Comparing the clock to a heartbeat using 'as/like' (implied/stated) suggests the steady, rhythmic nature of the ticking.
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Scanning the passage: "In the 1920s, the company produced only typewriters. By 1950, they shifted to calculators. Today, they focus solely on digital imaging software," what did they produce in 1950?
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"Her disdain for the proposal was evident in her cold, dismissive tone." What does 'disdain' mean?