Fourteenth Meeting

The fact that most Americans live in urban areas does not mean that they reside in the center of large cities. In fact, more Americans live in the suburbs of large metropolitan areas than in the cities themselves.

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.