando , 4-year-old Tenzin Gyatso is proclaimed the tulku ( rebirth ) of the thirteenth Dalai Lama . \n * February 27 – Martin Kamen and Sam Ruben discover carbon-14 . \n * February 29 – Hattie McDaniel becomes the first African-American to win an Academy Award . \n \n March \n \n * March 2 – Cartoon character Elmer Fudd makes his debut in the animated short Elmer 's Candid Camera . \n * March 3 – In Luleå , Sweden , a time bomb destroys the office of Swedish communist newspaper Norrskensflamman . \n * March 5 – Katyn massacre : Members of the Soviet Politburo ( Joseph Stalin , Vyacheslav Molotov , Lazar Kaganovich , Mikhail Kalinin , Kliment Voroshilov and Lavrentiy Beria ) sign an order , prepared by Beria , for the execution of 25,700 Polish intelligentsia , including 14,700 Polish POWs . \n * March 11 – Ed Ricketts , John Steinbeck and six others leave Monterey , California for the Gulf of California on a collecting expedition . \n * March 12 – The Soviet Union and Finland sign a peace treaty in Moscow ending the Winter War ; Finns , along with the world at large , are shocked by the harsh terms . \n * March 18 – WWII : Axis powers : Adolf Hitler and Benito Mussolini meet at Brenner Pass in the Alps . After being informed by Hitler that the Germans are ready to attack in the west , Mussolini agrees to bring Italy into the war in due course . \n * March 21 – Édouard Daladier resigns as prime minister of France ; Paul Reynaud succeeds him . \n * March 23 \n * * Pakistan Movement : The Lahore Resolution , calling for greater autonomy for what will become Pakistan in British India , is drawn up by the All-India Muslim League during a three-day general session at Iqbal Park ,", "qas": [ { "answers": [], "id": "qb_1871--1940.txt", "qid": "qb_1871", "question": "In June 1940, who was officially recognised by Britain as the ‘Leader of all free Frenchmen, wherever they may be’?" } ] } ] }

{ "paragraphs": [ { "context": "Ossobuco is a Milanese speciality of cross-cut veal shanks braised with vegetables , white wine and broth . It is often garnished with gremolata and traditionally served with risotto alla milanese . \n \n There are two types of ossobuco : a modern version that has tomatoes and the original version which does not . The older version , ossobuco in bianco , is flavoured with cinnamon , bay leaf and gremolata . The modern and more popular recipe includes tomatoes , carrots , celery and onions ; gremolata is optional . While veal is the traditional meat used for Ossobuco other meats such as pork may be used . \n \n Name \n \n Ossobuco or osso buco is Italian for `` bone with a hole '' ( osso bone , buco hole ) , a reference to the marrow hole at the centre of the cross-cut veal shank . In the local Western Lombard Milanese dialect , this dish 's name is oss bus . \n \n Preparation \n \n This dish 's primary ingredient , veal shank , is common , relatively cheap and flavorful . Although tough , braising makes it tender . The cut traditionally used for this dish comes from the top of the shin which has a higher proportion of bone to meat than other meaty cuts of veal . The shank is then cross-cut into sections about 3 cm thick . \n \n Although recipes vary , most start by browning the veal shanks in butter after dredging them in flour , while others recommend vegetable oil or lard . The braising liquid is usually a combination of white wine and meat broth flavored with vegetables . \n \n Accompaniments \n \n Risotto alla milanese is the traditional accompaniment to ossobuco in bianco , making for a one-dish meal . Ossobuco ( especially the tomato-based version ) is also eaten with polenta or mashed potatoes . [ http : //www.cliffordawright.com/caw/recipes/display/bycategory.php/recipe_id/726/id/38/ Clifford A. Wright on ossobuco ] Outside Milan , it is sometimes served with pasta .", "qas": [ { "answers": [ { "answer_start": 47, "text": "veal" } ], "id": "sfq_9944--Ossobuco.txt", "qid": "sfq_9944", "question": "Traditionally, what kind of meat is used in the dish Osso Bucco?" } ] } ] }

{ "paragraphs": [ { "context": "The Celtic Football Club is a professional football club based in Glasgow , Scotland , that plays in the Scottish Premiership . The club was founded in 1887 with the purpose of alleviating poverty in the immigrant Irish population in the East End of Glasgow . They played their first match in May 1888 , a friendly match against Rangers which Celtic won 5–2 . Celtic established itself within Scottish football , winning six successive league titles during the first decade of the 20th century . The club enjoyed their greatest successes during the 1960s and 70s under Jock Stein when they won nine consecutive league titles and the European Cup . \n \n Celtic have won the Scottish League Championship on 47 occasions , most recently in the 2015–16 season , the Scottish Cup 36 times and the Scottish League Cup 15 times . \n The club 's greatest season was 1966–67 , when Celtic became the first British team to win the European Cup , also winning the Scottish League Championship , the Scottish Cup , the Scottish League Cup , and the Glasgow Cup . Celtic also reached the 1970 European Cup Final , and the 2003 UEFA Cup Final . \n \n Celtic have a long-standing fierce rivalry with Rangers , and the clubs have become known as the Old Firm . The two clubs have dominated Scottish football , winning 101 league titles between them since the inception of the Scottish League in 1890 . \n \n The club 's fanbase was estimated in 2003 as being around nine million worldwide , and there are in excess of 160 Celtic supporters clubs in over 20 countries . An estimated 80,000 fans travelled to Seville for the 2003 UEFA Cup Final . \n \n History \n \n Celtic Football Club was formally constituted at a meeting in St. Mary 's church hall in East Rose Street ( now Forbes Street ) , Calton , Glasgow , by Irish Marist Brother Walfrid on 6 November 1887 , with the purpose of alleviating poverty in the East End of Glasgow by raising money for the charity Walfrid had instituted , the Poor Children 's Dinner Table . Walfrid 's move to establish the club as a means of fund-raising was largely inspired by the example of Hibernian , which was formed out of the immigrant Irish population a few years earlier in Edinburgh . Walfrid 's own suggestion of the name Celtic ( pronounced Seltik ) was intended to reflect the club 's Irish and Scottish roots and was adopted at the same meeting . The club has the official nickname , The Bhoys . However , according to the Celtic press office , the newly established club was known to many as `` the bold boys '' . A postcard from the early 20th century that pictured the team and read `` The Bould Bhoys '' is the first known example of the unique spelling . The extra h imitates the spelling system of Gaelic , wherein the letter b is often accompanied by the letter h . \n \n On 28 May 1888 , Celtic played their first official match against Rangers and won 5–2 in what was described as a `` friendly encounter '' . Neil McCallum scored Celtic 's first ever goal . Celtic 's first kit consisted of a white shirt with a green collar , black shorts , and emerald green socks . The original club crest was a simple green cross on a red oval background . In 1889 Celtic reached the final of the Scottish Cup , this was their first season in the competition , but lost 2–1 in the final . Celtic again reached the final of the Scottish Cup in 1892 , but this time were victorious after defeating Queen 's Park 5–1 in the final , the club 's first major honour . Several months later the club moved to its new ground , Celtic Park , and in the following season won the Scottish League Championship for the first ever time . In 1895 , Celtic set the League record for the highest home score when they beat Dundee 11–0 . \n \n In 1897 , the club became a Private limited company and Willie Maley was appointed as the first 'secretary-manager ' . Between 1905 and 1910 , Celtic won the Scottish League Championship six times in a row . In both 1907 and 1908 Celtic also won the Scottish Cup , this was the first time a Scottish club had ever won the Double . During World War I , Celtic won the league four times in a row , including 62 matches unbeaten between November 1915 and April 1917 . The mid-1920s", "qas": [ { "answers": [], "id": "sfq_23015--Celtic_F.C..txt", "qid": "sfq_23015", "question": "1985 was the last year that the Scottish football league title was not won by either Celtic or Rangers, which team won it that year?" } ] } ] }

{ "paragraphs": [ { "context": "Reginald Maudling ( 7 March 1917 – 14 February 1979 ) was a British politician who held several Cabinet posts , including Chancellor of the Exchequer . He had been spoken of as a prospective Conservative leader since 1955 , and was twice seriously considered for the post ; he was Edward Heath 's chief rival in 1965 . He also held directorships in several British financial firms . \n \n As Home Secretary , he was responsible for the British Government 's Northern Ireland policy during the period that included Bloody Sunday in 1972 . Shortly thereafter , he left office due to an unrelated scandal in one of the companies of which he was director . He was a member of the Steering Committee of the Bilderberg Group . \n \n Maudling may be remembered in modern times for his constant ridicule on Monty Python 's Flying Circus . \n \n Early life \n \n Reginald Maudling was born in Woodside Park , North Finchley , and was named after his father , Reginald George Maudling , an actuary , who contracted to do actuarial and financial calculations as the Commercial Calculating Company Ltd . The family moved to Bexhill , to escape German air raids ; he won scholarships to the Merchant Taylors ' School and Merton College , Oxford . At Oxford , Maudling stayed out of undergraduate politics and studied the works of Hegel ; he was to formulate his conclusions later as the inseparability of economic and political freedom : `` the purpose of State control and the guiding principle of its application is the achievement of true freedom '' . He obtained his degree in Classics with first class honours . \n \n Political career \n \n Shortly after graduating , Maudling set up a meeting with Harold Nicolson to discuss whether it would be better , as a moderate conservative , to join the Conservative Party or National Labour ; Nicolson advised him to wait . Maudling was called to the Bar at the Middle Temple in 1940 . However , he did not practise as a barrister , having volunteered for service in the Royal Air Force in World War II . Poor eyesight led him to desk jobs in the RAF intelligence branch where he rose—as a `` Wingless Wonder '' , as officers who were not qualified to wear pilot 's wings were called—to the rank of Flight Lieutenant ; he was then appointed Private Secretary to the Secretary of State for Air , Sir Archibald Sinclair . \n \n Parliamentary candidate \n \n Maudling wrote an essay on Conservative policy in November 1943 , recommending that the Conservatives neither imitate the Labour Party nor reflexively oppose all controls ; in the general election of July 1945 , he was selected as parliamentary candidate for Heston and Isleworth , a newly created constituency in the county of Middlesex , although there were four applicants and he had no ties to that constituency . In the subsequent Labour landslide Maudling was defeated like many others , although Heston and Isleworth had been expected to be a safe Conservative seat . After their defeat in the 1945 general election , the Conservative Party engaged in an extensive rethink of its policy . Maudling argued that the Party had depended excessively on the popularity of Winston Churchill and outdated economic slogans . \n \n In November 1945 , Maudling became the first staff member of the Conservative Parliamentary Secretariat , later the Conservative Research Department , where he was head of the Economic Section . He persuaded the party to accept much of the Labour government 's nationalisation programme and social services while cutting government spending . In March 1946 , Maudling was chosen as the prospective candidate for Barnet , close to his birthplace in Finchley , and began giving speeches there . Labour had unexpectedly won the seat in 1945 , but it was considered to be marginal . In 1950 , Maudling was elected as Member of Parliament with an absolute majority . \n \n Member of Parliament and Cabinet \n \n Following the 1951 election , Churchill made Maudling a junior Minister at the Ministry of Civil Aviation . However , his experience of preparing economic policy led to his speaking on behalf of the Treasury on the 1952 budget and thus to an appointment , later that year , as Economic Secretary to the Treasury . With his mentor Rab Butler as Chancellor of the Exchequer , Maudling worked to reduce taxes and controls in order to move from post-war austerity to affluence . When Anthony Eden took over as Prime Minister in 1955 , Maudling was promoted to head a department as Minister of Supply .", "qas": [ { "answers": [ { "answer_start": 0, "text": "reginald maudling" } ], "id": "sfq_7612--Reginald_Maudling.txt", "qid": "sfq_7612", "question": "\"Who left this message to James Callaghan in 1964 \"\"Good luck, old cock, sorry to leave it in such a mess\"\"?\"" } ] } ] }

{ "paragraphs": [ { "context": "Hillhead ( , ) [ http : //newsnetscotland.com/index.php/component/content/article/2999-list-of-railway-station-names.html List of railway station names in English , Scots and Gaelic – NewsNetScotland ] is a district of Glasgow , Scotland . Situated north of Kelvingrove Park and to the south of the River Kelvin , Hillhead is at the heart of Glasgow 's fashionable West End , with Byres Road forming the western border of the area , the other boundaries being Dumbarton Road to the south and the River Kelvin to the east and north . \n \n The land was the property of the Gibsons of Hillhead from 1702 until 1862 . Plots for housing development were made available by the Gibson family from the 1820s onwards . \n \n Hillhead was an independent Police Burgh from 1869 , but as Glasgow grew during the nineteenth century it was first swallowed up physically by the growing city , and then administratively in 1891 . \n \n The University of Glasgow is located in the area , having moved from its original site on the High Street to its current Gilmorehill location in 1870 . Consequently a great number of students live in the area . Many academics from the University live in the area along with BBC Scotland employees , actors , broadcasters , writers and many students from various universities and teaching hospitals , creating an economically and culturally diverse community . \n \n Other features of Hillhead include Ashton Lane , Western Baths , Hillhead High School , Glasgow Academy ( a private school ) , and the Kelvinbridge , which straddles the River Kelvin which used to form an eastern boundary between Hillhead and Glasgow , until Hillhead 's incorporation into the city . \n \n The area is served by Hillhead subway station and Kelvinbridge subway station on the Glasgow Subway system . The two stops on either side of those are Kelvinhall in Partick , and St George 's Cross in Woodlands . \n \n Byres Road is a commercially important district to the city of Glasgow , featuring many of the city 's most fashionable and popular independent boutiqes . \n \n Churches \n \n The neoclassical colonnaded Wellington Church is located on University Avenue , directly opposite the University . The church is a Category A listed building . \n \n Archives \n \n The archives about Hillhead are maintained by the Archives of the University of Glasgow ( GUAS ) .", "qas": [ { "answers": [ { "answer_start": 219, "text": "glasgow" } ], "id": "sfq_12606--Hillhead.txt", "qid": "sfq_12606", "question": "Cowcaddens and Hillhead are underground stations in which city?" } ] } ] }

{ "paragraphs": [ { "context": "The Kingdom of England was a sovereign state on the island of Great Britain from the 10th century—when it emerged from various Anglo-Saxon kingdoms—until 1707 , when it united with Scotland to form the Kingdom of Great Britain . \n \n In the early 11th century the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms , united by Æthelstan ( r. 927–939 ) , became part of the North Sea Empire of Cnut the Great , a personal union between England , Denmark and Norway . The Norman conquest of England in 1066 led to the transfer of the English capital city and chief royal residence from the Anglo-Saxon one at Winchester to Westminster , and the City of London quickly established itself as England 's largest and principal commercial centre . \n \n Histories of the kingdom of England from the Norman conquest of 1066 conventionally distinguish periods named after successive ruling dynasties : Norman 1066–1154 , Plantagenet 1154–1485 , Tudor 1485–1603 and Stuart 1603–1714 ( interrupted by the Interregnum of 1649–1660 ) . \n Dynastically , all English monarchs after 1066 ultimately claim descent from the Normans ; the distinction of the Plantagenets is merely conventional , beginning with Henry II ( reigned 1154-1189 ) as from that time , the Angevin kings became `` more English in nature '' ; the houses of Lancaster and York are both Plantagenet cadet branches , the Tudor dynasty claimed descent from Edward III via John Beaufort and James VI and I of the House of Stuart claimed descent from Henry VII via Margaret Tudor . \n \n The completion of the conquest of Wales by Edward I in 1284 put Wales under the control of the English crown . Edward III ( reigned 1327–1377 ) transformed the Kingdom of England into one of the most formidable military powers in Europe ; his reign also saw vital developments in legislation and government—in particular the evolution of the English parliament . From the 1340s the kings of England also laid claim to the crown of France , but after the Hundred Years ' War and the outbreak of the Wars of the Roses in 1455 , the English were no longer in any position to pursue their French claims and lost all their land on the continent , except for Calais . After the turmoils of the Wars of the Roses , the Tudor dynasty ruled during the English Renaissance and again extended English monarchical power beyond England proper , achieving the full union of England and the Principality of Wales in 1542 . Henry VIII oversaw the English Reformation , and his daughter Elizabeth I ( reigned 1558–1603 ) the Elizabethan Religious Settlement , meanwhile establishing England as a great power and laying the foundations of the British Empire by claiming possessions in the New World . \n \n From the accession of James I in 1603 , the Stuart dynasty ruled England in personal union with Scotland and Ireland . Under the Stuarts , the kingdom plunged into civil war , which culminated in the execution of Charles I in 1649 . The monarchy returned in 1660 , but the Civil War established the precedent that an English monarch can not govern without the consent of Parliament , although this concept became legally established only as part of the Glorious Revolution of 1688 . \n From this time the kingdom of England , as well as its successor state the United Kingdom , functioned in effect as a constitutional monarchy.The Constitution of the United Kingdom , with the reservation that it is `` uncodified '' , is taken to be based in the Bill of Rights 1689 . On 1 May 1707 , under the terms of the Acts of Union 1707 , the kingdoms of England and Scotland united to form the Kingdom of Great Britain . \n \n Name \n \n The Anglo-Saxons referred to themselves as the Engle or the Angelcynn , originally names of the Angles . They called their land Engla land , meaning `` land of the English '' , \n by Æthelweard Latinized Anglia , from an original Anglia vetus , the purported homeland of the Angles ( called Angulus by Bede ) . The name Engla land became England by haplology during the Middle English period ( Engle-land , Engelond ) . The Latin name was Anglia or Anglorum terra , the Old French and Anglo-Norman one Angleterre . By the 14th century , England was also used in reference to the entire island of Great Britain . \n \n The standard title for all monarchs from Æthelstan until the time of King John was ' ( `` King of the English '' ) . Canute the Great , a Dane , was the first king to call", "qas": [ { "answers": [ { "answer_start": 2903, "text": "charles i" } ], "id": "qw_246--Kingdom_of_England.txt", "qid": "qw_246", "question": "Who was the king of England who succeeded James I?" } ] } ] }

{ "paragraphs": [ { "context": "Swansea ( ; ) , officially known as the City and County of Swansea ( ' ) , is a coastal city and county in Wales . It is Wales ' second largest city after Cardiff and the twenty-fifth largest city in the UK . Swansea lies within the historic county boundaries of Glamorgan . Situated on the sandy South West Wales coast , the county area includes the Gower Peninsula and the Lliw uplands . According to its local council , the City and County of Swansea had a population of 241,300 in 2014 . The last official census stated that the city , metropolitan and urban areas combined concluded to be a total of 462,000 in 2011 , making it the second most populous local authority area in Wales after Cardiff . During its 19th-century industrial heyday , Swansea was a key centre of the copper industry , earning the nickname 'Copperopolis ' . Since 2011 , Swansea has started to expand into a larger region known as the Swansea Bay City Region . After combining with other councils , it now includes Tenby and other parts of West Wales , its population including these areas an estimated 685,051 . The chairman of the new region is Sir Terry Matthews . \n \n History \n \n Archaeological finds are mostly confined to the Gower Peninsula , and include items from the Stone Age , Bronze Age , and Iron Age . The Romans reached the area , as did the Norsemen . \n \n Swansea is thought to have developed as a Viking trading post . Its English name may be derived from Sveinn 's island ( Old Norse : Sveinsey ) – the reference to an island may refer to a bank at the mouth of the river Tawe , or an area of raised ground in marshes . An alternative explanation is that the name derives from the Norse name 'Sweyn ' and 'ey ' , which can mean inlet . This explanation supports the tradition that the city was founded by the Danish king Sweyn Forkbeard . The name is pronounced Swans-y ) , not Swan-sea . \n \n Abertawe , its Welsh name , meaning Mouth of the Tawe , first appears as Aper Tyui c. 1150 [ see Place-Names in Glamorgan , Gwynedd O . Pierce , p 182 . ] \n \n The earliest known form of the modern name is Sweynesse , which was used in the first charter granted sometime between 1158 and 1184 by William de Newburgh , 3rd Earl of Warwick . The charter gave Swansea the status of a borough , granting the townsmen , called burgesses certain rights to develop the area . A second charter was granted in 1215 by King John . In this charter , the name appears as Sweyneshe . The town seal which is believed to date from this period names the town as Sweyse . \n \n Following the Norman Conquest , a marcher lordship was created under the title of Gower . It included land around Swansea Bay as far as the River Tawe , the manor of Kilvey beyond the Tawe , and the peninsula itself . Swansea was designated chief town of the lordship and received a borough charter some time between 1158 and 1184 ( and a more elaborate one in 1304 ) . \n \n Industrial Revolution \n \n The port of Swansea initially traded in wine , hides , wool , cloth and later in coal . At the beginning of the Industrial Revolution , the combination of port , local coal , and trading links with the West Country , Cornwall and Devon , meant that Swansea was the logical place to site copper smelting works . Smelters were operating by 1720 and proliferated . Following this , more coal mines ( everywhere from north-east Gower to Clyne and Llangyfelach ) were opened and smelters ( mostly along the Tawe valley ) were opened and flourished . Over the next century and a half , works were established to process arsenic , zinc and tin and to create tinplate and pottery . The city expanded rapidly in the 18th and 19th centuries , and was termed `` Copperopolis '' . \n \n The Swansea smelters became so adept at recovering gold and silver from complex ores that in the 1800s they received ore concentrates from the United States , for example from Arizona in the 1850s , and Colorado in the 1860s . \n \n From the late 17th century to 1801 , Swansea 's population grew by 500 % —the first official census ( in 1841 ) indicated that , with 6,099 inhabitants , Swansea had become significantly larger than Glamorgan 's", "qas": [ { "answers": [], "id": "sfq_13264--Swansea.txt", "qid": "sfq_13264", "question": "The rugby union teams of Neath and Swansea amalgamated and now play under what name?" } ] } ] }

{ "paragraphs": [ { "context": "Edward the Elder ( Old English : ' ; c. 874–877 – 17 July 924 ) was an English king . He became king in 899 upon the death of his father , Alfred the Great . His court was at Winchester , previously the capital of Wessex . He captured the eastern Midlands and East Anglia from the Danes in 917 and became ruler of Mercia in 918 upon the death of Æthelflæd , his sister . \n \n All but two of his charters give his title as `` Anglorum Saxonum rex '' or `` king of the Anglo-Saxons '' . He was the second king of the Anglo-Saxons as this title was created by Alfred . Edward 's coinage reads `` EADVVEARD REX . '' The chroniclers record that all England `` accepted Edward as lord '' in 920 . But the fact that York continued to produce its own coinage suggests that Edward 's authority was not accepted in Viking-ruled Northumbria . Edward 's eponym `` the Elder '' was first used in Wulfstan 's Life of St Æthelwold ( c. 996 ) to distinguish him from the later King Edward the Martyr . \n \n Ætheling \n \n Edward was the second surviving child and elder son born to Alfred the Great and his Mercian queen , Ealhswith . Edward 's birth can not be dated with certainty . His parents married in 868 and his elder sister Æthelflæd was born soon afterwards as she was herself married in 883 . Edward was probably born rather later , in the 870s , and probably between 874 and 877 . The chronicle of Peter of Langtoft ( died c.1308 , and hence writing several centuries later ) called him , `` [ v ] ery strong and handsome , and of great intelligence . '' \n \n Asser 's Life of King Alfred reports that Edward was educated at court together with his youngest sister Ælfthryth . His second sister , Æthelgifu , was intended for a life in religion from an early age ( it was customary during much of the Middle Ages for noble families to `` give '' one child to the Church ) and was later abbess of Shaftesbury . The youngest sibling , Æthelweard , was educated at a court school where he learned Latin , which suggests that he too was intended for a religious life . Edward and Ælfthryth , however , while they learned the English of the day , received a courtly education , and Asser refers to their taking part in the `` pursuits of this present life which are appropriate to the nobility '' . \n \n The first appearance of Edward in the sources is in 892 , in a charter granting land at North Newnton , near Pewsey in Wiltshire , to ealdorman Æthelhelm , where he is called filius regis , the king 's son . Although he was the reigning king 's elder son , Edward was not certain to succeed his father . Until the 890s , the obvious heirs to the throne were Edward 's cousins Æthelwold and Æthelhelm , sons of Æthelred , Alfred 's older brother and predecessor as king . Æthelwold and Æthelhelm were around ten years older than Edward . Æthelhelm disappears from view in the 890s , seemingly dead , but a charter probably from that decade shows Æthelwold witnessing before Edward , and the order of witnesses is generally believed to relate to their status . As well as his greater age and experience , Æthelwold may have had another advantage over Edward where the succession was concerned . While Alfred 's wife Ealhswith is never described as queen and was never crowned , Æthelwold and Æthelhelm 's mother Wulfthryth was called queen . \n \n Succession and early reign \n \n When Alfred died , Edward 's cousin Æthelwold , the son of King Æthelred of Wessex , rose up to claim the throne and began Æthelwold 's Revolt . He seized Wimborne , in Dorset , where his father was buried , and Christchurch ( then in Hampshire , now in Dorset ) . Edward marched to Badbury and offered battle , but Æthelwold refused to leave Wimborne . Just when it looked as if Edward was going to attack Wimborne , Æthelwold left in the night , and joined the Danes in Northumbria , where he was announced as King . In the meantime , Edward was crowned on 8 June 900 , possibly at Kingston upon Thames . \n \n In 901 , Æthelwold came with a fleet to Essex , and encouraged the Danes in East Anglia to rise up . In the following year he attacked English", "qas": [ { "answers": [ { "answer_start": 1568, "text": "king alfred" } ], "id": "odql_12433--Edward_the_Elder.txt", "qid": "odql_12433", "question": "Who was the father of Edward the Elder, the Anglo-Saxon King from 899 to 924?" } ] } ] }

{ "paragraphs": [ { "context": "Yerba mate ( from Spanish ; or ; , ) is a species of the holly family ( Aquifoliaceae ) , with the botanical name Ilex paraguariensis A. St.-Hil . named by the French botanist Auguste François César Prouvençal de Saint-Hilaire . \n \n Yerba mate is widely known as the source of the beverage called mate ( , and other variations ) . It is traditionally consumed in central and southern regions of South America , particularly Argentina , Bolivia , southern and center-western Brazil , Uruguay , Paraguay and southern Chile . It is also very popular in Syria where it is imported from Argentina . Yerba mate was initially utilized and cultivated by the Guaraní people and in some Tupí communities in southern Brazil , prior to European colonization . It was scientifically classified by the Swiss botanist Moisés Santiago Bertoni , who settled in Paraguay in 1895 . Yerba mate can also be found in various energy drinks on the market today . \n \n Description \n \n Yerba mate , Ilex paraguariensis , begins as a shrub and then matures to a tree and can grow up to 15 m tall . The leaves are evergreen , 7 – long and 30 – wide , with a serrated margin . The leaves are often called ' ( Spanish ) or ' ( Portuguese ) , both of which mean `` herb '' . They contain caffeine ( known in some parts of the world as mateine ) and also contains related xanthine alkaloids and are harvested commercially . \n \n The flowers are small , greenish-white , with four petals . The fruit is a red drupe 4 – in diameter . \n \n Cultivation \n \n The yerba mate plant is grown and processed in South America , specifically in northern Argentina ( Corrientes , Misiones ) , Paraguay , Uruguay and southern Brazil ( Rio Grande do Sul , Santa Catarina , Paraná and Mato Grosso do Sul ) . Cultivators are known as ( Spanish ) or ( Brazilian Portuguese ) . \n \n Seeds used to germinate new plants are harvested from January until April only after they have turned dark purple . After harvest , they are submerged in water in order to eliminate floating non-viable seeds and detritus like twigs , leaves , etc . New plants are started between March and May . For plants established in pots , transplanting takes place April through September . Plants with bare roots are transplanted only during the months of June and July . \n \n Many of the natural enemies of yerba mate are difficult to control in a plantation setting . Insect pests include Gyropsylla spegazziniana , an insect that lays eggs in branches , Hedyphates betulinus , an insect that weakens the tree and makes it more susceptible to mold and mildew , Perigonia lusca , an insect that eats the leaves , and several species of mites . \n \n When yerba mate is harvested , the branches are often dried by a wood fire , imparting a smoky flavor . The plant Ilex paraguariensis can vary in strength of the flavor , caffeine levels and other nutrients depending on whether it is a male or female plant . Female plants tend to be milder in flavor and lower in caffeine . They are also relatively scarce in the areas where yerba mate is planted and cultivated . \n \n According to FAO in 2012 , Brazil is the biggest producer of mate in the world with 513,256 MT ( 58 % ) , followed by Argentina with 290,000 MT ( 32 % ) and Paraguay with 85,490 MT ( 10 % ) . \n \n Use as a beverage \n \n The infusion , called mate in Spanish-speaking countries or in Brazil , is prepared by filling a container , typically a gourd , up to three-quarters full with dry leaves ( and twigs ) of the mate plant , and filling it up with water at a temperature of 70 – , hot but not boiling . Sugar may or may not be added ; and the mate may be prepared with cold water ( ) . \n \n Drinking mate with friends from a hollow gourd ( also called a , or in Spanish , or in Portuguese , or in Italian ) through a metal straw ( a in Spanish , in Portuguese ) , refilling and passing to the next person after finishing the few mouthfuls of beverage , is a common social practice in Uruguay , Argentina and southern Brazil among people of all ages . \n \n Although traditionally made from a hollowed calabash gourd , these days mate gourds", "qas": [ { "answers": [ { "answer_start": 910, "text": "drinks" } ], "id": "bb_5513--Yerba_mate.txt", "qid": "bb_5513", "question": "Mate (or maté, yerba mate, or chimarrão) is a popular South American-originating?" } ] } ] }

{ "paragraphs": [ { "context": "Afghanistan ( Pashto/Dari : , Afġānistān ) , officially the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan , is a landlocked country located within South Asia and Central Asia . It has a population of approximately 32 million , making it the 42nd most populous country in the world . It is bordered by Pakistan in the south and east ; Iran in the west ; Turkmenistan , Uzbekistan , and Tajikistan in the north ; and China in the far northeast . Its territory covers , making it the 41st largest country in the world . \n \n Human habitation in Afghanistan dates back to the Middle Paleolithic Era , and the country 's strategic location along the Silk Road connected it to the cultures of the Middle East and other parts of Asia . Through the ages the land has been home to various peoples and witnessed numerous military campaigns ; notably by Alexander the Great , Mauryas , Muslim Arabs , Mongols , British , Soviet Russians , and in the modern-era by Western powers . The land also served as the source from which the Kushans , Hephthalites , Samanids , Saffarids , Ghaznavids , Ghorids , Khiljis , Mughals , Hotaks , Durranis , and others have risen to form major empires . \n \n The political history of the modern state of Afghanistan began with the Hotak and Durrani dynasties in the 18th century . In the late 19th century , Afghanistan became a buffer state in the `` Great Game '' between British India and the Russian Empire . Following the Third Anglo-Afghan War in 1919 , King Amanullah unsuccessfully attempted to modernize the country . It remained peaceful during Zahir Shah 's forty years of monarchy . A series of coups in the 1970s was followed by a series of civil wars that devastated much of Afghanistan and continues to this day . \n \n Etymology \n \n The name Afghānistān ( Pashto |افغانستان ) is believed to be as old as the ethnonym Afghan , which is documented in the 10th-century geography book Hudud ul-'alam . The root name `` Afghan '' was used historically in reference to a member of the ethnic Pashtuns , and the suffix `` -stan '' means `` place of '' in Persian . Therefore , Afghanistan translates to land of the Afghans or , more specifically in a historical sense , to land of the Pashtuns . However , the modern Constitution of Afghanistan states that `` [ t ] he word Afghan shall apply to every citizen of Afghanistan . '' \n \n History \n \n Excavations of prehistoric sites by Louis Dupree and others suggest that humans were living in what is now Afghanistan at least 50,000 years ago , and that farming communities in the area were among the earliest in the world . An important site of early historical activities , many believe that Afghanistan compares to Egypt in terms of the historical value of its archaeological sites . \n \n The country sits at a unique nexus point where numerous civilizations have interacted and often fought . It has been home to various peoples through the ages , among them the ancient Iranian peoples who established the dominant role of Indo-Iranian languages in the region . At multiple points , the land has been incorporated within large regional empires , among them the Achaemenid Empire , the Macedonian Empire , the Indian Maurya Empire , and the Islamic Empire . \n \n Many empires and kingdoms have also risen to power in Afghanistan , such as the Greco-Bactrians , Kushans , Hephthalites , Kabul Shahis , Saffarids , Samanids , Ghaznavids , Ghurids , Khiljis , Kartids , Timurids , Mughals , and finally the Hotak and Durrani dynasties that marked the political origins of the modern state . \n \n Pre-Islamic period \n \n Archaeological exploration done in the 20th century suggests that the geographical area of Afghanistan has been closely connected by culture and trade with its neighbors to the east , west , and north . Artifacts typical of the Paleolithic , Mesolithic , Neolithic , Bronze , and Iron ages have been found in Afghanistan . Urban civilization is believed to have begun as early as 3000 BCE , and the early city of Mundigak ( near Kandahar in the south of the country ) may have been a colony of the nearby Indus Valley Civilization . More recent findings established that the Indus Valley Civilisation stretched up towards modern-day Afghanistan , making the ancient civilisation today part of Pakistan , Afghanistan and India . In more detail , it extended from what today is northwest Pakistan to northwest India and northeast Afghanistan . An Indus Valley site has", "qas": [ { "answers": [], "id": "odql_4064--Afghanistan.txt", "qid": "odql_4064", "question": "In which part of southern Afghanistan are most of the British troops deployed?" } ] } ] }

{ "paragraphs": [ { "context": "A seed is an embryonic plant enclosed in a protective outer covering . The formation of the seed is part of the process of reproduction in seed plants , the spermatophytes , including the gymnosperm and angiosperm plants . \n \n Seeds are the product of the ripened ovule , after fertilization by pollen and some growth within the mother plant . The embryo is developed from the zygote and the seed coat from the integuments of the ovule . \n \n Seeds have been an important development in the reproduction and success of gymnosperms and angiosperms plants , relative to more primitive plants such as ferns , mosses and liverworts , which do not have seeds and use other means to propagate themselves . Seed plants now dominate biological niches on land , from forests to grasslands both in hot and cold climates . \n \n The term `` seed '' also has a general meaning that antedates the above—anything that can be sown , e.g . `` seed '' potatoes , `` seeds '' of corn or sunflower `` seeds '' . In the case of sunflower and corn `` seeds '' , what is sown is the seed enclosed in a shell or husk , whereas the potato is a tuber . \n \n Many structures commonly referred to as `` seeds '' are actually dry fruits . Plants producing berries are called baccate . Sunflower seeds are sometimes sold commercially while still enclosed within the hard wall of the fruit , which must be split open to reach the seed . Different groups of plants have other modifications , the so-called stone fruits ( such as the peach ) have a hardened fruit layer ( the endocarp ) fused to and surrounding the actual seed . Nuts are the one-seeded , hard-shelled fruit of some plants with an indehiscent seed , such as an acorn or hazelnut . \n \n Production \n \n Seeds are produced in several related groups of plants , and their manner of production distinguishes the angiosperms ( `` enclosed seeds '' ) from the gymnosperms ( `` naked seeds '' ) . Angiosperm seeds are produced in a hard or fleshy structure called a fruit that encloses the seeds , hence the name . ( Some fruits have layers of both hard and fleshy material ) . In gymnosperms , no special structure develops to enclose the seeds , which begin their development `` naked '' on the bracts of cones . However , the seeds do become covered by the cone scales as they develop in some species of conifer . \n \n Seed production in natural plant populations varies widely from year-to-year in response to weather variables , insects and diseases , and internal cycles within the plants themselves . Over a 20-year period , for example , forests composed of loblolly pine and shortleaf pine produced from 0 to nearly 5 million sound pine seeds per hectare.Cain , M.D . ; Shelton , M.G . 2001 . Twenty years of natural loblolly and shortleaf pine seed production on the Crossett Experimental Forest in southeastern Arkansas . Southern Journal of Applied Forestry . 25 ( 1 ) : 40-45 . Over this period , there were six bumper , five poor , and nine good seed crops , when evaluated in regard to producing adequate seedlings for natural forest reproduction . \n \n Development \n \n Angiosperm ( flowering plants ) seeds consist of three genetically distinct constituents : ( 1 ) the embryo formed from the zygote , ( 2 ) the endosperm , which is normally triploid , ( 3 ) the seed coat from tissue derived from the maternal tissue of the ovule . In angiosperms , the process of seed development begins with double fertilization , which involves the fusion of two male gametes with the egg cell and the central cell to form the primary endosperm and the zygote . Right after fertilization , the zygote is mostly inactive , but the primary endosperm divides rapidly to form the endosperm tissue . This tissue becomes the food the young plant will consume until the roots have developed after germination . \n \n Ovule \n \n After fertilization the ovules develop into the seeds . The ovule consists of a number of components : \n * The funicle ( funiculus , funiculi ) or seed stalk which attaches the ovule to the placenta and hence ovary or fruit wall , at the pericarp . \n * The nucellus , the remnant of the megasporangium and main region of the ovule where the megagametophyte develops . \n * The micropyle , a small pore or opening in the apex of the integument of the ovule where", "qas": [ { "answers": [ { "answer_start": 2596, "text": "pine" } ], "id": "sfq_9345--Seed.txt", "qid": "sfq_9345", "question": "Which nut or seed is used in the Italian sauce pesto?" } ] } ] }

{ "paragraphs": [ { "context": "A cantata ( literally `` sung '' , past participle feminine singular of the Italian verb cantare , `` to sing '' ) is a vocal composition with an instrumental accompaniment , typically in several movements , often involving a choir . \n \n The meaning of the term changed over time , from the simple single voice madrigal of the early 17th century , to the multi-voice `` cantata da camera '' and the `` cantata da chiesa '' of the later part of that century , from the more substantial dramatic forms of the 18th century to the usually sacred-texted 19th-century cantata , which was effectively a type of short oratorio . Cantatas for use in the liturgy of church services are called church cantata or sacred cantata , other cantatas can be indicated as secular cantata . Several cantatas were , and still are , written for special occasions , such as Christmas cantatas . Johann Sebastian Bach composed cycles of church cantatas for the occasions of the liturgical year . \n \n Historical context \n \n The term originated in the early 17th century simultaneously with opera and oratorio . Prior to that all `` cultured '' music was vocal . With the rise of instrumental music the term appeared , while the instrumental art became sufficiently developed to be embodied in sonatas . From the beginning of the 17th century until late in the 18th , the cantata for one or two solo voices with accompaniment of basso continuo ( and perhaps a few solo instruments ) was a principal form of Italian vocal chamber music . \n \n A cantata consisted first of a declamatory narrative or scene in recitative , held together by a primitive aria repeated at intervals . Fine examples may be found in the church music of Giacomo Carissimi ; and the English vocal solos of Henry Purcell ( such as Mad Tom and Mad Bess ) show the utmost that can be made of this archaic form . With the rise of the da capo aria , the cantata became a group of two or three arias joined by recitative . George Frideric Handel 's numerous Italian duets and trios are examples on a rather large scale . His Latin motet Silete Venti , for soprano solo , shows the use of this form in church music.Tovey , Donald . Francis . In Musical Forms , : Meridian Books , 1956 ; reprinted by arrangement by Oxford University Press .. \n \n Differences from other musical forms \n \n The Italian solo cantata tended , when on a large scale , to become indistinguishable from a scene in an opera , in the same way the church cantata , solo or choral , is indistinguishable from a small oratorio or portion of an oratorio . This is equally evident whether we examine the unparalleled church cantatas of Bach , of which nearly 200 are extant ( see List of Bach cantatas ) , or the Chandos Anthems of Handel . In Johann Sebastian Bach 's case many of the larger cantatas are actually called oratorios ; and the Christmas Oratorio is a collection of six church cantatas actually intended for performance on six different days , though together forming as complete an artistic whole as any classical oratorio . \n \n Baroque \n \n Cantatas were in great demand for the services of the Lutheran church . Sacred cantatas for the liturgy or other occasions were not only composed by Bach but also by Dieterich Buxtehude , Christoph Graupner , Gottfried Heinrich Stölzel and Georg Philipp Telemann , to name a few . Many secular cantatas were composed for events in the nobility . They were so similar in form to the sacred ones that many of them were parodied ( in parts or completely ) to sacred cantatas , for example in Bach 's Christmas Oratorio . \n \n Classical and romantic period \n \n The term cantata came to be applied almost exclusively to choral works , as distinguished from solo vocal music . In early 19th-century cantatas the chorus is the vehicle for music more lyric and songlike than in oratorio , not excluding the possibility of a brilliant climax in a fugue as in Ludwig van Beethoven 's Glorreiche Augenblick , Carl Maria von Weber 's Jubel-Kantate , and Felix Mendelssohn 's Die erste Walpurgisnacht . Anton Bruckner composed several Name-day cantatas , a Festive Cantata and two secular cantatas ( Germanenzug and Helgoland ) . Bruckners 's Psalm 146 is also in cantata form . Mendelssohn 's Symphony Cantata , the Lobgesang , is a hybrid work , partly in the oratorio style . It is preceded by three symphonic movements , a device", "qas": [ { "answers": [ { "answer_start": 1580, "text": "recitative" } ], "id": "qw_16736--Cantata.txt", "qid": "qw_16736", "question": "What is a style of delivery mostly used in operas, oratorios, and cantata, in which a singer adopts the rhythms of ordinary speech?" } ] } ] }

{ "paragraphs": [ { "context": "New York City , in the U.S. state of New York , is composed of five boroughs . They are Manhattan , the Bronx , Queens , Brooklyn , and Staten Island . Each borough also has coextensive boundaries as a county of New York State . The county governments were dissolved when New York City consolidated in 1898 , along with all city , town , and village governments within each county . If the boroughs were each independent cities , four of the boroughs ( Brooklyn , Queens , Manhattan , and the Bronx ) would be among the ten most populous cities in the United States ; these same boroughs are coextensive with the four most densely populated counties in the United States ( New York [ Manhattan ] , Kings [ Brooklyn ] , Bronx , and Queens ) . \n \n The term borough was adopted to describe a unique form of governmental administration for each of the five fundamental constituent parts of the newly consolidated city in 1898 . Under New York State Law , a `` borough '' is a municipal corporation that is created when a county is merged with populated areas within it . This differs significantly from typical borough forms of government used in Connecticut , New Jersey , Pennsylvania , other states , Greater London , and elsewhere . \n \n Background \n \n New York City is often referred to collectively as the five boroughs ; the term is used to refer to New York City as a whole unambiguously , avoiding confusion with any particular borough or with the Greater New York metropolitan area . The term is also used by politicians to counter a frequent focus on Manhattan and , thereby , to place all five boroughs on equal footing . In the same vein , the term outer boroughs refers to all of the boroughs excluding Manhattan , even though the geographic center of the city is along the Brooklyn–Queens border . \n \n All of the boroughs were created in 1898 during consolidation , when the city 's current boundaries were established . The Bronx originally included parts of New York County outside of Manhattan that had previously been ceded by neighboring Westchester County in two stages , in 1874 and then following a referendum in 1894 . The separate present-day Bronx County was not created until 1914 , and is the last created county in the State of New York . \n \n The borough of Queens consists of what formerly was only the western part of a then-larger Queens County . In 1899 , the three eastern towns of Queens that had not joined the city the year before formally seceded from Queens County to form the new Nassau County . The borough of Staten Island was officially the borough of Richmond until the name was changed in 1975 to reflect its common appellation . \n \n Description of the boroughs \n \n There are hundreds of distinct neighborhoods throughout the five boroughs of New York City , many with a definable history and character to call their own . \n * Manhattan ( New York County ) is the geographically smallest and most densely populated borough and is home to Central Park and most of the city 's skyscrapers . Manhattan 's ( New York County 's ) population density of 72,033 people per square mile ( 27,812/km² ) in 2015 makes it the highest of any county in the United States and higher than the density of any individual American city . Manhattan is the cultural , administrative , and financial center of New York City and contains the headquarters of many major multinational corporations , the United Nations Headquarters , Wall Street , and a number of important universities . Manhattan is often described as the financial and cultural center of the world . Most of the borough is situated on Manhattan Island , at the mouth of the Hudson River . Several small islands are also part of the borough of Manhattan , including Randall 's Island , Wards Island , and Roosevelt Island in the East River , and Governors Island and Liberty Island to the south in New York Harbor . Manhattan Island is loosely divided into Lower , Midtown , and Uptown regions . Uptown Manhattan is divided by Central Park into the Upper East Side and the Upper West Side , and above the park is Harlem . The borough also includes a small neighborhood on the United States mainland , called Marble Hill . Marble Hill was originally part of Manhattan Island , but is now contiguous with the Bronx after having been severed from the U.S. mainland by the construction of the", "qas": [ { "answers": [ { "answer_start": 121, "text": "brooklyn" } ], "id": "dpql_4706--Borough_(New_York_City).txt", "qid": "dpql_4706", "question": "In New York the Verrazano Narrows Bridge links Staten Island with which other borough?" } ] } ] }

{ "paragraphs": [ { "context": "Blackfriars Bridge is a road and foot traffic bridge over the River Thames in London , between Waterloo Bridge and Blackfriars Railway Bridge , carrying the A201 road . The north end is near the Inns of Court and Temple Church , along with Blackfriars station . The south end is near the Tate Modern art gallery and the Oxo Tower . \n \n History \n \n The first fixed crossing at Blackfriars was a 995 ft long toll bridge designed in an Italianate style by Robert Mylne and constructed with nine semi-elliptical arches of Portland stone . Beating designs by John Gwynn and George Dance , it took nine years to build , opening to the public in 1769 . It was the third bridge across the Thames in the then built-up area of London , supplementing the ancient London Bridge , which dated from several centuries earlier , and Westminster Bridge . It was originally named `` William Pitt Bridge '' ( after the Prime Minister William Pitt the Elder ) as a dedication , but its informal name relating to the precinct within the City named after the Blackfriars Monastery , a Dominican priory which once stood nearby , was generally adopted . It was later made toll free . \n \n The City of London Corporation was responsible for promoting it and the location between the other two bridges was chosen because it was realised that the disused wharfage of the lower River Fleet from the Thames to what became Ludgate Circus would allow access into the north bank without unduly disrupting the neighbourhood ; hence its name of New Bridge Street . The Fleet can be seen discharging into the Thames at its north side . By taking an access road from its southern landing to a junction with the routes created to simplify passage between those bridges to its east and west to the south it would also add to those improvements . This created the junction at St George 's Circus between Westminster Bridge Road , Borough Road and the later named Blackfriars Road which crossed the largely open parish of Christchurch Surrey . The continuation to the south at the major junction at Elephant and Castle is therefore named London Road . \n \n Although it was built of Portland stone the workmanship was very faulty . Between 1833 and 1840 extensive repairs were necessary , and a good deal of patching-up was done , until at last it was decided to build a new bridge on the same site and this coincided with the creation of the Thames Embankment 's junction with the new Queen Victoria Street required a major reconfiguration . This is the present bridge which in 1869 was opened by Queen Victoria . \n \n The present bridge is 923 ft long , consisting of five wrought iron arches built to a design by Joseph Cubitt . Cubitt also designed the adjacent rail bridge ( now demolished ) and it was a condition that the spans and piers of the two bridges be aligned . It was built by P.A . Thom & Co. Like its predecessor it is owned and maintained by the Bridge House Estates , a charitable trust overseen by the City of London Corporation . Like London Bridge the full length and its southern end is within the City 's borders and not in the adjoining borough of Southwark . Due to the volume of traffic over the bridge , it was widened between 1907–10 , from 70 ft to its present 105 ft . \n \n The bridge became internationally notorious in June 1982 , when the body of Roberto Calvi , a former chairman of Italy 's largest private bank , was found hanging from one of its arches with five bricks and around $ 14,000 in three different currencies in his pockets . Calvi 's death was initially treated as suicide , but he was on the run from Italy accused of embezzlement and in 2002 forensic experts concluded that he had been murdered by the Mafia , to whom he was indebted . In 2005 , five suspected members of the Mafia were tried in a Rome court for Calvi 's murder , but all were acquitted in June 2007 for lack of evidence . \n \n Decorations \n \n On the piers of the bridge are stone carvings of water birds by sculptor John Birnie Philip . On the East ( downstream ) side ( i.e . the side closest to the Thames Estuary and North Sea ) , the carvings show marine life and seabirds ; those on the West ( upstream ) side show freshwater birds – reflecting the role of Blackfriars as the tidal turning point", "qas": [ { "answers": [ { "answer_start": 3337, "text": "roberto calvi" } ], "id": "sfq_20403--Blackfriars_Bridge.txt", "qid": "sfq_20403", "question": "Who was the chairman of the Banco Ambrosiano, found hanged under Blackfriars Bridge, London in 1982?" } ] } ] }

{ "paragraphs": [ { "context": "The saguaro ( , ) ( Carnegiea gigantea ) is an arborescent ( tree-like ) cactus species in the monotypic genus Carnegiea , which can grow to be over 70 ft tall . It is native to the Sonoran Desert in Arizona , the Mexican State of Sonora , and the Whipple Mountains and Imperial County areas of California . The saguaro blossom is the state wildflower of Arizona . Its scientific name is given in honor of Andrew Carnegie . \n \n The common name saguaro came into the English language through the Spanish language , originating in the Mayo language . \n \n Growth \n \n Saguaros have a relatively long lifespan . They may grow their first side arm any time from 75–100 years of age , but some never grow one at all . A saguaro without arms is called a spear . \n \n The arms are grown to increase the plant 's reproductive capacity ( more apices lead to more flowers and fruit ) . The growth rate of saguaros is strongly dependent on precipitation ; saguaros in drier western Arizona grow only half as fast as those in and around Tucson , Arizona . Saguaros grow slowly from seed , never from cuttings . Specimens may live for more than 150 years and grow to be over 40 ft tall . The largest known living saguaro is the Champion Saguaro growing in Maricopa County , Arizona , and is tall with a girth of . The tallest saguaro ever measured was an armless specimen found near Cave Creek , Arizona ; it measured 78 ft tall before it blew over in a windstorm in 1986 . \n \n Saguaros soak up the rainwater and visibly expand . They conserve the water and slowly consume it . \n \n Genome \n \n The saguaro genome is around 1.5 billion base pairs long ( about the half of the human genome 's length ) . Sequencing has revealed that the genome of the saguaro 's chloroplast is the smallest known among non-parasitic flowering plants . \n \n Spines \n \n The spines on a saguaro that is shorter than 2 m grow rapidly , up to a millimeter per day . When held up to the light or bisected , alternating light and dark bands transverse to the long axis of spines can be seen . These transverse bands have been correlated to daily growth . In columnar cacti , spines almost always grow in areoles which originate at the apex of the plant . A spine stops growing in its first season . Areoles are moved to the side and the apex continues to grow upwards . Thus , older spines are towards the base of a columnar cactus and newer spines are near the apex . Studies are underway to examine the relationship of carbon and oxygen isotope ratios in the tissues of spines of an individual to its climate and photosynthetic history ( acanthochronology ) . \n \n Flowers \n \n Flowers appear in April through June . They are white and open well after sunset and close in mid-afternoon . They continue to produce nectar after sunrise . \n Flowers are self-incompatible , thus require cross-pollination . Large quantities of pollen are required for complete pollination because many ovules are present . A well-pollinated fruit contains several thousand tiny seeds . Saguaros have a redundant pollination system , i.e . full fruit set is possible even if only a fraction of the pollinating species are present . \n \n Main pollinators are honey bees , bats , and white-winged doves . In most years , diurnal visitors are the main contributors for fruit , most of them honey bees . Other diurnal pollinators are birds such as Costa 's hummingbird , the black-chinned hummingbird , the broad-billed hummingbird , the hooded oriole , Scott 's oriole , the Gila woodpecker , the gilded flicker , the verdin , and the house finch . \n \n The main nocturnal pollinator is the lesser long-nosed bat , feeding on the nectar . A number of floral characteristics are geared toward bat pollination : nocturnal opening of the flowers , nocturnal maturation of pollen , very rich nectar , position high above ground , durable blooms that can withstand a bat 's weight , and fragrance emitted at night . Further , the amino acids in the pollen appear to help sustain lactation in bats . \n \n Fruit \n \n The ruby red fruits are 6–9 cm long and ripen in June . Each fruit contains around 2000 seeds plus sweet fleshy connective tissue . The fruits are edible and prized by local people . \n \n The fruits can not be picked", "qas": [ { "answers": [ { "answer_start": 2123, "text": "cacti" } ], "id": "jp_2013--Saguaro.txt", "qid": "jp_2013", "question": "Prickly pear and saguaro are types of what?" } ] } ] }

{ "paragraphs": [ { "context": "Lee Majors ( born Harvey Lee Yeary ; April 23 , 1939 ) is an American film , television and voice actor . Majors is best known portraying the roles of Heath Barkley in the American television Western series The Big Valley ( 1965–1969 ) , Colonel Steve Austin in the American television science fiction action series The Six Million Dollar Man ( 1973–1978 ) , and , Colt Seavers in American television action series The Fall Guy ( 1981–1986 ) . \n \n In the television series The Six Million Dollar Man , Steve Austin takes on special high-risk government missions using his superhuman bionic powers . The television character Steve Austin became a pop culture icon of the 1970s . \n \n Majors ' reprised the role of Colonel Steve Austin in several bionic reunion television movies in the late 1980s and 1990s . He appeared in a number of supporting , recurring and cameo roles in feature films and television series , and lent his voice to a number of animated TV series and video games . \n \n Early life \n \n Majors was born in Wyandotte , Michigan , a suburb of Detroit . His parents , Carl and Alice Yeary , were both killed in separate accidents ( prior to his birth and when he was one year old , respectively ) . At age two , Majors was adopted by an uncle and aunt and moved with them to Middlesboro , Kentucky . \n \n He participated in track and football at Middlesboro High School . He graduated in 1957 , and earned a scholarship to Indiana University , where he again competed in sports . Majors transferred to Eastern Kentucky University in Richmond , Kentucky , in 1959 . He played in his first game the following year , but suffered a severe back injury which left him paralyzed for two weeks , and ended his college football career . Following his injury , he turned his attention to acting and performed in plays at the Pioneer Playhouse in Danville , Kentucky . Majors graduated from Eastern Kentucky in 1962 with a degree in History and Physical Education . \n \n After college , he received an offer to try out for the St. Louis Cardinals football team . Instead , he moved to Los Angeles and found work at the Los Angeles Park and Recreation Department as the Recreation Director for North Hollywood Park . In LA , Majors met many actors and industry professionals , including Dick Clayton , who had been James Dean 's agent , and Clayton suggested he attend his acting school . After one year of acting school , Clayton felt that Majors was ready to start his career . At this time , he picked up the stage name Lee Majors as a tribute to childhood hero Johnny Majors who was a player and future coach for the University of Tennessee . Majors also studied at Estelle Harmon 's acting school at MGM . \n \n Career \n \n Early roles \n \n At age 25 , Majors landed his first , although uncredited , role in Strait-Jacket ( 1964 ) , as Joan Crawford 's ill-fated husband . After appearing in a 1965 episode of Gunsmoke , he starred as Howard White in an episode of The Alfred Hitchcock Hour , `` The Monkey 's Paw - A Retelling , '' based on the short story by W. W. Jacobs later the same year . \n \n Majors got his big break when he beat out over 400 young actors , including Burt Reynolds , for the co-starring role of Heath Barkley in a new ABC western series , The Big Valley , which starred Barbara Stanwyck . Also starring on the show was another newcomer , Linda Evans , who played Heath 's younger sister , Audra . Richard Long and Peter Breck played his brothers Jarrod and Nick , respectively . One of Heath 's frequently used expressions during the series was `` Boy howdy ! '' Big Valley was an immediate hit . During the series , Majors co-starred in the 1968 Charlton Heston film Will Penny , for which he received an `` Introducing '' credit , and landed the lead role in The Ballad of Andy Crocker ( 1969 ) , a made-for-television film which was first broadcast by ABC . The film is notable as being one of the very first films to deal with the subject matter of Vietnam veterans `` coming home '' . That same year , he was offered the chance to star in Midnight Cowboy ( 1969 ) , but The Big Valley was renewed for another season and he was forced to", "qas": [ { "answers": [ { "answer_start": 3298, "text": "barbara stanwyck" } ], "id": "sfq_3039--Lee_Majors.txt", "qid": "sfq_3039", "question": "\"Which famous film actress starred as Victoria Barkley in the TV series, \"\"The Big Valley\"\", the series which spawned the career of actor, Lee Majors?\"" } ] } ] }