1. List two examples of how you could use a lowered layer opacity level.

1. Lowering the opacity of a Text Layer allows the image behind the text to show through somewhat.  This way one has readable text that does not obscure the image.  For example, a line element of the image can be seen through the text rather than the line being disrupted by the text.
2. If you wanted to suggest something wispy like a cloud in front of the moon, then this might be done with some brush work in a layer with reduced opacity.  The viewer would see the cloud and also the moon showing through.

2. What are Layer Blending Modes and how would you use them?

If you has a layered image, then behind a pixel of an image in the foremost layers are pixels in the same x-y position in the layers behind.  Layering Blend modes provide various algorithms for mixing the color of the foremost pixel with those behind it. They can be used to brighten or darken images or to mix the effects of two or more images such as in collages.  

3. How do you change a layer's Blending Mode?

On the Layers palette (often found in the lower right-hand side of Photoshop) there is a drop down list on the upper left-hand side that allows one to select a blend layer.

4. What are Layer Styles?

A Layer Style allows one to apply a set effect such as a drop shadow or inner glow to a shape or text.

5. If you want to manipulate a style such as a Drop Shadow, where would you do so?

With the desired layer selected, go to the menu, click on Layer/Layer Style, then chose the desired effect from the resulting submenu, for example Drop Shadow ....  Any option with an ellipsis will lead to a dialog box with the option specific to the effect.

6. Why would you use a Layer Style?

Layer Styles are used to apply various effects to a layer, e.g. to make it glow or have it cast a shadow. 

7. How can the History Palette help you with your work?

The history palette stores the sequence of editing steps that one has recently applied to the image.  It allows one to go back several steps to recover how an image looked in the past.

8. Where would you change the number of states the History Palette records?

Answer On the menu, go to Edit/Preferences/General....  On the resulting dialog about one-third of the way down, there is a textbox for one to enter the number of states using in the history.

9. List three tools that you would use to re-touch an image.

1. Patch tool
2. Healing brush
3. Sponge tool

10. Explain what the Aligned option does when working with the retouching tools?

Suppose you have an image of a tiger and with the Healing Brush, you Alt+Click on the tiger's eye. Then with Aligned checked, your first click blends the tiger's eye into the position of the click AND subsequent clicks will blend other parts of the tiger dependent on where you click.  So if you click below your first click, you may now be blending in the tiger's nose.  On the other hand, with the Aligned option unchecked, the second click would once again blend in the tiger's eye into the new position.