vocabulary

[jiang]

Dear teachers,
I have two questions to ask.

No.1 Drivers________ speed laws only when they think the police are near.
a. obey b. observe
The key is 'a'. But as far as I know we can say to observe disciplines. If 'b' isn't correct does it mean it cannot modify 'laws'?

No.2 No one needs to feel awkward in _______his own customs.
a. following b. pursuing
The key is 'a'. But as far as I know we can say 'to pursue one's study'. If 'b' isn't correct does it mean it cannot modify 'customs'?

I am lookng forward to hearing from you.

Thank you in advance.

Jiang

[Red5]

Drivers________ speed laws only when they think the police are near.
a. obey b. observe

You are correct. Either would be perfectly ok there.

No one needs to feel awkward in _______his own customs.
a. following b. pursuing

This one is more tricky, IMO. I think A would be used by native speakers. I think the distinction is that customs are created in the past, so we follow them. One can pursue a dream (or one's study as you said) because it is something that is ongoing or in the future.

I hope I make some sense here.

[RonBee]

Red, you make a great deal of sense. :D

In the context of this question, when we pursue something we do so to acquire it. We cannot acquire customs, since they are handed down to us. We can, however, pursue something such as a degree.

:)

[Red5]

Thank you Ron "5000+" Bee

[MikeNewYork]

Dear teachers,
I have two questions to ask.

No.1 Drivers________ speed laws only when they think the police are near.
a. obey b. observe
The key is 'a'. But as far as I know we can say to observe disciplines. If 'b' isn't correct does it mean it cannot modify 'laws'?

No.2 No one needs to feel awkward in _______his own customs.
a. following b. pursuing
The key is 'a'. But as far as I know we can say 'to pursue one's study'. If 'b' isn't correct does it mean it cannot modify 'customs'?

I am lookng forward to hearing from you.

Thank you in advance.

Jiang

I agree with Red in both cases. In the first "obey" would be the more normal choice. :wink:

[RonBee]

You are welcome, of course, Red. :D

You are right, as usual, Mike.

:D

[MikeNewYork]

You are welcome, of course, Red. :D

You are right, as usual, Mike.

:D

And you are too kind. :)

[jiang]

:D
Thank you very much for your explanation. Now I see.

Jiang

Drivers________ speed laws only when they think the police are near.
a. obey b. observe

You are correct. Either would be perfectly ok there.

No one needs to feel awkward in _______his own customs.
a. following b. pursuing

This one is more tricky, IMO. I think A would be used by native speakers. I think the distinction is that customs are created in the past, so we follow them. One can pursue a dream (or one's study as you said) because it is something that is ongoing or in the future.

I hope I make some sense here.

[jiang]

I sent you an eamil just now and kept reading the other answers. I don't understand this '5000+'. Why not 10,000 or other figures instead? Is it an idiomatic use?

I am looking forward to hearing from you.

Thank you in advance.

Jiang

Thank you Ron "5000+" Bee

[jiang]

Thank you very much for your response.
Jiang

Red, you make a great deal of sense. :D

In the context of this question, when we pursue something we do so to acquire it. We cannot acquire customs, since they are handed down to us. We can, however, pursue something such as a degree.

:)