Unit 2 (Nelson Mandela)
Editing and listening
Correct errors in agreement and verb forms, and recreate a text from notes.
The editing passage. Each line has one error. Read slowly and ask: does the verb agree? Is the tense right? Is the word in the right form? The answers, line by line:
- peoples → people ('peoples' means nations);
- is → are (natural writers);
- wrote → write (after will);
- was → is (keep the present tense);
- forced → force (after must);
- makes → making (to match doing);
- problems → problem (an algebra problem);
- do → does (good writing);
- seems → seem (most people);
- writer → writers;
- trying → try (like to try);
- meaned → meaning.
Two lines with no real error. 'Bearded by people' is the writer's own phrase: it means confronted by people. And the last line ('retire from their real profession') is correct as it stands, although the task says every line has an error. Don't invent one.
Three rules behind the answers.
- After a modal (will, must, can, should) use the base verb: will never write, must force.
- Subject and verb agree: good writing does; most people seem.
- Matching forms in a list: making a shopping list or doing a problem.
Listening: the dropped coin. Your teacher reads a short text aloud. Note key points as you listen: someone walking back from lunch hears a coin drop; heads turn; a woman has dropped a one rupee coin; whatever its value, nobody can ignore that sound. Then rebuild the text in your own words. You don't need the exact words, only the meaning.
Comma tip. You may put a comma before and, but or or when they join two full sentences: 'Ravi plays cricket, and his sister plays chess.'
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