Q&A - PSLE English

[atutor2001]

vsk:

Hi, please help with this compre cloze from Catholic high prelims paper 2014.



Apparently, some people are more enticing to mosquitoes and scientiss have found that genetics account for 85% of our susceptibility to mosquito bites. This group of people emit 'come and get me' smells which _____________ to the mosquitoes. Those less likely to be bitten produce odours which make these scents. Scientists said that it might be useful to make insect repellents that contain these natural masking odours to keep the mosquitoes at bay. They would likely to be completely ___________ to humans unlike insect repellents which may have a strong smell that put us off.

Apologies. I could not paste the picture as it has been badly scribbled. I need your help to provide the words for the two blanks in the para above.

TIA

Just try only,
Appeal
Oblivious

[sharonkhoo]

atutor2001:

vsk:

Hi, please help with this compre cloze from Catholic high prelims paper 2014.



Apparently, some people are more enticing to mosquitoes and scientiss have found that genetics account for 85% of our susceptibility to mosquito bites. This group of people emit 'come and get me' smells which _____________ to the mosquitoes. Those less likely to be bitten produce odours which make these scents. Scientists said that it might be useful to make insect repellents that contain these natural masking odours to keep the mosquitoes at bay. They would likely to be completely ___________ to humans unlike insect repellents which may have a strong smell that put us off.

Apologies. I could not paste the picture as it has been badly scribbled. I need your help to provide the words for the two blanks in the para above.

TIA

Just try only,
Appeal
Oblivious

I think 'appeal' is fine, but 'oblivious' is usually used to describe a person, not a something like a smell. I would suggest 'unnoticeable' or 'undetectable' for that blank.

[atutor2001]

slmkhoo:

atutor2001:

[quote=\"vsk\"]Hi, please help with this compre cloze from Catholic high prelims paper 2014.



Apparently, some people are more enticing to mosquitoes and scientiss have found that genetics account for 85% of our susceptibility to mosquito bites. This group of people emit 'come and get me' smells which _____________ to the mosquitoes. Those less likely to be bitten produce odours which make these scents. Scientists said that it might be useful to make insect repellents that contain these natural masking odours to keep the mosquitoes at bay. They would likely to be completely ___________ to humans unlike insect repellents which may have a strong smell that put us off.

Apologies. I could not paste the picture as it has been badly scribbled. I need your help to provide the words for the two blanks in the para above.

TIA

Just try only,
Appeal
Oblivious

I think 'appeal' is fine, but 'oblivious' is usually used to describe a person, not a something like a smell. I would suggest 'unnoticeable' or 'undetectable' for that blank.[/quote]Thank you for your correction. I fully agree.

[Jamesbond]

http://i60.tinypic.com/ygmc6.jpg\">

[Learning Partners]

atutor2001:

Aiyo, really confusing. Positive negative, negative positive, positive positive and lastly negative negative. Though my ang mo no very good, I still can limenber the first 3 combinations all may be ok. Only negative negative mostly cannot one. So both combinations below all can one. The 1st one is to show surprise while lumber 2 is to seek confirmation.


Jane dislikes chocolate does she.
Jane dislike chocolate doesn't she.

So limenber, different combination of polarity for different purpose. That is grammar. Not must die die use positive negative or negative positive. That is call study dead book.

Hi atutor,


I agree with you on two points:


1. That different polarities are possible (in fact, if you dig hard enough, even the last one - negative-negative - is used in certain parts of the world), but apart from the standard negative-positive, positive-negative cases, the positive-positive and negative-negative cases are considered special cases, mostly used as colloquialisms.


So like in Singapore, we won't say, 'Jane dislikes chocolates, does she?' to express surprise, or even 'Jane dislikes chocolates, yes meh?'.


We simply say, 'Jane dislikes chocolates meh?' But you can be assured this won't be tested in the PSLE


The PSLE syllabus covers the standard cases and not the special cases. In a school test or examination, the parent could still go to the teacher or HOD and argue for the mark, although his success in getting the lost mark is not guaranteed.


In the PSLE, there is no redress; even if you request to view the script and argue about the special cases, it's highly unlikely that MOE will agree to re-mark all the scripts.


2. 'Study dead book' as you say is indeed a problem with our academic system.


But please understand the dilemma of the teacher or even parent: teach too much and you may confuse the kid more than ever, teach too little, and you're accused of rote-learning without understanding.


A fine balance has to be struck, although the right balance may seldom be achieved.


Cheers.

[Learning Partners]

Jamesbond:

http://i60.tinypic.com/ygmc6.jpg\">

The answer should be (3).


The common confusion is there are two rather similar verbs:


infinitive form : 'lay' (to put down), 'lie' (two meanings: to bluff and to be in a horizontal position).


The forms of 'lay': lay laid laid

The forms of 'lie' (when we mean bluff) : lie lied lied

The forms of 'lie' (when we mean to be horizontal): lie lay lain


In your question, we want to say the students have put their papers down on the desks, so should be 'had laid'.

[vk2kv]

Pls help.

Thank you.

Someone will wash and feed the puppy.
The puppy __________________________________

[Learning Partners]

vk2kv:

Pls help.

Thank you.

Someone will wash and feed the puppy.
The puppy __________________________________

The puppy will be washed and fed.


Pupils will be penalised if they add 'by someone', as it is redundant.

[vsk]

slmkhoo:

atutor2001:

[quote=\"vsk\"]Hi, please help with this compre cloze from Catholic high prelims paper 2014.



Apparently, some people are more enticing to mosquitoes and scientiss have found that genetics account for 85% of our susceptibility to mosquito bites. This group of people emit 'come and get me' smells which _____________ to the mosquitoes. Those less likely to be bitten produce odours which make these scents. Scientists said that it might be useful to make insect repellents that contain these natural masking odours to keep the mosquitoes at bay. They would likely to be completely ___________ to humans unlike insect repellents which may have a strong smell that put us off.

Apologies. I could not paste the picture as it has been badly scribbled. I need your help to provide the words for the two blanks in the para above.

TIA

Just try only,
Appeal
Oblivious

I think 'appeal' is fine, but 'oblivious' is usually used to describe a person, not a something like a smell. I would suggest 'unnoticeable' or 'undetectable' for that blank.[/quote]Thank you for your correction. I fully agree.[/quote]

:thankyou: atutor2001 and slmkhoo for the help.

[jetsetter]

Learning Partners:

atutor2001:

Aiyo, really confusing. Positive negative, negative positive, positive positive and lastly negative negative. Though my ang mo no very good, I still can limenber the first 3 combinations all may be ok. Only negative negative mostly cannot one. So both combinations below all can one. The 1st one is to show surprise while lumber 2 is to seek confirmation.


Jane dislikes chocolate does she.
Jane dislike chocolate doesn't she.

So limenber, different combination of polarity for different purpose. That is grammar. Not must die die use positive negative or negative positive. That is call study dead book.

Hi atutor,


I agree with you on two points:


1. That different polarities are possible (in fact, if you dig hard enough, even the last one - negative-negative - is used in certain parts of the world), but apart from the standard negative-positive, positive-negative cases, the positive-positive and negative-negative cases are considered special cases, mostly used as colloquialisms.

Agreed. I've some e.g but won't share cos irrelevant.

So like in Singapore, we won't say, 'Jane dislikes chocolates, does she?' to express surprise, or even 'Jane dislikes chocolates, yes meh?'.

We simply say, 'Jane dislikes chocolates meh?' But you can be assured this won't be tested in the PSLE

Agreed. Don't waste time!

The PSLE syllabus covers the standard cases and not the special cases. In a school test or examination, the parent could still go to the teacher or HOD and argue for the mark, although his success in getting the lost mark is not guaranteed.

Also agreed!