Dave's ESL Cafe's Student Discussion Forums

[jasonlulu_2000]

The chess world today boasts more first-rate players than at any stage in its history. Hundreds of grandmasters chase modest prize money the world world. Success demands physical as well as mental exertion A single game may last up to eight hours. For the chess master this period represents a ceaseless struggle. A lapse in concentration can mean disaster. So the adversaries are always in a state of nervous tension.

The presence of the chess clock adds to the tension. The climax of the game is often a furious time scramble. When this occurs, each player has only seconds to make several moves or face instant forfeiture. With minds racing and hands twitching, the masters blitz out their moves and press their clocks with a co-ordination that any athlete would admire. Such moments are not for reflective intellectuals. The game descends into a primeval struggle in which nerves, tenacity and an overwhelming will to win separate victor from vanquished.

The final moves of a loser's game can be characterised by _____.
A. rapid responses B. nervous errors

The answer given is A. But I think B is right, as can be seen from "A lapse in concentration can mean disaster."

Am I right? thanks .


Jason

[lotus]

Hi Jason,

The first paragraph talks about the game in general and the fact that a lapse in concentration could mean disaster. It also mentions that the adversaries are always in a state of tension.

The second paragraph speaks more of the end game -- specifically, how the limits of time and the player's reflex can affect the outcome of the game.

Since the sentence speaks of the FINAL moves of a loser's game, the cause would most likely be the lack of sound judgement in his/her rapid responses rather than nervousness. Certainly, nervousness is a contributing factor. But the real cause is time constraint.

They're talking about chess games where each player must move their pieces within a confined total time period. Towards the end of that time limit, the losing player must move more quickly to come to an end game or lose the game when the flag drops (out of time).


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