Reading Comprehension

Important notes:

#1 Quoting

If quoting, write the answer(s) in exactly the same way it is shown in the passage.

If the word is the beginning of the sentence as in "Oblivious, he continued on his way.", you will need to write it as "Oblivious" and not as "oblivious"

The same applies for quoting a three-word phrase. If the phrase is 'Good deserves good...", then it must be quoted as 'Good deserves good' and not as 'good deserves good'.

It is recommended that the student writes down the answer as It is as oppose to The three-word phrase is.

Tricky spelling

1. advertisment - advertisement 
2. theif - thief 
3. dissapper - disappear 
4. mishapes - mishaps 
5. However, when the photograph was developed later, a distinct shape
                                                         rippling
   could be seen emerging from the ripling water.  The picture suggested the head and
   
   
   neck of some strange water creature.  It was the first, blurred photograph of what
         come
   had came to be known as the Loch Ness Monster.
6. immense
   months.  Most described an imense creature with a humped back and a long,
                                                                                                                            proof
   snakelike neck.  The surgeon’s photograph now seemed to offer substantial prove
   
   
   that the monster existed.   
   
   

Should it be between you and I or between you and me? 

Between is a preposition, just as on, above, over, and of are prepositions. Because prepositions usually either describe a relationship, or show possession, they don’t act alone; they often answer questions like Where? and When? For example, if I said, “Keep that secret between you and me,” between describes where the secret is to be kept. If I said, “I'll tell you the secret on July 5,” on describes when the secret will be revealed.

So, instead of acting alone, prepositions are part of prepositional phrases. In those example sentences, between you and me and on July 5 are prepositional phrases. And it's just a rule that pronouns following prepositions in those phrases are always in the objective case (1). When you're using the objective case, the correct pronoun is me, so the correct prepositional phrase is between you and me. - See more at: http://www.quickanddirtytips.com/education/grammar/between-you-and-me?page=1#sthash.GeRp3RhE.dpuf

Most grammarians are sympathetic to people who say between you and I because it's considered a hypercorrection. The theory is that people have been so traumatized by being corrected when they say things such as Ashley and me went to the mall instead of Ashley and I went to the mall that they incorrectly correct between you and me to between you and I (2, 3, 4). I don't have anything against Jessica Simpson. I know I indirectly picked on her last week too because she was in the video I posted on the blog showing George Bush saying, “nuclear power pants.” But if remembering that her song “Between You and I” is wrong helps you remember the rule, then she's done a service to the world. - See more at: http://www.quickanddirtytips.com/education/grammar/between-you-and-me?page=1#sthash.GeRp3RhE.dpuf

From http://www.quickanddirtytips.com/education/grammar/between-you-and-me?page=1

References

1. Strumpf, M. and Douglas, A. The Grammar Bible. New York: Henry Holt and Company, 2004,  p. 208.
2. Garner, B. A. Garner's Modern American Usage. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2003, p. 100.
3. HiDuke, J. “Frequently Asked Questions.” Dr. Grammar Website. 2001, www.drgrammar.org/faqs/ (accessed June 25, 2007).
4. Brians, P. “I/You/Me.” Common Errors in English. wsu.edu/~brians/errors/myself.html (accessed June 25, 2007).

Tricky Synthesis and Transformation Questions

1. Peter has failed his driving test nine times. He does not give up hope. 

Despite the fact that Peter has failed his driving test nine times, he does not give up hope.

OR

Despite having failed his driving test nine times, Peter does not give up hope. 

2. "Did you go to London to watch the Olympics?" James asked his cousin.

James asked his cousin if/whether he had gone to London to watch the Olympics. 

3. Neither Sonny and Cher likes to eat sushi. 

Both Sonny and Cher do not like to eat sushi. 

                              OR 

Both Sonny and Cher dislike eating sushi.

4. Both Lisa and Mary disagree with John’s view on recycling.
   Ans: Neither Lisa nor Mary agrees with John’s view on recycling.

5. If Tim is not attentive during the lesson, he will make many mistakes in his homework.

Ans: 

• Tim will make many mistakes in his homework unless he is attentive during the lesson.  
• Tim will not make many mistakes unless he is inattentive during the lesson. (A little convoluted with the double negatives)
• Tim will make many mistakes in his homework, unless he is attentive during the lesson. (1m - comma is unnecessary) 1m 
• Tim would make many mistakes in his homework unless he is attentive during the lesson.  - 1m 
• Tim will make many mistakes in his homework unless he is attentive during (missing ‘the’) lesson. - 1m

1.         Mr Tan is reserving three seats for the school play.

Three seats ________________________________________________ 

2. Gavin did not know how to fix his spoiled smartphone. He took it to a

           Singtel outlet.

           Not _______________________________________________________  

3.       If you do not remember your dance routine thoroughly, you will need to start all over again.

__________________________________________________ otherwise

            __________________________________________________________.

4.         The Gomez twins do not want to play in the football match. Nathan also

does not want to play in it.

            Neither____________________________________________________ 

5.         Regina is coached by Vanessa. She wants to be a tennis champion.

_____________________________________________________whom

            __________________________________________________________. 

Answer Key 

1.    Three seats for the school play are being reserved by Mr Tan. 

Three seats are being reserved for the school play by Mr Tan.

Three seats are being reserved by Mr Tan for the school play.

Unacceptable:

Three seats are reserved for the school play by Mr Tan.

Three seats is reserved for the school play by Mr Tan.

Three seats have been reserved for the school play by Mr Tan.

Three seats were reserved for the school play by Mr Tan.

2.   Not knowing how to fix his spoiled smartphone, Gavin took it to a Singtel outlet.  

Unacceptable:

Not knowing how to fix his smartphone, Gavin took it to a Singtel outlet. 

Not only did Gavin not know how to fix his spoiled smartphone, but he also took it to a Singtel outlet.

3.    You should remember your dance routine thoroughly, otherwise you will need to start all over again.  

Remember your dance routine thoroughly otherwise you will need to start all over again.

You have to remember your dance routine thoroughly otherwise you will need to start all over again.

You must remember your dance routine thoroughly otherwise you will need to start all over again.

Unacceptable:

Do not forget your dance routine otherwise you will need to start all over again.

You need to remember your dance routine otherwise you will need to start all over again.

You had better remember your dance routine thoroughly otherwise you will need to start all over again.

You should remember your dance routine thoroughly, otherwise you would need to start all over again. 

4.   Neither the Gomez twins nor Nathan wants to play in the football match.

or

Neither Nathan nor the Gomez twins want to play in the football match.  

Unacceptable:

Neither the Gomez twins nor Nathan wanted to play in the football match.

Neither the Gomez twins nor Nathan want to play in the football match.

5.  Regina whom Vanessa coaches wants to be a tennis champion.  

      Regina whom Vanessa is coaching wants to be a tennis champion.

Unacceptable:

Regina whom was coached by Vanessa wants to be a tennis champion.

Regina whom is coached by Vanessa wants to be a tennis champion.

Regina whom wants to be a tennis champion is coached by Vanessa. 

6. Devi completed the jigsaw puzzle within a day as she was enthusiastic about it.

Due to _____________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

Both appear acceptable: 

Due to Devi’s enthusiasm about the jigsaw puzzle, she completed it within a day.

Due to Devi’s enthusiasm for the jigsaw puzzle, she completed it within a day.