Dave's ESL Cafe's Student Discussion Forums

[syoshioka99]

Choose the best word or phrase which is closest in the meaing of "sense."

a) Everyone admits that Jim is a man of sense.
b) I wonder if a plant has sense.

1: emoton
2: instinct
3: morality
4: power of feeling
5: practical wisdom



(Question) In a), the answer is #5; in b), #4. , which I don't understand.
Why can't I choose #3 for a), and #1 for b)? What are the differences b/w practical wisdom and morality; emotion and power of feeling???

a) Everyone admits that Jim is a man of "morality".
b) I wonder if a plant has "emotion."

mmmm...they both look perfectly OK...(or rather if I insert the word "emotion" instead of "power of feeling", the sentence b) sounds better.


Satoru

Tochigi, JAPAN

[Anuradha Chepur]

Sense doesn't imply morality. Morality is just about what is right and what is wrong. Wisdom is about knowldege and the ability to apply it with insight and understanding.

Emotion is a strong feeling. The question of a feeling being strong arises if there is one.

[lotus]

Hi Satoru,

Another case of a poorly framed question - and equally bewildering answers. You might want to find a better textbook. This test question has no sense of common speech.

a) Everyone admits that Jim is a man of sense.
b) I wonder if a plant has sense.

1: emotion
2: instinct
3: morality
4: power of feeling
5: practical wisdom


A) Everyone admits that Jim is a man of practical wisdom.
equally good:
Everyone admits (knows) that Jim is a man of emotions.
Everyone admits (knows) that Jim is a man of instinct.
Everyone admits (knows) that Jim is a man of moral integrity.
Everyone admits (knows) that Jim has practical wisdom.
Everyone admits (knows) that Jim is a man of practical reason.

B) I wonder if a plant has (the) power of feeling. ?
better:
I wonder if a plant feels emotions.
I wonder if a plant has feelings.


--lotus

[syoshioka99]

[lotus]

Hi Satoru,

I think you misunderstood the question. Numbers 1-5 are types of senses, and you are supposed to choose, or pick, the best one to replace "sense" in sentences a & b.

Dr. Chepur answered your question (in quite detail) concerning the "differences b/w practical wisdom and morality; emotion and power of feeling."

I noted, that given the answers the text prescribed, the sentences are either not natural, or would have had equal validity using one of the other choices.

Emotions, instinct, morality, feelings and wisdom are all senses.

Emotions: an advanced human sensory perception of the mind such as fear, happiness, sadness, jealousy, anger, joy, etc.
Instinct: a primal human sensory cognition (almost clairvoyant) of the correct course of action - either for self-preservation, or as an obvious intellectual revelation based on past conscious or subconscious experiences.
Morality: moral sense, sense of morality, a sense of what's right or wrong.
Feeling: an inkling or emotional stimulus sensed by the mind, or the "heart."
Wisdom: sensed knowledge of superior intellectual or practical value.

As you can see, all these are human "senses." The question is poorly framed because "plugging" them in a or b would not necessarily yield a wrong answer or a natural sentence.


--lotus

[Anuradha Chepur]

Hi Satoru,

My immediate response to the sentences were that Jim is sensible, and a plant doesn't have the ability to feel (I read that scientists are trying to study the effect of music on plants, though). So the choices #5 (practical wisdom) and #4 (power of feeling) respectively come closest.

Other options might work as well.