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Janewantslearn Posted 11 years ago
Grammar

Please help me understand this sentence.

Hi Guys, could you please help me understand this sentence?

"We are beginning to treat the earth as a sort of domesticated household pet, living in an environment invented by us, *part kitchen garden, part park, part zoo.*"

What does the phrase of "part kitchen garden, part park, part zoo" refer to? The earth (a sort of domesticated pet) or the invented environment?

Thanks a lot!
  

Top answer

I think it's unclear because the whole concept doesn't really make sense. The earth doesn't "live in an environment"; the earth is the environment.

— GPY

  • I think it's unclear because the whole concept doesn't really make sense.
  • The earth doesn't "live in an environment"; the earth is the environment.
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6 Answers
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I think it's unclear because the whole concept doesn't really make sense. The earth doesn't "live in an environment"; the earth is the environment.
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GPYThe earth doesn't "live in an environment"
I think it's saying that the pet lives in an environment — the environment we create for it.

Stated differently, I don't think the comma should be there.

CJ
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janewantslearnWhat does the phrase of "part kitchen garden, part park, part zoo" refer to? The earth (a sort of domesticated pet) or the invented environment?
I'd say the invented environment, because kitchen gardens, parks, and zoos are invented environments, but the earth is not, and domesticated pets live in the environment without actually being the
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CalifJimbecause kitchen gardens, parks, and zoos are invented environments, but the earth is not,
Hi CJ, It's a good way to figure out what the phrase refers to! Thank you so much!
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GPYthe earth is the environment.
Hi GPY, thank you for answering me! Yes, the question also troubled me.
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CalifJimI think it's saying that the pet lives in an environment — the environment we create for it.
Sure, but it says we are treating the earth as that pet. The pet lives in an environment => The earth lives in an environment. It doesn't make much sense to me personally. I think the author got confused between the earth living in a "part kitchen gar
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