Most of these can be used in the simple past. Where you would used present perfect is just for emphasis. I would use present perfect if it's connecting to the present, or relevant to what is happening at the current time. Useful lessons are linked here, you should check it out. It has helped me to answer your question. =D http://busyteacher.org/3681-present-perfect-vs-past-simple.html http://web2.uvcs.uvic.ca/elc/studyzone/410/grammar/ppvpast.htm http://www.ego4u.com/en/cram-up/grammar/simpas-preper

That's a simile, I think. '...like something human trapped in a switch box.' is just comparing how peculiar his eyes looked like. Just googled 'switch box', looking at it, I don't even know what it is, let alone use it. If I'm trapped in one, my eyes would be like that guy in the book. haha, I guess just take it as it is, a simile made by the author.

Haha, I guess it boils down to what your culture and native language dictates 'this' or 'next' week really means. In English, to get rid of such ambiguity, just specify the date and time after you said 'this week' or 'next week'. That's just my opinion, lol. Just wanna add a few links if you want to compare this ambiguity with other languages and culture. =) I found these really helpful! http://www.sinosplice.com/life/archives/2012/04/13/the-perils-of-this-week-and-next-week http://forum.wordreference.com/showthread.php?t=37415 http://painintheenglish.com/case/4650 http://www.englishforums.com/English/NextWednesday/jmnnr/post.htm

I guess, 'you' is either 'them' or the protagonist, and 'me' is Mrs. LaDonna Murphy. " Now you reassure me and I’ll go back and go to bed." - they have removed her worries/doubts/fears/etc, she'll return to her home and go to bed.

On the fifteenth day of the lunar new year, it is the Yuanxiao Festival. Everywhere, all the lanterns can be seen hung on the streets and in the parks. At night, the radiant glow of the red lanterns was reflected on the snow-covered pavilions, it was beautiful. The Lantern Festival was so bright that it seemed that it was still daylight. The colorful lights, accompanied by the joy of the Chinese New Year, lit up everyone with smiles. Used your source and google translate, and brush things up a bit. So are you going to celebrate this festival on the 24th Feb or the 15th day of the lunar new year? =) I think my country celebrates this, I can still see so many red lanterns everywhere. It does look beautiful at night.

If you sneeze into a punch bowl (google "punch bowl"), no one would drink from it anymore. It's disgusting to drink from it now. To answer your question, no, I don't think that it's anything special, other than he sneezed into a punch bowl.

Both 'toward' and 'towards' can be used here. Both are correct. It's just that 'toward' is used more often in American English, whereas 'towards' is used more often in British English. That statement is funny! lol Sources: http://www.englishrules.com/writing/2005/toward-or-towards/ http://www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice/learningenglish/grammar/learnit/learnitv66.shtml http://grammarist.com/spelling/toward-towards/