A clone is a genetically identical copy of a living organism. Human
clones are nothing new; they occur naturally in the recognizable form
of identical twins. Not until the successful cloning of a sheep called
Dolly, however, has the possibility of intentionally producing an
identical copy
of a human been considered seriously.
Production of a human clone would most likely utilize the same basic
methodology that resulted in Dolly. A human egg would be retrieved
from an individual, and its genetic material (DNA) would be removed
and replaced with DNA derived from any adult human cell type. This
would bypass the need for fertilization of the egg by the sperm in
order
to obtain a full complement of DNA. In a laboratory dish, the egg
would then undergo several cell divisions. Placed into a uterus, the
resulting embryo would grow and, with luck, develop until birth.
Although this cloning technique is conceptually and procedurally
simple, its success rate has been extremely low. The birth of one
Dolly, for instance, required the preparation of 277 re-nucleated
eggs, followed by the implantation of 29 resulting best embryos. The
low success rate can be attributed to the difference between the young
DNA of a normally fertilized egg and the genetic material of the
re-nucleated egg, which is mature and of defined destiny – it has
already committed itself to a particular physiological role. In order
for proper fetal development
to occur, mature DNA must be coaxed into reverting to its youthful
state, a complex process that will be difficult to achieve for the
human species.
Beyond the practical difficulties of intentional human cloning,
scientists, politicians, and others have raised serious ethical
concerns about this practice. For example, there is a chance that the
cloning procedure would adversely affect the developing embryo. There
also might be deleterious effects on the long-term health of the
clone. Proponents of human cloning counter that human sexual
reproduction is not a risk-free affair either. Even if human cloning
could be made safe, the motivations behind producing human clones do
not fall clearly on one side of the ethical divide. While proponents
stress potentially
appealing motivations – a man and a woman who are both carriers of a
genetic disease can use cloning to assure that their child will not be
afflicted with the disorder – critics argue that the practice could
and likely would be used for unethical ends, such as to select for
certain traits, such as hair/eye color or sexual orientation, for
example.
1. The primary purpose of the passage is to
a) dismiss a new scientific method as unethical
b) defend a medical procedure against unwarranted attack
c) explain a process and its ramifications
d) describe a hypothesis and its negative consequences
e) analyze the possible outcomes of a new medical approach
2. The author of the passage mentions Dolly most probably in order to
a) suggest that human cloning is feasible
b) show that the ethical concerns against cloning are misguided
c) argue that nonhuman cloning is less efficient than human cloning
d) establish a basis for an argument against human cloning
e) refute a counterargument in favor of human cloning.
3. According to the passage, which of the following is a potential
obstacle to human cloning?
a) Lack of adequately prepared human eggs
b) Predetermination of DNA function within the adult body
c) Shortage of funding for additional research
d) Inability to pinpoint specific biological relationships within an egg
e) Unpredictability of chemical reactions within the uterus
4. The passage suggests which of the following?
a) Human cloning is reachable within ten years.
b) The cloning of nonhuman animals has always been successful.
c) The eggs of nonhuman animals are easier to obtain than human
eggs.
d) DNA taken from an adult human cell contains DNA from both parents.
e) Human DNA is less predictable than nonhuman DNA.
5. Which of the following is NOT given in the passage as a reason not
to pursue human cloning?
a) The unknown effects of cloning on adult human clones.
b) The potential harm to cloned embryos.
c) The chance that cloning will be used to select for only certain
socially advantageous characteristics.
d) The technical difficulty of obtaining suitable DNA.
e) The exorbitant costs associated with the medical procedures used in cloning.
Thursday, 9 June 2016
Wednesday, 8 June 2016
JUNE 9 RC SET
Passage 1
Concord staked its claim to be the birthplace of Independence during
the celebration of "America's jubilee" on April 19, 1825, the fiftieth
anniversary of Concord Fight. Concord in 1825 was an expansive town of
nineteen hundred inhabitants, thriving with crafts and trade in the
village and surrounded by farms prospering on demand from rising urban
centers in the long boom that accompanied the opening phase of the
Industrial Revolution in the Northeast. It also occupied a prominent
place on the political landscape; as a shire town, where the county
courts convened, it had risen into a leading center of Middlesex
County, and its politicians were major players on that stage. Economic
and political ambitions, as well as pride in the past, drove the
insistence that
Concord was the "first site of forcible resistance to British aggression."
A decade later, by the mid-1830s, with over two thousand inhabitants,
Concord was probably at its political and economic pinnacle. The
central village hosted some nine stores, forty shops, four hotels and
taverns, four doctors and four lawyers, a variety of county
associations, a printing office and a post office. Manufacturing was
humming, too, with a growing mill village in the west part of town,
along the quick-running Assabet River, and rising production of
carriages and chaises, boots and shoes, bricks, guns, bellows, and
pencils.
But a good many people were left out of the prosperity. In what was
still a farming town, 64 percent of adult males were landless, while
the top tenth of taxpayers, some fifty men, controlled nearly half the
wealth. Those who failed to obtain a stake in society, native and
newcomer
alike, quickly moved on. The ties that once joined neighbors together
were fraying. On the farms, the old work customs — the huskings,
roof-raisings, and apple bees — by which people cooperated to complete
essential chores gave way to modern capitalist arrangements. When men
needed help, they hired it, and paid the going rate, which no longer
included the traditional ration of grog. With a new zeal
for temperance, employers abandoned the custom of drinking with
workers in what had been a ritual display of camaraderie. There was no
point in pretending to common bonds.
With the loosening of familiar obligations came unprecedented
opportunities for personal autonomy and voluntary choice.
Massachusetts inaugurated a new era of religious pluralism in 1834,
ending two centuries of mandatory support for local churches. Even in
Concord, a slim majority approved the change, and as soon as it
became law, townspeople deserted the two existing churches — the
Unitarian flock of the Reverend Ripley and an orthodox Calvinist
congregation started in 1826 — in droves. The Sabbath no longer
brought all ranks and orders together in obligatory devotion to the
Word of God. Instead, townspeople gathered in an expanding array of
voluntary associations — libraries, lyceums, charitable and missionary
groups, Masonic lodges, antislavery and temperance societies, among
others — to promote diverse projects for the common good. The
privileged classes, particularly the village elite, were remarkably
active in
these campaigns. But even as they pulled back from customary roles and
withdrew into private associations, they continued to exercise public
power.
1. The passage suggests which of the following about members of the
village elite in post-1834 Concord?
a) Private associations had forced them to relinquish political power.
b) Politically, they were more in favor of religious pluralism than
were non-elite citizens.
c) They ceased all Sabbath worship once religious pluralism became
law in Massachusetts.
d) Many had abandoned the Unitarian and Calvinist churches in favor
of non-church activities.
e) They utilized their wealth to found a growing number of diverse
projects for the common good.
2. The primary purpose of this passage is to
a) argue that religious and political freedom in Concord was
beneficial to the city's economic development
b) depict the lifestyle of Concord's elite citizens during the 19th century
c) argue that social alienation was necessary for Concord's economic
and political development in the 19th century
d) define Concord's place in American history post- Independence
e) describe 19th century Concord's key economic and political
changes, along with their impact on societal norms
3. According to the passage, which of the following is true of
18th-century Massachusetts residents?
a) Most were landless and ultimately forced to move on.
b) They numbered over two thousand.
c) They were forced to support local churches.
d) Some celebrated "America's Jubilee".
e) They occupied prominent positions in Middlesex County courts.
*****************************************
Passage 2
The bond between the domestic dog and humans is such that the dog
exists in every part of the world inhabited by people. The
relationship between the two species stretches back tens of thousands
of years, to the first domestication of the wolf. Every modern breed
of domestic dog, of which there are more than 400 today, is descended
from this wild ancestor. Prehistoric humans had contact with other
wild canids, such as jackals, foxes, dholes, and African hunting dogs,
but only the wolf possessed the characteristics that allowed for
integration into human
life, which implies social assimilation, as opposed to mere
domestication, which requires only a taming of wild instincts in the
animal. So while dogs have been integrated, animals such as cows,
sheep, and goats have not.
The traits in the wolf that allowed for integration are threefold.
First, the wolf is a highly social animal, living in packs, akin to
the social networks of humans. In the absence of this behavior, it
would have been difficult for the first captive wolf pups to remain in
a human settlement, constantly surrounded by other creatures. Wild
canids such as the jackal and fox are solitary animals and would not
have adapted easily, if at all, to social living. Second, wolves
possess a system of social stratification remarkably similar to that
of humans: each member of
the group is aware of its rank in the chain of dominance and is loyal
to higher-ranking members. Humans exploited this innate sensitivity to
hierarchy by raising wolf cubs to be submissive. Third, wolves are
highly intelligent creatures, able to learn tasks quickly. Without
this attribute,
the wolf would have been of little use to early man, since it does not
provide meat, milk, or wool. The more intelligent the captive wolf,
the more likely humans would have sought to breed it, resulting in
perpetuation of this inborn intelligence and culminating in the
remarkable cognitive abilities of modern dogs.
The development of different breeds from the wolf appears to have
begun as early as 2000 B.C. in ancient Egypt and parts of western
Asia. The first recorded instances of physically distinct breeds come
from these areas. In Egypt, dogs resembling modern greyhounds were
prevalent, while in western Asia dogs resembling modern mastiffs
were common. The distinct body types of these breeds perhaps reflect
the different purposes for which they were bred: greyhounds for
chasing swift prey, such as hares, and mastiffs for grappling with
larger prey, such as boars or antelope. But this is only speculation;
the historical record from this period is too sparse to allow
certainty on
the matter.
1. Which of the following most accurately states the main
idea of the passage?
a) Humans value dogs more than they value any other domestic animal.
b) The domestication of the wolf has no parallel in any other animal.
c) Certain desirable traits not present in other animals allowed the wolf
to become the modern dog.
d) Domestication of the wolf has been unquestionably successful.
e) Wolves are similar to humans in several important aspects.
2. The passage suggests which of the following about the modern dog?
a) It is the best social companion of all domesticated animals.
b) Its intelligence is unsurpassed among household animals.
c) It cannot survive outside of a social environment.
d) Its body type always reflects the purpose for which it was bred.
e) It perceives humans as superior to itself.
3. All of the following statements are supported by the passage EXCEPT:
a) Sheep are not part of the social fabric of human life.
b) It is not possible to domesticate jackals or foxes.
c) Submissiveness is a desirable trait in domesticated animals.
d) Humans tended to domesticate those animals that provided some
benefit to them.
e) The purpose of early breeds of dog is not known.
*********************************************************
Passage 3
In recent years, a class of drugs known as COX-2 inhibitors has gotten
much publicity for the drugs' power to relieve inflammation and pain.
These drugs are relatively new to the pharmaceutical industry, their
mechanisms of action having been discovered only in 1971. That year,
John Vane discovered the relationship between nonsteroidal
antiinflammatory drugs, such as aspirin, and a group of molecules,
called prostaglandins, responsible for producing the sensation of pain
in the human body, among other functions.
Prostaglandins were first discovered in the 1930s and are now known to
be generated by most mammalian tissues in response to external
stimuli. Unlike classical hormones that are synthesized in one tissue
but act on a distant one, prostaglandins act on the cells that produce
them or on cells located close to the prostaglandins' cells of origin.
Aspirin alleviates pain by inhibiting the function of an enzyme called
cyclooxygenase or COX; this inhibition prevents the production of
prostaglandins. The three forms of this enzyme, COX-1, COX-2, and
COX-3, all stimulate the production of prostaglandins, but each serves
a
different purpose. COX-1 functions to protect the stomach from
irritating gastric acids. COX-2 functions to induce inflammation in
injured tissue and COX-3 functions to control the sensation of pain.
Aspirin and other similar drugs, such as naproxen, inhibit both COX-1
and COX-2, sometimes producing or aggravating stomach ulcers in
patients who take them.
In order to eliminate the side effects of aspirin and related drugs,
several pharmaceutical companies in the 1990s developed drugs that
inhibited only COX-2. However, side effects almost always cropped up,
even after clinical trials that seemed to indicate none. This often
occurs because trials are conducted within very limited parameters;
once
the drug has been approved for mass distribution, however, the number
of people taking it and the length of time that it is taken increase
dramatically. Several COX-2 drugs that have been popular in recent
years fit this pattern: initially successful in clinical trials,
subsequent studies showed them to have serious, potentially lethal
side effects.
Though prostaglandin chemistry and enzymology have been studied for
half a century, pinpointing the exact role of the molecules in
physiological processes still remains a challenge for researchers.
Hence it is not surprising that recent therapeutic attempts to
interfere with the formation of certain prostaglandins have produced
unexpected side effects. It now seems that the hype surrounding COX-2
drugs may have been premature.
1. The passage suggest which the following about COX- 2 inhibitors?
a) They fail to protect the stomach from gastric acids that can cause
irritation, but protect the body from tissue inflammation.
b) They produce similar side effects as those caused by Naproxen.
c) They were introduced approximately 20 years after the relationship
between aspirin and prostaglandins was discovered.
d) They stimulate production of prostaglandins that cause tissue inflammation.
e) They are generated by external stimuli and act on the cells that
produce them.
2. According to the passage, all of the following are true of
prostaglandins EXCEPT:
a) They were discovered in the 1930s.
b) They are generated by most mammalian tissues.
c) They produce the sensation of pain in the body, but are also
responsible for other bodily functions.
d) They cause side effects that clinical trials failed to detect.
e) Their production is affected by enzymes COX-1, COX- 2, and COX-3.
3. The author mentions that prostaglandins are generated in response
to external stimuli primarily in order to support the contention that
a) Prostaglandins can produce or aggravate stomach ulcers.
b) Prostaglandins act in the same tissue that produces them.
c) Prostaglandins prevent the enzyme cyclooxygenase from functioning.
d) Prostaglandins are significantly different from most mammalian hormones.
e) Prostaglandins are responsible for the human sensation of pain.
4. The primary purpose of this passage is to
a) explain the therapeutic benefits of a new type of pain reliever
b) initiate a debate concerning the benefits of COX-2 inhibitors
c) warn the public that clinical trials cannot ensure drug safety
d) describe the impetus for and result of COX-2 inhibitors' introduction
e) introduce research findings to support COX-2 inhibitors over COX-1
inhibitors
Concord staked its claim to be the birthplace of Independence during
the celebration of "America's jubilee" on April 19, 1825, the fiftieth
anniversary of Concord Fight. Concord in 1825 was an expansive town of
nineteen hundred inhabitants, thriving with crafts and trade in the
village and surrounded by farms prospering on demand from rising urban
centers in the long boom that accompanied the opening phase of the
Industrial Revolution in the Northeast. It also occupied a prominent
place on the political landscape; as a shire town, where the county
courts convened, it had risen into a leading center of Middlesex
County, and its politicians were major players on that stage. Economic
and political ambitions, as well as pride in the past, drove the
insistence that
Concord was the "first site of forcible resistance to British aggression."
A decade later, by the mid-1830s, with over two thousand inhabitants,
Concord was probably at its political and economic pinnacle. The
central village hosted some nine stores, forty shops, four hotels and
taverns, four doctors and four lawyers, a variety of county
associations, a printing office and a post office. Manufacturing was
humming, too, with a growing mill village in the west part of town,
along the quick-running Assabet River, and rising production of
carriages and chaises, boots and shoes, bricks, guns, bellows, and
pencils.
But a good many people were left out of the prosperity. In what was
still a farming town, 64 percent of adult males were landless, while
the top tenth of taxpayers, some fifty men, controlled nearly half the
wealth. Those who failed to obtain a stake in society, native and
newcomer
alike, quickly moved on. The ties that once joined neighbors together
were fraying. On the farms, the old work customs — the huskings,
roof-raisings, and apple bees — by which people cooperated to complete
essential chores gave way to modern capitalist arrangements. When men
needed help, they hired it, and paid the going rate, which no longer
included the traditional ration of grog. With a new zeal
for temperance, employers abandoned the custom of drinking with
workers in what had been a ritual display of camaraderie. There was no
point in pretending to common bonds.
With the loosening of familiar obligations came unprecedented
opportunities for personal autonomy and voluntary choice.
Massachusetts inaugurated a new era of religious pluralism in 1834,
ending two centuries of mandatory support for local churches. Even in
Concord, a slim majority approved the change, and as soon as it
became law, townspeople deserted the two existing churches — the
Unitarian flock of the Reverend Ripley and an orthodox Calvinist
congregation started in 1826 — in droves. The Sabbath no longer
brought all ranks and orders together in obligatory devotion to the
Word of God. Instead, townspeople gathered in an expanding array of
voluntary associations — libraries, lyceums, charitable and missionary
groups, Masonic lodges, antislavery and temperance societies, among
others — to promote diverse projects for the common good. The
privileged classes, particularly the village elite, were remarkably
active in
these campaigns. But even as they pulled back from customary roles and
withdrew into private associations, they continued to exercise public
power.
1. The passage suggests which of the following about members of the
village elite in post-1834 Concord?
a) Private associations had forced them to relinquish political power.
b) Politically, they were more in favor of religious pluralism than
were non-elite citizens.
c) They ceased all Sabbath worship once religious pluralism became
law in Massachusetts.
d) Many had abandoned the Unitarian and Calvinist churches in favor
of non-church activities.
e) They utilized their wealth to found a growing number of diverse
projects for the common good.
2. The primary purpose of this passage is to
a) argue that religious and political freedom in Concord was
beneficial to the city's economic development
b) depict the lifestyle of Concord's elite citizens during the 19th century
c) argue that social alienation was necessary for Concord's economic
and political development in the 19th century
d) define Concord's place in American history post- Independence
e) describe 19th century Concord's key economic and political
changes, along with their impact on societal norms
3. According to the passage, which of the following is true of
18th-century Massachusetts residents?
a) Most were landless and ultimately forced to move on.
b) They numbered over two thousand.
c) They were forced to support local churches.
d) Some celebrated "America's Jubilee".
e) They occupied prominent positions in Middlesex County courts.
*****************************************
Passage 2
The bond between the domestic dog and humans is such that the dog
exists in every part of the world inhabited by people. The
relationship between the two species stretches back tens of thousands
of years, to the first domestication of the wolf. Every modern breed
of domestic dog, of which there are more than 400 today, is descended
from this wild ancestor. Prehistoric humans had contact with other
wild canids, such as jackals, foxes, dholes, and African hunting dogs,
but only the wolf possessed the characteristics that allowed for
integration into human
life, which implies social assimilation, as opposed to mere
domestication, which requires only a taming of wild instincts in the
animal. So while dogs have been integrated, animals such as cows,
sheep, and goats have not.
The traits in the wolf that allowed for integration are threefold.
First, the wolf is a highly social animal, living in packs, akin to
the social networks of humans. In the absence of this behavior, it
would have been difficult for the first captive wolf pups to remain in
a human settlement, constantly surrounded by other creatures. Wild
canids such as the jackal and fox are solitary animals and would not
have adapted easily, if at all, to social living. Second, wolves
possess a system of social stratification remarkably similar to that
of humans: each member of
the group is aware of its rank in the chain of dominance and is loyal
to higher-ranking members. Humans exploited this innate sensitivity to
hierarchy by raising wolf cubs to be submissive. Third, wolves are
highly intelligent creatures, able to learn tasks quickly. Without
this attribute,
the wolf would have been of little use to early man, since it does not
provide meat, milk, or wool. The more intelligent the captive wolf,
the more likely humans would have sought to breed it, resulting in
perpetuation of this inborn intelligence and culminating in the
remarkable cognitive abilities of modern dogs.
The development of different breeds from the wolf appears to have
begun as early as 2000 B.C. in ancient Egypt and parts of western
Asia. The first recorded instances of physically distinct breeds come
from these areas. In Egypt, dogs resembling modern greyhounds were
prevalent, while in western Asia dogs resembling modern mastiffs
were common. The distinct body types of these breeds perhaps reflect
the different purposes for which they were bred: greyhounds for
chasing swift prey, such as hares, and mastiffs for grappling with
larger prey, such as boars or antelope. But this is only speculation;
the historical record from this period is too sparse to allow
certainty on
the matter.
1. Which of the following most accurately states the main
idea of the passage?
a) Humans value dogs more than they value any other domestic animal.
b) The domestication of the wolf has no parallel in any other animal.
c) Certain desirable traits not present in other animals allowed the wolf
to become the modern dog.
d) Domestication of the wolf has been unquestionably successful.
e) Wolves are similar to humans in several important aspects.
2. The passage suggests which of the following about the modern dog?
a) It is the best social companion of all domesticated animals.
b) Its intelligence is unsurpassed among household animals.
c) It cannot survive outside of a social environment.
d) Its body type always reflects the purpose for which it was bred.
e) It perceives humans as superior to itself.
3. All of the following statements are supported by the passage EXCEPT:
a) Sheep are not part of the social fabric of human life.
b) It is not possible to domesticate jackals or foxes.
c) Submissiveness is a desirable trait in domesticated animals.
d) Humans tended to domesticate those animals that provided some
benefit to them.
e) The purpose of early breeds of dog is not known.
*********************************************************
Passage 3
In recent years, a class of drugs known as COX-2 inhibitors has gotten
much publicity for the drugs' power to relieve inflammation and pain.
These drugs are relatively new to the pharmaceutical industry, their
mechanisms of action having been discovered only in 1971. That year,
John Vane discovered the relationship between nonsteroidal
antiinflammatory drugs, such as aspirin, and a group of molecules,
called prostaglandins, responsible for producing the sensation of pain
in the human body, among other functions.
Prostaglandins were first discovered in the 1930s and are now known to
be generated by most mammalian tissues in response to external
stimuli. Unlike classical hormones that are synthesized in one tissue
but act on a distant one, prostaglandins act on the cells that produce
them or on cells located close to the prostaglandins' cells of origin.
Aspirin alleviates pain by inhibiting the function of an enzyme called
cyclooxygenase or COX; this inhibition prevents the production of
prostaglandins. The three forms of this enzyme, COX-1, COX-2, and
COX-3, all stimulate the production of prostaglandins, but each serves
a
different purpose. COX-1 functions to protect the stomach from
irritating gastric acids. COX-2 functions to induce inflammation in
injured tissue and COX-3 functions to control the sensation of pain.
Aspirin and other similar drugs, such as naproxen, inhibit both COX-1
and COX-2, sometimes producing or aggravating stomach ulcers in
patients who take them.
In order to eliminate the side effects of aspirin and related drugs,
several pharmaceutical companies in the 1990s developed drugs that
inhibited only COX-2. However, side effects almost always cropped up,
even after clinical trials that seemed to indicate none. This often
occurs because trials are conducted within very limited parameters;
once
the drug has been approved for mass distribution, however, the number
of people taking it and the length of time that it is taken increase
dramatically. Several COX-2 drugs that have been popular in recent
years fit this pattern: initially successful in clinical trials,
subsequent studies showed them to have serious, potentially lethal
side effects.
Though prostaglandin chemistry and enzymology have been studied for
half a century, pinpointing the exact role of the molecules in
physiological processes still remains a challenge for researchers.
Hence it is not surprising that recent therapeutic attempts to
interfere with the formation of certain prostaglandins have produced
unexpected side effects. It now seems that the hype surrounding COX-2
drugs may have been premature.
1. The passage suggest which the following about COX- 2 inhibitors?
a) They fail to protect the stomach from gastric acids that can cause
irritation, but protect the body from tissue inflammation.
b) They produce similar side effects as those caused by Naproxen.
c) They were introduced approximately 20 years after the relationship
between aspirin and prostaglandins was discovered.
d) They stimulate production of prostaglandins that cause tissue inflammation.
e) They are generated by external stimuli and act on the cells that
produce them.
2. According to the passage, all of the following are true of
prostaglandins EXCEPT:
a) They were discovered in the 1930s.
b) They are generated by most mammalian tissues.
c) They produce the sensation of pain in the body, but are also
responsible for other bodily functions.
d) They cause side effects that clinical trials failed to detect.
e) Their production is affected by enzymes COX-1, COX- 2, and COX-3.
3. The author mentions that prostaglandins are generated in response
to external stimuli primarily in order to support the contention that
a) Prostaglandins can produce or aggravate stomach ulcers.
b) Prostaglandins act in the same tissue that produces them.
c) Prostaglandins prevent the enzyme cyclooxygenase from functioning.
d) Prostaglandins are significantly different from most mammalian hormones.
e) Prostaglandins are responsible for the human sensation of pain.
4. The primary purpose of this passage is to
a) explain the therapeutic benefits of a new type of pain reliever
b) initiate a debate concerning the benefits of COX-2 inhibitors
c) warn the public that clinical trials cannot ensure drug safety
d) describe the impetus for and result of COX-2 inhibitors' introduction
e) introduce research findings to support COX-2 inhibitors over COX-1
inhibitors
Tuesday, 7 June 2016
JUNE 8 RC#3
Passage 34
Sarah Meyers McGinty, in her useful new book Power Talk: Using
Language to Build Authority and Influence, argues that while the
simple lingual act of declaring power doesn not help a powerless
person gain influence, wellconsidered linguistic techniques and
maneuvers do.
McGinty does not dispute the importance of factors such as expertise
and ability in determining stature, but argues persuasively that these
power determinants amount to little in a person unable to communicate
effectively. Management theorists share McGinty's view that
communication is essential for success and many surveys have shown
that the ability to communicate effectively is the characteristic
judged by managers to be most critical in determining promotability.
McGinty divides speech into two categories: "language from the center"
and "language from the edge". In McGinty's words, "Language from the
center makes a speaker sound like a leader." McGinty suggests that not
only is language from the center for those in high positions of power,
but it is also for those of lower ranks who wish to gain more power
and credibility. A speaker using language from the center exhibits the
following: he directs rather than responds; he makes statements rather
than asks questions; he contradicts, argues, and disagrees; he uses
his experience persuasively; and he maintains an air of impersonality
in the workplace. McGinty suggests that the use of language from the
center can alter or create a new balance of power. These assertions
are
supported by studies that show that people accept leadership from
those they perceive to be experts.
Language from the edge stands in stark contrast to language from the
center. Language from the edge is careful, exploratory, and inquiring.
It is inclusive, deferential, and collaborative. A speaker using
language
from the edge responds rather than directs; asks questions; strives to
make others feel heard and protected; and avoids argument. The main
purpose of language from the center is to claim authority for a
speaker, while language from the edge strives to build consensus and
trust. McGinty argues that true power comes from a deep understanding
of when to use which style and the ability to use both as necessary.
What distinguishes McGinty's discussion of effective communication is
her focus on communication skills as a way of gaining power; this
contrasts with most general management theory, which focuses on
communication skills as a way of preventing misunderstandings,
avoiding conflict, and fostering interpersonal relationships. McGinty,
however, holds that language not only helps maintain relationships but
also lends authority. According to Power Talk, effective communication
skill "is an understanding of how situation shapes speech and how
speech shapes situation" and "an understanding of how speech styles
and the forces that affect those styles . . . can build your
authority, and enhance your credibility and impact."
1. The passage suggests that McGinty would be most likely to agree
with which of the following?
a) Language from the center is more effective than language from the edge.
b) Managers who use language from the edge are not authoritative.
c) Powerful people are both authoritative and inclusive.
d) The only way to become powerful is to learn to use language from the center.
e) Language from the edge is used primarily by lowlevel employees.
2. The primary focus of the passage is on which of the following?
a) Demonstrating the effectiveness of a certain framework in the business world
b) Explaining the advantages and disadvantages of a proposed approach
to business communication
c) Analyzing the details of a controversial theory of business
d) Presenting a new model of business communication
e) Defending an outdated method of personnel management
3. The passage suggests that which of the following would be an
example of someone using language from the center?
a) A low-level employee requesting help on a project beyond his capabilities
b) A manager explaining the benefits of a new procedure by drawing on
the procedure's success in another setting
c) A low-level employee believing that he has been wrongly criticized
by his supervisors
d) A manager soliciting opinions from his workforce regarding a proposed change
e) A low-level employee refusing to alter his behavior despite
repeated warnings
4. Which of the following best describes the relation of the fourth
paragraph to the passage a whole?
a) It summarizes and contextualizes McGinty's argument.
b) It questions the usefulness of McGinty's thesis.
c) It casts doubt on the universality of management theory.
d) It supports an alternative view of McGinty's proposal.
e) It offers additional support for McGinty's conclusions.
Sarah Meyers McGinty, in her useful new book Power Talk: Using
Language to Build Authority and Influence, argues that while the
simple lingual act of declaring power doesn not help a powerless
person gain influence, wellconsidered linguistic techniques and
maneuvers do.
McGinty does not dispute the importance of factors such as expertise
and ability in determining stature, but argues persuasively that these
power determinants amount to little in a person unable to communicate
effectively. Management theorists share McGinty's view that
communication is essential for success and many surveys have shown
that the ability to communicate effectively is the characteristic
judged by managers to be most critical in determining promotability.
McGinty divides speech into two categories: "language from the center"
and "language from the edge". In McGinty's words, "Language from the
center makes a speaker sound like a leader." McGinty suggests that not
only is language from the center for those in high positions of power,
but it is also for those of lower ranks who wish to gain more power
and credibility. A speaker using language from the center exhibits the
following: he directs rather than responds; he makes statements rather
than asks questions; he contradicts, argues, and disagrees; he uses
his experience persuasively; and he maintains an air of impersonality
in the workplace. McGinty suggests that the use of language from the
center can alter or create a new balance of power. These assertions
are
supported by studies that show that people accept leadership from
those they perceive to be experts.
Language from the edge stands in stark contrast to language from the
center. Language from the edge is careful, exploratory, and inquiring.
It is inclusive, deferential, and collaborative. A speaker using
language
from the edge responds rather than directs; asks questions; strives to
make others feel heard and protected; and avoids argument. The main
purpose of language from the center is to claim authority for a
speaker, while language from the edge strives to build consensus and
trust. McGinty argues that true power comes from a deep understanding
of when to use which style and the ability to use both as necessary.
What distinguishes McGinty's discussion of effective communication is
her focus on communication skills as a way of gaining power; this
contrasts with most general management theory, which focuses on
communication skills as a way of preventing misunderstandings,
avoiding conflict, and fostering interpersonal relationships. McGinty,
however, holds that language not only helps maintain relationships but
also lends authority. According to Power Talk, effective communication
skill "is an understanding of how situation shapes speech and how
speech shapes situation" and "an understanding of how speech styles
and the forces that affect those styles . . . can build your
authority, and enhance your credibility and impact."
1. The passage suggests that McGinty would be most likely to agree
with which of the following?
a) Language from the center is more effective than language from the edge.
b) Managers who use language from the edge are not authoritative.
c) Powerful people are both authoritative and inclusive.
d) The only way to become powerful is to learn to use language from the center.
e) Language from the edge is used primarily by lowlevel employees.
2. The primary focus of the passage is on which of the following?
a) Demonstrating the effectiveness of a certain framework in the business world
b) Explaining the advantages and disadvantages of a proposed approach
to business communication
c) Analyzing the details of a controversial theory of business
d) Presenting a new model of business communication
e) Defending an outdated method of personnel management
3. The passage suggests that which of the following would be an
example of someone using language from the center?
a) A low-level employee requesting help on a project beyond his capabilities
b) A manager explaining the benefits of a new procedure by drawing on
the procedure's success in another setting
c) A low-level employee believing that he has been wrongly criticized
by his supervisors
d) A manager soliciting opinions from his workforce regarding a proposed change
e) A low-level employee refusing to alter his behavior despite
repeated warnings
4. Which of the following best describes the relation of the fourth
paragraph to the passage a whole?
a) It summarizes and contextualizes McGinty's argument.
b) It questions the usefulness of McGinty's thesis.
c) It casts doubt on the universality of management theory.
d) It supports an alternative view of McGinty's proposal.
e) It offers additional support for McGinty's conclusions.
8th JUNE RC#2
Passage 35
In recent years much attention has been paid to distilling those
factors that create a positive work environment for corporate
employees. The goal ultimately is to discover what allows some
companies to foster high employee morale while other companies
struggle with poor productivity and high managerial turnover. Several
theories have been posited, but none has drawn as much interest from
the corporate world, or has as much promise, as value congruence,
which measures the "fit" between an employee's values and those of
co-workers and the company itself.
Value congruence can be broken into three main subcategories:
person-environment ("P-E"), personperson ("P-P"), and perceptual fit
("PF"). Personenvironment congruence refers to a harmony between
the personal values of the employee and corporate culture of the
company in which he or she works. Someone with a high P-E congruence
feels personally in tune with his company's stated policies and goals.
Conversely, someone with a low P-E congruence feels a sense of
disharmony between his own values and the stated policies and goals of
his company. A high P-P congruence indicates a sense
of solidarity with one's co-workers in terms of shared values and
goals. A low P-P congruence indicates a sense of isolation from
co-workers brought about by an absence of shared values. Finally,
strong PF suggests a strong correspondence between the values that an
employee perceives his company to have (whether or not the company
actually does) and the values that his co-workers perceive the company
to have (again, whether or not it actually does). A weak PF implies
that an employee's perception of his company's values differs
significantly
from that of his co-workers.
Research has shown that P-E and PF congruence are important measures
of employee satisfact ion, commitment, and likelihood of turnover,
while P-P congruence has little bearing on these parameters.
Moreover, PF is especially important in establishing harmonious
relations between workers and managers. These measures give
corporations a robust paradigm for long-term personnel planning and
productivity potentials: they allow companies to discover
dysfunctional work relationships and clarify misperceived company
policies and goals. With these tools in hand, companies can look
forward to increased employee satisfaction and, ultimately, improved
company performance.
1. According to the passage, which of the following was a motivation
in the creation of the system of value congruence?
a) a desire to minimize the liability of upper management for
employee dissatisfaction
b) a desire to help companies to improve their internal harmony
c) a desire to allow employees to increase their earning potential
d) a desire to foster awareness of factors influencing managerial success
e) a desire to eliminate discrepancies between a company's goals and
the values of its employees
2. The passage suggests that perceptual fit congruence would be most
useful in determining which of the following?
a) whether a company ought to make its policies and goals more transparent
b) whether a company ought to provide sensitivity training for its management
c) whether a company ought to create more opportunities for
interaction among workers
d) whether a company ought to address employee grievances more directly
e) whether a company ought to implement a more elaborate orientation
program for new employees
3. The primary focus of the passage is on which of the following?
a) Comparing a new theory of corporate performance to a discredited
theory and predicting the usefulness of the new theory.
b) Illustrating a new approach to measuring employee satisfaction
through a detailed analysis of a particular case.
c) Challenging an old view of employee commitment and suggesting that
a new paradigm is necessary.
d) Promoting a new method of measuring the likelihood of corporate
success by explaining its benefits.
e) Defending a proposed system of corporate analysis through examples
of its success.
In recent years much attention has been paid to distilling those
factors that create a positive work environment for corporate
employees. The goal ultimately is to discover what allows some
companies to foster high employee morale while other companies
struggle with poor productivity and high managerial turnover. Several
theories have been posited, but none has drawn as much interest from
the corporate world, or has as much promise, as value congruence,
which measures the "fit" between an employee's values and those of
co-workers and the company itself.
Value congruence can be broken into three main subcategories:
person-environment ("P-E"), personperson ("P-P"), and perceptual fit
("PF"). Personenvironment congruence refers to a harmony between
the personal values of the employee and corporate culture of the
company in which he or she works. Someone with a high P-E congruence
feels personally in tune with his company's stated policies and goals.
Conversely, someone with a low P-E congruence feels a sense of
disharmony between his own values and the stated policies and goals of
his company. A high P-P congruence indicates a sense
of solidarity with one's co-workers in terms of shared values and
goals. A low P-P congruence indicates a sense of isolation from
co-workers brought about by an absence of shared values. Finally,
strong PF suggests a strong correspondence between the values that an
employee perceives his company to have (whether or not the company
actually does) and the values that his co-workers perceive the company
to have (again, whether or not it actually does). A weak PF implies
that an employee's perception of his company's values differs
significantly
from that of his co-workers.
Research has shown that P-E and PF congruence are important measures
of employee satisfact ion, commitment, and likelihood of turnover,
while P-P congruence has little bearing on these parameters.
Moreover, PF is especially important in establishing harmonious
relations between workers and managers. These measures give
corporations a robust paradigm for long-term personnel planning and
productivity potentials: they allow companies to discover
dysfunctional work relationships and clarify misperceived company
policies and goals. With these tools in hand, companies can look
forward to increased employee satisfaction and, ultimately, improved
company performance.
1. According to the passage, which of the following was a motivation
in the creation of the system of value congruence?
a) a desire to minimize the liability of upper management for
employee dissatisfaction
b) a desire to help companies to improve their internal harmony
c) a desire to allow employees to increase their earning potential
d) a desire to foster awareness of factors influencing managerial success
e) a desire to eliminate discrepancies between a company's goals and
the values of its employees
2. The passage suggests that perceptual fit congruence would be most
useful in determining which of the following?
a) whether a company ought to make its policies and goals more transparent
b) whether a company ought to provide sensitivity training for its management
c) whether a company ought to create more opportunities for
interaction among workers
d) whether a company ought to address employee grievances more directly
e) whether a company ought to implement a more elaborate orientation
program for new employees
3. The primary focus of the passage is on which of the following?
a) Comparing a new theory of corporate performance to a discredited
theory and predicting the usefulness of the new theory.
b) Illustrating a new approach to measuring employee satisfaction
through a detailed analysis of a particular case.
c) Challenging an old view of employee commitment and suggesting that
a new paradigm is necessary.
d) Promoting a new method of measuring the likelihood of corporate
success by explaining its benefits.
e) Defending a proposed system of corporate analysis through examples
of its success.
8th June - RC 1
Passage 3
For years, U.S. employers have counted on a steady flow of labor from
Mexico willing to accept low-skilled, low paying jobs. These workers,
many of whom leave economically depressed villages in the Mexican
interior, are often more than willing to work for wages well below
both the U.S. minimum wage and the poverty line. However, thanks to a
dramatic demographic shift currently taking place in Mexico, the
seemingly inexhaustible supply of workers migrating from Mexico to the
United States might one day greatly diminish if not cease.
Predictions of such a drastic decrease in the number of Mexican
immigrants, both legal and illegal, are driven by Mexico's rapidly
diminishing population growth. As a result of a decades-long family
planning campaign, most Mexicans are having far fewer children than
was the norm a generation ago. The campaign, organized around the
slogan that "the small family lives better," saw the Mexican
government establish family-planning clinics and offer free
contraception. For nearly three decades, the government's message
concerning population hasn't wavered. In fact, the Mexican Senate
recently voted to extend public school sex education programs to
kindergarten.
The result of Mexico's efforts to stem population growth is nothing
short of stunning. In 1968, the average Mexican woman had just fewer
than seven children; today, the figure is slightly more than two. For
two primary reasons, Mexico's new demographics could greatly impact
the
number of Mexicans seeking work in the U.S. First, smaller families by
their nature limit the pool of potential migrants. Second, the slowing
of Mexico's population growth has fostered hope that Mexico will
develop a healthy middle class of people content to make their
livelihoods in their home country.
Though the former of these factors is all but assured, the growth of a
healthy middle class is far from a foregone conclusion. The critical
challenge for Mexico is what it does with the next 20 years. Mexico
must invest in education, job training, and infrastructure, as well as
a
social-security system to protect its aging population. If Mexico is
willing to step forward and meet this challenge, America may one day
wake up to find that, like cheap gasoline, cheap Mexican labor has
become a thing of the past.
1. The passage does NOT indicate which of the following concerning
Mexico's current demographics?
a) Due to the government's family planning campaign, Mexico's
population is currently diminishing.
b) On average, Mexican women are having approximately one-third the
number of children that they had in 1968.
c) Many Mexicans still migrate to the United States in search of work.
d) As a result of declining birth rates, Mexico's population is aging.
e) A healthy middle class in Mexico has not yet fully developed.
2. Which of the following can be inferred about U.S. employers of
Mexican immigrants?
a) Most of these employers pay Mexican immigrants less money than
they pay American citizens.
b) Some of these employers violate wage laws.
c) Many of these employers work in the agricultural industry.
d) Without Mexican immigrants, some of these employers would be forced
to close their businesses.
e) The majority of these employers show no concern for the welfare of
their workers.
3. With which of the following statements would the author of the
passage MOST likely agree?
a) The United States will soon have to replace lost Mexican labor with
labor provided by other immigrant groups.
b) It is difficult for a country with a large population to develop a
healthy middle class.
c) Many Mexican immigrants who work in the United States believe that
they are taken advantage of by American employers.
d) Most rapidly growing countries should institute a family planning
campaign to limit population growth.
e) Mexico does not currently have the infrastructure to develop a
healthy middle class.
4. One function of the final paragraph of the passage is to
a) relate why the number of Mexican immigrants seeking work in the
United States is certain to decline.
b) detail the successes of Mexico's family planning campaign.
c) explain why the number of Mexican immigrants seeking work in the
United States may not dramatically decrease.
d) specify the types of infrastructure in which Mexico must invest.
e) notify American employers that they will soon need to find
alternative sources of labor.
For years, U.S. employers have counted on a steady flow of labor from
Mexico willing to accept low-skilled, low paying jobs. These workers,
many of whom leave economically depressed villages in the Mexican
interior, are often more than willing to work for wages well below
both the U.S. minimum wage and the poverty line. However, thanks to a
dramatic demographic shift currently taking place in Mexico, the
seemingly inexhaustible supply of workers migrating from Mexico to the
United States might one day greatly diminish if not cease.
Predictions of such a drastic decrease in the number of Mexican
immigrants, both legal and illegal, are driven by Mexico's rapidly
diminishing population growth. As a result of a decades-long family
planning campaign, most Mexicans are having far fewer children than
was the norm a generation ago. The campaign, organized around the
slogan that "the small family lives better," saw the Mexican
government establish family-planning clinics and offer free
contraception. For nearly three decades, the government's message
concerning population hasn't wavered. In fact, the Mexican Senate
recently voted to extend public school sex education programs to
kindergarten.
The result of Mexico's efforts to stem population growth is nothing
short of stunning. In 1968, the average Mexican woman had just fewer
than seven children; today, the figure is slightly more than two. For
two primary reasons, Mexico's new demographics could greatly impact
the
number of Mexicans seeking work in the U.S. First, smaller families by
their nature limit the pool of potential migrants. Second, the slowing
of Mexico's population growth has fostered hope that Mexico will
develop a healthy middle class of people content to make their
livelihoods in their home country.
Though the former of these factors is all but assured, the growth of a
healthy middle class is far from a foregone conclusion. The critical
challenge for Mexico is what it does with the next 20 years. Mexico
must invest in education, job training, and infrastructure, as well as
a
social-security system to protect its aging population. If Mexico is
willing to step forward and meet this challenge, America may one day
wake up to find that, like cheap gasoline, cheap Mexican labor has
become a thing of the past.
1. The passage does NOT indicate which of the following concerning
Mexico's current demographics?
a) Due to the government's family planning campaign, Mexico's
population is currently diminishing.
b) On average, Mexican women are having approximately one-third the
number of children that they had in 1968.
c) Many Mexicans still migrate to the United States in search of work.
d) As a result of declining birth rates, Mexico's population is aging.
e) A healthy middle class in Mexico has not yet fully developed.
2. Which of the following can be inferred about U.S. employers of
Mexican immigrants?
a) Most of these employers pay Mexican immigrants less money than
they pay American citizens.
b) Some of these employers violate wage laws.
c) Many of these employers work in the agricultural industry.
d) Without Mexican immigrants, some of these employers would be forced
to close their businesses.
e) The majority of these employers show no concern for the welfare of
their workers.
3. With which of the following statements would the author of the
passage MOST likely agree?
a) The United States will soon have to replace lost Mexican labor with
labor provided by other immigrant groups.
b) It is difficult for a country with a large population to develop a
healthy middle class.
c) Many Mexican immigrants who work in the United States believe that
they are taken advantage of by American employers.
d) Most rapidly growing countries should institute a family planning
campaign to limit population growth.
e) Mexico does not currently have the infrastructure to develop a
healthy middle class.
4. One function of the final paragraph of the passage is to
a) relate why the number of Mexican immigrants seeking work in the
United States is certain to decline.
b) detail the successes of Mexico's family planning campaign.
c) explain why the number of Mexican immigrants seeking work in the
United States may not dramatically decrease.
d) specify the types of infrastructure in which Mexico must invest.
e) notify American employers that they will soon need to find
alternative sources of labor.
SC - Subject Verb Agreement
Ss2 - Tue, 07 Jun 2016 17:20:58 GMTIs the class gng to be conducted here?
Vinay - Tue, 07 Jun 2016 17:21:07 GMTYes
Qamar Sultana - Tue, 07 Jun 2016 17:21:19 GMTyes
Ss2 - Tue, 07 Jun 2016 17:21:27 GMTThanks
Ashwani - Tue, 07 Jun 2016 17:22:54 GMTOk
SK - Tue, 07 Jun 2016 17:23:05 GMTOk
Ss2 - Tue, 07 Jun 2016 17:32:34 GMTTA sir?
VARC - Tue, 07 Jun 2016 17:34:00 GMTHi
VARC - Tue, 07 Jun 2016 17:34:12 GMTNobody can comment
VARC - Tue, 07 Jun 2016 17:34:19 GMTPlease read
VARC - Tue, 07 Jun 2016 17:34:27 GMTany doubts ping me on FB
VARC - Tue, 07 Jun 2016 17:36:14 GMTVerbs are words that express action or state of being. There are three types of verbs: action verbs, linking verbs, and helping verbs. Action verbs are words that express action (give, eat, walk, etc.) or possession (have, own, etc.). Action verbs can be either transitive or intransitive.
VARC - Tue, 07 Jun 2016 17:38:19 GMTBok mark this page for practise
VARC - Tue, 07 Jun 2016 17:38:21 GMThttp://www.englishpage.com/verbpage/verbtenseintro.html
VARC - Tue, 07 Jun 2016 17:39:27 GMTBasic Rule. A singular subject (she, Bill, car) takes a singular verb (is, goes, shines), whereas a plural subject takes a plural verb. Example: The list of items is/are on the desk. If you know that list is the subject, then you will choose is for the verb.
VARC - Tue, 07 Jun 2016 17:41:36 GMTRule 1. A subject will come before a phrase beginning with of. This is a key rule for understanding subjects. The word of is the culprit in many, perhaps most, subject-verb mistakes. Hasty writers, speakers, readers, and listeners might miss the all-too-common mistake in the following sentence: Incorrect: A bouquet of yellow roses lend color and fragrance to the room. Correct: A bouquet of yellow roses lends . . . (bouquet lends, not roses lend)
VARC - Tue, 07 Jun 2016 17:42:24 GMTRule 2. Two singular subjects connected by or, either/or, or neither/nor require a singular verb. Examples: My aunt or my uncle is arriving by train today. Neither Juan nor Carmen is available. Either Kiana or Casey is helping today with stage decorations.
VARC - Tue, 07 Jun 2016 17:42:34 GMTRule 3. The verb in an or, either/or, or neither/nor sentence agrees with the noun or pronoun closest to it. Examples: Neither the plates nor the serving bowl goes on that shelf. Neither the serving bowl nor the plates go on that shelf. This rule can lead to bumps in the road. For example, if I is one of two (or more) subjects, it could lead to this odd sentence: Awkward: Neither she, my friends, nor I am going to the festival. If possible, it's best to reword such grammatically correct but awkward sentences. Better: Neither she, I, nor my friends are going to the festival. OR She, my friends, and I are not going to the festival.
VARC - Tue, 07 Jun 2016 17:42:49 GMTRule 4. As a general rule, use a plural verb with two or more subjects when they are connected by and. Example: A car and a bike are my means of transportation. But note these exceptions: Exceptions: Breaking and entering is against the law. The bed and breakfast was charming. In those sentences, breaking and entering and bed and breakfast are compound nouns.
VARC - Tue, 07 Jun 2016 17:43:04 GMTRule 5a. Sometimes the subject is separated from the verb by such words as along with, as well as, besides, not, etc. These words and phrases are not part of the subject. Ignore them and use a singular verb when the subject is singular. Examples: The politician, along with the newsmen, is expected shortly. Excitement, as well as nervousness, is the cause of her shaking.
VARC - Tue, 07 Jun 2016 17:43:31 GMTRule 5b. Parentheses are not part of the subject. Example: Joe (and his trusty mutt) was always welcome. If this seems awkward, try rewriting the sentence.
VARC - Tue, 07 Jun 2016 17:43:52 GMTRule 6. In sentences beginning with here or there, the true subject follows the verb. Examples: There are four hurdles to jump. There is a high hurdle to jump. Here are the keys. NOTE: The word there's, a contraction of there is, leads to bad habits in informal sentences like There's a lot of people here today, because it's easier to say "there's" than "there are." Take care never to use there's with a plural subject.
VARC - Tue, 07 Jun 2016 17:47:14 GMTRule 7. Use a singular verb with distances, periods of time, sums of money, etc., when considered as a unit. Examples: Three miles is too far to walk. Five years is the maximum sentence for that offense. Ten dollars is a high price to pay. BUT Ten dollars (i.e., dollar bills) were scattered on the floor.
VARC - Tue, 07 Jun 2016 17:47:28 GMTRule 8. With words that indicate portions—e.g., a lot, a majority, some, all—Rule 1 given earlier in this section is reversed, and we are guided by the noun after of. If the noun after of is singular, use a singular verb. If it is plural, use a plural verb. Examples: A lot of the pie has disappeared. A lot of the pies have disappeared. A third of the city is unemployed. A third of the people are unemployed. All of the pie is gone. All of the pies are gone. Some of the pie is missing. Some of the pies are missing.
VARC - Tue, 07 Jun 2016 17:47:44 GMTRule 9. With collective nouns such as group, jury, family, audience, population, the verb might be singular or plural, depending on the writer's intent. Examples: All of my family has arrived OR have arrived. Most of the jury is here OR are here. A third of the population was not in favor OR were not in favor of the bill.
VARC - Tue, 07 Jun 2016 17:48:33 GMTNOTE Anyone who uses a plural verb with a collective noun must take care to be accurate—and also consistent. It must not be done carelessly. The following is the sort of flawed sentence one sees and hears a lot these days: The staff is deciding how they want to vote. Careful speakers and writers would avoid assigning the singular is and the plural they to staff in the same sentence. Consistent: The staff are deciding how they want to vote. Rewriting such sentences is recommended whenever possible. The preceding sentence would read even better as: The staff members are deciding how they want to vote.
VARC - Tue, 07 Jun 2016 17:53:22 GMTRule 10. The word were replaces was in sentences that express a wish or are contrary to fact: Example: If Joe were here, you'd be sorry. Shouldn't Joe be followed by was, not were, given that Joe is singular? But Joe isn't actually here, so we say were, not was. The sentence demonstrates the subjunctive mood, which is used to express things that are hypothetical, wishful, imaginary, or factually contradictory. The subjunctive mood pairs singular subjects with what we usually think of as plural verbs. Examples: I wish it were Friday. She requested that he raise his hand. In the first example, a wishful statement, not a fact, is being expressed; therefore, were, which we usually think of as a plural verb, is used with the singular subject I. Normally, he raise would sound terrible to us. However, in the second example, where a request is being expressed, the subjunctive mood is correct. Note: The subjunctive mood is losing ground in spoken English but should still be used in formal speech and writing.
Saturday, 4 June 2016
RC
Ghosts are not renowned for their sense of humour. As Charles Lamb (he
of the undeconstructed tales from
Shakespeare) put it; 'Can a ghost laugh, or shake his gaunt sides,
when you are pleasant with him?' But
the ghost of the theorist of farcical returns might well be something
of an exception. At any rate, one can't
help thinking that, were the personal spirit of Marx to be in any
position to take note of his conjurings in the
pages of Specters of Marx, it might be a little tickled in its gaunt
ribs, inclined even to give vent to some
hollow-sounding cries of mirth. For there is surely an element of
irony about this supposedly overdue
encounter between Derrida and Marx: namely, that it may be the cause -
and this conference is itself
confirming of the suspicion - of a certain rehabilitation of Marx.
I say 'certain' because we must add 'in the academy', or 'in
philosophy'. The rehabilitation may prove
some-what local and limited, but nonetheless its peculiarity should
not pass entirely without comment.
That the deconstructive turn in philosophy which looked to be
exorcizing Marx, and which was certainly
interpreted by many as wanting to do so, may be that which conjures
him forth again and puts him back
into philosophical vogue; that it may only be through the
authorization of Derrida that Marx may return from
the shadowy wings of the academy to centre stage and even be allowed a
speaking part: this is an odd
turnabout, maybe even a bit spooky, certainly a funny business.
Derrida is right that there are several
spirits of Marx, including some we may want finally to put to rest.
But one which we should surely continue
to summon is that which invites philosophy to be sensitive to its
context and effects, and to see the
humour in some of its own inversions. Regrettably, Derrida's return to
Marx is too little haunted by this
spirit of self-appraisal.
But how far, in any case, is this coming back to Marx a genuinely new
event, how far a revenant of Derrida's
earlier deferrings of the engagement with the ethical and the
political - which have always taken the form,
in fact, not so much of a postponement or a confident 'don't call me,
I'll call you', but of what one might call
a politely tentative gesturing towards a possible handshake with the nettle.
Three aspects of Specters of Marx seem noteworthy here. In the first
place, it offers a definite statement of
political affiliation. Derrida makes plain his distance from the
celebrants of the demise of Marxism and from
all those who would echo Fukuyama's triumphalist prophecies about the
'end of history'. He is very ready
to acknowledge that if we measure the out-of-jointness of our times by
the degree of human misery already
occurred or in the offing, then our times are indeed askew. In his ten
indictments of global capitalism, he
also makes it very clear that he subscribes to a broadly Marxist view
of the sources of the disorder.
31. The word closest to the contextual meaning of 'indictments' in the
passage is:
(a) Commandments (b) Pronouncements (c) Accusations (d) Postulates
32. How does the author view Derrida's earlier engagements with the
ethical and political?
(a) A possible collaboration with a wise group.
(b) An assertive and overt expression of postponement.
(c) An unpleasant collaboration, which can result in pain.
(d) A collaboration done with some reluctance but which can prove to
be highly profitable.
33. The author would agree with which of the following?
(a) Despite opposing some Marxist ideas, Derrida's writings hint at a
revival of Marx.
(b) These days we experience an equal amount of misery as we did in the past.
(c) The roots of our present disorder can be traced back reasonably
accurately by Marxist views.
(d) Derrida has never shown any indication in the past that he would
come back to conform with
some of Marx's views.
of the undeconstructed tales from
Shakespeare) put it; 'Can a ghost laugh, or shake his gaunt sides,
when you are pleasant with him?' But
the ghost of the theorist of farcical returns might well be something
of an exception. At any rate, one can't
help thinking that, were the personal spirit of Marx to be in any
position to take note of his conjurings in the
pages of Specters of Marx, it might be a little tickled in its gaunt
ribs, inclined even to give vent to some
hollow-sounding cries of mirth. For there is surely an element of
irony about this supposedly overdue
encounter between Derrida and Marx: namely, that it may be the cause -
and this conference is itself
confirming of the suspicion - of a certain rehabilitation of Marx.
I say 'certain' because we must add 'in the academy', or 'in
philosophy'. The rehabilitation may prove
some-what local and limited, but nonetheless its peculiarity should
not pass entirely without comment.
That the deconstructive turn in philosophy which looked to be
exorcizing Marx, and which was certainly
interpreted by many as wanting to do so, may be that which conjures
him forth again and puts him back
into philosophical vogue; that it may only be through the
authorization of Derrida that Marx may return from
the shadowy wings of the academy to centre stage and even be allowed a
speaking part: this is an odd
turnabout, maybe even a bit spooky, certainly a funny business.
Derrida is right that there are several
spirits of Marx, including some we may want finally to put to rest.
But one which we should surely continue
to summon is that which invites philosophy to be sensitive to its
context and effects, and to see the
humour in some of its own inversions. Regrettably, Derrida's return to
Marx is too little haunted by this
spirit of self-appraisal.
But how far, in any case, is this coming back to Marx a genuinely new
event, how far a revenant of Derrida's
earlier deferrings of the engagement with the ethical and the
political - which have always taken the form,
in fact, not so much of a postponement or a confident 'don't call me,
I'll call you', but of what one might call
a politely tentative gesturing towards a possible handshake with the nettle.
Three aspects of Specters of Marx seem noteworthy here. In the first
place, it offers a definite statement of
political affiliation. Derrida makes plain his distance from the
celebrants of the demise of Marxism and from
all those who would echo Fukuyama's triumphalist prophecies about the
'end of history'. He is very ready
to acknowledge that if we measure the out-of-jointness of our times by
the degree of human misery already
occurred or in the offing, then our times are indeed askew. In his ten
indictments of global capitalism, he
also makes it very clear that he subscribes to a broadly Marxist view
of the sources of the disorder.
31. The word closest to the contextual meaning of 'indictments' in the
passage is:
(a) Commandments (b) Pronouncements (c) Accusations (d) Postulates
32. How does the author view Derrida's earlier engagements with the
ethical and political?
(a) A possible collaboration with a wise group.
(b) An assertive and overt expression of postponement.
(c) An unpleasant collaboration, which can result in pain.
(d) A collaboration done with some reluctance but which can prove to
be highly profitable.
33. The author would agree with which of the following?
(a) Despite opposing some Marxist ideas, Derrida's writings hint at a
revival of Marx.
(b) These days we experience an equal amount of misery as we did in the past.
(c) The roots of our present disorder can be traced back reasonably
accurately by Marxist views.
(d) Derrida has never shown any indication in the past that he would
come back to conform with
some of Marx's views.
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