English

This study investigates the influence of HR policies and practices on the motivation of employees in private schools. Relevant information is gathered from school teachers in Karachi through a questionnaire while the sample size includes 512 responses. The statistical tool applied in this study is partial least square structural equation model (PLS-SEM). Findings show that compensation, employee empowerment, fair job appraisal, employee recognition and job satisfaction have a positive and significant relationship with the employee motivation, concluding that these factors of HR policies motivate employees. This study provides management insights into different ways to incorporate strategies in order to motivate their employees.

RESUMO: Texto que se propõe a analisar o trabalho desenvolvido pelos "peconheiros" na Região Amazônica. O objetivo central do artigo é defender, por meio de pesquisa teóricadocumental e bibliográfica-que na atividade extrativista do açaí o "peconheiro" vivencia diariamente uma situação de risco que viola os seus direitos e garantias fundamentais, além de que essa forma de trabalho não respeita o conceito de trabalho decente. Para a elaboração deste artigo utilizou-se o método hipotético de dedução e análise qualitativa, posto que se busca maior aprofundamento e entendimento do tema em comento.

English is used in many parts of the world as a second or third language. The learners develop the skills of English in order to enhance opportunities for employment, higher quality education, and a good lifestyle. The purpose of this paper is to analytically review and point out the strengths and weaknesses of B.COM final term examination paper of English with special emphasis to Reading Comprehension through the framework of educational objective provided by Bloom's Taxonomy. Moreover, it provides assistance to the competitive authorities in improving their methodology of teaching of English Reading Comprehension and preparing the final term examination paper as per the framework of Bloom's Taxonomy. The sample of the study comprises of reading comprehension exercises presented to students of Undergraduate Standard Examination of Bachelors of Commerce in affiliated colleges of the University of Karachi. The questions consist of reading comprehension of the final examination from the year 2010-2016. The methodology used for the analysis is 'Content Analyses'. Furthermore, all the questions present in reading comprehensions were analyzed separately in order to test their level and underlying educational objectives according to Bloom's taxonomy. With the investigation of these comprehensions, it is revealed that how the skills of students are measured with the examination practice. Moreover, results revealed that there are various lacking and also the examiners are highly focused on the remembering skills of students which are not enough for the students of this era. Therefore, after the results in this, the suggestions are also discussed.

Ouro Preto, the capital of Minas Gerais for 177 years, went through notable transformations over time. The end of the the XIX century was one of these periods, when due to changes that influenced and been influenced by the republican thought and movement, the city went through improvements that aimed to adjust the city to the new time and to prevent the capital transfer to Belo Horizonte. Considering the moment the city was passing through and understanding that amusements were one of the indicatives of progress, civility, urbanity and modernity at the time, the objective of this research was to study the amusements in Ouro Preto, from 1870 to 1900, in order to identify which they were and how they took place in the city, as well as to verify if there was any relation between them and the capital's improvements in the attempt to maintain Ouro Preto as the capital of the state of Minas Gerais. A documental and bibliographic review was made, in which City Council's documents were the main sources mobilized. Different amusement were found, such as dramatic, equestrian, sleight of hand, musical and bull spectacles; billiard games, lotto, shrovetide and illicit games; carnival, religious and civic celebrations, besides references to prostitution and alcohol beverages abuse. These amusements used to occur in different locations, like the theater, circus, bar, kiosk, hotel, pensions, streets and squares. It was observed the variety of options of entertainment both in the central region of the city and in the suburbs, and that the amusements had varied functions by figuring as fruition possibility, education of the population in search of civility, source of City Council income, and a present preoccupation regarding improvements through projects of a new boulevard that would include garden and a theater; of Morro da Forca leveling to receive edifications destined to games, spectacles and also a public garden; and of a new theater and other gardens spread across town. The diversity of information found in the consulted documents made it feasible to establish possible relations between practices, spaces and subjects, and to realize that the combination of the construction of new spaces and the attempt to control the fruition of amusements through laws would bring Ouro Preto the progress, civility and embellishment intended by the City Council.

Writing is an important art in order to attain academic and professional success. However, it is observed that most of the ESL teachers complain that their students do not like to write and show a lot of reluctance towards written assignments.