Regression Analysis and Marks

BRUNEL UNIVERSITY Master of Science Degree examination Specimen Exam Paper 2005-2006 EC5002: Modelling Financial Decisions and Markets EC5030: Introduction to Quantitative Methods Time allowed: 1. 5 hours Answer all of question 1 and at least two other questions 1. COMPULSORY Provide brief answers to all the following: (a) A sample of 20 observations corresponding to the model: Y = + X + u, gave the P P P following data: (X X)2 = 215:4, (Y Y )2 = 86:9, and (X X)(Y Y ) = 106:04. Estimate . 5 marks) (b) Prove that r2 = byx bxy , where byx is the least-squares (LS) slope in the regression of Y on X , bxy is the LS slope in the regression of X on Y , and r is the coe? cient of correlation between X and Y . (5 marks) (c) Present four alternative in†¡ ation/unemployment regressions. (5 marks) (d) Give one reason for autocorrelated disturbances. (5 marks) (e) Explain how we might use the Breusch-Godfrey statistic to test estimated residuals for serial correlation. (5 marks) (f) The fol lowing regression equation is estimated as a production function for Q: lnQ = 1:37 + 0:632 lnK + 0:452 lnL, cov(bk ; bl ) = 0:055; 0:257) (0:219) where the standard errors are given in parentheses. Test the hypothesis that capital (K ) and labor (L) elasticities of output are identical. (5 marks) Continued (Turn over) 1 ANSWER TWO QUESTIONS FROM THE FOLLOWING: 2. (a) Economic theory supplies the economic interpretation for the predicted relationships between nominal (in†¡ ation) uncertainty, real (output growth) uncertainty, output growth, and in†¡ ation. Discuss †¦ve testable hypotheses regarding bidirectional causality among these four variables. (25 marks) + yt b) An investigator estimates a linear relation for German output growth (yt ): yt = 1 + ut , t = 1850; : : : ; 1999. The values of †¦ve test statistics are shown in Table 1: Discuss the results. Is the above equation correctly speci†¦ed? (10 marks) 3. (a) i) Show how various examples of typical hyp otheses †¦t into a general linear framework: Rb = r, where R is a (q k) matrix of known constants, with q < k, b is the (k 1) least-squares vector, and r is a q -vector of known constants. ii) Show how the least-squares estimator (b) of about . an be used to test various hypotheses iii) â€Å"The test procedure is then to reject the hypothesis Rb = r if the computed F value exceeds a preselected critical value† Discuss. (20 marks) (b) The results of least-squares estimation (based on 30 quarterly observations) of the regression of the actual on predicted interest rates (three-month U. S. Treasury Bills) were as follows: rt = 0:24 + 0:94 rt + et ; RSS = 28:56; (0:86) (0:14) where rt is the observed interest rate, and rt is the average expectation of rt held at the end of the preceding quarter.FiguresX parentheses are estimated standard errors. in X (rt r )2 = 52. The sample data on r give rt =30 = 10, According to the rational expectations hypothesis expectations are unbi ased, that is, the average prediction is equal to the observed realization of the variable under investigation. Test this claim by reference to announced predictions and to actual values of the rate of interest on three-month U. S. Treasury Bills. (Note: In the above equation all the assumptions of the classical linear regression model are satis†¦ed). 15 marks) Continued (Turn over) 2 4. (a) What are the assumptions of the classical linear regression model? (10 marks) (b) Prove that the variance-covariance matrix of the (k 1) least-squares vector b is: var(b) = 2 (X 0 X) 1 , where 2 is the variance of the disturbances and X is the (n k) matrix of the regressors. (15 marks) b (c) In the two-variable equation: Yi = a+bXi , i = 1; : : : ; n show that cov(a; b) = 2 X= X)2 . (10 marks) X (X 5. (a) Explain how we might use White statistic to test for the presence of heteroscedasticity in the estimated residuals. 10 marks) (b) A speci†¦ed equation is Y = X +u, with E(u) = 0 and E (uu0 ) = ; where =diagf 2 ; : : : ; 1 Derive White’ correct estimates of the standard errors of the OLS coe? cients. s (15 marks) (c) Explain how we might test for ARCH e ¤ects? (10 marks) 2 2g . 3 Table 1. Test statistic Value of the test p-value White heteroscedasticity test 50. 72 0. 00 Box-Pierce Statistic on 82. 263 0. 00 Squared Residuals Jarque-Bera statistic 341. 754 0. 00 ARCH test 65. 42 0. 00 Ramsey test statistic 39. 74 0. 00 4

The changes in the global pattern of tourism

The global pattern of tourism has changed drastically over the last fifty years. Changes such as the number of global tourist arrivals, distances travelled, and the cost of travel have meant that ‘tourism' is today one of the world's most important industries. There are a number of reasons for this change, for example, technology and social situation. In the seventeenth century, doctors recommended benefits of water, which triggered the building of spas. People began taking relaxing trips to these spas. When the industrial revolution struck, huge changes in transport took place, such as better rail links in the United Kingdom. These railway lines provided links to expand. Also, people began to earn more money, and with disposable income, annual holidays became increasingly popular. During World War 2, people were not allowed on beaches. Once the war had finished, people celebrated by going to the beach. This made seaside resorts become much more popular. In 1970, the jet plane carried 307 million passengers. By 2006, this had increased to a huge 2. billion! This shows just how much tourism has increased in the past half century. In 1950, international tourist arrivals were only 20 million. In 2005, it was measured to be over 700 million! Europe in particular was responsible for a considerable amount of this increase, approximately 400 million. In 2005, there were 441,528 thousand international tourist arrivals. The Mediterranean was responsible for 36% of this number. This shows that southern Spain is a very popular tourist destination. I think this is due to the climate in the Med. The Mediterranean is well known for its hot, dry summers, which naturally attract visitors. Most arrivals here are on holiday for leisure purposes, rather than business. It is not just in Europe, however, that tourism has increased. In 1990, the world saw 439 million international tourist arrivals. In 2005, this has increased to 806 million. This shows an average annual increase of 3. 3%. There are many reasons for this increase. Economic factors, such as rising incomes, decreasing costs of the flight itself – due to the expansion of budget airlines. Also, many airlines have introduced reward schemes, or loyalty bonuses, which are appealing to the customer. Social factors, such as the increase of the number of days paid leave workers can take. This gives people more spare time for a holiday. Many students in recent years, after finishing school, which to take a ‘gap year' to go travelling, before going to university, or getting a job. Finally, there are also political reasons for which tourism has increased. Some governments invest heavily in advertising campaigns to encourage tourism. Also, international sporting events, such as the world cup or the Olympics, attract millions of people from all over the globe. Forecasts from the World Tourism Organisation are showing an approximate 650 million increase in global arrivals between 2007 and 2020. Another noticeable change is the distance people are travelling to go on holiday. In 1841, Thomas cook introduce the first ever package holiday, from Leicester to Loughborough, which was only 12 miles away. These travellers attended temperance meetings. Fifty years ago, tourist arrivals in the Middle East and Africa were virtually none existent, as the travel links simply were not there. I believe one of the main reasons that tourist arrivals have gone up so considerably is due to the travel links expanding. Thanks to the invention of the train, Thomas Cook was able to expand his holidays. However, in 1970, with the invention of the jet plane, mass tourism began. There was no limit to where people could go on holiday, so the distances travelled dramatically increased here. People travel to places such as Spain, specifically the Mediterranean, as it is only 725 miles, which is approximately a 2 hour flight. Today; people can travel literally across the world, from London to Sydney, a distance of 10,552 miles. The third main change in the pattern of tourism over the last fifty years is the cost of travel. People first began taking holidays after the industrial revolution, as they had disposable income. Although prices for travel such as trains were cheaper in the 1950's, people have a much higher income in today's society, so they are much more affordable. In the early 1990's, the first budget airline was introduced. They offered low cost flights in exchange for passenger services, such as in-flight meals and extra leg room. This appealed to many working class people, who wished to go on holiday for less. Flights on budget airlines can be extremely cheap, especially if you fly on an unpopular time and date. You can purchase some flights from the UK to Ireland as cheap as 1p plus VAT. Return flights to Spain can be as cheap as i20. Package holidays also made holidays more appealing to people who were not as well off as some. They combine the cost of flight, accommodation and travel, and are usually with a group of several other tourists. Package holidays range from your typical relaxing fortnight on the beach in Majorca, to cockroach races in Brisbane! At the story bridge hotel in Brisbane, every January 26th, they race cockroaches! This tradition began in 1981, when to drunken men argued that the cockroaches from their part of town were fastest. Today, people literally come from all over the world just to race there cockroaches! Also, many people today choose to go on â€Å"all inclusive† holidays. This is when the holiday resort provides all food and drink in the price. This is appealing to people as when on holiday, many people do not wish to cook or worrying about finding places to eat. All inclusive holidays start from just i290 to Ibiza; this makes luxury more affordable for the working class. Recently, ecotourism has become more popular. This is when people travel to less economically developed countries such as Kenya, or India. They volunteer once in the country, often doing conservation work. Flights to these areas are not very expensive, as they are less popular. Fifty years ago, few people travelled far to go on holiday, as it was so expensive. Overall, these are the three key changes in the pattern of tourism. A dramatic increase in the number of global tourist arrivals, an increase in the distance travelled, and cost of travel being more affordable, have meant that tourism is very different today than it was fifty years ago. I feel that the main catalyst for increasing tourism in general, was the invention of the jet plane. Carrying 2. 1 billion passengers in 2006, it is clearly responsible for a large part of transporting these tourists. Of course, another reason for the patterns in tourism is the fact that people are earning more money. Thanks to this disposable income, more people can afford to treat themselves to a holiday. I also feel there are now more incentives to go on holiday today, such as these â€Å"package†, or â€Å"all inclusive† holidays, as these save the consumer money. Fifty years ago, people used to travel 12 miles down the road to go on holiday, today they travel to the other side of the world. I feel this shows just how big these changes in the pattern of tourism are.

Case Study on a Child with Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder

London, a 10 year old student, displays an inability to complete work and tasks in a timely manner at home and school. Her obsessive thoughts and compulsions have led to her ostracization in the classroom and a strained relationship with her mother. Due to her compulsion to repeat activities ten times and inability to control her thoughts, a diagnosis of Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder was established. London will be treated using the Cognitive Behavioral approach as it is recommended for children by the American Academy of Child Adolescent Psychiatry (Freeman et al., 2007). Heavy emphasis will be placed on the inclusion of London’s mother and grandmother in and out of therapy sessions. Over the course of treatment, London will engage in relaxation techniques, rational emotive therapy, and exposure and ritual prevention therapy. Before beginning any type of intervention, London will be evaluated with the Children’s Yale-Brown Obsession Compulsion Scale Severity Rating Scale to obtain a baseline. This scale will be utilized periodically throughout treatment to measure effectiveness and progress. Having established the starting point, London’s mother and grandmother will be asked to participate in a session. In addition to discussing the diagnosis and approving of the treatment plan, the importance of the family unit will be expressed. A discussion about ways to cope with London’s behaviors will be a primary objective as high levels of expressed emotion have aShow MoreRelatedObsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD) Essay1627 Words   |  7 PagesSeveral mental health disorders are brought on due to both psychological and biological problems. Many of these are anxiety or behavioral disorders. Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD) is one of these disorders that is an issue in both anxiety an d behavioral issues. 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This paper will discuss the strategies that have proven most effective in treating the disorder, including: drug therapy, cognitive therapy, and family-based therapy. It will focus on the benefits of flexibility, emphasizing combination therapy, especially with cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT).   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) has becomeRead MoreObsessive Compulsive Disorder: Nature or Nurture? Essay1355 Words   |  6 Pagesin your own body. Being forced to do ridiculous rituals and having constant compulsions to do things that you know don’t make sense. This is what it is like to live with Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD). In the United States alone, over 2 million people suffer from OCD (Parks, 2011) but no one has found the cause of this disorder. It affects people of all races, genders and socioeconomic backgrounds (Parks, 2011). Since it’s discovery and modern conceptualization, there has been an ongoing debate

Medieval Times The Greatest Catastrophe Ever Essay

Medieval times saw an age of countless wars and bloodshed. From Persian conquests and Viking massacres, to Crusades and The Hundred Years War, Europe was no stranger to tragedy. Unfortunately, in the mid 1300s, there was an attack they never saw coming; a bloodthirsty raid unlike anything they had ever encountered. This invader had no mercy, killing all who came in his path and no one was prepared to fight back. He had no preference in victims; men, women, and children; Jews, Christians, and Muslims; even animals all fell prey. This ruthless intruder was the bubonic plague known as The Black Death. Historian, Ole J. Benedictow refers to the epidemic as â€Å"The Greatest Catastrophe Ever,† but just how devastating was it and what was the lasting impact? The plague was caused by bacteria known as Yersinia pestis and was common in rodent populations (â€Å"Ecology and Transmission†). When rodents, such as rats, became infected and began to die off, the fleas who were once feeding off of them needed to find a new host. During Medieval times rats lived in close quarters with humans, even infesting their ships. This neighboring proximity made it easy for fleas to carry the disease to humans (Benedictow). Not only could the plague be transmitted through a flea bite, but exposure to contaminated body fluids and tissues, such as feces and blood, could cause infection. Once a human was infected, they could transmit it through coughs and sneezing, although more rare (â€Å"Ecology andShow MoreRelatedThe Black Death Of Europe1231 Words   |  5 Pages(Wilson, 2001). We must take into account that the Black Death occurred during a period of â€Å"rebirth† (Guisepi), a time in which much of European civilization were going throug h vast discoveries in things such as learning values, art, and most importantly, exploration (Guisepi). 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Because of the rapid outbreak of this terrifying disease, death defying symptoms, and resulted in the death of 25 million people, the Black Plague is considered the greatest catastrophe ever.†¯ †¯Ã¢â‚¬ ¯Ã¢â‚¬ ¯Ã¢â‚¬ ¯Ã¢â‚¬ ¯ The Black Plague started in Italy. The plague traveled from Italy to Europe. Jim Ollhoff, author of the The Black Death, described the outbreak of the plague as a â€Å"deadly hitchhiker† (6). He illustrated how quickly the Black PlagueRead MoreEssay On The Black Death901 Words   |  4 Pagesdisease affected not only on people’s lives but also on economic of many countries, especially those countries in Europe. Therefore, people found out some cures to end this nightmare disease. Ole J. Benedictow. â€Å"The Black Death: The Greatest Catastrophe Ever†. Published in History Today Volume 55 Issue 3 March 2005 Ole Jorgen Benedictow, a Norwegian historian, is known for his work on plagues, especially the Black Death. 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Another major event that had happened during

Francis Bacon s En Dublin, Irlanda En 1909 - 1073 Words

Francis Bacon Nacià ³ en Dublà ­n, Irlanda en 1909. Sin embargo paso la mayor parte de su infancia mudà ¡ndose constantemente entre Inglaterra e Irlanda lo que hizo que su nià ±ez fuera problemà ¡tica, provocando un sentido de desplazamiento que permanecerà ­a con à ©l durante toda su vida. Durante su adolescencia Bacon menciono estar sexualmente atraà ­do a su padre, un exmilitar que no soportaba sus tendencias homosexuales, finalmente en 1926 su padre lo echo de la casa al encontrarlo admirà ¡ndose en el espejo usando la ropa interior de su madre. Bacon entonces se dirigià ³ a Berlà ­n donde estuvo brevemente y luego se dirigià ³ a Francia, visito el Museo Condà ©, donde contemplo la masacre de los inocentes, à ³leo de Poussim, cuadro que despertarà ­a en Bacon un interà ©s por la boca y el grito. Posteriormente en Parà ­s visitarà ­a una muestra que contenà ­a pinturas con figuras antropomorfas de Picasso que lo inspiro a ser pintor. En 1927 regresa a Inglaterra, y se empieza a trabajar como diseà ±ador de interiores, tenà ­a su estudio en South Kensington, estudio que compartà ­a con su nià ±era de la infancia Lightfoot. Sus diseà ±os fueron expuestos el mismo aà ±o y aparecieron en The Studio. Ese mismo aà ±o empezà ³ a dibujar y pintar, realizo varias acuarelas y à ³leos, pero su obra no fue recocida, en respuesta eso Bacon destruyo la mayorà ­a de sus trabajos. El primer cuadro en atraer la atencià ³n pà ºblica fue â€Å"Crucifixià ³n† (1933), cuadro parcialmente basado en â€Å"La danza† (1925) de Picasso, Sin embargo este cuadro

A Writing Experience Essay Example For Students

A Writing Experience Essay It is a month before the end of eleventh grade and my English teacher drops a five to six page research paper on the class. The topic of this research paper needed to be on one of the problems people face in America in todays society. At the time, I wanted nothing more than to go to the beach and be out of school for the summer. Therefore, I was anything but enthusiastic about this project. Each individual in the class was to pick the topic of his or her research paper out of a basket. Lucky for me, I was given a topic that was very broad and allowed me to write about many different ideas. My research topic was Homelessness. People often have certain views of homelessness because of how or where they are brought up. In order to portray an accurate report, it was necessary that I disregard these inaccurate claims from my report. I needed to search for factual information or theories that are backed up by statistics or personal experiences. This report required a great amount of work and attention. The first step of the project was to gather general ideas to become more knowledgeable about the topic. I went to the library and gathered facts from various books dealing with homelessness. The books were somewhat helpful, but they were unable to give me accurate statistics due to the fact that the books were written many years back. Therefore, I looked at articles that were dated recently in order to get my needed information. At this point, I had note card after note card of information, but something was still lacking. I needed to connect with my topic on a more personal level so my paper could be written with compassion and feeling. Therefore, I drove down to Center City, Philadelphia to get a first-hand idea what homeless life is really like. It took a lot of guts to walk over to homeless individuals and ask them if they would agree to an interview. To my surprise, many of them were more than willing to do so. I asked them many questions about their lifestyle and how they came to be that way. I never realized how kind and unfortunate homeless people are. Until then, I always believed that homeless people were all drug addicts that were too lazy to get a job. These are the horrible and often wrong ideas that are placed on society. I realized many people often try so hard to get well-paying jobs and make a good life for themselves. Even though there are many homeless people in America today, the number remains a minority. Because of this, homeless people are often neglected and not given a fair chance. There was one homeless woman that stood out in my mind. I felt such sympathy and compassion for her situation. She was escaping an abusive relationship with her boyfriend and felt she may die unless she subjected herself to the streets. She saw no other way out. This woman had no family to turn to. Because she had been in this abusive relationship for so long, she had depended on him to support her. She left with nothing, hoping he would not track her down. She had only been homeless for a few months now and was trying to better her life. This woman gave me the knowledge to write my paper with the necessary outlook on homelessness. This writing experience taught me more than I ever thought possible. It enabled me to appreciate everything I am given in life and never to take that for granite. I never until then realized how lucky I am to be brought up in such a loving and sheltered environment, free from poverty and crime. I also became more aware of the lifestyles in which others live and how different they are from my own. The worldliness this writing experience provided me with will most likely help me interact with all different kinds of individuals. .u453816525a0dad4cc54aa70742496d33 , .u453816525a0dad4cc54aa70742496d33 .postImageUrl , .u453816525a0dad4cc54aa70742496d33 .centered-text-area { min-height: 80px; position: relative; } .u453816525a0dad4cc54aa70742496d33 , .u453816525a0dad4cc54aa70742496d33:hover , .u453816525a0dad4cc54aa70742496d33:visited , .u453816525a0dad4cc54aa70742496d33:active { border:0!important; } .u453816525a0dad4cc54aa70742496d33 .clearfix:after { content: ""; display: table; clear: both; } .u453816525a0dad4cc54aa70742496d33 { display: block; transition: background-color 250ms; webkit-transition: background-color 250ms; width: 100%; opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #95A5A6; } .u453816525a0dad4cc54aa70742496d33:active , .u453816525a0dad4cc54aa70742496d33:hover { opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #2C3E50; } .u453816525a0dad4cc54aa70742496d33 .centered-text-area { width: 100%; position: relative ; } .u453816525a0dad4cc54aa70742496d33 .ctaText { border-bottom: 0 solid #fff; color: #2980B9; font-size: 16px; font-weight: bold; margin: 0; padding: 0; text-decoration: underline; } .u453816525a0dad4cc54aa70742496d33 .postTitle { color: #FFFFFF; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 600; margin: 0; padding: 0; width: 100%; } .u453816525a0dad4cc54aa70742496d33 .ctaButton { background-color: #7F8C8D!important; color: #2980B9; border: none; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: none; font-size: 14px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 26px; moz-border-radius: 3px; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; text-shadow: none; width: 80px; min-height: 80px; background: url(https://artscolumbia.org/wp-content/plugins/intelly-related-posts/assets/images/simple-arrow.png)no-repeat; position: absolute; right: 0; top: 0; } .u453816525a0dad4cc54aa70742496d33:hover .ctaButton { background-color: #34495E!important; } .u453816525a0dad4cc54aa70742496d33 .centered-text { display: table; height: 80px; padding-left : 18px; top: 0; } .u453816525a0dad4cc54aa70742496d33 .u453816525a0dad4cc54aa70742496d33-content { display: table-cell; margin: 0; padding: 0; padding-right: 108px; position: relative; vertical-align: middle; width: 100%; } .u453816525a0dad4cc54aa70742496d33:after { content: ""; display: block; clear: both; } READ: Interpersonal Communication Essay In addition, I now truly understand the saying, Never judge a book by its cover; preconceived notions can only make a person more nave and ignorant to differences. It is necessary to .

The Adventures Of Huckleberry Finn - Intolerance Essays

The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn - Intolerance The entire plot of The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn is rooted on intolerance between different social groups. Without prejudice and intolerance The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn would not have any of the antagonism or intercourse that makes the recital interesting. The prejudice and intolerance found in the book are the characteristics that make The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn great. The author of The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn is Samuel Langhorn Clemens, who is more commonly known by his pen name, Mark Twain. He was born in 1835 with the passing of Haleys comet, and died in 1910 with the passing of Haleys comet. Clemens often used prejudice as a building block for the plots of his stories. Clemens even said, The very ink in which history is written is merely fluid prejudice. There are many other instances in which Clemens uses prejudice as a foundation for the entertainment of his writings such as this quote he said about foreigners in The Innocents Abroad: They spell it Vinci and pronounce it Vinchy; foreigners always spell better than they pronounce. Even in the opening paragraph of The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn Clemens states, Persons attempting to find a motive in this narrative will be prosecuted; persons attempting to find a moral in it will be banished; persons attempting to find a plot in it will be shot. There were many groups that Clemens contrasted in The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn. The interaction of these different social groups is what makes up the main plot of the novel. For the objective of discussion they have been broken down into five main sets of antithetic parties: people with high levels of melanin and people with low levels of melanin, rednecks and scholarly, children and adults, men and women, and finally, the Sheperdsons and the Grangerfords. Whites and African Americans are the main two groups contrasted in the novel. Throughout the novel Clemens portrays Caucasians as a more educated group that is higher in society compared to the African Americans portrayed in the novel. The cardinal way that Clemens portrays African Americans as obsequious is through the colloquy that he assigns them. Their dialogue is composed of nothing but broken English. One example in the novel is this excerpt from the conversation between Jim the fugitive slave, and Huckleberry about why Jim ran away, where Jim declares, Well you see, it uz dis way. Ole missus-dats Miss Watson-she pecks on me all de time, en treats me pooty rough, but she awluz said she woudn sell me down to Orleans. Although this is the phonetic spelling of how some African Americans from the boondocks used to talk, Clemens only applied the argot to Blacks and not to Whites throughout the novel. There is not one sentence in the treatise spoken by an African American that is not comprised of broken English. The but in spite of that, the broken English does add an entraining piece of culture to the milieu. The second way Clemens differentiates people in the novel of different skin color is that all Blacks in the book are portrayed as stupid and uneducated. The most blatant example is where the African American character Jim is kept prisoner for weeks while he is a dupe in a childish game that Tom Sawyer and Huck Finn play with him. Clemens spends the last three chapters in the novel to tell the tale of how Tom Sawyer maliciously lets Jim, who known only unto Tom is really a free man, be kept prisoner in a shack while Tom torments Jim with musings about freedom and infests his living space with rats, snakes, and spiders. At the end of this charade Tom even admits, Why, I wanted the adventure of it The next two groups Clemens contrasts are the rednecks and the scholarly. In the novel Clemens uses interaction between backwoods and more highly educated people as a vital part of the plot. The main usage of this mixing of two social groups is seen in the development of the two very entertaining characters simply called the duke and the king. These two characters are rednecks who pretend to be of a more scholarly