Problems and confusions

Technical: Complete Quiz 4 – Grammar: Problems and confusions 

 Read Chapter 4 of Hicks, English for Journalists (Grammar: Problems and confusions) to prepare for this quiz.  Complete the quiz so that you get 100% correct (you will be able to make numerous attempts).  Reflect on this briefly on your blog – Did you find the questions difficult? Did you have any problems in specific areas?


I am very pleased; I actually did very well.  I would even say I received 9/10  because one of the questions I answered incorrectly was a matter of ....  Well, I'll let you decide...

Writing that something is ‘more perfect’ is incorrect because:

Select one:

a. It is redundant 

b. It is ludicrous and unnecessary

c. It is verbose and over descriptive

d. All of the above

Feedback

FEEDBACK: Using 'more' with 'perfect' is ludicrous and unnecessary so is the best answer although all other responses are also correct to a degree. ‘Perfect’ is an example of an absolute adjective. An absolute adjective either ‘is’ (as the end point of something) or is less than what it ‘is’. In this case, saying something is perfect means that it is either perfect, or less than perfect. It can’t be more perfect or most perfect. Other examples of absolute adjectives are: final, absolute, idea, impossible, ultimate.

The correct answer is:

It is ludicrous and unnecessary (Ames, 2014)

The other question was using "after" incorrectly. Silly, I knew the right answer, but in test situations I tend to try and answer how I think the marker would want me to answer, instead of just going with what I know. I have to stop double guessing myself and just answer the questions as I would normally - if I wasn't in in a test environment.

REFERENCES

Hicks, W., 2013. English for journalists. 4th ed. New York: Routledge pp 41-59.

Ames, K., 2014. Quiz 4: Grammar: Problems and confusions, Course notes, COMM 11007 Media Writing: CQUniversity e-courses, http://moodle.cqu.edu.au/.