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Stenka25 Posted 10 years ago
Grammar
Is this question valid?
Is this question valid?
The question below comes from a TOEIC test.
https://www.facebook.com/thetoeiclive/videos/1576902285914482/
1. While most award winners received a plaque, Mr Kim and Ms. Chen _______ received a watch and a pen.
(A) all (B) each (C) both (D) ever
It says (B) is the only possible answer.
That's OK with me.
But (C) also seems to be possible.
Of course, there happens a difference of the meaning.
The check-up of Google Books showed me the following results.
we all know this : About 68,900 results (0.80 seconds)
we both know this : About 11,300 results (0.58 seconds)
we each know this : About 107 results (0.51 seconds)
http://www.dailywritingtips.com/each-vs-both/
When speaking of two people, both is usually the more appropriate choice. The only reason to use each when speaking of two people/things would be to emphasize the individuality of separate acts or to avoid ambiguity. Consider the following sentences:
1. Jack and Bill share a room. Both are responsible for cleaning half.
2. Mr. Jones gave both his daughters a dog.
3. Both of us received a letter this morning.
Most listeners would understand the first sentence to mean that each boy is responsible for one half of the room. Sentence three might be understood to mean that each of the two received separate letters. Sentence two is definitely ambiguous: Did each daughter receive a dog of her own, or did both daughters receive one dog to share? The following revisions would prevent misunderstanding:
1. Jack and Bill share a room. Each is responsible for cleaning half.
2. Mr. Jones gave each of his daughters a dog.
3. Each of us received a letter this morning.
This Google results and Dailywritingtips seems to back up my argument that this question asking only one possible answer is not valid.
Do you agree with me?
If you don't, can you tell me why?
Regards.
The question below comes from a TOEIC test.
https://www.facebook.com/thetoeiclive/videos/1576902285914482/
1. While most award winners received a plaque, Mr Kim and Ms. Chen _______ received a watch and a pen.
(A) all (B) each (C) both (D) ever
It says (B) is the only possible answer.
That's OK with me.
But (C) also seems to be possible.
Of course, there happens a difference of the meaning.
The check-up of Google Books showed me the following results.
we all know this : About 68,900 results (0.80 seconds)
we both know this : About 11,300 results (0.58 seconds)
we each know this : About 107 results (0.51 seconds)
http://www.dailywritingtips.com/each-vs-both/
When speaking of two people, both is usually the more appropriate choice. The only reason to use each when speaking of two people/things would be to emphasize the individuality of separate acts or to avoid ambiguity. Consider the following sentences:
1. Jack and Bill share a room. Both are responsible for cleaning half.
2. Mr. Jones gave both his daughters a dog.
3. Both of us received a letter this morning.
Most listeners would understand the first sentence to mean that each boy is responsible for one half of the room. Sentence three might be understood to mean that each of the two received separate letters. Sentence two is definitely ambiguous: Did each daughter receive a dog of her own, or did both daughters receive one dog to share? The following revisions would prevent misunderstanding:
1. Jack and Bill share a room. Each is responsible for cleaning half.
2. Mr. Jones gave each of his daughters a dog.
3. Each of us received a letter this morning.
This Google results and Dailywritingtips seems to back up my argument that this question asking only one possible answer is not valid.
Do you agree with me?
If you don't, can you tell me why?
Regards.
Top answer
Stenka25 Do you agree with me? Yes.
- Stenka25 Do you agree with me?
- Yes.
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9 Answers
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It is a valid question. "Both" groups things/people together, whereas "each" treats them individually. Think of "both" roughly as "together."
The correct answer is "B."
The correct answer is "B."
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Thanks a lot as always, MM.
Thanks a lot as always, teechr.
But your each reply points to the opposite.
MM says it's invalid, teechr says it's vaild.
Is it just the differences of opinion?
(I know the test question is a bit odd, or even stupid, and I don't like this sort of questions and I don't believe they can possibily evaulate students' linguistic ability of English.
Thanks a lot as always, teechr.
But your each reply points to the opposite.
MM says it's invalid, teechr says it's vaild.
Is it just the differences of opinion?
(I know the test question is a bit odd, or even stupid, and I don't like this sort of questions and I don't believe they can possibily evaulate students' linguistic ability of English.
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Stenka25Is it just the differences of opinion?I offer your 'Daily Writing Tips' as a reference. I rather like that website.: I've used it before, and they're generally level-headed there.
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Stenka25It says (B) is the only possible answer.That's OK with me.But (C) also seems to be possible.The problem is the typical placement of 'both'. If 'both' is to go in the sentence, it's most likely going to be both Mr Kim and Ms Chen rather than Mr Kim and Ms Chen both. The typical grammar book will list both ... and ... as a common
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Thanks a lot for giving me your reply on the terrible question, MM.
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Thanks a lot as always, CJ
Now I could see what the TOEIC people try to ask students.
But the question is terrible and horri
Now I could see what the TOEIC people try to ask students.
But the question is terrible and horri
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Stenka25lot of students with highest TOEIC scores but still without proper reading, listening, writing, and speaking abilities.Such is life. The same thing happens with testing in many different fields of study — not just in English proficiency tests.
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