Dave's ESL Cafe's Student Discussion Forums

[jasonlulu_2000]

The study found that students in classrooms with unblocked views of at least 50 feet outside the window had higher scores on tests of vocabulary than did students whose classrooms primarily overlooked roads and parking lots.

What does the underlined part mean? Doesn't it also represent a position with unblocked views?

Thanks

[redset]

It means that the views were mainly of roads and parking lots, although the students may have been able to see some other things. I agree with you that a 'blocked view' sounds like a building or maybe even a tree near the window, and that a road or a parking lot sounds 'unblocked'.

Since there seems to be some kind of comparison going on, I'd guess that an 'unblocked view' means something like open land, grass, trees etc., and that a 'blocked view' means some kind of urban construction or distraction. I'd need to see more to be sure of the context though.

[dragn]

Jason, I'm sorry the answer I gave you to this question a few weeks ago (which I spent a lot of time on and honestly felt was about as good as anyone could have given you) was so utterly inadequate that rather than ask for clarification you felt compelled to delete it and ask the same question again. I hope you now have the insight you seek.

Don't worry...it won't happen again.

Greg