common etc.

[jiang]

Dear teachers,
I have six questions to ask:

No.1
They have found that all caregivers share a _________ characteristic.
a. common b. general c. ordinary d. widespread
I think because there is the word 'share' so I should choose 'a'. However, what if there isn't the word 'share'? The first three are extremely confusing. Could you please kindly explain them to me?

No.2
One caregiver said that she had always been close to her mother. The sentence means 'By taking care of her mother she could always stay around her mother'. Is that right?

No.3
They all felt that they could do the job better than _________ else.
a. anyone b. everyone c. no one d. someone
I think both 'a' and 'd' are correct. To me the only difference is that 'a' means people in general while 'd' means definite people. Is that right?

No.4
They took on the respondibility of caring for an elderly,__________relative.
a. dependent b. helpless
I think both are correct. 'a' refers to relation while 'b' refers to ability. Is that right?

No.5
People today live longer __________ an illness than people did year ago.
a. after b. in spite of
I think both are correct. 'a' refers to time while be refers to 'situation'. Is that right?

No.6
These facts also _________ that after caregivers provide for their elderly parents, who will eventually die, they will be old and may require care too.
a. mean b. prove c. show d. suggest
I can decide 'b' isn't correct. But I think all the other can be correct. Is that right?

Looking forward to hearing from you.
Thank you in advance.

Jiang

[Tdol]

Originally Posted by jiang

No.1
They have found that all caregivers share a _________ characteristic.
a. common b. general c. ordinary d. widespread
I think because there is the word 'share' so I should choose 'a'. However, what if there isn't the word 'share'? The first three are extremely confusing. Could you please kindly explain them to me?

Originally Posted by jiang

No.2
One caregiver said that she had always been close to her mother. The sentence means 'By taking care of her mother she could always stay around her mother'. Is that right?

To me it means that her relationship to her mother had always been close.

Originally Posted by jiang

No.3
They all felt that they could do the job better than _________ else.
a. anyone b. everyone c. no one d. someone
I think both 'a' and 'd' are correct. To me the only difference is that 'a' means people in general while 'd' means definite people. Is that right?

I think you could add b) to the list. D) could be more specific, but it doesn't have to be IMO.

Originally Posted by jiang

No.4
They took on the respondibility of caring for an elderly,__________relative.
a. dependent b. helpless
I think both are correct. 'a' refers to relation while 'b' refers to ability. Is that right?

Yes- a new-born baby is helpless.

Originally Posted by jiang

No.5
People today live longer __________ an illness than people did years ago.
a. after b. in spite of
I think both are correct. 'a' refers to time while be refers to 'situation'. Is that right?

The sentence is a bit strange to me- people may well die as a result of an illness today, and b) also sounds strange because not all people are ill.

Originally Posted by jiang

No.6
These facts also _________ that after caregivers provide for their elderly parents, who will eventually die, they will be old and may require care too.
a. mean b. prove c. show d. suggest
I can decide 'b' isn't correct. But I think all the other can be correct. Is that right?

C & D are the ones I'd use, depending on the degree of certainty. I am not sure about facts meaning things, but some would use it.

[jiang]

&
Dear Tdol,
Thank you very much for your explanation. Now I understand most of them.

Originally Posted by Tdol

I am afraid you forgot No.1. Could you please kindly explain them to me?
To me it means that her relationship to her mother had always been close.
I understand this one.
I think you could add b) to the list. D) could be more specific, but it doesn't have to be IMO.
I am afraid I can never learn the uses of any and every. I thought I understood the uses of it until you mentioned " I think you could add b) to the list.

Yes- a new-born baby is helpless.
This means I both 'dependent' and 'helpless' are correct. Is that right?


The sentence is a bit strange to me- people may well die as a result of an illness today, and b) also sounds strange because not all people are ill.
I see what you meant.

C & D are the ones I'd use, depending on the degree of certainty. I am not sure about facts meaning things, but some would use it.

Could you please further explain 'depending on the degree of certainty'? Or which word indicates a greater degree?

Looking forward to hearing from you.
Thank you in advance.
Jiang

[Tdol]

show- certain
suggest- less certain

general- widespread but not universal
ordinary- not exceptional
3 Everyone- better than all of a certain group of people
4 They are probably dependent, but could be helpless if they are phsyically incapable. An elederly person in a wheelchair might be dependent, but it doesn't follow that they are helpless. However, someone with a much more serious condition might be helpless.

[jiang]

Dear Tdol,
Thank you very much for your explanation. Now I understand some of them.

Originally Posted by Tdol

show- certain
suggest- less certain

general- widespread but not universal
ordinary- not exceptional
The key to this sentence is common. Could you please explain why the other three are not correct? May I say that 'general' and 'widespread' are interchangeable?
Everyone- better than all of a certain group of people
I have to read more to cultivate the ability to use 'anyone, anything' and 'everyone, everything'. It's not your fault. I guess I am influenced by my mother tongue.
They are probably dependent, but could be helpless if they are phsyically incapable. An elederly person in a wheelchair might be dependent, but it doesn't follow that they are helpless. However, someone with a much more serious condition might be helpless.

Have a nice weekend.
Jiang