Some interesting Writing questions...

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1

<p>At the reception were the chattering guests, the three-tiered cake, and the lively music that have become characteristic of many wedding celebrations. No error</p>

<p>The name "transferware" comes from a nineteenth-century technique for which a pattern is engraved onto a copper roll, printed on tissue paper, and transferred onto earthenware dishes.</p>

<p>(A) comes from a nineteenth-century technique for which
(B) comes from a nineteenth-century technique according to which
(C) comes from a nineteenth-century technique whereby
(D) is a nineteenth-century technique wherein
(E) means it is a nineteenth-century technique by which</p>

2

<p>for the first one, the error is "were".</p>

<p>the second one, I would go with....C... I think.</p>

3

<p>Were isn't the error in the 1st one... The correct answer is no error. "Were" is the verb modifying guests, cake, and music (a plural subject needing a plural verb).</p>

4

<p>For the first one, why can't it be "were"? Shouldn't "were" be changed to "are"?</p>

<p>Can you explain the second one and why it's C?</p>

<p>Thanks.</p>

5

<p>The first question is one of those cases in which the verb comes before the noun. "were" is the main verb, while the guests, cake and music are the subjects of the sentence. And, as Loaded pointed out, "were" should be changed to "are" since the "have become" indicates the overall present tense. </p>

<p>The second one needs a bit of deductive reasoning... The answer can't be D because the name itself isn't a "technique". Can't be E, since there is an ambiguous "it". Can't be B, since the "according to" doesn't make sense, and the answer can't be A because a pattern isn't engraved "for" the technique; a pattern is engraved "by" the technique (by using the technique). So the answer has to be C, and the use of the word, "whereby", makes sense; whereby means by which.</p>

6

<p>Ok, I found the answers -- the answer to the first one is (E) No error. The second one is (C).</p>

7

<p>well I stand corrected lol. </p>

<p>hmm. I guess it could be no error if the phrase is referring to a different time frame... any explanation?</p>

8

<p>^Yup, occassionally that happens.</p>

9

<p>At the reception were the chattering guests, the three-tiered cake, and the lively music that have become characteristic of many wedding celebrations. </p>

<p>I agree with No Error because the overall tense is past. The only reason why the "have become" is because the music is and continues to be wedding celebrations.</p>

<p>For example: Last week, Sarah was at the New York Fashion show which has become the showcase of the world's top designers.</p>

<p>Even though the Fashion Show was last week, and the verb for Sarah should be was, the New York Fashion Show continues to be the showcase. </p>

<p>Another example: Paris Hilton starred in the racy sex video which has been circulating on the Internet for the past two years.</p>

<p>Yet another example: Lavender was rejected from Harvard, which has become the most prestigious university in America.</p>

10

<p>Ah, that makes sense, thanks!</p>