Problem: Write an article based on this summary: Learn about your crush. Tell your jokes to others. Learn other people's jokes. Practice.

Answer: When you are first getting to know someone, you may not know what kinds of things that make them laugh. If you don't know her that well, try to talk to her more so you get an idea of her interests. You can also pay attention to the clothes she wears and items she carries, looking for any reference to shows she may like, topics she may be passionate about, or genres of literature, music, movie, or TV shows she may enjoy. These elements will give you a larger idea of the type of humor she enjoys. Spending more time around her and her friends is a great way to get to know your crush better. When she laughs at a joke, take note of what kind of joke it is and try to bring that kind of humor when you talk to her. You don't know how good a joke or antic is unless you try it out on other people. Your family may have heard the jokes you tell a million times, so try your humor out of your friends or at a party to see how it is received by others. If they find some things funnier than other, focus on the more successful elements of your humor and try to adapt others to make them funnier. If you aren't prone to clever jokes, don't worry. There are many different kinds of jokes out there in books, blogs, and videos, so pick some and memorize them. This way, next time you are around your crush, you can tell a great joke and no one will ever know it wasn't yours. Make sure you search for jokes that fit you. You don't want to give your crush the wrong idea about the kind of person you are by telling jokes that don't have a bit of your personality in them. No matter what type of humor you decide you want to use on your crush, practice it. Comedic timing is important to any joke or antic, impressions can always use work, and sarcasm isn't easy to pull off. Try elements out of your family or practice in front of a mirror until you get it perfect. You don't want to tell the joke "What happens to a frog's car when it breaks down? It gets toad away." and get the punchline wrong. You won't be able to impress your crush if you are stumbling over your words. Practice will make you more confident when you are using your humor on your crush. She will see how sure you are of yourself and will appreciate your personality and strength of character.


Problem: Write an article based on this summary: Write down the employee's yearly salary before taxes. Find the amount earned each pay period. Find the fraction of days worked during the partial pay period. Multiply this fraction by the amount earned each pay period. Deduct for taxes. Pay former employees for unused sick time and vacation time.

Answer: This is the first step toward finding out how much the employee earned during the partial work period. Use the official salary, not the amount received after taxes. This is the amount the employee receives in each paycheck. If you don't have this information available, calculate it based on how often the employee is paid:   Monthly paychecks → divide annual salary by 12   Semimonthly (twice per month), → divide by 24.  Biweekly (every two weeks) → divide by 26.  Weekly → divide by 52.  For example, an employee that makes $50,000 and receives monthly paychecks earns 50,000 ÷ 12 = $4,166.67 each month. Look at the specific pay period you are prorating and calculate the following:   Write down the number of days the employee worked (at the salary level you are calculating).  Divide by the number of workdays in that pay period. Count carefully. Don't assume each pay period has the same number of workdays.   For example, an employee only worked 14 days in September, when normally he would work 22 days. His fraction of days worked is 14/22. This tells you exactly how much you need to pay the employee.  For example, an employee that makes $4,166.67 each month but only worked 14 out of 22 workdays in September would receive a prorated paycheck of 4,166.67 x 14/22 = $2,651.52. Calculate any withheld taxes, deductions for retirement funds, and other deductions just as you would for that employee's regular paycheck. In these cases, employers are usually required by law to "cash out" on any time off an employee has earned but not yet used. Pay the employee's normal wages for this time using the the same prorating method above.  For example, if our employee in the example above has accumulated seven days of paid time off, he should be paid an additional 4,166.67 x 7/22 = $1,325.76. This compensation is typically taxable, just like normal pay.


Problem: Write an article based on this summary: Find a laboratory in your area. Call the county as an alternative. Pick what you want to test for. Read the instructions carefully. Collect your samples. Label and seal up your samples. Send the kit in.

Answer: The most effective way to test your water is to send it to a lab. They can tell you the concentrations of contaminants in your water, and they often test for more contaminants than most home kits. To find a laboratory in your area, check with your state's wildlife or natural resources department, as many have a list of certified labs. Some counties offer laboratory testing to residents for a fee. Sometimes, they will come collect samples for you, and other times, you will need to provide samples according to their instructions. Water tests are divided up by things you can test for, such as bacteria, nitrates, and contaminants. You can decide what to test for based on your area. Sometimes, a lab will offer a complete water testing package to make it easier.  You should always test for coliform bacteria and nitrates each year. You should test for inorganics, such as arsenic, pH level, copper, iron, lead, zinc, selenium, sodium, silver, manganese, barium, cadmium, chloride, fluoride, and hardness, every 2 years, though some recommendations say 3 to 5 years. Test for volatile organic compounds, pesticides, and herbicides every 5 years. You should test for radon if you county recommends it for your area. Take your well type into consideration. Deeper wells, such as drilled wells, are less susceptible to contamination than dug wells, which are much shallower. If you're collecting the samples yourself, the laboratory will likely send you a kit. Read the enclosed instructions carefully, as they will likely have very specific instructions. Run water into the provided containers. You may need to let the water run if the instructions say to. Plus, you'll likely need to check it at the source and inside the house. When collecting samples to test for bacteria, you'll need to do so under sterile conditions, which is why following the directions is so important. Alternatively, allow a technician to come collect samples, as some companies prefer this method. Often, it costs more to have a technician collect it. Close up your samples according to the instructions included in the package. You'll also need to label them according to the instructions. Fill out the form that came with the kit, which will likely ask you a few questions about your water supply. Usually, the kit will come with appropriate packaging for you to mail the samples back in. In some cases, you may be able to walk the samples in; it just depends on the laboratory you're using.


Problem: Write an article based on this summary: Boil 1/2-inch (1 1/4-cm) of water in a medium saucepan over medium-high heat.

Answer:
Allow the water to reach a rolling boil. Do not use too much water, since the water level needs to remain fairly low. Only the steam is needed to cook the squash, not the water itself.