2009年2月21日 星期六

選擇的疑惑

朋友說要找些英詩給學生唸,於是便跟他一起翻資料,然後在其中一首英詩,看見以下這句:
If I wrote the exam, there would be more choice.


友:噫,怎麼choice漏了s
栗:甚麼?沒漏呀。
友:怎麼會沒漏呢?明明該是choices


聽到朋友這樣說,栗子妹仔細思量了好一會兒。誠然,choices對我來說確是「順耳」一點,但若以選擇題的答案數量來判斷,加s便肯定錯了。君不見會考數學科選擇題的答案數量,由90年代的五個減少至現今的四個乎?如果答案數量加碼,豈非變難了?


唉,又一英語疑案~~~


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後話:


1. 寫完這篇後去翻字典,發覺choice既是可數名詞又是不可數名詞,要憑意思判斷才知應否加s。(即是可以拗啦~~~)
2.
問外籍同事,他認為choice不用加s,至於原因為何?對不起,連他都說不出個所以然。


6 則留言:

  1. 出 exam題的人說如讓他會出 exam題 , 題目範圍會廣多些的( If I wrote the exam, there would be more choice . ), 在這choice 意思指 範圍 so it's uncountable. Yes?
    [版主回覆02/22/2009 17:39:00]Carol: You're right! Thanks for solving this mystery for me.

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  2. sorry not 出 exam題的人 say , should be : the poem writer say.
     

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  3. the poem writer says.  ......如讓他會出 exam題 , 題目範圍會廣多些的

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  4. Without context, I don't even understand the statement.  I am even more confused by Carol's responses...
    [版主回覆02/22/2009 17:41:00]Dear Teach: It's the first line of an exam poem. The verse says 'If I (= student) wrote the exam, there would be more choice, fewer questions and more time.'
    Carol is right. Choice is uncountable here because the poet is talking about the range.

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  5. I understand the part about choice being countable or countable depending on context.
    So the "choice" here does not refer to multiple choice, as in 4 to choose 1 or 6 to choose 1?  What range is Carol talking about, range of topics for composition, or what? 

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  6. Teacher, the range means the scope

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