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[fw]

Hello everyone.

Here is a comprehension-check type question that I found in the unified university entrance exam done in Japan last Saturday.

Is sentence #1 below true or false according to the passage below? The passage, which I have adapted, seems to be originally from some novel. It goes as follows.

A young boy, together with his mother, went into mountains to spend a day by a stream and he accidentally had his fingers badly injured there. He had to see a doctor in town immediately, but there was no car available. They were all scared. Just then, a small truck came up the road in front of them. The driver, Mr. Peal, kindly took them to a doctor in town. The doctor gave the boy emergency care, and that was seven years ago. The boy, now a university student, is majoring in music---guitar! His hand is perfectly fine. He has had no chance to thank Mr. Peal in person, but he thinks he is sure to do so some day.

1. Mr. Peal helped make it possible for the young man to play the guitar.

The given answer was TRUE, but I can�t get the nuance of the verb �help� as used in the sentence above. I am wondering if it is OK to say �Mr. Peal HELPED make it possible �� when he gave the young boy, and his mother, a ride because he wanted to of help, but without even expecting that he would in the future be a guitar player, to whom his fingers play an important role.

I would like your comment.

Best regards,
Fw

[Nef]

1. Mr. Peal helped make it possible for the young man to play the guitar.

The given answer was TRUE, but I can�t get the nuance of the verb �help� as used in the sentence above. I am wondering if it is OK to say �Mr. Peal HELPED make it possible �� when he gave the young boy, and his mother, a ride because he wanted to of help, but without even expecting that he would in the future be a guitar player, to whom his fingers play an important role.


Mr. Peal's action (driving the boy to the hospital) helped prevent serious damage to the boy's hand. If the hand had not been treated, then it's likely that the boy never would have been able to play the guitar well.