Key to exercises Unit 5
III. Language Work
1. Explain the underlined part in each sentence in your own words.
1). For my own part, I consider it as nothing less than a question of freedom or slavery. ? the very same thing as
2). And in proportion to the magnitude of the subject ought to be the freedom of the debate. ? appropriately in agreement with
3). We have held the subject up in every light of which it is capable. ? considered and tried every means in order to deal with the subject
4). …if we make a proper use of those means which the God of nature hath placed in our power. ? has given us at our disposal
5). Three millions of people, armed in the holy cause of liberty, … ? with liberty as our ultimate aim to fight for 6). The battle, sir, is not to the strong alone. ? is not destined to be won by
2. Fill in each blank with one of the two words from each pair in their appropriate forms and note the difference of meaning between them.
solace console
Explanation: Console suggests the attempt to make up for a loss by offering something in its place, as well as the effort of one person to mitigate the serious grief felt by another. Solace might sound more precious than comfort and it suggests a tender intensity of fellow-feeling. 1). She was consoled to think that she at least had an understanding husband to turn to. 2). The soldiers attempted to solace his wounded comrades by minimizing the extent of their 3). They tried to console him for losing the prize by taking him to the theatre. 4). They solaced their wretchedness, however, by duets after supper.
petition plead
Explanation: Both words refer to a humble, deferential, urgent, or formal request for help. Plead suggests a dignified humility, stressing an urgency. Petition suggests a formal address to authority, usually referring to the backing up of a request by the signed approval of others. 1). All the four convicts pleaded guilty but appealed for leniency. 2). In the face of questioning by the police, he pleaded ignorance of the bottle of white powder in his suitcase.
3). The Church of Scotland petitioned the home secretary for stronger controls on adolescent drug use.
4). All delegates to the convention were petitioning the government to take tough measures against illegal coal-mining.
More…
request: to ask for something politely (not used with the actual words spoken). appeal: to ask strongly for help, support, money, etc. beseech: to ask eagerly and anxiously
implore: to ask someone in a begging manner for sth or doing sth.
base (adj.) mean
Explanation: Both words are alike in describing persons or actions regarded as being far below common worth or dignity. Mean suggests a contemptible smallness of mind, or a petty, ungenerous nature, while base is used to condemn what is openly evil, selfish, dishonourable or otherwise immoral.
1). He is the meanest person I ever know. He is never willing to spend a cent on other people. 2). Rapton reached the final; that was no mean achievement, considering all 50 classes took part in the competition.
3). The soldier was accused of base cowardice during the confrontation. 4). The cheat was base enough to swindle a sick widow out of her life's savings.
delusive misleading
Explanation: The two words refer to the giving or receiving of mistaken impressions. Misleading is restricted to something that is apt to give a false impression, and it can also apply to great or small potential misapprehensions, whether fostered intentionally, unintentionally, or without any intent whatever. Delusive suggests mistaken impressions or a self-imposed belief that corresponds to one's own wishes or needs.
1). A terminally ill patient usually has a delusive faith in a wonder drug. 2). There is nothing true about such an expectation; it is only delusive and vain.
3). It was a misleading advertisement that deliberately left out the drug's side effects. 4). The ambassador referred to the report as deceitful and misleading.
3. Fill in the blank in each sentence with a word or phrase taken from the box, using its appropriate form.
magnitude forge formidable snare temporal prostrate array anguish invincible revere remonstrate subjugation
1). Her manner is friendly and relaxed and much less formidable than she appears at her after-game press conference.
2). Nothing has ever equaled the magnitude and speed with which the human species is altering the physical and chemical world and demolishing the environment.
3). When heated, the mixture becomes soft and malleable and can be formed by various techniques into a vast array of shapes and sizes. 4). Where I part company with him, however, is over the link he forges between science and liberalism.
5). Percy was lying prostrate, his arms outstretched and his eyes closed. 6). Given data which are free from bias, there are further snares to avoid in statistical work. 7). In pragmatics, the study of speech, one is able to see how specific acts are related to a temporal and spatial context. 8). His dad might have been able to say something solacing, had he not been fighting back his own flood of anguish.
4. Make a sentence of your own for each of the given words with meanings other than those used in the text. You may change the part of speech of these words.
1). chain
? No matter how we, my mum and I, protest, my dad chain-smokes as long as he is awake. 2). terms
? The meeting ended on reasonably amicable terms. 3). slight
? That doesn't interest me in the slightest. 4). plain
? It is plain truth that we can't afford a deluxe car, so we have to make do with this old gas guzzler.
5). entertain
? Children's programs on TV should aim to both educate and entertain at the same time. 6). cause
? The causes are a blend of local and national tensions.
5. Rewrite the following sentences in such a way as to avoid dangling non-finite clauses. 1). He painted so well that he astonished every one of us. ?? He painted so well, to the astonishment of every one of us. 2). Every precaution was taken so that the plan might not fail. ?? Every precaution was taken against the failure of the plan. 3). If it had not been for Jack, they would have lost the football game. ?? But for Jack, they would have lost the football game.
4). I must remind you that you have a responsibility towards your children. ?? I must remind you of your responsibility towards your children. 5). The committee has decided that the meeting be postponed. ?? The committee has decided on postponing the meeting. 6). No one is sorry that Peter has resigned. ?? No one is sorry about Peter's resignation.
7). They will never get there unless they walk a long way. ? ? They will never get there without walking a long way. 8). We were amused that you met the Harrisons there. ?? We were amused at your meeting the Harrisons there.
9). Though he had an immense fortune, he died a most unhappy man. ?? For all / Despite his immense fortune, he died a most unhappy man.
10). Clear evidence showed that smoking was harmful to one's health, but people still refused to believe that.
?In spite of / Despite the clear evidence showing that smoking was harmful to one's health, people still refused to believe it. Note: A prepositional phrase consists of a preposition followed by a prepositional complement,