Some questions related to my exam.

Here are some questions related to my exam.
1-._______ over 100 years since the invention of the square-bottomed paper bag.
(A) Now is
(B) Now it has
(C)There is now
(D) It is now

Answer is D why not B?
2. The invention of the compound microscope (which allowed much higher magnification through multiple lenses)
made _____ the great strides in life
sciences.
(A) it possible
(B) possibly
(C) possible
(D) it was possible

Answer is C but whats wrong with option A?
3. Gold [can combined] with silver in any proportion, but alloys with 50 [to] 60 percent silver are [the_strongest].

can combined is wrong . What should be appropriate word here?


4-In [its] life expectancy, [although] in most [other] things, the Sun is a[typical star].

Although is wrong. Should we use even though because of the noun phrase following it?

5-The modern violin, the smallest and [versatile] instrument in the violin family, is[tuned] in fifths and produces tones [ranging] over four and a half octaves.

The adjective versatile should be in superlative form in parallel to smallest. What is the superlative form?

6-The United States, a nation with a highly diversified economy, is a major exporter of grain, fruit, [chemical], aircraft, and cars.

Chemical should be chemicals but why not aircraft as aircrafts?

7-Magnesium has little structural strength and must be alloyed with [another] metals such as aluminum and zinc when it is to be subjected to stress.

Another should be changed into other?

8-Orchid seeds take up to eighteen months to mature before they sprout, and the young plants may need another two years [to reach] at the flowering stage.

Whats wrong with to reach?.

9-Mitosis is the normal process [by which] a cell divides, each new cell ending up with[ a ] same number of chromosomes as the parent cell.

I figured that by which is wrong but actually the preopisition "a" should be changed. My question is why not in which is used instead of by which?

[Tdol]

1-._______ over 100 years since the invention of the square-bottomed paper bag.
(A) Now is
(B) Now it has
(C)There is now
(D) It is now

Answer is D why not B? We don't use 'have' when talking about the time. 'He has ten years old' is a common mistake in English.

2. The invention of the compound microscope (which allowed much higher magnification through multiple lenses)
made _____ the great strides in life
sciences.
(A) it possible
(B) possibly
(C) possible
(D) it was possible

Answer is C but whats wrong with option A? Make something possible is correct, but you wouldn't word it like that- you'd say 'made the great strides possible'. You wouldn't use 'it' and the phrase.


3. Gold [can combined] with silver in any proportion, but alloys with 50 [to] 60 percent silver are [the_strongest].

can combined is wrong . What should be appropriate word here? It should be 'can be combined'


4-In [its] life expectancy, [although] in most [other] things, the Sun is a[typical star].

Although is wrong. Should we use even though because of the noun phrase following it? I'd use'as in most other things' It is not a contrast, so though\although don't work.

5-The modern violin, the smallest and [versatile] instrument in the violin family, is[tuned] in fifths and produces tones [ranging] over four and a half octaves.

The adjective versatile should be in superlative form in parallel to smallest. What is the superlative form? (the) most versatile- the is optional here because it is next door to the other superlative.

6-The United States, a nation with a highly diversified economy, is a major exporter of grain, fruit, [chemical], aircraft, and cars.

Chemical should be chemicals but why not aircraft as aircrafts? Aircraft is an irregular plural; like 'sheep' it doesn't change. If you used 'planes'it would show the plural suffix

7-Magnesium has little structural strength and must be alloyed with [another] metals such as aluminum and zinc when it is to be subjected to stress.

Another should be changed into other? Definitely

8-Orchid seeds take up to eighteen months to mature before they sprout, and the young plants may need another two years [to reach] at the flowering stage.

Whats wrong with to reach?. The prepostion 'at'.. arrive at\reach\get to

9-Mitosis is the normal process [by which] a cell divides, each new cell ending up with[ a ] same number of chromosomes as the parent cell.

I figured that by which is wrong but actually the preopisition "a" should be changed. My question is why not in which is used instead of by which.

I would say 'the same number'- it's specific.

[Casiopea]

Here're some of my picks--all the same as tdol's picks. :D

1. "Now it has" (B) doesn't work because it needs a verb: "Now it has been."

2. "it is possible" (A) doesn't work because it would result in two verbs:
made it is possible the great strides in life sciences.

3. "can combined" doesn't work because 'combined' ends in -ed. Take off the -d, like this, 'can combine' (i.e. can do, could do).

6- "chemical" is an adjective, "chemicals" is a noun. "aircraft" can be an adjective or a noun.

9-Mitosis is the normal process by a means in which ....

All the best,

8-Orchid seeds take up to eighteen months to mature before they sprout, and the young plants may need another two years [to reach] at the flowering stage.

Whats wrong with to reach?. The prepostion 'at'.. arrive at\reach\get t

Did you mean that "to" should be omitted ?

9-Mitosis is the normal process by a means in which ....

Yes thats my question why you are using in which in place of by which?
Thanks for the help.

[Casiopea]

[quote="Atesttaker"]

8-Orchid seeds take up to eighteen months to mature before they sprout, and the young plants may need another two years [to reach] at the flowering stage.

Whats wrong with to reach?. The prepostion 'at'.. arrive at\reach\get t

I'd change 'reach' to mature,

8-Orchid seeds take up to eighteen months to mature before they sprout, and the young plants may need another two years (in order) to mature at the flowering stage.

or I'd delete 'at',

8-Orchid seeds take up to eighteen months to mature before they sprout, and the young plants may need another two years (in order) to reach the flowering stage.

9-Mitosis is the normal process by a means in which ....

'by' refers to an agent. "Mitosis" is the agent by which something takes place. Something takes place because of "Mitosis".

'in' refers to inside/within the process. "Mitosis" is neither inside nor within the process. It is the process. It's the agent. That which occurs inside "Mitosis" can be modified with 'in which'.

Hope that helps. :)

[MikeNewYork]

[quote="Casiopea"]

Originally Posted by Atesttaker

I'd change 'reach' to mature,

8-Orchid seeds take up to eighteen months to mature before they sprout, and the young plants may need another two years (in order) to mature at the flowering stage.

or I'd delete 'at',

8-Orchid seeds take up to eighteen months to mature before they sprout, and the young plants may need another two years (in order) to reach the flowering stage.

'by' refers to an agent. "Mitosis" is the agent by which something takes place. Something takes place because of "Mitosis".

'in' refers to inside/within the process. "Mitosis" is neither inside nor within the process. It is the process. It's the agent. That which occurs inside "Mitosis" can be modified with 'in which'.

Hope that helps. :)

I'm having a little trouble following the comments on "mitosis".

IMO, the sentence should say "Mitosis is the normal process by which..."
I don't think you were recommending "Mitosis is the normal process by a means in which", but I just wanted to clear that up. :wink:

[Casiopea]

Originally Posted by MikeNewYork

I'm having a little trouble following the comments on "mitosis".

IMO, the sentence should say "Mitosis is the normal process by which..."
I don't think you were recommending "Mitosis is the normal process by a means in which", but I just wanted to clear that up. :wink:

Yes. :D Thank you. ...by which.

Happy fingers, you know?

[MikeNewYork]

Originally Posted by Casiopea

Yes. :D Thank you. ...by which.

Happy fingers, you know?

I know. My typing seems to be deteriorating. :(