Problem: Write an article based on this summary: Have an usher show you to your seat. Leave the first row open for easy access. Reserve the second row for parents and family. Make room for extended family in the third and fourth rows. Fill in the remaining seats from front to back. Slip into one of the back rows if you’re late.

Answer: The ushers are there to seat guests and control the flow of foot traffic into the venue as people start arriving. Let the usher know whether you’re a guest of the bride or the groom. According to tradition, the bride’s side is to the left of the aisle when facing the altar, while the groom’s side is to the right.  If you don’t have a preference for where to sit, you can fill in an empty seat on either side of the aisle.  Guests of honor may be assigned a special seat. In this case, you’ll present a token (like a small card) to the ushers, who will then escort you to your seat. This row is typically saved for guests who are speaking, reading or otherwise participating in the ceremony but don’t have a role in the wedding itself. Being up front allows them to get up and return to their seats without difficulty.  Elderly guests and those with disabilities will also be invited to sit in the front row.  For outdoor weddings, guest contributors may be seated off to one side to prevent confusion. Mom, dad and any siblings that aren’t in the ceremony will take their places on the inside of the aisle. There, they’ll have a clear view of the proceedings and occupy a symbolic position closest to the married couple.  Honored step-parents, godparents and longtime family friends should also be offered a seat in the second row. Unless you’re a close relation, plan on filing into the one of the rows in the rear. This might include additional siblings, grandparents, aunts and uncles and cousins. Close friends may also be given a seat in one of the forward rows to allow them to be with rest of the family. All other rows will be reserved for the general audience.  Family seating may overflow into the middle section depending on the size of the venue and the number of relatives in attendance. Other outside guests can round out the third and fourth rows, assuming there’s still space and it's alright with the family. Once the first three or four rows have been designated, guests are encouraged to claim any seats that are still open on either side of the aisle. That way, there won’t be any gaps that make it harder for latecomers to get situated.  Be prepared to squeeze in beside the person next to you rather than leaving seats unfilled. Attendees who come in later should gravitate to whichever side has more vacant seats. If you happen to arrive after the family has been led in or the ceremony has started, it’s alright to seat yourself. Just be sure to take a position near the back of the chapel, where a late entrance won’t be as conspicuous.   Find a place to sit quickly and quietly to avoid disturbing the other guests. Clamoring to fill in an empty seat closer to the front of the venue will only draw unwanted attention.


Problem: Write an article based on this summary: Ask for a meeting with one or both of your parents. Choose a quiet time and location for this conversation. Explain your requests clearly. Listen carefully to your parents’ responses. Talk about ways that you could earn greater independence. Ask your parents about their own adolescence. Ask a trusted adult to talk to your parents. Remember that your relationship will not completely change as the result of one big conversation.

Answer: Prepare in advance for this meeting by developing a list of what you want to talk about. For example, are there certain restrictions you’d like lifted, like an early curfew or a prohibition on seeing more grown-up movies? Or is there something you’d like to be able to do, like choosing your own clothes or going out with friends? It may be helpful to talk this list over with a trusted adult, such as a teacher or coach, before approaching your parents. That person will be able to give you an adult’s perspective on what you’re asking. Take their advice into consideration as you revise your list. You want to set the conversation up to succeed. The most important thing is for you and your parents to have a thoughtful, respectful dialogue. If the conversation becomes a heated argument, you will have undermined your own goals.  The car is often a good place to have a conversation. You don’t have to maintain eye contact, and you can always use the passing scene or what’s on the radio to transition naturally to less intense topics.  Avoid bringing up difficult topics late at night, when everyone is tired. Try to talk to your parents alone, without siblings around. Describe why each of these requests is important to you and what you hope to get out of it. In addition, explain how you will keep yourself safe even with increased independence. For example, you might say: “I’d like to be able to hang out at the mall with my friends until 9 p.m. on Fridays. I really like spending time with my friends, and I often don’t have the chance to socialize with them during the week because of homework and after-school activities. I’ll keep my phone with me so that you can check on me while I’m out, and I’ll come home at the time we agree.” Hearing them out shows that you respect them. Even if you disagree with something they say, you can respectfully ask for clarification and explanation, and then listen to what they have to say. Demonstrate that, while you might push back on some things, you are not simply brushing off their advice and requests.  Reflect back what you are hearing. This helps to ensure that you are correctly understanding what your parents are saying. For example, you could say: “I hear that you worried that I’ll drink or do drugs with my friends if I’m hanging out with them at night. Is that right?” It might be helpful to talk through possible scenarios with them. For example, if your parent says, “I’m worried that I won’t know where you are late at night,” you might talk about different approaches. For example, you could give your parents a detailed itinerary with alternate people to contact if for some reason you don’t answer your own phone. What signs of maturity are your parents looking for? Do you have particular patterns of behavior that worry them? Even if your parents are not yet willing to grant your requests, they might be willing to agree to a plan: if you demonstrate a certain level of maturity over a certain time, then they will will reconsider. Parents are often affected by memories of their own decisions as teenagers. They might be haunted by the risks they took or the bad choices they made. Ask your parents about their experiences. Be ready to listen empathetically, paying special attention to what their stories reveal about their fears. Talk about the choices you are making and how your own life is similar to or different from theirs. If your parents refuse to budge or even to listen to your requests, consider asking for help from a teacher, religious leader, or guidance counselor. They may be able to explain to your parents that your need for greater independence is developmentally appropriate. And, they will be able to shed a different light on you and how you behave outside of the home. You’ll need to revisit these topics over time. If your parents agree to try even one thing on your list, the conversation was a success. Your job now is to show that you can handle the increased independence and responsibility, so that they will consider other requests favorably later on.


Problem: Write an article based on this summary: Find your pulse. Analyze the results.

Answer:
Place two fingers (your index and middle fingers) on your neck in the space between your windpipe on the front and the big muscle on the side of your neck, called the sternocleidomastoid. This is your carotid artery, and it is usually the easiest place to check your heart beat. Press lightly until you feel a pulse.  Alternatively, you can place two fingers on the outer part of your inner wrist, just under where your thumb and palm curve into your wrist. This is called your radial pulse, which may be fainter or more difficult to find. You can also find your pulse by placing two fingers on the side of your wrist below your pinky finger. This is called your ulnar pulse and is usually even more faint than the radial. Do not use your thumb, as you may feel a slight pulse from the finger itself. This can mess up your readings. For a normal adult, including seniors, the average resting heart rate falls somewhere between 60 and 100 beats per minute. If your resting heart rate is consistently above 100 beats/minute, you may want to contact your doctor. If your resting heart rate is usually under 60 (and you are not a trained athlete), you should consider consulting with your doctor – especially if you ever feel faint, dizzy, or short of breath. For children under the age of ten, the average heart rate is around 75-115 beats per minute.