Notes, summaries, assignments, exams, and problems for Baccalaureate

Characteristics of the Aristotelian-Ptolemaic Cosmovision

Organicism:

• The Universe is like a living organism.
• Each part of the Universe serves a function.

Anthropocentrism:

• The geocentric quality of this cosmovision is a form of anthropocentrism.
• The Earth, the place in which human beings live, is at the center of the Universe.

Finalism:

• All natural changes have a "final cause", i.e., an ultimate objective. The changes pursue this objective.

Heterogeneity:

• The Aristotelian cosmos is not a "universe" but a "diverse": it has diverse regions.

Philosophical Positions on the Existence of God

• Theism: Affirms the existence of a personal, supernatural, and transcendental God. God is not just the cause of reality, He also governs it.
• Deism: Affirms that God exists

Artificial Intelligence: Impact and Considerations

Artificial Intelligence (AI) has become one of the most significant topics in today's world. AI holds the potential to transform our lives for the better, yet it simultaneously raises important concerns about the future of human work and control over machines. This document presents both sides of the argument regarding the use and development of AI.

The Rise of AI: Benefits and Potential

On the one hand, AI has the potential to improve many aspects of our lives. Consider the following advantages:

• Enhanced Healthcare: AI-powered systems can analyze vast amounts of medical data to develop better treatments and make more accurate diagnoses.
• Task Automation: AI can automate routine tasks, freeing up

Passive Voice

to be + verb. (participle)

Prest. simple: (is/are) + STOLEN

Prest. continous : (is/are) + BEING + STOLEN

Past simple: (was/were) + STOLEN

MODALS: (MUST/CAN/SHOULD) + BE + STOLEN

- They told me the truth.

- I was told the truth.(Em van dir la veritat.)

- The truth was told to me.

Causative

HAVE/GET + SOMETHING + DONE

- I had my house painted last summer.

- We are getting our car fixed this afternoon.

Impersonal Passive

(say, believe, claim, know, report, think, consider, mention...)

People believe the president is unfair.

It is believed that the president is unfair.

Relative Sentences

DEFINING RELATIVE.

NON-DEFINING RELATIVE: entre comas, nunca THAT, nunca se omite el pronombre.

PERSON: who/whom (a quien/a quienes)/that

- The teacher (who) Alice is... Continue reading "English Grammar Rules and Examples" »

Environmental Science Terminology

1. Core Ecological Concepts

• Albedo: The reflection of sunlight.
• Carrying Capacity: Maximum number of individuals of a species that can be sustained by an environment.
• Steady State Equilibrium: Condition of an open system in which there are no changes over the long term; stability remains despite potential fluctuations.
• R Strategist: Species that grow quickly and produce many offspring. They are highly adaptable and colonize quickly.

2. Atmospheric Processes and Warming

• Greenhouse Effect: Natural and necessary process in which gases allow infrared radiation to pass and trap heat, warming the Earth and allowing life.
• Enhanced Greenhouse Effect: Man-made accelerated effect. An increase of greenhouse gases leads to global

Chapter 5 Vocabulary

blithely

Cheerfully, without any cares.

dogcart

A small horse-drawn cart.

manifestly

Obviously.

ratified

Approved.

canvassing

Trying to gain support.

innovations

New things or ideas.

silage

A method of preserving grass for cattle feed.

basic slag

Fertiliser.

incubators

Apparatuses for hatching eggs.

closeted

Shut up in a small private room.

urinated

Pissed, peed.

procured

Got, acquired.

restive

Uneasy, ready to break free of control.

advocating

Putting forward an idea, arguing in support of something.

marshal

Put in order, gather together.

articulate

Able to put thoughts into words.

moonshine

Silly plan.

watchword

Motto.

disinterred

Dug up from his grave.

Chapter 6 Vocabulary

utilize

Use.

governess-cart

A light horse-drawn vehicle.

superintendence

Direction, management.

ISO 14001:2015 Environmental Management System

ISO 14001:2015 is an environmental management system (EMS) standard that outlines requirements for an organization's EMS. It helps organizations to manage their environmental responsibilities in a systematic and proactive way. The standard specifies the requirements for an organization's EMS and provides a framework for establishing and maintaining an EMS.

Key Elements of ISO 14001:2015

Scope of the EMS

The scope helps achieve the intended outcomes of the EMS, considering a “life cycle perspective.” It defines the boundaries of the EMS and specifies any exclusions.

Normative References

This section lists additional requirements that need to be considered to maintain a consistent numbering scheme... Continue reading "ISO Standards & Business Improvement: EMS, OH&S, Quality, LEAN" »

I thought that we could talk about travelling. Do you enjoy travelling?

If answer is YES.  Ahhh, then you will probably feel the same as me about this way of life.

If answer is NO  Oh.... You must be then one of the very few people who don’t..... In any case…

I prefer to speak about the reasons why we do it and the benefits we might get when we travel. Have you been on a trip recently?

Let me tell you a bit more about the reasons why people decide to travel. Nowadays, people travel mostly for pleasure. Travelers typically choose destinations where they think they’ll feel relaxed in different ways. Other people instead prefer travelling for deeper, more conscious motivations. If you have lived all your life with the comforts of western society,... Continue reading "The Benefits of Traveling: Why You Should Explore the World" »

Administrative Hearings and Antitrust Laws

In an administrative hearing, an administrative law judge hears the complaint and has the authority to swear witnesses, take testimony, make evidentiary rulings, and make a decision to recommend to the administrative agency heads for action. True

A person who is harmed by a conspiracy that violates the Sherman Antitrust Act may sue the wrongdoers for treble damages, which is four times the actual damages. False

An agreement to charge an agreed-upon price or to set maximum or minimum prices between or among competitors is called price fixing but it is not per se a violation of the Sherman Act. False

Boycotts are always illegal, even when done with good intentions. True

Nobel economist Milton Friedman believes... Continue reading "Understanding Administrative Hearings and Antitrust Laws" »

Covariance

Covariance measures the directional relationship between the returns on two assets. A positive covariance means that asset returns move together, while a negative covariance means they move inversely.

Scatter Diagram

A scatter diagram is used to examine the relationship between both the axes (X and Y) with one variable. In the graph, if the variables are correlated, then the points drop along a curve or line. A scatter diagram or scatter plot gives an idea of the nature of the relationship. These relationships can include:

• Perfect positive correlation
• Perfect negative correlation
• High degree of positive correlation
• High degree of negative correlation
• Low degree of positive correlation
• Low degree of negative correlation
• No correlation

Karl Pearson