Homework Help

9/14/05 | self

[Samwise]

Based on the following observations, identify the object whose properties are being described. This object is about 15 centimeters in length and its diameter is 1.5 centimeters. It has a cylindrical shape. The object has many shades of purple that combine to form a swirling pattern like a piece of marble. It smells like wood and sweaty hands. It has a smooth texture. When it is tapped on a desk, it makes a noise like a drum. What is it?

[Samwise]

It is for science class. They are supposed to be studying qualitative and quantitative observations.

[SAJ]

It **does** help to read the question, SAJ...geez!

Pls ignore the last comment.

Sorry (blush)...

[Michael Goldsberry]

But for the purple, I was going for a drill bit.

[Samwise]

Ideas anyone?

[Michael Goldsberry]

Another thought would be a core sample from a well, but those are usually of larger diameter.

[Mr. Jeeves]

Sounds like a some kind of object like a pencil case or chalk case (wooden, hollow) that is unique to the particular classroom where the question was asked. Making the whole thing rather silly. ;)

[Samwise]

It's page 15 from a Mcgraw-Hill science workbook.

But I agree, it is rather silly.

Good grief! If Mr. Jeeves can't answer the question how is a kid supposed to figure it out. :^)

Could this be the answer? It can't be determined from this information. ???

[Lil'freeper]

It's in science book? It reads like an open-ended, creative writing exercise.

[sharktrager]

Bill Clinton's "little willy".

[Chickensoup]

I have children in government schools and homeschool. The governmewnt schools send children home with busy work that they have to do with their parents in a bid for social engineering

...we want children to spend time with mom and dad. So they have inane questions and projects.

[jigsaw]

Bill Clinton's "little willy".

I was think'n Al Gore.

[sharktrager]

Honestly there is no way to definitively answer based on the description. For example, a piece of wood painted in that pattern would fit, which could be one of those large pencils from kindergarten as well. And if you take things like smell, while they CAN be useful, they may not be. Were I to place an object in a cedar case for a few weeks then carry it on a hot day you could duplicate those smells without that information having any relevance to what the object is.

I would say that any "correct" answer would have to include the disclaimer that it is but one of many possible interpretations given the limited information.

[birbear]

What grade and what class? And in what context? (What is the child currently studying?)

Not enough information given to accurately answer the questions. :)

[shezza]

That sounds like a stuned beeber. Is this for a turn paper?

[new cruelty]

An oft-handled hickory smoked Slim Jim?

[The Phantom FReeper]

It has the right dimensions to be one of those old-fashioned candy swizzle sticks that you can still get at country stores and such. And the purple swirls would make sense. The part about it smelling like wood and sweaty hands has me a bit stumped, though, unless that's just how some weird flavor of candy smells. What does licorice smell like?

This is in a science workbook? This must be some of that new social-justice science, like that social-justice math. All you have to do is feel good about yourself, and it doesn't matter what your answer is.

[shattered]

A kindergartener's pencil. Seems kind of wide but it would be sweaty and smell like wood!

[VastRWCon]

easy, an ERASER!

[Vor Lady]

Nah, I have a stuned beeber and it is black and more rectangular.

[Vor Lady]

If the book was published recently then the answer has to be 'Bush's fault' somehow. Maybe it is some rare wood artifact that his policies caused to be destroyed or some such nonsense.