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{ "paragraphs": [ { "context": "Opera ( ; English plural : operas ; Italian plural : opere ) is an art form in which singers and musicians perform a dramatic work combining text ( libretto ) and musical score , usually in a theatrical setting . In traditional opera , singers do two types of singing : recitative , a speech-inflected style and arias , a more melodic style . Opera incorporates many of the elements of spoken theatre , such as acting , scenery , and costumes and sometimes includes dance . The performance is typically given in an opera house , accompanied by an orchestra or smaller musical ensemble , which since the early 19th century has been led by a conductor . \n \n Opera is part of the Western classical music tradition . It started in Italy at the end of the 16th century ( with Jacopo Peri 's lost Dafne , produced in Florence in 1598 ) and soon spread through the rest of Europe : Schütz in Germany , Lully in France , and Purcell in England all helped to establish their national traditions in the 17th century . In the 18th century , Italian opera continued to dominate most of Europe ( except France ) , attracting foreign composers such as Handel . Opera seria was the most prestigious form of Italian opera , until Gluck reacted against its artificiality with his `` reform '' operas in the 1760s . In the 2000s , the most renowned figure of late 18th-century opera is Mozart , who began with opera seria but is most famous for his Italian comic operas , especially The Marriage of Figaro ( Le Nozze Di Figaro ) , Don Giovanni , and Così fan tutte , as well as The Magic Flute ( Die Zauberflöte ) , a landmark in the German tradition . \n \n The first third of the 19th century saw the high point of the bel canto style , with Rossini , Donizetti and Bellini all creating works that are still performed in the 2000s It also saw the advent of Grand Opera typified by the works of Auber and Meyerbeer . The mid-to-late 19th century was a `` golden age '' of opera , led and dominated by Wagner in Germany and Verdi in Italy . The popularity of opera continued through the verismo era in Italy and contemporary French opera through to Puccini and Strauss in the early 20th century . During the 19th century , parallel operatic traditions emerged in central and eastern Europe , particularly in Russia and Bohemia . The 20th century saw many experiments with modern styles , such as atonality and serialism ( Schoenberg and Berg ) , Neoclassicism ( Stravinsky ) , and Minimalism ( Philip Glass and John Adams ) . With the rise of recording technology , singers such as Enrico Caruso and Maria Callas became known to much wider audiences that went beyond the circle of opera fans . Since the invention of radio and television , operas were also performed on ( and written for ) these mediums . Beginning in 2006 , a number of major opera houses began to present live high-definition video transmissions of their performances in cinemas around the world . In 2009 , an opera company offered an online download of a complete performance . \n \n Operatic terminology \n \n The words of an opera are known as the libretto ( literally `` small book '' ) . Some composers , notably Richard Wagner , have written their own libretti ; others have worked in close collaboration with their librettists , e.g . Mozart with Lorenzo Da Ponte . Traditional opera , often referred to as `` number opera '' , consists of two modes of singing : recitative , the plot-driving passages sung in a style designed to imitate and emphasize the inflections of speech , and aria ( an `` air '' or formal song ) in which the characters express their emotions in a more structured melodic style . Vocal duets , trios and other ensembles often occur , and choruses are used to comment on the action . In some forms of opera , such as singspiel , opéra comique , operetta , and semi-opera , the recitative is mostly replaced by spoken dialogue . Melodic or semi-melodic passages occurring in the midst of , or instead of , recitative , are also referred to as arioso . The terminology of the various kinds of operatic voices is described in detail below . During both the Baroque and Classical periods , recitative could appear in two basic forms , each of which was accompanied by a different instrumental ensemble : secco ( dry ) recitative , sung with", "qas": [ { "answers": [], "id": "sfq_5336--Opera.txt", "qid": "sfq_5336", "question": "Jack Point is a character in which Gilbert & Sullivan opera?" } ] } ] }

{ "paragraphs": [ { "context": "Die Hard is a 1988 American action film directed by John McTiernan and written by Steven E. de Souza and Jeb Stuart . It follows off-duty New York City Police Department officer John McClane ( Bruce Willis ) as he takes on a group of highly organized criminals led by Hans Gruber ( Alan Rickman ) , who perform a heist in a Los Angeles skyscraper under the guise of a terrorist attack using hostages , including McClane 's wife Holly ( Bonnie Bedelia ) , to keep the police at bay . \n \n It is based on Roderick Thorp 's 1979 novel Nothing Lasts Forever , the sequel to 1966 's The Detective , which was adapted into a 1968 film of the same name that starred Frank Sinatra . Fox was therefore contractually obligated to offer Sinatra the lead role in Die Hard , but he turned it down . The studio then pitched the film to Arnold Schwarzenegger as a sequel to his 1985 action film Commando ; he turned it down , as well , and the studio finally and reluctantly gave it to Willis , then known primarily as a comedic television actor . \n \n Made for $ 28 million , Die Hard grossed over $ 140 million theatrically worldwide , and was given a positive reception from critics . The film turned Willis into an action star , became a metonym for an action film in which a lone hero fights overwhelming odds , and has been named one of the best action movies ever made . The film also ranks # 29 on Empire magazine 's 2008 list of the 500 greatest movies of all time . The film 's success spawned the Die Hard franchise , which includes four sequels ( Die Hard 2 , Die Hard with a Vengeance , Live Free or Die Hard and A Good Day to Die Hard ) , video games , and a comic book . \n \n Plot \n \n On Christmas Eve , New York City Police Detective John McClane arrives in Los Angeles . He aims to reconcile with his estranged wife , Holly , at the Christmas party of her employer , the fictional Nakatomi corporation . McClane is driven to the party by Argyle , an airport limousine driver . While McClane changes clothes , the party is disrupted by the arrival of Hans Gruber and his heavily armed terrorists : Karl , Franco , Tony , Theo , Alexander , Marco , Kristoff , Eddie , Uli , Heinrich , Fritz , and James . The group seizes the tower and secures those inside as hostages , except for McClane , who manages to slip away . \n \n Gruber singles out Nakatomi executive Joseph Takagi , and says he intends to teach the corporation a lesson for its greed . Away from the hostages , Gruber interrogates Takagi for the code to the building 's vault . Gruber admits that they are using terrorism as a distraction while they attempt to steal $ 640 million in bearer bonds in the vault . Takagi refuses to cooperate and is murdered by Gruber . McClane , who has been secretly watching , accidentally gives himself away and is pursued by Tony . McClane manages to kill Tony , taking his weapon and radio , which he uses to contact the Los Angeles Police Department ( LAPD ) . Sgt . Al Powell is sent to investigate . Gruber sends Heinrich and Marco to stop McClane , who kills them both . Powell , having been greeted by Eddie , who poses as a concierge , finds nothing strange about the building . As Powell turns to leave , McClane drops Marco 's corpse onto his patrol car . After being fired upon by the terrorists , Powell summons the LAPD who surround the building . McClane takes Heinrich 's bag containing C-4 explosives and detonators . \n \n A SWAT team assaulting the building is driven off by gunfire from Uli and Eddie . James and Alexander use anti-tank missiles to knock out the SWAT Greyhound armored car but before they can finish its destruction , they are killed when their building floor is blown up by C-4 that McClane dropped down the elevator shaft . Holly 's coworker Harry Ellis attempts to mediate between Hans and McClane for the return of the detonators . McClane refuses to return them , causing Gruber to murder Ellis . While checking the explosives attached to the roof , Gruber is confronted by McClane . Gruber passes himself off as an escaped hostage and is given a gun by McClane . Gruber attempts to shoot McClane but finds that the gun", "qas": [ { "answers": [], "id": "qw_11672--Die_Hard.txt", "qid": "qw_11672", "question": "\"Which orchestral arranger, orchestral conductor, song writer, and session musician composed the film scores for \"\"Brazil\"\", \"\"Highlander\"\", \"\"X-Men\"\", \"\"Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves\"\", \"\"Licence to Kill\"\", the \"\"Lethal Weapon\"\" series, the first three \"\"Die Hard\"\"s and \"\"Mr. Holland's Opus\"\"?\"" } ] } ] }

{ "paragraphs": [ { "context": "The Kingdom of Hungary was a monarchy in Central Europe that existed from the Middle Ages into the twentieth century ( 1000–1946 with the exception of 1918–1920 ) . The Principality of Hungary emerged as a Christian kingdom upon the coronation of the first king Stephen I at Esztergom in about the year 1000 ; his family ( the Árpád dynasty ) led the monarchy for 300 years . By the 12th century , the kingdom became a European middle power within the Western world . \n \n Due to the Ottoman occupation of the central and southern territories in the 16th century , the monarchy split into three parts : the Habsburg Royal Hungary , Ottoman Hungary and the semi-independent Principality of Transylvania . The House of Habsburg held the Hungarian throne after the Battle of Mohács until 1918 and also played a key role in the liberation wars against the Ottoman Empire . \n \n From 1867 , territories connected to the Hungarian crown were incorporated into Austria-Hungary under the name of Lands of the Crown of Saint Stephen . The monarchy ended with the deposition of the last king Charles IV in 1918 , after which Hungary became a republic . The kingdom was nominally restored during the `` Regency '' of 1920–46 , ending with the Soviet occupation in 1946 . \n \n The Kingdom of Hungary was a multiethnic state from its inception until the Treaty of Trianon and it covered what is today Hungary , Slovakia , Transylvania and other parts of what is now Romania , Carpathian Ruthenia ( now part of Ukraine ) , Vojvodina ( now part of Serbia ) , Burgenland ( now part of Austria ) , and other smaller territories surrounding present-day Hungary 's borders . From 1102 it also included Croatia , being in personal union with it , united under the King of Hungary . \n \n Today , the feast day of the first king Stephen I ( 20 August ) is a national holiday in Hungary , commemorating the foundation of the state ( Foundation Day ) . \n \n Names \n \n The Latin forms ' or ' ( ' meaning kingdom ) ; ' ( Kingdom of Mary ) ; or simply ' , were the names used in official documents in Latin from the beginning of the kingdom to the 1840s . \n \n The German name ' was used officially between from 1784 to 1790 and again between 1849 and the 1860s . \n \n The Hungarian name ( ' ) was used in the 1840s , and then again from the 1860s to 1946 . The non-official Hungarian name of the kingdom was ' , which is still the colloquial , and also the official name of Hungary . \n \n The names in the other native languages of the kingdom were : , , , , , , and Italian ( for the city of Fiume ) , ' . \n \n In Austria-Hungary ( 1867–1918 ) , the unofficial name ' was sometimes used to denote the regions covered by the Kingdom of Hungary . Officially , the term Lands of the Holy Hungarian Crown of Saint Stephen was included for the Hungarian part of the Austro-Hungarian Empire , although this term was also in use prior to that time . \n \n Origins \n \n The Hungarians led by Árpád settled the Carpathian Basin in 895 , established Principality of Hungary ( 896–1000 ) . [ https : //books.google.com/books ? id \n kNkTAQAAMAAJ & q % 22age+of+principality % 22+Arpad & dq \n % 22age+of+principality % 22+Arpad & hlen & ei \n 69eOTrrGB4qb0QWhh8EU & saX & oi \n book_result & ctresult & resnum \n 2 & ved=0CDMQ6AEwAQ Acta orientalia Academiae Scientiarum Hungaricae , Volume 36 ] Magyar Tudományos Akadémia ( Hungarian Academy of Sciences ) , 1982 , p. 419 The Hungarians led several successful incursions to Western Europe , until they were stopped by Otto I , Holy Roman Emperor in Battle of Lechfeld . \n \n Capital cities \n \n Middle Ages \n \n High Middle Ages \n \n The principality was succeeded by the Christian Kingdom of Hungary with the coronation of St Stephen I ( son of principal Géza . Originally called Vajk until baptized ) at Esztergom on Christmas Day 1000 . The first kings of the kingdom were from the Árpád dynasty . He fought against Koppány and in 998 , with Bavarian help , defeated him near Veszprém . The Catholic Church received powerful support from Stephen I , who with Christian Hungarians and German knights wanted a Christian kingdom established in Central Europe . Stephen I of Hungary was canonized as a Catholic saint in 1083 and an Orthodox", "qas": [ { "answers": [], "id": "sfq_24348--Kingdom_of_Hungary.txt", "qid": "sfq_24348", "question": "Which present day capital city was the capital of Hungary from 1536 to 1784 because of the Ottoman occupation?" } ] } ] }

{ "paragraphs": [ { "context": "The Rock of Gibraltar ( Spanish and Llanito : Peñón de Gibraltar , sometimes called by its original Latin name , Calpe , ) is a monolithic limestone promontory located in the British overseas territory of Gibraltar , off the southwestern tip of Europe on the Iberian Peninsula . It is 426 m high . The Rock is Crown property of the United Kingdom , and borders Spain . Most of the Rock 's upper area is covered by a nature reserve , which is home to around 300 Barbary macaques . These macaques , as well as a labyrinthine network of tunnels , attract a large number of tourists each year . \n \n The Rock of Gibraltar was one of the Pillars of Hercules and was known to the Romans as Mons Calpe , the other pillar being Mons Abyla or Jebel Musa on the African side of the Strait . In ancient times , the two points marked the limit to the known world , a myth originally fostered by the Greeks and the Phoenicians . \n \n Gibraltar is not the southernmost point of Europe , which is the Punta de Tarifa , at 25 km southwest of Gibraltar , as the crow flies . Gibraltar is surrounded by the Mediterranean Sea and has no contact with the Atlantic Ocean . \n \n Geology \n \n The Rock of Gibraltar is a monolithic promontory . The Main Ridge has a sharp crest with peaks over 400 m above sea level , formed by Early Jurassic limestones and dolomites . It is a deeply eroded and highly faulted limb of an overturned fold . The sedimentary strata comprising the Rock of Gibraltar are overturned ( upside down ) with the oldest strata overlying the youngest strata . These strata are the Catalan Bay Shale Formation ( youngest ) , Gibraltar Limestone , Little Bay Shale Formation ( oldest ) , and Dockyard Shale Formation ( age unknown ) . These strata are noticeably faulted and deformed . \n \n Predominantly of shale , the Catalan Bay Shale Formation also contains thick units composed of either brown calcareous sandstone , soft shaly sandstone interbedded with bluish-black limestone , and interlayered greenish-gray marls and dark gray cherts . The Catalan Bay Shale Formation contains unidentifiable echinoid spines and belemnite fragments and infrequent Early Jurassic ( Middle Lias ) ammonites . \n \n The Gibraltar Limestone consists of greyish-white or pale-gray compact , and sometime finely crystalline , medium to thick bedded limestones and dolomites that locally contain chert seams . This formation comprises about three quarters of the Rock of Gibraltar . Geologists have found various poorly preserved and badly eroded and rolled marine fossils within it . The fossils found in the Gibraltar Limestone include various brachiopods , corals , echinoid fragments , gastropods , pelecypods , and stromatolites . These fossils indicate an Early Jurassic age ( Lower Lias ) for the deposition of the Gibraltar Limestone . \n \n The Little Bay and Dockyard shale formations form a very minor part of the Rock of Gibraltar . The Little Bay Shale Formation consists of dark bluish-gray , unfossiliferous shale , which is interbedded with thin layers of grit , mudstone , and limestone . It predates the Gibraltar Limestone . The Dockyard Shale Formation is an undescribed variegated shale of unknown age that lies buried beneath the Gibraltar 's dockyard and coastal protection structures . \n \n Although these geological formations were deposited during the early part of the Jurassic Period some 175-200 million years ago , their current appearance is due to far more recent events of about 5 million years ago . When the African tectonic plate collided tightly with the Eurasian plate , the Mediterranean became a lake that , over the course of time , dried up during the Messinian salinity crisis . The Atlantic Ocean then broke through the Strait of Gibraltar , and the resultant flooding created the Mediterranean Sea . The Rock forms part of the Betic Cordillera , a mountain range that dominates south-eastern Iberia . \n \n Today , the Rock of Gibraltar forms a peninsula jutting out into the Strait of Gibraltar from the southern coast of Spain . The promontory is linked to the continent by means of a sandy tombolo with a maximum elevation of 3 m. To the north , the Rock rises vertically from sea level up to at Rock Gun Battery . The Rock 's highest point stands 426 m near the south end above the strait at O'Hara 's Battery . The Rock 's central peak , Signal Hill and the top station of the Gibraltar Cable Car , stands at an elevation of 387 m. The near-cliffs along the", "qas": [ { "answers": [ { "answer_start": 139, "text": "limestone" } ], "id": "sfq_21049--Rock_of_Gibraltar.txt", "qid": "sfq_21049", "question": "The Rock of Gibraltar is made of what type of rock?" } ] } ] }

{ "paragraphs": [ { "context": "Horse racing is an equestrian performance sport , involving two or more jockeys riding horses over a set distance for competition . It is one of the most ancient of all sports and its basic premise – to identify which of two or more horses is the fastest over a set course or distance – has remained unchanged since the earliest times . \n \n Horse races vary widely in format . Often , countries have developed their own particular horse racing traditions . Variations include restricting races to particular breeds , running over obstacles , running over different distances , running on different track surfaces and running in different gaits . \n \n While horses are sometimes raced purely for sport , a major part of horse racing 's interest and economic importance lies in the gambling associated with it , an activity that in 2008 generated a world-wide market worth around US $ 115 billion . \n \n History \n \n Horse racing has a long and distinguished history and has been practised in civilisations across the world since ancient times . Archaeological records indicate that horse racing occurred in Ancient Greece , Babylon , Syria , and Egypt . It also plays an important part of myth and legend , such as the contest between the steeds of the god Odin and the giant Hrungnir in Norse mythology . \n \n Chariot racing was one of the most popular ancient Greek , Roman and Byzantine sports . Both chariot and mounted horse racing were events in the ancient Greek Olympics by 648 BC and were important in the other Panhellenic Games . This was despite the fact that chariot racing was often dangerous to both driver and horse as they frequently suffered serious injury and even death . In the Roman Empire , chariot and mounted horse racing were major industries . and from the mid-15th century until 1882 , spring carnival in Rome closed with a horse race . Fifteen to 20 riderless horses , originally imported from the Barbary Coast of North Africa , ran the length of the Via del Corso , a long , straight city street , in about 2½ minutes . \n \n In later times , Thoroughbred racing was , and is , popular with the aristocrats and royalty of British society , earning it the title `` Sport of Kings '' . \n \n Historically , equestrians honed their skills through games and races . Equestrian sports provided entertainment for crowds and honed the excellent horsemanship that was needed in battle . Horse racing of all types evolved from impromptu competitions between riders or drivers . All forms of competition , requiring demanding and specialized skills from both horse and rider , resulted in the systematic development of specialized breeds and equipment for each sport . The popularity of equestrian sports through the centuries has resulted in the preservation of skills that would otherwise have disappeared after horses stopped being used in combat . \n \n Types of horse racing \n \n There are many different types of horse racing , including : \n \n * Flat racing , where horses gallop directly between two points around a straight or oval track . \n * Jump racing , or Jumps racing , also known as Steeplechasing or , in the UK and Ireland , National Hunt racing , where horses race over obstacles . \n * Harness racing , where horses trot or pace while pulling a driver in a sulky . \n * Endurance racing , where horses travel across country over extreme distances , generally ranging from 25 to \n \n Different breeds of horses have developed that excel in each of the specific disciplines . Breeds that are used for flat racing include the Thoroughbred , Quarter Horse , Arabian , Paint , and Appaloosa . Jump racing breeds include the Thoroughbred and AQPS . Harness racing is dominated by Standardbred horses in Australia , New Zealand and North America , but several other breeds , such as the Russian Trotter and Finnhorse , are seen in Europe . \n \n Flat racing \n \n Flat racing is the most common form of racing , seen worldwide . Flat racing tracks are typically oval in shape and are generally level , although in Great Britain and Ireland there is much greater variation , including figure of eight tracks like Windsor , and tracks with often severe gradients and changes of camber , such as Epsom Racecourse . Track surfaces vary with turf most common worldwide , dirt more common in North America , and newly designed synthetic surfaces , such as Polytrack of Tapeta seen at some tracks worldwide . \n \n Individual flat races are", "qas": [ { "answers": [ { "answer_start": 4207, "text": "epsom racecourse" } ], "id": "qf_206--Horse_racing.txt", "qid": "qf_206", "question": "At which racecourse would you watch both the 'Oaks' and the 'Derby'?" } ] } ] }

{ "paragraphs": [ { "context": "The Invisible Woman ( Susan `` Sue '' Storm-Richards ) , previously known as the Invisible Girl , is a fictional superheroine appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics . The character is a founding member of the Fantastic Four and was the first female superhero created by Marvel during the Silver Age of Comics . \n \n Sue Richards received her powers after being exposed to a cosmic storm . Her primary power deals with light waves , allowing her to render herself and others invisible . She can also project powerful fields of invisible psionic energy which she uses for a variety of offensive and defensive effects . Richards plays a central role in the lives of her hot-headed younger brother Johnny Storm , her brilliant husband Reed Richards , her close friend Ben Grimm , and her children ( Franklin and Valeria ) . \n \n An object of infatuation for Doctor Doom and , most notably , Namor the Sub-Mariner , Sue 's passive invisibility power translated into her frequent deployment as a damsel in distress during the team 's early adventures . Upon developing the ability to project powerful fields of energy , Sue Storm became a more powerful member of the Fantastic Four , and the team 's second-in-command with a growing assertive confidence . While Sue operated somewhat in the shadow of her brother and her husband in the early years , she is now the soul of the Fantastic Four and one of the primary heroes in the Marvel Universe . \n \n The Invisible Woman was portrayed by Rebecca Staab in the 1994 film The Fantastic Four , Jessica Alba in the 2005 film Fantastic Four , and its 2007 sequel Fantastic Four : Rise of the Silver Surfer , and Kate Mara in the 2015 film Fantastic Four . \n \n Publication history \n \n Created by writer Stan Lee and artist/co-writer Jack Kirby , the character first appeared in The Fantastic Four # 1 ( Nov. 1961 ) . \n \n Stan Lee did not want Sue to have super strength , `` to be Wonder Woman and punch people '' , so eventually he came to invisibility , inspired by works such as The Invisible Man . His original two-page plot summary for the first issue of The Fantastic Four , reprinted in the Marvel Masterworks edition of the first ten issues , handled Susan 's powers similarly to the Universal Pictures 's `` Invisible '' series , which required her to take off her clothes , but noting concern that that might be `` too sexy '' for a comic book . Sue was initially presented as the sole reason for Ben Grimm , a bad guy , remaining on the group , which was significantly toned down in the published series . \n \n Invisible Woman has primarily appeared in issues of Fantastic Four . Susan 's initial power of invisibility proved to be of minor consequence in the team 's early missions , especially compared to the abilities of the others in the group . In issue 22 ( January , 1964 ) , the creators expanded Sue 's abilities , giving her the power to render other objects and people invisible and create strong force fields and psionic blasts . Despite her enhanced abilities , Susan served primarily as an assistant and second-in-command to Reed in the early years of the series . This changed when John Byrne began his run on the title . Under his authorship , Sue became more confident and assertive in her abilities which became more versatile and impressive . For instance , she found she could use her force field abilities to manipulate matter through the air , immobilize enemies , or administer long-range attacks . Susan changed her nom de guerre to Invisible Woman , and is now recognized as one of the more powerful characters in the Marvel Universe . \n \n Fictional character biography \n \n As detailed in The Marvel Saga : Official History of The Marvel Universe # 16 , Susan Storm , and her younger brother , Jonathan grew up in the town of Glenville , Long Island , children of a physician named Franklin Storm and a woman named Mary . The parents left their kids alone one night to travel to a dinner honoring Dr. Storm . On the way , a tire blew out but only Mary was injured . Franklin escaped injury and insisted on operating on his wife . He was unable to save her and she died . After his wife 's death , Dr. Franklin Storm became a gambler and a drunk , losing his medical practice , which led him to the", "qas": [ { "answers": [ { "answer_start": 231, "text": "fantastic four" } ], "id": "qw_11947--Invisible_Woman.txt", "qid": "qw_11947", "question": "Mr. Fantastic, the Invisible Woman, the Human Torch and the Thing are members of which fictional group?" } ] } ] }

{ "paragraphs": [ { "context": "Aphrodite ( ; Greek : ) is the Greek goddess of love , beauty , pleasure , and procreation . Her Roman equivalent is the goddess .Larousse Desk Reference Encyclopedia , The Book People , Haydock , 1995 , p. 215 . She is identified with the planet Venus . \n \n As with many ancient Greek deities , there is more than one story about her origins . According to Hesiod 's Theogony , she was born when Cronus cut off Uranus 's genitals and threw them into the sea , and she arose from the sea foam ( aphros ) . \n According to Homer 's Iliad , she is the daughter of Zeus and Dione . According to Plato ( Symposium , 180e ) , these two origins were of entirely separate entities : Aphrodite Ourania and Aphrodite Pandemos . \n \n Because of her beauty , other gods feared that their rivalry over her would interrupt the peace among them and lead to war , so Zeus married her to Hephaestus , who , because of his ugliness and deformity , was not seen as a threat . Aphrodite had many lovers—both gods , such as Ares , and men , such as Anchises . She played a role in the Eros and Psyche legend , and later was both Adonis 's lover and his surrogate mother . Many lesser beings were said to be children of Aphrodite . \n \n Aphrodite is also known as Cytherea ( Lady of Cythera ) and Cypris ( Lady of Cyprus ) after the two cult sites , Cythera and Cyprus , which claimed to be her place of birth . Myrtle , doves , sparrows , horses , and swans were said to be sacred to her . The ancient Greeks identified her with the Ancient Egyptian goddess Hathor . \n \n Aphrodite had many other names , such as Acidalia , Cytherea , and Cerigo , each used by a different local cult of the goddess in Greece . The Greeks recognized all of these names as referring to the single goddess Aphrodite , despite the slight differences in what these local cults believed the goddess demanded of them . The Attic philosophers of the 4th century , however , drew a distinction between a celestial Aphrodite ( Aphrodite Urania ) of transcendent principles , and a separate , `` common '' Aphrodite who was the goddess of the people ( Aphrodite Pandemos ) . \n \n Etymology \n \n Hesiod derives Aphrodite from aphrós `` sea-foam , '' interpreting the name as `` risen from the foam '' . Janda , accepting this as genuine , claims the foam birth myth as an Indo-European mytheme . The second part of the compound has been variously analyzed as * odítē `` wanderer '' or * dítē `` bright '' , the latter of which Janda agrees with and interprets the overall meaning as `` she who shines from the foam ( ocean ) '' , supposing the name is a byname of Eos , the dawn goddess . Likewise , Witczak proposes an Indo-European compound ' `` very '' and ' `` to shine '' , also referring to Eos . However , etymologies based on comparison with Eos are unlikely since Aphrodite 's attributes are entirely different from those of Eos ( or the Vedic deity Ushas ) . Finally , the medieval Etymologicum Magnum offers a highly contrived etymology , deriving Aphrodite from the compound habrodíaitos ( ) , `` she who lives delicately '' , from habrós and díaita . The alteration from b to ph is explained as a `` familiar '' characteristic of Greek `` obvious from the Macedonians '' , despite the fact that the name can not be of Macedonian origin . \n \n A number of improbable non-Greek etymologies have been suggested in scholarship . One Semitic etymology compares Aphrodite to the Assyrian barīrītu , the name of a female demon that appears in Middle Babylonian and Late Babylonian texts . Hammarström looks to Etruscan , comparing ( e ) prϑni `` lord '' , an Etruscan honorific loaned into Greek as πρύτανις . This would make the theonym in origin an honorific , `` the lady '' . Hjalmar Frisk and Robert Beekes reject this etymology as implausible , especially since Aphrodite actually appears in Etruscan in the borrowed form Apru ( from Greek Aphrō , clipped form of Aphrodite ) . \n \n Mythology \n \n Birth \n \n Aphrodite is usually said to have been born near her chief center of worship , Paphos , on the island of Cyprus , which is why she is sometimes called `` Cyprian '' , especially in the poetic", "qas": [ { "answers": [ { "answer_start": 1107, "text": "adonis" } ], "id": "sfq_7052--Aphrodite.txt", "qid": "sfq_7052", "question": "In Greek myth who was the beautiful youth, loved by Aphrodite and killed by a boar?" } ] } ] }

{ "paragraphs": [ { "context": "Wind is the flow of gases on a large scale . On the surface of the Earth , wind consists of the bulk movement of air . In outer space , solar wind is the movement of gases or charged particles from the Sun through space , while planetary wind is the outgassing of light chemical elements from a planet 's atmosphere into space . Winds are commonly classified by their spatial scale , their speed , the types of forces that cause them , the regions in which they occur , and their effect . The strongest observed winds on a planet in the Solar System occur on Neptune and Saturn . Winds have various aspects , an important one being its velocity ; another the density of the gas involved ; another its energy content or wind energy . \n \n In meteorology , winds are often referred to according to their strength , and the direction from which the wind is blowing . Short bursts of high speed wind are termed gusts . Strong winds of intermediate duration ( around one minute ) are termed squalls . Long-duration winds have various names associated with their average strength , such as breeze , gale , storm , and hurricane . Wind occurs on a range of scales , from thunderstorm flows lasting tens of minutes , to local breezes generated by heating of land surfaces and lasting a few hours , to global winds resulting from the difference in absorption of solar energy between the climate zones on Earth . The two main causes of large-scale atmospheric circulation are the differential heating between the equator and the poles , and the rotation of the planet ( Coriolis effect ) . Within the tropics , thermal low circulations over terrain and high plateaus can drive monsoon circulations . In coastal areas the sea breeze/land breeze cycle can define local winds ; in areas that have variable terrain , mountain and valley breezes can dominate local winds . \n \n In human civilization , wind has inspired mythology , influenced the events of history , expanded the range of transport and warfare , and provided a power source for mechanical work , electricity and recreation . Wind powers the voyages of sailing ships across Earth 's oceans . Hot air balloons use the wind to take short trips , and powered flight uses it to increase lift and reduce fuel consumption . Areas of wind shear caused by various weather phenomena can lead to dangerous situations for aircraft . When winds become strong , trees and man-made structures are damaged or destroyed . \n \n Winds can shape landforms , via a variety of aeolian processes such as the formation of fertile soils , such as loess , and by erosion . Dust from large deserts can be moved great distances from its source region by the prevailing winds ; winds that are accelerated by rough topography and associated with dust outbreaks have been assigned regional names in various parts of the world because of their significant effects on those regions . Wind also affects the spread of wildfires . Winds can disperse seeds from various plants , enabling the survival and dispersal of those plant species , as well as flying insect populations . When combined with cold temperatures , wind has a negative impact on livestock . Wind affects animals ' food stores , as well as their hunting and defensive strategies . \n \n Causes of wind \n \n Wind is caused by differences in the atmospheric pressure . When a difference in atmospheric pressure exists , air moves from the higher to the lower pressure area , resulting in winds of various speeds . On a rotating planet , air will also be deflected by the Coriolis effect , except exactly on the equator . Globally , the two major driving factors of large-scale wind patterns ( the atmospheric circulation ) are the differential heating between the equator and the poles ( difference in absorption of solar energy leading to buoyancy forces ) and the rotation of the planet . Outside the tropics and aloft from frictional effects of the surface , the large-scale winds tend to approach geostrophic balance . Near the Earth 's surface , friction causes the wind to be slower than it would be otherwise . Surface friction also causes winds to blow more inward into low pressure areas . A new , controversial theory suggests atmospheric gradients are caused by forest induced water condensation resulting in a positive feedback cycle of forests drawing moist air from the coastline . \n \n Winds defined by an equilibrium of physical forces are used in the decomposition and analysis of wind profiles . They", "qas": [ { "answers": [ { "answer_start": 1559, "text": "coriolis effect" } ], "id": "qz_4633--Wind.txt", "qid": "qz_4633", "question": "What is the name of the effect that deflects winds and currents as a result of the Earth's rotation?" } ] } ] }

{ "paragraphs": [ { "context": "Nightflight to Venus is the third album by the band Boney M. , and was released in July 1978 . \n The album became a major success in continental Europe , Scandinavia , and Canada , topping most of the album charts during the second half of 1978 and also became their first UK number one album . Nightflight to Venus includes their worldwide hits `` Rivers of Babylon '' and `` Brown Girl in the Ring '' , a double A-sided single that topped the UK singles chart and has sold over 2 million copies there . The follow-up was another Boney M. classic , `` Rasputin '' , in most countries also a double A-side coupled with `` Painter Man '' , a cover of a 1966 hit by the band The Creation . In the UK , `` Rasputin '' and `` Painter Man '' were released separately as A-sides by Atlantic Records , both reaching the Top 10 . `` Rivers of Babylon '' , which peaked at No . 30 on The Billboard Hot 100 , became their biggest US hit . \n \n In Europe and most other parts of the world the album was followed in November 1978 by the Christmas single , `` Mary 's Boy Child/Oh My Lord '' backed with `` Dancing in the Streets '' , another chart topper – selling over 1.86 million copies in the UK alone . Upon its original 1978 release , these two tracks did not appear on Nightflight to Venus , but they were included on later CD releases of the album . \n \n There were four different pressings of the original Hansa Records vinyl LP , all with slightly altered edits of the tracks . The most significant difference was the length of the title track `` Nightflight to Venus '' . On the very first German pressing it was 7:09 minutes , making the segued medley with the also extended `` Rasputin '' 13:48 in total , the second pressing 5:55 , the third 4:58 and the final and also the one appearing on the UK and US editions 4:46 . The timings given here are those of the 1994 and 2007 CD re-issues . \n \n Track listing \n \n Side A \n \n # `` Nightflight to Venus '' ( Frank Farian , Fred Jay , Dietmar Kawohl ) – 4:46 \n # `` Rasputin '' ( Frank Farian , Fred Jay , George Reyam ( Hans-Jörg Mayer ) ) – 5:57 \n # `` Painter Man '' ( Eddie Phillips , Kenny Pickett ) – 3:10 \n # `` He Was a Steppenwolf '' ( Frank Farian , Fred Jay , Stefan Klinkhammer ) – 6:51 \n # `` King of the Road '' ( Roger Miller ) – 2:35 \n \n Side B \n \n # `` Rivers of Babylon '' ( Brent Dowe , Trevor McNaughton , Frank Farian , George Reyam ) – 4:18 \n # `` Voodoonight '' ( Giorgio Sgarbi ) – 3:31 \n # `` Brown Girl in the Ring '' ( Traditional ; arranged by Frank Farian ) – 4:02 \n # `` Never Change Lovers in the Middle of the Night '' ( Mats Björklund , Keith Forsey , Fred Jay ) – 5:32 \n # `` Heart of Gold '' ( Neil Young ) – 4:00 \n \n Personnel \n \n * Liz Mitchell – lead vocals ( A3 , B1 , B3 , B5 ) , backing vocals \n * Marcia Barrett – lead vocals ( A1 , A5 , B4 ) backing vocals \n * Frank Farian – lead vocals ( A2 , B2 ) backing vocals \n * Bill Swisher – robot voice on A1 , narrator on A2 \n * The Rhythm Machine – musicians \n * Keith Forsey – drums \n * Nick Woodland – guitar \n * Mats Björklund – guitar \n * Gary Unwin – bass guitar \n * `` Chico '' de los Reyes – keyboards \n * Bernd Kohn – marimba , perc \n * R. Ehrhardt – \n \n Production \n \n * Frank Farian – producer \n * Christian Kolonovits – arranger \n * Johan Daansen – arranger \n * Mats Björklund – arranger \n * Michael Cretu – arranger \n * Stefan Klinkhammer – arranger \n * Fred Schreier – sound engineer \n * Hartmut Pfannmüller – sound engineer \n * John Lund – sound engineer \n * Tammy Grohé – sound engineer \n * Manfred Vormstein – art direction \n * Didi Zill – photography \n * Dengler/Kohlmeier – design \n * Recorded at Europasound Studios , Offenbach and Union Studios , Munich \n * Mixed at Europasound Studios , Offenbach \n \n Release history", "qas": [ { "answers": [ { "answer_start": 52, "text": "boney m" } ], "id": "qb_6949--Nightflight_to_Venus.txt", "qid": "qb_6949", "question": "Which German-based group released a 1978 album entitled ‘Nightflight to Venus’?" } ] } ] }

{ "paragraphs": [ { "context": "742 Evergreen Terrace is the fictional street address in Springfield of the Simpson family home in the animated sitcom , The Simpsons and in the feature film The Simpsons Movie . In the series , the house is owned by Homer and Marge Simpson who live with their three children Bart , Lisa , and Maggie . The street name is a reference to The Evergreen State College in Olympia , Washington , creator Matt Groening 's alma mater . \n \n To the left of the Simpsons ' house ( as seen from the street ) is Ned Flanders ' house , at 744 Evergreen Terrace . [ http : //www.bbc.co.uk/cult/simpsons/episodeguide/season9/page9.shtml BBC - Cult - The Simpsons : Season Nine Episode Guide - Realty Bites ] The house on the right has been occupied by numerous owners , including Ruth and Laura Powers , Sideshow Bob , and the extended Flanders family ( Ted Flanders and his daughters Connie and Bonnie ) . \n \n In 1997 , a real-life replica of the house was constructed at 712 Red Bark Lane in Henderson , Nevada , and given away as the grand prize in a contest . \n \n Design \n \n This old house is a light pink ( later in the series , the house becomes light brown ) two-story detached house with an attached garage , basement , and loft . A suburban tract house , the building is at least 50 ft wide . The arched front door leads directly into the foyer where an arch to the left leads to the sitting room , and one to the right leads into the dining room . There is also a small cupboard and stairs to the second floor . The sitting room and the dining room both feature bay windows . At the back of the house is the living room and the kitchen . Toward the house 's rear are stairs to the basement , which are replaced by a closet in some episodes . Though rarely seen , there is also a hallway off the kitchen leading to a recreation room . \n \n The second story of the house features the bedrooms , including Marge and Homer 's bedroom ( with an ensuite bathroom ) , Bart 's bedroom , Lisa 's bedroom , and Maggie 's bedroom . There is also a bathroom , often shown in inconsistent places in different episodes . On the landing , there is a hatch that leads to the attic . The episode `` Lisa 's Wedding '' , set fifteen years in the future , shows a wooden addition to the second floor , built ( rather poorly ) by Homer , which functions as a guest bedroom , but Homer warns Lisa and her fiancé that , `` If the building inspector asks , it 's not a room . It 's a window box '' . \n \n The back yard of the house is surrounded by a wooden picket fence and a low box hedge . It features a patio and Bart 's treehouse , from which The Simpsons annual `` Treehouse of Horror '' Halloween specials take their name . Occasionally , there is a hammock tied to two trees near the fence that borders Ned Flanders 's backyard . \n \n Features and furniture \n \n The basement always includes a washing machine , a clothes dryer , and , after the episode `` Blood Feud '' , a large Olmec statue of a head which was a present from Mr. Burns given to Bart in that episode . The appearance of other features such as a furnace , ping-pong table , air hockey set , and water softener varies from episode to episode . The basement is often used as a `` secret lair '' , where Homer hides after faking the kidnapping of Mr. Burns 's son in `` Burns , Baby Burns '' , brews alcohol to beat prohibition in `` Homer vs. the Eighteenth Amendment '' , hides his superhero operation as Pie Man in `` Simple Simpson '' , and where Marge hides during a spell of agoraphobia in `` Strong Arms of the Ma '' . Bart hints in one episode that the basement has a problem with radon gas , then lets a homeless man sleep there in `` The Day the Violence Died '' . It is revealed in the episode `` Father Knows Worst '' that there is a sauna behind the water heater that was covered up by paint and dust , but which Marge accidentally found . So far , only Marge and Homer have been shown to know its location . \n \n The house has two", "qas": [ { "answers": [ { "answer_start": 125, "text": "simpsons" } ], "id": "sfq_5008--The_Simpsons_house.txt", "qid": "sfq_5008", "question": "Which TV family live at 742 Evergreen Terrace?" } ] } ] }

{ "paragraphs": [ { "context": "Kentucky ( , ) , officially the Commonwealth of Kentucky , is a state located in the east south-central region of the United States . Kentucky is one of four U.S. states constituted as a commonwealth ( the others being Virginia , Pennsylvania , and Massachusetts ) . Originally a part of Virginia , in 1792 Kentucky became the 15th state to join the Union . Kentucky is the 37th most extensive and the 26th most populous of the 50 United States . \n \n Kentucky is known as the `` Bluegrass State '' , a nickname based on the bluegrass found in many of its pastures due to the fertile soil . One of the major regions in Kentucky is the Bluegrass Region in central Kentucky , which houses two of its major cities , Louisville and Lexington . It is a land with diverse environments and abundant resources , including the world 's longest cave system , Mammoth Cave National Park , the greatest length of navigable waterways and streams in the contiguous United States , and the two largest man-made lakes east of the Mississippi River . \n \n Kentucky is also known for horse racing , bourbon distilleries , the historic site My Old Kentucky Home , automobile manufacturing , tobacco , bluegrass music , college basketball , and Kentucky Fried Chicken . \n \n Etymology \n \n In 1776 , the counties of Virginia beyond the Appalachian Mountains became known as Kentucky County , named for the Kentucky River . \n The precise etymology of the name is uncertain , but likely based on an Iroquoian name meaning `` ( on ) the meadow '' or `` ( on ) the prairie '' ( cf . Mohawk kenhtà : ke , Seneca gëdá ’ geh ( phonemic ) , `` at the field '' ) . \n \n Geography \n \n Kentucky is situated in the Upland South . A significant portion of eastern Kentucky is part of Appalachia . \n \n Kentucky borders seven states , from the Midwest and the Southeast . West Virginia lies to the east , Virginia to the southeast , Tennessee to the south , Missouri to the west , Illinois and Indiana to the northwest , and Ohio to the north and northeast . Only Missouri and Tennessee , both of which border eight states , touch more . \n \n Kentucky 's northern border is formed by the Ohio River and its western border by the Mississippi River . The official state borders are based on the courses of the rivers as they existed when Kentucky became a state in 1792 . In several places , the rivers have changed courses away from the original borders . For instance , northbound travelers on U.S. 41 from Henderson , after crossing the Ohio River , will be in Kentucky for about two miles . Ellis Park , a thoroughbred racetrack , is located in this small piece of Kentucky . Waterworks Road is part of the only land border between Indiana and Kentucky . \n \n Kentucky has a non-contiguous part known as Kentucky Bend , at the far west corner of the state . It exists as an exclave surrounded completely by Missouri and Tennessee , and is included in the boundaries of Fulton County . Road access to this small part of Kentucky on the Mississippi River ( populated by only 18 people as of 2010 ) requires a trip through Tennessee . The epicenter of the powerful 1811–1812 New Madrid Earthquakes was near this area , even causing the river to flow backwards in some places . Though the series of quakes did change the area geologically and affect the ( small number of ) inhabitants of the area at the time , the Kentucky Bend was formed because of a surveying error , not the New Madrid Earthquake . \n \n Regions \n \n Kentucky can be divided into five primary regions : the Cumberland Plateau in the east , the north-central Bluegrass region , the south-central and western Pennyroyal Plateau ( also known as the Pennyrile or Mississippi Plateau ) , the Western Coal Fields and the far-west Jackson Purchase . \n \n The Bluegrass region is commonly divided into two regions , the Inner Bluegrass—the encircling 90 miles ( 145 km ) around Lexington—and the Outer Bluegrass—the region that contains most of the northern portion of the state , above the Knobs . Much of the outer Bluegrass is in the Eden Shale Hills area , made up of short , steep , and very narrow hills . \n \n The Jackson Purchase and western Pennyrile are home to several bald cypress/tupelo swamps . \n \n Climate \n \n Located within the", "qas": [ { "answers": [ { "answer_start": 717, "text": "ville" } ], "id": "odql_9953--Kentucky.txt", "qid": "odql_9953", "question": "Despite not being the capital, which is the largest city by population in Kentucky?" } ] } ] }

{ "paragraphs": [ { "context": "Seville ( ; , ) is the capital and largest city of the autonomous community of Andalusia and the province of Seville , Spain . It is situated on the plain of the River Guadalquivir . The inhabitants of the city are known as sevillanos ( feminine form : sevillanas ) or hispalenses , after the Roman name of the city , Hispalis . Seville has a municipal population of about 703,000 , and a metropolitan population of about 1.5 million , making it the fourth-largest city in Spain and the 30th most populous municipality in the European Union . Its Old Town , the third largest in Europe with an area of 4 km² , contains three UNESCO World Heritage Sites : the Alcázar palace complex , the Cathedral and the General Archive of the Indies . The Seville harbour , located about 80 km from the Atlantic Ocean , is the only river port in Spain . Seville is also the hottest major metropolitan area in Europe , with summer average high temperatures of above 35 °C . \n \n Seville was founded as the Roman city of Hispalis . It later became known as Ishbiliya ( ) after the Muslim conquest in 712 . During the Muslim rule in Spain , Seville came under the jurisdiction of the Caliphate of Córdoba before becoming the independent Taifa of Seville ; later it was ruled by the Muslim Almoravids and the Almohads until finally being incorporated into the Christian Kingdom of Castile under Ferdinand III in 1248 . After the discovery of the Americas , Seville became one of the economic centres of the Spanish Empire as its port monopolised the trans-oceanic trade and the Casa de Contratación ( House of Trade ) wielded its power , opening a Golden Age of arts and literature . In 1519 , Ferdinand Magellan departed from Seville for the first circumnavigation of the Earth . Coinciding with the Baroque period of European history , the 17th century in Seville represented the most brilliant flowering of the city 's culture ; then began a gradual economic and demographic decline as silting in the Guadalquivir forced the trade monopoly to relocate to the nearby port of Cádiz . \n \n The 20th century in Seville saw the tribulations of the Spanish Civil War , decisive cultural milestones such as the Ibero-American Exposition of 1929 and Expo '92 , and the city 's election as the capital of the Autonomous Community of Andalusia . \n \n Name \n \n Etymology \n \n Spal is the oldest known name for Seville . It appears to have originated during the Phoenician colonisation of the Tartessian culture in south-western Iberia and , according to Manuel Pellicer Catalán , meant `` lowland '' in the Phoenician language ( similar to the Hebrew Shfela ) . During Roman rule , the name was Latinised as Hispalis . After the Umayyad invasion , this name was adapted into Arabic as Ishbiliyya ( Arabic ) ; since `` p '' does not exist in Arabic , it was replaced by `` b '' , the Latin place-name suffix -is was replaced by its direct Arabic equivalent -iyya , and stressed `` a '' /æ/ turned into `` i '' /i/ , due to the phonetic phenomenon called imela . \n \n Motto \n \n `` NO8DO '' is the official motto of Seville . It is popularly believed to be a rebus signifying the Spanish `` No me ha dejado '' , meaning `` It [ Seville ] has not abandoned me '' but pronounced with synalepha as . The eight in the middle represents a madeja , or skein of wool . Legend states that the title was given by King Alfonso X , who was resident in the city 's Alcazar and supported by the citizens when his son , later Sancho IV of Castille , tried to usurp the throne from him . The emblem is present on the municipal flag and features on city property such as manhole covers , and Christopher Columbus 's tomb in the Cathedral . \n \n History \n \n Seville is approximately 2,200 years old . The passage of the various civilisations instrumental in its growth has left the city with a distinct personality , and a large and well-preserved historical centre . \n \n Early periods \n \n The mythological founder of the city is Hercules ( Heracles ) , commonly identified with the Phoenician god Melqart , who the myth says sailed through the Strait of Gibraltar to the Atlantic , and founded trading posts at the current sites of Cádiz and of Seville . \n \n The city was known from Roman times as Hispalis . Important archaeological remains also", "qas": [ { "answers": [ { "answer_start": 3647, "text": "topher columbus" } ], "id": "qw_12814--Seville.txt", "qid": "qw_12814", "question": "Whose remains, after he died in 1506 at Valladolid, Mexico, were taken to San Domingo then Havana, and then, in 1898, to Seville?" } ] } ] }

{ "paragraphs": [ { "context": "A non-metropolitan county , or shire county , is a county-level entity in England that is not a metropolitan county . The counties typically have populations of 300,000 to 1.4 million . The term shire county is , however , an unofficial usage . Many of the non-metropolitan counties bear historic names and most end in the suffix `` -shire '' such as Wiltshire or Staffordshire . Of the remainder , some counties had the -shire ending and have lost it over time ; such as Devon and Somerset . `` Shire county '' is , strictly , a dual-language tautology since the French-derived `` county '' means the same as the older Anglo-Saxon word `` shire '' . \n \n Origins \n \n Prior to 1974 local government had been divided between single-tier county boroughs ( the largest towns and cities ) and two-tier administrative counties which were subdivided into municipal boroughs and urban and rural districts . The Local Government Act 1972 , which came into effect on 1 April 1974 , divided England outside Greater London and the six largest conurbations into thirty-nine non-metropolitan counties . Each county was divided into anywhere between two and fourteen non-metropolitan districts . There was a uniform two-tier system of local government with county councils dealing with `` wide-area '' services such as education , fire services and the police , and district councils exercising more local powers over areas such as planning , housing and refuse collection . \n \n As originally constituted , the non-metropolitan counties were largely based on existing counties , although they did include a number of innovations . Some counties were based on areas surrounding large county boroughs or were formed by the mergers of smaller counties . Examples of the first category are Avon ( based on Bath and Bristol ) and Cleveland ( based on Teesside ) . Examples of the second category are Hereford and Worcester and Cumbria . The counties were adopted for all statutory purposes : a lord-lieutenant and high sheriff was appointed to each county , and they were also used for judicial administration , and definition of police force areas . The Royal Mail adopted the counties for postal purposes in most areas . \n \n Changes \n \n 1995–1998 \n \n A Local Government Commission was appointed in 1992 to review the administrative structure of the non-metropolitan counties . It was anticipated that a system of unitary authorities would entirely replace the two-tier system . The Commission faced competing claims from former county boroughs wishing to regain unitary status and advocates for the restoration of such small counties as Herefordshire and Rutland . The review led to the introduction of unitary local government in some areas but not in others . In the majority of unitary authorities an existing district council took over powers from the county council . The 1972 Act required that all areas outside Greater London form part of a non-metropolitan county , and that all such counties should contain at least one district . Accordingly , the statutory instruments that effected the reorganisation separated the unitary districts from the county in which they were situated and constituted them as counties . The orders also provided that the provisions of the 1972 Act that every county should have a county council should not apply in the new counties , with the district council exercising the powers of the county council . \n \n An exception was made in the case of Berkshire , which was retained with its existing boundaries in spite of the abolition of its county council and the creation of six unitary authorities . This was done in order to preserve its status as a royal county . \n \n With the creation of numerous new non-metropolitan counties , the areas used for lieutenancy and shrievalty began to diverge from local government areas . This led to the development of ceremonial counties for these purposes , a fact recognised by the Lieutenancies Act 1997 . \n \n 2009 \n \n A further wave of unitary authorities were created in 2009 under the terms of the Local Government and Public Involvement in Health Act 2007 . While a number of new county counties were created , several of the new authorities ( such as Cornwall or Northumberland ) continued to have the boundaries set in 1974 . \n \n List of non-metropolitan counties \n \n The following list shows the original thirty-nine counties formed in 1974 , subsequent changes in the 1990s , and further changes in 2009 . \n \n † The name of the non-metropolitan district and district council was changed to `` North Somerset '' by resolution of the council 11 July 1995 . However this did not change", "qas": [ { "answers": [ { "answer_start": 482, "text": "somerset" } ], "id": "sfq_15253--Non-metropolitan_county.txt", "qid": "sfq_15253", "question": "In which County are Wells, Bridgewater and Yeovil?" } ] } ] }

{ "paragraphs": [ { "context": "Chamber music is a form of classical music that is composed for a small group of instruments—traditionally a group that could fit in a palace chamber or a large room . Most broadly , it includes any art music that is performed by a small number of performers , with one performer to a part ( in contrast to orchestral music , in which each string part is played by a number of performers ) . However , by convention , it usually does not include solo instrument performances . \n \n Because of its intimate nature , chamber music has been described as `` the music of friends '' . For more than 100 years , chamber music was played primarily by amateur musicians in their homes , and even today , when chamber music performance has migrated from the home to the concert hall , many musicians , amateur and professional , still play chamber music for their own pleasure . Playing chamber music requires special skills , both musical and social , that differ from the skills required for playing solo or symphonic works . \n \n Johann Wolfgang von Goethe described chamber music ( specifically , string quartet music ) as `` four rational people conversing '' . This conversational paradigm–which refers to the way one instrument introduces a melody or motif and then other instruments subsequently `` respond '' with a similar motif–has been a thread woven through the history of chamber music composition from the end of the 18th century to the present . The analogy to conversation recurs in descriptions and analyses of chamber music compositions . \n \n History \n \n From its earliest beginnings in the Medieval period to the present , chamber music has been a reflection of the changes in the technology and the society that produced it . \n \n Early beginnings \n \n During the Middle Ages and the early Renaissance , instruments were used primarily as accompaniment for singers . String players would play along with the melody line sung by the singer . There were also purely instrumental ensembles , often of stringed precursors of the violin family , called consorts . \n \n Some analysts consider the origin of classical instrumental ensembles to be the sonata da camera ( chamber sonata ) and the sonata da chiesa ( church sonata ) . These were compositions for one to five or more instruments . The sonata da camera was a suite of slow and fast movements , interspersed with dance tunes ; the sonata da chiesa was the same , but the dances were omitted . These forms gradually developed into the trio sonata of the Baroque – two treble instruments and a bass instrument , often with a keyboard or other chording instrument ( harpsichord , organ , harp or lute , for example ) filling in the harmony . Both the bass instrument and the chordal instrument would play the basso continuo part . \n \n During the Baroque period , chamber music as a genre was not clearly defined . Often , works could be played on any variety of instruments , in orchestral or chamber ensembles . The Art of Fugue by Johann Sebastian Bach , for example , can be played on a keyboard instrument ( harpsichord or organ ) or by a string quartet or a string orchestra . The instrumentation of trio sonatas was also often flexibly specified ; some of Handel 's sonatas are scored for `` German flute , Hoboy [ oboe ] or Violin '' Solos for a German Flute , a Hoboy or a Violin published by John Walsh , c. 1730 . Bass lines could be played by violone , cello , theorbo , or bassoon , and sometimes three or four instruments would join in the bass line in unison . Sometimes composers mixed movements for chamber ensembles with orchestral movements . Telemann 's 'Tafelmusik ' ( 1733 ) , for example , has five sets of movements for various combinations of instruments , ending with a full orchestral section . \n \n Baroque chamber music was often contrapuntal ; that is , each instrument played the same melodic materials at different times , creating a complex , interwoven fabric of sound . Because each instrument was playing essentially the same melodies , all the instruments were equal . In the trio sonata , there is often no ascendent or solo instrument , but all three instruments share equal importance . \n \n The harmonic role played by the keyboard or other chording instrument was subsidiary , and usually the keyboard part was not even written out ; rather , the chordal structure of the piece was specified by numeric codes over", "qas": [ { "answers": [ { "answer_start": 2524, "text": "two" } ], "id": "qw_390--Chamber_music.txt", "qid": "qw_390", "question": "Normally, a string quintet contains how many violins?" } ] } ] }

{ "paragraphs": [ { "context": "Them were a Northern Irish band formed in Belfast in April 1964 , most prominently known for the garage rock standard `` Gloria '' and launching singer Van Morrison 's musical career . The original five member band consisted of Morrison , Alan Henderson , Ronnie Milling , Billy Harrison and Eric Wrixon . The group was marketed in the United States as part of the British Invasion . \n \n Them scored two UK hits in 1965 with `` Baby , Please Do n't Go '' ( UK # 10 ) and `` Here Comes the Night '' ( UK # 2 ; Ireland # 2 ) . The latter song and `` Mystic Eyes '' were Top 40 hits in the US . \n \n Morrison quit the band in 1966 and went on to a successful career as a solo artist . Despite their relatively few hit singles , the Belfast group had considerable influence on other bands , such as the Doors . \n \n Formation \n \n In April 1964 , Van Morrison established an R & B club at the Maritime Hotel , Belfast with entrepreneurs Jimmy Conlon , Jerry McKernan and Gerry McKervey ( known as the `` 3Js '' ) . Morrison gave notice to the group with which he performed at the time , the Golden Eagles . With an anticipated opening night for the new R & B club approaching , he embarked on a mission to find his ideal line-up . He had recently been introduced to The Gamblers , an East Belfast group formed in 1962 by Ronnie Milling ( drums , born 27 April 1940 ) , Billy Harrison ( guitar and lead vocals , born William Harrison on 14 October 1942 ) , and Alan Henderson ( bass guitar , born 26 November 1944 ) . Eric Wrixon , who was still in school , had been recruited as piano player and keyboardist . Morrison joined in on tenor saxophone , harmonica and vocals . The group rehearsed over Dougie Knight 's bicycle shop in Shaftesbury Square , Belfast in preparation for their debut at the Maritime . As the group now felt they needed a new name , they followed Eric Wrixon 's suggestion and the Gamblers changed to Them after the 1954 sci-fi horror film . \n \n Maritime Hotel \n \n On 14 April 1964 , an advertisement in a Belfast newspaper asked : `` Who Are ? What Are ? THEM '' . Similarly curious advertisements followed until the Friday before the gig ( 17 April 1964 ) announced that Them would be performing that evening at Club Rado at the Maritime Hotel . Attendance at the two hundred capacity venue quickly grew with a packed house by the third week . \n \n Them performed without a routine , fired by the crowd 's energy : Morrison later commented that while the band was `` out of our element '' making records ... `` The way we did the numbers at the Maritime was more spontaneous , more energetic , more everything , because we were feeding off the crowd . '' Morrison ad libbed songs as he performed and `` Gloria '' , the classic song he had written at eighteen years old , took shape here and could last up to twenty minutes . According to Morrison , `` Them lived and died on the stage at the Maritime Hotel '' but only very rudimentary recordings survive . One fan 's recording , of `` Turn On Your Love Light '' , the group 's most popular number , made its way to Mervyn and Phil Solomon , who contacted Decca Records ' Dick Rowe , who then travelled to Belfast to hear Them perform . Rowe and Phil Solomon agreed on a two-year contract with the members of the band then signed up to Solomon . Morrison , at eighteen , had to have his father sign for him . Within a few weeks , the group was taken to England and into Decca 's recording studio in West Hampstead for their first recording session . \n \n With Decca \n \n Them 's first recording session took place in London on 5 July 1964 . `` Turn on Your Love Light '' and `` Gloria '' were recorded during this session as were both sides of their first single , `` Do n't Start Crying Now '' and `` One Two Brown Eyes '' as well as `` Groovin ' '' , `` Philosophy '' and Bo Diddley 's `` You Ca n't Judge a Book by Its Cover '' . This session was remarkable in its employment of two drums tracks , which can be clearly", "qas": [ { "answers": [ { "answer_start": 152, "text": "van morrison" } ], "id": "qz_274--Them_(band).txt", "qid": "qz_274", "question": "Who was the lead singer of the 1960s Irish group, Them?" } ] } ] }

{ "paragraphs": [ { "context": "A tachyon or tachyonic particle is a hypothetical particle that always moves faster than light . Most physicists believe that faster-than-light particles can not exist because they are not consistent with the known laws of physics . If such particles did exist , they could be used to build a tachyonic antitelephone and send signals faster than light , which ( according to special relativity ) would lead to violations of causality . \n \n In the 1967 paper that coined the term , Gerald Feinberg proposed that tachyonic particles could be quanta of a quantum field with imaginary mass . However , it was soon realized that excitations of such imaginary mass fields do not in fact propagate faster than light , and instead represent an instability known as tachyon condensation . Nevertheless , in modern physics the term `` tachyon '' often refers to imaginary mass fields rather than to faster-than-light particles . Such fields have come to play a significant role in modern physics . \n \n The term comes from the , tachy , meaning `` rapid '' . The complementary particle types are called luxons ( which always move at the speed of light ) and bradyons ( which always move slower than light ) ; both of these particle types are known to exist . The possibility of particles moving faster than light was first proposed by O. M. P. Bilaniuk , V. K. Deshpande , and E. C. G. Sudarshan in 1962 , although the term they used for it was `` meta-particle '' . \n \n Despite theoretical arguments against the existence of faster-than-light particles , experiments have been conducted to search for them . No compelling evidence for their existence has been found . In September 2011 , it was reported that a tau neutrino had travelled faster than the speed of light in a major release by CERN ; however , later updates from CERN on the OPERA project indicate that the faster-than-light readings were resultant from `` a faulty element of the experiment 's fibre optic timing system '' . \n \n Tachyons in relativistic theory \n \n In special relativity , a faster-than-light particle would have space-like four-momentum , in contrast to ordinary particles that have time-like four-momentum . It would also have imaginary mass and proper time . Being constrained to the spacelike portion of the energy–momentum graph , it could not slow down to subluminal speeds . \n \n Mass \n \n In a Lorentz invariant theory , the same formulas that apply to ordinary slower-than-light particles ( sometimes called `` bradyons '' in discussions of tachyons ) must also apply to tachyons . In particular the energy–momentum relation : \n E^2 = ( pc ) ^2+ ( mc^2 ) ^2 \\ ; \n ( where p is the relativistic momentum of the bradyon and m is its rest mass ) should still apply , along with the formula for the total energy of a particle : \n E = \\frac { mc^2 } { \\sqrt { 1 - \\frac { v^2 } { c^2 } } } . \n This equation shows that the total energy of a particle ( bradyon or tachyon ) contains a contribution from its rest mass ( the `` rest mass–energy '' ) and a contribution from its motion , the kinetic energy . \n When v is larger than c , the denominator in the equation for the energy is `` imaginary '' , as the value under the radical is negative . Because the total energy must be real , the numerator must also be imaginary : i.e . the rest mass m must be imaginary , as a pure imaginary number divided by another pure imaginary number is a real number . \n \n Speed \n \n One curious effect is that , unlike ordinary particles , the speed of a tachyon increases as its energy decreases . In particular , E approaches zero when v approaches infinity . ( For ordinary bradyonic matter , E increases with increasing speed , becoming arbitrarily large as v approaches c , the speed of light ) . Therefore , just as bradyons are forbidden to break the light-speed barrier , so too are tachyons forbidden from slowing down to below c , because infinite energy is required to reach the barrier from either above or below . \n \n As noted by Einstein , Tolman , and others , special relativity implies that faster-than-light particles , if they existed , could be used to communicate backwards in time . \n \n Neutrinos \n \n In 1985 Chodos proposed that neutrinos can have a tachyonic nature . The possibility of standard model particles moving at superluminal speeds can be modeled", "qas": [ { "answers": [ { "answer_start": 2333, "text": "subluminal" } ], "id": "bb_3983--Tachyon.txt", "qid": "bb_3983", "question": "In physics a tachyon is a hypothetical particle which has what characteristic?" } ] } ] }

{ "paragraphs": [ { "context": "The word Japan ( or Japon ) is an exonym , and is used ( in one form or another ) by a large number of languages . The Japanese names for Japan are Nippon ( にっぽん ) and Nihon ( にほん ) . They are both written in Japanese using the kanji 日本 . \n \n History \n \n Both Nippon and Nihon literally mean `` the sun 's origin '' , that is , where the sun originates , and are often translated as the Land of the Rising Sun . This nomenclature comes from Imperial correspondence with the Chinese Sui Dynasty and refers to Japan 's eastern position relative to China . Before Nihon came into official use , Japan was known as or . Wa was a name early China used to refer to an ethnic group living in Japan around the time of the Three Kingdoms Period . \n \n Although the etymological origins of `` Wa '' remain uncertain , Chinese historical texts recorded an ancient people residing in the Japanese archipelago ( perhaps Kyūshū ) , named something like * ʼWâ or * ʼWər 倭. Carr ( 1992:9–10 ) surveys prevalent proposals for Wa 's etymology ranging from feasible ( transcribing Japanese first-person pronouns waga 我が `` my ; our '' and ware 我 `` I ; oneself ; thou '' ) to shameful ( writing Japanese Wa as 倭 implying `` dwarf '' ) , and summarizes interpretations for * ʼWâ `` Japanese '' into variations on two etymologies : `` behaviorally 'submissive ' or physically 'short ' . '' The first `` submissive ; obedient '' explanation began with the ( 121 CE ) Shuowen Jiezi dictionary . It defines 倭 as shùnmào 順皃 `` obedient/submissive/docile appearance '' , graphically explains the `` person ; human '' radical 亻 with a wěi 委 `` bent '' phonetic , and quotes the above Shijing poem . `` Conceivably , when Chinese first met Japanese , '' Carr ( 1992:9 ) suggests `` they transcribed Wa as * ʼWâ 'bent back ' signifying 'compliant ' bowing/obeisance . Bowing is noted in early historical references to Japan . '' Examples include `` Respect is shown by squatting '' ( Hou Han Shu , tr . Tsunoda 1951:2 ) , and `` they either squat or kneel , with both hands on the ground . This is the way they show respect . '' ( Wei Zhi , tr . Tsunoda 1951:13 ) . Koji Nakayama interprets wēi 逶 `` winding '' as `` very far away '' and euphemistically translates Wō 倭 as `` separated from the continent . '' The second etymology of wō 倭 meaning `` dwarf , pygmy '' has possible cognates in ǎi 矮 `` low , short ( of stature ) '' , wō 踒 `` strain ; sprain ; bent legs '' , and wò 臥 `` lie down ; crouch ; sit ( animals and birds ) '' . Early Chinese dynastic histories refer to a Zhūrúguó 侏儒國 `` pygmy/dwarf country '' located south of Japan , associated with possibly Okinawa Island or the Ryukyu Islands . Carr cites the historical precedence of construing Wa as `` submissive people '' and the `` Country of Dwarfs '' legend as evidence that the `` little people '' etymology was a secondary development . \n \n Chinese , Korean , and Japanese scribes regularly wrote Wa or Yamato `` Japan '' with the Chinese character 倭 until the 8th century , when the Japanese found fault with it due to its offensive connotation , replacing it with 和 `` harmony , peace , balance '' . Retroactively , this character was adopted in Japan to refer to the country itself , often combined with the character 大 , literally meaning `` Great '' , so as to write the preexisting name Yamato ( 大和 ) ( in a manner similar to e.g . 大清帝國 Great Qing Empire , 大英帝國 Greater British Empire ) . However , the pronunciation Yamato can not be formed from the sounds of its constituent characters ; it refers to a place in Japan and is speculated to originally mean `` Mountain Gate '' ( 山戸 ) . Such words which use certain kanji to name a certain Japanese word solely for the purpose of representing the word 's meaning regardless of the given kanji 's on'yomi or kun'yomi , a.k.a . jukujikun , is not uncommon in Japanese . Other original names in Chinese texts include Yamatai country ( 邪馬台国 ) , where a Queen Himiko lived . When hi no moto , the indigenous Japanese way of saying `` sun 's origin '' , was written in kanji , it was given the", "qas": [ { "answers": [ { "answer_start": 168, "text": "nihon" } ], "id": "jp_1951--Names_of_Japan.txt", "qid": "jp_1951", "question": "\"What country is \"\"the land of the rising sun\"\"?\"" } ] } ] }

{ "paragraphs": [ { "context": "The National Union of Rail , Maritime and Transport Workers ( commonly known as the RMT ) is a British trade union covering the transport sector . \n \n The RMT is one of Britain 's fastest growing trade unions . The RMT membership rose under and following the leadership of Bob Crow , with membership increasing from 57,000 in 2002 to over 80,000 members in the United Kingdom , Ireland and the Crown Dependencies today . \n \n History \n \n The RMT was formed in 1990 through a merger of the National Union of Railwaymen ( NUR ) and the National Union of Seamen ( NUS ) to create a single transport industry trade union . \n \n Political activity \n \n The predecessor unions to the National Union of Railwaymen and the National Union of Seamen were founding members of the original Labour Representation Committee and after its creation the RMT became a prominent voice on the left of the Labour Party . In 2003 some Scottish branches of the RMT voted to donate some of their funds to the Scottish Socialist Party in protest against the policies of Tony Blair and New Labour , such as not renationalising the railways . This led the Labour Party to disaffiliate from the union in early 2004 for breaching Party rules . \n \n The RMT announced in 2009 that it would be standing a slate of candidates in the 2009 European Parliament elections under the banner of No to EU – Yes to Democracy , a broad left-wing alter-globalisation coalition which aims to offer an alternative to the `` anti-foreigner '' and pro-business policies of the UK Independence Party . The RMT then became a founding member of the Trade Unionist and Socialist Coalition , a left wing political party which has contested the 2010 and 2015 general elections . \n \n RMT is in favour of the UK 's withdrawal from the European Union in the 2016 referendum on the subject . However , Sean Hoyle , Peter Pinkney , Paul McDonnell and John Reid from RMT have signed a letter in The Guardian newspaper , which opposes the Electoral Commission choosing Leave.EU , Vote Leave or Grassroots Out as the official group advocating for British withdrawal in the referendum , saying that : We call on the commission not to give taxpayers ' money to the Tory and Ukip-dominated Vote Leave , Leave.EU or Grassroots Out campaigns , or any amalgam of them ... We believe there are millions of trade unionists , young people , anti-austerity campaigners and working-class voters , whose opposition to the big business-dominated EU would not be represented by these organisations . ... We call on the Electoral Commission to recognise that a significant proportion of those who will vote against the EU do so because they support basic socialist policies of workers ' rights , public ownership , and opposition to austerity and racism . \n \n London Underground \n \n The RMT represents the majority of London Underground staff , as well as many other workers in the London public transport network . The RMT has had a number of disputes with Transport for London and private sector contractors Metronet and Tube Lines over pay , safety , pensions and job security on the Underground . These disputes have often resulted in industrial action , leading to periods of travel disruption in the capital over the last decade . \n \n Affiliations \n \n The RMT is affiliated to a number of political organisations and trade union confederations . In the United Kingdom and Ireland the RMT is affiliated with the TUC , the Scottish Trades Union Congress , the Wales Trades Union Congress and the Irish Congress of Trade Unions . Internationally the RMT is affiliated to the European Transport Workers Federation and the International Transport Workers Federation , as well as the World Federation of Trade Unions . \n \n Politically the RMT is affiliated with the left wing political party the Trade Unionist and Socialist Coalition , which it co-founded and encourages members to participate in . The RMT is also affiliated to the Labour Representation Committee , a pressure group which aims to promote traditional socialist principles within the Labour Party . Some local branches of the RMT , such as Grimsby , are affiliated to their local Constituency Labour Party . In 2014 , the RMT joined the Solidarity with the Antifascist Resistance in Ukraine ( SARU ) campaign in support of the Communist Party of Ukraine and the Donbass People 's Militia against the EU and NATO-backed Ukrainian government . \n \n RMT Credit Union \n \n RMT Credit Union Limited is a savings and loans co-operative established by the trade union for", "qas": [ { "answers": [ { "answer_start": 273, "text": "bob crow" } ], "id": "sfq_17727--National_Union_of_Rail,_Maritime_and_Transport_Workers.txt", "qid": "sfq_17727", "question": "Under whose leadership did the RMT become one of Britain's fastest growing Trade Unions between 2002 and 2008?" } ] } ] }

{ "paragraphs": [ { "context": "A vitamin is an organic compound and a vital nutrient that an organism requires in limited amounts . An organic chemical compound ( or related set of compounds ) is called a vitamin when the organism can not synthesize the compound in sufficient quantities , and it must be obtained through the diet ; thus , the term `` vitamin '' is conditional upon the circumstances and the particular organism . For example , ascorbic acid ( one form of vitamin C ) is a vitamin for humans , but not for most other animal organisms . Supplementation is important for the treatment of certain health problems , but there is little evidence of nutritional benefit when used by otherwise healthy people . \n \n By convention the term vitamin includes neither other essential nutrients , such as dietary minerals , essential fatty acids , or essential amino acids ( which are needed in greater amounts than vitamins ) nor the great number of other nutrients that promote health , and are required less often to maintain the health of the organism . Thirteen vitamins are universally recognized at present . Vitamins are classified by their biological and chemical activity , not their structure . Thus , each `` vitamin '' refers to a number of vitamer compounds that all show the biological activity associated with a particular vitamin . Such a set of chemicals is grouped under an alphabetized vitamin `` generic descriptor '' title , such as `` vitamin A '' , which includes the compounds retinal , retinol , and four known carotenoids . Vitamers by definition are convertible to the active form of the vitamin in the body , and are sometimes inter-convertible to one another , as well . \n \n Vitamins have diverse biochemical functions . Some , such as vitamin D , have hormone-like functions as regulators of mineral metabolism , or regulators of cell and tissue growth and differentiation ( such as some forms of vitamin A ) . Others function as antioxidants ( e.g. , vitamin E and sometimes vitamin C ) . The largest number of vitamins , the B complex vitamins , function as enzyme cofactors ( coenzymes ) or the precursors for them ; coenzymes help enzymes in their work as catalysts in metabolism . In this role , vitamins may be tightly bound to enzymes as part of prosthetic groups : For example , biotin is part of enzymes involved in making fatty acids . They may also be less tightly bound to enzyme catalysts as coenzymes , detachable molecules that function to carry chemical groups or electrons between molecules . For example , folic acid may carry methyl , formyl , and methylene groups in the cell . Although these roles in assisting enzyme-substrate reactions are vitamins ' best-known function , the other vitamin functions are equally important . \n \n Until the mid-1930s , when the first commercial yeast-extract vitamin B complex and semi-synthetic vitamin C supplement tablets were sold , vitamins were obtained solely through food intake , and changes in diet ( which , for example , could occur during a particular growing season ) usually greatly altered the types and amounts of vitamins ingested . However , vitamins have been produced as commodity chemicals and made widely available as inexpensive semisynthetic and synthetic-source multivitamin dietary and food supplements and additives , since the middle of the 20th century . Study of structural activity , function and their role in maintaining health is called vitaminology . \n \n List of vitamins \n \n Each vitamin is typically used in multiple reactions , and therefore most have multiple functions . \n \n Health effects \n \n Vitamins are essential for the normal growth and development of a multicellular organism . Using the genetic blueprint inherited from its parents , a fetus begins to develop , at the moment of conception , from the nutrients it absorbs . It requires certain vitamins and minerals to be present at certain times . These nutrients facilitate the chemical reactions that produce among other things , skin , bone , and muscle . If there is serious deficiency in one or more of these nutrients , a child may develop a deficiency disease . Even minor deficiencies may cause permanent damage . \n \n For the most part , vitamins are obtained with food , but a few are obtained by other means . For example , microorganisms in the intestine — commonly known as `` gut flora '' — produce vitamin K and biotin , while one form of vitamin D is synthesized in the skin with the help of the natural ultraviolet wavelength of sunlight . Humans can produce some vitamins from precursors they consume .", "qas": [ { "answers": [ { "answer_start": 271, "text": "b" } ], "id": "qw_13595--Vitamin.txt", "qid": "qw_13595", "question": "Thiamine, niacine and riboflavin belong to which vitamin group?" } ] } ] }

{ "paragraphs": [ { "context": "Rodents ( from Latin rodere , `` to gnaw '' ) are mammals of the order Rodentia , which are characterized by a single pair of unremittingly growing incisors in each of the upper and lower jaws . About forty percent of all mammal species are rodents ; they are found in vast numbers on all continents except Antarctica . They are the most diversified mammalian order and live in a variety of terrestrial habitats , including human-made environments . \n \n There are species that are arboreal , fossorial ( burrowing ) , and semiaquatic . Well-known rodents include mice , rats , squirrels , prairie dogs , porcupines , beavers , guinea pigs , hamsters , and capybaras . Other animals such as rabbits , hares and pikas were once included with them , but are now considered to be in a separate order , Lagomorpha . \n \n Most rodents are small animals with robust bodies , short limbs and long tails . They use their sharp incisors to gnaw food , excavate burrows and defend themselves . Most eat seeds or other plant material , but some have more varied diets . They tend to be social animals and many species live in societies with complex ways of communicating with each other . Mating among rodents can vary from monogamy , to polygyny , to promiscuity . Many have litters of underdeveloped , altricial young , while others have precocial young that are relatively well developed at birth . \n \n The rodent fossil record dates back to the Paleocene on the supercontinent of Laurasia . They greatly diversified in the Eocene , as they spread across continents , sometimes even finding means to cross oceans . Rodents reached both South America and Madagascar from Africa , and were the only terrestrial placental mammals to reach and colonize Australia . \n \n Rodents have been used as food , for clothing , as pets and as laboratory animals in research . Some species , in particular the brown rat , the black rat , and the house mouse are serious pests , eating and spoiling food stored by humans , and spreading diseases . Accidentally introduced species of rodents are often considered to be invasive , and have caused the extinction of numerous species , such as island birds , previously isolated from land-based predators . \n \n Characteristics \n \n The distinguishing feature of the rodents is their single pair of continuously growing , razor-sharp incisors . These incisors have thick layers of enamel on the front and little enamel on the back . Because they do not stop growing , the animal must continue to wear them down so that they do not reach and pierce the skull . As the incisors grind against each other , the softer dentine on the rear of the teeth wears away , leaving the sharp enamel edge shaped like the blade of a chisel . \n \n Most species have up to 22 teeth with no canines or anterior premolars . There is a gap , or diastema , between the incisors and the cheek teeth in most species . This allows them to suck in their cheeks or lips to shield their mouth and throat from wood shavings and other inedible material , discarding this waste from the sides of their mouth . Chinchillas and guinea pigs have a high fiber diet ; their molars have no roots and grow continuously like their incisors . \n \n In many species , the molars are relatively large , intricately structured and highly cusped or ridged , though some , such as Pseudohydromys , have smaller and simpler ones . Rodent molars are well equipped to grind food into small particles . The jaw musculature is strong . The lower jaw is thrust forward while gnawing and is pulled backwards during chewing . Rodent groups differ in the arrangement of the jaw muscles and associated skull structures , both from other mammals and amongst themselves . The Sciuromorpha , such as the eastern grey squirrel , have a large deep masseter , making them efficient at biting with the incisors . \n \n The Myomorpha , such as the brown rat , have an enlarged temporalis muscle , making them able to chew powerfully with the molars . The Hystricomorpha , such as the guinea pig , have a larger superficial masseter muscle and a smaller deep masseter muscle than rats or squirrels , possibly making them less efficient at biting with the incisors , but their enlarged internal pterygoid muscle may allow them to move the jaw further sideways when chewing . \n \n While the largest species , the capybara , can weigh as much as", "qas": [ { "answers": [ { "answer_start": 3095, "text": "chinchilla" } ], "id": "odql_3423--Rodent.txt", "qid": "odql_3423", "question": "Resembling a long-tailed rabbit, which South American rodent is bred in captivity for its soft grey fur?" } ] } ] }

{ "paragraphs": [ { "context": "Laos , ( , Pa Thēt Lāo ) officially the Lao People 's Democratic Republic , ( Lao : ສາທາລະນະລັດ ປະຊາທິປະໄຕ ປະຊາຊົນລາວ , Sathalanalat Paxathipatai Paxaxon Lao ) or commonly referred to its colloquial name of Muang Lao ( Lao : ເມືອງລາວ , Muang Lao ) is a landlocked country in the heart of the Indochinese peninsula of Mainland Southeast Asia , bordered by Myanmar ( Burma ) and China to the northwest , Vietnam to the east , Cambodia to the south , and Thailand to the west . \n \n Present day Laos traces its historic and cultural identity to the kingdom of Lan Xang Hom Khao ( Kingdom of a Million Elephants Under the White Parasol ) , which existed for four centuries as one of the largest kingdoms in Southeast Asia . Due to Lan Xang 's central geographical location in Southeast Asia , the kingdom was able to become a popular hub for overland trade , becoming wealthy economically as well as culturally . \n \n After a period of internal conflict , Lan Xang broke off into three separate kingdoms— Luang Phabang , Vientiane and Champasak . In 1893 , it became a French protectorate , with the three territories uniting to form what is now known as Laos . It briefly gained independence in 1945 after Japanese occupation , but returned to French rule until it was granted autonomy in 1949 . Laos became independent in 1953 , with a constitutional monarchy under Sisavang Vong . Shortly after independence , a long civil war ended the monarchy , when the Communist Pathet Lao movement came to power in 1975 . \n \n Laos is a one-party socialist republic . It espouses Marxism and is governed by a single party communist politburo dominated by military generals . The Socialist Republic of Vietnam and the Vietnam People 's Army continue to have significant influence in Laos . The capital city is Vientiane . Other large cities include Luang Prabang , Savannakhet , and Pakse . The official language is Lao . Laos is a multi-ethnic country with the politically and culturally dominant Lao people making up approximately 60 percent of the population , mostly in the lowlands . Mon-Khmer groups , the Hmong , and other indigenous hill tribes , accounting for 40 percent of the population , live in the foothills and mountains . \n \n Laos ' ambitious strategies for development is based on generating electricity from its rivers and selling the power to its neighbors , namely Thailand , China , and Vietnam , as well as its initiative to become a 'land-linked ' nation , shown by the planning of four new railways connecting Laos to those same countries . This , along with growth of the mining sector , Laos has been referred to as one of [ http : //www.worldbank.org/en/country/lao/overview East Asia and Pacific 's fastest growing economies ] by the World Bank , with annual GDP growth averaging 7 % for the past decade . \n \n It is a member of the Asia-Pacific Trade Agreement ( APTA ) , Association of Southeast Asian Nations ( ASEAN ) , East Asia Summit and La Francophonie . Laos applied for membership of the World Trade Organization ( WTO ) in 1997 ; on 2 February 2013 , it was granted full membership . \n \n According to the anti-corruption non-governmental organisation Transparency International , Laos remains one of the most corrupt countries in the world . This has deterred foreign investment and created major problems with the rule of law , including the nation 's ability to enforce contract and business regulation . This has contributed to a third of the population of Laos currently living below the international poverty line ( living on less than US $ 1.25 per day ) . Laos has a low-income economy , with one of the lowest annual incomes in the world . In 2014 , the country ranked 141st on the Human Development Index ( HDI ) , indicating lower medium development . According to the Global Hunger Index ( 2015 ) , Laos ranks as the 29th hungriest nation in the world out of the list of the 52 nations with the worst hunger situation ( s ) . Laos has also had a poor human rights record . \n \n Etymology \n \n The English word Laos was coined by the French , who united the three Lao kingdoms in French Indochina in 1893 , and named the country as the plural of the dominant and most common ethnic group , which are the Lao people . ( In French , the final `` s '' at the end of a word is usually silent , thus it would", "qas": [ { "answers": [], "id": "odql_14783--Laos.txt", "qid": "odql_14783", "question": "What was the name of the concealed tracks through Eastern Laos that was used as a supply route during the Vietnam War?" } ] } ] }

{ "paragraphs": [ { "context": "20th-century art—and what it became as modern art—began with modernism in the late 19th century . Nineteenth-century movements of Post-Impressionism ( Les Nabis ) , Art Nouveau and Symbolism led to the first twentieth-century art movements of Fauvism in France and Die Brücke ( `` The Bridge '' ) in Germany . Fauvism in Paris introduced heightened non-representational colour into figurative painting . Die Brücke strove for emotional Expressionism . Another German group was Der Blaue Reiter ( `` The Blue Rider '' ) , led by Kandinsky in Munich , who associated the blue rider image with a spiritual non-figurative mystical art of the future . Kandinsky , Kupka , R. Delaunay and Picabia were pioneers of abstract ( or non-representational ) art . Cubism , generated by Picasso , Braque , Metzinger , Gleizes and others rejected the plastic norms of the Renaissance by introducing multiple perspectives into a two-dimensional image . Futurism incorporated the depiction of movement and machine age imagery . Dadaism , with its most notable exponents , Marcel Duchamp , who rejected conventional art styles altogether by exhibiting found objects , notably a urinal , and too Francis Picabia , with his Portraits Mécaniques . \n \n Parallel movements in Russia were Suprematism , where Kasimir Malevich also created non-representational work , notably a black canvas . The Jack of Diamonds group with Mikhail Larionov was expressionist in nature . \n \n Image : Matisse-Woman-with-a-Hat.jpg|Henri Matisse , Woman with a Hat , 1905 \n Image : Derain CharingCrossBridge.png|André Derain , Charing Cross Bridge , London , 1906 , National Gallery of Art , Washington , DC . \n Image : Les Demoiselles d'Avignon.jpg|Pablo Picasso , Les Demoiselles d'Avignon , 1907 \n File : Georges Braque , 1908 , Le Viaduc de L'Estaque ( Viaduct at L'Estaque ) , oil on canvas , 73 x 60 cm , private collection.jpg|Georges Braque , Le Viaduc de L'Estaque ( Viaduct at L'Estaque ) , 1908 \n File : Jean Metzinger , Le goûter , Tea Time , 1911 , 75.9 x 70.2 cm , Philadelphia Museum of Art.jpg|Jean Metzinger , Le goûter ( Tea Time ) , 1911 , Philadelphia Museum of Art . André Salmon dubbed this painting `` The Mona Lisa of Cubism '' \n Image : Recoveredgleizes.jpg|Albert Gleizes , Le Chemin , Paysage à Meudon , Paysage avec personnage , 1911 \n File : Duchamp - Nude Descending a Staircase.jpg|Marcel Duchamp , Nude Descending a Staircase , No . 2 , 1912 , Philadelphia Museum of Art \n File : Vassily Kandinsky , 1913 - Composition 7.jpg|Wassily Kandinsky Composition VII , 1912 \n Image : František Kupka , 1912 , Amorpha , fugue en deux couleurs ( Fugue in Two Colors ) , 210 x 200 cm , Narodni Galerie , Prague.jpg|František Kupka , Amorpha , Fugue in Two Colors , 1912 \n Image : Robert Delaunay , 1913 , Premier Disque , 134 cm , 52.7 inches , Private collection.jpg|Robert Delaunay , Le Premier Disque , 1912–13 \n Image : De Chirico 's Love Song.jpg|Giorgio de Chirico , Love Song 1914 , Museum of Modern Art \n File : Kazimir Malevich , 1915 , Black Suprematic Square , oil on linen canvas , 79.5 x 79.5 cm , Tretyakov Gallery , Moscow.jpg|Kasimir Malevich , Black Square , 1915 \n \n Dadaism preceded Surrealism , where the theories of Freudian psychology led to the depiction of the dream and the unconscious in art in work by Salvador Dalí . Kandinsky 's introduction of non-representational art preceded the 1950s American Abstract Expressionist school , including Jackson Pollock , who dripped paint onto the canvas , and Mark Rothko , who created large areas of flat colour . Detachment from the world of imagery was reversed in the 1960s by the Pop Art movement , notably Andy Warhol , where brash commercial imagery became a Fine Art staple . Warhol also minimised the role of the artist , often employing assistants to make his work and using mechanical means of production , such as silkscreen printing . This marked a change from Modernism to Post-Modernism . Photorealism evolved from Pop Art and as a counter to Abstract Expressionists . \n \n Subsequent initiatives towards the end of the century involved a paring down of the material of art through Minimalism , and a shift toward non-visual components with Conceptual art , where the idea , not necessarily the made object , was seen as the art . The last decade of the century saw a fusion of earlier ideas in work by Jeff Koons , who made large sculptures from kitsch subjects , and in the UK , the Young British Artists , where Conceptual Art , Dada and Pop Art ideas led to Damien Hirst", "qas": [ { "answers": [ { "answer_start": 243, "text": "fauvism" } ], "id": "sfq_20465--20th-century_art.txt", "qid": "sfq_20465", "question": "The painters Henri Matisse and Andre Derain were leaders of which early 20th century art movement?" } ] } ] }

{ "paragraphs": [ { "context": "Ham ( ; Greek Χαμ , Kham ; Arabic : , Ḥām , `` hot '' or `` burnt '' ) , according to the Table of Nations in the Book of Genesis , was a son of Noah and the father of Cush , Mizraim , Phut and Canaan . \n \n Etymology \n \n According to the Hebrew Bible , Ham was one of the sons of Noah and the father of Cush , Mizraim , Phut and Canaan , who are interpreted as having populated Africa and adjoining parts of Asia . The Bible refers to Egypt as `` the land of Ham '' in . Since the 17th century a number of suggestions have been made that relate the name Ham to a Hebrew word for burnt , black or hot , to an Egyptian word for servant or the Egyptian word Kmt for Egypt . A review of David Goldenberg 's The Curse of Ham : Race and Slavery in Early Judaism , Christianity and Islam states that Goldenberg `` argues persuasively that the biblical name Ham bears no relationship at all to the notion of blackness and as of now is of unknown etymology . '' \n \n Ham in the Bible \n \n indicates that Noah begat Shem , Ham and Japheth while he was still 500 years old . ( Noah was 600 years old at the time of the flood in Genesis 7 . ) The life of Ham is related in . \n \n Genesis 9:20 And Noah began to be an husbandman , and he planted a vineyard : \n 21 And he drank of the wine , and was drunken ; and he was uncovered within his tent . \n 22 And Ham , the father of Canaan , saw the nakedness of his father , and told his two brethren without . \n 23 And Shem and Japheth took a garment , and laid it upon both their shoulders , and went backward , and covered the nakedness of their father ; and their faces were backward , and they saw not their father ’ s nakedness . \n \n 24 ¶ And Noah awoke from his wine , and knew what his younger son had done unto him . \n 25 And he said , Cursed be Canaan ; a servant of servants shall he be unto his brethren . \n 26 And he said , Blessed be the God of Shem ; and Canaan shall be his servant . \n 27 God shall enlarge Japheth , and he shall dwell in the tents of Shem ; and Canaan shall be his servant.—Authorized King James Version \n \n Curse of Canaan \n \n Ham was `` blessed '' in – Noah did not curse him directly , instead cursing his son Canaan . \n \n The Talmud deduces two possible explanations , one attributed to Rab and one to Rabbi Samuel , for what Ham did to Noah to warrant the curse . According to Rab , Ham castrated Noah on the basis that , since Noah cursed Ham by his fourth son Canaan , Ham must have injured Noah with respect to a fourth son . Emasculating him thus deprived Noah of the possibility of a fourth son . According to Samuel , Ham sodomized Noah , a judgment that he based on analogy with another biblical incident in which the phrase `` and he saw '' is used : With regard to Ham and Noah , Genesis 9 reads , `` [ 22 ] And Ham , the father of Canaan , saw the nakedness of his father , and told his two brethren without . [ 23 ] And Shem and Japheth took a garment , and laid it upon both their shoulders , and went backward , and covered the nakedness of their father ; and their faces were backward , and they saw not their father 's nakedness . '' In it reads , `` And when Shechem the son of Hamor saw her ( Dinah ) , he took her and lay with her and defiled her . '' According to this argument , similar abuse must have happened each time that the Bible uses the same language . The Talmud concludes that , in fact , `` both indignities were perpetrated . '' \n \n Watchman Nee simply sees Ham 's act as rebellion : `` So far as Noah 's conduct was concerned , he certainly was wrong : he should not have been drunk . Yet Ham failed to see the dignity of authority . The father is God 's instituted authority in the home , but the flesh delights in seeing a defect in authority so", "qas": [ { "answers": [ { "answer_start": 145, "text": "no" } ], "id": "qw_11424--Ham_(son_of_Noah).txt", "qid": "qw_11424", "question": "According to the Bible, who is the father of Ham, Shem and Japheth?" } ] } ] }

{ "paragraphs": [ { "context": "The Government of Ireland ( ) is the cabinet that exercises executive authority in the Republic of Ireland . \n \n Members of the government \n \n The structure of the Government of Ireland is regulated fundamentally by the Constitution of Ireland . The Government is headed by a prime minister called the Taoiseach . The deputy prime minister is called the Tánaiste , and is nominated by the Taoiseach from among the members of the Government . \n \n The Government must consist of between seven and fifteen members , according to the Constitution of Ireland . Every member of the Government must be a member of the parliament of Ireland , called the Oireachtas . No more than two members of the Government may be members of Seanad Éireann , the upper house of the Oireachtas . Therefore , all other members of the Government must be members of Dáil Éireann , the lower house . The Taoiseach , Tánaiste and Minister for Finance must be members of the Dáil . The 7 to 15 Members of Government are generally referred to as `` The Cabinet '' . \n \n The Taoiseach is nominated by Dáil Éireann , the lower house of the Oireachtas , and appointed by the President . Other members of the Government are nominated by the Taoiseach , approved by Dáil Éireann , and appointed by the President . Members of the government are often styled `` cabinet ministers '' , as opposed to Ministers of State ( before 1977 Parliamentary Secretaries ) , called `` junior ministers '' , who are not in the cabinet . A minister is usually in charge of a Department of State and thus technically a `` Minister of the Government '' ( before 1977 a `` Minister of State '' ) . Occasionally a minister without portfolio is appointed who is a minister and a member of the Government but not a `` Minister of the Government '' . \n \n Non-members attending cabinet \n \n Non members have no voting rights at Cabinet but may otherwise participate fully and normally receive circulated Cabinet Papers on the same basis as a full member of Government . \n \n The Government is advised by the Attorney General , who is not formally a member of the Government , but who participates in cabinet meetings as part of her role as legal advisor to the Government . \n \n The Chief Whip may attend meetings of the cabinet , but is not a member of the Government . \n \n In addition , the Government can choose other Ministers of State ( junior minister ) , who may attend cabinet meetings . This person is informally known as a Super Junior Minister '' . The current ( 2016 ) Super Junior Ministers are Paul Kehoe and Finian McGrath . \n \n President \n \n The President of Ireland is not a member of the government . The Constitution of Ireland does not make the President the nominal chief executive officer of the government , instead it explicitly vests executive authority in the cabinet . In addition , the President does not have discretion in appointing a Taoiseach ; this is a constitutional obligation which must happen upon the nomination of the Taoiseach . A similar obligation exists for the appointment of members of the Government ; they must be appointed upon nomination by the Taoiseach and approval by the Dáil . \n \n Term of office \n \n Normally , the Government serves in office until the nomination of a new Taoiseach by Dáil Éireann . \n \n The Government must enjoy the confidence of Dáil Éireann if it is to remain in office . If the Taoiseach ceases `` to retain the support of a majority in Dáil Éireann '' , either Dáil Éireann must be dissolved or the Taoiseach must resign . The President may refuse to grant a dissolution to a Taoiseach who does not enjoy the support of the Dáil , thus forcing the resignation of the Taoiseach . \n \n When the Taoiseach resigns , the entire Government is deemed to have resigned as a collective . However , in such a scenario , according to the Constitution , `` the Taoiseach and the other members of the Government shall continue to carry on their duties until their successors shall have been appointed '' . The Taoiseach can also direct the President to dismiss or accept the resignation of individual ministers . \n \n Upon the dissolution of Dáil Éireann , ministers are no longer members of the Oireachtas , and therefore ineligible for office . However , under a different clause in the Constitution , they `` shall continue to hold office until", "qas": [ { "answers": [ { "answer_start": 302, "text": "taoiseach" } ], "id": "qw_6548--Government_of_Ireland.txt", "qid": "qw_6548", "question": "What is the title of the head of government of Ireland, similar to that of a Prime Minister, who is nominated by the lower house and appointed by the President?" } ] } ] }

{ "paragraphs": [ { "context": "Nightjars are medium-sized nocturnal or crepuscular birds in the family Caprimulgidae , characterized by long wings , short legs and very short bills . They are sometimes called goatsuckers , due to the ancient folk tale that they sucked the milk from goats ( the Latin for goatsucker is Caprimulgus ) . Some New World species are called nighthawks . Nightjars usually nest on the ground . \n \n The English word 'nightjar ' originally referred to the European nightjar . \n \n Nightjars are found around the world . They are mostly active in the late evening and early morning or at night , and feed predominantly on moths and other large flying insects . \n \n Most have small feet , of little use for walking , and long pointed wings . Their soft plumage is cryptically coloured to resemble bark or leaves . Some species , unusual for birds , perch along a branch , rather than across it . This helps to conceal them during the day . Bracken is their preferred habitat . \n \n The common poorwill , Phalaenoptilus nuttallii is unique as a bird that undergoes a form of hibernation , becoming torpid and with a much reduced body temperature for weeks or months , although other nightjars can enter a state of torpor for shorter periods . \n \n Nightjars lay one or two patterned eggs directly onto bare ground . It has been suggested that nightjars will move their eggs and chicks from the nesting site in the event of danger by carrying them in their mouths . This suggestion has been repeated many times in ornithology books , but while this may accidentally happen , surveys of nightjar research have found very little evidence to support this idea . \n \n Conservation challenge \n \n Working out conservation strategies for some species of nightjar presents a particular challenge common to other hard-to-see families of birds ; in a few cases , humans do not have enough data on whether a bird is rare or not . This has nothing to do with any lack of effort . It reflects , rather , the difficulty in locating and identifying a small number of those species of birds among the 10,000 or so that exist in the world , given the limitations of human beings . A perfect example is the Vaurie 's nightjar in China 's south-western Xinjiang . It has been seen for certain only once , in 1929 , a specimen that was held in the hand . Surveys in the 1970s and 1990s failed to find it . It is perfectly possible that it has evolved as a species that can really be identified in the wild only by other Vaurie 's nightjars , rather than by humans . As a result , scientists do not know whether it is extinct , endangered , or even locally common . \n \n Systematics \n \n Traditionally , nightjars have been divided into three subfamilies : the Caprimulginae , or typical nightjars with about 80 species , and the Chordeilinae , or nighthawks of the New World with about 19 species . The two groups are similar in most respects , but the typical nightjars have rictal bristles , longer bills , and softer plumage . In their pioneering DNA-DNA hybridisation work , Sibley and Ahlquist found that the genetic difference between the eared nightjars and the typical nightjars was , in fact , greater than that between the typical nightjars and the nighthawks of the New World . Accordingly , they placed the eared-nightjars in a separate family : Eurostopodidae , but the family has not yet been widely adopted . \n \n Subsequent work , both morphological and genetic , has provided support for the separation of the typical and the eared nightjars , and some authorities have adopted this Sibley-Ahlquist recommendation , and also the more far-reaching one to group all the owls ( traditionally Strigiformes ) together in the Caprimulgiformes . The listing below retains a more orthodox arrangement , but recognises the eared-nightjars as a separate group . For more detail and an alternative classification scheme , see Caprimulgiformes and Sibley-Ahlquist taxonomy . \n \n Subfamily Chordeilinae ( nighthawks ) \n * Genus Nyctiprogne ( 2 species ) \n * Genus Lurocalis ( 2 species ) \n * Genus Chordeiles ( 6 species ) \n \n Subfamily Caprimulginae — ( typical nightjars ) \n * Genus Nyctipolus – ( 2 species ) \n * Genus Nyctidromus – ( 2 species ) \n * Genus Phalaenoptilus – common poorwill \n * Genus Siphonorhis – ( 2 living species ) \n * Genus Nyctiphrynus – ( 4 species ) \n * Genus Caprimulgus – ( 40 species", "qas": [ { "answers": [ { "answer_start": 2724, "text": "caprimulginae" } ], "id": "sfq_24774--Nightjar.txt", "qid": "sfq_24774", "question": "The goatsucker is another name for which bird?" } ] } ] }

{ "paragraphs": [ { "context": "Olympic sports are sports contested in the Summer and Winter Olympic Games . The 2012 Summer Olympics included 26 sports , with two additional sports due to be added to the 2016 Summer Olympics . The 2014 Winter Olympics included seven sports . The number and kinds of events may change slightly from one Olympiad to another . Each Olympic sport is represented by an international governing body , namely an International Federation ( IF ) . The International Olympic Committee ( IOC ) establishes a hierarchy of sports , disciplines , and events . According to this hierarchy , the Olympic sports can be subdivided into multiple disciplines , which are often assumed to be distinct sports . Examples include swimming and water polo ( disciplines of Aquatics , represented by the International Swimming Federation ) , or figure skating and speed skating ( disciplines of Skating , represented by the International Skating Union ) . In their turn , disciplines can be subdivided into events , for which medals are actually awarded . A sport or discipline is included in the Olympic program if the IOC determines it is widely practiced around the world , that is , the number of countries that compete in a given sport is the indicator of the sport 's prevalence . The IOC 's requirements reflect participation in the Olympic Games as well—more stringent toward men ( as they are represented in higher numbers ) and Summer sports ( as more nations compete in the Summer Olympics ) . \n \n Previous Olympic Games included sports which are no longer present on the current program , like polo and tug of war . These sports , known as `` discontinued sports '' , were later removed either because of lack of interest or absence of an appropriate governing body . Archery and tennis are examples of sports that were competed at the early Games and were later dropped by the IOC , but managed to return to the Olympic program ( in 1972 and 1988 , respectively ) . Demonstration sports have often been included in the Olympic Games , usually to promote a local sport from the host country or to gauge interest and support for the sport . Some such sports , like baseball and curling , were added to the official Olympic program ( in 1992 and 1998 , respectively ) . Baseball , however , was discontinued after the 2008 Summer Olympics . \n \n Olympic sports definitions \n \n The term `` sport '' in Olympic terminology refers to all the events that are sanctioned by one international sport federation , a definition that may be different from the common meaning of the word sport . One sport , by Olympic definition , may be divided into several disciplines , which are often regarded as separate sports in common language . \n \n For example : Aquatics is a summer Olympic sport that includes six disciplines : Swimming , synchronized swimming , diving , water polo , open water swimming , and high diving ( the last of which is a non-Olympic discipline ) , since all these disciplines are governed at international level by the International Swimming Federation . Skating is a winter Olympic sport represented by the International Skating Union , and includes four disciplines : figure skating , speed skating ( on a traditional long track ) , short track speed skating and synchronized skating ( the latter is a non-Olympic discipline ) . The sport with the largest number of Olympic disciplines is skiing , with six : alpine skiing , cross-country skiing , ski jumping , nordic combined , snowboarding and freestyle skiing . \n \n Other notable multi-discipline sports are gymnastics ( artistic , rhythmic and trampoline ) , cycling ( road , track , mountain and BMX ) , volleyball ( indoors and beach ) , wrestling ( freestyle and Greco-Roman ) , canoeing ( flatwater and slalom ) and bobsleigh ( includes skeleton ) . The disciplines listed here are only those contested in the Olympics—gymnastics has two non-Olympic disciplines , while cycling and wrestling have three each . \n \n It should also be noted that the IOC definition of a `` discipline '' may differ from that used by an international federation . For example , the IOC considers artistic gymnastics a single discipline , but the International Federation of Gymnastics ( FIG ) classifies men 's and women 's artistic gymnastics as separate disciplines . Similarly , the IOC considers freestyle wrestling to be a single discipline , but United World Wrestling uses `` freestyle wrestling '' strictly for the men 's version , classifying women 's freestyle wrestling as the separate discipline of `` female", "qas": [ { "answers": [], "id": "odql_497--Olympic_sports.txt", "qid": "odql_497", "question": "Which Olympic sport is governed by the WTF?" } ] } ] }

{ "paragraphs": [ { "context": "Being and Nothingness : An Essay on Phenomenological Ontology ( ) , sometimes subtitled A Phenomenological Essay on Ontology , is a 1943 book by philosopher Jean-Paul Sartre . Sartre 's main purpose is to assert the individual 's existence as prior to the individual 's essence ( `` existence precedes essence '' ) . His overriding concern in writing the book was to demonstrate that free will exists . While a prisoner of war in 1940 and 1941 , Sartre read Martin Heidegger 's Being and Time , an ontological investigation through the lens and method of Husserlian phenomenology ( Edmund Husserl was Heidegger 's teacher ) . Reading Being and Time initiated Sartre 's own philosophical enquiry . \n \n Though influenced by Heidegger , Sartre was profoundly sceptical of any measure by which humanity could achieve a kind of personal state of fulfilment comparable to the hypothetical Heideggerian re-encounter with Being . In Sartre 's account , man is a creature haunted by a vision of `` completion '' , what Sartre calls the ens causa sui , literally `` a being that causes itself '' , which many religions and philosophers identify as God . Born into the material reality of one 's body , in a material universe , one finds oneself inserted into being . Consciousness has the ability to conceptualize possibilities , and to make them appear , or to annihilate them . \n \n Summary \n \n In the introduction , Sartre sketches his own theory of consciousness , being , and phenomena through criticism of both earlier phenomenologists ( most notably Husserl and Heidegger ) as well as idealists , rationalists , and empiricists . According to him , one of the major achievements of modern philosophy is phenomenology because it disproved the kinds of dualism that set the existent up as having a `` hidden '' nature ( such as Immanuel Kant 's noumenon ) ; Phenomenology has removed `` the illusion of worlds behind the scene '' . \n \n Based on an examination of the nature of phenomena , he describes the nature of two types of being , being-in-itself and being-for-itself . While being-in-itself is something that can only be approximated by human being , being-for-itself is the being of consciousness . \n \n Part 1 , Chapter 1 : The origin of negation \n \n When we go about the world , we have expectations which are often not fulfilled . For example , Pierre is not at the café where we thought we would meet him , so there is a negation , a void , a nothingness , in the place of Pierre . When looking for Pierre his lack of being there becomes a negation ; everything he sees as he searches the people and objects about him are `` not Pierre '' . So Sartre claims , `` It is evident that non-being always appears within the limits of a human expectation . '' \n \n Part 1 , Chapter 2 : Bad faith \n \n Bad faith ( or `` self-deception '' ) can be understood as the guise of existing as a character , individual , or person who defines himself through the social categorization of his formal identity . This essentially means that in being a waiter , grocer , etc. , one must believe that their social role is equivalent to their human existence . Living a life defined by one 's occupation , social , racial , or economic class , is the very essence of `` bad faith '' , the condition in which people can not transcend their situations in order to realize what they must be ( human ) and what they are not ( waiter , grocer , etc . ) . It is also essential for an existent to understand that negation allows the self to enter what Sartre calls the `` great human stream '' . The great human stream arises from a singular realization that nothingness is a state of mind in which we can become anything , in reference to our situation , that we desire . \n \n The difference between existence and identity projection remains at the heart of human subjects who are swept up by their own condition , their `` bad faith '' . An example of projection that Sartre uses is the café waiter who performs the duties , traditions , functions , and expectations of a café waiter : \n \n Sartre consistently mentions that in order to get out of bad faith , one must realize that their existence and their formal projection of a self are distinctly separate and within the means of human control . This separation is a form", "qas": [ { "answers": [ { "answer_start": 167, "text": "sartre" } ], "id": "sfq_6060--Being_and_Nothingness.txt", "qid": "sfq_6060", "question": "Which philosopher wrote 'The Flies' and 'Being and Nothingness' in 1943?" } ] } ] }

{ "paragraphs": [ { "context": "Puget Sound is a sound along the northwestern coast of the U.S. state of Washington , an inlet of the Pacific Ocean , and part of the Salish Sea . It is a complex estuarine system of interconnected marine waterways and basins , with one major and two minor connections to the open Pacific Ocean via the Strait of Juan de Fuca—Admiralty Inlet being the major connection and Deception Pass and Swinomish Channel being the minor . Flow through Deception Pass is approximately equal to 2 % of the total tidal exchange between Puget Sound and the Strait of Juan de Fuca . Puget Sound extends approximately 100 mi from Deception Pass in the north to Olympia , Washington in the south . Its average depth is 450 ft and its maximum depth , off Point Jefferson between Indianola and Kingston , is 930 ft . The depth of the main basin , between the southern tip of Whidbey Island and Tacoma , Washington , is approximately 600 ft . \n \n Since 2009 , the term Salish Sea has been established by the United States Board on Geographic Names as the collective waters of Puget Sound , the Strait of Juan de Fuca , and the Strait of Georgia . Sometimes the terms `` Puget Sound '' and `` Puget Sound and adjacent waters '' are used for not only Puget Sound proper but also for waters to the north , such as Bellingham Bay and the San Juan Islands region . \n \n The term `` Puget Sound '' is used not just for the body of water but also the Puget Sound region centered on the sound . Major cities on the sound include Seattle , Tacoma , Olympia , and Everett , Washington . The Seattle metropolitan area also includes Bellevue , Washington , just east of the Sound . \n \n Puget Sound is also the second largest estuary in the United States , behind Chesapeake Bay . \n \n Names \n \n In 1792 George Vancouver gave the name `` Puget 's Sound '' to the waters south of the Tacoma Narrows , in honor of Peter Puget , a Huguenot lieutenant accompanying him on the Vancouver Expedition . This name later came to be used for the waters north of Tacoma Narrows as well . \n \n An alternative term for Puget Sound , still used by some Native Americans and environmental groups , is Whulge ( or Whulj ) , an anglicization of the Lushootseed name x̌ʷə́lč , which means `` sea , salt water , ocean , or sound . '' \n \n Definitions \n \n The USGS defines Puget Sound as all the waters south of three entrances from the Strait of Juan de Fuca The main entrance at Admiralty Inlet is defined as a line between Point Wilson on the Olympic Peninsula , and Point Partridge on Whidbey Island . The second entrance is at Deception Pass along a line from West Point on Whidbey Island , to Deception Island , then to Rosario Head on Fidalgo Island . The third entrance is at the south end of the Swinomish Channel , which connects Skagit Bay and Padilla Bay . Under this definition , Puget Sound includes the waters of Hood Canal , Admiralty Inlet , Possession Sound , Saratoga Passage , and others . It does not include Bellingham Bay , Padilla Bay , the waters of the San Juan Islands or anything farther north . \n \n Another definition , given by NOAA , subdivides Puget Sound into five basins or regions . Four of these correspond to areas within the USGS definition , but the fifth one , called `` Northern Puget Sound '' includes a large additional region . It is defined as bounded to the north by the international boundary with Canada , and to the west by a line running north from the mouth of the Sekiu River on the Olympic Peninsula . Under this definition significant parts of the Strait of Juan de Fuca and the Strait of Georgia are included in Puget Sound , with the international boundary marking an abrupt and hydrologically arbitrary limit . \n \n According to Arthur Kruckeberg , the term `` Puget Sound '' is sometimes used for waters north of Admiralty Inlet and Deception Pass , especially for areas along the north coast of Washington and the San Juan Islands , essentially equivalent to NOAA 's `` Northern Puget Sound '' subdivision described above . Kruckeberg uses the term `` Puget Sound and adjacent waters '' . \n \n Geology \n \n Continental ice sheets have repeatedly advanced and retreated from the Puget Sound region . The most recent glacial period , called the Fraser", "qas": [ { "answers": [ { "answer_start": 1499, "text": "seattle" } ], "id": "dpql_1446--Puget_Sound.txt", "qid": "dpql_1446", "question": "Which major US city’s metropolitan area is clustered around Puget Sound?" } ] } ] }

{ "paragraphs": [ { "context": "Tintoretto ( ; born Jacopo Comin , late September or early October , 1518 – May 31 , 1594 ) was an Italian painter and a notable exponent of the Renaissance school . For his phenomenal energy in painting he was termed Il Furioso . His work is characterized by its muscular figures , dramatic gestures , and bold use of perspective in the Mannerist style , while maintaining color and light typical of the Venetian School . \n \n In his youth , Tintoretto was also known as Jacopo Robusti as his father had defended the gates of Padua in a way that others called robust , against the imperial troops during the War of the League of Cambrai ( 1509–1516 ) . His real name `` Comin '' has only recently been discovered by Miguel Falomir , the curator of the Museo del Prado , Madrid , and was made public on the occasion of the retrospective of Tintoretto at the Prado in 2007 . Comin translates to the spice cumin in the local language . \n \n Life \n \n The years of apprenticeship \n \n Tintoretto was born in Venice in 1518 , as the eldest of 21 children . His father , Giovanni , was a dyer , or tintore ; hence the son got the nickname of Tintoretto , little dyer , or dyer 's boy , which is anglicized as Tintoret . The family originated from Brescia , in Lombardy , then part of the Republic of Venice . Older studies gave the Tuscan town of Lucca as the origin of the family . \n \n In childhood Jacopo , a born painter , began daubing on the dyer 's walls ; his father , noticing his bent , took him to the studio of Titian to see how far he could be trained as an artist . This was supposedly towards 1533 , when Titian was already ( according to the ordinary accounts ) fifty-six years of age . Tintoretto had only been ten days in the studio when Titian sent him home once and for all , the reason being that the great master observed some very spirited drawings , which he learned to be the production of Tintoretto ; and it is inferred that he became at once jealous of so promising a scholar . This , however , is mere conjecture ; and perhaps it may be fairer to suppose that the drawings exhibited so much independence of manner that Titian judged that young Jacopo , although he might become a painter , would never be properly a pupil . \n \n From this time forward the two always remained upon distant terms , Tintoretto being indeed a professed and ardent admirer of Titian , but never a friend , and Titian and his adherents turning the cold shoulder to him . Active disparagement also was not wanting , but it passed unnoticed by Tintoretto . The latter sought for no further teaching , but studied on his own account with laborious zeal ; he lived poorly , collecting casts , bas-reliefs etc. , and practising by their aid . His noble conception of art and his high personal ambition were evidenced in the inscription which he placed over his studio Il disegno di Michelangelo ed il colorito di Tiziano ( `` Michelangelo 's design and Titian 's color '' ) . \n \n He studied more especially from models of Michelangelo 's Dawn , Noon , Twilight and Night , and became expert in modelling in wax and clay method ( practised likewise by Titian ) which afterwards stood him in good stead in working out the arrangement of his pictures . The models were sometimes taken from dead subjects dissected or studied in anatomy schools ; some were draped , others nude , and Tintoretto was to suspend them in a wooden or cardboard box , with an aperture for a candle . Now and afterwards he very frequently worked by night as well as by day . \n \n Early works \n \n The young painter Andrea Schiavone , four years Tintoretto 's junior , was much in his company . Tintoretto helped Schiavone gratis in wall-paintings ; and in many subsequent instances he worked also for nothing , and thus succeeded in obtaining commissions . The two earliest mural paintings of Tintoretto—done , like others , for next to no pay—are said to have been Belshazzar 's Feast and a Cavalry Fight . These are both long since perished , as are all his frescoes , early or later . The first work of his to attract some considerable notice was a portrait-group of himself and his brother—the latter playing a guitar—with a nocturnal effect", "qas": [ { "answers": [ { "answer_start": 0, "text": "tintoret" } ], "id": "odql_5127--Tintoretto.txt", "qid": "odql_5127", "question": "Which Venetian artist, real name Jacopo Robusti, painted “The Origin of the Milky Way”?" } ] } ] }

{ "paragraphs": [ { "context": "George III ( George William Frederick ; 4 June 1738 – 29 January 1820 ) was King of Great Britain and Ireland from 25 October 1760 until the union of the two countries on 1 January 1801 , after which he was King of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland until his death . He was concurrently Duke and prince-elector of Brunswick-Lüneburg ( `` Hanover '' ) in the Holy Roman Empire until his promotion to King of Hanover on 12 October 1814 . He was the third British monarch of the House of Hanover , but unlike his two predecessors he was born in Britain , spoke English as his first language , and never visited Hanover . \n \n His life and with it his reign , which were longer than any other British monarch before him , were marked by a series of military conflicts involving his kingdoms , much of the rest of Europe , and places farther afield in Africa , the Americas and Asia . Early in his reign , Great Britain defeated France in the Seven Years ' War , becoming the dominant European power in North America and India . However , many of Britain 's American colonies were soon lost in the American Revolutionary War . Further wars against revolutionary and Napoleonic France from 1793 concluded in the defeat of Napoleon at the Battle of Waterloo in 1815 . \n \n In the later part of his life , George III had recurrent , and eventually permanent , mental illness . Although it has since been suggested that he had the blood disease porphyria , the cause of his illness remains unknown . After a final relapse in 1810 , a regency was established , and George III 's eldest son , George , Prince of Wales , ruled as Prince Regent . On George III 's death , the Prince Regent succeeded his father as George IV . \n \n Historical analysis of George III 's life has gone through a `` kaleidoscope of changing views '' that have depended heavily on the prejudices of his biographers and the sources available to them . Until re-assessment occurred during the second half of the twentieth century , his reputation in the United States was one of a tyrant and in Britain he became `` the scapegoat for the failure of imperialism '' . \n \n Early life \n \n George was born in London at Norfolk House . He was the grandson of King George II , and the eldest son of Frederick , Prince of Wales , and Augusta of Saxe-Gotha . As Prince George was born two months premature and was thought unlikely to survive , he was baptised the same day by Thomas Secker , who was both Rector of St James 's and the Bishop of Oxford . \n \n One month later , he was publicly baptised at Norfolk House , again by Secker . His godparents were the King of Sweden ( for whom Lord Baltimore stood proxy ) , his uncle the Duke of Saxe-Gotha ( for whom Lord Carnarvon stood proxy ) and his great-aunt the Queen of Prussia ( for whom Lady Charlotte Edwin stood proxy ) . \n \n George grew into a healthy but reserved and shy child . The family moved to Leicester Square , where George and his younger brother Prince Edward , Duke of York and Albany , were educated together by private tutors . Family letters show that he could read and write in both English and German , as well as comment on political events of the time , by the age of eight . He was the first British monarch to study science systematically . Apart from chemistry and physics , his lessons included astronomy , mathematics , French , Latin , history , music , geography , commerce , agriculture and constitutional law , along with sporting and social accomplishments such as dancing , fencing , and riding . His religious education was wholly Anglican . At age 10 George took part in a family production of Joseph Addison 's play Cato and said in the new prologue : `` What , tho ' a boy ! It may with truth be said , A boy in England born , in England bred '' . Historian Romney Sedgwick argued that these lines appear `` to be the source of the only historical phrase with which he is associated '' . \n \n George 's grandfather , King George II , disliked the Prince of Wales and took little interest in his grandchildren . However , in 1751 the Prince of Wales died unexpectedly from a lung injury , and George became", "qas": [ { "answers": [], "id": "sfq_10148--George_III_of_the_United_Kingdom.txt", "qid": "sfq_10148", "question": "Who was the Queen consort of King George the Fourth of England?" } ] } ] }

{ "paragraphs": [ { "context": "Iolanthe ; or , The Peer and the Peri is a comic opera with music by Arthur Sullivan and libretto by W. S. Gilbert . It is one of the Savoy operas and is the seventh of fourteen operatic collaborations by Gilbert and Sullivan . In the opera , the fairy Iolanthe has been banished from fairyland because she married a mortal ; this is forbidden by fairy law . Her son , Strephon , is an Arcadian shepherd who wants to marry Phyllis , a Ward of Chancery . All the members of the House of Peers also want to marry Phyllis . When Phyllis sees Strephon hugging a young woman ( not knowing that it is his mother – immortal fairies all appear young ) , she assumes the worst and sets off a climactic confrontation between the peers and the fairies . The opera satirises many aspects of British government , law and society . The confrontation between the fairies and the peers is a version of one of Gilbert 's favourite themes : a tranquil civilisation of women is disrupted by a male-dominated world through the discovery of mortal love . \n \n Iolanthe opened in London on 25 November 1882 , at the Savoy Theatre to a warm reception , and ran for 398 performances , the fourth consecutive hit by Gilbert and Sullivan . It was the first work to premiere at the newly-built Savoy and was the first new theatre production in the world to be illuminated entirely with electric lights , permitting some special effects that had not been possible in the era of gas lighting . The opera opened simultaneously in New York , and touring companies were sent around the UK and US to play the piece . The first Australasian touring production followed in 1885 , and the opera was revived in London beginning in 1901 . The D'Oyly Carte Opera Company toured the opera nearly continuously in repertory from 1891 until 1982 , and made several recordings of the opera over that period . Numerous other professional and amateur productions have been given of this enduring work , and various other recordings have been issued . \n \n Background \n \n W. S. Gilbert presented his basic idea for a new opera to Arthur Sullivan in October 1881 . Gilbert 's earliest ideas for the story of Iolanthe originated in his Bab Ballad , `` The Fairy Curate '' : `` Once a fairy / Light and airy / Married with a mortal '' . The fairy marries a `` prosaic '' attorney and bears him a son . After her son grows up , she visits him on Earth , but she is mistaken for his lover , since fairies perpetually appear young and beautiful.Crowther , p. 158 Sullivan found the premise funny , and Gilbert set to work on fleshing out the story . By December , he had written some lyrics for Sullivan to look at , but he struggled with the plot for several months , whereas he had dashed off earlier operas in a matter of weeks . During these months , Sullivan took an extended trip to Egypt , Italy and elsewhere . Upon his return to London in April 1882 , he moved into a new home ; in May , his beloved mother died rather suddenly . By the end of July 1882 , Gilbert had supplied Sullivan with lyrics to several of the songs , and Sullivan began work setting them to music . Over the next two months , Sullivan met Gilbert to discuss the libretto as more lyrics were completed . Music rehearsals began in September , and staging began in October , scheduled around performances of Gilbert and Sullivan 's previous opera , Patience , which had transferred to the Savoy Theatre . Sullivan was still composing more numbers for the opera until 20 October , with a few modifications continuing into early November . Uncharacteristically , Sullivan composed the overture himself , instead of assigning it to an assistant . Two casts rehearsed simultaneously , as the opera was to open on the same night in London and New York City , an historic first for any play . \n \n Gilbert had targeted the aristocracy and political officials for satiric treatment in earlier works . In this opera , the House of Lords is lampooned as a bastion of the ineffective , privileged and dim-witted , whose only qualification to govern is noble birth . The political party system , the law and other institutions also come in for a dose of satire . Throughout Iolanthe , however , both author and composer managed to couch the criticism among such bouncy , amiable absurdities", "qas": [ { "answers": [ { "answer_start": 0, "text": "iolanthe" } ], "id": "sfq_16621--Iolanthe.txt", "qid": "sfq_16621", "question": "Which Gilbert and Sullivan opera has the alternate title 'The Peer and the Peri'?" } ] } ] }

{ "paragraphs": [ { "context": "Agoraphobia is an anxiety disorder characterized by anxiety symptoms in reaction to situations where the person perceives the environment to be dangerous , uncomfortable , or unsafe . These situations can include wide-open spaces , uncontrollable social situations , unfamiliar places , shopping malls , airports , and bridges . The term `` agoraphobia '' was coined by the German psychiatrist Carl Friedrich Otto Westphal , from Greek ἀγορά , meaning `` large public square/marketplace '' and -φοβία , -phobia , meaning `` fear '' . Agoraphobia is defined within the DSM-IV TR as a subset of panic disorder , involving the fear of incurring a panic attack in those environments . In the DSM-5 , however , agoraphobia is classified as being separate from panic disorder . The sufferers may go to great lengths to avoid those situations , in severe cases becoming unable to leave their homes or safe havens . \n \n Although mostly thought to be a fear of public places , it is now believed that agoraphobia develops as a complication of panic attacks . However , evidence indicates the implied one-way causal relationship between spontaneous panic attacks and agoraphobia in DSM-IV may be incorrect . Onset is usually between ages 20 and 40 years and more common in women . About 3.2 million , or about 2.2 % of adults in the US between the ages of 18 and 54 , suffer from agoraphobia . \n Agoraphobia can account for about 60 % of phobias . Studies have shown two different age groups at first onset : early to mid twenties , and early thirties . \n \n In response to a traumatic event , anxiety may interrupt the formation of memories and disrupt learning processes , resulting in dissociation . Depersonalization ( a feeling of disconnection from one ’ s self ) and derealisation ( a feeling of disconnection from one 's surroundings ) are other dissociative methods of withdrawing from anxiety . \n \n Psychological tests , such as the Panic and Agoraphobia Scale , can be used to measure the severity of agoraphobia and panic attacks and monitor and evaluate treatment . \n \n Signs and symptoms \n \n Agoraphobia is a condition where sufferers become anxious in unfamiliar environments or where they perceive that they have little control . Triggers for this anxiety may include wide-open spaces , crowds ( social anxiety ) , or traveling ( even short distances ) . Agoraphobia is often , but not always , compounded by a fear of social embarrassment , as the agoraphobic fears the onset of a panic attack and appearing distraught in public . Most of the time they avoid these areas and stay in the comfort of their safe haven . This is also sometimes called `` social agoraphobia '' , which may be a subtype of social anxiety disorder . \n \n Agoraphobia is also defined as `` a fear , sometimes terrifying , by those who have experienced one or more panic attacks '' . In these cases , the sufferer is fearful of a particular place because they have experienced a panic attack at the same location at a previous time . Fearing the onset of another panic attack , the sufferer is fearful or even avoids location . Some refuse to leave their homes even in medical emergencies because the fear of being outside of their comfort areas is too great . \n \n Researchers have found similarities between symptoms of agoraphobia and the stereotypical female sex roles cast upon society . Researchers assert the socialization of stereotypic feminine behavior – helplessness , dependence , unassertiveness , accommodation – contributes to the development and maintenance of the characteristics of agoraphobia . \n \n The sufferers can sometimes go to great lengths to avoid the locations where they have experienced the onset of a panic attack . Agoraphobia , as described in this manner , is actually a symptom professionals check when making a diagnosis of panic disorder . Other syndromes like obsessive compulsive disorder or post-traumatic stress disorder can also cause agoraphobia . Essentially , any irrational fear that keeps one from going outside can cause the syndrome . \n \n Agoraphobics may suffer from temporary separation anxiety disorder when certain other individuals of the household depart from the residence temporarily , such as a parent or spouse , or when the agoraphobic is left home alone . Such temporary conditions can result in an increase in anxiety or a panic attack or feeling the need to separate themselves from family or maybe friends . \n \n Another common associative disorder of agoraphobia is thanatophobia , the fear of death . The anxiety level of agoraphobics often increases when dwelling upon the idea of eventually", "qas": [ { "answers": [ { "answer_start": 2292, "text": "crowds" } ], "id": "sfq_3604--Agoraphobia.txt", "qid": "sfq_3604", "question": "What would you be afraid of if you suffered from demophobia?" } ] } ] }

{ "paragraphs": [ { "context": "The Toreador Song is the popular name for the aria `` '' from the opera Carmen , composed by Georges Bizet to a libretto by Henri Meilhac and Ludovic Halévy . It is sung by the bullfighter Escamillo as he enters in act 2 ( toréador is a French term for `` bullfighter '' ) and describes various situations in the bullring , the cheering of the crowds and the fame that comes with victory . The refrain , `` '' , forms the middle part of the prelude to act 1 of Carmen . \n \n Music \n \n The Bass-baritone couplet has a vocal range from A3 to F4 and a tessitura from B-flat3 to E-flat4 . Its time signature is common time ( ) , its key is A-flat major with the refrain in F major . The tempo indication is allegro molto moderato , =108 . Frasquita , Mercédès , Carmen , Moralès , Zuniga and the chorus join for the repeat of the refrain . \n \n Text", "qas": [ { "answers": [ { "answer_start": 72, "text": "carmen" } ], "id": "bt_1034--Toreador_Song.txt", "qid": "bt_1034", "question": "From which opera does the Toreador Song come" } ] } ] }

{ "paragraphs": [ { "context": "The demographics of South Africa encompasses about 53 million people of diverse origins , cultures , languages , and religions . The last census was held in 2011 and the next will be taken anywhere from 2016–2021 . \n \n In 2011 , Statistics South Africa counted 2.1 million foreigners in total . However , numerous reports suggest that that is a vast underestimation . The real figure may in fact be as high as five million , including some three million Zimbabweans . \n \n Population \n \n Historical population \n \n U.N. population projections : 2010 to 2040 \n \n Age and population estimates : 1950 to 2010 \n \n According to the 2010 revision of the United Nations Secretariat 's World Population Prospects , South Africa 's total population was 50,133,000 in 2010 , compared to only 13,683,000 in 1950 . In 2010 , 30.1 % of the people were children under the age of 15 , 65.2 % were between 15 and 64 years of age , and 4.6 % were 65 or older . All population estimates are rounded to the nearest thousand . \n \n Historical censuses \n \n 1904 Census \n \n South African Population Figures for the 1904 Census . Source : \n \n 1960 Census \n \n Sources : Statesman 's Year-Book 1967–1968 ; Europa Year Book 1969 \n \n Fertility Rate ( The Demographic Health Survey ) \n \n Fertility Rate ( TFR ) ( Wanted Fertility Rate ) and CBR ( Crude Birth Rate ) : \n \n Vital statistics \n \n Registration of vital events in South Africa has improved considerably during the past decade , but still not considered to be complete for black South Africans . The Population Department of the United Nations prepared the following estimates . ( Natural increase or decrease over a time period is the difference between that period 's live births and deaths , before accounting for inward or outward migration . ) \n \n United Nations estimates , 2010 \n \n Age and sex distribution \n \n South African National Census of 2011 \n \n Age and race distribution \n \n South African National Census of 2011 \n \n Age distribution within each racial group \n \n By generation \n \n By five-year cohorts \n \n Racial composition of each age group in 2015 ( estimates ) \n \n Racial groups \n \n Statistics South Africa asks people to describe themselves in the census in terms of five racial population groups . The 2011 census figures for these groups were Black African at 79.2 % , White at 8.9 % , Coloured at 8.9 % , Indian or other Asian at 2.5 % , and Other/Unspecified at 0.5 % . The first census in South Africa in 1911 showed that whites made up 22 % of the population ; it declined to 16 % in 1980 , and 8.9 % in 2011 . \n \n Languages \n \n South Africa has eleven official languages : Afrikaans , English , Ndebele , Northern Sotho , Sotho , Swazi , Tswana , Tsonga , Venda , Xhosa and Zulu . In this regard it is third only to Bolivia and India in number . While all the languages are formally equal , some languages are spoken more than others . According to the 2011 census , the three most spoken first languages are Zulu ( 22.7 % ) , Xhosa ( 16.0 % ) , and Afrikaans ( 13.5 % ) . Despite the fact that English is recognised as the language of commerce and science , it ranked fourth , and was spoken by only 9.6 % of South Africans as a first language in 2011 . \n \n The country also recognises several unofficial languages , including Fanagalo , Khoe , Lobedu , Nama , Northern Ndebele , Phuthi , San and South African Sign Language . These unofficial languages may be used in certain official uses in limited areas where it has been determined that these languages are prevalent . Nevertheless , their populations are not such that they require nationwide recognition . \n \n Many of the `` unofficial languages '' of the San and Khoikhoi people contain regional dialects stretching northwards into Namibia and Botswana , and elsewhere . These people , who are a physically distinct population from other Africans , have their own cultural identity based on their hunter-gatherer societies . They have been marginalised to a great extent , and many of their languages are in danger of becoming extinct . \n \n Many white South Africans also speak other European languages , such as Portuguese ( also spoken by black Angolans and Mozambicans ) , German , and Greek , while some Indians", "qas": [ { "answers": [], "id": "sfq_10723--Demographics_of_South_Africa.txt", "qid": "sfq_10723", "question": "O R Tambo airport serves which South African city?" } ] } ] }

{ "paragraphs": [ { "context": "William Shatner has yielded a unique , misunderstood , and much-parodied body of work during his musical career . Shatner typically speaks the lyrics as an exaggerated interpretive reading instead of singing them . \n \n History \n \n The Transformed Man \n \n Shatner 's musical career began in 1968 with the release of his first album , The Transformed Man . Shatner used the album to compare contemporary pop songs of the period to the works of William Shakespeare by providing dramatic readings of Shakespeare interspersed with dramatic readings of the lyrics of songs such as `` Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds '' and `` Mr. Tambourine Man '' . However , this first release was widely mocked and parodied for its unusual style ; at the end of `` Mr. Tambourine Man '' , for example , Shatner suddenly shouts the song 's title in a tortured voice . The album would later be panned on the Internet , with the `` Captain James T. Kirk Singalong Page '' serving clips as early as 1993 . \n \n Shatner has defended his `` stylings '' , refusing to acknowledge it as an experiment that went wrong , and insisting instead that it was an acting performance from the perspective of an LSD user ; the song Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds has often been abbreviated to LSD . This piece of music has been singled out by both Dave Barry and Mad magazine as being , in Mads words , `` truly unfortunate '' . George Clooney , for instance , chose this as one of the Desert Island Discs he would bring along if marooned – as an incentive to leave the island . He said , `` If you listen to [ this song ] , you will hollow out your own leg and make a canoe out of it to get off this island . '' In a 2003 Music Choice poll , it was voted as the worst Beatles cover of all time . \n \n After The Transformed Man \n \n In 1977 a live double album titled William Shatner Live was released . Recorded on a live tour shortly before , it features Shatner performing excerpts from The War of the Worlds and Cyrano de Bergerac , among other things . \n \n In 1978 , Shatner hosted The Science Fiction Film Awards where he performed Elton John 's `` Rocket Man '' ( again , in a spoken voice ) . This performance has been parodied by the TV show Family Guy and musician Beck , to name a few . Another live double album by Shatner , Captain of the Starship , was also released in 1978 . In this era he also did a handful of other spoken word renditions of other pop songs , such as Harry Chapin 's `` Taxi '' ( which he performed on Dinah Shore 's television talk show Dinah ! ) . \n \n Shatner has occasionally spoofed his earlier musical career . At the 1992 MTV Movie Awards he performed all five of the Best Song From a Movie nominees . More recently , he performed in the same style for a series of Priceline.com television commercials . One such commercial featured Shatner with frequent collaborator Ben Folds performing an irony-laden version of the Diana Ross hit , `` Do You Know Where You 're Going To ? `` . Shatner also appeared on Ben Folds 's `` In Love '' and `` Still in Love '' ( on the album Fear of Pop : Volume 1 ) . Audio Antihero founder Jamie Halliday named `` In Love '' by Fear of Pop and William Shatner as his `` favourite song of all time . '' \n \n In the 1998 film Free Enterprise , Shatner performed `` No Tears For Caesar '' in the movie 's closing scene with rap artist The Rated R , with Shatner performing Mark Antony 's speech from Julius Caesar over Rated R 's rap . In the 2000 film Miss Congeniality , Shatner performs the song `` Miss United States '' . This song is included in the soundtrack album for the film . \n \n On June 28 , 2002 , Shatner performed together with Brian Evans at the San Carlos Institute Theatre in Key West , Florida . He performed the songs `` What Kind of Fool Am I '' and `` The Lady Is a Tramp '' . The concert was later released on the album Brian Evans Live with Special Guest : William Shatner . \n \n In his appearance on the `` Where No Fan Has Gone Before '' episode of the animated science-fiction TV series Futurama", "qas": [ { "answers": [ { "answer_start": 0, "text": "william shatner" } ], "id": "qw_14190--William_Shatner's_musical_career.txt", "qid": "qw_14190", "question": "\"Who released the album \"\"The Transformed Man\"\" in 1968?\"" } ] } ] }

{ "paragraphs": [ { "context": "Safiyyah bint Huyayy ( , ) ( c. 610 – c. 670 ) was one of the wives of the Islamic Prophet Muhammad . She was , along with all other wives of Muhammad , titled Umm-ul-Mu'mineen or the `` Mother of Believers '' . \n \n After Muhammad 's death , she became involved in the power politics of the early Muslim community , and acquired substantial influence by the time of her death . \n \n Early life \n \n Safiyya was born in Medina to Huyayy ibn Akhtab , the chief of the Jewish tribe Banu Nadir . Her mother , Barra bint Samawal , was from the Banu Qurayza tribe . She was the granddaughter of Samaw'al ibn Adiya from the Banu Harith tribe . According to a source , she was married off to Sallam ibn Mishkam , who later divorced her . \n \n When the Banu Nadir were expelled from Medina in 625 , her family settled in Khaybar , an oasis near Medina . Her father and brother went from Khaybar to join the Meccan and Bedouin forces besieging Muhammad in Medina during the Battle of the Trench . When the Meccans withdrew Muhammad besieged the Banu Qurayza . After the defeat of the Banu Qurayza in 627 Safiyya 's father , a long-time opponent of Muhammad , was captured and executed by the Muslims . \n \n In 627 or early in 628 , Safiyya married Kenana ibn al-Rabi , treasurer of the Banu Nadir ; she was about 17 years old at that time . Safiyya is said to have informed Kenana of a dream she had in which the moon had fallen from the heavens into her lap . Kenana interpreted it as a desire to marry Muhammad and struck her in the face , leaving a mark which was still visible when she first had contact with Muhammad . \n \n Battle of Khaybar \n \n In May 629 , the Muslims defeated several Jewish tribes ( including the Banu Nadir ) at the Battle of Khaybar . The Jews had surrendered , and were allowed to remain in Khaybar on the provision that they give half of their annual produce to the Muslims . The land itself became the property of the Muslim state . This agreement , Stillman says , did not extend to the Banu Nadir tribe , who were given no quarter . Safiyya 's husband , Kenana ibn al-Rabi , was also killed . \n \n Marriage to Muhammad \n \n According to Muhammad al-Bukhari , Muhammad stayed for three days between Khaybar and Medina , where he consummated his marriage to Safiyya . His companions wondered if she was to be considered a slave ( ) or a wife . The former speculated that they would consider Safiyya as Muhammad 's wife , and thus `` Mothers of the Believers '' , if Muhammad ordered her to veil herself , else she would be his servant-girl . \n \n Muhammad suggested that Safiyya convert to Islam , and she agreed , thus she became Muhammad 's wife . Safiyya did not bear any children to Muhammad . \n \n Despite her conversion , Muhammad 's other wives teased Safiyya of her Jewish origin . Doubts about Safiyya 's loyalty to Islam and the suspicion that she would avenge her slain kin are themes in the Sirah Rasul Allah ( biographies of Muhammad ) . In these stories , Muhammad or Umar express great displeasure at such doubts and reaffirm her loyalty.Stowasser , Barbara . The Mothers of the Believers in the Hadith . The Muslim World , Volume 82 , Issue 1-2 : 1-36 . \n \n Regarding Safiyya 's Jewish descent , Muhammad once said to his wife that if other women insulted her for her Jewish heritage , she was to respond , `` Aaron is my father , Moses my uncle , and Muhammad my husband . '' \n \n Legacy \n \n In 656 , Safiyya sided with caliph Uthman ibn Affan , and defended him at his last meeting with Ali , Aisha , and Abd Allah ibn al-Zubayr . During the period when the caliph was besieged at his residence , Safiyya made an unsuccessful attempt to reach him , and supplied him with food and water via a plank placed between her dwelling and his . \n \n Safiyya died in 670 or 672 , during the reign of Muawiyah , and was buried in the Jannat al-Baqi graveyard . She left an estate of 100,000 dirhams in land and goods , one-third of which she bequeathed to her sister 's son , who followed Judaism . Her dwelling in Medina was bought by Muawiyya", "qas": [ { "answers": [ { "answer_start": 83, "text": "prophet muhammad" } ], "id": "jp_983--Safiyya_bint_Huyayy.txt", "qid": "jp_983", "question": "Whose wives included Aisha, Safiyya, and Sawda?" } ] } ] }

{ "paragraphs": [ { "context": "Harland & Wolff Heavy Industries is a British heavy industrial company , specialising in shipbuilding and offshore construction , located in Belfast , Northern Ireland . Harland & Wolff is most famous for having built all of the ships intended for the White Star Line including the ill-fated . Other well known ships built by Harland & Wolff include Titanics sister ships and RMS Britannic , the Royal Navy 's , Royal Mail Line 's Andes , Shaw Savill 's , Union-Castle 's , and P & O 's . Harland and Wolff 's official history , Shipbuilders to the World , was published in 1986 . \n \n As of 2011 , the expanding offshore wind power industry has been the prime focus , and 75 % of the company 's work is based on offshore renewable energy . \n \n Early history \n \n Harland & Wolff was formed in 1861 by Edward James Harland ( 1831–95 ) and Hamburg-born Gustav Wilhelm Wolff ( 1834–1913 , in the UK from age 14 ) . In 1858 Harland , then general manager , bought the small shipyard on Queen 's Island from his employer Robert Hickson . \n \n After buying Hickson 's shipyard , Harland made his assistant Wolff a partner in the company . Wolff was the nephew of Gustav Schwabe , Hamburg , who was heavily invested in the Bibby Line , and the first three ships that the newly incorporated shipyard built were for that line . Harland made a success of the business through several innovations , notably replacing the wooden upper decks with iron ones which increased the strength of the ships ; and giving the hulls a flatter bottom and squarer cross section , which increased their capacity . \n \n When Harland died in 1895 , William James Pirrie became the chairman of the company until his death in 1924 . Thomas Andrews also became the general manager and head of the draughting department in 1907 . It was in this period that the company built and her sister ships and between 1909 and 1914 , commissioning Sir William Arrol & Co. to construct a massive twin gantry and slipway structure for the project . \n \n In 1912 , due primarily to increasing political instability in Ireland , the company acquired another shipyard at Govan in Glasgow , Scotland . It bought the former London & Glasgow Engineering & Iron Shipbuilding Co 's Middleton and Govan New shipyards in Govan and Mackie & Thomson 's Govan Old yard , which had been owned by William Beardmore and Company . The three neighbouring yards were amalgamated and redeveloped to provide a total of seven building berths , a fitting-out basin and extensive workshops . Harland & Wolff specialised in building tankers and cargo ships at Govan . The nearby shipyard of A . & J. Inglis was also purchased by Harland & Wolff in 1919 , along with a stake in the company 's primary steel supplier , David Colville & Sons . Harland & Wolff also established shipyards at Bootle in Liverpool , North Woolwich in London and Southampton . These shipyards were all eventually closed from the early 1960s however , when the company opted to consolidate its operations in Belfast . \n \n The war years \n \n In the First World War , Harland and Wolff built monitors and cruisers , including the 15-inch gun armed `` large light cruiser '' . \n In 1918 , the company opened a new shipyard on the eastern side of the Musgrave Channel which was named the East Yard . This yard specialised in mass-produced ships of standard design developed in the First World War . \n \n The company started an aircraft manufacturing subsidiary with Short Brothers , called Short & Harland Limited in 1936 . Its first order was for 189 Handley Page Hereford bombers built under license from Handley Page for the Royal Air Force . In the Second World War , this factory built Short Stirling bombers as the Hereford was removed from service . \n \n The shipyard was busy in the Second World War , building six aircraft carriers , two cruisers ( including ) and 131 other naval ships ; and repairing over 22,000 vessels . It also manufactured tanks and artillery components . It was in this period that the company 's workforce peaked at around 35,000 people . However , many of the vessels built in this era were commissioned right at the end of World War II , as Harland and Wolff were focused on ship repair in the first three years of the war . The yard on Queen 's Island was heavily bombed by the Luftwaffe in April", "qas": [ { "answers": [ { "answer_start": 489, "text": "harland and wolf" } ], "id": "odql_5692--Harland_and_Wolff.txt", "qid": "odql_5692", "question": "What is the name of the shipyard at which the 'Titanic' was built?" } ] } ] }

{ "paragraphs": [ { "context": "An assembly line is a manufacturing process ( most of the time called a progressive assembly ) in which parts ( usually interchangeable parts ) are added as the semi-finished assembly moves from workstation to workstation where the parts are added in sequence until the final assembly is produced . By mechanically moving the parts to the assembly work and moving the semi-finished assembly from work station to work station , a finished product can be assembled faster and with less labor than by having workers carry parts to a stationary piece for assembly . \n \n Assembly lines are common methods of assembling complex items such as automobiles and other transportation equipment , household appliances and electronic goods . \n \n Concept \n \n Assembly lines are designed for the sequential organization of workers , tools or machines , and parts . The motion of workers is minimized to the extent possible . All parts or assemblies are handled either by conveyors or motorized vehicles such as fork lifts , or gravity , with no manual trucking . Heavy lifting is done by machines such as overhead cranes or fork lifts . Each worker typically performs one simple operation . \n \n According to Henry Ford : \n \n Simple example \n \n Consider the assembly of a car : assume that certain steps in the assembly line are to install the engine , install the hood , and install the wheels ( in that order , with arbitrary interstitial steps ) ; only one of these steps can be done at a time . In traditional production , only one car would be assembled at a time . If engine installation takes 20 minutes , hood installation takes five minutes , and wheels installation takes 10 minutes , then a car can be produced every 35 minutes . \n \n In an assembly line , car assembly is split between several stations , all working simultaneously . When one station is finished with a car , it passes it on to the next . By having three stations , a total of three different cars can be operated on at the same time , each one at a different stage of its assembly . \n \n After finishing its work on the first car , the engine installation crew can begin working on the second car . While the engine installation crew works on the second car , the first car can be moved to the hood station and fitted with a hood , then to the wheels station and be fitted with wheels . After the engine has been installed on the second car , the second car moves to the hood assembly . At the same time , the third car moves to the engine assembly . When the third car ’ s engine has been mounted , it then can be moved to the hood station ; meanwhile , subsequent cars ( if any ) can be moved to the engine installation station . \n \n Assuming no loss of time when moving a car from one station to another , the longest stage on the assembly line determines the throughput ( 20 minutes for the engine installation ) so a car can be produced every 20 minutes , once the first car taking 35 minutes has been produced . \n \n History \n \n Before the Industrial Revolution , most manufactured products were made individually by hand . A single craftsman or team of craftsmen would create each part of a product . They would use their skills and tools such as files and knives to create the individual parts . They would then assemble them into the final product , making cut-and-try changes in the parts until they fit and could work together ( craft production ) . \n \n Division of labor was practiced in China where state run monopolies mass-produced metal agricultural implements , china and armor and weapons centuries before it appeared in Europe on the eve of the Industrial Revolution . Adam Smith discussed the division of labour in the manufacture of pins at length in his book The Wealth of Nations ( published in 1776 ) . \n \n The Venetian Arsenal , dating to about 1104 , operated similar to a production line . Ships moved down a canal and were fitted by the various shops they passed . At the peak of its efficiency in the early 16th century , the Venetian Arsenal employed some 16,000 people who could apparently produce nearly one ship each day , and could fit out , arm , and provision a newly built galley with standardized parts on an assembly-line basis . Although the Venice Arsenal lasted until the early", "qas": [ { "answers": [ { "answer_start": 1193, "text": "henry ford" } ], "id": "qg_507--Assembly_line.txt", "qid": "qg_507", "question": "What American inventor and industrialist, father of the modern assembly line, held 161 patents in his own name and started a moderately successful car company along the way?" } ] } ] }

{ "paragraphs": [ { "context": "Portishead is a coastal town on the Severn Estuary , close to Bristol , but within the unitary authority of North Somerset , which falls within the ceremonial county of Somerset , England . It has a population of around 22,000 , an increase of over 3,000 since the 2001 census , with a growth rate considerably in excess of surrounding towns . By the time of the 2011 Census the population had increased to approximately 24,000 . \n \n Portishead has a long history as a fishing port . It expanded rapidly during the early 19th century around the docks , with supporting transport infrastructure . A power station and chemical works were added in the 20th century , but the dock and industrial facilities have since closed and been redeveloped into a marina and residential areas . Portishead was also the telephone control centre used by British Telecom ( BT ) for non-direct dialled calls to maritime vessels , a service known as Portishead Radio . \n \n The town 's population is expanding , and Portishead is now primarily a dormitory town for Bristol and its environs , although a range of service industries has grown up . The headquarters of Avon and Somerset Constabulary are in Portishead . \n \n History \n \n The name Portishead derives from the `` port at the head of the river '' . It has been called Portshead and Portschute at times in its history and Portesheve in the Domesday Book , and was locally known as Posset . \n \n The town ’ s recorded history dates back to Roman times , although there is also evidence of prehistoric settlement , including polished flint axe heads . There were also Iron Age settlements in the area , of which Cadbury Camp was the largest . Other sites that have been identified include a 1200 by site that was successively occupied by the Romans , Britons and Danes . There is some evidence that it may have been the western end of the Wansdyke , an early medieval or possibly Roman boundary with a series of defensive linear earthworks extending to the Savernake Forest near Marlborough in Wiltshire . \n \n After the Norman conquest the manor was held by the Bishop of Coutances and later reverted to the crown , after which William II gave it to a merchant from Bristol known as Harding and then to his son Robert Fitzharding who became Lord of Berkeley . The Berkeley family held it for generations until it passed by marriage to the Cokes of Holkham in Norfolk . In the 14th century it belonged to Everard le Frenshe . In 1621 the Bristol Corporation purchased large portions of land in Portishead and revived the Manor Court . The rights of the corporation over the manor was disputed but they held it until 1836 when they sold it for £8,050 . The parish of Portishead was part of the Portbury Hundred . \n \n The town was built on the mouth of a small tributary of the Severn Estuary near the mouth of the River Avon . The old pill or jetty provided protection for craft against the Bristol Channel 's large tidal range , and iron rings can be seen in the high street at which fishing boats used to moor . Its position meant Portishead was used to guard the `` King Road '' , as the waters around the headland are called . In 1497 it was the departure point for John Cabot on the Matthew . A fort was built on Battery Point , and was used during the English Civil War when the town supported the Royalists , but surrendered to Fairfax in 1645 . Guns were also placed at Battery Point during World War II . The King Road was the site of a naval action in 1758 when HMS Antelope captured HMS Belliqueux , one of a French squadron returning from Quebec . \n \n A mill was built on Welhay stream but this was replaced by tidal mills . In the 17th century the City of Bristol bought the manors of North Weston and Portishead for access to the channel and as a place to stay outside of the city and , in the 19th century , as a seaside resort . An outer sea wall was built allowing the local marshes to be drained and increased the land available for farming . The dominant architecture is early Victorian , with some buildings maintaining their original features . The expansion in residential property coincided with the construction of the dock , pier and the rail link to Bristol . The Royal Hotel by the pier was built in a Tudor Gothic style in", "qas": [ { "answers": [ { "answer_start": 62, "text": "bristol" } ], "id": "sfq_7172--Portishead,_Somerset.txt", "qid": "sfq_7172", "question": "In which English city would you find a district called Portishead?" } ] } ] }

{ "paragraphs": [ { "context": "The River Thames ( ) is a river that flows through southern England . It is the longest river entirely in England and the second longest in the United Kingdom , after the River Severn . While it is best known for flowing through : London , the river also flows alongside other towns and cities , including Oxford , Reading , Henley-on-Thames and Windsor . In an alternative name , derived from its long tidal reach up to Teddington Lock in south west London , the lower reaches of the river are called the Tideway . The section of the river running through Oxford is traditionally called the Isis . \n \n With a total length of 215 mi , the Thames is the longest river entirely in England and the second longest in the United Kingdom . It rises at Thames Head in Gloucestershire , and flows into the North Sea via the Thames Estuary . On its way , it passes through London , the country 's capital , where the river is deep and navigable to ships ; the Thames drains the whole of Greater London . Its tidal section , reaching up to Teddington Lock , includes most of its London stretch and has a rise and fall of 7 m. Running through some of the driest parts of mainland Britain and heavily abstracted for drinking water , the Thames 's discharge is low considering its length and breadth : the Severn has a discharge almost twice as large on average despite having a smaller drainage basin . In Scotland , the Tay achieves more than double the average discharge from a drainage basin that is 60 % smaller . \n \n The administrative powers of the Thames Conservancy have been taken on with modifications by the Environment Agency and , in respect of the Tideway part of the river , such powers are split between the agency and the Port of London Authority . \n \n In non-administrative use , stemming directly from the river and its name are Thames Valley University , Thames Water , Thames Television productions , Thames & Hudson publishing , Thameslink ( north-south railways passing through central London ) and South Thames College . Historic entities include the Thames Ironworks and Shipbuilding Company . \n Two broad canals link the river to other river basins : the Kennet and Avon Canal ( Reading to Bath ) and the Grand Union Canal ( London to the Midlands ) . The Grand Union effectively bypassed the earlier , narrow and winding Oxford Canal which also remains open as a popular scenic recreational route . Three further cross-basin canals are disused but are in various stages of reconstruction : the Thames and Severn Canal ( via Stroud ) , which operated until 1927 ( to the west coast of England ) , the Wey and Arun Canal to Littlehampton , which operated until 1871 ( to the south coast ) , and the Wilts and Berks Canal . \n \n Rowing and sailing clubs are common along the Thames , which is navigable to such vessels . Kayaking and canoeing also take place . Major annual events include the Henley Royal Regatta and the Boat Race , while the Thames has been used during two Summer Olympic Games : 1908 ( rowing ) ; 1948 ( rowing and canoeing ) . Safe headwaters and reaches are a summer venue for organised swimming , which is prohibited on safety grounds in a stretch centred on Central London . \n \n Along its course are 45 navigation locks with accompanying weirs . Its catchment area covers a large part of South Eastern and a small part of Western England and the river is fed by 38 named tributaries . The river contains over 80 islands . With its waters varying from freshwater to almost seawater , the Thames supports a variety of wildlife and has a number of adjoining Sites of Special Scientific Interest , with the largest being in the remaining parts of the North Kent Marshes and covering 5449 ha . \n \n The marks of human activity , in some cases dating back to Pre-Roman Britain , are visible at various points along the river . These include a variety of structures connected with use of the river , such as navigations , bridges and watermills , as well as prehistoric burial mounds . A major maritime route is formed for much of its length for shipping and supplies : through the Port of London for international trade , internally along its length and by its connection to the British canal system . The river 's position has put it at the centre of many events in British history , leading", "qas": [ { "answers": [], "id": "dpql_1178--River_Thames.txt", "qid": "dpql_1178", "question": "Which annual census takes place in the third week of July on the river Thames?" } ] } ] }

{ "paragraphs": [ { "context": "North Korea ( ) , officially the Democratic People 's Republic of Korea ( DPRK ) , is a country in East Asia , in the northern part of the Korean Peninsula . The name Korea is derived from the Kingdom of Goguryeo , also spelled as Koryŏ . Pyongyang is both the nation 's capital as well as its largest city , with a population just over 2.5 million . To the north and northwest the country is bordered by China and by Russia along the Amnok ( known as the Yalu in China ) and Tumen rivers . The country is bordered to the south by South Korea ( officially the Republic of Korea ) , with the heavily-fortified Korean Demilitarized Zone separating the two . \n \n Korea was annexed by the Empire of Japan in 1910 . After the Japanese surrender at the end of World War II in 1945 , Korea was divided into two zones along the 38th parallel by the United States and the Soviet Union , with the north occupied by the Soviets and the south by the Americans . Negotiations on reunification failed , and in 1948 two separate governments were formed : the Democratic People 's Republic of Korea in the north , and the Republic of Korea in the south . An invasion initiated by North Korea led to the Korean War ( 1950–53 ) . Although the Korean Armistice Agreement brought about a ceasefire , no official peace treaty was ever signed . Both states were accepted into the United Nations in 1991 . \n The DPRK officially describes itself as a self-reliant socialist state and formally holds elections . However , critics regard it as a totalitarian dictatorship . Various outlets have called it Stalinist , particularly noting the elaborate cult of personality around Kim Il-sung and his family . International organizations have also assessed human rights violations in North Korea as belonging to a category of their own , with no parallel in the contemporary world . The Workers ' Party of Korea , led by a member of the ruling family , holds power in the state and leads the Democratic Front for the Reunification of the Fatherland of which all political officers are required to be members . \n \n Over time North Korea has gradually distanced itself from the world communist movement . Juche , an ideology of national self-reliance , was introduced into the constitution as a `` creative application of Marxism–Leninism '' in 1972 . The means of production are owned by the state through state-run enterprises and collectivized farms . Most services such as healthcare , education , housing and food production are subsidized or state-funded . From 1994 to 1998 , North Korea suffered from a famine that resulted in the deaths of between 0.24 and 3.5 million people , and the country continues to struggle with food production . North Korea follows Songun , or `` military-first '' policy . It is the country with the highest number of military and paramilitary personnel , with a total of 9,495,000 active , reserve , and paramilitary personnel . Its active duty army of 1.21 million is the fourth largest in the world , after China , the U.S. , and India . It also possesses nuclear weapons . \n \n Etymology \n \n The name Korea derives from Goryeo , itself referring to the ancient kingdom of Goguryeo , the first Korean dynasty visited by Persian merchants who referred to Koryŏ ( Goryeo ; ) as Korea . The term Koryŏ also widely became used to refer to Goguryeo , which renamed itself Koryŏ in the 5th century . The modern spelling , `` Korea '' , first appeared in late 17th century in the travel writings of the Dutch East India Company 's Hendrick Hamel . \n \n After Goryeo fell in 1392 , Joseon or Chosun became the official name for the entire territory , though it was not universally accepted . The new official name has its origin in the ancient country of Gojoseon ( Old Joseon ) . In 1897 , the Joseon dynasty changed the official name of the country from Joseon to Daehan Jeguk ( Korean Empire ) . The name Daehan , which means `` great Han '' literally , derives from Samhan ( Three Hans ) . Under Japanese rule , the names Han and Joseon coexisted . \n \n The official name of this country is the Democratic People 's Republic of Korea ( / ) . Since the government only controlled the northern part of the Korean Peninsula , the informal term North Korea was coined , becoming increasingly common in the Western world . While the name Joseon", "qas": [ { "answers": [ { "answer_start": 239, "text": "pyongyang" } ], "id": "jp_1254--North_Korea.txt", "qid": "jp_1254", "question": "What's the capital of North Korea?" } ] } ] }

{ "paragraphs": [ { "context": "A citadel is the core fortified area of a town or city . It may be a fortress , castle , or fortified center . The term is a diminutive of `` city '' and thus means `` little city '' , so called because it is a smaller part of the city of which it is the defensive core . \n \n In a fortification with bastions , the citadel is the strongest part of the system , sometimes well inside the outer walls and bastions , but often forming part of the outer wall for the sake of economy . It is positioned to be the last line of defense , should the enemy breach the other components of the fortification system . A citadel is also a term of the third part of a medieval castle , with higher walls than the rest . It was to be the last line of defense before the keep itself . \n \n In various countries , the citadels gained a specific name such as `` Kremlin '' in Russia or `` Alcázar '' in the Iberian Peninsula . In European cities , the term `` Citadel '' and `` City Castle '' are often used interchangeably . The term `` tower '' is also used in some cases such as the Tower of London and Jerusalem 's Tower of David . However , the Haitian citadel , which is the largest citadel in the Western Hemisphere , is called Citadelle Laferrière or simply the `` Citadel '' in English . \n \n History \n \n 8000 BC–600 AD \n \n In Ancient Greece , the Acropolis ( literally : `` peak of the city '' ) , placed on a commanding eminence , was important in the life of the people , serving as a refuge and stronghold in peril and containing military and food supplies , the shrine of the god and a royal palace . The most well-known is the Acropolis of Athens , but nearly every Greek city-state had one – the Acrocorinth famed as a particularly strong fortress . In a much later period , when Greece was ruled by the Latin Empire , the same strong points were used by the new feudal rulers for much the same purpose . \n \n 167–160 BC \n \n Rebels who took power in the city but with the citadel still held by the former rulers could by no means regard their tenure of power as secure . One such incident played an important part in the history of the Maccabean Revolt against the Seleucid Empire . The Hellenistic garrison of Jerusalem and local supporters of the Seleucids held out for many years in the Acra citadel , making Maccabean rule in the rest of Jerusalem precarious . When finally gaining possession of the place , the Maccabeans pointedly destroyed and razed the Acra , though they constructed another citadel for their own use in a different part of Jerusalem . \n \n 3300–1300 BC \n \n Some of the oldest known structures which have served as citadels were built by the Indus Valley Civilization , where the citadel represented a centralised authority . The main citadel in Indus Valley was almost 12 meters tall . The purpose of these structures , however , remains debated . Though the structures found in the ruins of Mohenjo-daro were walled , it is far from clear that these structures were defensive against enemy attacks . Rather , they may have been built to divert flood waters . \n \n 500–1500 AD \n \n At various periods , and particularly during the Middle Ages , the citadel – having its own fortifications , independent of the city walls – was the last defence of a besieged army , often held after the town had been conquered . A city where the citadel held out against an invading army was not considered conquered . For example , in the 1543 Siege of Nice the Ottoman forces led by Barbarossa conquered and pillaged the town itself and took many captives – but the city castle held out , due to which the townspeople were accounted the victors . \n \n 1600–1860 AD \n \n As late as the 19th century , a similar situation developed at Antwerp , where a Dutch garrison under General David Hendrik Chassé held out in the city 's citadel between 1830 and 1832 , while the city itself had already become part of the independent Belgium . \n \n In time of war the citadel in many cases afforded retreat to the people living in the areas around the town . However , Citadels were often used also to protect a garrison or political power from the", "qas": [ { "answers": [ { "answer_start": 1337, "text": "acropolis" } ], "id": "odql_5851--Citadel.txt", "qid": "odql_5851", "question": "Which Greek word means 'citadel' or 'highest city'?" } ] } ] }

{ "paragraphs": [ { "context": "Felixstowe is an Edwardian seaside town and civil parish between the River Orwell and River Deben on the North Sea coast of Suffolk , England . The 2011 Census recorded the parish population as 23,689 . It includes the Port of Felixstowe , which is the largest container port in the United Kingdom . \n \n The nearby small town of Walton is often viewed as an extension of Felixstowe as the two towns are virtually side by side , though Walton was the original village . The quieter area nearer to the Deben River is often referred to as Old Felixstowe , although there is no formal classification of Old Felixstowe . \n \n History \n \n The 'old ' Felixstowe hamlet was centred on a pub and church , having stood on the site since long before the Norman conquest of England . The early history of Felixstowe , including its Roman , Anglo-Saxon , Norman and medieval defences , is told under the name of Walton , because the name Felixstowe was given retrospectively , during the 13th century , to a place which had expanded to a form beyond the boundaries of Walton alone . In the Doomsday book , for instance , only Walton is shown , and not Felixstowe , which at the time held little more than a few houses scattered over the cliff tops . Walton was a settlement on the River Orwell and in 1844 had a population of 907 compared to the relatively small Felixstowe Parish holding only 502 people . Walton had always preceded Felixstowe as a settlement as seen by the presence of Walton Castle , built by the Romans in the 3rd century , but today Walton is generally considered part of Felixstowe due to modern expansion . \n \n The Felixstowe area as a whole provided a linchpin in England 's defence , as proved in 1667 when Dutch soldiers landed near the Fludyers area and tried ( unsuccessfully ) to capture Landguard Fort due to strategic location . The town only became related to a major port in 1886 when the port opened to trade , following the initial construction of the dock basin in 1882 . \n \n On 11 August 1919 , A Felixstowe Fury ( aka flying boat ) , sideslipped and crashed into the sea 500 yards offshore soon after takeoff while on a test flight . It was preparing for an 8,000-mile flight to Cape Town , South Africa . The wireless operator , Lt. MacLeod , was killed , and the 6 passengers were rescued . The wreckage was towed ashore . \n \n At the turn of the century , tourism increased , and a pier was constructed in 1905 of which is partially functional to this day as an amusement arcade . Indeed , during the late Victorian period ( after circa 1880 ) it became a fashionable resort , a trend initiated by the opening of Felixstowe railway station , the pier , ( see above ) and a visit by the German imperial family . It remained so until the late 1930s . \n \n In 1953 , at least 48 people died in the town in the North Sea flood . \n \n Landguard Fort \n \n Landguard Fort originally known as Langer Fort is on the site of the last opposed invasion of England in 1667 and the first land battle of the Duke of York and of Albany 's ( later James II & VII ) Marines . The current fort was built in the 18th century , and modified in the 19th century with substantial additional 19th/20th century outside batteries . The Fort hosts regular military re-enactments , including Darell 's Day , which is a celebration of the last invasion , children 's events and open-air theatre . Landguard Fort is in the care of English Heritage and is managed by the Landguard Fort Trust to make it accessible to the public . \n \n Felixstowe Museum \n \n A museum telling the story of Felixstowe , with a reference library , historic maps , photo archive and 14 rooms of artefacts from Roman finds , the Martello towers , military social and domestic history through two world wars and into the new millennium is managed by volunteers from the Felixstowe History and Museum Society . It is located in the old submarine mining establishment building at the Landguard Peninsula , between the Fort and Port . \n \n Pier \n \n During the Second World War the majority of the pier , at the time one of the longest in the country and complete with its own train , was purposely demolished by Royal Engineers to prevent it being", "qas": [ { "answers": [ { "answer_start": 124, "text": "suffolk" } ], "id": "qb_9684--Felixstowe.txt", "qid": "qb_9684", "question": "The towns of Lowestoft and Felixstowe are in which English county?" } ] } ] }

{ "paragraphs": [ { "context": "A state of the United States of America is one of the 50 constituent political entities that shares its sovereignty with the United States federal government . Due to the shared sovereignty between each state and the federal government , Americans are citizens of both the federal republic and of the state in which they reside . State citizenship and residency are flexible , and no government approval is required to move between states , except for persons covered by certain types of court orders ( e.g. , paroled convicts and children of divorced spouses who are sharing custody ) . \n \n States range in population from just under 600,000 ( Wyoming ) to over 38 million ( California ) , and in area from ( Rhode Island ) to ( Alaska ) . Four states use the term commonwealth rather than state in their full official names . \n \n States are divided into counties or county-equivalents , which may be assigned some local governmental authority but are not sovereign . County or county-equivalent structure varies widely by state . State governments are allocated power by the people ( of each respective state ) through their individual constitutions . All are grounded in republican principles , and each provides for a government , consisting of three branches : executive , legislative , and judicial . \n \n States possess a number of powers and rights under the United States Constitution ; among them ratifying constitutional amendments . Historically , the tasks of local law enforcement , public education , public health , regulating intrastate commerce , and local transportation and infrastructure have generally been considered primarily state responsibilities , although all of these now have significant federal funding and regulation as well . Over time , the U.S. Constitution has been amended , and the interpretation and application of its provisions have changed . The general tendency has been toward centralization and incorporation , with the federal government playing a much larger role than it once did . There is a continuing debate over states ' rights , which concerns the extent and nature of the states ' powers and sovereignty in relation to the federal government and the rights of individuals . \n \n States and their residents are represented in the federal Congress , a bicameral legislature consisting of the Senate and the House of Representatives . Each state is represented by two Senators , and at least one Representative , while additional representatives are distributed among the states in proportion to the most recent constitutionally mandated decennial census . Each state is also entitled to select a number of electors to vote in the Electoral College , the body that elects the President of the United States , equal to the total of Representatives and Senators from that state . \n \n The Constitution grants to Congress the authority to admit new states into the Union . Since the establishment of the United States in 1776 , the number of states has expanded from the original 13 to 50 . Alaska and Hawaii are the most recent states admitted , both in 1959 . \n \n The Constitution is silent on the question of whether states have the power to secede ( withdraw from ) from the Union . Shortly after the Civil War , the U.S. Supreme Court , in Texas v. White , held that a state can not unilaterally do so . \n \n States of the United States \n \n The 50 U.S. states ( in alphabetical order ) , along with state flag and date each joined the union : \n \n Governments \n \n As each state is itself a sovereign entity , it reserves the right to organize its individual government in any way ( within the broad parameters set by the U.S. Constitution ) deemed appropriate by its people . As a result , while the governments of the various states share many similar features , they often vary greatly with regard to form and substance . No two state governments are identical . \n \n Constitutions \n \n The government of each state is structured in accordance with its individual constitution . Many of these documents are more detailed and more elaborate than their federal counterpart . The Constitution of Alabama , for example , contains 310,296 words — more than 40 times as many as the U.S. Constitution . In practice , each state has adopted a three-branch system of government , modeled after the federal government , and consisting of three branches ( although the three-branch structure is not required ) : executive , legislative , and judicial . \n \n Executive \n \n In each state , the chief executive is called the", "qas": [ { "answers": [ { "answer_start": 676, "text": "calif" } ], "id": "qb_5356--U.S._state.txt", "qid": "qb_5356", "question": "The Internet company Google is based in which US state?" } ] } ] }

{ "paragraphs": [ { "context": "The People 's Dispensary for Sick Animals ( PDSA ) is a veterinary charity in the United Kingdom . It was founded in 1917 by Maria Dickin to provide care for sick and injured animals of the poor . It is the UK 's leading veterinary charity , carrying out more than one million free veterinary consultations a year , and was up to 2009 the largest private employer of fully qualified veterinary surgeons and veterinary nurses in the UK . \n \n Foundation and development \n \n During World War I , animal welfare pioneer Maria Dickin worked to improve the dreadful state of animal health in the Whitechapel area of London . She wanted to open a clinic where East Enders living in poverty could receive free treatment for their sick and injured animals . Despite widespread scepticism , she opened her free `` dispensary '' in a Whitechapel basement on Saturday 17 November 1917 . It was an immediate success and she was soon forced to find larger premises . \n \n Within six years , Maria Dickin had designed and equipped her first horse-drawn clinic , and soon a fleet of mobile dispensaries was established . PDSA vehicles soon became a comforting and familiar sight throughout the country . Eventually , PDSA 's role was defined by two Acts of Parliament , in 1949 and 1956 , that continue to govern its activities today . \n \n PDSA Dickin Medal \n \n Maria Dickin instituted the Dickin Medal in 1943 to acknowledges outstanding acts of bravery by animals serving with the Armed Forces or Civil Defence units . It has become recognised as the animals ' Victoria Cross , and is administered by PDSA . The PDSA created a second animal bravery award , the PDSA Gold Medal , in 2002 , which is now recognised as the animal equivalent of the George Cross . \n \n Eligibility requirements \n \n Today , treatment is only available to the pets of those in receipt of Housing Benefit or Council Tax Benefit . For those eligible , treatment for sick and injured animals is free of charge . Recently , the PDSA started providing eligible pet owners with preventative services such as neutering , vaccinations and microchipping . These services are the only treatments that are not free ; however , they are offered at cost price . \n \n Although there is no cost for all treatments except for those of a preventative nature , PDSA asks clients to make a donation of whatever they can afford towards the treatment of their animal . \n \n Currently , PDSA is able to offer its services to 75 % of eligible people , and has plans to increase this to 80 % over the coming year . \n \n In May 2009 the PDSA began requesting a donation on checking the animal in for treatment . \n \n Areas of operation \n \n PDSA operates throughout Great Britain through animal hospitals and practices ; a vast network of charity shops support the organisation . It has one animal hospital in Northern Ireland , the catchment area of which covers much of the area East of the Bann . Although further hospitals are not currently planned for that region , some services through private clinics may be offered , and a charity shop is due to open in March 2007 in Lisburn . The charity 's Head Office is based in Telford , Shropshire . \n \n In 1937 , a branch of the PDSA was founded in District Six , South Africa , which at the time was a poverty-stricken area of Cape Town . In 1988 , the organization became autonomous but maintains a strong link with the mother society in the United Kingdom and a great deal of information is exchanged between them . \n \n In October 1938 the PDSA held a Twenty-First Birthday Dinner at the Holborn Restaurant in London , attended by Mrs Dickin . There were words from abroad from France ( Mr Horne ) , Dutch East Indies ( Mr Cronin ) , Roumania ( sic ) ( Mr Smith ) , and Greece ( Mr Hurle ) . \n \n Celebrity Ambassadors \n \n * Joanna Page \n \n Roobarb and Custard Partnership \n \n In 2012 Bulldog Licensing , the brand licensing agency for Roobarb & Custard , pledged a [ http : //www.pdsa.org.uk/how-you-can-help/roobarb-custard/ long-term link with PDSA ] to help raise £1m . The characters have already appeared on a range of PDSA T-shirts , modelled and supported by singer and TV presenter Alesha Dixon . \n \n Pet Fit Club \n \n In 2005 the PDSA launched its Pet Fit Club competition , in order to", "qas": [ { "answers": [ { "answer_start": 1328, "text": "dickin medal" } ], "id": "sfq_19978--People's_Dispensary_for_Sick_Animals.txt", "qid": "sfq_19978", "question": "What is the official name of the award for bravery given by the charity PDSA and popularly known as the animals' Victoria Cross?" } ] } ] }

{ "paragraphs": [ { "context": "The International System of Units ( , SI ) is the modern form of the metric system , and is the most widely used system of measurement . It comprises a coherent system of units of measurement built on seven base units . It defines twenty-two named units , and includes many more unnamed coherent derived units . The system also establishes a set of twenty prefixes to the unit names and unit symbols that may be used when specifying multiples and fractions of the units . \n \n The system was published in 1960 as the result of an initiative that began in 1948 . It is based on the metre-kilogram-second system of units ( MKS ) rather than any variant of the centimetre-gram-second system ( CGS ) . SI is intended to be an evolving system , so prefixes and units are created and unit definitions are modified through international agreement as the technology of measurement progresses and the precision of measurements improves . The 24th and 25th General Conferences on Weights and Measures ( CGPM ) in 2011 and 2014 , for example , discussed a proposal to change the definition of the kilogram , linking it to an invariant of nature rather than to the mass of a material artefact , thereby ensuring long-term stability . \n \n The motivation for the development of the SI was the diversity of units that had sprung up within the CGS systems and the lack of coordination between the various disciplines that used them . The CGPM , which was established by the Metre Convention of 1875 , brought together many international organisations to not only agree on the definitions and standards of the new system but also agree on the rules for writing and presenting measurements in a standardised manner around the world . \n \n The International System of Units has been adopted by most developed countries ; however , the adoption has not been universal in all English-speaking countries . While metrication in the United States is consistent in science , medicine , government , and various fields of technology and engineering , common measurements are mostly performed in United States customary units , although these have officially been defined in terms of SI units . The United Kingdom has officially adopted a policy of partial metrication . Canada has adopted the SI for most governmental , medical and scientific purposes and for such varied uses as grocery weights , weather reports , traffic signs and gasoline sales , but imperial units are still legally permitted and remain in common use throughout many sectors of Canadian society , particularly in the building trade and the railway sector . \n \n History \n \n The metric system was first implemented during the French Revolution ( 1790s ) with just the metre and kilogram as standards of length and massThe differences between `` weight '' and `` mass '' were only formally qualified in 1901. respectively . In the 1830s Carl Friedrich Gauss laid the foundations for a coherent system based on length , mass , and time . In the 1860s a group working under the auspices of the British Association for the Advancement of Science formulated the requirement for a coherent system of units with base units and derived units . The inclusion of electrical units into the system was hampered by the customary use of more than one set of units , until 1900 when Giovanni Giorgi identified the need to define one single electrical quantity as a fourth base quantity alongside the original three base quantities . \n \n Meanwhile , in 1875 , the Treaty of the Metre passed responsibility for verification of the kilogram and metre against agreed prototypes from French to international control . In 1921 , the Treaty was extended to include all physical quantities including electrical units originally defined in 1893 . \n \n In 1948 , an overhaul of the metric system was set in motion which resulted in the development of the `` Practical system of units '' which , on its publication in 1960 , was given the name `` The International System of Units '' . In 1954 , the 10th General Conference on Weights and Measures ( CGPM ) identified electric current as the fourth base quantity in the practical system of units and added two more base quantities—temperature and luminous intensity—making six base quantities in all . The units associated with these quantities were the metre , kilogram , second , ampere , kelvin and candela . In 1971 , a seventh base quantity , amount of substance represented by the mole , was added to the definition of SI . \n \n Early development \n \n The metric system was developed from", "qas": [ { "answers": [], "id": "odql_11502--International_System_of_Units.txt", "qid": "odql_11502", "question": "Derived from the Greek for 'work', what is the CGS unit of energy?" } ] } ] }

{ "paragraphs": [ { "context": "Ribbon Fall , located in Yosemite National Park in California , flows off a cliff on the west side of El Capitan and is the longest single-drop waterfall in North America . The fall is fed by melting winter snow ; while therefore dry for much of the year , the fall is a spectacular 1,612 feet ( 491 m ) in the spring . In exceptional years , an ice cone develops at its base during the winter months similar to that which usually forms beneath Upper Yosemite Fall . This deposit can reach a depth of 200 feet , versus 322 feet for the greatest depth of the ice cone beneath the Upper Fall and Lower Fall . It is the tallest , continuous falls waterfall in the United States . \n \n Image : Ribbon_fall_top.jpg|The top of Ribbon Fall . \n Image : Ribbon_fall_with_ice_cone.jpg|Ribbon Fall as seen from its base . Note the ice cone .", "qas": [ { "answers": [ { "answer_start": 163, "text": "america" } ], "id": "dpql_115--Ribbon_Fall.txt", "qid": "dpql_115", "question": "In which country are the Ribbon Falls?" } ] } ] }

{ "paragraphs": [ { "context": "Strand ( or the Strand ) is a major thoroughfare in the City of Westminster , Central London . It runs just over from Trafalgar Square eastwards to Temple Bar , where the road becomes Fleet Street inside the City of London , and is part of the A4 , a main road running west from inner London . \n \n The road 's name comes from the Old English strond , meaning the edge of a river , as it historically ran alongside the north bank of the River Thames . The street was popular with the British upper classes between the 12th and 17th centuries , with many historically important mansions being built between the Strand and the river . These included Essex House , Arundel House , Somerset House , Savoy Palace , Durham House and Cecil House . The aristocracy moved to the West End over the 17th century , following which the Strand became well known for coffee shops , restaurants and taverns . The street was a centre point for theatre and music hall during the 19th century , and several venues remain on the Strand . At the east end of the street are two historic churches ; St Mary le Strand and St Clement Danes . \n \n Several authors , poets and philosophers have lived on or near the Strand , including Charles Dickens , Ralph Waldo Emerson and Virginia Woolf . The street has been commemorated in the song , `` Let 's All Go Down the Strand '' , now recognised as a typical piece of Cockney music hall . \n \n Geography \n \n The street is the main link between the two cities of Westminster and London . It runs eastward from Trafalgar Square , parallel to the River Thames , to Temple Bar which is the boundary between the two city districts ; the road ahead being Fleet Street . Traffic travelling eastbound follows a short crescent around Aldwych , connected at both ends to the Strand . The road marks the southern boundary of the Covent Garden district and forms part of the Northbank business improvement district . \n \n The name was first recorded in 1002 as strondway , then in 1185 as Stronde and in 1220 as la Stranda . It is formed from the Old English word 'strond ' , meaning the edge of a river . Initially it referred to the shallow bank of the once much wider Thames , before the construction of the Victoria Embankment . The name was later applied to the road itself . In the 13th century it was known as 'Densemanestret ' or 'street of the Danes ' , referring to the community of Danes in the area . \n \n Two London Underground stations were once named Strand : a Piccadilly line station ( which was renamed Aldwych station ) that operated between 1907 and 1994 and a former Northern line station which today forms part of Charing Cross station . 'Strand Bridge ' was the name given to Waterloo Bridge during its construction ; it was renamed for its official opening on the second anniversary of the coalition victory in the Battle of Waterloo . London Bus routes 6 , 23 , 139 and 176 all run along the Strand , as do numerous night bus services . \n \n History \n \n During Roman Britain , what is now the Strand was part of the route to Silchester , known as `` Iter VIII '' on the Antonine Itinerary , and which later became known by the name Akeman Street . It was briefly part of a trading town called Lundenwic that developed around 600 AD , and stretched from Trafalgar Square to Aldwych . Alfred the Great gradually moved the settlement into the old Roman town of Londinium from around 886 AD onwards , leaving no mark of the old town , and the area returned to fields . \n \n In the Middle Ages , the Strand became the principal route between the separate settlements of the City of London ( the civil and commercial centre ) and the royal Palace of Westminster ( the national political centre ) . In the archaeological record , there is considerable evidence of occupation to the north of Aldwych , but much along the former foreshore has been covered by rubble from the demolition of the Tudor Somerset Place , a former royal residence , to create a large platform for the building of the first Somerset House , in the 17th century . The landmark Eleanor 's Cross was built in the 13th century at the western end of the Strand at Charing Cross by Edward I commemorating his wife Eleanor of", "qas": [ { "answers": [ { "answer_start": 184, "text": "fleet street" } ], "id": "sfq_410--Strand,_London.txt", "qid": "sfq_410", "question": "In the game Monopoly, which property completes the set with Trafalgar Square and the Strand?" } ] } ] }

{ "paragraphs": [ { "context": "A Spaniard in the Works is a book by John Lennon , first published on 24 June 1965 . The book consists of nonsensical stories and drawings similar to the style of his previous book , 1964 's In His Own Write . The name is a pun on the expression `` a spanner in the works '' . \n \n CD release \n \n The Swedish publishing house Bakhåll published the book in 1997 in an English and Swedish edition , together with a CD containing tracks with never before released Lennon pieces and interviews . \n \n 1997 CD track listing \n \n # '' My Life '' ( Lennon ) 2:30 \n # '' John Meets Yoko - Teacher/Pupil '' ( Lennon ) 1:44 \n # '' Dear John '' ( Lennon ) 4:10 \n # '' Cosmic Joke Number 9 / The Future Is Ours To See '' ( Lennon ) 1:30 \n # '' Lord , Take This Makeup Off Me '' ( Lennon ) 2:18 \n # '' Do It Yourself '' ( unknown ) 1:13 \n # '' Make Love Not War '' ( Lennon ) 3:13 \n # '' Groupies '' ( Lennon ) 1:45 \n # '' Here We Go Again '' ( Lennon/Spector ) 2:57 \n # '' What Does It Mean When You 're Such A Pacifist That You Get Shot ? '' ( Lennon ) 0:57 \n # '' His Spirit Is Still Around '' ( Yoko Ono ) 0:46", "qas": [ { "answers": [ { "answer_start": 37, "text": "john lennon" } ], "id": "qw_12906--A_Spaniard_in_the_Works.txt", "qid": "qw_12906", "question": "\"Who wrote the book \"\"In His Own Write\"\", published in March 1964, and the follow up, \"\"A Spaniard in the Works\"\", published in June 1965?\"" } ] } ] }

{ "paragraphs": [ { "context": "Space Shuttle Challenger ( Orbiter Vehicle Designation : OV-099 ) was the second orbiter of NASA 's space shuttle program to be put into service following Columbia . The shuttle was built by Rockwell International 's Space Transportation Systems Division in Downey , California . Its maiden flight , STS-6 , started on April 4 , 1983 . It launched and landed nine times before breaking apart 73 seconds into its tenth mission , STS-51-L , on January 28 , 1986 , resulting in the death of all seven crew members , including a civilian school teacher . It was the first of two shuttles to be destroyed in flight , the other being Columbia in 2003 . The accident led to a two-and-a-half year grounding of the shuttle fleet ; flights resumed in 1988 with STS-26 flown by Discovery . Challenger itself was replaced by Endeavour which was built using structural spares ordered by NASA as part of the construction contracts for Discovery and Atlantis . \n \n History \n \n Challenger was named after HMS Challenger , a British corvette that was the command ship for the Challenger Expedition , a pioneering global marine research expedition undertaken from 1872 through 1876 . The Apollo 17 lunar module that landed on the Moon in 1972 was also named Challenger . \n \n Construction \n \n Because of the low production of orbiters , the Space Shuttle program decided to build a vehicle as a Structural Test Article , STA-099 , that could later be converted to a flight vehicle . The contract for STA-099 was awarded to North American Rockwell on July 26 , 1972 , and its construction was completed in February 1978 . After STA-099 's rollout , it was sent to a Lockheed test site in Palmdale , where it spent over 11 months in vibration tests designed to simulate entire shuttle flights , from launch to landing . In order to prevent damage during structural testing , qualification tests were performed to a factor of safety of 1.2 times the design limit loads . The qualification tests were used to validate computational models , and compliance with the required 1.4 factor of safety was shown by analysis . STA-099 was essentially a complete airframe of a Space Shuttle orbiter , with only a mockup crew module installed and thermal insulation placed on its forward fuselage . \n \n NASA planned to refit the prototype orbiter Enterprise ( OV-101 ) , used for flight testing , as the second operational orbiter , but design changes made during construction of the first orbiter , Columbia ( OV-102 ) , would have required extensive work . Because STA-099 's qualification testing prevented damage , NASA found that rebuilding STA-099 as OV-099 would be less expensive than refitting Enterprise . Work on converting STA-099 into Challenger began in January 1979 , starting with just the crew module ( the pressurized portion of the vehicle ) as the rest of the orbiter was still used by Lockheed . STA-099 returned to the Rockwell plant in November 1979 , and the original unfinished crew module was replaced with the newly constructed model . Major portions of STA-099 , including the payload bay doors , body flap , wings and vertical stabilizer , also had to be returned to their individual subcontractors for rework . By early 1981 , most of these components had returned to Palmdale and were reinstalled on the orbiter . Work continued on the conversion until July 1982 . \n \n Challenger ( and the orbiters built after it ) had fewer tiles in its Thermal Protection System than Columbia , though it still made heavy use of the white LRSI tiles on the cabin and main fuselage compared to the later orbiters . Most of the tiles on the payload bay doors , upper wing surfaces , and rear fuselage surfaces were replaced with DuPont white Nomex felt insulation . These modifications as well as an overall lighter structure allowed Challenger to carry 2,500 lb ( 1,100 kg ) more payload than Columbia . Challenger 's fuselage and wings were also stronger than Columbia 's despite being lighter . The hatch and vertical stabilizer tile patterns were also different from that of the other orbiters . Challenger was also the first orbiter to have a head-up display system for use in the descent phase of a mission , and the first to feature Phase I main engines rated for 104 % maximum thrust . \n \n Construction milestones ( as STA-099 ) \n \n Construction milestones ( as OV-099 ) \n \n Flights and modifications \n \n After its first flight in April 1983 , Challenger quickly became the workhorse of NASA 's Space Shuttle fleet ,", "qas": [ { "answers": [ { "answer_start": 455, "text": "1986" } ], "id": "qw_14302--Space_Shuttle_Challenger.txt", "qid": "qw_14302", "question": "In which year did the space shuttle Challenger explode 73 seconds after lift off?" } ] } ] }

{ "paragraphs": [ { "context": "The FA Cup , known officially as The Football Association Challenge Cup , is an annual knockout association football competition in men 's domestic English football . First played during the 1871–72 season , it is the oldest association football competition in the world . It is organised by and named after The Football Association ( The FA ) . For sponsorship reasons , from 2015 through to 2018 it is also known as The Emirates FA Cup . A concurrent women 's tournament is also held , the FA Women 's Cup . \n \n The competition is open to any eligible club down to Levels 10 of the English football league system – all 92 professional clubs in the Premier League and Football League ( Levels 1 to 4 ) , and several hundred `` non-league '' teams in Steps 1 to 6 of the National League System ( Levels 5 to 10 ) . A record 763 clubs competed in 2011–12 . The tournament consists of 12 randomly drawn rounds followed by the semi-finals and the final . Entrants are not seeded , although a system of byes based on league level ensures higher ranked teams enter in later rounds – the minimum number of games needed to win the competition ranges from six to fourteen . \n \n The first six rounds are the Qualifying Competition , from which 32 teams progress to the first round of the Competition Proper , meeting the first of the 92 professional teams . The last entrants are the Premier League and Championship clubs , into the draw for the Third Round Proper . In the modern era , non-league teams have never reached the quarter finals , and teams below Level 2 have never reached the final.Since 1920 , when the Football League expanded to three divisions , no club from outside the top two divisions has reached the final . Since 1945 , no non-league club has reached the sixth round of the proper competition ( the last eight/quarter-final stage ) . As a result , as well as who wins , significant focus is given to those `` minnows '' ( smaller teams ) who progress furthest , especially if they achieve an unlikely `` giant-killing '' victory . \n \n Winners receive the FA Cup trophy , of which there have been two designs and five actual cups ; the latest is a 2014 replica of the second design , introduced in 1911 . Winners also qualify for European football and a place in the FA Community Shield match . Manchester United are the current holders , having beaten Crystal Palace 2–1 after extra time in the 2016 final to win the cup for the 12th time in their history and become the tournament 's joint-most successful club alongside Arsenal . \n \n History \n \n In 1863 , the newly founded Football Association ( the FA ) published the Laws of the Game of Association Football , unifying the various different rules in use before then . On 20 July 1871 , in the offices of The Sportsman newspaper , the FA Secretary C. W. Alcock proposed to the FA committee that `` it is desirable that a Challenge Cup should be established in connection with the Association for which all clubs belonging to the Association should be invited to compete '' . The inaugural FA Cup tournament kicked off in November 1871 . After thirteen games in all , Wanderers were crowned the winners in the final , on 16 March 1872 . Wanderers retained the trophy the following year . The modern cup was beginning to be established by the 1888–89 season , when qualifying rounds were introduced . \n \n Following the 1914–15 edition , the competition was suspended due to the First World War , and did n't resume until 1919–20 . The 1922–23 competition saw the first final to be played in the newly opened Wembley Stadium ( known at the time as the Empire Stadium ) . Due to the outbreak of World War II , the competition was n't played between the 1938–39 and 1945–46 editions . Due to the wartime breaks , the competition did n't celebrate its centenary year until 1980–81 ; fittingly the final featured a goal by Ricky Villa which was later voted the greatest goal ever scored at Wembley Stadium , but has since been replaced by Steven Gerrard . \n \n Having previously featured replays , the modern day practice of ensuring the semi-final and final matches finish on the day , was introduced from 2000 onwards . Redevelopment of Wembley saw the final played outside of England for the first time , the 2001–2006 finals being played at the Millennium Stadium", "qas": [ { "answers": [], "id": "qz_1651--FA_Cup.txt", "qid": "qz_1651", "question": "Which Liverpool player is currently the record FA Cup final goalscorer, with 5 goals to his name?" } ] } ] }

{ "paragraphs": [ { "context": "Mikhail Sergeyevich Gorbachev ( ; ; born 2 March 1931 ) is a former Soviet statesman . He was the eighth and last leader of the Soviet Union , having served as General Secretary of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union from 1985 until 1991 when the party was dissolved . He served as the country 's head of state from 1988 until its dissolution in 1991 ( titled as Chairman of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet from 1988 to 1989 , as Chairman of the Supreme Soviet from 1989 to 1990 , and as President of the Soviet Union from 1990 to 1991 ) . He was the only General Secretary in the history of the Soviet Union to have been born after the October Revolution . \n \n Gorbachev was born in Stavropol Krai into a peasant Ukrainian–Russian family , and in his teens operated combine harvesters on collective farms . He graduated from Moscow State University in 1955 with a degree in law . While he was at the university , he joined the Communist Party , and soon became very active within it . In 1970 , he was appointed the First Party Secretary of the Stavropol Regional Committee , First Secretary to the Supreme Soviet in 1974 , and appointed a member of the Politburo in 1979 . Within three years of the death of Soviet leader Leonid Brezhnev , following the brief `` interregna '' of Andropov and Chernenko , Gorbachev was elected general secretary by the Politburo in 1985 . Before he reached the post , he had occasionally been mentioned in Western newspapers as a likely next leader and a man of the younger generation at the top level . \n \n Gorbachev 's policies of glasnost ( `` openness '' ) and perestroika ( `` restructuring '' ) and his reorientation of Soviet strategic aims contributed to the end of the Cold War . He removed the constitutional role of the Communist Party in governing the state , and inadvertently led to the dissolution of the Soviet Union . He was awarded the Otto Hahn Peace Medal in 1989 , the Nobel Peace Prize in 1990 and the Harvey Prize in 1992 , as well as honorary doctorates from various universities . \n \n In September 2008 , Gorbachev and business oligarch Alexander Lebedev announced they would form the Independent Democratic Party of Russia , and in May 2009 Gorbachev announced that the launch was imminent . This was Gorbachev 's third attempt to establish a political party , having started the Social Democratic Party of Russia in 2001 and the Union of Social Democrats in 2007 . \n \n Early and personal life \n \n Gorbachev was born on 2 March 1931 in Privolnoye , Stavropol Krai , Russian SFSR , Soviet Union , into a mixed Russian-Ukrainian family of migrants from Voronezh and Chernigov Governorates . As a child , Gorbachev experienced the Soviet famine of 1932–1933 . He recalled in a memoir that `` In that terrible year [ in 1933 ] nearly half the population of my native village , Privolnoye , starved to death , including two sisters and one brother of my father . '' Both of his grandfathers were arrested on false charges in the 1930s ; his paternal grandfather Andrey Moiseyevich Gorbachev ( Андрей Моисеевич Горбачев ) was sent to exile in Siberia . \n \n His father was a combine harvester operator and World War II veteran , named Sergey Andreyevich Gorbachev . His mother , Maria Panteleyevna Gorbacheva ( née Gopkalo ) , was a kolkhoz worker . He was brought up mainly by his Ukrainian maternal grandparents . In his teens , he operated combine harvesters on collective farms . He graduated from Moscow State University in 1955 with a degree in law . In 1967 he qualified as an agricultural economist via a correspondence master 's degree at the Stavropol Institute of Agriculture . While at the university , he joined the Communist Party of the Soviet Union ( CPSU ) and soon became very active within the party . \n \n Gorbachev met his future wife , Raisa Titarenko , daughter of a Ukrainian railway engineer , at Moscow State University . They married in September 1953 and moved to Stavropol upon graduation . She gave birth to their only child , daughter Irina Mikhailovna Virganskaya ( Ири́на Миха́йловна Вирга́нская ) , in 1957 . Raisa Gorbacheva died of leukemia in 1999 . Gorbachev has two granddaughters ( Ksenia and Anastasia ) and one great granddaughter ( Aleksandra ) . \n \n Rise in the Communist Party \n \n Gorbachev attended the important twenty-second Party Congress in October 1961 , where Nikita Khrushchev announced a plan", "qas": [ { "answers": [ { "answer_start": 1576, "text": "glasnost" } ], "id": "bb_5221--Mikhail_Gorbachev.txt", "qid": "bb_5221", "question": "Name the Sovient Union policy of governmental openness, implemented by Gorbachev from 1985?" } ] } ] }

{ "paragraphs": [ { "context": "Saliva is a watery substance formed in the mouths of humans and animals , secreted by the salivary glands . Human saliva comprises 99.5 % water , plus electrolytes , mucus , white blood cells , epithelial cells ( which can be used to extract DNA ) , glycoproteins , enzymes ( such as amylase ) , antimicrobial agents such as secretory IgA and lysozyme . The enzymes found in saliva are essential in beginning the process of digestion of dietary starches and fats . These enzymes also play a role in breaking down food particles entrapped within dental crevices , thus protecting teeth from bacterial decay . Furthermore , saliva serves a lubricative function , wetting food and permitting the initiation of swallowing , and protecting the mucosal surfaces of the oral cavity from desiccation . \n \n Various animal species have special uses for saliva that go beyond pre-digestion . Some swifts use their gummy saliva to build nests . Aerodramus nests form the basis of bird 's nest soup . \n \n Cobras , vipers , and certain other members of the venom clade hunt with venomous saliva injected by fangs . Some arthropods , such as spiders and caterpillars , produce thread from salivary glands . \n \n Contents \n \n Produced in salivary glands , human saliva is 99.5 % water , but it contains many important substances , including electrolytes , mucus , antibacterial compounds and various enzymes . \n \n It is a fluid containing : \n * Water \n * Electrolytes : \n * * 2–21 mmol/L sodium ( lower than blood plasma ) \n * * 10–36 mmol/L potassium ( higher than plasma ) \n * * 1.2–2.8 mmol/L calcium ( similar to plasma ) \n * * 0.08–0.5 mmol/L magnesium \n * * 5–40 mmol/L chloride ( lower than plasma ) \n * * 25 mmol/L bicarbonate ( higher than plasma ) \n * * 1.4–39 mmol/L phosphate \n * * Iodine ( mmol/L concentration is usually higher than plasma , but dependent variable according to dietary iodine intake ) \n * Mucus ( mucus in saliva mainly consists of mucopolysaccharides and glycoproteins ) \n * Antibacterial compounds ( thiocyanate , hydrogen peroxide , and secretory immunoglobulin A ) \n * Epidermal growth factor ( EGF ) \n * Various enzymes ; there are three major enzymes found in saliva : \n * * α-amylase ( EC3.2.1.1 ) , or ptyalin , secreted by the acinar cells of the parotid and submandibular glands , starts the digestion of starch before the food is even swallowed ; it has a pH optimum of 7.4 \n * * Lingual lipase , which is secreted by the acinar cells of the sublingual gland ; has a pH optimum around 4.0 so it is not activated until entering the acidic environment of the stomach \n * * Kallikrein , an enzyme that proteolytically cleaves high-molecular-weight kininogen to produce bradykinin , which is a vasodilator ; it is secreted by the acinar cells of all three major salivary glands \n * * Antimicrobial enzymes that kill bacteria \n * * * Lysozyme \n * * * Salivary lactoperoxidase \n * * * Lactoferrin \n * * * Immunoglobulin A \n * * Proline-rich proteins ( function in enamel formation , Ca2+-binding , microbe killing and lubrication ) \n * * Minor enzymes include salivary acid phosphatases A+B , N-acetylmuramoyl-L-alanine amidase , NAD ( P ) H dehydrogenase ( quinone ) , superoxide dismutase , glutathione transferase , class 3 aldehyde dehydrogenase , glucose-6-phosphate isomerase , and tissue kallikrein ( function unknown ) \n * Cells : possibly as many as 8 million human and 500 million bacterial cells per mL . The presence of bacterial products ( small organic acids , amines , and thiols ) causes saliva to sometimes exhibit foul odor \n * Opiorphin , a pain-killing substance found in human saliva \n * Haptocorrin , a protein which binds to Vitamin B12 to protect it against degradation in the stomach , before it binds to intrinsic factor \n \n Daily salivary output \n \n There is much debate about the amount of saliva that is produced in a healthy person per day ; estimates range from 0.75 to 1.5 litres per day while it is generally accepted that during sleep the amount drops to nearly zero . \n In humans , the submandibular gland contributes around 70–75 % of secretion , while the parotid gland secretes about 20–25 % and small amounts are secreted from the other salivary glands . \n \n Functions \n \n Saliva contributes to the digestion of food and to the maintenance of oral hygiene . Without normal salivary function the frequency of dental caries , gum disease", "qas": [ { "answers": [ { "answer_start": 0, "text": "saliva" } ], "id": "bb_4676--Saliva.txt", "qid": "bb_4676", "question": "What human liquid is 99.5% water, and 0.5% electrolytes, mucus, glycoproteins, enzymes, and antibacterial compounds such as IgA and lysozyme? Blood; Sweat; Tears; or Saliva?" } ] } ] }

{ "paragraphs": [ { "context": "Counties of England are areas used for the purposes of administrative , geographical and political demarcation . \n \n For administrative purposes , England outside Greater London and the Isles of Scilly is divided into 83 metropolitan and non-metropolitan counties . These counties may consist of a single district or be divided into several districts . As of April 2009 , 27 of these counties are divided into districts and have a county council . Six of the counties , covering the major conurbations , are known as metropolitan counties , which do not have county councils , although some functions are organised on a county-wide basis by their districts ( metropolitan boroughs ) acting jointly . \n \n All of England ( including Greater London and the Isles of Scilly ) is also divided into 48 ceremonial counties , which are also known as geographic counties . Most ceremonial counties correspond to a metropolitan or non-metropolitan county of the same name but often with reduced boundaries . \n \n The current arrangement is the result of incremental reform . Many of the counties have their origins in the Middle Ages , although the larger counties of Yorkshire and Sussex lost many or all of their administrative functions centuries ago . The geographic counties which existed before the local government reforms of 1965 and 1974 are referred to as ancient counties or historic counties . From 1889 to 1974 areas with county councils were known as administrative counties , which excluded larger towns and cities known as county boroughs and included divisions of some geographic counties . From 1974 to 1996 the metropolitan and non-metropolitan counties , some of which were established only in 1974 , corresponded directly with the ceremonial counties . \n \n Counties , usually either historic counties or current ceremonial counties , are used as the geographical basis for a number of institutions such as police and fire services , sports clubs and other non-government organisations . \n \n For the purpose of sorting and delivering mail , England was divided into 48 postal counties until 1996 ; these have been abandoned by Royal Mail in favour of postcodes . \n \n Scope and structure \n \n Local government \n \n Cumbria , Hertfordshire , Norfolk , Northamptonshire , Oxfordshire , Suffolk , Surrey , Warwickshire , West Sussex and Worcestershire are non-metropolitan counties of multiple districts with a county council . In these counties most services are provided by the county council and the district councils have a more limited role . Their areas each correspond exactly to ceremonial counties . \n \n There are six metropolitan counties which are based on the major English conurbations ; and they also correspond exactly to a ceremonial county and have multiple districts , but do not have county councils . They are Greater Manchester , Merseyside , South Yorkshire , Tyne and Wear , West Midlands and West Yorkshire . \n \n In these counties the district councils provide the majority of services . Similarly , Berkshire is a non-metropolitan county with no county council and multiple districts and maps directly to a ceremonial county . Bristol , Herefordshire , Isle of Wight , Northumberland and Rutland are ceremonial counties consisting of a non-metropolitan county of a single district , and are known as unitary authorities . \n \n Buckinghamshire , Cambridgeshire , Derbyshire , Devon , Dorset , East Sussex , Essex , Gloucestershire , Hampshire , Kent , Lancashire , Leicestershire , Lincolnshire , North Yorkshire , Nottinghamshire , Somerset and Staffordshire are non-metropolitan counties with multiple districts and a county council , where one or more districts have been split off to form unitary authorities . The effect is that the corresponding ceremonial county is larger than the non-metropolitan county of the same name and the county council is responsible for providing services in only part of the county . In Cornwall , Durham , East Riding of Yorkshire , Shropshire and Wiltshire the bulk of the area is a unitary authority which shares the name of the ceremonial county and the rest of county is part of one or more other unitary authorities . \n \n In total , there are 39 unitary authorities that do not share the names of any of the ceremonial counties . Bedfordshire and Cheshire are counties that consist of a number of unitary authorities , none of which has the same name as the ceremonial county . The City of London and Greater London are anomalous as ceremonial counties that do not correspond to any metropolitan or non-metropolitan counties , and pre-date their creation . \n \n Institutions \n \n The metropolitan counties have passenger transport executives to manage public transport , a role undertaken by the", "qas": [ { "answers": [ { "answer_start": 3410, "text": "dorset" } ], "id": "qb_7444--Counties_of_England.txt", "qid": "qb_7444", "question": "Sherborne Castle is in which English county?" } ] } ] }

{ "paragraphs": [ { "context": "The French Third Republic ( , sometimes written as ' ) is the system of government adopted in France from 1870 , when the Second French Empire collapsed , until 1940 , when France 's defeat by Nazi Germany in World War II led to the formation of the Vichy government in France . It came to an end on 10 July 1940 , when the National Assembly of the Third Republic under its last President Paul Reynaud delegated all constitutional powers to Marshal Philippe Pétain of the rump French State in the Zone libre ( `` Free Zone '' ) in the south of France . \n \n The early days of the Third Republic were dominated by political disruptions caused by the Franco-Prussian War of 1870–71 , which the Republic continued to wage after the fall of Emperor Napoleon III in 1870 . Harsh reparations exacted by the Prussians after the war resulted in the loss of the French regions of Alsace ( in its entirety ) and Lorraine ( the northeastern part , i.e . present-day département de la Moselle ) , social upheaval , and the establishment of the Paris Commune . The early governments of the Third Republic considered re-establishing the monarchy , but confusion as to the nature of that monarchy and who should be awarded the throne caused those talks to stall . Thus , the Third Republic , which was originally intended as a provisional government , instead became the permanent government of France . \n \n The French Constitutional Laws of 1875 defined the composition of the Third Republic . It consisted of a Chamber of Deputies and a Senate to form the legislative branch of government and a president to serve as head of state . Issues over the re-establishment of the monarchy dominated the tenures of the first two presidents , Adolphe Thiers and Patrice de MacMahon , but the growing support for the republican form of government in the French population and a series of republican presidents during the 1880s quashed all plans for a monarchical restoration . \n \n The Third Republic established many French colonial possessions , including French Indochina , French Madagascar , French Polynesia , and large territories in West Africa during the Scramble for Africa , all of them acquired during the last two decades of the 19th century . The early years of the 20th century were dominated by the Democratic Republican Alliance , which was originally conceived as a centre-left political alliance , but over time became the main centre-right party . The period from the start of World War I to the late 1930s featured sharply polarized politics , between the Democratic Republican Alliance and the more Radical socialists . The government fell during the early years of World War II as the Germans occupied France and was replaced by the rival governments of Charles de Gaulle 's Free France ( La France libre ) and Philippe Pétain 's Vichy France ( L'État français ) . \n \n Adolphe Thiers called republicanism in the 1870s `` the form of government that divides France least , '' however , politics under the Third Republic were sharply polarized . On the left stood Reformist France , heir to the French Revolution . On the right stood conservative France , rooted in the peasantry , the Roman Catholic Church and the army . In spite of France 's sharply divided electorate and persistent attempts to overthrow it , the Third Republic endured for seventy years , which makes it the longest lasting system of government in France since the collapse of the Ancien Régime in 1789 . The present French Fifth Republic would have to endure at least to the year 2028 to exceed this record . \n \n Background \n \n The Franco-Prussian War of 1870–1871 resulted in the defeat of France and the overthrow of Emperor Napoleon III and his Second French Empire . After Napoleon 's capture by the Prussians at the Battle of Sedan ( 1 September 1870 ) , Parisian deputies led by Léon Gambetta established the Government of National Defence as a provisional government on 4 September 1870 . The deputies selected General Louis-Jules Trochu to serve as its president . This first government of the Third Republic ruled during the Siege of Paris ( 19 September 1870 – 28 January 1871 ) . As Paris was cut off from the rest of unoccupied France , the Minister of War , Léon Gambetta , who succeeded to leave Paris in a hot air balloon , established the headquarters of the provisional republican government in the city of Tours on the Loire river . \n \n After the French surrender in January 1871 , the provisional Government of", "qas": [ { "answers": [ { "answer_start": 11, "text": "third republic" } ], "id": "sfq_17678--French_Third_Republic.txt", "qid": "sfq_17678", "question": "Which French Republic ruled France between the 1870s and the 1940s?" } ] } ] }

{ "paragraphs": [ { "context": "Napoléon François Charles Joseph Bonaparte ( 20 March 1811 - 22 July 1832 ) , Prince Imperial , King of Rome , known in the Austrian court as Franz from 1814 onward , Duke of Reichstadt from 1818 , was the son of Napoleon I , Emperor of the French , and his second wife , Archduchess Marie Louise of Austria . \n \n By Title III , article 9 of the French Constitution of the time , he was Prince Imperial , but he was also known from birth as the King of Rome , which Napoleon I declared was the courtesy title of the heir apparent . His nickname of L'Aiglon ( `` the Eaglet '' ) was awarded posthumously and was popularized by the Edmond Rostand play , L'Aiglon . \n \n When Napoleon I abdicated on 4 April 1814 , he named his son as Emperor . However , the coalition partners that had defeated him refused to acknowledge his son as successor , thus Napoleon I was forced to abdicate unconditionally a number of days later . Although Napoleon II never actually ruled France , he was briefly the titular Emperor of the French in 1815 after the fall of his father . When his cousin Louis-Napoléon Bonaparte became the next emperor by founding the Second French Empire in 1852 , he called himself Napoleon III to acknowledge Napoleon II and his brief reign . \n \n Biography \n \n Birth \n \n Napoleon was born on 20 March 1811 at the Tuileries Palace , son of Napoleon I and Empress Marie Louise . On the same day , was ondoyed ( a traditional French ceremony which is considered a preliminary , brief baptism ) by Joseph Fesch with his full name of Napoleon François Charles Joseph . \n The baptism , inspired by the baptismal ceremony of Louis , Grand Dauphin of France , was held on 9 June 1811 in the Notre Dame de Paris cathedral . Karl Philipp , Prince of Schwarzenberg , Austrian ambassador to France , wrote of the baptism : \n \n He was put in the care of Louise Charlotte Françoise Le Tellier de Montesquiou , a descendant of François-Michel le Tellier , Marquis de Louvois , who was named Governess of the Children of France . Affectionate and intelligent , the governess assembled a considerable collection of books intended to give the infant a strong grounding in religion , philosophy and military matters . \n \n Succession rights \n \n As the eldest legitimate son of Napoleon I , he was already constitutionally the Prince Imperial and heir apparent , but the Emperor also gave his son the style of King of Rome . \n \n Three years later , the First French Empire , to which he was the heir , collapsed . Napoleon saw his second wife and their son for the last time on 24 January 1814 . On 4 April 1814 , Napoleon abdicated in favour of his toddler son after the Six Days ' Campaign and the Battle of Paris . The three-year-old became Emperor of the French under the regnal name of Napoleon II . However , on 6 April 1814 , Napoleon I fully abdicated and renounced not only his own rights to the French throne , but also those of his descendants . The Treaty of Fontainebleau in 1814 gave the child the right to use the title of Prince of Parma , of Placentia , and of Guastalla , and his mother was styled the Duchess of Parma , of Placentia , and of Guastalla . \n \n Reign \n \n On 29 March 1814 , accompanied by her suite , Marie Louise left the Tuileries Palace with her son . Their first stop was the Château de Rambouillet ; then , fearing the advancing enemy troops , they continued on to the Château de Blois . On 13 April , with her suite much diminished , Marie Louise and her three-year-old son were back in Rambouillet , where they met her father , the Emperor Francis I of Austria , and the Emperor Alexander I of Russia . On 23 April , escorted by an Austrian regiment , mother and son left Rambouillet and France forever , for their exile in Austria . \n \n In 1815 , after his defeat at Waterloo , Napoleon I abdicated for the second time in favour of his four-year-old son , whom he had not seen since his exile to Elba . The day after Napoleon 's abdication , a Commission of Government of five members took the rule of France , awaiting the return of King Louis XVIII , who was in Le Cateau-Cambrésis . The Commission held power", "qas": [ { "answers": [ { "answer_start": 284, "text": "marie louise" } ], "id": "qb_4516--Napoleon_II.txt", "qid": "qb_4516", "question": "What was the name of Napoleon I’s second wife?" } ] } ] }

{ "paragraphs": [ { "context": "The Bay of Fundy ( ) is a bay on the Atlantic coast of North America , on the northeast end of the Gulf of Maine between the Canadian provinces of New Brunswick and Nova Scotia , with a small portion touching the U.S. state of Maine . \n Some sources believe the name `` Fundy '' is a corruption of the French word `` Fendu '' , meaning `` split '' , while others believe it comes from the Portuguese funda , meaning `` deep '' . The bay was also named Baie Française ( French Bay ) by explorer/cartographer Samuel de Champlain during a 1604 expedition led by Pierre Dugua , Sieur de Monts which resulted in a failed settlement attempt on St. Croix Island . \n \n The Bay of Fundy is known for having the highest tidal range in the world . Rivaled by Ungava Bay in northern Quebec , King Sound in Western Australia , Gulf of Khambhat in India , and the Severn Estuary in the UK , it has one of the highest vertical tidal ranges in the world . The Guinness Book of World Records ( 1975 ) declared that Burntcoat Head , Nova Scotia has the highest tides in the world : \n \n “ The Natural World , Greatest Tides : The greatest tides in the world occur in the Bay of Fundy .... Burntcoat Head in the Minas Basin , Nova Scotia , has the greatest mean spring range with 14.5 metres ( 47.5 feet ) and an extreme range of 16.3 metres ( 53.5 feet ) . ” \n \n Portions of the Bay of Fundy , Shepody Bay and Minas Basin , form one of six Canadian sites in the Western Hemisphere Shorebird Reserve Network , and is classified as a Hemispheric site . It is administered by the provinces of New Brunswick and Nova Scotia , and the Canadian Wildlife Service , and is managed in conjunction with Ducks Unlimited Canada and the Nature Conservancy of Canada . \n \n In July 2009 , the Bay of Fundy was named as a finalist for the New 7 Wonders of Nature contest that ended in November 2011 . It was not chosen as a wonder . \n \n Extent \n \n The International Hydrographic Organization defines the southwest limit of the Bay of Fundy as `` A line running northwesterly from Cape St. Mary ( 44°05'N ) Nova Scotia , through Machias Seal Island ( 67°06 ' W ) and on to Little River Head ( 44°39'N ) in the State of Maine '' . \n \n Tides \n \n The Bay of Fundy is known for its high tidal range . The quest for world tidal dominance has led to a rivalry between the Minas Basin in the Bay of Fundy and the Leaf Basin in Ungava Bay , over which body of water lays claim to the highest tides in the world , with supporters in each region claiming the record . \n \n The Canadian Hydrographic Service finally declared it a statistical tie , with measurements of a tidal range in Leaf Basin for Ungava Bay and 17 m at Burntcoat Head for the Bay of Fundy . The highest water level ever recorded in the Bay of Fundy system occurred at the head of the Minas Basin on the night of October 4–5 , 1869 during a tropical cyclone named the “ Saxby Gale ” . The water level of resulted from the combination of high winds , abnormally low atmospheric pressure , and a spring tide . \n \n Leaf Basin has only been measured in recent years , whereas the Fundy system has been measured for many decades . The tide at Leaf Basin is higher on average than tides at Minas Basin ; however , the highest recorded tidal ranges ever measured are at Burntcoat Head and result from spring tides measured at the peak of the tidal cycle every 18 years . \n \n Traditional Mi'kmaq folklore states that the tides in the Bay of Fundy are caused by a giant whale splashing in the water . Oceanographers attribute it to tidal resonance resulting from a coincidence of timing : the time it takes a large wave to go from the mouth of the bay to the inner shore and back is practically the same as the time from one high tide to the next . During the 12.4-hour tidal period , 115 billion tonnes of water flow in and out of the bay . \n \n The tides in the Bay of Fundy are semidiurnal , which means that they have two highs and two lows each day . The height that the water rises and falls to", "qas": [ { "answers": [ { "answer_start": 3016, "text": "spring tide" } ], "id": "jp_2323--Bay_of_Fundy.txt", "qid": "jp_2323", "question": "The Bay of Fundy is famous for having the world's largest what?" } ] } ] }

{ "paragraphs": [ { "context": "The Muppet Show is a family-oriented comedy-variety television series that was produced by puppeteer Jim Henson and features The Muppets . After two pilot episodes produced in 1974 and 1975 failed to get the attention of network executives in the United States , Lew Grade approached Henson to produce the programme in the United Kingdom for ATV , the ( then ) ITV franchise in the English Midlands . The show lasted for five series consisting of 120 episodes which were first broadcast in Britain between 5 September 1976 and 15 March 1981 on ATV and syndicated the remaining ITV franchises around the United Kingdom . The programmes were recorded at ATV 's Elstree Studios in Borehamwood , England . \n \n The series shows a vaudeville or music hall-style song-and-dance variety show , as well as glimpses behind the scenes of such a show . Kermit the Frog stars as a showrunner who tries to keep control of the antics of the other Muppet characters ( and his temper ) , as well as keep the guest stars happy . The show was known for outrageous physical slapstick , sometimes absurdist comedy , and humorous parodies . Each episode also featured a human guest star . As the show 's popularity rose , many celebrities were eager to perform with the Muppets on television and in film . \n \n Many of the puppeteers also worked on Sesame Street . Muppet performers over the course of the show include Jim Henson , Frank Oz , Jerry Nelson , Richard Hunt , Dave Goelz , Steve Whitmire , Fran Brill , Eren Ozker , Louise Gold , Kathryn Mullen , Karen Prell , Brian Muehl , Bob Payne , and John Lovelady . Jerry Juhl and Jack Burns were two of the show writers . The music was performed by Jack Parnell and his orchestra . \n \n History \n \n Since 1969 , Sesame Street had given Jim Henson 's Muppet creations exposure ; however , Henson began to perceive that he was pigeonholed as a children 's entertainer . He sought to create a programme that could be enjoyed by young and old . Two specials ( The Muppets Valentine Show and The Muppet Show : Sex and Violence ) were produced and aired on ABC that are considered pilots for The Muppet Show . Neither led to the sale of a prime-time network series . However , the prime-time access rule had just been enacted , which took the 7:30 to 8 pm ET slot from the networks and turned it over to their affiliates . CBS suggested it would be interested in Henson 's proposal as a syndicated series it could purchase for its owned-and-operated stations , to run one night a week in that time slot . According to the original pitch reel , Rowan & Martin 's Laugh-In co-creator George Schlatter was originally going to be involved . \n \n Lew Grade , head of the British commercial station ATV and accustomed to the idea of puppet television considering he underwrote the various 1960s Supermarionation series produced by Gerry Anderson such as Thunderbirds , offered a deal to Henson that would see his show produced at the ATV studios in Elstree , England . ATV , as part of the ITV network , would broadcast the show to other ITV stations in the United Kingdom , and its distribution arm , ITC Entertainment , would sell the show in the United States and around the world . Henson put aside his misgivings about syndication and accepted . \n \n Opening sequence \n \n `` The Muppet Show Theme '' ( written by Henson and Sam Pottle in 1976 ) is the show 's theme song . It is the opening and closing theme for every episode of The Muppet Show , and was performed by The Muppets in a scene of The Muppets . \n \n Each episode ended with an extended instrumental performance of `` The Muppet Show Theme '' by the Muppet orchestra before Statler and Waldorf gave the last laugh of the night . Some last laugh sequences featured other Muppets on the balcony . For example , in one episode , the Muppets of Sesame Street appeared behind the duo who told them : `` How should we know how to get to Sesame Street ? We do n't even know how to get out of this stupid theater box ! '' \n \n Every series , the TV version of the song was presented with re-worked lyrics . While the opening sequence evolved visually over the course of the show 's five series , the musical composition remained sequentially the same . Throughout the years , the song has", "qas": [ { "answers": [], "id": "qf_1408--The_Muppet_Show.txt", "qid": "qf_1408", "question": "What kind of creature was Sam on the Muppet Show?" } ] } ] }

{ "paragraphs": [ { "context": "The Ottoman Empire ( ; , ' ; Modern Turkish : ' or ' ) , also known as the Turkish Empire , Ottoman Turkey , or simply Turkey , was an empire founded in 1299 by Oghuz Turks under Osman I in northwestern Anatolia . After conquests in the Balkans by Murad I between 1362 and 1389 , the Ottoman sultanate was transformed into a transcontinental empire and claimant to the caliphate . The Ottomans ended the Byzantine Empire with the 1453 conquest of Constantinople by Mehmed the Conqueror . \n \n During the 16th and 17th centuries , in particular at the height of its power under the reign of Suleiman the Magnificent , the Ottoman Empire was a multinational , multilingual empire controlling much of Southeast Europe , Western Asia , the Caucasus , North Africa , and the Horn of Africa . At the beginning of the 17th century the empire contained 32 provinces and numerous vassal states . Some of these were later absorbed into the Ottoman Empire , while others were granted various types of autonomy during the course of centuries.The empire also temporarily gained authority over distant overseas lands through declarations of allegiance to the Ottoman Sultan and Caliph , such as the declaration by the Sultan of Aceh in 1565 , or through temporary acquisitions of islands such as Lanzarote in the Atlantic Ocean in 1585 , [ http : //www.dzkk.tsk.tr/turkce/tarihimiras/AtlantikteTurkDenizciligi.php Turkish Navy Official Website : `` Atlantik'te Türk Denizciliği '' ] \n \n With Constantinople as its capital and control of lands around the Mediterranean basin , the Ottoman Empire was at the centre of interactions between the Eastern and Western worlds for six centuries . Following a long period of military setbacks against European powers , the Ottoman Empire gradually declined into the late nineteenth century . The empire allied with Germany in the early 20th century , with the imperial ambition of recovering its lost territories , joining in World War I . While the Empire was able to largely hold its own during the conflict , it was struggling with internal dissent , especially with the Arab Revolt in its Arabian holdings . Starting before the war , but growing increasingly common and violent during it , major atrocities , such as the Armenian Genocide of 1915 , were committed by the Ottoman government against the Armenians , Assyrians and Pontic Greeks . The Empire 's defeat and the occupation of part of its territory by the Allied Powers in the aftermath of World War I resulted in the emergence of a new state , Turkey , in the Ottoman Anatolian heartland following the Turkish War of Independence , as well as the founding of modern Balkan and Middle Eastern states and the partitioning of the Ottoman Empire . \n \n Name \n \n The word Ottoman is a historical anglicisation of the name of Osman I , the founder of the Empire and of the ruling House of Osman ( also known as the Ottoman dynasty ) . Osman 's name in turn was derived from the Persian form of the name ʿUthmān of ultimately Arabic origin . In Ottoman Turkish , the empire was referred to as Devlet-i ʿAliyye-yi ʿOsmâniyye ( ) , ( literally `` The Supreme State of the Ottomans '' ) or alternatively Osmanlı Devleti ( ) .Starting from the 19th century , the name Osmanlı Devleti ( Ottoman State ) became popular among the Ottoman citizens and officials . Before the 1800s , the name Osmanlı Devleti was not officially used , but records show this name was used informally by Ottoman citizens . In Modern Turkish , it is known as Osmanlı İmparatorluğu ( `` Ottoman Empire '' ) or Osmanlı Devleti ( `` The Ottoman State '' ) . \n \n In the West , the two names `` Ottoman Empire '' and `` Turkey '' were often used interchangeably , with `` Turkey '' being increasingly favored both in formal and informal situations . This dichotomy was officially ended in 1920–23 , when the newly established Ankara-based Turkish government chose Turkey as the sole official name . \n \n History \n \n Rise ( 1299–1453 ) \n \n Ertuğrul , the father of Osman I ( founder of the Ottoman Empire ) , arrived in Anatolia from Merv ( Turkmenistan ) with 400 horsemen to aid the Seljuks of Rum against the Byzantines . After the demise of the Turkish Seljuk Sultanate of Rum in the 14th century , Anatolia was divided into a patchwork of independent , mostly Turkish states , the so-called Ghazi emirates . One of the emirates was led by Osman I ( 1258–1326 ) , from whom the name Ottoman is derived . Osman", "qas": [ { "answers": [], "id": "jp_3806--Ottoman_Empire.txt", "qid": "jp_3806", "question": "What island is divided between Greek and Turkish factions?" } ] } ] }

{ "paragraphs": [ { "context": "The country in which a motor vehicle 's vehicle registration plate was issued is indicated by an international licence plate country code , formerly known as an International Registration Letter or International Circulation Mark , displayed in bold block uppercase on a small white oval plate or sticker near the number plate on the rear of a vehicle . \n This is different from the way vehicles belonging to the diplomats of foreign countries with license plate from the host country are marked . That standard is host country specific and varies largely from country to country . For example TR on a diplomatic car in US indicates Italian , not Turkish . Such markings in Norway are indicated with numbers only , again different from international standards ( 90 means Slovakian -not Turkish as international telephone codes would mean- ) . \n \n The allocation of codes is maintained by the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe as the Distinguishing Signs Used on Vehicles in International Traffic ( sometimes abbreviated to DSIT ) , authorised by the UN 's Geneva Convention on Road Traffic of 1949 and the Vienna Convention on Road Traffic of 1968 . Many vehicle codes created since the adoption of ISO 3166 coincide with ISO two- or three-letter codes . \n \n The 2004 South-East Asian Agreement ... for the Facilitation of Cross-Border Transport of Goods and People uses a mixture of ISO and DSIT codes : Myanmar uses MYA , China CHN , and Cambodia KH ( ISO codes ) , Thailand uses T ( DSIT code ) , Laos LAO , and Vietnam VN ( coincident ISO and DSIT codes ) . \n \n In the European Economic Area , vehicles from one member state do not need to display the oval while within another state , provided the number plate is in the common EU standard format introduced in the 1990s , which includes the international vehicle registration code on the plate . \n \n Current codes \n \n Note : an asterisk ( * ) indicates that this code is unofficial ( does not appear in the UN list of distinguishing codes ) . \n \n Codes no longer in use", "qas": [ { "answers": [ { "answer_start": 18, "text": "ch" } ], "id": "wh_816--List_of_international_vehicle_registration_codes.txt", "qid": "wh_816", "question": "What is the international vehicle registration code for Switzerland?" } ] } ] }

{ "paragraphs": [ { "context": "Dick and Jane are the main characters in popular basal readers written by William S. Gray and Zerna Sharp and published by Scott Foresman , that were used to teach children to read from the 1930s through to the 1970s in the United States . There is controversy as to plagiarism of another work , however , with Gray accused of copying Fred Schonell 's similar Dick and Dora readers found in his Happy Venture Playbooks . There is another claim to the development of the Dick and Jane readers and according to the history of the Institute for Juvenile Research , psychologist Marion Monroe developed methods for early childhood reading programs , which led to the Dick and Jane Readers.Beuttler , Fred and Bell , Carl ( 2010 ) . For the Welfare of Every Child – A Brief History of the Institute for Juvenile Research , 1909 – 2010 . University of Illinois : Chicago Gray 's main focus was to develop the Curriculum Foundation Series of books for Scott , Foresman and Company . His vision was to tie `` subject area '' books in health , science , social studies , and arithmetic ( each discipline having its own series of graded texts also published by Scott , Foresman and Company ) with the vocabulary mastered in the basic readers , thus vastly improving readability in these same areas . \n \n The main characters , Dick and Jane , were a little boy and girl . Supporting characters included Baby ( or Sally ) , Mother , Father , Spot ( originally a cat in the 1930s , but a dog in later editions ) , Puff the cat , and Tim the teddy bear . They first appeared in the Elson-Gray Readers used in the 1930s , which themselves were heavily revised and enlarged editions of the Elson Readers originally produced by William H. Elson in the 1920s . The books relied on the whole word or sight word reading method ( not to be confused with whole language ) and repetition , using phrases like `` Oh , see . Oh , see Jane . Funny , funny Jane '' , but they did not totally ignore phonics . Phonetic analysis was part of each reading lesson , although not to the degree one would associate with learning to read by pure phonics . For this reason , they came to be used less and less as studies supported phonics as a more effective method of gaining literacy . Texts in the primary grades emphasized Learning to Read , but in fourth grade and above the focus was Reading to Learn , with content becoming very important . \n \n The simple but distinctive illustrations for the books were done by artists Eleanor Campbell and Keith Ward . Robert Childress did the illustrations during the 1950s . Richard Wiley took over the illustrations in the 1960s , and was the first to include African American characters in the book series . \n \n Black characters and characters from other races and cultures were not introduced until 1965 , when Dick and Jane books were already declining in popularity . In 1955 , Rudolf Flesch criticized the Dick and Jane series in his book Why Johnny Ca n't Read , and the push for multiculturalism , and stronger presentation of other races and cultures was partially a reaction to the cultural homogeneity of the series . Harold Henderson provides an alternative explanation of the failures of `` Dick and Jane '' in [ http : //www.goodreads.com/book/show/1759327.Let_s_Kill_Dick_and_Jane Let 's Kill Dick and Jane ] ; the series focused on trivial aspects of reading and left children far behind their peers in Europe . \n \n First editions of the books now fetch as much as US $ 200 . The books were reissued in 2003 by Grosset & Dunlap , an imprint of Penguin Group ( USA ) and over 2.5 million copies were sold , but this time the publishers had warned against using them to teach reading to children . Related merchandise , such as shirts and magnets , also gained wide popularity , particularly among people who had never been exposed to the original series , but were familiar with catchphrases like `` See Spot run ! `` . \n \n The title of one of the books , Fun with Dick and Jane , was used for a 1977 film and its 2005 remake . \n \n Grade levels \n \n * Grade 1 — Before We Read , We Look and See , We Work and Play , We Come and Go , Guess Who , Fun with Dick and Jane and Our New Friends \n * Grade 2 —", "qas": [ { "answers": [ { "answer_start": 1430, "text": "spot" } ], "id": "qg_2519--Dick_and_Jane.txt", "qid": "qg_2519", "question": "What is the name of the dog in the primer books Dick and Jane?" } ] } ] }

{ "paragraphs": [ { "context": "Paddington Bear is a fictional character in children 's literature . He first appeared on 13 October 1958 and has been featured in more than twenty books written by Michael Bond and illustrated by Peggy Fortnum and other artists . The friendly bear from deepest , darkest Peru—with his old hat , battered suitcase ( complete with a secret compartment , enabling it to hold more items than it would at first appear ) , duffle coat and love of marmalade—has become a classic character from English children 's literature . Paddington books have been translated into 30 languages across 70 titles and sold more than 30 million copies worldwide . \n \n Paddington is an anthropomorphised spectacled bear . He is always polite – addressing people as `` Mr '' , `` Mrs '' and `` Miss '' , rarely by first names – and kindhearted , though he inflicts hard stares on those who incur his disapproval . He has an endless capacity for innocently getting into trouble , but he is known to `` try so hard to get things right . '' He was discovered in Paddington Station , London , by the ( human ) Brown family who adopted him , and thus he gives his full name as `` Paddington Brown '' . As of June 2016 , Paddington Bear and its copyright and trademark across the world are now owned by Vivendi 's Studiocanal \n \n History \n \n Origin \n \n Michael Bond based Paddington Bear on a lone teddy bear he noticed on a shelf in a London store near Paddington Station on Christmas Eve 1956 , which he bought as a present for his wife . The bear inspired Bond to write a story ; and , in 10 days , he had written the first book . The book was given to his agent , Harvey Unna . A Bear Called Paddington was first published on 13 October 1958 by William Collins & Sons . \n \n Stuffed toy \n \n The first Paddington Bear stuffed toy to be manufactured was created in 1972 by Gabrielle Designs , a small business run by Shirley and Eddie Clarkson , with the prototype made as a Christmas present for their children Joanna and Jeremy Clarkson ( who later became a well-known British TV presenter and writer ) . Shirley Clarkson dressed the stuffed bear in Wellington boots to help it stand upright . ( Paddington received Wellingtons for Christmas in Paddington Marches On , 1964 . ) The earliest bears wore small children 's boots manufactured by Dunlop Rubber until production could not meet demand . Gabrielle Designs then produced their own boots with paw prints moulded into the soles . \n \n Shirley Clarkson 's book describes the evolution of the toy Paddington from Christmas gift to subject of litigation and ultimately commercial success . \n \n Storyline \n \n In the first story , Paddington is found at Paddington railway station in London by the Brown family , sitting on his suitcase ( bearing the label `` Wanted on Voyage '' ) with a note attached to his coat that reads `` Please look after this bear . Thank you . '' Bond has said that his memories of newsreels showing trainloads of child evacuees leaving London during World War II , with labels around their necks and their possessions in small suitcases , prompted him to do the same for Paddington . \n \n Paddington arrives as a stowaway coming from `` Darkest Peru '' , sent by his Aunt Lucy ( one of his only known relatives aside from an Uncle Pastuzo who gave Paddington his hat ) who has gone to live in the Home for Retired Bears in Lima . He claims , `` I came all the way in a lifeboat , and ate marmalade . Bears like marmalade . '' He tells them that no-one can understand his Peruvian name , so the Browns decide to call him Paddington after the railway station in which he was found . Paddington 's Peruvian name is ultimately revealed to be `` Pastuso '' ( not to be confused with his `` Uncle Pastuzo '' ) . Bond originally wanted Paddington to have `` travelled all the way from darkest Africa '' , but his agent advised him that there were no bears in darkest Africa , and thus it was amended to darkest Peru , home of the spectacled bear . [ http : //www.harperchildrens.com/hch/author/author/bond/interview2.asp Michael Bond and R.W . Alley ’ s Paddington Bear ] \n \n They take him home to 32 Windsor Gardens , off Harrow Road between Notting Hill and Maida Vale ( there is no number 32 in the real", "qas": [ { "answers": [], "id": "qb_8073--Paddington_Bear.txt", "qid": "qb_8073", "question": "In the book ‘A Bear Called Paddington’ by Michael Bond, what is the name of the Browns’ housekeeper?" } ] } ] }

{ "paragraphs": [ { "context": "Oasis were an English rock band formed in Manchester in 1991 . Developed from an earlier group , the Rain , the band originally consisted of Liam Gallagher ( vocals and tambourine ) , Paul `` Bonehead '' Arthurs ( guitar ) , Paul `` Guigsy '' McGuigan ( bass guitar ) , and Tony McCarroll ( drums , percussion ) . They were later joined by Liam 's older brother Noel Gallagher ( lead guitar and vocals ) as a fifth member , becoming the band 's settled line-up until April 1995 . \n \n Oasis signed to independent record label Creation Records in 1993 and released their record-setting debut album Definitely Maybe ( 1994 ) . The following year the band recorded ( What 's the Story ) Morning Glory ? ( 1995 ) with their new drummer Alan White , formerly of Starclub , in the midst of a chart rivalry with Britpop peers Blur . Along with Suede , Pulp and the aforementioned Blur , Oasis came to be regarded as a component of the Britpop `` big four '' , and the Gallagher brothers were featured regularly in tabloid newspapers for their sibling disputes and wild lifestyles . In 1997 Oasis released their third album , Be Here Now ( 1997 ) , and although it became the fastest-selling album in UK chart history , the album 's popularity tapered off quickly , not before selling 8 million copies . McGuigan and Arthurs left Oasis in 1999 as the band went on to record and release Standing on the Shoulder of Giants ( 2000 ) . After their departures , they were replaced by former Heavy Stereo guitarist/frontman Gem Archer and former Hurricane No . 1 guitarist/frontman Andy Bell who joined the group for the tour in support of Standing on the Shoulder of Giants , which had moderate success . Their fifth studio album Heathen Chemistry ( 2002 ) saw Noel Gallagher 's releasing strict creative control in the band 's output with all members contributing songs , which led to more relaxed recording sessions . In 2004 the band were joined by The Who 's drummer Zak Starkey , replacing Alan White , and found renewed success and popularity with Do n't Believe the Truth ( 2005 ) . \n \n Following the recording of the band 's seventh album Dig Out Your Soul ( 2008 ) , Starkey left and was replaced by Chris Sharrock on Oasis ' last tour as a collective band . During the tour the brothers ' increasingly deteriorating relationship ultimately led to Noel Gallagher announcing in August 2009 that he would be leaving the band after a backstage altercation with Liam before a festival appearance . The band , comprising the remaining members of Oasis and led by Liam Gallagher , decided to continue working together under the name Beady Eye until breaking up in 2014 , while Noel went on to form his solo project Noel Gallagher 's High Flying Birds . \n \n Oasis have had eight UK number-one singles and eight UK number-one albums , and won fifteen NME Awards , nine Q Awards , four MTV Europe Music Awards and six Brit Awards , including one in 2007 for Outstanding Contribution to Music and one for the Best Album of the Last 30 Years as voted by BBC Radio 2 listeners ; they have been nominated for three Grammy Awards . By 2009 , the band had sold over 70 million records worldwide . The band were listed in the Guinness World Records book in 2010 for `` Longest Top 10 UK Chart Run by a Group '' after an unprecedented run of 22 top 10 hits in the UK . The band also holds the Guinness World Record for being the most successful act in the UK between the years 1995 and 2005 , spending 765 weeks in the Top 75 singles and albums charts . \n \n History \n \n Formation and early years : 1991–92 \n \n Oasis evolved from an earlier band called the Rain , composed of Paul McGuigan ( bass guitar ) , Paul Arthurs ( guitar ) , Tony McCarroll ( drums ) and Chris Hutton ( vocals ) . Unsatisfied with Hutton , Arthurs invited and auditioned acquaintance Liam Gallagher as a replacement . Liam suggested that the band name be changed to Oasis . This change was inspired by an Inspiral Carpets tour poster that hung in the Gallagher brothers ' bedroom . One of the venues the poster listed was the Oasis Leisure Centre in Swindon , Wiltshire . \n \n Oasis played their first ever live gig on 18 August 1991 at the Boardwalk club in Manchester . Liam 's brother Noel", "qas": [ { "answers": [ { "answer_start": 192, "text": "bonehead" } ], "id": "dpql_4937--Oasis_(band).txt", "qid": "dpql_4937", "question": "What was the stage-name of Oasis guitarist Paul Arthurs?" } ] } ] }

{ "paragraphs": [ { "context": "An erg ( also sand sea or dune sea , or sand sheet if it lacks dunes ) is a broad , flat area of desert covered with wind-swept sand with little or no vegetative cover . The term takes its name from the Arabic word ʿarq ( ) , meaning `` dune field '' . Strictly speaking , an erg is defined as a desert area that contains more than 125 km2 of aeolian or wind-blown sand and where sand covers more than 20 % of the surface . Smaller areas are known as `` dune fields '' . The largest hot desert in the world , the Sahara , covers 9 e6km2 and contains several ergs , such as the Chech Erg ( ) and the Issaouane Erg ( ) in Algeria . Approximately 85 % of all the Earth 's mobile sand is found in ergs that are greater than 32000 km2 . Ergs are also found on other celestial bodies , such as Venus , Mars , and Saturn 's moon Titan . \n \n Description \n \n Ergs are concentrated in two broad belts between 20° to 40°N and 20° to 40°S latitudes , which include regions crossed by the dry , subsiding air of the trade winds . Active ergs are limited to regions that receive , on average , no more than 150 mm of annual precipitation . The largest are in northern and southern Africa , central and western Asia , and Central Australia . In South America , ergs are limited by the Andes Mountains , but they do contain extremely large dunes in coastal Peru and northwestern Argentina . They are also found in several parts of the northeast coast of Brazil . The only active erg in North America is in the Gran Desierto de Altar ( ) that extends from the Sonoran Desert in the northwestern Mexican state of Sonora to the Yuma Desert of Arizona and the Algodones Dunes of southeastern California . An erg that has been fixed by vegetation forms the Nebraska Sandhills ( ) . \n \n Sand seas and dune fields generally occur in regions downwind of copious sources of dry , loose sand , such as dry riverbeds and deltas , floodplains , glacial outwash plains , dry lakes , and beaches . Almost all major ergs are located downwind from river beds in areas that are too dry to support extensive vegetative cover and are thus subject to long-continued wind erosion . Sand from these abundant sources migrates downwind and builds up into very large dunes where its movement is halted or slowed by topographic barriers to windflow or by convergence of windflow . Entire ergs and dune fields tend to migrate downwind as far as hundreds of kilometers from their sources of sand . Such accumulation requires long periods of time . At least one million years are required to build ergs with very large dunes , such as those on the Arabian Peninsula , in North Africa , and in central Asia . Sand seas that have accumulated in subsiding structural and topographic basins , such as the Murzuk Sand Sea ( ) of Libya , may attain great thicknesses ( more than 1000 m ) but others , such as the ergs of linear dunes in the Simpson Desert \n ( ) and Great Sandy Desert ( ) of Australia , may be no thicker than the individual dunes superposed on the alluvial plain . Within sand seas in a given area , the dunes tend to be of a single type . For example , there are ergs or fields of linear dunes , of crescentic dunes , of star dunes , and of parabolic dunes , and these dune arrays tend to have consistent orientations and sizes . \n \n By nature , ergs are very active . Smaller dunes form and migrate along the flanks of the larger dunes and sand ridges . Occasional precipitation fills basins formed by the dunes ; as the water evaporates , salt deposits are left behind . \n \n Individual dunes in ergs typically have widths , lengths , or both dimensions greater than 500 m. Both the regional extent of their sand cover and the complexity and great size of their dunes distinguish ergs from dune fields . The depth of sand in ergs varies widely around the world , ranging from only a few centimeters deep in the Selima Sand Sheet of Southern Egypt , to approximately 1 m in the Simpson Desert , and 21 – in the Sahara . This is far shallower than ergs in prehistoric times were . Evidence in the geological record indicates that some Mesozoic and Paleozoic ergs reached a mean", "qas": [ { "answers": [ { "answer_start": 14, "text": "sand" } ], "id": "bb_1311--Erg_(landform).txt", "qid": "bb_1311", "question": "A geography term from French and Arabic, what is an erg made of?" } ] } ] }

{ "paragraphs": [ { "context": "Makarios III ( ) , born Michail Christodoulou Mouskos ( ; August 13 , 1913 – August 3 , 1977 ) , was the archbishop and primate of the autocephalous Church of Cyprus , a Greek Orthodox Church ( 1950–1977 ) , and the first President of the Republic of Cyprus ( 1960–1974 and 1974–1977 ) . In his three terms as President of Cyprus ( 1959–1977 ) , he survived four assassination attempts and a 1974 coup . \n \n Early life , studies and Church career ( 1913-1950 ) \n \n Michail Christodolou Mouskos was born in Panayia village in the Paphos District . In 1926 , aged 13 , he was admitted to Kykkos Monastery as a novice . At age 20 he was sent to the Pancyprian Gymnasium in Nicosia , where he completed his secondary education in 1936 . He spent the difficult years of World War II studying theology and law at the University of Athens , graduating in 1942 . He took up the duties of a priest in the Cypriot Orthodox Church while sustaining an interest in academic theology ; he received a World Council of Churches scholarship to undertake further study at Boston University in Massachusetts . \n \n In 1948 , while still studying at Boston , he was elected Bishop of Kition against his will . Mouskos adopted the clerical name Makarios and returned to Cyprus . Like many public figures in the Greek Cypriot community in Cyprus , in the 1940s and 1950s he was an active supporter of enosis , the union of Cyprus with Greece . \n \n Enosis and EOKA ( 1950–1955 ) \n \n On September 18 , 1950 , Makarios , only 37 years old , was elected Archbishop of Cyprus . In this role he was not only the official head of the Orthodox Church in Cyprus , but became the Ethnarch , de facto national leader of the Greek Cypriot community . This highly influential position put Makarios at the centre of Cypriot politics . \n \n During the 1950s , Makarios embraced his dual role as Archbishop and Ethnarch with enthusiasm and became a very popular figure among Greek Cypriots . He soon became a leading advocate for enosis , and during the early part of the decade he maintained close links with the Greek government . In August 1954 , partly at Makarios ' instigation , Greece began to raise the question of Cyprus at the United Nations , arguing for the principle of self-determination to be applied to Cyprus . This was viewed by advocates of enosis as likely to result in the voluntary union of Cyprus with Greece following a public referendum . \n \n However , the British government was reluctant to decolonize the island which had become their new headquarters for the Middle East . In 1955 , a pro-enosis organization was formed under the banner of Ethniki Organosis Kyprion Agoniston ( National Organization of Cypriot Fighters ) , or EOKA . This was a typical independence movement of the period . Makarios undoubtedly had common political ground with EOKA and was acquainted with its leader , the Greek soldier and politician George Grivas , but the extent of his involvement is unclear and disputed . In later life he categorically denied any involvement in the violent resistance undertaken by EOKA . \n \n Exile , escalation and Taksim ( 1955–1960 ) \n \n On August 20 , 1955 , Greece submitted a petition to the United Nations requesting the application of the principle of self-determination to the people of Cyprus . After that , the colonial government of Cyprus enforced the anti-sedition laws for the purpose of preventing or suppressing demonstrations in favor of union with Greece ; but the archbishop defied them and continued demanding self-determination for Cyprus . \n \n In October 1955 , with the security situation deteriorating , the British governor , Sir John Harding , opened talks on the island ’ s future . By this stage , Makarios had become closely identified with the insurgency , and talks broke up without any agreement in early 1956 . Makarios , characterized in the British press as a crooked Cypriot priest and viewed with suspicion by the British authorities , was intercepted by Special Branch officers while attempting to board a flight at Nicosia airport . The joint police/military plan , codenamed Operation Apollo , saw Makarios exiled to Mahe Island in the Seychelles on 9 March 1956 , as a ‘ guest ’ of Sir William Addis , Governor & Commander-in-Chief of the Seychelles . The Archbishop and his staff were flown to Aden and then on to Mombassa . At the Kenyan port the party were embarked in", "qas": [ { "answers": [ { "answer_start": 159, "text": "cyprus" } ], "id": "qb_5183--Makarios_III.txt", "qid": "qb_5183", "question": "In 1960, Makarios III became the first President of which Mediterranean island?" } ] } ] }

{ "paragraphs": [ { "context": "Nicosia ( ; ; ; Nikosia ) is the largest city on the island of Cyprus . It is located near the centre of the Mesaoria plain , on the banks of the River Pedieos . \n \n Nicosia is the capital and seat of government of the Republic of Cyprus , and as such is the farthest southeast of all EU member states ' capitals . It has been continuously inhabited for over 4,500 years and has been the capital of Cyprus since the 10th century . Nicosia was divided into the southern Greek Cypriot and the northern Turkish Cypriot parts in 1963 , following the intercommunal violence that broke out in the city . Today , the northern part of the city is the capital of Northern Cyprus , a de facto state that is considered to be occupied Cypriot territory by the international community . \n \n Apart from its legislative and administrative functions , Nicosia has established itself as the island 's financial capital and its main international business centre . In 2012 , Nicosia was the 5th richest city in the world in relative purchasing power . \n \n History \n \n Ancient times \n \n Nicosia has been in continuous habitation since the beginning of the Bronze Age 2500 years BC , when the first inhabitants settled in the fertile plain of Mesaoria . Nicosia later became a city-state known as Ledra or Ledrae , one of the twelve kingdoms of ancient Cyprus built by Achaeans after the end of the Trojan War . Remains of old Ledra today can be found in the Ayia Paraskevi hill in the south east of the city . We only know about one king of Ledra , Onasagoras . The kingdom of Ledra was destroyed early . Under Assyrian rule of Cyprus , Onasagoras , was recorded as paying tribute to Esarhaddon of Assyria in 672 BC . By 330 BC , Ledra was recorded to be a small an unimportant town . According to tradition , the city was rebuilt by `` Leucus '' , claimed to be the son of Ptolemy I , around 300 BC or 200 BC , and named after him as `` Leucoton '' or `` Lefkotheon '' . The main activity of the town inhabitants was farming . During this era , Ledra did not have the huge growth that the other Cypriot coastal towns had , which was primarily based on trade . \n \n Roman and Byzantine times \n \n In Byzantine times the town was also referred to as Λευκουσία ( Leukousia ) or as Καλληνίκησις ( Kallenikesis ) . In the 4th century AD , the town became the seat of bishopric , with bishop Saint Tryphillius ( Trifillios ) , a student of Saint Spyridon . \n \n After the destruction of Salamis , the existing capital of Cyprus , by Arab raids in 647 , Nicosia became the capital of the island around 965 , when Cyprus rejoined the Byzantine Empire . The Byzantines moved the island 's administration seat to Nicosia primarily for security reasons as coastal towns were often suffering from raids . From that point on it has remained as the capital of Cyprus . Nicosia acquired a castle and was the seat of the Byzantine governor of Cyprus ; the last Byzantine governor was Isaac Komnenos , who declared himself emperor of the island and ruled the island from 1183 to 1191 . \n \n Medieval times \n \n On his way to the Holy Land during the Third Crusade in 1187 , Richard I of England 's fleet was plagued by storms . He himself stopped first at Crete and then at Rhodes . Three ships continued on , one of which was carrying Queen Joan of Sicily and Berengaria of Navarre , Richard 's bride-to-be . Two of the ships were wrecked off Cyprus , but the ship bearing Joan and Berengaria made it safely to Limassol . Joan refused to come ashore , fearing she would be captured and held hostage by Isaac Komnenos , who hated all Franks . Her ship sat at anchor for a full week before Richard finally arrived on 8 May . Outraged at the treatment of his sister and his future bride , Richard invaded . \n \n Richard laid siege to Nicosia , finally met and defeated Isaac Komnenos at Tremetousia and became ruler of the island , but sold it to the Knights Templar . \n \n The Frankish rule of Cyprus started from 1192 and lasted until 1489 . During this time , Nicosia was the capital of the medieval Kingdom of Cyprus , the seat of Lusignan kings , the Latin Church and the Frankish administration of", "qas": [ { "answers": [ { "answer_start": 63, "text": "cyprus" } ], "id": "odql_4154--Nicosia.txt", "qid": "odql_4154", "question": "Which island country has two languages, Greek and Turkish?" } ] } ] }

{ "paragraphs": [ { "context": "`` Uptown Girl '' is a song written and performed by American musician Billy Joel . It was released on September 29 , 1983 , on his ninth studio album An Innocent Man ( 1983 ) . The lyrics describe a working-class `` downtown man '' attempting to woo a wealthy `` uptown girl . '' \n \n The 12 '' EP featured the tracks `` My Life '' , `` Just the Way You Are '' and `` It 's Still Rock and Roll to Me '' ( catalogue number TA3775 ) , whereas some 7 '' single versions featured `` Careless Talk '' as a B-side ( TBC ) . \n \n Inspiration \n \n According to an interview with Howard Stern , Joel had originally titled the song `` Uptown Girls '' and it was conceived on an occasion when he was surrounded by Christie Brinkley , Whitney Houston and his then-girlfriend Elle Macpherson . According to numerous interviews with Joel , the song was initially written about his relationship with Macpherson , but it ended up also becoming about his soon-to-be wife , Brinkley ( both women being two of the most famous supermodels of the 1980s ) . Joel also has said that the song was inspired by the music of Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons . \n \n Success \n \n Although `` Uptown Girl '' was not as successful in the U.S. as previous single `` Tell Her About It '' , it was still a big hit . It peaked at number three on the Billboard Hot 100 , and number one in the United Kingdom , staying at that position for five weeks ; it was the second biggest-selling single of 1983 in the United Kingdom behind only Culture Club 's `` Karma Chameleon '' , which Joel had knocked off the number one position on November 1 , 1983 . The song was the 19th biggest-selling single of the 1980s in the United Kingdom , selling 975,000 copies . It has sold 1.02 million copies as of 2013 . \n \n Music video \n \n The title character in the music video was played by Christie Brinkley . \n \n Different versions of the music video opening were produced , in which an auto mechanic is watching the end of Joel 's previous hit `` Tell Her About It '' on a small TV . Then , depending on the version , the next image on the TV is either a blank screen or the logo of the network or TV show the video was on . \n \n Charts and certifications \n \n Weekly charts \n \n Year-end charts \n \n Certifications \n \n Westlife version \n \n `` Uptown Girl '' was recorded by Irish boy band Westlife for their third studio album , World of Our Own ( 2001 ) . It was released on March 5 , 2001 as the 1st single from the album . It was also the 2001 Comic Relief charity single . The song was also included on the European Special Edition and Asian Deluxe Edition Bonus Disc of the group 's second album , Coast to Coast ( 2000 ) . The Westlife version is slightly shorter than the Billy Joel version because the one of the verses was repeated in the Billy Joel version which was n't repeated in the Westlife version . \n \n `` Uptown Girl '' reached number one in Ireland and the United Kingdom . It became the biggest selling single of 2001 in Ireland , as well as the sixth best-selling single of 2001 and the 24th best-selling single of the decade in the UK , with sales of 756,215 copies . It became the band 's biggest-selling single in the UK , and also achieved the highest first-week sales ( 292,318 copies ) of any of their singles . It has since been certified Platinum by the British Phonographic Industry for shipments of 600,000 copies . As of October 2011 , the song had sold almost 800,000 copies . [ http : //www.theofficialcharts.com/chart-news/the-nations-favourite-westlife-tracks-revealed/ The nation ’ s favourite Westlife tracks revealed ! ] \n \n Music video \n \n The video for this song was shot in a Cafe setting with the band working there . Claudia Schiffer starred as the title character , while Robert Bathurst , James Wilby , Ioan Gruffudd , Crispin Bonham-Carter and Tim McInnerny were featured as high class customers . The video starts with Shane Filan taking the orders of the five customers while Mark Fehily passes by . One of the customers starts the Jukebox and the song starts . The video ends with Claudia Schiffer leaving the Cafe to which the five members and several", "qas": [ { "answers": [ { "answer_start": 2264, "text": "westlife" } ], "id": "odql_14869--Uptown_Girl.txt", "qid": "odql_14869", "question": "Uptown Girl and Queen of My Heart were Number Ones for which boy band in 2001?" } ] } ] }

{ "paragraphs": [ { "context": "In chemistry , pH is a numeric scale used to specify the acidity or basicity of an aqueous solution . It is approximately the negative of the logarithm to base 10 of the molar concentration , measured in units of moles per liter , of hydrogen ions . More precisely it is the negative of the logarithm to base 10 of the activity of the hydrogen ion . Solutions with a pH less than 7 are acidic and solutions with a pH greater than 7 are basic . Pure water is neutral , being neither an acid nor a base . Contrary to popular belief , the pH value can be less than 0 or greater than 14 for very strong acids and bases respectively . \n \n pH measurements are important in agronomy , medicine , biology , chemistry , agriculture , forestry , food science , environmental science , oceanography , civil engineering , chemical engineering , nutrition , water treatment and water purification , as well as many other applications . \n \n The pH scale is traceable to a set of standard solutions whose pH is established by international agreement . \n Primary pH standard values are determined using a concentration cell with transference , by measuring the potential difference between a hydrogen electrode and a standard electrode such as the silver chloride electrode . \n The pH of aqueous solutions can be measured with a glass electrode and a pH meter , or an indicator . \n \n History \n \n The concept of p [ H ] was first introduced by the Danish chemist Søren Peder Lauritz Sørensen at the Carlsberg Laboratory in 1909 and revised to the modern pH in 1924 to accommodate definitions and measurements in terms of electrochemical cells . In the first papers , the notation had the `` H '' as a subscript to the lowercase `` p '' , as so : pH . \n \n The exact meaning of the `` p '' in `` pH '' is disputed , but according to the Carlsberg Foundation , pH stands for `` power of hydrogen '' . It has also been suggested that the `` p '' stands for the German Potenz ( meaning `` power '' ) , others refer to French puissance ( also meaning `` power '' , based on the fact that the Carlsberg Laboratory was French-speaking ) . \n Another suggestion is that the `` p '' stands for the Latin terms pondus hydrogenii ( engl . quantity of hydrogen ) , potentia hydrogenii ( engl . capacity of hydrogen ) , or potential hydrogen . It is also suggested that Sørensen used the letters `` p '' and `` q '' ( commonly paired letters in mathematics ) simply to label the test solution ( p ) and the reference solution ( q ) . Currently in chemistry , the p stands for `` decimal cologarithm of '' , and is also used in the term pKa , used for acid dissociation constants . \n \n Definition and measurement \n \n pH \n \n pH is defined as the decimal logarithm of the reciprocal of the hydrogen ion activity , aH+ , in a solution . \n \n \\mathrm { pH } - \\log_ { 10 } ( a_ { \\textrm { H } ^+ } ) \n \\log_ { 10 } \\left ( \\frac { 1 } { a_ { \\textrm { H } ^+ } } \\right ) \n \n For example , a solution with a hydrogen ion activity of ( at that level essentially the number of moles of hydrogen ions per mole of solution ) has a pH of . For a commonplace example based on the facts that the masses of a mole of water , a mole of hydrogen ions , and a mole of hydroxide ions are respectively 18 g , 1 g , and 17 g , a quantity of 107 moles of pure ( pH 7 ) water , or 180 tonnes ( 18×107 g ) , contains close to 1 g of dissociated hydrogen ions and 17 g of hydroxide ions . \n \n This definition was adopted because ion-selective electrodes , which are used to measure pH , respond to activity . Ideally , electrode potential , E , follows the Nernst equation , which , for the hydrogen ion can be written as \n \n E E^0 + \\frac { RT } { F } \\ln ( a_ { \\textrm { H } ^+ } ) \n E^0 - \\frac { 2.303 RT } { F } \\mathrm { pH } \n \n where E is a measured potential , E0 is the standard electrode potential , R is", "qas": [ { "answers": [ { "answer_start": 15, "text": "ph" } ], "id": "sfq_15863--PH.txt", "qid": "sfq_15863", "question": "In chemistry, the measure of acidity and alkalinity is the pH. For what does the letter H stand?" } ] } ] }

{ "paragraphs": [ { "context": "The history of the United Kingdom as a unified sovereign state began in 1707 with the political union of the kingdoms of England and Scotland , into a united kingdom called Great Britain . Of this new state the historian Simon Schama said `` What began as a hostile merger would end in a full partnership in the most powerful going concern in the world ... it was one of the most astonishing transformations in European history . '' A further Act of Union in 1800 added the Kingdom of Ireland to create the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland . \n \n The first decades were marked by Jacobite risings which ended with defeat for the Stuart cause at Culloden in 1746 . In 1763 , victory in the Seven Years War led to the dominance of the British Empire , which was to be the foremost global power for over a century and grew to become the largest empire in history . As a result , the culture of the United Kingdom , and its industrial , political , constitutional , educational and linguistic influence , became worldwide . \n \n In 1922 , following the Anglo-Irish Treaty , most of Ireland seceded to become the Irish Free State ; a day later , Northern Ireland seceded from the Free State and returned to the United Kingdom . As a result , in 1927 the United Kingdom changed its formal title to the `` United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland , '' usually shortened to `` Britain '' and ( after 1945 ) to the `` United Kingdom '' or `` UK '' . \n \n In the Second World War , in which the Soviet Union , Nationalist China and the US joined Britain as Allied powers , Britain and its Empire fought a successful war against Germany , Italy and Japan . The cost was high and Britain no longer had the wealth to maintain an empire , so it granted independence to most of the Empire . The new states typically joined the Commonwealth of Nations . The United Kingdom has sought to be a leading member of the United Nations , the European Union and NATO . Since the 1990s , however , large-scale devolution movements in Northern Ireland , Scotland and Wales have brought into question the degree of unity of this constantly evolving political union . Though a referendum on Scottish independence in 2014 rejected the proposal with 55 % voting to remain part of the UK , there is majority belief in both Scotland and the UK as a whole that the country will become independent within the next decade . \n \n 18th century \n \n Birth of the Union \n \n The Kingdom of Great Britain came into being on 1 May 1707 , as a result of the political union of the Kingdom of England ( which included Wales ) and the Kingdom of Scotland . The terms of the union had been negotiated the previous year , and laid out in the Treaty of Union . The parliaments of Scotland and of England then each ratified the treaty via respective Acts of Union . \n ally separate states , England and Scotland had shared a monarch since 1603 when on the death of the childless Elizabeth I , James VI of Scotland became , additionally , James I of England , in an event known as the Union of the Crowns . Slightly more than one-hundred years later , the Treaty of Union enabled the two kingdoms to be combined into a single kingdom , merging the two parliaments into a single parliament of Great Britain . Queen Anne , who was reigning at the time of the union , had favoured deeper political integration between the two kingdoms and became the first monarch of Great Britain . The union was valuable to England 's security because Scotland relinquished first , the right to choose a different monarch on Anne 's death and second , the right to independently ally with a European power , which could then use Scotland as a base for the invasion of England . \n \n Although now a single kingdom , certain aspects of the former independent kingdoms remained separate , as agreed in the terms in the Treaty of Union . Scottish and English law remained separate , as did the Presbyterian Church of Scotland and the Anglican Church of England . England and Scotland also continued to each have its own system of education . \n \n The creation of Great Britain happened during the War of the Spanish Succession , in which just before his death in 1702 William III had reactivated the Grand Alliance", "qas": [ { "answers": [], "id": "odql_7090--History_of_the_United_Kingdom.txt", "qid": "odql_7090", "question": "Name the year – James Callaghan becomes PM; Britain and Iceland end the C od War; 21st Olympic Games begin in Montreal." } ] } ] }

{ "paragraphs": [ { "context": "Manhattan ( , ) is the most densely populated borough of New York City , its economic and administrative center , and the city 's historical birthplace . The borough is coterminous with New York County , founded on November 1 , 1683 as one of the original counties of the U.S. state of New York . The borough consists mostly of Manhattan Island , bounded by the East , Hudson , and Harlem Rivers , and also includes several small adjacent islands and Marble Hill , a small neighborhood on the U.S. mainland . \n \n Manhattan is often described as the cultural and financial capital of the world and hosts the United Nations Headquarters . Anchored by Wall Street in the Financial District of Lower Manhattan , New York City has been called both the most economically powerful city and the leading financial center of the world , and Manhattan is home to the world 's two largest stock exchanges by total market capitalization : the New York Stock Exchange and NASDAQ . Many multinational media conglomerates are based in the borough . Historically documented to have been purchased by Dutch colonists from Native Americans in 1626 , for 60 guilders or about $ 24 in 1626 and US $ today . Manhattan real estate has since become among the most expensive in the world , with the value of Manhattan Island , including real estate , estimated to exceed US $ 3 trillion in 2013 ; residential property sale prices in Manhattan typically exceeded US as of 2016 . \n \n Although New York County is the United States ' second-smallest county by land area ( larger only than Kalawao County , Hawaii ) , it is also the most densely populated U.S. county . It is also one of the most densely populated areas in the world , with a census-estimated 2015 population of 1,644,518 living in a land area of , or 72,033 residents per square mile ( 27,812/km2 ) , higher than the density of any individual American city . On business days , the influx of commuters increases that number to over 3.9 million , or more than 170,000 people per square mile ( 65,600/km2 ) . Manhattan has the third-largest population of New York City 's five boroughs , after Brooklyn and Queens , and is the smallest borough in terms of land area . \n \n Many districts and landmarks in Manhattan have become well known , as New York City received a record of nearly 60 million tourists in 2015 , and Manhattan hosts three of the world 's 10 most-visited tourist attractions in 2013 : Times Square , Central Park , and Grand Central Terminal . The borough hosts many world-renowned bridges , such as the Brooklyn Bridge ; skyscrapers such as the Empire State Building , one of the tallest skyscrapers in the world ; and parks , such as Central Park . There are many historically significant places in Manhattan : Chinatown incorporates the highest concentration of Chinese people in the Western Hemisphere , and the Stonewall Inn in Greenwich Village is considered the birthplace of the modern gay rights movement . The City of New York was founded at the southern tip of Manhattan , and the borough houses New York City Hall , the seat of the City 's Government . Numerous colleges and universities are located in Manhattan , including Columbia University , New York University , and Rockefeller University , which have been ranked among the top 35 in the world . \n \n Etymology \n \n The name `` Manhattan '' derives from the word Manna-hata , as written in the 1609 logbook of Robert Juet , an officer on Henry Hudson 's yacht Halve Maen ( Half Moon ) . A 1610 map depicts the name as Manna-hata , twice , on both the west and east sides of the Mauritius River ( later named the Hudson River ) . The word `` Manhattan '' has been translated as `` island of many hills '' from the Lenape language . `` He could envision what Henry Hudson saw in 1609 as he sailed along Mannahatta , which in the Lenape dialect most likely meant island of many hills . '' \n The United States Postal Service prefers that mail addressed to Manhattan use `` New York , NY '' rather than `` Manhattan , NY '' . \n \n History \n \n Colonial era \n \n The area that is now Manhattan was long inhabited by the Lenape Native Americans . In 1524 , Florentine explorer Giovanni da Verrazzano – sailing in service of King Francis I of France – was the first European to visit the area that would become", "qas": [ { "answers": [], "id": "qb_9278--Manhattan.txt", "qid": "qb_9278", "question": "Which neighbourhood in Manhattan, New York is also known as Clinton and Midtown West?" } ] } ] }

{ "paragraphs": [ { "context": "This is a list of Italian cheeses . See List of Italian DOP cheeses for a list of those Italian cheeses which have Protected Designation of Origin under EU law , together with their areas of origin . Italy is one of the most productive cheese regions , rivalling French cheeses in variety , with well over 450 . \n \n A \n \n * Abbamar – Sardinia ; a semi-soft cheese made from a mixture of cows ’ and sheep ’ s milk \n * Accasciato - a ( usually mixed ) sheep and cow 's milk cheese from Tuscany \n * Acceglio – from Piedmont ; a fresh cows ’ milk cheese made in the area of Acceglio ( province of Cuneo ) [ http : //www.prodottitipici.com/prodotto/0020/acceglio.htm Acceglio - Piemonte - Formaggi e Latte - Vaccini ] \n * Acidino ( or Formaggio Acidino ) – Veneto ; a goats ’ milk cheese [ http : //www.formaggio.it/veneto.htm Veneto-Formaggio.It ] \n * Aglino \n * Agrì di Valtorta – Lombardy ; made with fresh cows ’ or goats ’ milk in the Alta Valle Brembana ( Province of Bergamo ) [ http : //www.prodottitipici.com/prodotto/0079/agr % EC-di-valtorta.htm Agrì di Valtorta - Lombardia - Formaggi e Latte - Vaccini ] \n * Ainuzzi – Sicily ; a cows ’ milk cheese made in Cammarata and San Giovanni Gemini ( Province of Agrigento ) [ http : //www.prodottitipici.com/prodotto/5900/ainuzzi.htm Ainuzzi - Sicilia - Formaggi e Latte - Vaccini ] \n * Aladino \n * Algunder Bauernkäse Halbfett – from Burggrafenamt , South Tyrol [ http : //www.prodottitipici.com/prodotto/10927/algunder-bauernkase-halbfett-formaggio-contadino-semigrasso-di-lagundo.htm Algunder Bauernkase Halbfett ( formaggio contadino semigrasso di lagundo ) - Alto Adige - Formaggi e Latte - Vaccini ] \n * Algunder Butterkäse – from Burggrafenamt , South Tyrol [ http : //www.prodottitipici.com/prodotto/10928/algunder-butterkase-formaggio-di-lagunto.htm Algunder Butterkase ( formaggio di lagunto ) - Alto Adige - Formaggi e Latte - Vaccini ] \n * Algunder Ziegenkäse – South Tyrol ; a goats ’ milk cheese from Burggrafenamt [ http : //www.prodottitipici.com/prodotto/0141/Ziegenkase-formaggio-Di-Capra-Di-Lagundo.htm Ziegenkäse ( formaggio di capra di lagundo ) - Alto Adige - Formaggi e Latte - Caprini ] \n * Almkäse – South Tyrol \n * Alpeggio di Triora - Province of Imperia , Ligury \n * Alpepiana \n * * Alpepiana Macig \n * Alpigiana - South Tyrol \n * Alpkäse – South Tyrol \n * Amatriciano - Lazio , around Amatrice and Leonessa \n * Ambra di Talamello – Marche \n * Ambrosiana \n * Animaletti di Provola – Calabria \n * Arunda - South Tyrol \n * Aschbacher Magerkäse – South Tyrol , from Burggrafenamt [ http : //www.prodottitipici.com/prodotto/10929/aschbacher-magerkase-formaggio-aschbach-magro.htm Aschbacher Magerkase ( formaggio Aschbach magro ) - Alto Adige - Formaggi e Latte - Vaccini ] \n * Asiago – DOP – Veneto , Trentino \n * * Asiago d'allevo ( see Asiago ) \n * * Asiago Montasio \n * * Asiago pressato ( see Asiago ) \n * * Asiago stravecchio \n * Asìno – Friuli Venezia Giulia ; a curious cheese , although not made from ass ’ s milk [ http : //www.turismo.fvg.it/tol_2006/enogastronomia/ProdottiDett.aspx ? LANGita & ID \n 132 & IDT4 Turismo Friuli Venezia Giulia - Agenzia Turismo FVG ] [ http : //www.prodottitipici.com/prodotto_tipico.php ? id \n 5029 & n=formaggio-asino Formaggio Asìno - Friuli Venezia Giulia - Formaggi e Latte - Vaccini ] \n * Auricchio- Pieve San Giacomo , Province of Cremona , Lombardy \n \n B \n \n * Bacio \n * * Bacio di latte di capra \n * * Bacio di latte di mucca \n * Bagòs ( synonym for Bagòss ) \n * Bagoss ( synonym for Bagòss ) \n * Bagòss – from Lombardy ; a grana coloured with saffron from the Comune of Bagolino http : //www.agraria.org , Formaggi tipici \n * Bagòss di Bagolino ( synonym for Bagòss ) \n * Baricot \n * Bastardo del Grappa – from Veneto ; a cheese traditionally made with mixed milks , hence ‘ bastardo ’ , in the area of Monte Grappa \n * Bauernkäse – South Tyrol ; a cheese made from pasteurised , semi-skimmed cow ’ s milk around Meran and Vinschgau \n * Bebé di Sorrento – Campania ; a cow ’ s milk cheese produced in a similar manner to Caciocavallo sorrentino in the Sorrentine Peninsula in the Province of Naples \n * Beddo – Piedmont ; a soft , compact , white-bodied cheese made from cow ’ s milk in the lower Cervo valley ( Commune of Pralungo and the Oropa valley in the Comune of Biella \n * Bedura \n * Begiunn − Piedmont ; a creamy-granular ricotta made in summer in the alpine pastures of Sauze d ’ Oulx and San Sicario ( Commune of Cesana Torinese ) in the upper Val di Susa , and", "qas": [ { "answers": [], "id": "qw_9331--List_of_Italian_cheeses.txt", "qid": "qw_9331", "question": "Formaggio marcio is notable for containing what?" } ] } ] }

{ "paragraphs": [ { "context": "Louis Székely ( born September 12 , 1967 ) , known professionally as Louis C.K. , is an American comedian , actor , writer , producer , director , and editor . Born in Washington , D.C. , C.K . moved to Mexico City as an infant and learned Spanish as his first language , learning English once he moved back to the U.S. at age 7 . He began his career writing for several comedy shows in the 1990s and early 2000s for comedians including David Letterman , Conan O'Brien , and Chris Rock . Also in this period , he was directing surreal short films and went on to direct two features—Tomorrow Night ( 1998 ) and Pootie Tang ( 2001 ) —before he starred in the short-lived HBO television sitcom Lucky Louie in 2006 . \n \n Louie , an acclaimed semi-autobiographical comedy-drama series that C.K . created , stars in , writes , directs , executive produces , and is the primary editor of , began airing in 2010 on FX . He had supporting acting roles in the films The Invention of Lying ( 2009 ) , American Hustle , Blue Jasmine ( both 2013 ) , and Trumbo ( 2015 ) . During an extended Louie hiatus , C.K . created and starred in his web series Horace and Pete in 2016 , and voiced the lead role in the animated film The Secret Life of Pets the same year . \n \n He released his debut comedy album , Live in Houston , in 2001 directly through his website and became among the first performers to offer direct-to-fan sales of tickets to his stand-up shows , as well as DRM-free video concert downloads , via his website . C.K . has released nine comedy albums in his career , often directing and editing their specials as well . He is known for his use of observational , self-deprecating , dark and vulgar humor . \n \n C.K . has won a 2012 Peabody Award and six Emmy awards , as well as numerous awards for The Chris Rock Show , Louie , and his stand-up specials Live at the Beacon Theater ( 2011 ) and Oh My God ( 2013 ) . He has won the Grammy Award for Best Comedy Album twice . Rolling Stone ranked C.K . 's stand-up special Shameless number three on their `` Divine Comedy : 25 Best Stand-Up Specials and Movies of All Time '' list . \n \n Early life \n \n C.K . was born on September 12 , 1967 , in Washington , D.C. , the son of Mary Louise Székely ( née Davis ) , a software engineer , and Luis Székely , an economist . C.K . 's parents met at Harvard University , where his mother was completing her degree in a summer-school program . They were married at St. Francis Church in Traverse City , Michigan . C.K . has three sisters . \n \n C.K . 's paternal grandfather , Dr. Géza Székely Schweiger , was a surgeon . Székely Schweiger was a Hungarian Jew whose family immigrated to Mexico , where he met C.K . 's paternal grandmother , Rosario Sánchez Morales . Sánchez Morales was a Catholic Mexican . C.K . 's grandfather agreed to have his children raised Catholic , but was ( according to C.K . ) `` quietly Jewish '' . C.K . 's mother , an American with Irish ancestry , grew up on a farm in Michigan . She graduated from Owosso High School in Owosso , Michigan . She attended University of Michigan and graduated from Ohio State University Phi Beta Kappa . C.K . 's maternal grandparents were M. Louise Davis and Alfred C. Davis . \n \n When C.K . was a year old , his family moved to his father 's home country of Mexico , from where his father had earned a degree from the National Autonomous University of Mexico prior to graduating from Harvard . C.K . 's first language was Spanish ; it was not until after the move back to the U.S. that he began to learn English . He claims he has since forgotten much of his Spanish , however , he still carries a Mexican passport along with his American one . At age seven , C.K . left Mexico with his family to move back to the United States and settle in Boston . Upon moving from Mexico to suburban Boston , C.K . wanted to become a writer and comedian , citing Richard Pryor , Steve Martin , and George Carlin as some of his influences . When he was 10 , his parents divorced . C.K . said that", "qas": [ { "answers": [], "id": "odql_12687--Louis_C.K..txt", "qid": "odql_12687", "question": "What is the stage name of US comedian Louis Szekely?" } ] } ] }

{ "paragraphs": [ { "context": "An associated state is the minor partner in a formal , free relationship between a political territory with a degree of statehood and a ( usually larger ) nation , for which no other specific term , such as protectorate , is adopted . The details of such free association are contained in United Nations General Assembly resolution 1541 ( XV ) Principle VI , a Compact of Free Association or Associated Statehood Act and are specific to the countries involved . In the case of the Cook Islands and Niue , the details of their free association arrangement are contained in several documents , such as their respective constitutions , the 1983 Exchange of Letters between the governments of New Zealand and the Cook Islands , and the 2001 Joint Centenary Declaration . Free associated states can be described as independent or not , but free association is not a qualification of an entity 's statehood or status as a subject of international law . \n \n Informally it can be considered more widely : from a post-colonial form of amical protection , or protectorate , to confederation of unequal members when the lesser partner ( s ) delegate ( s ) to the major one ( often the former colonial power ) some authority normally exclusively retained by a sovereign state , usually in such fields as defense and foreign relations , while often enjoying favorable economic terms such as market access . \n \n According to some scholars , a form of association based on benign protection and delegation of sovereignty can be seen as a defining feature of microstates . \n \n A federacy , a type of government where at least one of the subunits in an otherwise unitary state enjoys autonomy like a subunit within a federation , is similar to an associated state , with such subunit ( s ) having considerable independence in internal issues , except foreign affairs and defence . Yet in terms of international law it is a completely different situation because the subunits are not independent international entities and have no potential right to independence . \n \n States in a formal association \n \n The Commonwealth of the Philippines was the first associated state of the United States . From 1935 to 1946 , the foreign affairs and military of the commonwealth were handled by the United States although it was otherwise constitutionally separate and independent in domestic matters . \n \n The Federated States of Micronesia ( since 1986 ) , the Marshall Islands ( since 1986 ) , and Palau ( since 1994 ) , are associated with the United States under what is known as the Compact of Free Association , giving the states international sovereignty and ultimate control over their territory . However , the governments of those areas have agreed to allow the United States to provide defence ; the U.S. federal government fund grants an access to U.S. social services for citizens of these areas . The United States benefits from its ability to use the islands as strategic military bases . \n \n The Cook Islands and Niue have the status of `` self-government in free association '' . New Zealand can not legislate for them , and in some situations they are considered sovereign states . In foreign relations both interact as sovereign states , and they have been allowed to sign on as a state to UN treaties and bodies . New Zealand does not consider them to be constitutionally sovereign states due to their continued use of New Zealand citizenship . Both have established their own nationality and immigration regimes . \n \n Tokelau ( a dependent territory of New Zealand ) voted on a referendum in February 2006 to determine whether it wanted to remain a New Zealand territory or become the third state in free association with New Zealand . While a majority of voters chose free association , the vote did not meet the two-thirds threshold needed for approval . A repeat referendum in October 2007 under United Nations supervision yielded similar results , with the proposed free association falling 16 votes short of approval . \n \n Other comparable relationships \n \n Other situations exist where one state has power over another political unit . A dependent territory is an example of this , where an area has its own political system and often internal self-government , but does not have overall sovereignty . In a loose form of association , some sovereign states cede some power to other states , often in terms of foreign affairs and/or defence . \n \n States ceding power to another state \n \n The foreign affairs of Bhutan , a Himalayan Buddhist monarchy , were partially", "qas": [ { "answers": [ { "answer_start": 689, "text": "new zealand" } ], "id": "sfq_19321--Associated_state.txt", "qid": "sfq_19321", "question": "The coral island of Niue is a self-governing state in free association with which country?" } ] } ] }

{ "paragraphs": [ { "context": "The Gunfight at the O.K . Corral was a 30-second gunfight between an outlaw group of Cowboys and lawmen . It is generally regarded as the most famous shootout in the history of the American Wild West . The gunfight took place at about 3:00 p.m. on Wednesday , October 26 , 1881 , in Tombstone , Arizona Territory . It was the result of a long-simmering feud , with Cowboys Billy Claiborne , Ike and Billy Clanton , Tom and Frank McLaury on one side and town Marshal Virgil Earp , Special Policeman Morgan Earp , Special Policeman Wyatt Earp and temporary policeman Doc Holliday on the other side . Billy Clanton and both McLaury brothers were killed . Ike Clanton , who had repeatedly threatened to kill the Earps , claimed he was unarmed and ran from the fight , along with Billy Claiborne . Virgil , Morgan , and Doc Holliday were wounded , but Wyatt Earp was unharmed . The fight has come to represent a period in American Old West when the frontier was virtually an open range for outlaws , largely unopposed by law enforcement officers , who were spread thin over vast territories , leaving some areas unprotected . \n \n The gunfight was not well known to the American public until 1931 , when Stuart Lake published an initially well-received biography , Wyatt Earp : Frontier Marshal , two years after Earp 's death . The book was the basis for the 1946 film My Darling Clementine , directed by John Ford , and the 1957 film Gunfight at the O.K . Corral , after which the shootout became known by that name . Since then , the conflict has been portrayed with varying degrees of accuracy in numerous Western films and books . \n \n Despite its name , the historic gunfight did not take place within or next to the O.K . Corral , which fronted on Allen Street and had a rear entrance lined with stalls on Fremont Street . The shootout actually took place in a narrow lot on the side of C. S. Fly 's Photographic Studio on Fremont Street , six doors west of the O.K . Corral 's rear entrance . Some members of the two opposing parties were initially only about 6 ft apart . About 30 shots were fired in 30 seconds . Ike Clanton , whose brother Billy had been killed , filed murder charges against the Earps and Doc Holliday . The lawmen were eventually exonerated by a local justice of the peace after a 30-day preliminary hearing and then by a local grand jury . \n \n The gunfight was not the end of the conflict . On December 28 , 1881 , Virgil Earp was ambushed and maimed in a murder attempt by outlaw Cowboys . On March 18 , 1882 , Cowboys fired from a dark alley through the glass door of a saloon and shot Morgan Earp , killing him . The suspects in both incidents furnished alibis supplied by other Cowboys and were not indicted . Wyatt Earp , newly appointed as Deputy U.S . Marshal in Cochise County , took matters into his own hands in a personal vendetta . He was pursued by county Sheriff Johnny Behan , who had received a Tucson warrant for Wyatt 's shooting of Frank Stilwell . \n \n Background to the conflict \n \n Tombstone , near the Mexican border , was formally founded in March 1879 ; it was a rapidly growing frontier mining boomtown . The Earps arrived on December 1 , 1879 , when the small town was mostly composed of tents as living quarters , a few saloons and other buildings , and the mines . Virgil Earp had been hired as Deputy U.S . Marshal for eastern Pima County , with his offices in Tombstone , only days before his arrival . In June 1881 he was also appointed as Tombstone 's town marshal ( or police chief ) . \n \n Though not universally liked by the townspeople , the Earps tended to protect the interests of the town 's business owners and residents , although Wyatt Earp helped protect Cowboy Curly Bill Brocius from being lynched after he accidentally killed Tombstone city Marshal Fred White . In contrast , Cochise County Sheriff Johnny Behan was generally sympathetic to the interests of the rural ranchers and Cowboys . In that time and region , the term cowboy generally meant an outlaw . Legitimate cowmen were referred to as cattle herders or ranchers . \n \n Conflicting versions of events \n \n Many of the supporting facts about the events leading up to the gunfight and details of the gunfight itself are uncertain", "qas": [ { "answers": [], "id": "bb_114--Gunfight_at_the_O.K._Corral.txt", "qid": "bb_114", "question": "A handwritten transcript of a coroner's inquest in 1881 that was rediscovered in Bisbee, Arizona, USA in 2010, revealed additional notes about what dramatic incident?" } ] } ] }

{ "paragraphs": [ { "context": "Saint Vitus , according to Christian legend , was a Christian saint from Sicily . He died as a martyr during the persecution of Christians by co-ruling Roman Emperors Diocletian and Maximian in 303 . Vitus is counted as one of the Fourteen Holy Helpers of medieval Roman Catholicism . \n Saint Vitus ' Day is celebrated on 15 June . In places where the Julian Calendar is used , this date coincides , in the 20th and 21st centuries , with 28 June on the Gregorian Calendar . \n \n In the late Middle Ages , people in Germany and countries such as Latvia celebrated the feast of Vitus by dancing before his statue . This dancing became popular and the name `` Saint Vitus Dance '' was given to the neurological disorder Sydenham 's chorea . It also led to Vitus being considered the patron saint of dancers and of entertainers in general . \n \n Vitus is considered the patron saint of actors , comedians , dancers , and epileptics , similarly to Genesius of Rome . He is also said to protect against lightning strikes , animal attacks and oversleeping . Vitus is the patron saint of the city of Rijeka in Croatia ; the towns of Ciminna in Sicily , Forio on the Island of Ischia , in Campania , Italy ; the contrada of San Vito , in Torella dei Lombardi , in Avellino , Italy ; the town of Winschoten in the Netherlands , and the town of St. Vith located in Belgium . \n \n Various places in Austria and Bavaria are named Sankt Veit in his honour . \n \n Martyrdom of Saints Vitus , Modestus and Crescentia \n \n According to the legend , Vitus , Modestus and Crescentia were martyrs under Diocletian . The earliest testimony for their veneration is offered by the `` Martyrologium Hieronymianum '' ( ed . G. B. de Rossi-Louis Duchesne , 78 : `` In Sicilia , Viti , Modesti et Crescentiae '' ) . The fact that the note is in the three most important manuscripts indicates that it was also in the common exemplar of these , which appeared in the fifth century . The same Martyrologium has under the same day another mention of a Vitus at the head of a list of nine martyrs , with the statement of the place , in Eboli , `` In Lucania '' , that is , in the Roman province of that name in southern Italy between the Tuscan Sea and the Gulf of Taranto . It is easily possible that it is the same martyr Vitus in both cases . \n \n According to J.P. Kirsch , the testimony to the public veneration of the three saints in the fifth century proves that they are historical martyrs . There are , nevertheless , no historical accounts of them , nor of the time or the details of their martyrdom . \n \n During the sixth and seventh centuries a purely legendary narrative of their martyrdom appeared which appears to be based upon other legends , especially on the legend of Poitus , and ornamented with accounts of fantastic miracles . According to this legend , which has no apparent historical value , Vitus was a 7-year-old son of a senator of Lucania ( some versions make him 12 years old ) . He resisted his father 's attempts , which included various forms of torture , to make him turn away from his faith . He fled with his tutor Modestus and Modestus 's wife Crescentia , who was Vitus 's nanny , to Lucania . He was taken from there to Rome to drive out a demon which had taken possession of a son of the Emperor Diocletian . This he did , and yet , because he remained steadfast in the Christian faith , he was tortured together with his tutors . By a miracle an angel brought back the three to Lucania , where they died from the tortures they had endured . Three days later Vitus appeared to a distinguished matron named Florentia , who then found the bodies and buried them in the spot where they were . \n \n Veneration \n \n The veneration of the martyrs spread rapidly in Southern Italy and Sicily , as is shown by the note in the `` Martyrologium Hieronymianum '' . Pope Gregory the Great mentions a monastery dedicated to Vitus in Sicily ( `` Epist . `` , I , xlviii , P.L. , LXXXVII , 511 ) . \n \n The veneration of St. Vitus , the chief saint of the group , also appeared very early at Rome . Pope Gelasius I ( 492-496 ) mentions", "qas": [ { "answers": [ { "answer_start": 0, "text": "saint vitus" } ], "id": "sfq_2435--Vitus.txt", "qid": "sfq_2435", "question": "Who is the patron saint of dancers and entertainers?" } ] } ] }

{ "paragraphs": [ { "context": "Muscle is a soft tissue found in most animals . Muscle cells contain protein filaments of actin and myosin that slide past one another , producing a contraction that changes both the length and the shape of the cell . Muscles function to produce force and motion . They are primarily responsible for maintaining and changing posture , locomotion , as well as movement of internal organs , such as the contraction of the heart and the movement of food through the digestive system via peristalsis . \n \n Muscle tissues are derived from the mesodermal layer of embryonic germ cells in a process known as myogenesis . There are three types of muscle , skeletal or striated , cardiac , and smooth . Muscle action can be classified as being either voluntary or involuntary . Cardiac and smooth muscles contract without conscious thought and are termed involuntary , whereas the skeletal muscles contract upon command . Skeletal muscles in turn can be divided into fast and slow twitch fibers . \n \n Muscles are predominantly powered by the oxidation of fats and carbohydrates , but anaerobic chemical reactions are also used , particularly by fast twitch fibers . These chemical reactions produce adenosine triphosphate ( ATP ) molecules that are used to power the movement of the myosin heads . \n \n The term muscle is derived from the Latin musculus meaning `` little mouse '' perhaps because of the shape of certain muscles or because contracting muscles look like mice moving under the skin . \n \n Anatomy \n \n The anatomy of muscles includes gross anatomy , which comprises all the muscles of an organism , and microanatomy , which comprises the structures of a single muscle . \n \n Types of tissue \n \n Muscle tissue is a soft tissue , and is one of the four fundamental types of tissue present in animals . There are three types of muscle tissue recognized in vertebrates : \n * Skeletal muscle or `` voluntary muscle '' is anchored by tendons ( or by aponeuroses at a few places ) to bone and is used to effect skeletal movement such as locomotion and in maintaining posture . Though this postural control is generally maintained as an unconscious reflex , the muscles responsible react to conscious control like non-postural muscles . An average adult male is made up of 42 % of skeletal muscle and an average adult female is made up of 36 % ( as a percentage of body mass ) . \n * Smooth muscle or `` involuntary muscle '' is found within the walls of organs and structures such as the esophagus , stomach , intestines , bronchi , uterus , urethra , bladder , blood vessels , and the arrector pili in the skin ( in which it controls erection of body hair ) . Unlike skeletal muscle , smooth muscle is not under conscious control . \n * Cardiac muscle ( myocardium ) , is also an `` involuntary muscle '' but is more akin in structure to skeletal muscle , and is found only in the heart . \n \n Cardiac and skeletal muscles are `` striated '' in that they contain sarcomeres that are packed into highly regular arrangements of bundles ; the myofibrils of smooth muscle cells are not arranged in sarcomeres and so are not striated . While the sarcomeres in skeletal muscles are arranged in regular , parallel bundles , cardiac muscle sarcomeres connect at branching , irregular angles ( called intercalated discs ) . Striated muscle contracts and relaxes in short , intense bursts , whereas smooth muscle sustains longer or even near-permanent contractions . \n \n Skeletal ( voluntary ) muscle is further divided into two broad types : slow twitch and fast twitch : \n \n * Type I , slow twitch , or `` red '' muscle , is dense with capillaries and is rich in mitochondria and myoglobin , giving the muscle tissue its characteristic red color . It can carry more oxygen and sustain aerobic activity using fats or carbohydrates as fuel . Slow twitch fibers contract for long periods of time but with little force . \n * Type II , fast twitch muscle , has three major subtypes ( IIa , IIx , and IIb ) that vary in both contractile speed and force generated . Fast twitch fibers contract quickly and powerfully but fatigue very rapidly , sustaining only short , anaerobic bursts of activity before muscle contraction becomes painful . They contribute most to muscle strength and have greater potential for increase in mass . Type IIb is anaerobic , glycolytic , `` white '' muscle that is least dense in mitochondria and myoglobin . In small animals", "qas": [ { "answers": [], "id": "jp_1407--Muscle.txt", "qid": "jp_1407", "question": "A tendon connects a muscle to a bone. What similar tissue connects two bones?" } ] } ] }

{ "paragraphs": [ { "context": "Hecuba ( ; also Hecabe , Hécube ; Hekábē , ) was a queen in Greek mythology , the wife of King Priam of Troy during the Trojan War , with whom she had 19 children . These children included several major characters of Homer 's Iliad such as the warriors Hector and Paris and the prophetess Cassandra . \n \n Parents \n \n Ancient sources vary as to the parentage of Hecuba . According to Homer , Hecuba was the daughter of King Dymas of Phrygia , but Euripides and Virgil write of her as the daughter of the Thracian king Cisseus . The mythographers Pseudo-Apollodorus and Hyginus leave open the question which of the two was her father , with Pseudo-Apollodorus adding a third alternate option : Hecuba 's parents could as well be the river god Sangarius and Metope . Some versions from non-extant works are summarized by a scholiast on Euripides ' Hecuba : according to those , she was a daughter of Dymas or Sangarius by the Naiad Euagora , or by Glaucippe the daughter of Xanthus ( Scamander ? ) ; the possibility of her being a daughter of Cisseus is also discussed . A scholiast on Homer relates that Hecuba 's parents were either Dymas and the nymph Eunoe or Cisseus and Telecleia ; the latter option would make her a full sister of Theano , which is also noted by the scholiast on Euripides cited above . \n \n According to Suetonius in The Twelve Caesars , the emperor Tiberius pestered scholars with obscure questions about ancient mythology , with one of his favorites being `` Who was Hecuba 's mother ? '' \n \n Hecuba in the Iliad \n \n Hecuba appears six times in the Iliad . In Book 6.326–96 , she meets Hector upon his return to the polis and offers him the libation cup , instructing him to offer it to Zeus and to drink of it himself . Taking Hector 's advice , she chooses a gown taken from Alexander 's treasure to give as an offering to the goddess and leads the Trojan women to the temple of Athena to pray for help . In Book 22 , she pleads with Hector not to fight Achilles , for fear of `` never get [ ting ] to mourn you laid out on a bier . '' In Book 24.201–16 , she is stricken with anxiety upon hearing of Priam 's plan to retrieve Hector 's body from Achilles ' hut . Further along in the same episode , at 24.287–98 , she offers Priam the libation cup and instructs him to pray to Zeus so that he may receive a favourable omen upon setting out towards the Achaean camp . Unlike in the first episode in which Hector refuses her offer of the cup , Priam accepts and is rewarded with the requested omen . Finally , she laments Hector 's death in a well-known speech at 24.748–59 . \n \n Hecuba in other classical works \n \n The Bibliotheca ( Library ) of Pseudo-Apollodorus states that Hecuba had a son named Troilus with the god Apollo . An oracle prophesied that Troy would not be defeated if Troilus reached the age of twenty alive . Troilus is killed by Achilles . \n \n Hecuba is a main character in two plays by Euripides : The Trojan Women and Hecuba . The Trojan Women describes the aftermath of the fall of Troy , including Hecuba 's enslavement by Odysseus . Hecuba also takes place just after the fall of Troy . Polydorus , the youngest son of Priam and Hecuba , is sent to King Polymestor for safekeeping , but when Troy falls , Polymestor murders Polydorus . Hecuba learns of this , and when Polymestor comes to the fallen city , Hecuba , by trickery , blinds him and kills his two sons . \n \n A third story says that when she was given to Odysseus as a slave , she snarled and cursed at him , so the gods turned her into a dog , allowing her to escape . \n \n In another tradition , Hecuba went mad upon seeing the corpses of her children Polydorus and Polyxena . Dante described this episode , which he derived from Italian sources : \n \n E quando la fortuna volse in basso \n l'altezza de ' Troian che tutto ardiva , \n sì che 'nsieme col regno il re fu casso , \n Ecuba trista , misera e cattiva , \n poscia che vide Polissena morta , \n e del suo Polidoro in su la riva \n del mar si fu la dolorosa accorta , \n forsennata latrò sì come cane ... \n \n And", "qas": [ { "answers": [ { "answer_start": 95, "text": "priam of troy" } ], "id": "sfq_17965--Hecuba.txt", "qid": "sfq_17965", "question": "In Greek myth, who was the husband of Hecuba and father of fifty children?" } ] } ] }

{ "paragraphs": [ { "context": "Wembley Arena ( originally the Empire Pool and known through sponsorship as The SSE Arena , Wembley ) is an indoor arena located in Wembley , London , England . \n \n History \n \n It was built for the 1934 British Empire Games , by Arthur Elvin , and originally housed a swimming pool , as reflected by its former name , Empire Pool . The pool itself was last used for the 1948 Summer Olympics . The building is used for music , comedy and family entertainment and for sport . \n \n The venue was renovated , along with Wembley Stadium , as part of the early-21st-century regeneration of the Wembley area . The arena refurbishment cost £35m and the new arena opened to the public on 2 April 2006 , with a concert by the English electronic-music band Depeche Mode . \n \n With 12,500 seats , it is London 's second-largest indoor arena after The O2 . \n \n In September 2013 , it was announced that AEG Facilities had signed a 15-year contract to operate the arena . \n \n The building was renamed The SSE Arena on 1 June 2014 after SSE plc bought the naming rights to the venue for 10 years . \n \n When the venue was known as the Empire Pool , it hosted the annual New Musical Express Poll Winners ' concert during the mid-1960s . Audiences of 10,000 viewed acts like The Beatles ( who performed there three times ) , T. Rex ( whose Ringo Starr-directed documentary film Born to Boogie is centered on a 1972 concert at the Empire Pool ) , David Bowie , Cliff Richard & The Shadows , The Monkees , The Hollies , Dusty Springfield , Joe Brown & the Bruvvers , The Rolling Stones , Pink Floyd , Grateful Dead , Simply Red , Status Quo , The Who , Dave Dee , Dozy , Beaky , Mick & Tich , and many others . The individual performances were then finished by a famous personality joining the respective performer on stage and presenting them their award . The Beatles were presented one of their awards by actor Roger Moore and Richard was joined on stage by Roy Orbison , to present him his . These were filmed and recorded and later broadcast on television . \n \n Returning acts \n \n The Grateful Dead have released recordings of complete shows from 7–8 April 1972 as part of Europe '72 : The Complete Recordings . The Grateful Dead also performed at Wembley Arena on 31 October 1990 as part of their fall 1990 European concert tour . Bruce Hornsby accompanied the band for this concert . \n \n A notable attendance record was set in the early 1970s by David Cassidy , in his first tour of Great Britain in 1973 , when he sold out six performances in one weekend . \n \n In 1978 , The Electric Light Orchestra sold out eight straight concerts ( a record at the time ) during their Out of the Blue Tour . The first of these shows was recorded , televised and later released as a CD/DVD . \n \n ABBA played six sold-out concerts , from 5 to 10 November 1979 . The shows were filmed by Swedish television for a documentary which was released in 2004 on DVD as ABBA in Concert . In September 2014 Universal Music released Live at Wembley Arena , featuring most of the 10 November concert on CD , vinyl LP and digital format . After the tour , the members of the band talked about the warmth of the Wembley audience . `` It was like coming home after a couple of nights , '' said guitarist Bjorn Ulvaeus . A finale from these concerts , `` The Way Old Friends Do '' , is the closing track on ABBA 's seventh studio album , Super Trouper . Vocalist Agnetha Faltskog said it was the vibe from the audience that made the track work so much better as a live performance than as a studio track . \n \n Cliff Richard has sold the most shows out at the venue . He has headlined 63 shows at the venue with his first headliner being in 1984 and his latest being 2009 . Richard holds the record for the most headline shows by one artist ( Though ice skaters Torvill & Dean hold the overall show record ) , having played his 61st concert in October 2009 . Tina Turner is the female artist with the most shows , with 25 and with 5 at Wembley Stadium ( three in 1996 and two in 2000 ) . \n \n Iron Maiden played first in 1988", "qas": [ { "answers": [ { "answer_start": 1609, "text": "status quo" } ], "id": "sfq_20277--Wembley_Arena.txt", "qid": "sfq_20277", "question": "Which rock band opened the Live Aid concert at Wembley in July 1985?" } ] } ] }

{ "paragraphs": [ { "context": "A currency ( from , `` in circulation '' , from ) in the most specific use of the word refers to money in any form when in actual use or circulation as a medium of exchange , especially circulating banknotes and coins . A more general definition is that a currency is a system of money ( monetary units ) in common use , especially in a nation . Under this definition , British pounds , Australian dollars , and European euros are examples of currency . These various currencies are recognized stores of value , and are traded between nations in foreign exchange markets , which determine the relative values of the different currencies . Currencies in this sense are defined by governments , and each type has limited boundaries of acceptance . \n \n Other definitions of the term `` currency '' are discussed in their respective synonymous articles banknote , coin , and money . The latter definition , pertaining to the currency systems of nations , is the topic of this article . Currencies can be classified into two monetary systems : fiat money and commodity money , depending on what guarantees the value ( the economy at large vs. the government 's physical metal reserves ) . Some currencies are legal tender in certain political jurisdictions , which means they can not be refused as payment for debt . Others are simply traded for their economic value . Digital currency has arisen with the popularity of computers and the Internet . \n \n History \n \n Early currency \n \n Currency evolved from two basic innovations , both of which had occurred by 2000 BC . Originally money was a form of receipt , representing grain stored in temple granaries in Sumer in ancient Mesopotamia , then Ancient Egypt . \n \n In this first stage of currency , metals were used as symbols to represent value stored in the form of commodities . This formed the basis of trade in the Fertile Crescent for over 1500 years . However , the collapse of the Near Eastern trading system pointed to a flaw : in an era where there was no place that was safe to store value , the value of a circulating medium could only be as sound as the forces that defended that store . Trade could only reach as far as the credibility of that military . By the late Bronze Age , however , a series of treaties had established safe passage for merchants around the Eastern Mediterranean , spreading from Minoan Crete and Mycenae in the northwest to Elam and Bahrain in the southeast . It is not known what was used as a currency for these exchanges , but it is thought that ox-hide shaped ingots of copper , produced in Cyprus , may have functioned as a currency . \n \n It is thought that the increase in piracy and raiding associated with the Bronze Age collapse , possibly produced by the Peoples of the Sea , brought the trading system of oxhide ingots to an end . It was only with the recovery of Phoenician trade in the 10th and 9th centuries BC that saw a return to prosperity , and the appearance of real coinage , possibly first in Anatolia with Croesus of Lydia and subsequently with the Greeks and Persians . In Africa many forms of value store have been used , including beads , ingots , ivory , various forms of weapons , livestock , the manilla currency , and ochre and other earth oxides . The manilla rings of West Africa were one of the currencies used from the 15th century onwards to sell slaves . African currency is still notable for its variety , and in many places various forms of barter still apply . \n \n Coinage \n \n These factors led to the metal itself being the store of value : first silver , then both silver and gold , and at one point also bronze . Now we have copper coins and other non-precious metals as coins . Metals were mined , weighed , and stamped into coins . This was to assure the individual taking the coin that he was getting a certain known weight of precious metal . Coins could be counterfeited , but they also created a new unit of account , which helped lead to banking . Archimedes ' principle provided the next link : coins could now be easily tested for their fine weight of metal , and thus the value of a coin could be determined , even if it had been shaved , debased or otherwise tampered with ( see Numismatics ) . \n \n Most major economies using coinage", "qas": [ { "answers": [], "id": "sfq_3804--Currency.txt", "qid": "sfq_3804", "question": "In which year was Britain's currency decimalised?" } ] } ] }

{ "paragraphs": [ { "context": "In Greek mythology Medusa ( , ; Μέδουσα `` guardian , protectress '' ) was a monster , a Gorgon , generally described as a winged human female with a hideous face and living venomous snakes in place of hair . Gazers on her face would turn to stone . Most sources describe her as the daughter of Phorcys and Ceto , though the author Hyginus ( Fabulae Preface ) makes Medusa the daughter of Gorgon and Ceto . According to Hesiod and Aeschylus , she lived and died on an island named Sarpedon , somewhere near Cisthene . The 2nd-century BCE novelist Dionysios Skytobrachion puts her somewhere in Libya , where Herodotus had said the Berbers originated her myth , as part of their religion . \n \n Medusa was beheaded by the hero Perseus , who thereafter used her head , which retained its ability to turn onlookers to stone , as a weapon until he gave it to the goddess Athena to place on her shield . In classical antiquity the image of the head of Medusa appeared in the evil-averting device known as the Gorgoneion . \n \n Medusa in classical mythology \n \n The three Gorgon sisters—Medusa , Stheno , and Euryale—were all children of the ancient marine deities Phorcys ( or `` Phorkys '' ) and his sister Ceto ( or `` Keto '' ) , chthonic monsters from an archaic world . Their genealogy is shared with other sisters , the Graeae , as in Aeschylus 's Prometheus Bound , which places both trinities of sisters far off `` on Kisthene 's dreadful plain '' : \n \n Near them their sisters three , the Gorgons , winged \n With snakes for hair— hatred of mortal man— \n \n While ancient Greek vase-painters and relief carvers imagined Medusa and her sisters as beings born of monstrous form , sculptors and vase-painters of the fifth century began to envisage her as being beautiful as well as terrifying . In an ode written in 490 BC Pindar already speaks of `` fair-cheeked Medusa '' . \n \n In a late version of the Medusa myth , related by the Roman poet Ovid ( Metamorphoses 4.770 ) , Medusa was originally a ravishingly beautiful maiden , `` the jealous aspiration of many suitors , '' but because Poseidon had raped her in Athena 's temple , the enraged Athena transformed Medusa 's beautiful hair to serpents and made her face so terrible to behold that the mere sight of it would turn onlookers to stone . In Ovid 's telling , Perseus describes Medusa 's punishment by Minerva ( Athena ) as just and well earned . \n \n In most versions of the story , she was beheaded by the hero Perseus , who was sent to fetch her head by King Polydectes of Seriphus because Polydectes wanted to marry his mother . The gods were well aware of this , and Perseus received help . He received a mirrored shield from Athena , gold , winged sandals from Hermes , a sword from Hephaestus and Hades 's helm of invisibility . Since Medusa was the only one of the three Gorgons who was mortal , Perseus was able to slay her while looking at the reflection from the mirrored shield he received from Athena . During that time , Medusa was pregnant by Poseidon . When Perseus beheaded her , Pegasus , a winged horse , and Chrysaor , a golden sword-wielding giant , sprang from her body . \n \n Jane Ellen Harrison argues that `` her potency only begins when her head is severed , and that potency resides in the head ; she is in a word a mask with a body later appended ... the basis of the Gorgoneion is a cultus object , a ritual mask misunderstood . '' \n \n In the Odyssey xi , Homer does not specifically mention the Gorgon Medusa : \n \n \n Harrison 's translation states `` the Gorgon was made out of the terror , not the terror out of the Gorgon . '' \n \n According to Ovid , in northwest Africa , Perseus flew past the Titan Atlas , who stood holding the sky aloft , and transformed him into stone when he tried to attack him . In a similar manner , the corals of the Red Sea were said to have been formed of Medusa 's blood spilled onto seaweed when Perseus laid down the petrifying head beside the shore during his short stay in Ethiopia where he saved and wed his future wife , the lovely princess Andromeda . Furthermore , the poisonous vipers of the Sahara , in the Argonautica 4.1515 , Ovid 's Metamorphoses 4.770", "qas": [ { "answers": [ { "answer_start": 3066, "text": "winged horse" } ], "id": "dpql_2533--Medusa.txt", "qid": "dpql_2533", "question": "When Perseus slew the Medusa what sprang up out of her blood?" } ] } ] }

{ "paragraphs": [ { "context": "Paul-Marie Verlaine ( ; ; 30 March 1844 – 8 January 1896 ) was a French poet associated with the Symbolist movement . He is considered one of the greatest representatives of the fin de siècle in international and French poetry . \n \n Biography \n \n Early life \n \n Born in Metz , Verlaine was educated at the Lycée Impérial Bonaparte ( now the Lycée Condorcet ) in Paris and then took up a post in the civil service . He began writing poetry at an early age , and was initially influenced by the Parnassien movement and its leader , Leconte de Lisle . Verlaine 's first published poem was published in 1863 in La Revue du progrès , a publication founded by poet Louis-Xavier de Ricard . Verlaine was a frequenter of the salon of the Marquise de Ricard ( Louis-Xavier de Ricard 's mother ) at 10 Boulevard des Batignolles and other social venues , where he rubbed shoulders with prominent artistic figures of the day : Anatole France , Emmanuel Chabrier , inventor-poet and humorist Charles Cros , the cynical anti-bourgeois idealist Villiers de l'Isle-Adam , Théodore de Banville , François Coppée , Jose-Maria de Heredia , Leconte de Lisle , Catulle Mendes and others . Verlaine 's first published collection , Poèmes saturniens ( 1866 ) , though adversely commented upon by Sainte-Beuve , established him as a poet of promise and originality . \n \n Marriage and military service \n \n Verlaine 's private life spills over into his work , beginning with his love for Mathilde Mauté de Fleurville . Mathilde became Verlaine 's wife in 1870 . At the proclamation of the Third Republic in the same year , Verlaine joined the 160th battalion of the Garde nationale , turning Communard on 18 March 1871 . \n \n He became head of the press bureau of the Central Committee of the Paris Commune . Verlaine escaped the deadly street fighting known as the Bloody Week , or Semaine Sanglante , and went into hiding in the Pas-de-Calais . \n \n Relationships with Rimbaud and Létinois \n \n Verlaine returned to Paris in August 1871 , and , in September , he received the first letter from Arthur Rimbaud . By 1872 , he had lost interest in Mathilde , and effectively abandoned her and their son , preferring the company of his new lover . Rimbaud and Verlaine 's stormy affair took them to London in 1872 . In Brussels in July 1873 in a drunken , jealous rage , he fired two shots with a pistol at Rimbaud , wounding his left wrist , though not seriously injuring the poet . As an indirect result of this incident , Verlaine was arrested and imprisoned at Mons , where he underwent a conversion to Roman Catholicism , which again influenced his work and provoked Rimbaud 's sharp criticism . \n \n The poems collected in Romances sans paroles ( 1874 ) were written between 1872 and 1873 , inspired by Verlaine 's nostalgically colored recollections of his life with Mathilde on the one hand and impressionistic sketches of his on-again off-again year-long escapade with Rimbaud on the other . Romances sans paroles was published while Verlaine was imprisoned . Following his release from prison , Verlaine again traveled to England , where he worked for some years as a teacher , teaching French , Latin and Greek , and drawing at a grammar school in Stickney in Lincolnshire . \n From there he went to teach in Boston , before moving to Bournemouth . \n While in England he produced another successful collection , Sagesse . He returned to France in 1877 and , while teaching English at a school in Rethel , fell in love with one of his pupils , Lucien Létinois , who inspired Verlaine to write further poems . Verlaine was devastated when Létinois died of typhus in 1883 . \n \n Final years \n \n Verlaine 's last years saw his descent into drug addiction , alcoholism , and poverty . He lived in slums and public hospitals , and spent his days drinking absinthe in Paris cafes . Fortunately , the French people 's love of the arts was able to resurrect support and bring in an income for Verlaine : his early poetry was rediscovered , his lifestyle and strange behavior in front of crowds attracted admiration , and in 1894 he was elected France 's `` Prince of Poets '' by his peers . \n \n His poetry was admired and recognized as ground-breaking , and served as a source of inspiration to composers . Gabriel Fauré composed many mélodies , such as the song cycles Cinq mélodies `` de Venise ''", "qas": [ { "answers": [ { "answer_start": 2067, "text": "arthur rimbaud" } ], "id": "dpql_3446--Paul_Verlaine.txt", "qid": "dpql_3446", "question": "Which poet was shot in the wrist by his lover, fellow poet Paul Verlaine?" } ] } ] }

{ "paragraphs": [ { "context": "Old Trafford is a football stadium in Old Trafford , Greater Manchester , England , and the home of Manchester United . With a capacity of 75,635 , it is the largest club stadium of any football team in the United Kingdom , the third-largest stadium and the second-largest football stadium in the United Kingdom , and the eleventh-largest in Europe . It is about from Old Trafford Cricket Ground and the adjacent tram stop . \n \n Nicknamed `` The Theatre of Dreams '' by Bobby Charlton , Old Trafford has been United 's home ground since 1910 , although from 1941 to 1949 the club shared Maine Road with local rivals Manchester City as a result of Second World War bomb damage . Old Trafford underwent several expansions in the 1990s and 2000s , including the addition of extra tiers to the North , West and East Stands , almost returning the stadium to its original capacity of 80,000 . Future expansion is likely to involve the addition of a second tier to the South Stand , which would raise the capacity to around 95,000 . The stadium 's record attendance was recorded in 1939 , when 76,962 spectators watched the FA Cup semi-final between Wolverhampton Wanderers and Grimsby Town . \n \n Old Trafford has hosted FA Cup semi-finals , England fixtures , matches at the 1966 World Cup and Euro 96 and the 2003 Champions League Final , as well as rugby league 's annual Super League Grand Final and the final of two Rugby League World Cups . It also hosted football matches at the 2012 Summer Olympics , including women 's international football for the first time in its history . \n \n History \n \n Construction and early years \n \n Before 1902 , Manchester United were known as Newton Heath , during which time they first played their football matches at North Road and then Bank Street in Clayton . However , both grounds were blighted by wretched conditions , the pitches ranging from gravel to marsh , while Bank Street suffered from clouds of fumes from its neighbouring factories . Therefore , following the club 's rescue from near-bankruptcy and renaming , the new chairman John Henry Davies decided in 1909 that the Bank Street ground was not fit for a team that had recently won the First Division and FA Cup , so he donated funds for the construction of a new stadium . Not one to spend money frivolously , Davies scouted around Manchester for an appropriate site , before settling on a patch of land adjacent to the Bridgewater Canal , just off the north end of the Warwick Road in Old Trafford . \n \n Designed by Scottish architect Archibald Leitch , who designed several other stadia , the ground was originally designed with a capacity of 100,000 spectators and featured seating in the south stand under cover , while the remaining three stands were left as terraces and uncovered . Including the purchase of the land , the construction of the stadium was originally to have cost £60,000 all told . However , as costs began to rise , to reach the intended capacity would have cost an extra £30,000 over the original estimate and , at the suggestion of club secretary J. J. Bentley , the capacity was reduced to approximately 80,000 . Nevertheless , at a time when transfer fees were still around the £1,000 mark , the cost of construction only served to reinforce the club 's `` Moneybags United '' epithet , with which they had been tarred since Davies had taken over as chairman . \n \n In May 1908 , Archibald Leitch wrote to the Cheshire Lines Committee ( CLC ) – who had a rail depot adjacent to the proposed site for the football ground – in an attempt to persuade them to subsidise construction of the grandstand alongside the railway line . The subsidy would have come to the sum of £10,000 , to be paid back at the rate of £2,000 per annum for five years or half of the gate receipts for the grandstand each year until the loan was repaid . However , despite guarantees for the loan coming from the club itself and two local breweries , both chaired by club chairman John Henry Davies , the Cheshire Lines Committee turned the proposal down . The CLC had planned to build a new station adjacent to the new stadium , with the promise of an anticipated £2,750 per annum in fares offsetting the £9,800 cost of building the station . The station – Trafford Park – was eventually built , but further down the line than originally planned . The CLC later constructed a", "qas": [ { "answers": [ { "answer_start": 100, "text": "manchester u" } ], "id": "jp_2246--Old_Trafford.txt", "qid": "jp_2246", "question": "Who plays at Old Trafford?" } ] } ] }

{ "paragraphs": [ { "context": "Oxfam is an international confederation of charitable organizations focused on the alleviation of global poverty . Oxfam was originally founded at 17 Broad Street in Oxford , Oxfordshire , in 1942 as the Oxford Committee for Famine Relief by a group of Quakers , social activists , and Oxford academics ; this is now Oxfam Great Britain , still based in Oxford . It was one of several local committees formed in support of the National Famine Relief Committee . Their mission was to persuade the British government to allow food relief through the Allied blockade for the starving citizens of occupied Greece . The first overseas Oxfam was founded in Canada in 1963 . The organization changed its name to its telegraph address , OXFAM , in 1965 . \n \n History \n \n The original Oxford Committee for Famine Relief was a group of concerned citizens including Doctor Henry Gillett ( a prominent local Quaker ) , Canon Theodore Richard Milford , Professor Gilbert Murray and his wife Lady Mary , Cecil Jackson-Cole and Sir Alan Pim . The Committee met in the Old Library of University Church of St Mary the Virgin , Oxford , for the first time in 1942 , and its aim was to relieve famine in Greece caused by Nazi Germany military occupation and Allied naval blockades . By 1960 , it was a major international non-governmental aid organization . \n \n The name Oxfam comes from the Oxford Committee for Famine Relief , founded in Britain in 1942 and registered in accordance with UK law in 1943 . Oxfam International was formed in 1995 by a group of independent non-governmental organizations . Their aim was to work together for greater impact on the international stage to reduce poverty and injustice . Stichting Oxfam International registered as a non-profit foundation at The Hague , Netherlands . \n \n Oxfam 's first paid employee was Joe Mitty , who began working at the Oxfam shop on Broad Street , Oxford on 9 November 1949 . Engaged to manage the accounts and distribute donated clothing , he originated the policy of selling anything which people were willing to donate , and developed the shop into a national chain . \n \n Oxfam 's mission and values \n \n Oxfam 's programmes address the structural causes of poverty and related injustice and work primarily through local accountable organizations , seeking to enhance their effectiveness . Oxfam 's stated goal is to help people directly when local capacity is insufficient or inappropriate for Oxfam 's purposes , and to assist in the development of structures which directly benefit people facing the realities of poverty and injustice . \n \n Values \n \n In November 2000 , Oxfam adopted the rights-based approach as the framework for all the work of the Confederation and its partners . Oxfam recognizes the universality and indivisibility of human rights and has adopted these overarching aims to express these rights in practical terms : \n * the right to a sustainable livelihood \n * the right to basic social services \n * the right to life and security \n * the right to be heard \n * the right to an identity \n \n Oxfam believes that poverty and powerlessness are avoidable and can be eliminated by human action and political will . The right to a sustainable livelihood , and the right and capacity to participate in societies and make positive changes to people 's lives are basic human needs and rights which can be met . Oxfam believes that peace and substantial arms reduction are essential conditions for development and that inequalities can be significantly reduced both between rich and poor nations and within nations . \n \n Oxfam 's work \n \n Though Oxfam 's initial concern was the provision of food to relieve famine , over the years the organization has developed strategies to combat the causes of famine . In addition to food and medicine , Oxfam also provides tools to enable people to become self-supporting and opens markets of international trade where crafts and produce from poorer regions of the world can be sold at a fair price to benefit the producer . \n \n Oxfam 's programme has three main points of focus : development work , which tries to lift communities out of poverty with long-term , sustainable solutions based on their needs ; humanitarian work , assisting those immediately affected by conflict and natural disasters ( which often leads in to longer-term development work ) , especially in the field of water and sanitation ; and lobbyist , advocacy and popular campaigning , trying to affect policy decisions on the causes of conflict at local , national , and international levels . \n \n Oxfam", "qas": [ { "answers": [ { "answer_start": 192, "text": "1942" } ], "id": "odql_4255--Oxfam.txt", "qid": "odql_4255", "question": "In which year was 'Oxfam' founded?" } ] } ] }

{ "paragraphs": [ { "context": "Magnolia is a city in Pike County , Mississippi . The population was 2,420 at the 2010 census . It is the county seat of Pike County , which lies within the McComb , Mississippi Micropolitan Statistical Area . \n \n History \n \n Magnolia was founded in 1856 by Ansel H. Prewett , a local civic leader and cotton planter . Knowing that the approaching New Orleans , Jackson , and Great Northern Railroad ( now the Illinois Central Railroad ) would need a station for water and fuel , Prewett sold a right-of-way to the railroad company – for one dollar , according to legend – and divided a section of his plantation into town lots , which he sold to investors . Prewett , while serving as temporary sheriff of Pike County , was killed by outlaws in the early 1870s escorting a prisoner on the very railroad that made Magnolia a viable community . \n \n Magnolia grew rapidly in the 1860s , and in the late nineteenth century Magnolia served as a popular small-town resort for wealthy New Orleanians , who took trains north from New Orleans to enjoy Magnolia 's fresh air and sparkling creeks . At one time early Magnolia boasted an opera house , skating rink , and several hotels that catered largely to these tourists . \n \n In 1860 Magnolia 's first newspaper , the `` Grand Trunk Magnolian '' , was established by John Waddill . It did not last the war and was succeeded by the establishment of the `` Magnolia Gazette '' by J.D . Burke in 1872 . The `` Magnolia Herald '' was established by Luke W. Conerly in 1875 and he continued as its proprietor and editor until 1878 . \n \n Geography \n \n Magnolia is located at ( 31.149272 , -90.461332 ) . \n \n According to the United States Census Bureau , the city has a total area of , of which is land and ( 1.52 % ) is water . \n \n Demographics \n \n As of the census of 2000 , there were 2,071 people , 749 households , and 515 families residing in the city . The population density was 639.5 people per square mile ( 246.8/km² ) . There were 898 housing units at an average density of 277.3 per square mile ( 107.0/km² ) . The racial makeup of the city was 44.42 % White , 53.84 % African American , 0.43 % Native American , 0.34 % Asian , 0.29 % from other races , and 0.68 % from two or more races . Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.16 % of the population . \n \n There were 749 households out of which 31.2 % had children under the age of 18 living with them , 38.1 % were married couples living together , 24.7 % had a female householder with no husband present , and 31.2 % were non-families . 28.6 % of all households were made up of individuals and 15.1 % had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older . The average household size was 2.54 and the average family size was 3.08 . \n \n In the city the population was spread out with 24.4 % under the age of 18 , 12.3 % from 18 to 24 , 25.7 % from 25 to 44 , 22.2 % from 45 to 64 , and 15.4 % who were 65 years of age or older . The median age was 36 years . For every 100 females there were 97.1 males . For every 100 females age 18 and over , there were 94.5 males . \n \n The median income for a household in the city was $ 21,190 , and the median income for a family was $ 25,069 . Males had a median income of $ 21,991 versus $ 18,839 for females . The per capita income for the city was $ 12,426 . About 18.0 % of families and 22.5 % of the population were below the poverty line , including 30.1 % of those under age 18 and 23.2 % of those age 65 or over . \n \n Notable people \n \n * Dorothy F. Bainton , distinguished pathologist , author , and educator . Author of 113 articles and 27 book chapters . Vice Chancellor of University of California , San Francisco . \n * Jerry Butler , award-winning artist , author and educator . Chair of the Art Department at Madison Area Technical College [ Wisconsin ] . \n * Walter W. Crawford , MD ( b . 21 Mar1872 ) known as the `` Surgical Dean of Mississippi . The leading figure in the successful", "qas": [ { "answers": [ { "answer_start": 36, "text": "mississippi" } ], "id": "qg_3232--Magnolia,_Mississippi.txt", "qid": "qg_3232", "question": "What state is known as the Magnolia State?" } ] } ] }

{ "paragraphs": [ { "context": "The Laws of the Game are the codified rules that help define association football . They are the only rules of association football subscribed to by the sport 's governing body FIFA . The laws mention the number of players a team should have , the game length , the size of the field and ball , the type and nature of fouls that referees may penalise , the frequently misinterpreted offside law , and many other laws that define the sport . During a match , it is the task of the referee to interpret and enforce the Laws of the Game . \n \n There were various attempts to codify the rules of football in England in the mid-19th century . The extant Laws date back to 1863 where a ruleset was formally adopted by the newly formed Football Association . The original Laws were heavily influenced by the Cambridge rules and their early development saw substantial influence from the Sheffield Rules . Over time the Laws have been amended , and since 1886 they have been maintained by the International Football Association Board . \n \n Current Laws of the Game \n \n Rules \n \n The current Laws of the Game ( LOTG ) consist of seventeen individual laws , each law containing several rules and directions : \n * Law 1 : The Field of Play \n * Law 2 : The Ball \n * Law 3 : The Number of Players \n * Law 4 : The Players ' Equipment \n * Law 5 : The Referee \n * Law 6 : The Other Match Officials \n * Law 7 : The Duration of the Match \n * Law 8 : The start and restart of play \n * Law 9 : Ball in and out of play \n * Law 10 : The Method of Scoring \n * Law 11 : Offside \n * Law 12 : Fouls and Misconduct \n * Law 13 : Free kicks ( direct and indirect ) \n * Law 14 : The Penalty Kick \n * Law 15 : The Throw-in \n * Law 16 : The Goal Kick \n * Law 17 : The Corner Kick \n \n Presentation and interpretation \n \n In 1997 , a major revision dropped whole paragraphs and clarified many sections to simplify and strengthen the principles . These laws are written in English Common Law style and are meant to be guidelines and goals of principle that are then clarified through practice , tradition , and enforcement by the referees . \n \n The actual law book has long contained 50 pages more of material , organized in numerous sections , that contain many diagrams but did not fit with the main 17 laws . In 2007 , many of these additional sections along with much of the material from the FIFA Questions and Answers ( Q & A ) , were restructured and put into a new `` Additional Instructions and Guidelines for the Referee '' section . This section is organized under the same 17 law points , consists of concise paragraphs and phrases like the laws themselves , and adds much clarifying material that had been only available from national organizations and word of mouth among referees . The entire 2015/2016 edition is 144 pages . \n \n Referees are expected to use their judgement and common sense in applying the laws ; this is colloquially known as `` Law 18 '' . \n \n Jurisdiction and change management \n \n The laws are administered by the International Football Association Board ( IFAB ) . They meet at least once a year to debate and decide any changes to the text as it exists at that time . The meeting in winter generally leads to an update to the laws on 1 July of each year that take effect immediately . The laws govern all international matches and national matches of member organizations . A minimum of six of the eight seat IFAB board needs to vote to accept a rule change . Four seats are held by FIFA to represent their 200+ member Nations , with the other four going to each of the British associations ( the FA representing England , the SFA representing Scotland , FAW representing Wales and the IFA representing Northern Ireland ) , meaning that no change can be made without FIFA 's approval , but FIFA can not change the Laws without the approval of at least two of the British governing bodies . \n \n History \n \n Pre-1863 \n \n Games which could be described in the most general sense as 'football ' had been popular in Britain since the Medieval period . Rules for these games ,", "qas": [ { "answers": [ { "answer_start": 667, "text": "8" } ], "id": "qb_5709--Laws_of_the_Game_(association_football).txt", "qid": "qb_5709", "question": "How high is the crossbar of a FIFA rules football goal in feet?" } ] } ] }

{ "paragraphs": [ { "context": "The Exorcist is a 1971 novel by American writer William Peter Blatty . The book details the demonic possession of twelve-year-old Regan MacNeil , the daughter of a famous actress , and the Jesuit psychiatrist priest who attempts to exorcise the demon . Published by Harper & Row , the novel was the basis of a highly successful film adaption released two years later , whose screenplay was also written by Blatty . \n \n The novel was inspired by a 1949 case of demonic possession and exorcism that Blatty heard about while he was a student in the class of 1950 at Georgetown University . As a result , the novel takes place in Washington D.C. near the campus of Georgetown University . In September 2011 , the novel was reprinted by Harper Collins to celebrate its fortieth anniversary , with slight revisions made by Blatty as well as interior title artwork by Jeremy Caniglia . \n \n Plot \n \n An elderly Jesuit priest named Father Lankester Merrin is leading an archaeological dig in northern Iraq and is studying ancient relics . After discovering a small statue of the demon Pazuzu ( an actual ancient Assyrian demigod ) , a series of omens alerts him to a pending confrontation with a powerful evil , which , unknown to the reader at this point , he has battled before in an exorcism in Africa . \n \n Meanwhile , in Georgetown , a young girl named Regan MacNeil is living with her famous mother , actress Chris MacNeil , who is in Georgetown filming a movie . As Chris finishes her work on the film , Regan begins to become inexplicably ill. After a gradual series of poltergeist-like disturbances in their rented house , for which Chris attempts to find rational explanations , Regan begins to rapidly undergo disturbing psychological and physical changes : she refuses to eat or sleep , becomes withdrawn and frenetic , and increasingly aggressive and violent . Chris initially mistakes Regan 's behavior as a result of repressed anger over her parents ' divorce and absent father . \n \n After several unsuccessful psychiatric and medical treatments , Regan 's mother , an atheist , turns to a local Jesuit priest for help as Regan 's personality becomes increasingly disturbed . Father Damien Karras , who is currently going through a crisis of faith coupled with the loss of his mother , agrees to see Regan as a psychiatrist , but initially resists the notion that it is an actual demonic possession . After a few meetings with the child , now completely inhabited by a diabolical personality , he turns to the local bishop for permission to perform an exorcism on the child . \n \n The bishop with whom he consults does not believe Karras is qualified to perform the rites , and appoints the experienced Merrin—who has recently returned to the United States—to perform the exorcism , although he does allow the doubt-ridden Karras to assist him . The lengthy exorcism tests the priests both physically and spiritually . When Merrin , who had previously suffered cardiac arrhythmia , dies during the process , completion of the exorcism ultimately falls upon Father Karras . When he demands that the demonic spirit inhabit him instead of the innocent Regan , the demon seizes the opportunity to possess the priest . Karras heroically surrenders his own life in exchange for Regan 's by jumping out of her bedroom window and falling to his death , regaining his faith in God as his last rites are read . \n \n Factual basis for the novel \n \n Aspects of the character Father Merrin were based on the British archaeologist Gerald Lankester Harding , who had excavated the caves where the Dead Sea Scrolls had been found and whom Blatty had met in Beirut . Blatty has stated that Harding `` was the physical model in my mind when I created the character [ of Merrin ] , whose first name , please note , is Lankester . '' \n \n Aspects of the novel were inspired by an exorcism performed by the Jesuit priest , Fr . William S. Bowdern , who formerly taught at both St. Louis University and St. Louis University High School . \n \n Recent investigative research by freelance journalist Mark Opsasnick indicates that Blatty 's novel was based on an actual 1949 exorcism of a young boy from Cottage City , Maryland , whom Opsasnick refers to using the pseudonyms Robbie Mannheim and Roland Doe . The boy was sent to his relative 's home on Roanoke Drive in St. Louis where most of the exorcism took place . \n \n Blatty refers to the Loudun possessions and the", "qas": [ { "answers": [ { "answer_start": 48, "text": "william peter blatty" } ], "id": "wh_4033--The_Exorcist_(novel).txt", "qid": "wh_4033", "question": "Which now 85 year old American author wrote the 1971 book The Exorcist ?" } ] } ] }

{ "paragraphs": [ { "context": "Featherweight is a weight class in the combat sports of boxing , kickboxing , mixed martial arts and Greco-Roman wrestling . \n \n Boxing \n \n Professional boxing \n \n History \n \n A featherweight boxer weighs in at a limit of 126 pounds ( 57 kg ) . In the early days of the division , this limit fluctuated . The British have generally always recognized the limit at 126 pounds , but in America the weight limit was at first 114 pounds . An early champion , George Dixon , moved the limit to 120 and then 122 pounds . Finally , in 1920 the United States fixed the limit at 126 pounds . \n \n The 1860 fight between Nobby Clark and Jim Elliott is sometimes called the first featherweight championship . However , the division only gained wide acceptance in 1889 after the Ike Weir-Frank Murphy fight . \n Johnny Kilbane , considered one of the greatest featherweight champions of all time , held the championship for 11 years , starting when he won the title in 1912 from Abe Attell until he lost the title in 1923 to Eugène Criqui . To this day he remains the second longest world title holder in boxing history . \n Eusebio Pedroza holds the record , set in 1985 , for most consecutive title defenses at this division , with 19 defenses of the WBA title . \n \n Since the end of the 2000s and early 2010s the Featherweight division is one of the most active in boxing with the likes of Orlando Salido , Chris John , Juan Manuel López , Celestino Caballero , Yuriorkis Gamboa , Elio Rojas , Israel Vazquez , Cristobal Cruz , Rafael Márquez , Rocky Juarez , and Steven Luevano and Manny Pacquiao . \n \n Professional Champions \n \n Current Champions \n \n Longest reigning featherweight champions \n \n Below is a list of longest reigning featherweight champions in boxing measured by the individual 's longest reign . Career total time as champion ( for multiple time champions ) does not apply . \n \n Amateur boxing \n \n In amateur boxing , the weight limit is 54 kg to 57 kg . \n \n Olympic champions \n \n * 1904 – \n * 1908 – \n * 1920 – \n * 1924 – \n * 1928 – \n * 1932 – \n * 1936 – \n * 1948 – \n * 1952 – \n * 1956 – \n * 1960 – \n * 1964 – \n * 1968 – \n * 1972 – \n * 1976 – \n * 1980 – \n * 1984 – \n * 1988 – \n * 1992 – \n * 1996 – \n * 2000 – \n * 2004 – \n * 2008 – \n \n Pan American Champions \n \n * 1951 – Francisco Núñez ( ARG ) \n * 1955 – Oswaldo Cañete ( ARG ) \n * 1959 – Carlos Aro ( ARG ) \n * 1963 – Rosemiro Mateus ( BRA ) \n * 1967 – Miguel García ( ARG ) \n * 1971 – Juan García ( MEX ) \n * 1975 – Dave Armstrong ( USA ) \n * 1979 – Bernard Taylor ( USA ) \n * 1983 – Adolfo Horta ( CUB ) \n * 1987 – Kelcie Banks ( USA ) \n * 1991 – Arnaldo Mesa ( CUB ) \n * 1995 – Arnaldo Mesa ( CUB ) \n * 1999 – Yudel Johnson ( CUB ) \n * 2003 – Likar Ramos Concha ( COL ) \n * 2007 – Idel Torriente ( CUB ) \n \n Notable featherweights \n \n * Alexis Argüello \n * Henry Armstrong \n * Abe Attell \n * Marco Antonio Barrera \n * Kid Chocolate \n * Luisito Espinosa \n * Wilfredo Gómez \n * Wilfredo Vázquez \n * Naseem Hamed \n * Paul Ingle \n * Chris 'The Dragon ' John \n * Tom `` Boom Boom '' Johnson \n * Kevin Kelley \n * Derrick Gainer \n * Kina Malpartida \n * Juan Manuel Márquez \n * Barry McGuigan \n * Érik Morales \n * Azumah Nelson \n * Manny Pacquiao \n * Nonito `` The Filipino Flash '' Donaire \n * Tommy Paul \n * Willie Pep \n * Sandy Saddler \n * Calvin Grove \n * Vicente Saldivar \n * Salvador Sánchez \n * Orlando Salido \n * Miguel Ángel García \n * Juan Manuel López \n * Yuriorkis Gamboa \n * Jeff Fenech \n * Angel Meraz \n \n Kickboxing \n \n In kickboxing , a featherweight fighter generally weighs between 55 kg ( 121 lb ) and 59 kg ( 130 lb ) . However , some governing bodies have slightly", "qas": [ { "answers": [ { "answer_start": 667, "text": "featherweight champion" } ], "id": "qf_2381--Featherweight.txt", "qid": "qf_2381", "question": "What boxing class is heaviest - flyweight, bantam weight or feather weight?" } ] } ] }

{ "paragraphs": [ { "context": "The Royal Mint is the body permitted to strike British coins . The Royal Mint originated over 1,100 years ago , producing coins for England and eventually Great Britain . Since 2010 it has operated as Royal Mint Ltd , a company owned by HM Treasury , under an exclusive contract to supply all coinage for the UK . Royal Mint Ltd is 100 % owned by HM Treasury , which delegates shareholder responsibilities to the Shareholder Executive . \n \n As well as minting coins for the UK , The Royal Mint also mints and exports coins to many other countries and produces military medals , commemorative medals , and other such items for governments , schools and businesses , being known as the world 's leading exporting mint . Responsibility for the security of the site falls to the Ministry of Defence Police , who provide an armed contingent . \n \n In 1968 The Royal Mint began to move its operations from Tower Hill in the City of London to Llantrisant , Mid Glamorgan , Wales , and has operated on a single site in Llantrisant since 1980 . \n At Llantrisant it holds an extensive collection of coins dating from the 16th century onwards , housed in eighty cabinets made by Elizabeth II 's cabinet maker , Hugh Swann . The site occupies 38 acre and employs over 900 people . \n \n The annual Trial of the Pyx assays coins produced for the UK government for size , weight and chemical composition . \n \n History \n \n The London Mint first became a single institution in 886 , during the reign of Alfred the Great , but was only one of many mints throughout the kingdom . By 1279 it had moved to the Tower of London , and remained there the next 500 years , achieving a monopoly on the production of coins of the realm in the 16th century . Sir Isaac Newton took up the post of Warden of the Mint , responsible for investigating cases of counterfeiting , in 1696 , and subsequently held the office of Master of The Royal Mint from 1699 until his death in 1727 . He unofficially moved the Pound Sterling to the gold standard from silver in 1717 . \n \n By the time Newton arrived , the Mint had expanded to fill several rickety wooden buildings ranged around the outside of the Tower . In the eighteenth century the processes for minting coins were mechanised and rolling mills and coining presses were installed . The new machinery and the demand on space in the Tower of London following the outbreak of war with France led to a decision to move the Mint to an adjacent site in East Smithfield . The new building , designed by James Johnson and Robert Smirke , was completed in 1809 , and included space for the new machinery , and accommodation for the officers and staff of the Mint . \n \n The building was rebuilt in the 1880s to accommodate new machinery which increased the capacity of the Mint . As technology changed with the introduction of electricity and demand grew , the process of rebuilding continued so that by the 1960s little of the original mint remained , apart from Smirke 's 1809 building and the gatehouse in the front . \n \n During WWII , The Royal Mint was bombed by the Germans . The Royal Mint was hit on several occasions and was put out of commission for three weeks at one point . \n \n The Tower Hill site finally reached capacity ahead of decimalisation in 1971 , with the need to strike hundreds of millions of new decimal coins , while at the same time not neglecting overseas customers . In 1967 it was announced that the mint would move away from London to new buildings in Llantrisant , ten miles ( 16 km ) north west of Cardiff . The first phase was opened by Queen Elizabeth II on 17 December 1968 , and production gradually shifted to the new site over the next seven years until the last coin , a gold sovereign , was struck in London in November 1975 . Smirke 's 1809 Building is now used as commercial offices by Barclays Global Investors . \n \n On 1 April 1975 The Royal Mint became a trading fund to help improve its efficiency by requiring it to become self-financing . \n \n In March 2009 , the then Chancellor of the Exchequer , Alistair Darling began planning to sell off of The Royal Mint . On 31 December 2009 it ceased to be an executive agency and its assets were vested in a limited company , Royal", "qas": [ { "answers": [ { "answer_start": 935, "text": "llantrisant" } ], "id": "sfq_6671--Royal_Mint.txt", "qid": "sfq_6671", "question": "In which Welsh Town is the Royal Mint?" } ] } ] }

{ "paragraphs": [ { "context": "The President of the United States of America ( POTUS ) is the elected head of state and head of government of the United States . The president leads the executive branch of the federal government and is the commander-in-chief of the United States Armed Forces . \n \n The President of the United States is considered one of the world 's most powerful people , leading the world 's only contemporary superpower . The role includes being the commander-in-chief of the world 's most expensive military with the largest nuclear arsenal and leading the nation with the largest economy by real and nominal GDP . The office of the president holds significant hard and soft power both in the United States and abroad . \n \n Article II of the U.S. Constitution vests the executive power of the United States in the president . The power includes execution of federal law , alongside the responsibility of appointing federal executive , diplomatic , regulatory and judicial officers , and concluding treaties with foreign powers with the advice and consent of the Senate . The president is further empowered to grant federal pardons and reprieves , and to convene and adjourn either or both houses of Congress under extraordinary circumstances . The president is largely responsible for dictating the legislative agenda of the party to which the president is enrolled . The president also directs the foreign and domestic policy of the United States . Since the founding of the United States , the power of the president and the federal government has grown substantially . \n \n The president is indirectly elected by the people through the Electoral College to a four-year term , and is one of only two nationally elected federal officers , the other being the Vice President of the United States . The Twenty-second Amendment , adopted in 1951 , prohibits anyone from ever being elected to the presidency for a third full term . It also prohibits a person from being elected to the presidency more than once if that person previously had served as president , or acting president , for more than two years of another person 's term as president . In all , 43 individuals have served 44 presidencies ( counting Cleveland 's two non-consecutive terms separately ) spanning 56 full four-year terms . On January 20 , 2009 , Barack Obama became the 44th and current president . On November 6 , 2012 , he was re-elected and is currently serving the 57th term . The next presidential election is scheduled to take place on November 8 , 2016 ; on January 20 , 2017 , the newly elected president will take office . \n \n Origin \n \n In 1776 , the Thirteen Colonies , acting through the Second Continental Congress , declared political independence from Great Britain during the American Revolution . The new states , though independent of each other as nation states , recognized the necessity of closely coordinating their efforts against the British . Desiring to avoid anything that remotely resembled a monarchy , Congress negotiated the Articles of Confederation to establish a weak alliance between the states . As a central authority , Congress under the Articles was without any legislative power ; it could make its own resolutions , determinations , and regulations , but not any laws , nor any taxes or local commercial regulations enforceable upon citizens . This institutional design reflected the conception of how Americans believed the deposed British system of Crown and Parliament ought to have functioned with respect to the royal dominion : a superintending body for matters that concerned the entire empire . Out from under any monarchy , the states assigned some formerly royal prerogatives ( e.g. , making war , receiving ambassadors , etc . ) to Congress , while severally lodging the rest within their own respective state governments . Only after all the states agreed to a resolution settling competing western land claims did the Articles take effect on March 1 , 1781 , when Maryland became the final state to ratify them . \n \n In 1783 , the Treaty of Paris secured independence for each of the former colonies . With peace at hand , the states each turned toward their own internal affairs . By 1786 , Americans found their continental borders besieged and weak , their respective economies in crises as neighboring states agitated trade rivalries with one another , witnessed their hard currency pouring into foreign markets to pay for imports , their Mediterranean commerce preyed upon by North African pirates , and their foreign-financed Revolutionary War debts unpaid and accruing interest . Civil and political unrest loomed . \n \n Following the successful resolution of commercial", "qas": [ { "answers": [], "id": "bb_884--President_of_the_United_States.txt", "qid": "bb_884", "question": "Marnie Geneva Doud was the wife of which US president, the country's 34th?" } ] } ] }

{ "paragraphs": [ { "context": "A nickname is a substitute for the proper name of a familiar person , place , or thing , for affection or ridicule . \n \n The term hypocoristic is used to refer to a nickname of affection between those in love or with a close emotional bond , compared with a term of endearment . The term diminutive name refers to nicknames that convey smallness , hence something regarded with affection or familiarity ( e.g. , referring to children ) , or contempt . \n \n The distinction between the two is often blurred . It is a form of endearment and amusement . As a concept , it is distinct from both pseudonym and stage name , and also from a title ( for example , City of Fountains ) , although there may be overlap in these concepts . \n \n A moniker also means a nickname or personal name . \n The word often distinguishes personal names from nicknames that became proper names out of former nicknames . English examples are Bob and Rob , nickname variants for Robert . \n \n A nickname is often considered desirable , symbolising a form of acceptance , but can sometimes be a form of ridicule . \n \n Etymology \n \n The compound word ekename , literally meaning `` additional name '' , was attested as early as 1303 . This word was derived from the Old English phrase eaca `` an increase '' , related to eacian `` to increase '' . By the fifteenth century , the misdivision of the syllables of the phrase `` an ekename '' led to its reanalysis as `` a nekename '' . Though the spelling has changed , the pronunciation and meaning of the word have remained relatively stable ever since . \n \n Conventions in various languages \n \n To inform an audience or readership of a person 's nickname without actually calling them by their nickname , English nicknames are generally represented in quotes between the bearer 's first and last names ( e.g. , Dwight David `` Ike '' Eisenhower , Daniel Lamont `` Bubba '' Franks , etc . ) . However , it is also common for the nickname to be identified after a comma following the full real name or later in the body of the text , such as in an obituary . The middle name is generally eliminated ( if there is one ) , especially in speech . Like English , German uses ( German-style ) quotation marks between the first and last names ( e.g. , Andreas Nikolaus „ Niki “ Lauda ) . Other languages may use other conventions ; for example , Italian writes the nickname after the full name followed by detto 'called ' ( e.g. , Salvatore Schillaci detto Totò ) , in Spanish the nickname is written in formal contexts at the end in quotes following alias ( e.g . Alfonso Tostado , alias « el Abulense » ) , and Slovenian represents nicknames after a dash or hyphen ( e.g. , Franc Rozman – Stane ) . The latter may cause confusion because it resembles an English convention sometimes used for married and maiden names . \n \n Uses in various societies \n \n In Viking societies , many people had heiti , viðrnefni , or kenningarnöfn ( Old Norse terms for nicknames ) which were used in addition to , or instead of the first name . In some circumstances , the giving of a nickname had a special status in Viking society in that it created a relationship between the name maker and the recipient of the nickname , to the extent that the creation of a nickname also often entailed a formal ceremony and an exchange of gifts known in Old Norse as nafnfestr ( 'fastening a name ' ) . \n \n Slaves have often used nicknames , so that the master who heard about someone doing something could not identify the slave . In capoeira , a Brazilian martial art , the slaves had nicknames to protect them from being caught , as practising capoeira was illegal for decades . \n \n In Anglo-American culture , a nickname is often based on a shortening of a person 's proper name . However , in other societies , this may not necessarily be the case . For example : `` my nickname is farmer Phil '' \n \n In Indian society , for example , generally people have at least one nickname ( call name or affection name ) and these affection names are generally not related to the person 's proper name . Indian nicknames very often are a trivial word or a diminutive ( such as Bablu ,", "qas": [ { "answers": [], "id": "odql_4682--Nickname.txt", "qid": "odql_4682", "question": "What nickname is often used for a male with the surname of Miller?" } ] } ] }

{ "paragraphs": [ { "context": "Edward `` Ned '' Kelly ( December 1854 – 11 November 1880 ) was an Australian bushranger of Irish descent . \n \n Kelly was born in the British colony of Victoria as the third of eight children to an Irish convict from County Tipperary and an Australian mother with Irish parentage . His father died after serving a six-month prison sentence , leaving Kelly , then aged 12 , as the eldest male of the household . The Kellys were a poor selector family who saw themselves as downtrodden by the Squattocracy and as victims of police persecution . Arrested in 1870 for associating with bushranger Harry Power , Kelly was first convicted of stealing horses and imprisoned for three years . He fled to the bush in 1878 after being indicted for the attempted murder of a police officer at the Kelly family 's home . After he , his brother Dan , and two associates fatally shot three policemen , the Government of Victoria proclaimed them outlaws . \n \n During the remainder of the Kelly Outbreak , Kelly and his associates committed armed bank robberies in Euroa and Jerilderie , and murdered Aaron Sherritt , a friend turned police informer . In a manifesto letter , Kelly—denouncing the police , the Victorian government and the British Empire—set down his own account of the events leading up to his outlawry . Threatening dire consequences against those who defied him , he ended with the words , `` I am a widow 's son outlawed and my orders must be obeyed . '' \n \n When Kelly 's attempt to derail and ambush a police train failed , he and his gang , dressed in homemade suits of metal armour , engaged in a final violent confrontation with the Victoria Police at Glenrowan on 28 June 1880 . All were killed except Kelly , who was severely wounded by police fire and captured . Despite support for his reprieve , Kelly was tried , convicted and sentenced to death by hanging , which was carried out at the Old Melbourne Gaol . His final words are famously reported to have been `` such is life '' . \n \n Even before his execution , Kelly had become a legendary figure in Australia . Historian Geoffrey Serle called Kelly and his gang `` the last expression of the lawless frontier in what was becoming a highly organised and educated society , the last protest of the mighty bush now tethered with iron rails to Melbourne and the world . '' Despite the passage of more than a century , he remains a cultural icon , inspiring countless works in the arts , and is the subject of more biographies than any other Australian . Kelly continues to cause division in his homeland : some celebrate him as Australia 's equivalent of Robin Hood , while others regard him as a murderous villain undeserving of his folk hero status . Journalist Martin Flanagan wrote that , `` what makes Ned a legend is not that everyone sees him the same—it 's that everyone sees him . Like a bushfire on the horizon casting its red glow into the night . '' \n \n Family background and early life \n \n Kelly 's father , John Kelly ( known as `` Red '' ) , was born in 1820 in County Tipperary , Ireland , to Thomas and Mary ( née Cody ) , and was transported to Van Diemen 's Land in 1841 , at the age of 22 , for stealing two pigs . After his release in 1848 , Red Kelly moved to Victoria and found work at James Quinn 's farm at Wallan Wallan as a bush carpenter . He subsequently turned his attention to gold-digging , at which he was successful and which enabled him to purchase a small freehold in Beveridge , just north of Melbourne . He soon became notorious as a cattle thief and his house was a rendezvous where criminals of all kinds hatched their plots . \n \n In 1851 , at the age of 30 , Red Kelly married Ellen Quinn , his employer 's 18-year-old daughter , in Ballarat . Kelly was his parents ' third child . The exact date of his birth is not known but , among other things , on passing Beveridge for the last time he told an officer , `` Look across there to the left . Do you see a little hill there ? `` , `` That is where I was born about 28 years ago . Now , I am passing through it , I suppose , to my doom . '' \n \n Kelly was baptised by an Augustinian", "qas": [ { "answers": [ { "answer_start": 67, "text": "australia" } ], "id": "jp_55--Ned_Kelly.txt", "qid": "jp_55", "question": "\"In what country did \"\"bushranger\"\" Ned Kelly meet his end?\"" } ] } ] }

{ "paragraphs": [ { "context": "Melpomene ( ; ; `` to sing '' or `` the one that is melodious '' ) , initially the Muse of Singing , she then became the Muse of Tragedy , for which she is best known now . Her name was derived from the Greek verb melpô or melpomai meaning `` to celebrate with dance and song . '' She is often represented with a tragic mask and wearing the cothurnus , boots traditionally worn by tragic actors . Often , she also holds a knife or club in one hand and the tragic mask in the other . \n \n Melpomene is the daughter of Zeus and Mnemosyne . Her sisters include Calliope ( muse of epic poetry ) , Clio ( muse of history ) , Euterpe ( muse of lyrical poetry ) , Terpsichore ( muse of dancing ) , Erato ( muse of erotic poetry ) , Thalia ( muse of comedy ) , Polyhymnia ( muse of hymns ) , and Urania ( muse of astronomy ) . She is also the mother of several of the Sirens , the divine handmaidens of Kore ( Persephone/Proserpina ) who were cursed by her mother , Demeter/Ceres , when they were unable to prevent Kore ( Persephone/Proserpina ) by Hades/Pluto . \n \n In Roman and Greek poetry , it was traditional to invoke the goddess Melpomene so that one might create beautiful lyrical phrases ( see Horace 's Odes ) .", "qas": [ { "answers": [ { "answer_start": 40, "text": "one that is melodious" } ], "id": "odql_443--Melpomene.txt", "qid": "odql_443", "question": "Who was the 'Muse of Tragedy'?" } ] } ] }

{ "paragraphs": [ { "context": "The Branch Davidians ( also known as `` The Branch '' ) are a religious group that originated in 1955 from a schism in the Davidian Seventh-day Adventists ( `` Davidians '' ) , a reform movement that began as an offshoot from the Seventh-day Adventist Church ( `` Adventists '' ) around 1930 . Some of those who accepted the reform message had been removed from membership of the Seventh-day Adventist Church because of their supplemental teachings . \n \n From its inception in 1930 , the reform movement believed themselves to be living in a time when Bible prophecies of a final divine judgment were coming to pass as a prelude to Christ 's Second Coming . The name `` Branch Davidian '' is most widely known for the Waco siege of 1993 on their property ( known as the Mount Carmel Center ) near Waco , Texas . The 51-day siege , by the ATF , FBI , and Texas National Guard , resulted in the deaths of the Branch Davidians ' leader , David Koresh , as well as 82 other Branch Davidian men , women , and children , and four ATF agents . \n \n Today , the original Davidian Seventh-day Adventists and the Branch Davidian Seventh-day Adventists are two different and distinct groups . The doctrinal beliefs differ on such teachings as the Holy Spirit and His nature , the feast days and requirements , and who had the prophetic office since Victor Houteff 's death . \n \n Early history \n \n In 1929 Victor Houteff , a Bulgarian immigrant and a Seventh-day Adventist Sabbath School teacher in a local church in Southern California , claimed that he had a new message for the entire church . He presented this message in a book , The Shepherd 's Rod : The 144,000—A Call for Reformation . The Adventist leadership rejected Houteff 's message as contrary to the Adventists ' basic teachings and disfellowshipped Houteff and his followers . However , there was some controversy over the method the leadership took to disfellowship Houteff . \n \n In 1935 Houteff established his headquarters to the west of Waco , Texas . After Houteff died in 1955 , the segment of the group loyal to Houteff continued as the Davidian Seventh-day Adventists . \n \n A splinter group , the Branch Davidian Seventh-day Adventists , was begun by Benjamin Roden and headed after Roden 's death by his wife Lois Roden . After Lois Roden died , a bitter power struggle ensued between Lois Roden 's son George Roden and her designated successor David Koresh ( then still using his birth name of Vernon Howell ) , eventually won by Koresh . \n \n Rise of Koresh \n \n David Koresh 's arrival on the Waco compound in 1981 was well received by nearly everyone at the Davidian commune . Koresh had an affair with the then-prophetess of the Branch Davidians Lois Roden . When she died , her son George Roden inherited the position of prophet and leader of the commune . However , George Roden and Koresh began to clash . The Commune began to experience internal conflict due to Koresh and George Roden 's rivalry . As a result , Koresh suddenly left the commune and settled in Palestine , Texas , where he was joined in 1985 by Branch Davidians who had been run off of the Branch Davidian compound at gunpoint by Roden . Koresh and his followers remained in Palestine for two years , living in squalor , until the conflict between Roden and Koresh came to a head in 1987 By this time Koresh now enjoyed the loyalty of the majority of the [ Branch Davidian ] community '' As an attempt to regain support , George Roden challenged Koresh to raise the dead , going so far as to exhume a corpse to demonstrate his spiritual supremacy . This illegal activity gave Koresh an opportunity to attempt to file charges against Roden , however he was told he needed evidence . This led to the November 3rd , 1987 raid on the Mount Carmel Center by Koresh and 7 of his followers equipped with five .223 caliber semiautomatic rifles , two .22 caliber rifles , two 12-gauge shotguns and nearly 400 rounds of ammunition . Their objective seemed to be to retake the land that Koresh had left three years earlier although they claim to have been trying to obtain evidence of Roden 's illegal activity , however they did not come equipped with a camera . The trail ended with the jury finding the followers of Koresh not guilty , but were unable to agree on Koresh . After the followers were found not guilty", "qas": [ { "answers": [ { "answer_start": 2458, "text": "vernon howell" } ], "id": "sfq_21675--Branch_Davidians.txt", "qid": "sfq_21675", "question": "What was the name of the man who led the Religious Sect Branch Davidian at the Waco Massacre?" } ] } ] }

{ "paragraphs": [ { "context": "The Vice President of the United States ( VPOTUS ) is the second-highest position in the executive branch of the United States , after the President . The executive power of both the vice president and the president is granted under Article Two , Section One of the Constitution . The vice president is indirectly elected , together with the president , to a four-year term of office by the people of the United States through the Electoral College . The vice president is the first person in the presidential line of succession , and would normally ascend to the presidency upon the death , resignation , or removal of the president . The Office of the Vice President of the United States assists and organizes the vice president 's official functions . \n \n The vice president is also president of the United States Senate and in that capacity only votes when it is necessary to break a tie . While Senate customs have created supermajority rules that have diminished this constitutional tie-breaking authority , the vice president still retains the ability to influence legislation ; for example , the Deficit Reduction Act of 2005 was passed in the Senate by a tie-breaking vice presidential vote . Additionally , pursuant to the Twelfth Amendment , the vice president presides over the joint session of Congress when it convenes to count the vote of the Electoral College . \n \n While the vice president 's only constitutionally prescribed functions aside from presidential succession relate to their role as President of the Senate , the office is commonly viewed as a component of the executive branch of the federal government . The United States Constitution does not expressly assign the office to any one branch , causing a dispute among scholars whether it belongs to the executive branch , the legislative branch , or both . The modern view of the vice president as a member of the executive branch is due in part to the assignment of executive duties to the vice president by either the president or Congress , though such activities are only recent historical developments . \n \n Origin \n \n The creation of the office of vice president was a direct consequence of the creation of the Electoral College . Delegates to the Philadelphia Convention gave each state a number of presidential electors equal to that state 's combined share of House and Senate seats . Yet the delegates were worried that each elector would only favor his own state 's favorite son candidate , resulting in deadlocked elections that would produce no winners . To counter this potential difficulty , the delegates gave each presidential elector two votes , requiring that at least one of their votes be for a candidate from outside the elector 's state ; they also mandated that the winner of an election must obtain an absolute majority of the total number of electors . The delegates expected that each elector 's second vote would go to a statesman of national character . \n \n Fearing that electors might throw away their second vote to bolster their favorite son 's chance of winning , however , the Philadelphia delegates specified that the runner-up would become vice president . Creating this new office imposed a political cost on discarded votes and forced electors to cast their second ballot . \n \n Roles of the vice president \n \n The Constitution limits the formal powers and role of vice president to becoming president , should the president become unable to serve , prompting the well-known expression `` only a heartbeat away from the presidency , '' and to acting as the presiding officer of the U.S. Senate . \n Other statutorily granted roles include membership of both the National Security Council and the Board of Regents of the Smithsonian Institution . \n \n President of the United States Senate \n \n As President of the Senate , the vice president has two primary duties : to cast a vote in the event of a Senate deadlock and to preside over and certify the official vote count of the U.S . Electoral College . For example , in the first half of 2001 , the Senators were divided 50-50 between Republicans and Democrats and Dick Cheney 's tie-breaking vote gave the Republicans the Senate majority . \n \n Regular duties \n \n As President of the Senate ( Article I , Section 3 , Clause 4 ) , the vice president oversees procedural matters and may cast a tie-breaking vote . There is a strong convention within the U.S. Senate that the vice president should not use their position as President of the Senate to influence the passage of legislation or act in a", "qas": [ { "answers": [], "id": "qw_15410--Vice_President_of_the_United_States.txt", "qid": "qw_15410", "question": "Who was vice president to George H W Bush?" } ] } ] }

{ "paragraphs": [ { "context": "Antoine Mariotte ( 22 December 1875 - 30 November 1944 ) was a French composer , conductor and music administrator . \n \n Biography \n \n Mariotte was born in Avignon ( Vaucluse ) in 1875 . After studies at the School of Saint-Michel in Saint-Étienne , he entered naval school aged 15 . \n \n In 1894 , while serving on the frigate Iphigénie , he wrote to a friend that he missed music and if he had the means he would go to the Conservatoire de Paris . While still split between the life of a sailor and musician , he worked away on harmony . He took part in campaigns on board the Forfait in the South China Sea , then on the Vinh-Long , where he witnessed the closing stages of the Sino-Japanese War . He brought back sketches that became the suite Kakémonos , initially written for the piano , but later orchestrated and performed at the Concerts Poulet on 29 January 1923 ( Panorama , Geishas , Temple au Crépuscule , Fête ) . \n \n In the Far East he read the Oscar Wilde play Salome , and decided to set it to music . On return to Europe , he sailed on the Marceau then the Magenta where finally , thanks to Admiral Gervais , he had a piano . On six months leave he followed a course at the Conservatoire by Charles-Marie Widor . After prolonging his absence , he resigned from the navy in 1897 . He entered the Schola Cantorum where he was taught by Vincent d'Indy , who found him work as a pianist at the home of the comte de Chambrun , to whom he played each day for precisely 60 minutes , in particular the 32 sonatas of Beethoven in chronological order . \n \n Due to his mother 's health , he went back to Saint-Étienne and taught piano and became an organist , also directing the symphonic society ; he also wrote an operetta Armande . Appointed professor of piano at the Lyon Conservatoire , he completed the score of Salomé , believing himself to have .permission from Wilde 's estate and the publisher Methuen . In fact , having obtained the agreement to use the play , Richard Strauss had in turn asked his publisher Fürstner to acquire the rights . Wilde 's particularly complicated estate led to a court case that favoured the rights of Fürstner . Mariotte learnt that Fürstner would oppose the production of a `` Salomé française '' and after going to Berlin , he obtained permission to have his piece staged , on condition that 40 % royalties went to Richard Strauss and 10 % to Fürstner , with all scores to be sent after the run to Fürstner to be destroyed . Romain Rolland , having read an article by Mariotte in the Revue internationale de musique , helped him to obtain a more generous settlement from Strauss . On 30 October 1908 , Mariotte 's opera was produced at the Grand-Théâtre de Lyon with success ( de Wailly in the title role ) , and staged in 1910 at the Gaîté-Lyrique in Paris , while Strauss 's Salomé was on at the Opéra . After having been performed at Nancy , Le Havre , Marseille , Geneva , and Prague , Mariotte 's Salomé was seen at the Opéra on 1 July 1919 with Lucienne Bréval . In November 2005 the Opera National de Montpellier juxtaposed the Strauss and Mariotte operas . Mariotte 's Salomé was produced by Wexford Festival Opera in October 2014 . \n \n During the war , Mariotte was sent to Salonica where he contracted malaria . After the end of the war , in 1920 he became director of the Conservatoire d'Orléans where he taught René Berthelot , who succeeded him . He led the direction of the Opéra-Comique from 1936 to 1939 . \n \n He died in Izieux , ( Loire ) in 1944 , aged 68 . \n \n Compositions \n \n Mariotte 's works use a wide range of operatic effects with particularly striking choral writing.Langham Smith R. Antoine Mariotte . In : New Grove Dictionary of Opera . Macmillan , London and New York , 1997 . He displayed a robust temperament in both tragedy and lighter music.Landormy P. La Musique Française après Debussy . Gallimard , Paris , 1943 . \n \n On 28 February 1913 he presented in Lyon a tragédie lyrique , Le Vieux Roi on a libretto by Rémy de Gourmont , which , despite a successful launch , failed after its third performance . \n \n His three-act comédie musicale Léontine soeurs premiered at the Théâtre Trianon Lyrique on 25 May", "qas": [ { "answers": [ { "answer_start": 976, "text": "salome" } ], "id": "qw_10606--Antoine_Mariotte.txt", "qid": "qw_10606", "question": "Which Biblical temptress has inspired plays by Oscar Wilde and Nick Cave, operas by Richard Strauss and Antoine Mariotte, a ballet by Florent Schmitt, films, a sculpture by Tilman Riemenschneider and numerous paintings, including those by Sandro Botticelli, Titian, Caravaggio, Caracciolo, Gustave Dor, James Tissot, Aubrey Beardsley and Robert Henri?" } ] } ] }

{ "paragraphs": [ { "context": "The New York Times ( sometimes abbreviated to NYT ) is an American daily newspaper , founded and continuously published in New York City since September 18 , 1851 , by The New York Times Company . The New York Times has won 117 Pulitzer Prizes , more than any other news organization . \n \n The paper 's print version has the second-largest circulation , behind The Wall Street Journal , and the largest circulation among the metropolitan newspapers in the United States of America . The New York Times is ranked 39th in the world by circulation . Following industry trends , its weekday circulation has fallen to fewer than one million daily since 1990 . \n \n Nicknamed for years as `` The Gray Lady '' , The New York Times has long been regarded within the industry as a national `` newspaper of record '' . The New York Times is owned by The New York Times Company . Arthur Ochs Sulzberger , Jr. , the Publisher and the Chairman of the Board , is a member of the Ochs-Sulzberger family that has controlled the paper since 1896 . The New York Times international version , formerly the International Herald Tribune , is now called the International New York Times . \n \n The paper 's motto , `` All the News That 's Fit to Print '' , appears in the upper left-hand corner of the front page . Since the mid-1970s , The New York Times has greatly expanded its layout and organization , adding special weekly sections on various topics supplementing the regular news , editorials , sports , and features . In recent times , The New York Times has been organized into the following sections : News , Editorials/Opinions-Columns/Op-Ed , New York ( metropolitan ) , Business , Sports of The Times , Arts , Science , Styles , Home , Travel , and other features . \n \n On Sunday , The New York Times is supplemented by the Sunday Review ( formerly the Week in Review ) , The New York Times Book Review , The New York Times Magazine and T : The New York Times Style Magazine . The New York Times stayed with the broadsheet full page set-up ( as some others have changed into a tabloid lay-out ) and an eight-column format for several years , after most papers switched to six , and was one of the last newspapers to adopt color photography , especially on the front page . \n \n History \n \n Early history \n \n The New York Times was founded as the New-York Daily Times on September 18 , 1851 , by journalist and politician Henry Jarvis Raymond ( 1820–69 ) , then a Whig Party member and later second chairman of the newly organized Republican Party National Committee , and former banker George Jones . Sold for a penny ( equivalent to cents today ) , the inaugural edition attempted to address various speculations on its purpose and positions that preceded its release : \n \n The newspaper shortened its name to The New-York Times in 1857 . It dropped the hyphen in the city name in the 1890s . On April 21 , 1861 , The New York Times departed from its original Monday–Saturday publishing schedule and joined other major dailies in adding a Sunday edition to offer daily coverage of the Civil War . One of the earliest public controversies it was involved with was the Mortara Affair , the subject of twenty editorials it published alone . \n \n The main office of The New York Times was attacked during the New York Draft Riots sparked by the beginning of military conscription for the Northern Union Army now instituted in the midst of the Civil War on July 13 , 1863 . At `` Newspaper Row '' , across from City Hall , Henry Raymond , owner and editor of The New York Times , averted the rioters with `` Gatling '' ( early machine , rapid-firing ) guns , one of which he manned himself . The mob now diverted , instead attacked the headquarters of abolitionist publisher Horace Greeley 's New York Tribune until forced to flee by the Brooklyn City Police , who had crossed the East River to help the Manhattan authorities . \n \n The newspaper 's influence grew during 1870–1 when it published a series of exposés on William Magear ( `` Boss '' ) Tweed , leader of the city 's Democratic Party—popularly known as `` Tammany Hall '' ( from its early 19th Century meeting headquarters ) — that led to the end of the `` Tweed Ring 's '' domination of New York 's City Hall", "qas": [ { "answers": [ { "answer_start": 1135, "text": "international new york times" } ], "id": "sfq_14675--The_New_York_Times.txt", "qid": "sfq_14675", "question": "The global edition of the New York Times, what Paris-based newspaper is known as the IHT?" } ] } ] }

{ "paragraphs": [ { "context": "Breakfast cereal ( or just cereal ) is a soup made from processed grains that is often eaten as the first meal of the day . It is eaten hot or cold , usually mixed with milk , yogurt , or fruit . Some companies promote their products for the health benefits from eating oat-based and high-fiber cereals . In America , cereals are often fortified with vitamins . A significant proportion of cold cereals are made with high sugar content . Many breakfast cereals are produced via extrusion . \n \n The breakfast cereal industry has gross profit margins of 40-45 % , 90 % penetration in some markets , and steady and continued growth throughout its history . \n \n The number of different types of breakfast cereals in the U.S. has grown from 160 ( 1970 ) to 340 ( 1998 ) to 4,945 ( 2012 ) . \n \n History of cereal in North America \n \n Porridge was a traditional food in much of Northern Europe and Russia back to antiquity . Barley was a common grain used , though other grains and yellow peas could be used . In many modern cultures , porridge is still eaten as a breakfast dish . \n \n Early America \n \n North American natives had found a way to make ground corn palatable , calling it `` grits , '' ( from the Old English word `` grytt , '' meaning coarse meal ) , and `` hominy . '' While this became a staple in the southern U.S. , grits never gained a hold in the northern states . \n \n Food reformers in the 19th century called for cutting back on excessive meat consumption at breakfast . They explored numerous vegetarian alternatives . Late in the century , the Seventh-day Adventists based in Michigan made these food reforms part of their religion , and indeed non-meat breakfasts were featured in their sanitariums and led to new breakfast cereals . \n \n Cooked oatmeal \n \n Ferdinand Schumacher , a German immigrant , began the cereals revolution in 1854 with a hand oats grinder in the back room of a small store in , Akron , Ohio . His German Mills American Oatmeal Company was the nation 's first commercial oatmeal manufacturer . He marketed the product locally as a substitute for breakfast pork . Improved production technology ( steel cutters , porcelain rollers , improved hullers ) , combined with an influx of German and Irish immigrants , quickly boosted sales and profits . In 1877 , Schumacher adopted the Quaker symbol , the first registered trademark for a breakfast cereal . The acceptance of `` horse food '' for human consumption encouraged other entrepreneurs to enter the industry . Henry Parsons Crowell started operations in 1882 , and John Robert Stuart in 1885 . Crowell cut costs by consolidating every step of the processing—grading , cleaning , hulling , cutting , rolling , packaging , and shipping—in one factory operating at Ravenna , Ohio . Stuart operated mills in Chicago and Cedar Rapids , Iowa . Stuart and Crowell combined in 1885 and initiated a price war . After a fire at his mill in Akron , Schumacher joined Stuart and Crowell to form the Consolidated Oatmeal Company . The American Cereal Company ( Quaker Oats , but see below ) created a cereal made from oats in 1877 , manufacturing the product in Akron , Ohio . Separately , in 1888 , a trust or holding company combined the nation 's seven largest mills into the American Cereal Company using the Quaker Oats brand name . By 1900 technology , entrepreneurship , and the `` Man in Quaker Garb '' —a symbol of plain honesty and reliability—gave Quaker Oats a national market and annual sales of $ 10 million . \n \n Early in the 20th century , the Quaker Oats Company ( formed in 1901 to replace the American Cereal Company ) jumped into the world market . Schumacher , the innovator ; Stuart , the manager and financial leader and Crowell , the creative merchandiser , advertiser , and promoter , doubled sales every decade . Alexander Anderson 's steam-pressure method of shooting rice from guns created Puffed rice and puffed wheat . Crowell 's intensive advertising campaign in the 1920s and 1930s featured promotions with such celebrities as Babe Ruth , Max Baer , and Shirley Temple . Sponsorship of the popular `` Rin-Tin-Tin '' and `` Sergeant Preston of the Yukon '' radio shows aided the company 's expansion during the depression . Meat rationing during World War II boosted annual sales to $ 90 million , and by 1956 sales topped $ 277 million . By 1964 the", "qas": [ { "answers": [ { "answer_start": 1869, "text": "oats" } ], "id": "sfq_10649--Breakfast_cereal.txt", "qid": "sfq_10649", "question": "For what did the 'O' originally stand in the name of the breakfast cereal, Cheerios?" } ] } ] }

{ "paragraphs": [ { "context": "Frankincense , also called olibanum , is an aromatic resin used in incense and perfumes , obtained from trees of the genus Boswellia in the family Burseraceae , particularly Boswellia sacra ( syn : B. bhaw-dajiana ) , B. carterii33 , B. frereana , B. serrata ( B. thurifera , Indian frankincense ) , and B. papyrifera . The English word is derived from Old French `` franc encens '' ( i.e. , high quality incense ) . \n \n There are four main species of Boswellia that produce true frankincense . Resin from each of the four is available in various grades . The grades depend on the time of harvesting ; the resin is hand-sorted for quality . \n \n Description \n \n Frankincense is tapped from the scraggy but hardy trees by slashing the bark , which is called striping , and allowing the exuded resin to bleed out and harden . These hardened resins are called tears . \n There are several species and varieties of frankincense trees , each producing a slightly different type of resin . Differences in soil and climate create even more diversity of the resin , even within the same species . Boswellia sacra trees are considered unusual for their ability to grow in environments so unforgiving that they sometimes grow out of solid rock . The initial means of attachment to the rock is unknown , but is accomplished by a bulbous disk-like swelling of the trunk . This growth prevents it from being ripped from the rock during violent storms . This feature is slight or absent in trees grown in rocky soil or gravel . The trees start producing resin when they are about eight to 10 years old . Tapping is done two to three times a year with the final taps producing the best tears due to their higher aromatic terpene , sesquiterpene and diterpene content . Generally speaking , the more opaque resins are the best quality . Fine resin is produced in Somalia , from which the Roman Catholic Church purchases most of its stock . \n \n Recent studies have indicated that frankincense tree populations are declining , partly due to over-exploitation . Heavily tapped trees produce seeds that germinate at only 16 % while seeds of trees that had not been tapped germinate at more than 80 % . In addition , burning , grazing , and attacks by the longhorn beetle have reduced the tree population . Conversion ( clearing ) of frankincense woodlands to agriculture is also a major threat . \n \n History \n \n Frankincense has been traded on the Arabian Peninsula , in North Africa , and Somalia for more than 5000 years . \n A mural depicting sacks of frankincense traded from the Land of Punt adorns the walls of the temple of ancient Egyptian Queen Hatshepsut , who died circa 1458 BC . \n \n Frankincense was one of the consecrated incenses ( HaKetoret ) described in the Hebrew Bible and Talmud used in Ketoret ceremonies . The frankincense of the Jews , as well as of the Greeks and Romans , is also called Olibanum ( from the Hebrew חלבנה ) . Old Testament references report it in trade from Sheba ( [ https : //www.biblegateway.com/passage/ ? versionESV & search \n isaiah+60:6 Isaiah 60:6 ] ; [ https : //www.biblegateway.com/passage/ ? versionESV & search \n Jeremiah+6:20 Jeremiah 6:20 ] ) . Frankincense is mentioned in the Song of Solomon ( [ https : //www.biblegateway.com/passage/ ? versionESV & search \n songofsolomon_4:14 Song of Solomon 4:14 ] ) . \n \n It was offered on a specialised incense altar in the time when the Tabernacle was located in the First and Second Jerusalem Temples . The ketoret was an important component of the Temple service in Jerusalem . It is mentioned in the Hebrew Bible book of Exodus 30:34 , where it is named levonah ( lebonah in the Biblical Hebrew ) , meaning `` white '' in Hebrew . It was one of the ingredients in the perfume of the sanctuary ( [ https : //www.biblegateway.com/passage/ ? version \n ESV & searchexodus_30:34 Exodus 30:34 ] ) , and was used as an accompaniment of the meal-offering ( [ https : //www.biblegateway.com/passage/ ? version \n ESV & searchleviticus_2:1 Leviticus 2:1 ] , [ https : //www.biblegateway.com/passage/ ? version \n ESV & searchleviticus_2:16 2:16 ] , [ https : //www.biblegateway.com/passage/ ? version \n ESV & searchleviticus_6:15 6:15 ] , [ https : //www.biblegateway.com/passage/ ? version \n ESV & searchleviticus_24:7 24:7 ] ) . When burnt it emitted a fragrant odour , and the incense was a symbol of the Divine name ( [ https : //www.biblegateway.com/passage/ ? version \n ESV & searchmalachi_1:11 Malachi 1:11 ] ; [", "qas": [ { "answers": [ { "answer_start": 27, "text": "olibanum" } ], "id": "bb_5886--Frankincense.txt", "qid": "bb_5886", "question": "Olibanum is the medieval Latin alternative English word for which Biblical aromatic resin?" } ] } ] }

{ "paragraphs": [ { "context": "Hair is a protein filament that grows from follicles found in the dermis , or skin . Hair is one of the defining characteristics of mammals . \n The human body , apart from areas of glabrous skin , is covered in follicles which produce thick terminal and fine vellus hair . Most common interest in hair is focused on hair growth , hair types and hair care , but hair is also an important biomaterial primarily composed of protein , notably keratin . Attitudes towards different hair , such as hairstyles and hair removal , vary widely across different cultures and historical periods , but it is often used to indicate a person 's personal beliefs or social position , such as their age , sex , or religion . \n \n Overview \n \n The word `` hair '' usually refers to two distinct structures : \n # the part beneath the skin , called the hair follicle , or , when pulled from the skin , the bulb . This organ is located in the dermis and maintains stem cells , which not only re-grow the hair after it falls out , but also are recruited to regrow skin after a wound . \n # the shaft , which is the hard filamentous part that extends above the skin surface . A cross section of the hair shaft may be divided roughly into three zones . \n \n Hair fibers have a structure consisting of several layers , starting from the outside : \n # the cuticle , which consists of several layers of flat , thin cells laid out overlapping one another as roof shingles , \n # the cortex , which contains the keratin bundles in cell structures that remain roughly rod-like . \n # the medulla , a disorganized and open area at the fiber 's center . \n \n Description \n \n Each strand of hair is made up of the medulla , cortex , and cuticle . The innermost region , the medulla , is not always present and is an open , unstructured region . The highly structural and organized cortex , or middle layer of the hair , is the primary source of mechanical strength and water uptake . The cortex contains melanin , which colors the fiber based on the number , distribution and types of melanin granules . The shape of the follicle determines the shape of the cortex , and the shape of the fiber is related to how straight or curly the hair is . People with straight hair have round hair fibers . Oval and other shaped fibers are generally more wavy or curly . The cuticle is the outer covering . Its complex structure slides as the hair swells and is covered with a single molecular layer of lipid that makes the hair repel water . The diameter of human hair varies from . There are two million small , tubular glands and sweat glands that produce watery fluids that cool the body by evaporation . The glands at the opening of the hair produce a fatty secretion that lubricates the hair . \n \n Hair growth begins inside the hair follicle . The only `` living '' portion of the hair is found in the follicle . The hair that is visible is the hair shaft , which exhibits no biochemical activity and is considered `` dead '' . The base of a hair 's root ( the `` bulb '' ) contains the cells that produce the hair shaft . Other structures of the hair follicle include the oil producing sebaceous gland which lubricates the hair and the arrector pili muscles , which are responsible for causing hairs to stand up . In humans with little body hair , the effect results in goose bumps . \n \n Root of the hair \n \n The root of the hair ends in an enlargement , the hair bulb , which is whiter in color and softer in texture than the shaft , and is lodged in a follicular involution of the epidermis called the hair follicle . Bulb of hair layers consist of fibrous connective tissue , glassy membrane , external root sheath , internal root sheath composed of epithelium stratum ( Henle 's layer ) and granular stratum ( Huxley 's layer ) , cuticle , cortex and medulla of hair . \n \n Natural color \n \n All natural hair colors are the result of two types of hair pigments . Both of these pigments are melanin types , produced inside the hair follicle and packed into granules found in the fibers . Eumelanin is the dominant pigment in brown hair , and black hair , while pheomelanin is dominant in", "qas": [ { "answers": [ { "answer_start": 439, "text": "keratin" } ], "id": "qw_13032--Hair.txt", "qid": "qw_13032", "question": "What is the name for the protein which is the main constituent of hair, horns, nails, claws and hooves of mammals?" } ] } ] }

{ "paragraphs": [ { "context": "Most expatriates in the United Arab Emirates reside in Dubai and Abu Dhabi . A number of expatriates settled in the country prior to independence . \n \n Background \n \n The United Arab Emirates is the home of immigrants from all over the world , mainly because a large number of UAE locals consider many private sector jobs to be below them . The country 's relatively liberal society compared to some of its neighbours has attracted many global expatriates , including people from western nations . [ http : //voices.yahoo.com/top-5-most-liberal-muslim-countries-1570105.html Yahoo ] Native Emiratis are outnumbered in their own country by a ratio of nine to one . Under Article 8 of UAE Federal Law no . 17 , an expatriate can apply for UAE citizenship after residing in the country for 20 years , providing that person has never been convicted of a crime and can speak fluent Arabic . [ http : //ilovetheuae.com/2010/07/13/federal-law-no-17-concerning-nationality-and-passports Ilovetheuae | I Love The Uae ] \n \n Arab League populations \n \n Algerians \n \n There are an estimated 10,000 Algerians living in the UAE one of the smallest community Arab living in the UAE \n \n Bahrainis \n \n A small but unknown number of Bahrani people are present in the UAE . Bahrain is also a member of the Gulf Cooperation Council ( GCC ) ; this membership enables Bahraini nationals to enter the UAE without restrictions . \n \n Comorians \n \n Many members of the UAE 's 10,000-strong stateless Bedoon community have obtained Comoro Islands passports , providing them a legal status and a pathway towards naturalised UAE citizenship . This move came following the Comorian legislature 's decision to sell Comorian nationalities to stateless Bedoons in the Gulf countries , including UAE , in return for these Gulf countries ' economic investment in Comoros . The number of such Bedoons with Comorian passports in the UAE is estimated to be at least a thousand . \n \n Egyptians \n \n There are an estimated 450,000 Egyptians living in the UAE , [ http : //gulfnews.com/news/gulf/uae/community-reports/upbeat-egyptian-expatriates-vote-in-first-free-presidential-elections-1.1021717 Upbeat Egyptian expatriates vote in first free presidential elections |GulfNews.com ] forming the largest community of non-citizens from the Arab world in the UAE . \n \n Iraqis \n \n Iraqis in the UAE have a population exceeding 100,000 . Most Iraqis are recent immigrants who fled instability at home ; while Syria , Jordan , Iran and Lebanon were ultimate destinations for most refugees , a large number settled in the United Arab Emirates . In addition , an increasing number of Iraqi students seeking education and career opportunities opted for the country in light of its relatively reputable institutions across the Middle East . \n \n Jordanians \n \n As of 2009 , the Jordanian population was estimated at 250,000 , an increase from 80,000 in 2003 , making them one of the largest Jordanian diaspora communities both worldwide and in the Persian Gulf region . The UAE remains a popular touring destination for many Jordanians . \n \n Kuwaitis \n \n A small community of Kuwaitis lives in the UAE . It includes around 1,000 Kuwaiti students studying at eight universities across the UAE . [ http : //www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1-251959007.html Kuwaiti students in UAE to observe annual gathering . - Kuwait News Agency ( KUNA ) | HighBeam Research ] Kuwait is also a member of the Gulf Cooperation Council ( GCC ) ; this membership enables Kuwaiti nationals to live and work in the UAE without restrictions . \n \n Lebanese \n \n There are an estimated 80,000 Lebanese living in the UAE , mostly living in Dubai , Abu Dhabi and Sharjah . The UAE remains a popular touring destination for many Lebanese . The majority of Lebanese expatriates who work in the UAE are highly educated , fluent in both French and English languages , and affluent . Many Lebanese are involved in business and the media as plastic surgeons , businessmen , artists , presenters and news anchors . \n \n There are over 15,000 Lebanese companies operating in the Jebel Ali Free Zone alone , an economic hub located in Jebel Ali , a city in Dubai . Notable Lebanese nationals who have lived in UAE include the late Antoine Choueiri , the owner of the Middle East 's largest media broker ( Choueiri Group ) , which controls Arabian Media Services International , MEMS , Arabian Outdoor , Times International , Audio Visual Media , C Media , Press Media , Digital Media Services , Interadio , Promofair , AMC and SECOMM ; and Elias Bou Saab , the founder of the American University in Dubai ( AUD ) . \n \n Libyans \n \n There are an estimated 2,000 Libyans living in", "qas": [ { "answers": [ { "answer_start": 564, "text": "7" } ], "id": "qz_5501--Expatriates_in_the_United_Arab_Emirates.txt", "qid": "qz_5501", "question": "How many emirates make up the United Arab Emirates?" } ] } ] }