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jasonlulu_2000
Joined: 19 Mar 2006
Posts: 879
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 Posted: Sun Mar 15, 2009 12:43 am Post subject: two questions |
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The film _______ great success when it made its first appearance.
A. enjoyed B. won
I know A is right. But could "success" be collocated with "win"
By the way, should we add "a" in front of "great success".
Turning north, the driver caused a bus to hit its _____ to avoid a crash.
A. brakes B. lights
The answer is A, but is answer B wrong?
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Suzanne
Joined: 21 Apr 2008
Posts: 283
Location: Seattle, WA, USA
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| Posted: Sun Mar 15, 2009 6:40 am Post subject: |
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Hi!
| Quote: |
The film _______ great success when it made its first appearance.
A. enjoyed B. won |
You're right, A is the best word here. Success isn't really won, it's earned or recognized. And in this sentence, it's general, so "a success" isn't appropriate.
In order to use "a success," you need a specific event or reason:
"The film was such a success that it won all the awards."
"The party was a huge success."
"Harry Potter has been a world-wide success."
"The restaurant is such a success that it has published a cookbook with all the favorite recipes."
| Quote: |
Turning north, the driver caused a bus to hit its _____ to avoid a crash.
A. brakes B. lights |
A is really the only word that makes sense here. Brakes are what makes the bus stop or slow, to avoid a crash.
Hope this helps! |
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dragn
Joined: 17 Feb 2009
Posts: 450
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| Posted: Sun Mar 15, 2009 7:14 am Post subject: |
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Hi Jason,
Suzanne is right about the bus hitting its lights to avoid a crash--it doesn't make sense. Just be aware, however, that it has absolutely nothing to do with grammar or usage.
It's perfectly fine to say that a vehicle hit its lights, and it means the driver turned them on. (I have also heard this phrase used to mean the driver turned them off, but most native speakers would probably consider that non-standard.)
Either way, in this example where the bus is about to have a crash, doing anything related to the lights to avoid an imminent collision simply doesn't make logical sense.
dragn |
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Suzanne
Joined: 21 Apr 2008
Posts: 283
Location: Seattle, WA, USA
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| Posted: Sun Mar 15, 2009 2:08 pm Post subject: |
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Good point, dragn!
I'd like to add to your comment about "hit the lights." While, in my 50+ years of speaking English, I haven't really heard the term used in conjunction with cars, "hit the breaks" is a common phrase. When we say "hit the breaks" it means that the break lights come on--suddenly!
"He hit the breaks when a pedestrian stepped in front of the car."
"I hit the breaks when I realized I almost ran the stop sign."
The phrase "hit the lights" is slang, used to say turn lights on or off:
"Hit the lights--the movie's about to start!" [turn the lights off]
"Hit the lights--I can't see a thing!" [turn the lights on]
I suppose you could also say "Hit the lights--it's too dark to drive without headlights." That would be the equivalent of telling someone to turn the lights on.
You were right in bringing this up...although we may have contributed more information than Jason was looking for!
Thanks! |
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jasonlulu_2000
Joined: 19 Mar 2006
Posts: 879
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| Posted: Sun Mar 15, 2009 4:19 pm Post subject: thank you both |
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Thank you both for your wonderful explanation.
Really benefits me a lot!!!!
Jason! |
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