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Stenka25 Posted 11 years ago
Vocabulary
A pronoun problem and the meaning of ‘with’
a pronoun problem and the meaning of ‘with’
The passage below is from ‘the Blank Slate’ by Steven Pinker.
http://evolbiol.ru/blankslate/blankslate.htm
Hunter-gatherers accumulate the know-how to make tools, control fire, outsmart prey, and detoxify plants, and can live by this collective ingenuity even if no member could re-create it all from scratch. Also, by coordinating their behavior (say, in driving game or taking turns watching children while others forage), they can act like a big multi-headed, multi-limbed beast and accomplish feats that a die-hard individualist could not. And an array of interconnected eyes, ears, and heads is more robust than a single set with all its shortcomings and idiosyncrasies. There is a Yiddish expression offered as a reality check to malcontents and conspiracy theorists: The whole world isn't crazy.
In this passage I have two question.
First, the meaning of the underlined preposition ‘with.’
I think it means ‘in spite of.’
(Am I right?)
Last, I’m not so sure about what the underlined ‘it’ stands for.
It seems to refer to ‘an array’ in this context.
But I cannot rule out the possibility of it referring to ‘a single set.’
I’m in a dilemma.
Hope for your replies.
Regards.
The passage below is from ‘the Blank Slate’ by Steven Pinker.
http://evolbiol.ru/blankslate/blankslate.htm
Hunter-gatherers accumulate the know-how to make tools, control fire, outsmart prey, and detoxify plants, and can live by this collective ingenuity even if no member could re-create it all from scratch. Also, by coordinating their behavior (say, in driving game or taking turns watching children while others forage), they can act like a big multi-headed, multi-limbed beast and accomplish feats that a die-hard individualist could not. And an array of interconnected eyes, ears, and heads is more robust than a single set with all its shortcomings and idiosyncrasies. There is a Yiddish expression offered as a reality check to malcontents and conspiracy theorists: The whole world isn't crazy.
In this passage I have two question.
First, the meaning of the underlined preposition ‘with.’
I think it means ‘in spite of.’
(Am I right?)
Last, I’m not so sure about what the underlined ‘it’ stands for.
It seems to refer to ‘an array’ in this context.
But I cannot rule out the possibility of it referring to ‘a single set.’
I’m in a dilemma.
Hope for your replies.
Regards.
Top answer
) No, it means 'including': a single set, which includes many shortcomings. ’ A single set.
- ) No, it means 'including': a single set, which includes many shortcomings.
- ’ A single set.
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2 Answers
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Stenka25First, the meaning of the underlined preposition ‘with.’I think it means ‘in spite of.’(Am I right?)No, it means 'including': a single set, which includes many shortcomings...
Stenka25Last, I’m not so sure about what the underlined ‘it’ stands for.It seems to refer to ‘an array’ in this context.But I cannot rule out the
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