help

[marianren123]

What’s the best choice for the following multiple choices?
Never _ in greater need of modern public transportation than it is today.
A. was it B. has it C. has it D. it is

No one believe his reason for being absent from class _.
A.because he had to meet his uncle at the airport
B.that he had to meet his uncle at the airport
C. he had to meet his uncle at the airport

[Michelle20]

Originally Posted by marianren123

What’s the best choice for the following multiple choices?
Never _ in greater need of modern public transportation than it is today.
A. was it B. has it C. has it D. it is

Marianren choice B and C are the same.

[Doris]

Never _ in greater need of modern public transportation than it is today.

Clue: “than it is today” indicates that we are comparing a present situation to something in the past or in the future. Therefore, the correct answer is…

--------

No one believe his reason for being absent from class _.

I think you’ve left an “s” or a “d” off from the end of the word “believe”. Otherwise, if you ask: What reason? - you will know that the answer is…

Hope that helps,
Doris

[marianren123]

Thanks for your help.
But if I choose A for the following multiple choice instead of B or C ,is that ok?
Never_in greater need of modern public transportation than it is today.
A. was it B. has it C. it has D. it is

What if I choose A. for the following instead of B?
No one believes his reason for being absent from class _.
A. because he had to meet his uncle at the airport
B.that...
C. he...

[Doris]

Hello marianren123,

Never was it in greater need of modern public transportation than it is today. - I can see nothing wrong with this solution! (I don't know what that 'it' refers to though? A city?)
-----
No one believes his reason for being absent from class because he had to meet his uncle at the airport. - In this case however, 'A' is not the best choice.
The word "because" is usually followed by a reason. --> By choosing 'A' the sentence would imply that the reason why they don't believe his excuse is "because he had to meet his uncle at the airport". To me, this makes no sense... So, here I would go for 'B'.

Doris :)

[Doris]

Actually, now I am confused... :)

On second thoughts; "No one believes his reason that he had to meet... " would sound better. But, of course, that is not given as an option... Hmmm

Doris

[marianren123]

Thanks a lot, Doris.
I agree with you on the second question, i.e. C is the best choice.
In the first question, "it"refers" to a city in China-Shanghai. Some of my friends would like to go for "has it". But as I've said, I am inclined to go for "was it". I wonder if there is any difference between these two choices

[Avalon]

As Doris said..never was it in need isthe only right answer since we must invert subject/aux. to aux/subj when having sentences that start with negative or limiting adverbials like Never,Rarely,Hardly ever,Seldom etc...
" Never has it been in greater need of" would be possible...

As for the second question I agree with Doris again! I would go with letter B as being the least worst...rsrsr... no one believed or believes that his reason for being absent from class was/is because he had to meet...would be good.

[Doris]

You are very welcome, although I was suggesting ‘B’ as the most likely solution from the choices given. ('A' for the first one, and 'B' for the second question.)

"Has it" wouldn't work, because the expression is: to BE in need of something (it was / has been / will be/ etc., in need of sthg.).

If you wanted to use “has it”, it would have to be in that form, which Janina was suggesting, i.e., “Never has it been in greater need of... ” (Present perfect tense.)

Regards,
Doris

[mykwyner]

Answer A "was it" is the only correct choice in question 1. The sentence compares the needs of the city in the past (was) to its needs in the present (is). The other choices would never be spoken, or clearly understood by a native English speaker.

I agree with the others that answer B is the most correct for the second question.

Mike