Q: MaxiCode is a public domain, machine-readable symbol system originally created and used by United Parcel Service. Suitable for tracking and managing the shipment of packages, it resembles a barcode, but uses dots arranged in a hexagonal grid instead of bars. MaxiCode has been standardised under ISO/IEC 16023.

A MaxiCode symbol (internally called "Bird's Eye", "Target", "dense code", or "UPS code") appears as a 1inch square, with a bullseye in the middle, surrounded by a pattern of hexagonal dots. It can store about 93 characters of information, and up to 8 MaxiCode symbols can be chained together to convey more data. The centered symmetrical bullseye is useful in automatic symbol location regardless of orientation, and it allows MaxiCode symbols to be scanned even on a package traveling rapidly.

MaxiCode symbology was released by UPS in 1992.

MaxiCode symbols using modes 2 and 3 include a "Structured Carrier Message" containing key information about a package. This information is protected with a strong Reed-Solomon error correction code, allowing it to be read even if a portion of the symbol is damaged. These fields include:

The structured portion of the message is stored in the inner area of the symbol, near the bull's-eye pattern. (In modes that do not include a structured portion, the inner area simply stores the beginning of the message.)

Answer the following questions:
1. What does MaxiCode look similar to?
2. What does it use in a grid instead of bars?
3. Who created this system?
4. What is it primarily good for?
5. Can you name an alternative name for a MaxiCode symbol?
6. How large is this kind of symbol?
7. What's in the very center of it?
8. Can several of these symbols be hooked together?
9. For what?
10. How much can it store?
11. And how many can be hooked together?
12. Where is the message stored on the symbol?
13. How about a structured portion of a message?
14. What modes include these structured messages?
15. Is that information protected?
16. With what?
17. Can it be read if it's damaged?
18. What kind of info is in these structured messages?
19. When did this system come out?
20. Is it public domain?
A: 1. a barcode
2. dots
3. UPS
4. tracking the shipment of packages
5. Bird's Eye
6. 1" square
7. a bullseyes
8. Yes
9. to convey more data
10. 93 characters of information
11. Eight
12. In the inner area of the symbol
13. also in the inner area of the symbol, near the bull's eye pattern
14. both modes 2 and 3
15. Yes
16. Reed-Solomon ECC
17. Yes
18. key information about a package
19. 1992
20. Yes

Answer the questions at the end based on the text.

It was a cold winter day in John's city. It was December and snowing outside. This made John want a bowl of warm soup. John went to the refrigerator to make soup. He looked for the things needed to make the soup. He did not see some items he needed. John needed to go to the grocery store. John wanted to make a list. He found a pencil and paper to make a list. He needed sugar, lettuce, tomatoes and cheese. John wrote down the items. He put the grocery list in his pocket. He then went to the closet to get dressed. John needed a jacket and gloves for the cold weather. He also put his boots on. He remembered to close the front door to his house. John used a key to lock his front door. Then he put the house key is his pocket. The grocery store was around the corner. John walked to the grocery store. He grabbed a grocery basket to put his items in. What did John need? He pulled out his list of items. John found each item and walked back to his house. On this cold winter day, John can make a bowl of warm soup. He has all the items he needed. John was happy.

1. What season was it?
2. What was the weather like?
3. What did John want to eat?
4. Did he have all the recipe ingredients at home?
5. How many items did he need?
6. Did he write a grocery list?
7. Did John lock the front door when he went to the store?
8. How did he lock it?
9. Was the store far away?
10. Did John bring the list to the grocery store?
11. Was he able to buy everything he needed?
12. How was he feeling ?

Numbered answers:

A: 1. winter
2. snowing
3. soup
4. no
5. four
6. yes
7. yes
8. key
9. no
10. yes
11. yes
12. happy

Answer the questions at the end based on the text.

CHAPTER VI.

TWO STRANGE MEETINGS.

"Mrs. Hugh Holker, at home, Saturday, May 29th, 3 to 6.30. Chetwood Court; tennis."

Cyril Waring read it out with a little thrill of triumph. To be sure, it was by no means certain that Elma would be there; but still, Chetwood Court was well within range of Tilgate town, and Montague Nevitt felt convinced, he said, the Holkers were friends of the Cliffords and the Kelmscotts.

"For my part," Guy remarked, balancing a fragment of fried sole on his fork as he spoke, "I'm not going all that way down to Chetwood merely to swell Mrs. Holker's triumph."

"I wouldn't if I were you," Cyril answered, with quiet incisiveness. He hadn't exactly fallen in love with Elma at first sight, but he was very much interested in her, and it struck him at once that what interested him was likely also to interest his twin brother. And this is just one of those rare cases in life where a man prefers that his interest in a subject should not be shared by any other person.

Before Saturday, the 29th, arrived, however, Guy had so far changed his mind in the matter, that he presented himself duly with Nevitt at Waterloo to catch the same train to Chetwood station that Cyril went down by.

"After all," he said to Nevitt, as they walked together from the club in Piccadilly, "I may as well see what the girl's like, anyhow. If she's got to be my sister-in-law--which seems not unlikely now--I'd better have a look at her beforehand, so to speak, on approbation."

1. What was close to Tilgate?
2. Who received the invitation there?
3. Who did he hope would be there?
4. Did he love her?
5. what was he then?
6. Was anyone else perhaps also?
7. who?
8. Was his brother intending to go?
9. Did he end up going?
10. Where did he meet Nevitt?
11. How did the intend to travel?
12. What is the date they are going?
13. What day of the week?
14. is there a specific time?
15. what is it?
16. Why did Guy decide to go?
17. Why would he want to do that?
18. Was Cyril happy to be invited?
19. What did Guy have on his fork?
20. Did Cyril want his brother to know he was interested in Elma?

Numbered answers:

A:
1. Chetwood Court
2. Cyril Waring
3. Elma
4. no
5. he was interested in her
6. yes
7. his twin brother
8. no
9. yes
10. at Waterloo
11. via train
12. May 29th
13. Saturday
14. yes
15. 3 to 6.30
16. To see what Elma is like.
17. She might become his sister in law.
18. yes
19. fried sole
20. no