[Grammar] which one does it modify?

Status
Not open for further replies.

swimagic

Member
Joined
Dec 4, 2010
Member Type
Student or Learner
Native Language
Chinese
Home Country
China
Current Location
China
Hi, teachers,

In the following paragraph, which word does "concerning comparative validity" modify, experience or evidence? Thx.

Standardized tests should be considered in this context. They provide a quick, objective method of getting some kids of information about what a person learned, the skills he has developed, or the kinds of person he is. The information so obtained has, qualitatively, the same advantages and shortcomings as other kinds of information. Whether to use tests, other kinds of information, or both in a particular situation depends, therefore, upon the evidence from experience concerning comparative validity and upon such factors as cost and availability
 

swimagic

Member
Joined
Dec 4, 2010
Member Type
Student or Learner
Native Language
Chinese
Home Country
China
Current Location
China
Here's another paragraph.
Does compensate here mean adding some more points to that youngster's test result as compensation for his underpriviledged background?

Sometimes they identify students whose high potential has not been previously re[SIZE=+0]c[/SIZE]ognized, but there are many things they do not do. For example, they do not [SIZE=+0]c[/SIZE]ompensate for gross so[SIZE=+0]c[/SIZE]ial inequality, and thus do not tell how able an underprivileged youngster might have been had he grown up under more favorable [SIZE=+0]c[/SIZE]ir[SIZE=+0]c[/SIZE]umstan[SIZE=+0]c[/SIZE]es.


Thx!
 

5jj

Moderator
Staff member
Joined
Oct 14, 2010
Member Type
English Teacher
Native Language
British English
Home Country
Czech Republic
Current Location
Czech Republic
Whether to use tests, other kinds of information, or both in a particular situation depends, therefore, upon the evidence from experience concerning comparative validity and upon such factors as cost and availability
I think it is 'evidence', or better, 'evidence(-from-experience)', but the sentence is ambiguous.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Top