Who were the poor clares? why is it somewhat surprising that they were accomplished musicians?

The poor clares were nuns they sang in a closed choir. i think thats what made them so surprising.

Hope this helped :)

The region of the united states where beef and hog production is prevalent is the midwestthere are 12 states in this area including  illinois,  indiana,  iowa,  kansas,  michigan,  minnesota,  missouri,nebraska,  north dakota,  ohio,  south dakota, and  wisconsin. all of these states are known for their meat and such products. 

Clay is a good medium to sculpt because its shape can be changed easily