Saturday, October 26, 2013

Grammar- Vietnam 6A

LANGUAGE ARTS
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Grammar and Usage
In the following sentences, four parts of each sentence are underlined. If you think any one of the underlined parts is incorrect, choose the letter under that part as your answer. If you think the sentence is correct as written, choose (E) as your answer. Please note: read together, all of the sentences in this section make up a story.

1. Vietnam, officially the Socialist Republic of Vietnam, are the easternmost country on the Indochina Peninsula in Southeast AsiaNo Error.
A:  ARE is wrong here. Vietnam is a single country (singular), not plural.  Therefore, IS should be used in place of ARE.
2. With an estimated 90.3 million inhabitants as of 2012, it is the eighth-most-populous asian countryNo Error.
A:  ASIAN must be capitalized. Asian, not asian.
3. The name Vietnam translate as "Southern Viet" and was first officially adopted in 1802 by Emperor Gia Long and again in 1945 with the founding of the Democratic Republic of Vietnam under Ho Chi MinhNo Error.
A: The subject of this sentence is the name, which is singular. Therefore, TRANSLATES (a singular verb) should be used.
4. The Country is bordered by China to the northLaos to the northwest, Cambodia to the southwest, and the South China Sea to the east. No Error.
A:  Country is not a proper noun here and should not be capitalized.
5. It’s capital city has been Hanoi since the reunification of North and South Vietnam in 1976. No Error.
A: IT’S refers to the contraction of it is, not the possessive form of it. ITS is the possessive from of it and should be used here.
6. The Vietnamese became independent from Imperial China in 938 AD, following the resounding vietnamese victory in the Battle of Bạch Đằng RiverNo Error.
A:  Vietnamese is a proper noun and must be capitalized. Vietnamese, not vietnamese.
7. Successive Vietnamese royal dynasties flourished as the nation expanded geographical and politically into Southeast Asia. No Error.
A: Geographical is wrong here. You need an –LY ending. Sentence should read “Geographically.” An adverb is designed to modify or quantify a verb, an adjective, or another adverb. An adverb is used primarily to modify a verb.   
8. Following a Japanese occupation in the 1940s, the Vietnamese fought French rule in the first Indochina War, eventually expelling the french in 1954. No Error.
A: French is a proper noun and must be capitalized. “French”
9: Thereafter Vietnam was divided politically into two rival states. No Error.
A: You need a comma after THEREAFTER. You always need a comma after a transition. A comma indicates a pause in between parts of a sentence.
10:  Conflict among the two sides intensified, with heavy foreign intervention, during the Vietnam War, which ended with a North Vietnamese victory in 1975. No Error.
A: AMONG is wrong here. Use “among” only when dealing with three or more. Use “between” when you are certain that you are dealing with two. Here, the sentence clearly says “two” so you must use “between”
11. Vietnam was then unified under a Communist government, but they was politically isolated and impoverished. No Error.
A: THEY is wrong here. Vietnam is a single country, so you must use IT, not THEY
12.  In 1986, the government initiated a series of economic and political reforms, which began Vietnams path towards integration into the world economy. No Error.
A: You need an apostrophe here. “Vietnam’s” path.
13. By the year 2000 the country had established diplomatic relations with most nations. No Error.
A: “By the year 2000, the country” – You need a comma after 2000.  To avoid confusion, use commas to separate words and word groups within a series of three or more. Also use a comma to separate two adjectives when the word “and” can be inserted between them. Here, use a comma after phrases of more than three words that begin a sentence. If the phrase has fewer than three words, then the comma is optional.
14. Vietnams economic growth has been among the highest in the world since 2000. No Error.
A: “Vietnam’s” because you need possession here. 
15. Vietnam had the higher Global Growth Generators Index among 11 major economies in 2011. No Error.
A: HIGHER is wrong here. Only use ER endings when you have exactly two. Otherwise use EST endings.
16. It’s successful economic reforms resulted in it joining the World Trade Organization in 2007. No Error.
A: IT’S is wrong here. You must use ITS successful reforms because you need to show a possession (Vietnam’s reforms). You cannot use IT’S because that is a contraction for IT IS.
17.  However, the country still suffer from relatively high levels of income inequality, disparities in healthcare provision, and poor gender equalityNo Error.
A: SUFFER is wrong here. The country is ONE country and it is SINGULAR, no matter how many people live in the country. Remember: A family of five IS large! A class of 30 students IS a large class! Focus on the subject. A country with 100,000,000 people IS a large country.
18. As a coastal country Vietnam has many major seaports, including: Cam RanhDa NangHai PhongHo Chi Minh CityHong GaiQui NhơnVũng Tàu and Nha Trang. No Error.
A: “Country, Vietnam” – the comma is missing here.
19. According to the 2005 National Environmental Present Condition Report, Vietnam is one of twenty-five countries considered to possess a unique high level of biodiversity. No Error.
A: UNIQUE should be replaced with “uniquely.” Remember to use an adjective after the verb, or in this case the infinitive of the verb. “Uniquely” is appropriate here. Remember: “Drive safely,” “Speak softly” 
20: In agricultural genetic diversity, Vietnam is one of the worlds twelve original cultivar centers. No Error.
A:  “WORLD’S”  You need an 3apostrophe here to show possession. “John’s car” “Rachel’s house” “world’s centers”


Friday, October 25, 2013

Grammar - India 5A


LANGUAGE ARTS
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Grammar and Usage

In the following sentences, four parts of each sentence are underlined. If you think any one of the underlined parts is incorrect, choose the letter under that part as your answer. If you think the sentence is correct as written, choose (E) as your answer. Please note: read together, all of the sentences in this section make up a story.

1. India is official known as the Republic of India. No Error.
A: OFFICIAL is not correct. You are describing, so you need to say “officially”
 2. India are a country in South Asia. No Error.
A: ARE is wrong here. India is a singular country (one country) so it is singular. Sentence should read that India IS a country in South Asia.
3. It is the seven-largest country by area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world. No Error.
A: SEVEN is wrong here. Sentence should read SEVENTH because you are listing an order- ex: First, second, third, fourth, fifth, sixth, seventh.
4. Bounded by the Indian Ocean on the south, the Arabian Sea on the south-west, and the Bay of Bengal on the south-east, they shares land borders with Pakistan to the west China, Nepal, and Bhutan to the north-east; and Burma and Bangladesh to the east. No Error.
A: THEY is wrong here. India is ONE country and therefore India is an IT, not a THEY.
5. In the Indian Ocean, India is in the vicinity of Sri Lanka and the Maldives; in addition, Indias Andaman and Nicobar Islands share a maritime border with Thailand and Indonesia. No Error.
A: INDIAS is wrong here. You need possession. You are referring to “India’s islands,” so you need an apostrophe.
6. Home to the Indus Valley Civilization and a region of historic trade routes and vast empires, the Indian subcontinent were identified with its commercial and cultural wealth for much of its long history. No Error.
A: WERE is wrong here. India is singular and the Indian Subcontinent is singular as well. The correct phrase should be “was”
7. Four world religionsHinduism, Buddhism, Jainism, and Sikhismoriginated here, whereas Judaism, Zoroastrianism, Christianity, and Islam arrived in the 1st millennium and also helped shape the regions diverse culture. No Error.
A: Again, here you are showing possession. You need to say “region’s diverse culture”
8. Gradually annexed by and brought under the administration of the British East India Company from the early 18th century and administered directly by the United Kingdom from the mid-19th century, India became a independent nation in 1947 after a struggle for independence that was marked by non-violent resistance led by Mahatma Gandhi. No Error.
A: “A” is wrong here. Before a vowel (a,e,i,o,u) you need to have an “an.” The correct answer should read that “India became AN independent nation” 
9. The Indian economy are the world's tenth-largest by nominal GDP and third-largest by purchasing power parity (PPP).  No Error.
A: ARE is wrong here. The Indian economy is ONE economy, so you use IS not ARE. Remember, “One teacher teaches but many teachers teach”
10. Following market-based economic reforms in 1991, India became one of the faster-growing major economies and it is considered a newly industrialized country. No Error.
A: FASTER is wrong here. The answer should say that India became one of the FASTEST growing economies. Use ER endings when you have TWO; use EST endings whenever you have THREE or MORE. When you are not sure, use EST. EX: Taller, shorter, thinner = 2 but tallest, shortest, thinnest = 3 or more
11. However it continues to face the challenges of poverty, corruption, malnutrition, inadequate public healthcare, and terrorism. No Error.
A: However needs a comma after it. You always need a comma after a transition. (For example, however, thus, in addition, moreover, furthermore, as a matter of fact, first, second, third)
12. A nuclear weapons state and a regional  power India has the third-largest standing army in the world and ranks eighth in military expenditure among nations. No Error.
A: After the word “power,” you need a comma (before the word “India”). Use commas to separate words and word groups with a series of three or more. Also, use commas to separate two adjectives when the word “and” can be inserted between them. Use a comma when an LY is inserted between adjectives. Use commas before or surrounding the name or title of a person. In this example, use a comma after phrases of more than three words that begin a sentence. The sentence should read, “A nuclear weapons state and a regional power, India has the third-largest standing army in the world and ranks eighth in military expenditure among nations.
13. India is a pluralistic, multilingual, and multiethnic society. It is also home to a diversity from wildlife in a variety of protected habitats. No Error.
A: FROM is wrong. A diversity OF wildlife. The preposition is wrong here Remember, you compare TO/WITH, contrast FROM, partake IN a meal, and are jealous OF a friend.
14. The name India is derived from Indus, who originates from the Old Persian word Hinduš.  No Error.
A: India is NOT a PERSON so we have to use WHICH not WHO. Only use WHO when referring to people.
15. The latter term stems from the Sanskrit word Sindhu, which was the historical local appellation for the indus river. No Error.
A: INDUS RIVER must be capitalized because it is a proper noun and the name of a specific river.
16. Hindustan were originally a Persian word that meant "Land of the Hindus". No Error.
A: Hindustan is singular. You need to say it WAS not WERE.
17. Prior to 1947 India referred to a region that encompassed northern India and Pakistan. No Error.
A: The comma is missing here. After 1947 you need a comma. When starting a sentence with a weak clause, you use a comma after it. Ex: “After the War of 1812,”
18. It is occasionally used to solely denote India in it’s entirety. No Error.
A: It’s is wrong here. IT’S is a contraction for IT IS so you need not use it. ITS (without the apostrophe) is a possession and the correct phrasing for this answer.
19. India comprises the bulk of the Indian subcontinent and lies atop the minor Indian tectonic plate, which in turn belong to the Indo-Australian Plate. No Error.
A: BELONG is wrong here. Tectonic plates IS singular so you must have BELONGS not BELONG. Remember, one belongs, many belong.  There is an issue here with subject-agreement. No Error.
20. Indias defining geological processes commenced 75 million years ago. No Error.
A: INDIAS is wrong here. You need a possession here! The sentence should read “India’s”  


Grammar - Cannondale Bikes- 4A


LANGUAGE ARTS
_________________________________________________________________
Grammar and Usage

In the following sentences, four parts of each sentence are underlined. If you think any one of the underlined parts is incorrect, choose the letter under that part as your answer. If you think the sentence is correct as written, choose (E) as your answer. Please note: read together, all of the sentences in this section make up a story.


1. The Cannondale Bicycle Corporation is an American division of Canadian conglomerate Dorel Industries who supplies bicycles. No Error.
A: WHO is wrong here. Only use WHO for people, not bicycles! The Cannondale Bicycle Corporation is an official name of a corporation, so it is capitalized.
2. It is headquartered in Bethel Connecticut with manufacturing and assembly facilities in China and Taichung, Taiwan. No Error.
A: “Bethel, Connecticut.” You need a comma to separate city and state.
3. The company, founded in 1971 by Joe Montgomery, Jim Catrambone, and Ron Davis, were designed to manufacture backpacks and bags for camping and later for bicycle trailers for bicycle touring. No Error.
A: WERE is WRONG Here, the company WAS not WERE. Use WAS for one but WERE for two or more. One company WAS; many companies WERE.
4. One of the more successful products was the Bugger, a child trailer, although Cannondale's marketing department seemed unaware of the connotations of the name in British English. No Error.
A: MORE is wrong here. MORE refers to two! Only use MORE when you are positive that you have TWO. Otherwise use most. Use BETTER for TWO; use BEST for THREE. Remember that ER endings apply to two; EST endings apply to three or more. When you are unsure, use EST endings and assume three or more, unless states otherwise. 
5. Today, Cannondale produces many different types of high-end bicycles, few of which are handmade in united states. No Error.
A: UNITED STATES must be capitalized. The name of a country is a proper noun and must be capitalized.
6. The name of the company was took from the Cannondale Metro North train station in Wilton, Connecticut. No Error.
A: WAS TOOK is wrong because WAS is already in the past and you do not need to repeat that it WAS TOOK. The correct answer should state WAS TAKEN.
7.  In the late 1990s, Cannondale attempted move into the motorsports business, producing a line of off-road motorcycles and all-terrain vehicles. No Error.
A: ATTEMPTED MOVE is wrong here. Use the infinitive.  Attempted TO move. Ex: I like TO dance. She tries TO sing.
8. According to an interview with Cannondale Communications Director, Tom Armstrong, the company was unable to drive down the cost of their motor vehicles fast enough. No Error.
A: THEIR is wrong here. The COMPANY is singular and it should say ITS not THEIR 
9. Sales took off when the company was still losing money on each motorbike they shipped. No Error.
A: THEY is wrong here. Again, the company lost money on each motorbike IT shipped, not THEY shipped.
10. This gap drove the company to seek bankruptcy protection in 2003, which it probably should of done sooner. No Error.
A: “Should of” is wrong here. “Should’ve” “Could’ve” and “Would’ve” are OK to use. They are all contractions for “should have” “could have” and “would have.” There is NO SUCH THING AS “should of” “could of” or “would of”  
11. Cannondale's bicycle division was purchased in 2003 by Pegasus Capitol Advisors, which supported the company's renewed focus on bicycle production. No Error.
A: CAPITOL is wrong here. A capitol is a statehouse; capital are assets or essentials or a main city. No Error.
12. In february 2008, Cannondale was purchased from Pegasus Capital Advisors by Dorel Industries. No Error.
A: February is the name of a month and always capitalized. You always have to capitalize months of the year. (EX: September, October, November). In general, all proper nouns are always capitalized.
13. In April, 2009, Cannondale announced that all production would be transferred to Taiwan. No Error.
A: APRIL 2009 does not require a comma in between.  There is an extra comma here. Only use a comma when you have a certain DATE, For example, “Frances Kweller was born on May 22, 1982”  
14. Originally a privately held company Cannondale became a $22 million IPO in 1995. No Error.
A: You need a comma between “company” and “Cannondale”
15. The business continued as a publicly traded company until they declared bankruptcy on January 29, 2003. No Error.
A: THEY is wrong here. ONE business must be IT not THEY. Use THEY only for plural!
16. Cannondale's full assets were than purchased at auction by Pegasus Partners II, L.P.  No Error.
A: THAN is wrong here. THAN is used for comparison. THEN is used for indicating time, or answers “when”. For example: “She is taller THAN I am” and “First THEN second place”
17. The motor-sports IP, manufacturing equipment and inventory were quick sold off as the company returned its focus to bicycle manufacture. No Error.
A: QUICK is wrong here. The answer should say “quickly” – The adjective must end in LY. For example:  “speak softly” “run quickly” “drive safely.”
18. In February 2008 Dorel Industries a Canada-based diversified consumer products company, announced the purchase of Cannondale from Pegasus for approximately $200 million. No Error.
A: You need a comma after “2008” and after the word “industries.”  To avoid confusion, use commas to separate words and word groups within a series of three or more. Here, use a comma before and after surrounding the name or title of a person directly addressed. For example: “Will you, Bob, do the assignment for me?” Also use commas to surround degrees or titles. For example, “Frances Kweller, Esq., is a lawyer and the founder of Kweller Prep Tutoring and Educational Services” or “Frances Kweller, who is a lawyer, is also the founder of Kweller Prep.” Here you use the double commas.  No Error.
19. Dorel also owns Pacific Cycle, who is a distributor of bicycles made in Taiwan. No Error.
A: WHO is wrong here. Only use WHO for people. The correct answer should say “which” is a distributor.
20. Cannondale began manufacturing aluminum racing and touring frames in 1983; mountain bike frames were added later. No Error.
A: No Error. A semi colon is weaker than a comma but stronger than a period. Use a semi colon to connect two similarly related ideas. After a semi colon, always use a lower case letter. No Error.