await, maintain, first, dare

[jiang]

Dear teachers,

I have four questions to ask:

No.1
Some people don't want to get up simply because they don't like the activity that _______.
a. irritates b. awaits
The key is 'b'. could you please explain why 'a' isn't correct?

No.2
This article states that they have had a hard time_______ their pride because they have had many problems.
a. maintaining b. attaining
The key is 'a'. Could you please kindly explain why 'b' isn't correct?

No.3
She became the first woman ________ elected mayor of Chicago.
a. to have been b. to be
The key is 'b'. But since election is something in the past I think it should be 'a'. Is that right?

No.4
She dared not say a word, ______.
a. nor dared she to cry b. nor dared she cry
The key is 'b'. Could you please kindly explain why 'b' is correct and why 'a' isn't correct?

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

Jiang

[Soup]

No.1
The following is an incomplete sentence:

a. ... they don't like the activity that irritates ... .

'the' is defining. It needs to define something (e.g., ... the activity that irritates them when they ... ).

No.2
pride, self-esteem; the source comes from within yourself. There isn't an external source as in with e.g., attain power, attain wealth, etc.).

No.3
Ellipsis & copular structure: She became the first woman (to be) elected mayor of Chicago.

No.4
She dared not say a word, nor dared she to cry.
She dared not (to) say, nor (to) cry.

[jiang]

Hi Soup,

Thank you very much for your explanation.

The first sentence should be:

Some people don't want to get up simply because they don't like the activity that _______ them .
a. irritates b. awaits

Could you please explain why 'a' isn't correct?

No.3
If it is not Ellipsis & copular structure "to have been" still is incorrect. Is that right?

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

Jiang

No.1
The following is an incomplete sentence:

a. ... they don't like the activity that irritates ... .

'the' is defining. It needs to define something (e.g., ... the activity that irritates them when they ... ).

No.2
pride, self-esteem; the source comes from within yourself. There isn't an external source as in with e.g., attain power, attain wealth, etc.).

No.3
Ellipsis & copular structure: She became the first woman (to be) elected mayor of Chicago.

No.4
She dared not say a word, nor dared she to cry.
She dared not (to) say, nor (to) cry.

[Soup]

No.1
Some people don't want to get up [out of bed] simply because they don't like the activity that awaits them.

The point being made by the test source (click here) is that 'activity' does not refer back to 'don't like to get up':

... , a person awakened during a period of heavy sleep is irritable and can not think clearly. Finally, some people don't want to get up simply
because they don't like the activity that awaits them.

Source A Good Night's Sleep from Developing Reading Skills - Advanced

However, change the context and the article the to an and 'irritates' fits nicely:

Some people don't want to get up at the game and participate in the human wave simply because they don't like an activity that irritates them.

No.3
She became the first woman to have been elected mayor of Chicago.

To me, stative became and the infinitive passive perfect have been elected just don't sit well together unless a timeline is stated:


In the short period of five years with Gearhouse, Belinda Loockx became the first woman to have been appointed ...

In 1924 Epstein became ‘the first woman to have been honored ...

In January 2001, this Government became the first to have been elected under the new electoral provisions of the new Constitution.

Noteworthy pattern,

She was the first woman to have been elected to both houses of Congress and in 1964 became the first woman to have been nominated for the presidency of the ...

Hope that helps some.