Thursday, 21 May 2015
Tuesday, 19 May 2015
Fourteenth Meeting
The Bureau of the Census regards
any area with more than 2500 people as an urban area, and does not consider
boundaries of cities and suburbs. According to the Bureau, the political
boundaries are less significant than the social and economic relationships and
the transportation and communication systems that integrate a locale. The term
used by the Bureau for an integrated metropolis is an MSA, which stands for
Metropolitan Statistical Area. In general, an MSA is any area that contains a
city and its surrounding suburbs and has a total population of 50,000 or more.
At the present time, the Bureau
reports more than 280 MSAs, which together account for 75 percent of the US
population. In addition, the Bureau recognizes eighteen megapolises, that is,
continuous adjacent metropolitan areas. One of the most obvious megapolises
includes a chain of hundreds of cities and suburbs across the states on the
East Coast from Massachusetts to Virginia, including Boston, New York, and
Washington, D. C. In the Eastern Corridor, as it is called, a population of 45
million inhabitants is concentrated. Another megapolis that is growing rapidly
is the California coast from San Francisco through Los Angels to San Diego.
1. Which of the following is the best title for the passage?
A.
Metropolitan Statistical Areas
B. Types of Population Centers
C. The Bureau of the Census
D. Megapolises
2. According
to the passage, where do most Americans live?
A. In the center of cities
B. In the suburbs surrounding large cities
C.
In rural areas
D. In small towns
3. According
to the Bureau of the Census, what is an urban area?
A. An area with 2500 people or more
B. An area with at least 50,000 people
C. The eighteen largest cities
D. A chain of adjacent cities
4. Which of
the following are NOT considered important in defining an urban area?
A. Political boundaries
B. Transportation networks
C. Social relationships
D. Economic systems
5. The word
integrate in paragraph 2 is closest in meaning to
A. benefit C. unite
B. define D.
restrict
6. The word
its in paragraph 2 refers to
A. the MSA’s C. the city’s
B. the area’s D. the population’s
7. The word
adjacent in paragraph 3 is closest in meaning to
A. beside each other
B. growing very fast
C. the same size
D. densely populated
8. According
to the passage, what is a megapolis?
A. One of the ten largest cities in the United States
B. One of the eighteen largest cities in the United
states
C. One of the one hundred cities between Boston
and Washington
D. Any number of
continuous adjacent cities and suburbs
9. Why does
the author mention the Eastern Corridor and the California coast in paragraph
3?
A. As examples of
megapolises
B. Because 75 percent of the population lives
there
C. To conclude the passage
D. The Bureau of the Census is located there
Problem
25 Similar Verbs – Tell and Say
Examples
Incorrect:
Jayne said him that she would meet us here.
Correct
: Jayne told him
that she would meet us here.
Incorrect:
Margaret told that she would call before she came.
Correct
: Margaret said that
she would call before she came.
Incorrect:
Randy says a lot of jokes and funny stories.
Correct
: Randy tells a lot of jokes
and funny stories.
Incorrect: I
have said the truth.
Correct
: I have told the truth.
Incorrect:
The girls told (that) they were hungry.
Correct
: The girls said that
they were hungry
Problem
26 Similar Verbs – Let and Leave
Examples
Incorrect:
Although her doctor allowed her family to visit her, he wouldn’t leave
anyone else go into her room.
Correct
: Although her doctor allowed her
family to visit her, he wouldn’t let anyone else go into her room.
Incorrect:
You can let your car in long-term
parking
until you come back.
Correct
: You can leave your car
in long-term parking until you come back.
Incorrect:
Professor Baker wouldn’t leave us use our dictionaries during the test.
Correct
: Professor Baker wouldn’t let
us use our dictionaries during the test.
Incorrect:
Just let the paper in my mailbox.
Correct
: Just leave the paper in
my mailbox.
Incorrect:
Just let your coats on the racks in the hall.
Correct
: Just leave your coats on
the racks in the hall.
Problem
27 Similar Verbs – Borrow & Lend
Examples
Incorrect:
Stan had an accident while he was driving the car that his cousin had
borrowed him.
Correct
: Stan had an accident while he
was driving the car that his cousin had lent him.
Incorrect:
Would you please borrow me your pen?
Correct
: Would you please lend me
your pen?
Incorrect:
Can I lend this dictionary for a view minutes while I check my
composition?
Correct
: Can I borrow this
dictionary for a view minutes while I check my composition?
Incorrect:
She lent my key to get into the apartment, and lost it.
Correct
: She borrowed my key to
get into the apartment, and lost it.
Incorrect:
Thank you for borrowing me your umbrella.
Correct
: Thank you for lending me
your umbrella.
Problem
28 Similar Verbs – Make and Do
Examples
Incorrect: I
really don’t mind making the homework for this class.
Correct
: I really don’t mind doing
the homework for this class.
Incorrect:
Did you do a mistake?
Correct
: Did you make a
mistake?
Incorrect:
Please make me a favor.
Correct
: Please do me a favor.
Incorrect:
Are they doing progress on the new road?
Correct
: Are they making progress
on the new road?
Incorrect:
Have you done any interesting discoveries while you were doing your
research?
Correct
: Have you made any
interesting discoveries while you were doing your research?
Problem
29 PREPOSITIONAL IDIOMS
Examples
Incorrect:
Excepting for the Gulf Coast region, most of the nation will have very
pleasant weather tonight and tomorrow.
Correct
: Except for the Gulf
Coast region, most of the nation will have very pleasant weather tonight and
tomorrow.
Incorrect: In
recent years, educators have become more concerned of bilingualism.
Correct
: In recent years, educators have
become more concerned with bilingualism.
Incorrect: He
always does what he pleases, without regard of the rules and regulations.
Correct
: He always does what he pleases,
without regard to the rules and regulations.
Incorrect:
The bank opposite over university isn’t open on Saturdays.
Correct
: The bank opposite
university isn’t open on Saturdays.
Incorrect:
The customs of other countries are not inferior with those of our own
country.
Correct
: The customs of other countries
are not inferior to those of our own country.
Problem
30 Parts of Speech
Examples
Incorrect:
The agreeing is not legal unless everyone signs his name.
Correct
: The agreement is not
legal unless everyone signs his name.
Incorrect:
Even young children begin to show able in mathematics.
Correct
: Even young children begin to
show ability in mathematics.
Incorrect:
Arranging have been made for the funeral.
Correct
: Arrangements have been
made for the funeral.
Incorrect: A
free educating is guaranteed to every citizen.
Correct
: A free education is
guaranteed to every citizen.
Incorrect:
The develop of hybrids has increased yields.
Correct
: The development of
hybrids has increased yields.
Thirtheenth Meeting
Seismologists
have devised two scales of measurement to enable them to describe and record information
about earthquakes in quantitative terms. The most widely known measurement is
the Richter scale, a numerical logarithmic scale developed and introduced by
American seismologist Charles F. Richter in 1935.
The purpose of the scale is
to measure the amplitude of the largest trace recorded by a standard
seismograph one hundred kilometers from the epicenter of an earthquake. Tables
have been formulated to demonstrate the magnitude of any earthquake from any
seismograph. For example, a one-unit increase in magnitude translates into an
increase of times thirty in
released energy. To put that
another way, each number on the Richter scale represents an earthquake ten
times as strong as one of the next lower magnitude. Specifically, an earthquake
of magnitude 6 is ten times as strong as an earthquake of magnitude 5.
On the Richter scale, earthquakes of 6.75
are considered great and 7.0 to 7.75 are considered major. An earthquake that
reads 4 to 5.5 would be expected to have caused localized damage, and those of
magnitude 2 may be felt.
The other earthquake-assessment scale,
introduced by the Italian seismologist Giuseppe Mercalli, measures the
intensity of shaking, using gradations from 1 to 12. Because the effects of
such shaking dissipate with distance from the epicenter of the earthquake, the
Mercalli rating depends on the site of the measurement Earthquakes of Mercalli
2 or 3 are basically the same as those of Richter 3 or 4; measurements of 11 or
12 on the Mercalli scale can be roughly correlated with magnitudes of 8 or 9 on
the Richter scale. In either case, the relative power or energy released by the
earthquake can be understood, and the population waits to hear how bad the
earthquake that just passed really was.
It is estimated that almost one million
earthquakes occur each year, but most of them are so minor that they pass
undetected. In fact, more than one thousand earthquakes of a magnitude of 2 or
lower on the Richter scale occur every day.
1. Which of the following is the main topic of the passage?
A. Earthquakes C.
Charles F. Richter
B. The Richter scale D. Seismography
2. According to information in the passage, what does the Richter
scale record?
A.
The distance from the epicenter
B. The amplitude of
the largest trace
C. The degree of damage
D. The location of the epicenter
3. The word standard in paragraph 1 could best be replaced by?
A.
reliable C. conventional
B.
complex D.
Abandoned
4. What is the value of the tables?
A. They allow us to interpret the magnitude of
earthquakes
B.
They help us to calculate our distance from earthquakes
C.
They record all earthquakes
D.
They release the energy of earthquakes
5. How does each number on the Richter scale compare?
A.
Each number is one hundred times as strong as
the previous number
B. Each magnitude is ten times stronger than the
previous
magnitude
C.
The strength of each magnitude is one less
than
the previous magnitude
D.
The scale decreases by five or six for each number
6. What does the author means by the statement :
Because the
effects of such shaking dissipate with distance from the epicenter of the
earthquake, the Mercalli rating depends on the site of the measurement?
A. The Mercalli
rating will vary depending on the
location of the measurement
B. The results of the Mercalli rating are
less accurate at greater distances from the epicenter
C. The stronger shaking of the earthquake
at the center is not detected by the Mercalli rating
D. The Mercalli rating is useful because it
is taken farther away from the center of the earthquake
7. The word undetected in paragraph 4 is closest in meaning to ?
A.
with no damage C.
with no name
B. with no notice D. with no
problem
8. With which of the following statements would the author most
probably agree?
A.
Only the Richter scale describes
earthquakes in quantitative terms
B.
Both the Richter scale and the
Mercalli Scale measure earthquakes in the same way
C.
Most earthquakes are measurable on
either the Richter or the Mercalli scale
D. The Mercalli and
the Richter scales are different but they can be compared
9. The passage discusses all of the following in the explanation of
the Richter scale EXCEPT ?
A.
It was introduced in 1935
B.
It was developed by an American
seismologist
C. It has a scale
of 1 to 12
D.
It measures the magnitude of
earthquakes
Problem 23 Transitive and Intransitive Verbs – Lay and Lie
PROBLEMS
WITH REDUNDANCY
Redundancy means using more words than
necessary.
Problem
19
Redundancy – Unnecessary Phrases
In all patterns, prefer simple, direct
sentences to complicated, indirect sentences. Find the
subject-Verb-Complement-Modifier, and determine whether the other words are
useful or unnecessary.
S V
C
M
Lee learned English quickly
Avoid
using an adjective with such phrases as in character or in nature.
Avoid
using the redundant pattern in a adjective manner
Instead
of an adverb such as quickly. in a
quick manner
Examples
Incorrect: The key officials who testified before the
senate committee responded in a manner that
was evasive.
Correct : The
key officials who testified before the senate committee responded evasively.
Incorrect: Mr. Davis knows a great deal in terms of the
condition of the situation.
Correct : Mr.
Davis knows a great deal about the situation.
Incorrect: It was a problem which was very difficult in
character and very delicate in nature.
Correct : The
problem was difficult and delicate.
Incorrect: The disease was very serious in the nature of
it.
Correct : The
disease was very serious.
Problem
20
Redundancy – Repetition of Words With the Same Meaning
Redundancy – Repetition of Words With the Same Meaning
In all
patterns, avoid using words with the same meaning consecutively in a sentence.
Examples
Incorrect: The money that I have is sufficient enough
for my needs.
Correct : The
money that I have is sufficient for my needs.
Incorrect: Bill asked the speaker to repeat again
because he had not heard him the first time.
Correct : Bill
asked the speaker to repeat because he had not heard him the first time.
Incorrect: The class advanced forward rapidly.
Correct : The
class advanced rapidly.
Incorrect: She returned back to her hometown after she
had finished her degree.
Correct : She returned
to her hometown after she had finished her degree.
Incorrect: I am nearly almost finished with this
chapter.
Correct : I am
nearly finished with this chapter.
or
I am almost finished with this chapter.
Problem
21 Redundancy – Repetition of Noun by Pronoun
In all
patterns, avoid using a noun and the pronoun that refers to it consecutively in
a sentence. Avoid using pronoun after the noun it refers to, and that.
Examples
Incorrect: My teacher he said to listen to the news on
the radio in order to practice
listening comprehension.
Correct : My
teacher said to listen to the news on the radio in order to practice listening comprehension.
Incorrect: Steve he plans to go into business with his
father.
Correct : Steve
plans to go into business with his father.
PROBLEMS
WITH WORD CHOICE
Problem
22
Transitive and Intransitive Verbs – Raise
and Rise
A
transitive verb is a verb that takes a complement. An intransitive verb is a
verb that does not take a complement.
The
following pairs of verbs can be confusing. Remember that raise is a
transitive verb; it takes a complement. Rise is an intransitive verb; it
does not take a complement.
Transitive Intransitive
Verb
word Past Participle Verb word Past Participle
Remember
that to rise means to move to a higher place or to cause to rise. To rise
means to go up or to increase.
Raise
and rise are also used as nouns. A raise means an increase in salary. A rise
means an increase in price, worth, quality, or degree.
S RAISE C M
Heavy rain raises the water level of the reservoir every spring.
Heavy rain raised the water level of the reservoir
last week.
S RISE C M
The
water level rises when it rains every spring.
The
water level rose when it rains every spring.
Examples
Incorrect: The cost of living has raised 3 percent in
the past year.
Correct : The
cost of living has risen 3 percent in the past year.
Incorrect: The flag is risen at dawn by an honor guard.
Correct : The
flag is raised at dawn by an honor guard.
(An honor guard raises the flag.)
Incorrect: Kay needs to rise her grades if she wants to
get into graduate school.
Correct : Kay
needs to raise her grades if she wants to get into graduate school.
Incorrect: The landlord has risen the rent.
Correct : The
landlord has raised the rent.
Problem 23 Transitive and Intransitive Verbs – Lay and Lie
Remember
that lay is a transitive verb; it takes a complement. Lie is an
intransitive verb; it does not take a complement.
Transitive Intransitive
Verb
word Past
Participle Verb word
Past Participle
lay laid laid lie lay lain
Remember
that lay means to put, to place, or to cause to lie. To lie means
to recline or to occupy a place.
The past
form of the verb to lie is lay.
S LAY C M
The
postman lays the mail on the table every day.
The
postman lays the mail on the table yesterday.
S LIE C M
He lies
on the sofa to rest every day
after work.
He lay on the sofa to rest yesterday
after work.
Examples
Incorrect: Her coat was laying on the chair.
Correct : Her
coat was lying on the chair.
Incorrect: Key West lays off the coast of Florida.
Correct : Key
West lays off the coast of Florida.
Incorrect: I have lain your notebook on the table by the
door so that you won’t forget it.
Correct : I
have laid your notebook on the table by the door so that you won’t forget it.
Incorrect: Key West lays off the coast of Florida.
Correct : Key
West lays off the coast of Florida.
Incorrect: Why don’t you lay down for a while?
Correct : Why
don’t you lie down for a while?
Incorrect: Linda always forgets where she lies her
glasses.
Correct :
Linda always forgets where she lays her glasses.
Problem
24 Transitive and Intransitive
Verbs – Set and Sit
n Remember that set is a transitive verb; it takes a
complement. Sit is an
intransitive verb; it does not take a complement.
Transitive Intransitive
Verb word
Past Participle Verb word Past
Participle
set set set sit sat
sat
Remember that to set means to put, to place, or to cause to sit. To sit means to occupy a place on a
chair or a flat surface.
S SET C M
The
students set the lab equipment on the table every
class.
The
students set
the lab equipmenton the table last
class period.
S SIT C M
The
equipment sits on the table every class.
The
equipment sat on
the table last class period
Examples
Incorrect: Please sit the telephone on the table by the
bed.
Correct :
Please set the telephone on the table by the bed
Incorrect: Won’t you set down?
Correct :
Won’t you sit down?
Incorrect: Their house sets on a hill overlooking a
lake.
Correct :
Their house sits on a hill overlooking a lake.
Twelfth Meeting
Unlike the eyes, which can be
covered by the eyelids against strong light, the ear has no lid, and is,
therefore, always open and vulnerable; noise penetrates without protection.
Noise causes effects that the hearer
cannot control and to which the body never becomes accustomed. Loud noises instinctively signal
danger to any organism with a hearing mechanism, including human beings. In
response, heartbeat and respiration accelerate, blood vessels constrict, the
skin pales, and muscles tense. In fact, there is a general increase in
functioning brought about by the flow of adrenaline released in response to
fear, and some of these responses persist even longer than the noise,
occasionally as long as thirty minutes after the sound has ceased.
Because noise is unavoidable
in a complex, industrial society, we are constantly responding in the same ways
that we would respond to danger. Recently, researchers have concluded that
noise and our response may be much more than an annoyance. It may be a serious
threat to physical and psychological health and well-being, causing damage not
only to the ear and brain but also to the heart and stomach. We have long known
that hearing loss is America’s number one nonfatal health problem, but now we
are learning that some of us with heart disease and ulcers may be victims of
noise as well. Fetuses exposed to noise tend to be overactive,
they cry easily, and they are more sensitive to gastrointestinal problems after
birth. In addition, the psychological effect of noise is very important.
Nervousness, irritability, tension and anxiety increase, affecting the quality
of rest during sleep, and the efficiency of activities during waking hours, as well
as the way that we
interact with one another.
1. Which of
the following is the author’s main point?
A. Noise may pose
a serious threat to our physical
and psychological health
B. Loud noises signal
danger
C. Hearing
loss is America’s number one nonfatal
health problem
D.The
ear is not like the eye
2. According
to the passage, what is noise?
A. Unwanted sound
B. A byproduct of
technology
C. Physical and psychological harm
D. Congestion
3. Why is
noise difficult to measure?
A. It
causes hearing loss
B. All people do not respond to it in the same way
C.It is unwanted
D.People
become accustomed to it
4. The word
congested in paragraph 1 could best be replaced by
A. hazardous C. crowded
B. polluted
D. rushed
5. According to the passage, people respond to loud noise in the same
way that they respond to
A. annoyance C.
damage
B. danger D. disease
6. The
phrase as well in paragraph 4 is closest in meaning to which of the following?
A. after all C. instead
B. also D. regardless
7. It can be
inferred from this passage that the eye
A. responds to fear
B. enjoys greater
protection than the ear
C. increases functions
D. is damaged by noise
8. With
which of the following statements would the author most probably agree?
A. Noise is not a serious problem today
B. Noise is America’s number one problem
C. Noise is an
unavoidable problem in an
industrial society
D. Noise is a complex problem
PROBLEMS
WITH INTRODUCTORY VERBAL MODIFIERS
Introductory verbal modifier introduce and modify the subject
and verb in the main clause of the sentence. They can be –ing forms, –ed
forms, or infinitives. They are
usually separated from the main clause by a comma.
Problem
15 Verbal Modifier – -ing and -ed Form
–ing forms and –ed forms may be used as verbals. Verbals function
as modifiers.
An introductory
verbal modifier with –ing or –ed should immediately precede the noun it
modifies. Otherwise, the relationship between the noun and the modifier is
unclear, and the sentence is illogical.
Avoid
using a noun immediately after an introductory verbal phrase which may not be
logically modified by the phrase.
Examples :
Incorrect : After graduating from City College, Professor
Baker’s studies were continued at State University, where he received his
Ph.D. in English.
Correct
: After graduating from City College, Professor
Baker continued his studies at State University, where he received his
Ph.D. in English.
Incorrect : Returning to her room, several pieces of
jewelry were missing.
Correct
: Returning to her room, she
found that several pieces of jewelry were missing.
Incorrect : Having been delayed by heavy traffic, it was
not possible for her to arrive on time.
Correct
: Having been delayed by heavy traffic, she
arrived on time.
Incorrect : Accustomed to getting up early, the new
schedule was not difficult for him to adjust to.
Correct
: Accustomed to getting up early, he
had no difficulty adjusting to the new schedule.
Incorrect : After finishing his speech, the audience was
invited to ask questions.
Correct
: After finishing his speech, he invited
the audience to ask questions.
Problem
16 Verbal Modifier – Infinitives
of Purpose to Introduce Instructions
An infinitive that expresses
purpose may be used as an introductory verbal modifier. Remember that a verb
word follows the infinitive. The verb word expresses a manner to accomplish the
purpose.
Avoid using a noun or to with
an -ing form instead of the infinitive of purpose. Avoid using an -ing
form or a passive construction after an introductory verbal modifier.
Examples:
Incorrect: To protect yourself from dangerous exposure
to the sun’s rays, using a sun screen.
Correct : To
protect yourself from dangerous exposure to the sun’s rays, use a
sun screen.
Incorrect: Prepare for the TOEFL, study thirty minutes
everyday for several months.
Correct : To
prepare for the TOEFL, study thirty minutes everyday for several
months.
Incorrect: In order to take advantage of low air fares,
to buy your tickets well in advance.
Correct : In
order to take advantage of low air fares, buy your tickets well
in advance.
Incorrect: To taking action pictures, always use a high-speed
film.
Correct : To
take action pictures, always use a high-speed film.
Incorrect: The send letters and packages from the United
States overseas, use Global Mail or DHL Delivery.
Correct : To
send letters and packages from the United States overseas, use
Global Mail or DHL Delivery
PROBLEMS
WITH PARALLEL STRUCTURE
Parallel structure means
expressing ideas of equal importance with the same grammatical
structures.
Problem
17 Parallel
Structure – In a Series
In all patterns, ideas of equal
importance should be expressed by the same grammatical structure. Avoid
expressing ideas in a series with different structures.
Problem
18 Parallel Structure – After Correlative
Conjunctions
Remember that ideas of equal
importance are introduced by correlative conjunctions: both … and
not only … but also
Avoid
expressing ideas after correlative conjunctions with different structures.
Examples
:
Incorrect: She is not only famous in the United States
but also abroad.
Correct : She
is famous not only in the United States but also abroad.
Incorrect: The exam tested both listening and to read.
Correct : The
exam tested both listening and reading.
Incorrect: He is not only intelligent but also he is
creative.
Correct : He
is not only intelligent but also creative.
Incorrect: Flying is not only faster but also it is
safer than traveling by car.
Correct :
Flying is not only faster but also safer than traveling by car.
Incorrect: John registered for both Electrical
Engineering 500 and to study Mathematics 390.
Correct : John
registered for both Electrical Engineering 500 and Mathematics
390.
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