Dave's ESL Cafe's Student Discussion Forums

[Tony 1963]

Hello,

1. one of the embarrassing things about being a famous man ___________ private questions by people he doesn't know.

A. are asked; B. is being asked; C. have to ask; D. is asked.

May I say "is to be asked"?

2. His proposal was rejected that the talks ________ in Geneva.
A. were to be held; B. be held; C. would be held; D. had been held.

3. In the struggle for life, some species remained because they were able to ________ their surroundings.
A. fit in; B. fit; C. fit into; D. fit in with.

Thanks a lot.

Tony

[CP]

1. Either "being asked" or "to be asked" would be fine here.

2. Only "be held" is right here. His proposal that the talks be held was rejected.

3. I think either "fit" or "fit in with" are best, but maybe others will disagree. This goes to the Darwinian idea that variations within a species will help some individuals match the environment better than others, so they are more likely to survive and reproduce. The fittest are those individuals who fit / fit in with the enviroment the best.
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You live a new life for every new language you speak. -Czech proverb

[Tony 1963]

Thank you, CP! It really helps.