(16) even/alter/change
日九十月一十年〇八九一屆公年九十六國民中
I prefer even for rhetorical reason
★教僑華真三第張七第 日二十月十年申庚歷夏
WAH KIU YAT PO
郭日僑華
三期星
(11) brush
(14) entire/whole
1981
Very easy.
But not enough or all, which is gram- matically incorrect here.
(17) if/though
中學會考試題預習專欄
(12) worst
(15) who
It can't be after because of the tense of verb.
This paragraph has a tone of reluctance, so it can't be best which makes no sense.
(16) at/during
英
文
(13) up
立基出版社劉浩濓提供資料
stay up eig
(17) well/much
Not good..
(18) down.
ENGLISH (7)
Stephen Lau (Foundation Press)
Dear Students,
The key to last week's cloze passages is given to you today.
The right word for a particular blank is printed in bold type. If alternatives are war- ranted, they are separated by slanted strokes. Then discussions are centred on why the word(s) in bold type is (are) acceptable while a seemingly galternative word is not, and how you can arrive at the right word by guessing it from the context,
I have as far as possible avoided to be dogmatic in explaining the acceptable or unacceptable choices. There are times, however, when usage and grammar do not agree; then 1- tend to be a little dogmatic, not because of what I think but rather of what figures like Fowler have written. Only when you are aware of this idiosyncratic component can you truly be benefited from explanatory notes of any kind
ASSAGE 1
(1).
as
(just) as soon = readily, willingly
Many of you may want to use very, but Just and soon here leave little, if any,
room for alternatives.
refrain from taking rest......
He stays up (a few hours longer) reading his favourite novel.
(14) toys/friends
Children often use the latter word. I would prefer friends here because a per- sonal tone prevails in this sentence.
(15) shooting/hitting/striking
Killing and hurting are unacceptable. We say He kills the monster but not "He kills the monster dead. Similarly hurt cannot be used as in "He hurts the monster dead, By the way, shooting seems to be the most logical choice because he uses a (death) ray gun, and not a stick or rod.
PASSAGE 2
(1) toward(s)
Note the preposition used here. (2) early
Many are attracted to usually which seems illogical here; if in life were absent, usually would have a better chance: Note that in this sentence children develop their attitudes towards three things: food, eating, mealtime...
Some people may argue that his is all right, but I disagree,
(3)⋅
their
Obvious.
(4) one's
away
put away
set on one side/pur in the usual place of storage
(5) them
It refers to a variety of foods.
(6) well
If one is used to placing toys on the table or floor, and/or does not have a storage place for them, down is permissible here.
(3) under
Sheets are placed onto a child not under him, I suppose. Thus under is more logical than onto or about.
awake
wide awake fully awake
(But sound asleep.) If you notice and not sleepy which follows the blank, you won't be wide of the mark.
at/after
after all in spite of the circumstances
· television .....................
Obviously a noun is needed here. What are people usually watching at night? It can't be books or newspapers. And you are left with television.
reasons
Note that reasons is logical here, factors is not.
(8) many/deal
as well as in addition to
As far as and as soon as are out of the question.
(7) needs
desires may be all right grammatically, but it is hard to imagine food and meal- time satisfying emotional and physical desires.
(8) why
You will arrive at it if you are patient enough to read the whole sentence. Be- cause makes little sense in the context.
Note that there are two things which are essential.
(9)
arc
(10) to
(11) the
But strive for something one wishes to: attain or achieve.
Here the is necessary, but it is not needed in They were at table (having a meal) when the dynamite exploded.
Quite obvious.
推
Also a great many meaning a large number. of
(12) few
(13) before
Here get out of take off
(10) into
Note the structure in this sentence: gez·ts.
ellipted in get into his pajamas.
R
初中成績評核預習
英文
雄風出版社
ENGLISH 41
Mark the name and price of the
following furniture with the
The
help of the labels given. first one has been done for you.
Ikea- The Simple
Touch That Spells Good Living.
Kontur wardrobe 60
765
The sentence which follows the dash further elaborates the point of bringing everyone to the table calm and relaxed,
thus during is incorrect, after more so,"
that may also be acceptable.
These two are better than before or after, which has a more restricted meaning.
cut down = reduce
(19) Consequently
If you can follow the paragraph, this choice should not be too difficult.
(20) bodies
Some may use parts. But it is common sense that bodily parts which are not growing in the conventional sense, ie. increasing in size or weight, also need nourishment; so parts is inadequate here.
PASSAGE 3
(1) an
the is too specific here. Further notes on the use of articles will appear later when I discuss Paper II.
(2) is:
**The subject is taking an adult cat into
your home.
(3) young
Other adjectives like beautiful," pretty may be acceptable grammatically, but the sentence brings out a contrast: acquiring an adult cat vs. acquiring a young kitten. So young makes best sense.
(4) to
be attached to be strongly bound to by sentiment or affection.
Cg Mary has always been very much attached to her mother.
(5) Early
Cf. (2) in passage 2.
(6) following
We follow a way of life
far
so far = until now
(8)
are
The words and always will be give you a big clue.
(9) experience
(18) owner
Quite obvious because in the very same sentence both home and owner are men- tioned together.
(19) time/while
It won't miss its first home or owner for a long distance is seniseless. (20) way..
road is not good usage. (21) why
It can't be how, when, etc. Look at the following sentence and you'll know the answer.
(22) bother/try/attempt/strive/endeavour
Despite so many possible answers, manage doesn't fit in.”
(23) happy
Not sad certainly.
(24) never/not
Again, I prefer never for thetorical reasons. (25) off/out
set out off = begin (a journey, trip, etc.) again
Quite obvious.
(27) convince/assure
: Quite obvious for contextual reasons. (28) be
You shouldn't have any problem with it. (29) that
Look at the structure of the sentence carefully and you'll get it.
(30) enjoy
More comprehensible than using continue.
PASSAGE 4.
-(1)man
the man in the street typical, ordinary man
There is no alternative for man in this idiomatic expression.
take (something) for granted = regard something as certain to happen.
without
・(2)
for
·(3).
You may also get away with the loosely used thing
(10) can
Parallel to can be a shattering experience,
(11) least
རུ་བྱ་བྱསྐྱབྱབྱ ུ
Not worst if the following word is upset; at worst ruin... is more logical.
(12) behaviour/demeanour
399
If one takes something for granted, one won't ask questions about it, hence with our is inevitable,
how/if/whether
The reason is similar to that in (3). Here work operate, so what cannot be used. what
Those words like may, will are not at all suitable.
(5)
C (3), (4).
(6) Throughout
The former is more common; social ap pearance is queer.
In is unnatural.
(7)
alike
(13) appears
(8)
as
be does not quite fit the context.
(15) other
If the sentence is ended with on the other, one instead is the choice:
(9)
If proverty is replaced by prosperity,
The prepositon to permits few alternatives. (14) become
Look further down the sentence and you'll meet and as; so why not as?
against
Furniture labels:
Lindos Trolley:
Solid pine, clear lacquer finish. $598
Sarek Chair: Solid natural pine frame, lacquered. Brown striped fabric. $398
Berga Flower Table:
Frame of solid unfinished.
pine, with white-enamelled shelf. $278
affluence, etc., for is used. You should know whether a word fits in the context before you write it down.
(10) ever
If ever further modifies/supplements rarely. Not any.
(11) new
Some may argue for modem or scientific, but on second thought new best serves the purpose:
(12) scientific
Actually the whole paragraph is talking about scientific knowledge and its ap- plications.
(13) clothes
I'm sure very few, if any, of you wear shoes of synthetic textiles.
(14) take
cat is not permissible, and have is quite unnatural.
(15) either
Notice or after blank 16 and you'll get the answer. And ourselves is also accept- able.
(16) substances
drugs is inadequate; surely syntheric textiles, which many of you may neglect, are not drugs.
(17) much
Not many, of course.
(18) world
It may be a difficult one. But we usually talk about the scientific world, etc.
(19) one
ུརྩ་བྱ་ཞུ་རྒྱ སྤྱི
That is the technological world. is one which promises-
(20) - tomosToW
In contrast with today in the same sentence.
(21) does
Inversion.
(22) or
and makes no sense; our confidence can't break down and threaten to break down at the same time.
Quite obvious.
(23) effects
(24) of
(25) about
Note the structure. (on the harmful effects) of industrial waste gases.
Note the preposition used here.
(26) all
most cannot be acceptable here because it must be followed by of
(27) likelihood
in all likelihood very probably (28) hazards/dangers/threats/risks
Among the list, threats is weaker, (29) agree
If you follow the line of argument, agree is inevitable.
(30) end/future
I prefer end for rhetorical reasoris, also, in future is more common.
Kontur Wardrobe 60: An ideal multi-purpose wardrobe and storage unit. White lacquered. $765
Gille Dining Table:
Handsome round solid pine
table, lacquered. Extendable
to seat 6 people.
$1,988
Kiruna Shelf Units: White-enamelled, with 2 adjustable shelves. $314
Tallmo Two Seater Sofa: Solid natural pine frame, lacquered, with comfortable cotton fabric, chipped foam stuffing.
$1,098
Answers:
2. Lindos Trolley
$598
3. Tallmo Two Seater Sofa
$1,098
Berga Flower Table $278
5. Kiruna Shelf Units
$-374
Sarek Chair $398
Gille Dining Table
$ 1,988
THE END