Describe Esperanza's birth?

Read the excerpt from chapter 30 of the awakening. the golden shimmer of edna's satin gown spread in rich folds on either side of her. there was a soft fall of lace encircling her shoulders. it was the color of her skin, without the glow, the myriad living tints that one may sometimes discover in vibrant flesh. there was something in her attitude, in her whole appearance when she leaned her head against the high-backed chair and spread her arms, which suggested the regal woman, the one who rules, who looks on, who stands alone. what does this excerpt reveal about edna's character? edna is comfortable wearing rich fabrics such as lace and silk, and feels completely at ease at the dinner table. edna plays the role of the gracious hostess very well, but is actually isolated from her peers. edna has no patience for her guests, but rather treats them as a queen may treat her loyal subjects. edna's attitude is haughty, as required of a woman of her social stature living in new orleans.

What is the meaning of the word checking as it is used in this sentence from the second paragraph of the passage?

Skill check questions rearrange the paragraphs below into the correct sequence. that's because engineers on the ultraclean project have invented a self-cleaning, antibacterial metal surface that repels water with an intricate layer of laser-engraved valleys. when it rains, the lotus does not become damp; the water simply trickles off in fat droplets, taking any bugs and dirt with it. the drudgery may not be around much longer, however, if a team of italian scientists has anything to do with it “it's simply an amazing plant,” concluded professor luca romoli, leader of the project, “and we've succeeded in mimicking it. magnifico! ” few tasks in life hold less joy than scrubbing the ghost of somebody else’s porridge from a saucepan. the starting point for the research was the leaves of the lotus flower.