According to the sentence, the students are the cause of certain events, not
among those affected.
Sometimes comprehension of an entire passage depends on your being able to understand a single sentence. It is important to be able to analyse the structure of sentences to determine the relationships of ideas within a sentence. Sentences that are very long, sentences that have more than one meaning, or sentences that contain difficult grammatical patterns often cause
comprehension problems for readers.
Here are some strategies for attacking complicated sentences.
Try to determine what makes the sentence difficult:
a. If the sentence contains a lot of difficult vocabulary it may be that the sentence can be understood without knowing the meaning of every word. Try crossing out unfamiliar items:
The West had sent armies to capture and hold Jerusalem; instead they
themselves fell victim to a host of new ideas and
subtle influences which left their mark on the
development of European literature, chivalry, warfare,
sanitation, commerce, political
institutions, medicine, and the papacy itself.
b. If the sentence is very long, try to break it up into smaller parts:
The West had sent armies to capture and hold Jerusalem. The West fell victim to a host of new ideas and subtle influences. These ideas and influences left their mark on the development of European literature, chivalry, warfare, sanitation, commerce, political institutions, medicine, and the papacy.
c. Also, if the sentence is very long, try to determine which parts of the sentence express specific details supporting the main idea. Often clauses which are set off by commas, or introduced by words like which, who, and that, are used to introduce extra information or to provide supporting details. Try crossing out the supporting details in order to determine the main idea:
These ideas, which left their mark on the development of European literature, chivalry, warfare, sanitation, commerce, political institutions, medicine, and the papacy, greatly changed Western culture.
2. Learn to recognize the important grammatical and punctuation clues that can change the meaning of a sentence.
a. Look for single words and affixes that can change the entire meaning of a sentence:
Summery weather is not uncommon.
The average daytime high temperature is approximately 56 .
b. Look for punctuation clues:
Wally ``sings'' at all of his friends' parties.
Barry said, ``George has been elected president? ``
Note that all of the italicized words or affixes and the underlined punctuation above are essential to the meaning of the sentences; if any of these are omitted, the meaning of the sentence changes significantly.
c. Look for key words that tell you of relationships within a sentence:
The school has grown from a small building holding 200 students to a large institute that educates 4,000 students a year.
From . . . to indicates the beginning and end points of a period of change.
Many critics have proclaimed Doris Lessing as not only the best writer of the postwar generation, but also a penetrating analyst of human affairs.
Not only . . . but also indicates that both parts of the sentence are of equal importance.
In order to graduate on time, you will need to take five courses each semester.
In order to is like if; it indicates that some event must occur before another event can take place.
The West had sent armies to capture and hold Jerusalem; instead they themselves fell victim to new ideas and subtle influences.
Instead indicates that something happened contrary to expectations.
As a result of three books, a television documentary, and a special exposition at the Library of Congress, the mystery has aroused considerable public interest.
As a result of indicates a cause and effect relationship. The clause that follows as a result of is the cause of some event. The three books, television program, and exposition are the cause; the arousal of public interest is the effect.
Because of the impact of these ideas, which had been introduced originally to Europe by soldiers returning from the East, the West was greatly changed.
Because of indicates a cause and effect relationship. The West was changed as a result of these ideas. The information between the word which and the final comma (,) refers to these ideas.
Comprehension
Read the following sentences carefully. The questions that follow are designed to test your comprehension of complex grammatical structures. Select the best answer.
Example
The student revolt is not only a thorn in the side of the president's newly established government, but it has international implications as well.
Whom or what does this revolt affect?
a. the students b. the side of the president's body
c. only the national government d. national and international affairs
Explanation
According to the sentence, the students are the cause of certain events, not
among those affected.
b. Although you may not have been familiar with the idiom a thorn in someone's side, context clues should have told you that this phrase means a problem and does not actually refer to the side of the president's body.
c. National government is an incomplete answer. The construction not only . . . but . . . as well should tell you that more than one element is involved. The president's newly established government (the national government) is not the only area affected by the revolt,
d. The correct answer. The revolt affects both national and international affairs.
Exercise 1.
1. I disagreed then as now with many of John Smith's judgments, but always respected him, and this book is a welcome reminder of his big, honest, friendly, stubborn personality.
How does the author of this sentence feel about John Smith?
a. He dislikes him but agrees with his ideas.
b. He considers him to be a disagreeable person.
c. He disagrees with his ideas but respects him.
d. He disagreed with him then but agrees with him now.
2. Concepts like passivity, dependence, and aggression may need further research if they are to continue to be useful ways of thinking about human personalities.
What might require more research?
a. human thought processes b. certain concepts
c. human personalities d. useful ways of thinking
3. In order for you to follow the schedule set by the publisher, your paper
must be looked over over the weekend, revised, and handed in in its final
form on Monday.
What must you do on Saturday and Sunday?
a. meet the publisher c. hand in a paper
b. examine your paper d. look over the weekend
4. The real reason why prices were, and still are, too high is complicated, and no short discussion can satisfactorily explain this problem.
What word or phrase best describes prices?
a. complicated c. too high in the past, but low now
b. adequately explained d. too high in the past and in the present
5. This is not just a sad-but-true story; the boy's experience is horrible
and damaging, yet a sense of love shines through every word.
How does the author of this sentence feel about the story?
a. It transmits a sense of love. c. It is not true.
b. It is just sad. d. It is horrible and damaging.
6
In the past five years the movement has grown from unorganized groups of
poorly armed individuals to a comparatively well-armed, well-trained army of
anywhere from 10,000 to 16,000 members.
What is the present condition of this movement?
a. The members are poorly armed.
b. There are only a few poor individuals.
c. There are over 16,000 members.
d. The members are organized and well armed.
7. The financial situation isn't bad yet, but we believe that we have some vital information and, if it is correct, unemployment will soon become a serious problem.
What do we know about the financial situation?
a. It won't change. c. It is not bad now.
b. It will become a serious problem. d. It will improve.
8. The general then added, ``The only reasonable solution to the sort of problems caused by the current unstable political situation is one of diplomacy and economic measures and not the use of military force.''
What type of solution does the general support?
a. economic and diplomatic action
b. diplomatic and economic action if military force fails
c. only diplomatic action
d. military actions in response to political problems
9. Because the supply of natural gas was plentiful in comparison to other choices like coal and fuel oil, and because it burns cleaner, many people changed their heating systems to natural gas, thereby creating shortages.
Why did people prefer gas?
a. It was natural.
b. There were no other choices.
c. The other fuels were dirtier and less plentiful.
d. There is, even today, a plentiful supply of it.
Exercise 2.
1. My discovery of Тillie Olsen was a gift from a friend; years ago she gave me her copy of Tell Me a Riddle because she liked the stories and wanted to share the experience.
What do we know about Tillie Olsen?
a. She is a friend.
b. She likes stories.
c. She gives gifts.
d. She is an author.
2. A few government officials even estimate that the war has created more than half a million refugees who need immediate food, clothing, and shelter.
Exactly how many refugees are there?
a. half a million
b. over half a million
c. We don't know exactly.
d. Only a few government officials know the exact figure.
3. The Green Tiger Press believes that the relatively unknown works of great children's illustrators are sources of vast beauty and power, and is attempting to make these treasures more easily available.
What is the goal of this printing company?
a. to publish more children's books
b. to develop powerful stories
c. to make children's illustrations more easily available
d. to encourage artists to-become children's illustrators
4. Although he calls the $1,000 donation ``a very generous amount, especially in these times,'' the president expresses hope that the project will attract additional funds from companies and other
sources so that it can continue beyond this first year.
What does the president know about the project?
a. It win cost only $1,000.
b. It is very special.
c. Special sources will support it.
d. It cannot continue without additional funding.
5. Any thought that this new custom will remain unchanged--or in Europe will remain uniquely English--is ridiculous.
What does the author believe about the new custom?
a. It will remain limited.
b. The custom will change.
c. Acceptance of the custom is ridiculous.
d. The custom will remain in Europe.
6. These robust and persistent sailors gathered from all the nations of western Europe, and set out on the voyages that laid foundations for four great empires with no other power than sail and oar.
Why were these voyages important?
a. Sailors came from many countries in Europe.
b. The voyages laid the foundations for western Europe.
c. The foundations for empires were established.
d. Western Europe lost its power.
7. Young people need to develop the values, attitudes, and problem-solving skills essential to their participation in a political system that was designed, and is still based, on the assumption that all citizens would be so prepared.
What is a basic assumption of this political system?
a. All people will be capable of participation.
b. All people participate in the system.
c. All people should have the same values and attitudes.
d. Most people cannot develop the skills to participate in the system.
8. While we may be interested in the possibilities of social harmony and individual fulfillment to be achieved through nontraditional education, one cannot help being cautious about accepting any sort of one-sided educational program as a cure for the world's ills.
How does the author feel about nontraditional education?
a. He believes that it has no possibility of success.
b. He doubts that it can cure the world's ills.
c. He feels that it is a cure for the world's ills.
d. He believes it will bring social harmony.
9. The complexity of the human situation and the injustice of the social order demand far more fundamental changes in the basic structure of society itself than some politicians are willing to admit in their speeches.
What is necessary to correct the problems of society?
a. basic changes in its structure
b. fewer political speeches
c. honest politicians
d. basic changes in political methods