Dave's ESL Cafe's Student Discussion Forums

[b7lake]

#-We can only try to analyze and reconstruct human history on the basis
of the records and evidence that have been preserved on one form or
another. And this is where the controversial aspects of history arouse
and provoke us.

(1)Can a verb 'arise' be used instead of 'arouse' in this sentence?

(2)Could you give me some examples that show the usage of
the verb 'arise' and 'arouse'?

I'd really appreciate your help![/b]

[lotus]

Hi b7lake,

Not really. They have different meanings. Arise is to become, arouse is to stimulate. I find that the American Heritage dictionary and the Cambridge Dictionaries are good sources for sample sentences.

http://www.bartleby.com/61/25/A0422500.html
http://dictionary.cambridge.org/define.asp?key=arise*1+0&dict=A

http://www.bartleby.com/61/45/A0434500.html
http://dictionary.cambridge.org/define.asp?key=arouse*1+0&dict=A


--lotus
_________________
War does not make one great --Yoda

[Lorikeet]

Although Lotus is no doubt correct, that sentence doesn't sound good to me, and I would much prefer "arise", perhaps because it already has the "provoke us" part, which takes care of the stimulation.

[wintersweet]

"Arouse and provoke us" is a little redundant, but I don't think "arise" will work because it is an intransitive verb.
_________________
wintersweet

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[Lorikeet]

[Philo Kevetch]

Although it may be possible to preserve the records and evidence

of human history 'on' one form or another, perhaps preserved 'in' one

form or another is what is meant (?).

If you use 'arise', what you are saying is that the 'controversial aspects'

come from/are due to.. having only various preserved records/evidence.

It seems entirely reasonable to say 'arouse and provoke' without

redundancy, if that clearly expresses your meaning.

1- We will deal with the problems as they arise.

2- An increase in taxes is sure to arouse a protest among the citizens.

[lotus]

Hi b7lake,

To avoid ambiguity, I would re-write the paragraph as:

We can only analyze and reconstruct human history on the basis of records and evidence that have been preserved in various forms. Some of these forms contain controversial aspects of history that may arouse or provoke us.


--lotus
_________________
War does not make one great --Yoda

[wintersweet]