<p>Hey guys. I got these 2 questions wrong while doing some practice sections. Please provide an answer explanation for each answer. I put and a list for the choices. Thanks. </p>
<ol>
<li>[Some] people, [when faced] with the great suffering throughout the world, [take] action and donate time, money, and effort to help others find some [relief of] suffering. </li>
</ol>
<p>Choices:
A. Some
B. when faced
C. take
D. relief of
E. No error</p>
<p>Answer: D</p>
<ol>
<li>A pioneering scholar [of] anthropology, Ruth Benedict [was also] a spokesperson [against] ethnic bigotry [which] recognized that cultures influence ideas about gender.</li>
</ol>
<p>Choices:
A. of
B. was also
C. against
D. which
E. No error</p>
<ol>
<li><p>“of” is not a correct preposition for the word relief. You cannot find relief “of” something, you can only find relief “in” something. I know thats not really a solid rule, but its hard to explain, you just have to get used to the agreeing prepositions. </p></li>
<li><p>“Which” refers to Ruth Benedict, who is a person. When referring to a person, you have to use “who”.</p></li>
</ol>
<p>Thanks for the prompt reply. I understand what you are saying. For question 2, I thought ‘which’ modified ethnic bigotry. But it actually modified Ruth Benedict. So I understand that better. Question 1 is an idiom question. I always have trouble with these. How can I learn how to recognize these errors?</p>
<p>When I was taking a course, my instructor was very vague about it. Someone else might be able to define it better, but in a sense, you simply have to get a feel for this kind of thing. You have to practice it, like a math question, until you can just recognize them. So take practice tests, look for sample questions, and if you get one wrong, try to memorize the structure.</p>
<p>I have another question. I checked the answer but it is A. I don’t think A is valid, because it is not an independent clause. I think the answer should be an independent clause, because it is set off by a " , and ." Here is the question:</p>
<p>The method of printing fabric called batik originated in Southeast Asia; wax is applied to patterned areas, and [then boiled off after dyeing.]</p>
<p>Choices:
A. then boiled off after dyeing
B. then, after dyeing, it is boiled off
C. later it is boiled off after dyeing
D. after which, dyers boil it off
E. then it is boiled off after its dyeing</p>
<p>Can someone please explain to me why it is A? Thanks you.</p>
<p>The word “relief” can also be used with the preposition “from.” One would normally seek “relief from” pain, suffering, or another unpleasant condition. One would find “relief in” a pleasant pastime or supportive group. (It is possible that British English uses “relief in” more broadly, but American English does not.)</p>
<p>The use of prepositions in English is not really an issue of idioms, although many people on CC refer to it in that way. Certain prepositions accompany certain words in correct English usage. Idioms are phrases that do not have a literal interpretation–they are somewhat like metaphors that have been used so commonly that no one would recognize their usage as literary.</p>
<p>For your new question, A is ok as an answer. This construction involves an enthymeme–a word or phrase that is omitted from the written sentence, but supplied “in thought.” In this case, the word “is” should be supplied enthymemically before “boiled off.” So the second part of the statement means
“wax is applied to patterned areas and [is] then boiled off after dyeing.”
The comma would be dropped when the enthymeme is included explicitly.</p>
<p>This one seems fairly tricky to me. Commas are often used in place of an omitted word in enthymemic constructions, but normally, they go in the spot where the omitted word belongs. Your general idea that a clause followed by “, and” should be completed with a second clause is correct. In this case, I think that the comma has been included under the general provision that commas can be inserted “wherever they assist with clarity.” Of course, this creates a lot of problems of its own!</p>
<p>Thanks for answering my previous questions. Thank you QuantMech for answering my most recent question. I have another writing question.</p>
<p>[At] the reception [were] the [chattering] guests, the three-tiered cake, and the lively music that have become [characteristic of] many wedding celebrations. </p>
<p>Choices:
A. at
B. were
C. chattering
D. characteristic of
E. No error</p>
<p>Answer: E</p>
<p>Shouldn’t it be D because ‘characteristic’ must be plural. I think it should be ‘characteristics of’ because there are three items in the list and it has an ‘and’. Why is it E?</p>
<p>“Characteristic” in that sentence is an adjective, not a noun. It means “typical.”</p>
<p>Here are different ways of saying the same thing:</p>
<p>“Red and green are characteristic colors of Christmas.”
“Red and green are typical colors of Christmas.”
“The colors red and green are characteristic of Christmas.”
“The colors red and green are typical of Christmas.”</p>
<p>“The colors red and green are characteristics of Christmas.”
“The colors red and green are traits of Christmas.”</p>
<p>A lot of adjectives end in -ic like characteristic: rustic, historic, scientific. Some can also be nouns, like characteristic: graphic, epic, diabetic.</p>
<p>I have another question. This one surprised me. I didn’t write down the rest of the sentence, but here is part of it. I forgot the rest of the sentence. </p>
<p>[No one was more pleased than I] when we heard that Maria…</p>
<p>I didn’t write the choices, but I think that it should have been “pleased than me.” But it is correct as is. Why is “pleased than I” correct?</p>
<p>The word “than” is not a preposition in this case. There is a missing “was” that is understood in this construction, which is equivalent to “No one was more pleased than I [was]”</p>
<p>Thanks QuantMech. In my last question, the error had to do with pronoun case. But I have another question.</p>
<p>[For much] of the last century, the building industry relied heavily on the availability of timber, but [now that] forest resources are being [depleted rapidly], builders must decide what to do about [it].</p>
<p>The error is [it]. I don’t understand what is wrong. I thought “it” would be singular since it modifies “timber.” Can someone please explain to me? Thanks.</p>
<p>“it” doesn’t modify timber. It is supposed to modify the problem that the sentence is suggesting but since the problem that is being stated is not explicit, “it” doesn’t have a clear antecedent and thus incorrect</p>
<p>I would guess that “it” is considered to make an indefinite reference. Builders must decide what to do about the depletion of forest resources, because they have relied heavily on the availability of timber. CB may not like the use of a pronoun to refer to a clause that states the problem (“forest resources are being depleted rapidly”). It’s the depletion of the resources, as opposed to the forest resources themselves that forces the builders to make tough decisions. You could argue that the “availability of timber” or “timber” is the antecedent of “it,” and it would be reasonable to make that argument. The difficulty is that the “but” clause intervenes. Also, it’s really the lack of timber, or its unavailability, that’s the problem. </p>
<p>This is all really justification after the fact, though, since you have said that “it” is the error in the sentence. I have to admit that I would probably have considered this sentence correct, otherwise.</p>