vocabulary and grammar

[jiang]

Dear teachers,
I have four questions to ask:

No.1
I'm usually fairly skeptical about any research that conccludes that people are either happier or unhappier or more or less certain of
themselves than they were 50 years ago.
The author thinks that the conclusions of any research about people's state of mind are____.
a. confusing b. questionable
The key is 'a'. But why isn't 'b' the correct answer?

No.2
The find points of etiquette must be picked up elsewhere. Some companies now offer etiquette seminars for employees who may be competent professionally but clueless socially.

Refined table manners, though less popular than before in current social life________.
a. are still a must on certain occasions
b. are bound to return sooner or later

The key is 'a'. Since 'pick up' can mean 'start again' I think 'b' is better. Is that right?

No.3
A good many proposals were raised by the delegates, as was to be expected.

Why ' as was to be expected '? Is it correct to say 'as was expected'?

No.4
I didn't send out my application form last week, but I _______.
a. should have b. might have to

The key is 'a'. I don't think the choice is correct because the correct one should be 'should have to'. Is that right?

I am looking forward to hearing from you.

Thank you in advance.

Jiang

 

[Casiopea]

Dear teachers,
I have four questions to ask:

No.1
I'm usually fairly skeptical about any research that conccludes that people are either happier or unhappier or more or less certain of
themselves than they were 50 years ago.
The author thinks that the conclusions of any research about people's state of mind are____.
a. confusing b. questionable
The key is 'a'. But why isn't 'b' the correct answer?

Happier, unhappier, more certain, less certain mark a range of feelings people actually have. That is in itself unquestionable--the truth. From a scientific point of view, though, the range tells us nothing about people's state of mind. Here we would question the researchers' methodology, but not the data: Some people feel happier, some people feel unhappier, some people feel less certain, and other people feel more certain. That's a faily general description about how people feel. What's the point of the research? It has nothing scientific to say. The research findings are confusing.

No.2
The fine points of etiquette must be picked up elsewhere. Some companies now offer etiquette seminars for employees who may be competent professionally but clueless socially.

Refined table manners, though less popular than before in current social life________.
a. are still a must on certain occasions
b. are bound to return sooner or later

The key is 'a'. Since 'pick up' can mean 'start again' I think 'b' is better. Is that right?

That companies now offer etiquette seminars tells us that etiquette is still a must on certain occasions.

No.3
A good many proposals were raised by the delegates, as was to be expected.

Why 'as was to be expected '? Is it correct to say 'as was expected'?

Given that one line, I, for one, would use both.

No.4
I didn't send out my application form last week, but I _______.
a. should have b. might have to

The key is 'a'. I don't think the choice is correct because the correct one should be 'should have to'. Is that right?

..., but I should have sent it out.
..., but I might have to send it out.

In terms of structure both are OK; in terms of meaning, though, 'should have' (i.e. an obligation to oneself/others) is best. You have to send it, but you don't. You are obligated to send it.

All the best,

 

[jiang]

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

Jiang

Dear teachers,
I have four questions to ask:

No.1
I'm usually fairly skeptical about any research that conccludes that people are either happier or unhappier or more or less certain of
themselves than they were 50 years ago.
The author thinks that the conclusions of any research about people's state of mind are____.
a. confusing b. questionable
The key is 'a'. But why isn't 'b' the correct answer?

Happier, unhappier, more certain, less certain mark a range of feelings people actually have. That is in itself unquestionable--the truth. From a scientific point of view, though, the range tells us nothing about people's state of mind. Here we would question the researchers' methodology, but not the data: Some people feel happier, some people feel unhappier, some people feel less certain, and other people feel more certain. That's a faily general description about how people feel. What's the point of the research? It has nothing scientific to say. The research findings are confusing.

No.2
The fine points of etiquette must be picked up elsewhere. Some companies now offer etiquette seminars for employees who may be competent professionally but clueless socially.

Refined table manners, though less popular than before in current social life________.
a. are still a must on certain occasions
b. are bound to return sooner or later

The key is 'a'. Since 'pick up' can mean 'start again' I think 'b' is better. Is that right?

That companies now offer etiquette seminars tells us that etiquette is still a must on certain occasions.

No.3
A good many proposals were raised by the delegates, as was to be expected.

Why 'as was to be expected '? Is it correct to say 'as was expected'?

Given that one line, I, for one, would use both.

No.4
I didn't send out my application form last week, but I _______.
a. should have b. might have to

The key is 'a'. I don't think the choice is correct because the correct one should be 'should have to'. Is that right?

..., but I should have sent it out.
..., but I might have to send it out.

In terms of structure both are OK; in terms of meaning, though, 'should have' (i.e. an obligation to oneself/others) is best. You have to send it, but you don't. You are obligated to send it.

All the best,

 

[MikeNewYork]

Dear teachers,
I have four questions to ask:

No.1
I'm usually fairly skeptical about any research that conccludes that people are either happier or unhappier or more or less certain of
themselves than they were 50 years ago.
The author thinks that the conclusions of any research about people's state of mind are____.
a. confusing b. questionable
The key is 'a'. But why isn't 'b' the correct answer?

I hate to do this to you again, but I prefer answer b. I don't think the authior's problem is that he is confused by the data gathered with these sorts of questions. I believe that he "questions" the validity of the data. Comparing answers about one's happiness or certainty at time periods that far apart is not really science at all. It could be argued that so much time has passed that the respondents either can't remember their actual earlier states or that the people have been changed by time, circumstances, responsibility levels, economic class, etc. As a scoentist, I can tell you that most scientists would find conclusions based on data from these types of surveys to be highly questionable. If the data are unreliable, the conclusions based on those data are suspect.

No.2
The find points of etiquette must be picked up elsewhere. Some companies now offer etiquette seminars for employees who may be competent professionally but clueless socially.

Refined table manners, though less popular than before in current social life________.
a. are still a must on certain occasions
b. are bound to return sooner or later

The key is 'a'. Since 'pick up' can mean 'start again' I think 'b' is better. Is that right?

I agree with Cas. A.

No.3
A good many proposals were raised by the delegates, as was to be expected.

Why ' as was to be expected '? Is it correct to say 'as was expected'?

I agree with Cas. One could also say "as expected".

No.4
I didn't send out my application form last week, but I _______.
a. should have b. might have to

The key is 'a'. I don't think the choice is correct because the correct one should be 'should have to'. Is that right?

I agree with A. I don't think "might have to" goes at all with "last week". The "might have to" implies a possible future action.

 

[jiang]

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

Jiang

Dear teachers,
I have four questions to ask:

No.1
I'm usually fairly skeptical about any research that conccludes that people are either happier or unhappier or more or less certain of
themselves than they were 50 years ago.
The author thinks that the conclusions of any research about people's state of mind are____.
a. confusing b. questionable
The key is 'a'. But why isn't 'b' the correct answer?

I hate to do this to you again, but I prefer answer b. I don't think the authior's problem is that he is confused by the data gathered with these sorts of questions. I believe that he "questions" the validity of the data. Comparing answers about one's happiness or certainty at time periods that far apart is not really science at all. It could be argued that so much time has passed that the respondents either can't remember their actual earlier states or that the people have been changed by time, circumstances, responsibility levels, economic class, etc. As a scoentist, I can tell you that most scientists would find conclusions based on data from these types of surveys to be highly questionable. If the data are unreliable, the conclusions based on those data are suspect.

No.2
The find points of etiquette must be picked up elsewhere. Some companies now offer etiquette seminars for employees who may be competent professionally but clueless socially.

Refined table manners, though less popular than before in current social life________.
a. are still a must on certain occasions
b. are bound to return sooner or later

The key is 'a'. Since 'pick up' can mean 'start again' I think 'b' is better. Is that right?

I agree with Cas. A.

No.3
A good many proposals were raised by the delegates, as was to be expected.

Why ' as was to be expected '? Is it correct to say 'as was expected'?

I agree with Cas. One could also say "as expected".

No.4
I didn't send out my application form last week, but I _______.
a. should have b. might have to

The key is 'a'. I don't think the choice is correct because the correct one should be 'should have to'. Is that right?

I agree with A. I don't think "might have to" goes at all with "last week". The "might have to" implies a possible future action.

 

[MikeNewYork]

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

You're welcome. I hope that didn't confuse you. :?

 

[jiang]

No. When I did the exercise I chose 'questionable' because 'skeptical' means ' doubt or not believe what other people tell you' according to the dictionary meaning. But when I check the answer and saw 'confusing' is the key I really got confused. Therefore I posted the question.

Thank you for your concern.

Best wishes,

Jiang

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

You're welcome. I hope that didn't confuse you. :?