Search results for 'tag:Universities tag:Nouns' matching tags 'Universities' and 'Nouns'

Re: Would you correct my English?

Avangi — Sun, 21 Sep 2008 03:12:42 GMT

Hi,

I see only a couple of minor things. I've never heard "It's an ecology," before. If it's a subclass of the biological discipline, you haven't given us its name. That is, if the university offers a number of different majors within the ecology department, you might say, "It's an ecology," or "it's one of the ecology majors," but there should be a better way.

If your major was in the arts or the fine arts, you could conceivably say, "It's one of the arts: specifically, modern dance."

Perhaps I'm just looking at a typo. Perhaps you intended, "It's in ecology," meaning, "I'm majoring in ecology." (I'm not sure about capitalization.)

"and propose how to improve it." I sense a missing link here. I think we propose/suggest nouns. "propose ways to improve it"

I think we "explain" how.

- A.

Tracking the mountain lion (Gapped sentences, CAE)

Tanit — Sat, 13 Sep 2008 13:16:58 GMT

This quiz is given by the University of Cambridge as a free sample of Paper 1 (Reading), Part 2 (Gapped Sentences) of the ESOL Cambridge Certificate in Advanced English (CAE).

This type of test assesses how well candidates understand the structure of the text and the development of the theme (so pay attention to demonstrative pronouns and adjectives, time references, sequence of verb tenses etc.)

You are going to read an extract from a magazine article. Six paragraphs have been removed from the extract. Choose from the paragraphs A â G the one which fits each gap (1-6). There is one extra paragraph which you do not need to use.

Good luck!

___________________________________

Tracking the mountain lion

Rupert Isaacson joins a volunteer project to protect mountain lions in Idaho, USA.

[test]
After two hours of trudging up the mountainside through deep snowdrifts, the dogs began to bark. There, in our path, was what weâd been looking for: the paw print of a mountain lion. It belonged to a female that had recently passed by. Kevin and Ken, the houndsmen, consulted briefly with John, the biologist, while the four hounds whimpered with excitement, straining at their leads, eager to begin the chase.
1 "D|A|B|C|E|F|G"
I carried one of the two rifles, followed by a pilot lugging measuring instruments, and a doctor and a postman struggling with cameras and radio antennae. Six others puffed and panted their way behind us, all of them â like me â professional cityfolk unused to such strenuous exertion.
2 "F|A|B|C|D|E|G"
When we finally caught up with the dogs they were bunched up at a rock, behind which an angry female mountain lion snarled and spat, swiping with its claws. We kept back, ready to run if it made a bid for freedom, while John crept down the mountain behind it. Having approached the lion quietly from below, he took his rifle from his bag, loaded it, took aim and shot.
3 "A|B|C|D|E|F|G"
We moved in, briskly efficient, photographing, measuring and weighing as John had taught us. Having changed the battery in its radio-collar, we brought the silken-coated creature round with an injection. Snarling and unsteady, it slunk away into cover and we began the long trek down the mountain.
4 "C|A|B|D|E|F|G"
However, our initial prejudices soon faded, as we realised the pair had more in common with us than weâd thought, and as the skill and dedication which they put into the project became apparent. This was most noticeable the next day, when our task was to provide a mother and cubs with new batteries in their collars. As we reached the point in the canyon where the pines grew thickest, suddenly a large male lion went streaking across the snowy plain. Ken and Kevin set off through the sagebrush.
5 "G|B|A|C|D|E|F"
While this was happening, Ken and Kevin crept up behind and tried to drop a pitifully small lasso â made from the dogsâ leads â over the lionâs head. Sensing their presence, the animal whirled around, slashing with its claws. I went in with the hounds again, and a surreal dance developed.
6 "B|A|C|D|E|F|G"
Of course it wasnât always so dramatic â many of our days in the mountains were quite mundane. But for me, the best thing about the trip was watching hunters and environmentalists sharing an adventure and putting money and energy into conservation, all the while showing that really they are two sides of the same coin.[/test]

_____________________________________________

HERE ARE THE PARAGRAPHS YOU CAN CHOOSE FROM:

A The dart hit the lioness in the back of the leg. It flinched, growled and then turned sleepily back to the hounds. Like a tiring boxer, its slashing movements became slower and slower until it slumped into the snow, unconscious.

B Finally, on the fifth or sixth try, the houndsmen managed to drop the restraint over the lionâs head and tie it around a sagebrush trunk. Quickly and efficiently they did the same with one of its hind legs, then I helped them to sit on the protesting lion until John arrived with the tranquilliser.

C On the way, John told me he had recruited Ken and Kevin, two hunters, to assist in the lion study because of their local knowledge. At first my fellow volunteers felt uncomfortable with this. How could these men kill animals one day, then try to protect them the next?

D The men exchanged nods, then bent down to set the animals loose. And with a whoop, they were off, bounding through the snow, leaving the rest of us to lumber after them, each laden with his allotted encumbrance.

E Kevin barely had time to reply before the lion reached out a massive paw and swiped at the rifle. With impressive speed, John seized his own rifle, and â what seemed like a split-second later â the creature lay motionless on the ground, a tranquilliser dart in its tawny side.

F This motley crew formed the ten-strong paying volunteer group taking part in a University of Idaho study into the effect of habitat fragmentation on wildlife. Our task was to radio-collar mountain lions and gather data on their feeding habits, with the ultimate aim of persuading state authorities to curb urban growth and adopt more wildlife-friendly forestry practices.

G They sprinted effortlessly over the rocky ground, while I stumbled along in their wake. After five kilometres we spotted the lion. âQuick,â said Ken, thrusting the houndsâ collars into my hand. âYou distract it for a moment.â Scarcely able to believe what I was doing, I found myself letting the straining dogs lunge at the lion just enough to make it come at us, then jumping back in time to avoid its claws.

Re: Are noun adjunct modifiers accepted in current English usage?

Clive — Thu, 11 Sep 2008 14:23:43 GMT

Hi,
I will give you an example of the puzzle : at the University of Glasgow (not Glasgow University), you have a Faculty of Physical sciences (not Physical sciences Faculty), a Department of Geographical and Earth Sciences (not Geographical and Earth Sciences Department) I don't see anything wrong with the alternatives in brackets, although obviously they have not been chosen as the official names. If someone at the University used one of the bracketed terms in everyday conversation, I don't think anyone would think that sounded odd.

but a Human Geography Research Group (not a Research Group of Human Geography)... ' Yes, ' . . Group of . . .' does sound awkward. However, '. . . Group for . . ' sounds OK and is not uncommon.

I feel really that such things are just a matter of what is common usage. Some things we say, some things we don't say.

Best wishes, Clive

Re: Are noun adjunct modifiers accepted in current English usage?

Anonymous — Thu, 11 Sep 2008 08:52:19 GMT

Thank you for your answer! ("Unit" stands for a subgroup of a department, like a research group.)
I will give you an example of the puzzle : at the University of Glasgow (not Glasgow University), you have a Faculty of Physical sciences (not Physical sciences Faculty), a Department of Geographical and Earth Sciences (not Geographical and Earth Sciences Department) but a Human Geography Research Group (not a Research Group of Human Geography)...
Any comment ?

Re: Are noun adjunct modifiers accepted in current English usage?

Clive — Wed, 10 Sep 2008 15:09:27 GMT

Hi guys,
Here are a couple of comments..

I am also wondering a little about noun adjuncts for the moment regarding administrative or organisational bodies.
I guess that there is maybe no absolute answer but it seems that general use is accepted for some kind of bodies and not for others.
I mean that you say usually "department of physics" and not "physics department".I see nothing wrong with 'physics department'. In fact, my guess is that it would be the more common of the two, at least in speech.

It is the same for "university" or "institute".
What about "unit" ? Would you say "unit of physics" or "physics unit" ? 'Unit of physics' sounds extremely unnatural to me. I'd have some trouble understanding your meaning if I heard this.

Best wishes, Clive

Re: Are noun adjunct modifiers accepted in current English usage?

Anonymous — Wed, 10 Sep 2008 14:58:23 GMT

Maybe should we use "unit of physics" because it is a peculiar unit (only one unit of physics in a given university) ? By opposition to "research group" (and not "group of research") for example which is a general term (many research group can exist).

Re: Are noun adjunct modifiers accepted in current English usage?

Anonymous — Wed, 10 Sep 2008 14:10:47 GMT

I am also wondering a little about noun adjuncts for the moment regarding administrative or organisational bodies.
I guess that there is maybe no absolute answer but it seems that general use is accepted for some kind of bodies and not for others.
I mean that you say usually "department of physics" and not "physics department". It is the same for "university" or "institute".
What about "unit" ? Would you say "unit of physics" or "physics unit" ?

Re: English article and proper noun

Cool Breeze — Fri, 05 Sep 2008 08:05:28 GMT

Jim makes sense! I would just like to correct one thing in your post, Anon. I have never said that the should be used if a name contains common nouns. Leaving out the is common if a name consists of nothing but common nouns. However, it is very common to omit the article in names that consist of a proper noun + a common noun: Buckingham Palace, Helsinki University, Gatwick Airport, London Bridge.

Introduction:tense correction

Anonymous — Tue, 02 Sep 2008 05:35:08 GMT

Hi, Please correct this. I am particularly troubled by the choice of using the present and present perfect tenses in situations like this. Please tell me why you would use the past, rather than the present perfect.

Brief biography:

John Doe has graduated (graduated??) from *** University in the U.S. with the Bachelor of Art degree in honors, and a Master of Art degree from the same institution. Before coming to ***, he has worked (worked??) as site coordinator for international conferences as a government employee in ***. Prior to that, he was involved in teaching science in many high schools in the U.S. HIs current hobbies include cooking and jogging with his three-old Chihuhua, which he bought when he was entralled by the grand, loud sounds it makes when it beseeches for good dog food.

Also, I am somewhat lost as to what is the guideline on using just the adjective to denote a noun that has the definte article 'the' in front of it, like the below. I think I have seen more than enough adjectives being used to refer to nouns that are preceded by words like 'best', 'expensive', 'good', etc. I understand you can write 'the best' to denote 'the best people'.

John Doe purchased the most expensive pizza in town for *** dollars. He remind us that when you want the best and the expensive, you must shell out the money or you won't able to taste the quality the best and expensive have to offer.

Re: Article usage: proper noun and uncountable noun correspondence?

Cool Breeze — Sun, 24 Aug 2008 08:57:58 GMT

1. It may be unwise to say that something can be done to all proper nouns in English because there seem to be so many exceptions to every rule. However, using a and the with proper nouns in certain contexts is normal. The of-genitive - or of structure - or whatever you prefer to call it often requires the:

the England of my dreams

An adjectival attribute is a common reason for a:

We saw a sad George Bush on television last night.

He wants to live in a different England.

2. The names of cemeteries are not listed in grammar books as requiring the. Moreover, it is normal that if a name is made up of a proper noun plus a common noun, no article is used:

Gatwick Airport, Oslo University, London Bridge, Westminster Abbey