Dave's ESL Cafe's Student Discussion Forums

[learner12]

Hello, teachers!!

What does "such frequent scope" mean in the end of the paragraph? Why did the author write the word "such"?

My guess:

There are many things to do, so human beings have no time to fight with each other.

Thank you in advance.

http://www.worldwideschool.org/library/books/lit/essays/ThePrivatePapersofHenryRyecroft/chap2.html

Suppose yourself endowed with such power of hearing that all the talk going on at any moment beneath the domestic roofs of any town became clearly audible to you; the dominant note would be that of moods, tempers, opinions at jar. Who but the most amiable dreamer can doubt it? This, mind you, is not the same thing as saying that angry emotion is the ruling force in human life; the facts of our civilization prove the contrary. Just because, and only because, the natural spirit of conflict finds such frequent scope, does human society hold together, and, on the whole, present a pacific aspect.

[myprofe]

The text was not written by a native English speaker and has many mistakes starting with the first words: "suppose yourself".

You can: say image yourself having the power to ...

- or -

suppose/image that you had the power to ...
_________________
I'm never going to learn if you don't correct my mistakes!

[learner12]

Dear myprofe,

Thank you for your quick replies. I appreciated it.

The English on the net (http://www.worldwideschool.org/library/books/lit/essays/ThePrivatePapersofHenryRyecroft/chap2.html ) is not written by a English native speaker, isn't it? I am so sorry that I didn't notice that because of lack of my proficiency.

Have a nice day!!

[Mary W. Ng]

[learner12]

Dear Mary W. Ng,

Thank you for your explanations.

Have a nice day!!