0
VDVinh Posted 13 years ago
Grammar
what does "virtue of" means
I got the following sentences:
The interrelationship of science, technology, and industry is taken for granted today—summed up, not altogether accurately, as "research and development." Yet historically this widespread faith in the economic virtues of science is a relatively recent phenomenon, dating back in the United States about 150 years, and in the Western world as a whole not over 300 years at most.
I don't understand the meaning of phrase "virtue of" and "date back" in these sentences. I also don't know what is the subject of the reduced form "dating back".
Any help will be appreciated. Thanks in advance.
The interrelationship of science, technology, and industry is taken for granted today—summed up, not altogether accurately, as "research and development." Yet historically this widespread faith in the economic virtues of science is a relatively recent phenomenon, dating back in the United States about 150 years, and in the Western world as a whole not over 300 years at most.
I don't understand the meaning of phrase "virtue of" and "date back" in these sentences. I also don't know what is the subject of the reduced form "dating back".
Any help will be appreciated. Thanks in advance.
Top answer
" So the writer is saying that science helps the economy, or that the use of science improves the economy. " "Dating back 150 years" means counting back from the present day 150 years (gets us to the point where the idea started). The subject is "faith" (in science).
- " So the writer is saying that science helps the economy, or that the use of science improves the economy.
- " "Dating back 150 years" means counting back from the present day 150 years (gets us to the point where the idea started).
- The subject is "faith" (in science).
- The writer is saying that the idea/belief that science is helpful to society began about 150 years ago in America.
- Does this answer your questions?
Get the Weekly English Kit 📬
New words, one handy idiom, and a 2-minute quiz — delivered to your inbox to keep your streak alive.
3 Answers
0
"Virtue" is used here in the sense of "beneficial power." So the writer is saying that science helps the economy, or that the use of science improves the economy.
"Dating" is used here in the sense of "originating." "Dating back 150 years" means counting back from the present day 150 years (gets us to the point where the idea started). The subject is "faith" (in science).
"Dating" is used here in the sense of "originating." "Dating back 150 years" means counting back from the present day 150 years (gets us to the point where the idea started). The subject is "faith" (in science).
00
Hello, Doctor D,
Thank you so much for your useful answer.
I'm confused about the structure of the sentence:
"Yet historically this widespread faith in the economic virtues of science is a relatively recent phenomenon, dating back in the United States about 150 years, and in the Western world as a whole not over 300 years at most".
In my poor knowledge, I knew that there is a reduc
Thank you so much for your useful answer.
I'm confused about the structure of the sentence:
"Yet historically this widespread faith in the economic virtues of science is a relatively recent phenomenon, dating back in the United States about 150 years, and in the Western world as a whole not over 300 years at most".
In my poor knowledge, I knew that there is a reduc
00
It has the same structure as your example. So, you could also write it as:
"Yet historically this widespread faith in the economic virtues of science is a relatively recent phenomenon, which dates back in the United States about 150 years, and in the Western world as a whole not over 300 years at most".
"Yet historically this widespread faith in the economic virtues of science is a relatively recent phenomenon, which dates back in the United States about 150 years, and in the Western world as a whole not over 300 years at most".
0
Related Questions