Rewrite – 40 minutes (part 2)

Some people think that [all school students should learn a foreign language]. Others [think that a student should not be required to learn a foreign language if he or she does not have talent for it].

Discuss both these views and give your own opinion.

Paraphrase:

Nowadays most school students are required to learn at least one foreign language as part of their studies.

Thesis:

A lot of people support this practice, while others hold the view that a student should not be required to learn a foreign language if he or she does not have talent in it.

[side a – why we should learn a foreign language!]

It is understandable that so many parents and teachers think that a student should learn a foreign language. They believe that in this increasingly globalized world, foreign language skills are indeed important if a student is to become a knowledgeable and socially-respected person. In addition to that, mastering a foreign language will give a student a distinct advantage over others who are monolingual, enabling him or her to have more choices and opportunities later in life, especially in terms of college educationa dn employment.

[side b – should not be required]

However, people who think a student should not be required to learn a foreign language do have a point. They argue that students should be given the right to make their own decisions on this issue based on their own interests, talents and life goals. They also claim that knowledge of a foreign language is not absolutely essential for a student’s future success, career-related or otherwise, and that it therefore should not be compulsory for a student to learn a foreign language at school if he or she has no interest or talent in it.

[give your own opinion]

Personally, I tend to side with the view that a student should be given the right to decide whether or not to learn a foreign language. I do think a student should be forced to study a second language when he or she has absolutely no talent or interest in it. At the end of the day, without foreign language skills, a student can still become a well-balanced, intelligent and successful person. In shortr, foreign language skills are indeepd important, but they are in no way essential. I think foreign languages courses should be listed as optional at school. For students who choose not to study any foreign language at school, they can always start learning one later in their life when they genuinely feel they want or need to.

Task 1:
The bar chart shows the amount of foreign direct investment in India and China from 2014 and 2019.
Summarize the information by selecting and reporting the main features, and make comparisons where relevant.

Cut it into small pieces. Divide and Conquer. Describe accurately.

Introduction – Paraphrase the problem

The bar chart shows the amount of foreign direct investment in India and China from 2014 and 2019.

The bar chart shows = The chart illustrates

the amount of foreign direct investment =
the level of outside investment in the economies

in India and China from 2014 and 2019. = of India and China between 2014 and 2019.

The chart illustrates the level of outside investment in the economies of India and China between 2014 and 2019.

Overview – “Overall, [ruler method –> trend 1, trend 2]”

Ruler Method – put a ruler and try to match as many of the graphs as you can. That is general, overall trend.

Key – Look for 2 to 3 most obvious main features.

Overall,

Obvious trend 1 from Ruler Method:
trend 1 – expenditure in China declined steadily throughout the period but fluctuated in India.

Obvious thing 2 from Ruler Method:
trend 2 – Despite this, the total amount of money that flowed into China was higher than in India.

Overall, expenditure in China declined steadily throughout the period but fluctuated in India. Despite this, the total amount of money that flowed into China was higher than in India.

Details Paragraph

A – China

The Chinese economy received just under eight billion in 2014, which fell to around sixty billion in 2015 and 2016.

After a slight decrease in 2017, there was a massive resurgence to a high point of more than $100 billion in 2018 before receding to just over $40 billion in 2019.

B – India

In 2014, foreign outlays into India’s economy reached more than twenty billion, then rose significantly to approximately sixty billion in 2015 and 2016 before falling back to 2014 levels in 2017.

In 2018, there was another dramatic increase to just below sixty billion, before returning to around twenty billion in 2019.

Last paragraph – compare more specific data

2015 was the only year India’s investment exceeded that of China’s, with values slightly over sixty billion and values slight below sixty billion, respectively.

Use vocabulary to describe Data

steadily
decline
fluctuate
recede
resurge (resurgence)
rose significantly
reached more
dropped
fallen
increased dramatically
slightly over
approximately

Part 2 Writing Tips

40 minutes

More and more people people are shifting to a plant-based diet.

Why is this case?

Do you think is a positive or negative development?

Make sure you answer the prompt and address it!

Must address both questions

If given a present continuous verb in the statement..

Laser pinpoint the question.

For example, the question is not asking why people do not eat meat.

The question is asking why people “MOVE” from meat to plant based diet.
Another point is “Why now”?

Intro

Paraphrase the topic: More and more people people are shifting to a plant-based diet:

“Many cultures have followed a meat-based diet, but an increasing number of people are now replacing meat products in their diet with plant based foods.”

What will it do?

“This essay will examine the key drivers of this trend and argue that is it mostly a positive development.”

So we will examine the key drivers (why is this case?) in the body paragraphs.

Notice how it answers the question Do you think is a positive or negative development?

Task Response

A clear position is presented which directly answers the questions. The thesis statement must show that the candidate is going to answer BOTH questions and that they have a clear position.

Body Paragraph 1

Make sure your body paragraphs are:

• Ideas are relevant
• Fully extended
• Well Supported

Mini-thesis answers the first question (We need to answer “Why is this the case?”):

The most common reasons for becoming a vegan seem to be based on ethical or environmental concerns.

and provides two clear reasons:

reason 1 – ethical/environment concerns
extension – practices involved in large-scale meat and dairy farming.
examples – inhumane conditions in which some animals are raised and killed.

reason 2 – livestock farming’s contribution to deforestation.
extension – compared to that of growing plant crops
examples – deforestation

Explains “why” the trend is happening NOW.
–> “By using in recent years”, and giving reasons that is related to today.

It answer all questions of “why”?

Use a range of grammatical structure

Body 2

Mini-thesis answers second question.

Positive and negative consequences.

Task Response – The prompt is addressed and explored in depth.
The candidate acknowledges that some aspects of more people adopting a plant-based diet may
not be as positive as others.

This shows a greater depth of exploration of the topic than stating it is wholly positive or negative.

Cohesion attracts lots of attention

Subordinate conjunctions

Firstly, for example, therefore, Secondly, as a result, however, thus.

Conclusion

• Task 2
• ~ 250 words

Some children spend hours every day on their smartphones. Why is this the case? Do you think this is a positive or a negative development?

– entertainment
– no parental guidance

thesis – Children spend too much time on their smartphones because it gives them cheap entertainment, and as a result leads to damages their eyes, stunts their growth, and takes precious time away from human interaction.

Intro

Since the early 2000s, smartphones have taken over the world. From students to professionals, smartphones have become everyone’s preferred tool of communication. Unfortunately, its long cables of influence have taken its toll on our most vunerable demographic: children. Children spend too much time on their smartphones because it offers them cheap entertainment admist non existant parents. This is a terrible phenomenon because it damages their eye sight, stunts their growth, and takes precious time away from human interaction.

Body 1

mini-thesis 1 – It is no secret that electronic screens can damage the human eye, especially children’s.

It is no secret that it takes both parents to make a livable salary now. As a result, the term latchkey kids is used to describe children who take the house keys to school so they can let themselves in when they return home. Both parents are working so the children must raise themselves.

As young children, they have no discipline, nor control over their impulses. Various games and cartoons are easily accessible from mobile phones. These latchkey kids would naturally glue their faces to smartphones. Electronic screens can damage the human eye, especially children’s. The white blare of the screen radiates against their tender eyes. Its white heat burns their retina, and after a while, their faces would scrunch together in order to lubricate their damaged eyelids. This is why optometrists would always encourage their young patients to put some distance between themselves and the screen, take more breaks, and always go outside to recalibrate their vision with the real world.

Body 2

mini-thesis 2 – Prolonged time in front of the screen ruins a child’s feeding and sleeping time.

Online games and cartoons are addictive and children often ignore their physical needs in order to keep watching. Growing Children need to eat on schedule and addictive entertainment can lead them astray. Instead of eating three to four meals a day, they would often eat too late or even skip meals in order to stay online. This is detrimental to their nutritional needs and therefore, their health. Even worse, children will play on smartphones late into the night. This is one of the worse problems to a child’s growth because it ruins their Circadian Rhythms.

Body 3

mini-thesis 3 – smartphones will steal the child’s life away.

Last but not least, smartphones will steal the child’s life away. With its addictive chat apps, games, and cartoons, technology today easily wipes away the child’s precious moments with the real world. A child needs positive human interaction to strive and learn. But if these important interactions are not given, the smartphone will create artificial memories with the child, rather than meaningful memories with humans. This will damage the child’s psyche after they mature and will create bad habits later on.

Conclusion

Smartphones and technology have been a detriment to our future generation. Smartphones damages their eyes, creates unhealthy living habits, and removes our children from the natural world. If this is a precursor to how our future generation will be raised, then we are in a world of trouble for what’s to come. Because happy adults who contribute to society are raised with lots of communication with their peers, family, and the natural world. And those who are raised without it, fare much worse.

• It may be possible that the farm’s produce will account for as much as 10% = In the urban environment you’re working with very significant practical constraints, clearly, on what you can do and where. But if enough unused space can be developed like this, there’s no reason why….

  account for as much as 10% of = there’s no reason why you shouldn’t eventually target maybe between 5% and 10% of consumption.

  city’s = In the urban environment

• When the remaining two thirds of the vast open area are in production, 20 staff will harvest up to 1000 kg of fruits, everyday.

  There will eventually be a daily harvest = When the remaining two thirds of the vast open area are in production
  of as much as 1000 kg in weight of fruit and vegetables = 20 staff will harvest up to 1000 kg of fruits.

• From identical vertical tubes nearby burst row upon row of lettuces; near those are aromatic herbs, such as basil, sage and peppermint.

  Vertical tubes = From identical vertical tubes
  are used to grow lettuce = burst row upon row of lettuces
  and herbs = near those are aromatic herbs, such as basil, sage and peppermint.

• An unmodified Doble Model E runs clean enough to pass the emissions laws in California today, and they are pretty strict.

  1) emissions laws
  2) strict emissions laws

• As the new Doble steamer was further developed and tested, its maximum speed was pushed to over a hundred miles per hour, and it achieved about fifteen miles per gallon of kerosene with negligible emissions.

  1) A later version of the Model E = As the new Doble steamer was further developed and tested
  2) raised its speed = its maximum speed was pushed to over a hundred mph
  3) keeping its emissions extremely low = it achieved about 14 miles/gallon with negligible emissions

Mock Test by Jet and Nick

Part 1

* to fix: Talk more about yourself in part 1

Where do you live?

How long have you lived there?

Which part of America?

Ohhh, interesting.

Has much has your hometown changed since you’ve been there?

Where do you plan to live in the future?

Is your city friendly for children and elders (elderly people)?

Do you often see your neighbors?

One neighbor?

Are they friendly people?

Have you ever learned to play a musical instrument

What instrument do you enjoy listening to the most?

Do you think children should learn to play an instrument?

How important is music as an actual subject?

Part 2

what films do you feel strongly about?

How often do you go to the cinema?

Do you think going to the movies is better with a friend?

Is going to the cinema still popular?

The popularity of going to the cinema has decreased compared to twenty years ago, primarily due to advancements in technology. Nowadays, individuals have the convenience of watching their favorite movies in the comfort of their own homes.

Streaming applications discreetly gather user preferences to tailor future content recommendations. Consequently, video content is now more aligned with the preferences of the viewers.

On the contrary, the film industry predominantely releases movies, but has no way to push these movies towards targeted audiences. This results in a mix of successful and unsuccessful productions. The cinema’s only advantage is that it has control over when its movies can be distributed to streaming services. A newly released movie is only available in theaters until its revenue stream from theatrical screenings has concluded.

What do you see in the future of cinema

The future of cinema depends on blockbusters because today’s society relies on streaming apps to watch their favorite movies. To ensure a steady flow of revenue, the movie industry must implement effective promotions for the latest movies. Eye-catching advertisements and gripping trailers generate excitement, anticipation, and a reluctance to wait for the film to be available on a streaming app.

How would you define a blockster?

A blockbuster is characterized by three factors: a substantial budget, a cast of renowned actors, or being an adaptation of a popular book.

Money enhances the superficial glamour of the movies by facilitating the creation of promotional materials like billboards and trailers, which serve to generate interest among the general public.

Audiences tend to gravitate towards their preferred actors and actresses. Analogous to guiding sheep across a meadow, movie stars attract a significant number of followers and supporters to the films in which they appear. This phenomenon entices viewers who may not have otherwise chosen to watch the movie.

Well-written novels and books are often utilized as inherent material for potential blockbuster films. This stems from the pre-existing loyal readership of the book. Leveraging this dedicated fan base for a cinematic adaptation typically leads to a successful blockbuster movie.

Do you think people can learn cultures through movies?

It is not reasonable to learn about other cultures by watching movies because movies do not reflect reality. The portrayal of a film is influenced by its commercial interests.

For instance, in The Last of the Samurai, the film effectively depicts The Edo Period during Feudal Japan. The purpose of the movie was to take the audience on an adventure, and it succeeds. The filmmakers aimed to provide their Western audiences with a sense of awe in order to immerse them in the experience of living during that time period. It portrayed the the Japanese People in an objective and realistic manner. This objective depiction is something the audience can appreciate.

On the other hand, there are numerous comedies and chick flicks that aim to attract audiences by exploiting other cultures. These movies often feature outlandish plots and rely on crude humor. They frequently depict other cultures in a negative manner through unfair caricatures. As a consequence, this practice has been harmful on the people belonging to the culture being misrepresented.

Until death do us part

Qu Yuan (Qu1 Yuan3) (Ancient state of Chu)

He was the number one advisor of the Kingdom of Chu.

He dedicated his whole life to assisting the king to build the State of Chu stronger.

dedicate (verb) – devote time or effort to a particular task or purpose.
dedication (noun) – the quality of being dedicated or committed to a task or purpose.

(one of the seven warring states: Qi, Chu, Yan, Han, Zhao, Wei, and Qin)

He advised the King to ally with the State of Qi to fight against the most powerful State of Qin. However, he was slandered by jealous officials and accused of treason, and the King dismissed and exiled him.

slander [诋毁 di2 hui3] (v) – make false and damaging statements about (someone)

The king decided to ally with the increasingly powerful state of Qin, Qu was banished for opposing the alliance and even accused of treason

During his exile, Qu Yuan wrote a great deal of enduring poems showing his love and passion for his country, some of which are still very famous in China.

In 278 BC, the Qin State conquered the capital of Chu. On hearing of the defeat, on the 5th day of the 5th lunar month, Qu Yuan in great despair committed suicide by drowning himself in the Miluo River (a branch of Yangtze River) as a gesture of dying along with his motherland.

The rest is legend… When they heard of Qu Yuan’s death, the local people were very sad, and rowed out on the river to search for his body, but were unable to find him. To preserve his body, the locals paddled their boats up and down the river, hitting the water with their paddles and beating drums to scare evil spirits away. They threw lumps of rice into the river to feed the fish, so that they would not eat Qu Yuan’s body.

The sentence itself is a subordinate clauses (also known as dependent clause).

Until – subordinate conjunction
+
death (subject) do (transitive verb) us (direct object) part (noun, object complement)

The phrase itself means lifelong commitment or dedication.

It is used usually between romantic partners in the Middle Ages. Christians believe that marriage is considered the ideal purpose of God, and that at the heart of God’s design for marriage is companionship and intimacy.

commit (verb) – pledge or bind (a person or an organization) to a certain course/situation.
commitment (noun) – to commit

Difference between commit and dedicate?

Being dedicated to something implies a certain level of passion and enthusiasm (热情 re qing), while being committed implies a sense of duty (责任感） and responsibility.

stoic (adj) 坚忍的 jian ren de – not showing or not feeling any emotion

But why? Fruit of our loins; Offspring

matrimony (婚姻 hun ying) – the state or ceremony of being married; marriage
holy – divine 神圣的 (shen sheng de)

Holy Matrimony (神圣的婚姻) – marriage blessed by divine being.

In the old Christian times when “until death do us part” is used, divorce isn’t approved or recognized.

Death is the only option for getting out of the marital contract.

But not everyone takes it literally.

Most people like the passionate, romantic feeling it promotes because it shows their undying love for their partner.

Marriage was binding women to men, and guaranteeing that his children were his biological heirs.

If wives fail to produce offsprings, the husband would give the wife back and marry someone else.

Business – produce heirs to pass down property and money

People create stronger families and ties by marriage. It has never been about love.

Stronger families protect resources, money, and create power.

Normally, a lot of people want to pass down their hard work and accomplishments. They do this by passing their money, property, and land onto their offspring.

As role models for successful child-raising

The couple is the pillar of a family.

pillar (n) – a tall vertical structure of stone, wood, or metal, used as a support for a building, or as an ornament or monument.

They split tasks – wife keeps home, husband works to own home.

They are the temple in which their offspring can safely grow and flourish.

For most inmates and criminals, there is a direct correlation between child neglect/abuse and crime.

“Get better grades” do not work

When a couple stays together, work through their problems, and positively interact with their kids, it has been shown that the kids become exponentially better. They learn from role models much much better than said parent telling them over and over to “get better grades”.

Hold death close, for it tells us what’s important and what’s not

Let’s say you die in three days? What will you do in those three days?

If you were to die, who would you say goodbye to? Who would you thank? Who would you see?

Waking up tomorrow – The million dollar question

1) If I gave you a million dollars how would you feel? How would you feel this week? this month? this year?

2) If i gave the million dollars but you can’t wake up tomorrow?

People will say no way!! –> We value our life more than the million dollars

3) Therefore, if we value our life more than the money, and we’re so hyped up about the money, then why aren’t we hyped up when we wake up everyday?

Families are the basic building blocks of a country

ref – https://www.grammar-monster.com/glossary/misplaced_modifier.htm

A misplaced modifier is a word (or group of words) that does not link clearly to what it is intended to modify. A misplaced modifier makes the meaning of a sentence ambiguous or wrong.

Misplaced Modifier (default)

Coax the monkey with a banana.

Are we trying to coax the money holding the banana?
Or are we trying to coax the money by using a banana?

Correction: Let’s use a banana to coax the monkey.

We will not sell paraffin to anyone in glass bottles. (X)

(Often, common sense tells us what the writer meant. Clearly, this is about paraffin in glass bottles not people in glass bottles. However, placing your modifier too far away from the thing being modified will do little to showcase your writing skills.)

Correction: We will not sell paraffin in glass bottles to anyone.

Andrew said after the holiday he intends to stop drinking. (X)

(Here, it is unclear whether Andrew made this statement after the holiday or whether he intends to stop drinking after the holiday.)

Correction: After the holiday, Andrew said that he intends to stop drinking. √
Or
Andrew claims that he will stop smoking after the holidays.

Meticulous and punctual, her work ethic is admirable. (X)
(Here, the modifier does not apply to anything in the sentence.)

Talking quickly annoys people. (X)

Does talking annoy people?
Or fast talking annoy people?

Let’s go with fast talking annoys people:

Talking quickly is a sure way to annoy people. √

Squinting Modifiers

Dangling Modifiers

Sentence Types

1. Which of the following is a simple sentence?

A) Although she was tired, she finished her homework. (complex sentence)
B) She finished her homework and went to bed. (compound predicate, simple sentence)
C) The teacher arrived, and the students opened their books. (compound sentence)
D) He ran quickly. √

2. What type of sentence is this: “She loves to read, and she visits the library often”?
A) Simple
B) Compound √ (two simple sentences combined by a comma and conjunction ‘and’)
C) Complex
D) Compound-complex

3. Identify the type of the following sentence: “Because the rain was heavy, the event was postponed.”

A) Simple
B) Compound

C) Complex –
Dependent Clause – Subordinate Conjunction ‘Because’ (1 dependent). ** ‘But’ is a coordinate conjunction
Independent clause – the event was postponed (1 independent)

D) Compound-complex

4. Which sentence is a compound-complex sentence?

A) She cried because it was raining, and she couldn’t go to the park.

Compound (2 simple) – She cried. She couldn’t go to the park.
Complex – Because it was raining (subordinate)

B) After the rain stopped, she went outside to play.
C) The dog barked loudly.
D) He likes to swim and to play basketball.

5. Choose the compound sentence from the options below.

A) When he finished his homework, he went to sleep. (has subordinate conjunction ‘When’)

B) She was hungry, so she made a sandwich. √ (two simple sentences combined with a comma and conjunction ‘s’)

C) Although it was late, they decided to go out. (has subordinate conjunction ‘Although’)
D) He studied hard but still failed the test. (simple sentence with predicate)

6. What makes a sentence complex?

A) It has two independent clauses.
B) It contains one independent clause and at least one dependent clause. √
C) It has three or more independent clauses.
D) It combines elements of compound and complex sentences.

7. Identify the sentence type: “Although he was nervous, he spoke clearly and confidently during his presentation.”

A) Simple
B) Compound

C) Complex √
Dependent clause – Although he was nervous
Independent clause –
Subject – He
predicate – [spoke (v)
clearly and confidently (compound adv)
during his presentation (adverbial)
]

D) Compound-complex

The answer key says its D. But this wrong because in order for it to be compound complex, we need 1 dependent, 2 independent:

Dependent clause – “Although he was nervous”

“spoke clearly and confidently during his presentation” is a SIMPLE PREDICATE where:

spoke – verb
clearly and confidently – compound adverb
during his presentation – adverbial

As defined in grammarly’s simple sentence a simple sentence can indeed contain a compound predicate.

This is a simple sentence with a compound predicate:
The cat [cheated and caught the mouse].

8. Which of the following is a simple sentence?

A) He laughed loudly when he saw the puppy. (1 indep, 1 dependent subordinate conjunction “when”)
B) She likes coffee, but she doesn’t drink it often. (X, this is a compound sentence)
C) The car stopped. (√ nice and simple)
D) Before we go out, we should check the weather. (X, this is complex sentence)

Participles Practice

1)

A) No present participle
B) swimming pool is a compound noun

C) crying can be used as a present participle.
For example, She is crying at the park.
Here its used as an adjective to modify ‘baby’. √

D) running is used as a main verb here

2)

A) broken. Broken is used as a past participle. For example, I have broken the oath.
Here, it is used as an adjective. √
B) X used as a verb
C) X used as a verb
D) no past participle

3)

A) √ present participle: The are barking at us. Barking modifies ‘dogs’.
B) used as main verb
C) no present participle
D) past participle

4)

A)

5) C

A) used as main verb

B) running can be used as present participle.

C) We cannot use “amazing” in present participle. i.e She is amazing the crowd. X
D) used as main verb

6)

A) used as verb
B) √ bake baked baked. Used in front of noun cookies.
C) Used as main verb in present perfect
D) no past participle

7)

A) Laughing is a present participle. But loudly is not a noun.

B) √

* present participle? They are laughing at us. (yes)
modify a noun? “laughing crowd” A crowd that is laughing (yes)

C) used as main verb

D) used as main verb in future tense.

8)

A) √

past participle – write wrote written. √
modifying a noun – “written exam” An exam that needs to be written. √

B) Used as main verb
C) no past participle
D) no past participle

Gerunds/Infinitives

1) C

2)

A) Subject
B) verb
C) √ infinitive as object
D) prepositional as object complement

3)

A) no gerund
B) win + ing = winning
C) no gerund
D) no gerund

4)

A) no infinitive
B) no infinitive
C) ‘to eat’ is an infinitive
D) no infinitive

5)
She (subj)
mentioned (verb)
go-ing (gerund, direct object) –> (B)
to the store (prepositional object complement)

6) A

7)
A) ‘without’ is a preposition
B) no gerund
C) no gerund
D) no gerund

8)

A) no gerund
B) Eating is eat + ing
C) no gerund
D) no gerund

Transitive/Intransitive Verbs

a verb is transitive IF it has a direct object.
Any other situation, it is intransitive

1.

A) She (s) laughed (intransitive verb) loudly (adv). // adverb after the verb

B) √

He (subj) carried (transitive verb) the bag (direct object).

C) They(subj) sleep (intransitive verb) early (adj). // adjective after the verb, so verb is intransitive.

D) Birds(s) fly(intransitive verb). // no direct object

2.

She (subj)
completed (transitive verb) (A)
the assignment (direct object)
before dinner. (adverb phrase)

3. B

4. B

The cat (s)
sleeps (v)
on (preposition)
the sofa (obj)

Because ‘on’ is a preposition, then sleep is intransitive.

5. C

6. A

7. B

8.

A) Please bring paper.
B) I throw the ball.
C) I laugh him (X) I laugh [at] him. √ This is intransitive
D) I eat dirt.

Complements/Direct Objects

1. C The flowers(s) smell (v) fragrant (subj compl)
Subject Complements can be noun or adjective.

The noun is called predicate nominative.
The adjective is called predicate adjective.

2. C
3. D
4. D
5. C
6. C
7. B
8. C
9. C
10. D
She (s) left (v) the keys (obj) on[pre] the table [obj of prep]

11.

Direct object test:

* find verb (taught)
* ask what (taught what? –> new concept)

C

12. D

The book (s) was (lv) interesting (subj compl, adj).
The sky (s) seems (lv) blue (subj compl, adj).
My favorite color (s) is (lv) blue (subj compl, adj).
She (s) remains (v) a close friend ().

13. B

She sent her parents a postcard from Italy.

Indirect object test:

* find verb (sent)
* for whom (sent to whom? –> the parents)

14. C

The jury (s) found(transitive verb) the defendant(direct obj) guilty (obj compl).

Clauses and Phrases

1. C
2. A
3. A i.e We will have dinner [before the movie(s) starts (v)]
4. A adjectival phrase – (an old red sedan)
5. D
6. A

7. A
Starts with relative pronoun What/When/Where/Why/How..etc
What (relative pronoun) she said was surprising.

8. C
9. C

Verb Phrase is a phrase that has a main verb and any other helping verbs
https://www.grammar-monster.com/glossary/verb_phrase.htm

Let’s see how ‘to have’ is used as auxiliary verb for verb phrases:

We [were (to have) landed] here hours ago!

were = auxiliary verb
to have = auxiliary verb
landed = main verb

They [had (to have) seen] it!

had = auxiliary verb
to have = auxiliary verb
seen = main verb

To have, to be, to do are all auxiliary verbs.

But [to win] is not an auxiliary verb, so:

to win the game is an adverbial phrase that describes the “WHY” for the sentence.

10. A
11. B
12. A The flowers [in the garden]
13. C

14. A

Which sentence contains a participial phrase?

A) √ Participial Phrase means it uses a present or past participle. So sleeping is it.
B) no participle
C) no participle
D) no participle

15. A

Pay attention to the word “noun clause”. Clause means to have a subj and a verb.
noun clause = “that she is coming”. Remember that noun clause starts with relative noun.

16. B

* Clause means to have a subj and a verb.
* Adverbial clause is a dependent clause.

So,

A) X
B) √ Dependent clause means it uses subordinate term “Before”, which gives more information about the time.

Before he leaves the house, i.e [he takes a dump].

C) X
D) X

Appositive

noun or noun phrase that sits next to another noun to renames it, provides additional information.

– essential (restrictive) – no commas
– non-essential (non-restrictive) – comma

1) C
2) B
3) A
4) A

5)
A) This is actually wrong. Because non-essential means information that is not necessary.
B) √ The non-essential here is ‘which is very deep’. It just adds extra info about the lake.
C) X Describes the lake’s attribute as deep. Does not tell us which lake.
D) X Deep is not a condition that freezes.

6) B
7) D

A) an inventor here is required because we can’t just do “Thomas Edison developed many devices”.
B) no comma
C) no comma
D) “A tool for communication” is just a bonus. We do not need it in order to understand that the smartphones are found everywhere.

8) A
9) B
10) B
11) A
12) B
13) B
14) A

Misplaced Modifiers

How to write a simile

Her eyes are like stars.
When I look at her, they glisten and shine.
I could see my reflection in them, and read her mind.

You wrote the simile, then described it with two adjectives.
In order to satisfy the rthym scheme of the poem, just substitute for another word.

Her eyes are like stars. (A)
They glisten and shine. (B)
I am so glad she is mine. (B)

这个就是用了 simile 去满足 ABB 韵律 的 诗 √

Sample poem with 2 similes

If your teacher wants you to:

Write 3 stanzas of 3 lines poem with two similes:

ABB CDD EFF

Her eyes are like stars. (A) simile
They glisten and shine. (B)
I am so glad she is mine. (B)

Our love is sweet as sugar. (C) simile
My parents think its funny. (D)
She will always be my honey. (D)

Say what you will. (E)
But I’m forced to say she completes my life. (F)
For she’s standing besides me holding a knife. (F)

Sample poem with 2 metaphors and 1 simile

How to write a metaphor

Example:

Write a poem with ABAB CDCD with 2 metaphors and simile

simile
metaphor

The sun is a toddler that refuses to sleep. A
It likes to crawl from east to west. B
And floats in the sky like a lost sheep. A
To life on earth, it is the best. B

It is an oven that generates heat. C
That keeps everyone fed and warm. D
It grows food for animals to eat. C
And generates life during its biggest form. D

How to write a alliteration

Alliteration is the repetition of the same initial consonant sound in successive words.

Alliteration is used for emphasis or to make a sentence more pleasing to the ear. It is used in everyday language, poetry, literature, and business writing.

The plate was filled with beautiful buns bursting with berries.

He’s going to gut the golden goose.

It can also be just two words:

Nothing says home like the smell of the sea.
Finishing first requires just three things: practice, practice, and practice.

Let’s add it back to our original poem example:

Her eyes are like stars. (A) simile
They glisten and shine. (B)
I am so glad she is mine. (B)

Our love is sweet as sugar. (C) simile

My [f]unky [f]riends [f]eel it’s [f]erociously [f]unny. (D) <-- + alliteration

That she will always be my honey. (D)

Say what you will. (E)

But I’m forced to [s]ay [s]he [s]aved my [s]landering life. (F) <-- + alliteration

For she’s standing besides me holding a big sharp knife. (F)

Personification

Inanimate objects are given human characteristics.

The leaves danced their way through the lawn.

The sun smiled over the meadow.

The table stood firmly against the wind.

The moon watched over the pack of wolves.

personification

The wind carried her whispers into my ears. A
The words landed softly and calmed my fears. A
A smile spread across my face. B
As I sat in front of the fireplace. B

Hyperbole

An exaggerated statement. It overstates a situation for emotional effect.

• She wept an ocean of tears.
• I died laughing.
• I tried a million times.
• Her smile was a mile wide.
• I’m so hungry I could eat a cow.

Let’s make a 4 line stanza with ABBA rhyme scheme:

Her eyes are the prize. (A)
They glisten and shine. (B)
I danced to a thousand tunes because she is mine. (B)
Our love fills the empty vast skies. (A)