Unit 4 - Making the World a Better Place

Irene L. (China (Hong Kong S.A.R.))
355 words 1 learner

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Answer a few questions about each word. Use this to prep for your next quiz! Compete with other teams in real time to see who answers the most questions correctly! Test your spelling acumen. Read the definition, listen to the word and try spelling it!

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Create and assign quizzes to your students to test their vocabulary. Assign learning activities including Practice, Vocabulary Jams and Spelling Bees to your students, and monitor their progress in real-time.

Full list of words from this list:

words only definitions & notes
  1. run-on sentence
    an ungrammatical sentence in which two or more independent clauses are conjoined without a conjunction
    Run-on sentences

    A run-on sentence occurs when two sentences are mistaken as one.
  2. subordinating conjunction
    a conjunction that introduces a dependent clause
    Dependent clause may begin with subordinating conjunctions or relative pronouns as mentioned in Unit 2.
  3. run-on
    (verse) without a rhetorical pause between lines
    Run-on sentences

    A run-on sentence occurs when two sentences are mistaken as one.
  4. main clause
    a section in a complex sentence that can stand alone
    Sentences (ii) and (iii), though perfectly acceptable in Chinese, are ungrammatical in English because we cannot simply attach there is/are to the beginning of a main clause To correct these sentences, we should remove the expressions there were/are as below:
    ii a.
  5. dependent clause
    a section in a complex sentence that cannot stand alone
    Now look for the errors in this passage about Bill Gates’ charitable donations:







    Dependent clause fragments
    A dependent clause has a subject and a verb but cannot stand along.
  6. categorise
    place into or assign to a category
    A fuse sentence consists of two sentences joined (or fused) without any punctuation between them, for example:
    • Human personalities vary greatly it is difficult to categorise them.
  7. policy change
    a major change in attitude or principle or point of view
    There had some policy changes in the government.
    ii.
  8. passive voice
    when the subject of a sentence is a recipient of the action
    Activity 6 The passive voice
    Look at the article below on the subject of altruism.
  9. relative clause
    a clause introduced by a relative pronoun
    There are Many students study in the library during examination period.
    subject predicate

    To change a main clause into an existential construction , we should either (i) change the main clause after the subject into a relative clause (who, which etc.), or (ii) change the verb into a present participle (-ing).
  10. altruism
    the quality of unselfish concern for the welfare of others
    Activity 3 Listening for important information

    Answer the following questions:


    i) Where was the school where the volunteers taught?


    ii) How were Rita and Fangerous (and the other volunteers) selected for the programme?



    iii) What did the volunteers do when they realised that the teaching material was not appropriate for the English level of the students?


    iv) What did Rita and Fangerous learn from this experience?


    v) What do they think of Altruism?
  11. iii
    being one more than two
    Why/Why not?
    iii) Why do you think so many people do volunteer?
  12. sentence structure
    the grammatical arrangement of words in sentences
    This sentence structure is known as an existential construction, i.e. to indicate the existence of someone or something.
  13. existential
    relating to or dealing with the state of being
    Existential constructions – “there sentences”
    In English, the word “there” is often used at the beginning of a sentence.
  14. present participle
    a participle expressing present action
    There are Many students study in the library during examination period.
    subject predicate

    To change a main clause into an existential construction , we should either (i) change the main clause after the subject into a relative clause (who, which etc.), or (ii) change the verb into a present participle (-ing).
  15. university student
    a student enrolled in a college or university
    Unit 4 Making the world a better place







    Interview with Fangerous and Rita
    You are now going to watch an interview with Fangerous and Rita, two Hong Kong Polytechnic University students who both applied for and took part in a voluntary project in mainland China.
  16. relative pronoun
    a pronoun (as `that' or `which' or `who') that introduces a relative clause referring to some antecedent
    Dependent clause may begin with subordinating conjunctions or relative pronouns as mentioned in Unit 2.
  17. ungrammatical
    not grammatical
    The sentences above are all ungrammatical.
  18. mainland China
    a communist nation that covers a vast territory in eastern Asia; the most populous country in the world
    Unit 4 Making the world a better place







    Interview with Fangerous and Rita
    You are now going to watch an interview with Fangerous and Rita, two Hong Kong Polytechnic University students who both applied for and took part in a voluntary project in mainland China.
  19. rewrite
    compose differently
    Put a tick next to those that are correct and rewrite those that are not.


    i.
  20. subordinating
    serving to connect a subordinate clause to a main clause
    Dependent clause may begin with subordinating conjunctions or relative pronouns as mentioned in Unit 2.
  21. classmate
    an acquaintance that you go to school with
    Discuss with a classmate whether the following sentences are correct.
  22. sentence
    a string of words satisfying grammatical rules of a language
    Activity 4 Gap fill
    Watch the interview again and complete these sentences:

    Fan: Last year we participated in the programme called the ________________ ______________ ________________ ______________ (4words).
  23. verb
    a word denoting an action, occurrence, or state of existence
    Sentence fragments

    A sentence must contain a subject and a verb, and it must express a complete thought.
  24. hiking
    a long walk usually for exercise or pleasure
    • In her spare time, Mary enjoys hiking, swimming and cycling.
  25. faulty
    having a defect
    Activity 7 Common Errors
    Sentence fragments, run-ons and other faulty sentences

    After learning different types of sentences and how you can use them to make your writing more interesting, this unit will focus on common errors made by local students when building sentences.
  26. motivation
    psychological feature arousing action toward a desired goal
    They have little motivation to change such habit.
  27. clause
    a separate section of a legal document
    Now look for the errors in this passage about Bill Gates’ charitable donations:







    Dependent clause fragments
    A dependent clause has a subject and a verb but cannot stand along.
  28. fragment
    a piece broken off or cut off of something else
    Activity 7 Common Errors
    Sentence fragments, run-ons and other faulty sentences

    After learning different types of sentences and how you can use them to make your writing more interesting, this unit will focus on common errors made by local students when building sentences.
  29. fuse
    any igniter used to initiate the burning of a propellant
    There are two types of run-on sentences: the fuse sentence and the comma splice.
  30. predicate
    involve as a necessary condition or consequence
    There were Over 80% of students agreed with the comments.
    subject predicate
    iii a.
  31. participant
    someone who is involved in an activity
    Why/Why not?


    iv) In the interview both participants said that they wanted to do more volunteer work.
  32. volunteer
    a person who performs work done by choice
    Why/Why not?
    iii) Why do you think so many people do volunteer?
  33. splice
    join the ends of
    There are two types of run-on sentences: the fuse sentence and the comma splice.
  34. exam
    a set of questions testing your skill or knowledge
    • Peter was considered a poor student because he waited until the last minute to study for the exam, completed his lab problems in a careless manner, and lacked motivation.
  35. student
    a learner who is enrolled in an educational institution
    Unit 4 Making the world a better place







    Interview with Fangerous and Rita
    You are now going to watch an interview with Fangerous and Rita, two Hong Kong Polytechnic University students who both applied for and took part in a voluntary project in mainland China.
  36. community service
    something that is done for the benefit of the public or its institutions
    Now spot the errors in this passage about PolyU’s Community Service







    Activity 8 Speaking practice

    Imagine that your organization has $100,000 to give away.
  37. programme
    a series of goals to be accomplished
    Activity 3 Listening for important information

    Answer the following questions:


    i) Where was the school where the volunteers taught?


    ii) How were Rita and Fangerous (and the other volunteers) selected for the programme?



    iii) What did the volunteers do when they realised that the teaching material was not appropriate for the English level of the students?


    iv) What did Rita and Fangerous learn from this experience?


    v) What do they think of Altruism?
  38. donate
    give to a charity or good cause
    Now spot the errors in this passage about donating to charity.
  39. polytechnic
    a technical school offering instruction in many industrial arts and applied sciences
    Unit 4 Making the world a better place







    Interview with Fangerous and Rita
    You are now going to watch an interview with Fangerous and Rita, two Hong Kong Polytechnic University students who both applied for and took part in a voluntary project in mainland China.
  40. Bill Gates
    United States computer entrepreneur whose software company made him the youngest multi-billionaire in the history of the United States (born in 1955)
    Now look for the errors in this passage about Bill Gates’ charitable donations:







    Dependent clause fragments
    A dependent clause has a subject and a verb but cannot stand along.
  41. spare time
    time that is free from duties or responsibilities
    • In her spare time, Mary enjoys hiking, swimming and cycling.
  42. last minute
    the latest possible moment
    • Peter was considered a poor student because he waited until the last minute to study for the exam, completed his lab problems in a careless manner, and lacked motivation.
  43. underline
    draw a line or lines underneath to call attention to
    In the following examples, the fragments are underlined.
  44. hike
    walk a long way, as for pleasure or physical exercise
    • In her spare time, Mary enjoys hiking, swimming and cycling.
  45. possessive
    serving to express or indicate the act of having
    In (i), the verb have is a possessive verb, i.e. it describes that someone or something owns a particular thing, e.g.
  46. proofread
    read for errors
    Students usually make this mistake when they write in a rush without proofreading.
  47. write on
    write about a particular topic
    Unit Review Your profile
    Go back to the profile you have been writing on your blog.
  48. lab
    a workplace for the conduct of scientific research
    • Peter was considered a poor student because he waited until the last minute to study for the exam, completed his lab problems in a careless manner, and lacked motivation.
  49. comma
    a punctuation mark (,) indicating the separation of elements
    There are two types of run-on sentences: the fuse sentence and the comma splice.
  50. unit
    a single undivided whole
    Unit 4 Making the world a better place







    Interview with Fangerous and Rita
    You are now going to watch an interview with Fangerous and Rita, two Hong Kong Polytechnic University students who both applied for and took part in a voluntary project in mainland China.
  51. participle
    a form of the verb used as an adjective
    There are Many students study in the library during examination period.
    subject predicate

    To change a main clause into an existential construction , we should either (i) change the main clause after the subject into a relative clause (who, which etc.), or (ii) change the verb into a present participle (-ing).
  52. mobile phone
    a hand-held mobile device
    She has beautiful eyes or Oscar had a new mobile phone.
  53. error
    a wrong action attributable to bad judgment or ignorance
    The subsequent paragraphs (lines 8-46) also have examples of this voice but there are several errors.
  54. make sense
    be reasonable or logical or comprehensible
    In this case, the subject there cannot own anything and the sentence does not make sense.
  55. passive
    lacking in energy or will
    Activity 6 The passive voice
    Look at the article below on the subject of altruism.
  56. activity
    any specific behavior
    Activity 1 Preview
    Before you watch, consider the following:
    i) What exactly is voluntary work?
    ii) Would you consider doing some of this type of work?
  57. parallel
    being everywhere equidistant and not intersecting
    Now look for the errors in this passage about overseas aid agencies in Africa:

    Faulty parallel structure
    Parallel structure means using the same pattern of words to show that two or more ideas have the same level of importance.
  58. cycling
    the sport of traveling on a two-wheeled vehicle
    • In her spare time, Mary enjoys hiking, swimming and cycling.
  59. profile
    an outline of something, especially a face from the side
    Unit Review Your profile
    Go back to the profile you have been writing on your blog.
  60. teach
    impart skills or knowledge to
    Activity 3 Listening for important information

    Answer the following questions:


    i) Where was the school where the volunteers taught?


    ii) How were Rita and Fangerous (and the other volunteers) selected for the programme?



    iii) What did the volunteers do when they realised that the teaching material was not appropriate for the English level of the students?


    iv) What did Rita and Fangerous learn from this experience?


    v) What do they think of Altruism?
  61. fused
    joined together into a whole
    A fuse sentence consists of two sentences joined (or fused) without any punctuation between them, for example:
    • Human personalities vary greatly it is difficult to categorise them.
  62. unacceptable
    not acceptable; not welcome
    However, it is unacceptable in writing, especially in university writing.
  63. fan
    a device for creating a current of air by movement
    Activity 4 Gap fill
    Watch the interview again and complete these sentences:

    Fan: Last year we participated in the programme called the ________________ ______________ ________________ ______________ (4words).
  64. pronoun
    a function word that is used in place of a noun
    Dependent clause may begin with subordinating conjunctions or relative pronouns as mentioned in Unit 2.
  65. paragraph
    one of several distinct subdivisions of a text
    The first paragraph (lines 1-7) contains several examples of the passive voice used correctly.
  66. participate
    be involved in
    Activity 4 Gap fill
    Watch the interview again and complete these sentences:

    Fan: Last year we participated in the programme called the ________________ ______________ ________________ ______________ (4words).
  67. write in
    cast a vote by inserting a name that does not appear on the ballot
    Students usually make this mistake when they write in a rush without proofreading.
  68. tick
    a metallic tapping sound
    Put a tick next to those that are correct and rewrite those that are not.


    i.
  69. mainland
    the main land mass of a country or continent
    Unit 4 Making the world a better place







    Interview with Fangerous and Rita
    You are now going to watch an interview with Fangerous and Rita, two Hong Kong Polytechnic University students who both applied for and took part in a voluntary project in mainland China.
  70. punctuation
    the use of marks to clarify meaning of written material
    A fuse sentence consists of two sentences joined (or fused) without any punctuation between them, for example:
    • Human personalities vary greatly it is difficult to categorise them.
  71. give away
    make a gift of
    Now spot the errors in this passage about PolyU’s Community Service







    Activity 8 Speaking practice

    Imagine that your organization has $100,000 to give away.
  72. donation
    a voluntary gift made to some worthwhile cause
    Now look for the errors in this passage about Bill Gates’ charitable donations:







    Dependent clause fragments
    A dependent clause has a subject and a verb but cannot stand along.
  73. kid
    young goat
    It is a programme that aims to teach English to rural kids in mainland China.
  74. structure
    a complex entity made of many parts
    In the last paragraph (lines 47-53) can you make the passive structures active?
  75. accurately
    strictly correctly
    • He must write the report quickly, accurately, and thoroughly.
  76. dependent
    a person who relies on another person for support
    Now look for the errors in this passage about Bill Gates’ charitable donations:







    Dependent clause fragments
    A dependent clause has a subject and a verb but cannot stand along.
  77. follow
    travel behind, go after, or come after
    Activity 1 Preview
    Before you watch, consider the following:
    i) What exactly is voluntary work?
    ii) Would you consider doing some of this type of work?
  78. outcome
    something that results
    Review of learning
    Read the learning outcomes stated on the first page of this unit again.
  79. voluntary
    of your own free will or design
    Unit 4 Making the world a better place







    Interview with Fangerous and Rita
    You are now going to watch an interview with Fangerous and Rita, two Hong Kong Polytechnic University students who both applied for and took part in a voluntary project in mainland China.
  80. learning
    the cognitive process of acquiring skill or knowledge
    Fan: I can use what I’m learning to help them.
  81. correct
    free from error; especially conforming to fact or truth
    Can you find and correct them?
  82. teaching
    the activities of educating or instructing
    Activity 3 Listening for important information

    Answer the following questions:


    i) Where was the school where the volunteers taught?


    ii) How were Rita and Fangerous (and the other volunteers) selected for the programme?



    iii) What did the volunteers do when they realised that the teaching material was not appropriate for the English level of the students?


    iv) What did Rita and Fangerous learn from this experience?


    v) What do they think of Altruism?
  83. go through
    go across or through
    • The student thought that he would show his product in class, that there would be time to go through his PowerPoint presentation, and that his classmates would ask him questions.
  84. i.e.
    that is to say; in other words
    This sentence structure is known as an existential construction, i.e. to indicate the existence of someone or something.
  85. presentation
    the act of formally giving something, as a prize
    • The student thought that he would show his product in class, that there would be time to go through his PowerPoint presentation, and that his classmates would ask him questions.
  86. write
    name the letters that comprise the accepted form of
    Activity 7 Common Errors
    Sentence fragments, run-ons and other faulty sentences

    After learning different types of sentences and how you can use them to make your writing more interesting, this unit will focus on common errors made by local students when building sentences.
  87. complete
    having all necessary qualities
    Activity 4 Gap fill
    Watch the interview again and complete these sentences:

    Fan: Last year we participated in the programme called the ________________ ______________ ________________ ______________ (4words).
  88. swimming
    the act of swimming
    • In her spare time, Mary enjoys hiking, swimming and cycling.
  89. learn
    gain knowledge or skills
    Activity 3 Listening for important information

    Answer the following questions:


    i) Where was the school where the volunteers taught?


    ii) How were Rita and Fangerous (and the other volunteers) selected for the programme?



    iii) What did the volunteers do when they realised that the teaching material was not appropriate for the English level of the students?


    iv) What did Rita and Fangerous learn from this experience?


    v) What do they think of Altruism?
  90. swim
    travel through water
    • In her spare time, Mary enjoys hiking, swimming and cycling.
  91. interview
    the questioning of a person, often conducted by journalists
    Unit 4 Making the world a better place







    Interview with Fangerous and Rita
    You are now going to watch an interview with Fangerous and Rita, two Hong Kong Polytechnic University students who both applied for and took part in a voluntary project in mainland China.
  92. incomplete
    not total or final
    A fragment is an incomplete sentence in that it either lacks a subject or a verb, or it fails to present a complete thought.
  93. examination
    the act of scrutinizing something closely (as for mistakes)
    There are many students study in the library during examination period.
  94. preview
    a preliminary introduction to or inspection of something
    Activity 1 Preview
    Before you watch, consider the following:
    i) What exactly is voluntary work?
    ii) Would you consider doing some of this type of work?
  95. Gates
    United States computer entrepreneur whose software company made him the youngest multi-billionaire in the history of the United States (born in 1955)
    Now look for the errors in this passage about Bill Gates’ charitable donations:







    Dependent clause fragments
    A dependent clause has a subject and a verb but cannot stand along.
  96. conjunction
    the state of being joined together
    Dependent clause may begin with subordinating conjunctions or relative pronouns as mentioned in Unit 2.
  97. e.g.
    as an example
    In (i), the verb have is a possessive verb, i.e. it describes that someone or something owns a particular thing, e.g.
  98. begin
    set in motion, cause to start
    Rita: At the beginning, when we took this programme we were part of the committee of the English Club…
    Rita : Well we had 40 participants from Poly U and it lasted for five days.. the teaching time was three days.
  99. example
    an item of information that is typical of a class or group
    The first paragraph (lines 1-7) contains several examples of the passive voice used correctly.
  100. focus on
    center upon
    Activity 7 Common Errors
    Sentence fragments, run-ons and other faulty sentences

    After learning different types of sentences and how you can use them to make your writing more interesting, this unit will focus on common errors made by local students when building sentences.
  101. careless
    marked by lack of attention or consideration or forethought
    • Peter was considered a poor student because he waited until the last minute to study for the exam, completed his lab problems in a careless manner, and lacked motivation.
  102. attach
    be in contact with
    Sentences (ii) and (iii), though perfectly acceptable in Chinese, are ungrammatical in English because we cannot simply attach there is/are to the beginning of a main clause To correct these sentences, we should remove the expressions there were/are as below:
    ii a.
  103. construction
    the act of building something
    Existential constructions – “there sentences”
    In English, the word “there” is often used at the beginning of a sentence.
  104. indicate
    designate a place, direction, person, or thing
    This sentence structure is known as an existential construction, i.e. to indicate the existence of someone or something.
  105. take part
    share in something
    Unit 4 Making the world a better place







    Interview with Fangerous and Rita
    You are now going to watch an interview with Fangerous and Rita, two Hong Kong Polytechnic University students who both applied for and took part in a voluntary project in mainland China.
  106. subject
    some situation or event that is thought about
    Activity 6 The passive voice
    Look at the article below on the subject of altruism.
  107. exist
    have a presence
    • Do Rita and Fangerous believe that true altruism exists?
  108. following
    the act of pursuing in an effort to overtake or capture
    Activity 1 Preview
    Before you watch, consider the following:
    i) What exactly is voluntary work?
    ii) Would you consider doing some of this type of work?
  109. comment
    a statement that expresses a personal opinion
    There were over 80% of students agreed with the comments.
    iii.
  110. look for
    try to locate or discover, or try to establish the existence of
    Now look for the errors in this passage about Bill Gates’ charitable donations:







    Dependent clause fragments
    A dependent clause has a subject and a verb but cannot stand along.
  111. cycle
    a periodically repeated sequence of events
    • In her spare time, Mary enjoys hiking, swimming and to cycle.
  112. charitable
    relating to or characterized by voluntary giving
    Now look for the errors in this passage about Bill Gates’ charitable donations:







    Dependent clause fragments
    A dependent clause has a subject and a verb but cannot stand along.
  113. study
    applying the mind to learning and understanding a subject
    There are many students study in the library during examination period.
  114. discuss
    consider or examine in speech or writing
    Discuss with a classmate whether the following sentences are correct.
  115. cooperation
    the practice of working together on a common enterprise
    So I think another benefit is that of cooperation.
  116. subordinate
    an assistant subject to the authority or control of another
    Dependent clause may begin with subordinating conjunctions or relative pronouns as mentioned in Unit 2.
  117. illustrate
    depict with a visual representation
    The following examples illustrate this.
  118. agree
    consent or assent to a condition
    There were over 80% of students agreed with the comments.
    iii.
  119. in writing
    written or drawn or engraved
    However, it is unacceptable in writing, especially in university writing.
  120. overseas
    beyond or across the ocean
    Now look for the errors in this passage about overseas aid agencies in Africa:

    Faulty parallel structure
    Parallel structure means using the same pattern of words to show that two or more ideas have the same level of importance.
  121. realise
    be fully aware or cognizant of
    Activity 3 Listening for important information

    Answer the following questions:


    i) Where was the school where the volunteers taught?


    ii) How were Rita and Fangerous (and the other volunteers) selected for the programme?



    iii) What did the volunteers do when they realised that the teaching material was not appropriate for the English level of the students?


    iv) What did Rita and Fangerous learn from this experience?


    v) What do they think of Altruism?
  122. correctly
    in an accurate manner
    The first paragraph (lines 1-7) contains several examples of the passive voice used correctly.
  123. Hong Kong
    formerly a Crown Colony on the coast of southern China in Guangdong province; leased by China to Britain in 1842 and returned in 1997; one of the world's leading commercial centers
    Unit 4 Making the world a better place







    Interview with Fangerous and Rita
    You are now going to watch an interview with Fangerous and Rita, two Hong Kong Polytechnic University students who both applied for and took part in a voluntary project in mainland China.
  124. miss
    fail to perceive or to catch with the senses or the mind
    Below are some examples of fragments:

    • Can finish by 8 o’clock (missing subject)
    • Joe’s new dress very pretty (missing verb)
    • Especially when she is in a bad mood (not a complete thought)

    Fragments are common in spoken English.
  125. occur
    come to pass
    Run-on sentences

    A run-on sentence occurs when two sentences are mistaken as one.
  126. word
    a unit of language that native speakers can identify
    Fan: We prepared the teaching materials … and teaching aids by ourselves… but the kids’ ________________ ______________ ________________ ______________ ________________ ______________ (6 words).
  127. missing
    not able to be found
    Below are some examples of fragments:

    • Can finish by 8 o’clock (missing subject)
    • Joe’s new dress very pretty (missing verb)
    • Especially when she is in a bad mood (not a complete thought)

    Fragments are common in spoken English.
  128. acceptable
    worthy of approval or satisfactory
    Sentences (ii) and (iii), though perfectly acceptable in Chinese, are ungrammatical in English because we cannot simply attach there is/are to the beginning of a main clause To correct these sentences, we should remove the expressions there were/are as below:
    ii a.
  129. library
    a place containing books and other materials for reading
    There are many students study in the library during examination period.
  130. relative
    not absolute or complete
    Dependent clause may begin with subordinating conjunctions or relative pronouns as mentioned in Unit 2.
  131. vary
    become different in some particular way
    A fuse sentence consists of two sentences joined (or fused) without any punctuation between them, for example:
    • Human personalities vary greatly it is difficult to categorise them.
  132. passage
    the act of moving from one state or place to the next
    Now look for the errors in this passage about Bill Gates’ charitable donations:







    Dependent clause fragments
    A dependent clause has a subject and a verb but cannot stand along.
  133. depend on
    be contingent on
    It depends on another clause to make a sentence complete.
  134. Oscar
    an annual award by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences for achievements in motion picture production and performance
    She has beautiful eyes or Oscar had a new mobile phone.
  135. product
    an artifact that has been created by someone or some process
    • The student thought that he would show his product in class, that there would be time to go through his PowerPoint presentation, and that his classmates would ask him questions.
  136. consider
    think about carefully; weigh
    Activity 1 Preview
    Before you watch, consider the following:
    i) What exactly is voluntary work?
    ii) Would you consider doing some of this type of work?
  137. contain
    hold or have within
    The first paragraph (lines 1-7) contains several examples of the passive voice used correctly.
  138. apply
    employ for a particular purpose
    Unit 4 Making the world a better place







    Interview with Fangerous and Rita
    You are now going to watch an interview with Fangerous and Rita, two Hong Kong Polytechnic University students who both applied for and took part in a voluntary project in mainland China.
  139. mobile
    moving or capable of moving readily
    She has beautiful eyes or Oscar had a new mobile phone.
  140. realised
    successfully completed or brought to an end
    Activity 3 Listening for important information

    Answer the following questions:


    i) Where was the school where the volunteers taught?


    ii) How were Rita and Fangerous (and the other volunteers) selected for the programme?



    iii) What did the volunteers do when they realised that the teaching material was not appropriate for the English level of the students?


    iv) What did Rita and Fangerous learn from this experience?


    v) What do they think of Altruism?
  141. writing
    symbols imprinted on a surface to represent sounds or words
    Activity 7 Common Errors
    Sentence fragments, run-ons and other faulty sentences

    After learning different types of sentences and how you can use them to make your writing more interesting, this unit will focus on common errors made by local students when building sentences.
  142. type
    a subdivision of a particular kind of thing
    Activity 1 Preview
    Before you watch, consider the following:
    i) What exactly is voluntary work?
    ii) Would you consider doing some of this type of work?
  143. consist
    have its essential character
    A fuse sentence consists of two sentences joined (or fused) without any punctuation between them, for example:
    • Human personalities vary greatly it is difficult to categorise them.
  144. main
    most important element
    Activity 2 Getting the main ideas
    Read the following questions.
  145. achieve
    gain with effort
    Have you achieved those learning outcomes?
  146. change
    become different in some particular way
    They have little motivation to change such habit.
  147. completed
    successfully completed or brought to an end
    • Peter was considered a poor student because he waited until the last minute to study for the exam, completed his lab problems in a careless manner, and lacked motivation.
  148. spare
    more than is needed, desired, or required
    • In her spare time, Mary enjoys hiking, swimming and cycling.
  149. watch
    look attentively
    Unit 4 Making the world a better place







    Interview with Fangerous and Rita
    You are now going to watch an interview with Fangerous and Rita, two Hong Kong Polytechnic University students who both applied for and took part in a voluntary project in mainland China.
  150. English
    of or relating to England or its culture or people
    Activity 3 Listening for important information

    Answer the following questions:


    i) Where was the school where the volunteers taught?


    ii) How were Rita and Fangerous (and the other volunteers) selected for the programme?



    iii) What did the volunteers do when they realised that the teaching material was not appropriate for the English level of the students?


    iv) What did Rita and Fangerous learn from this experience?


    v) What do they think of Altruism?
  151. level
    a relative position or degree of value in a graded group
    Activity 3 Listening for important information

    Answer the following questions:


    i) Where was the school where the volunteers taught?


    ii) How were Rita and Fangerous (and the other volunteers) selected for the programme?



    iii) What did the volunteers do when they realised that the teaching material was not appropriate for the English level of the students?


    iv) What did Rita and Fangerous learn from this experience?


    v) What do they think of Altruism?
  152. review
    look at again; examine again
    Unit Review Your profile
    Go back to the profile you have been writing on your blog.
  153. detailed
    developed with careful treatment of particulars
    • He must write the report quickly, accurately, and in a detailed manner.
  154. China
    a communist nation that covers a vast territory in eastern Asia; the most populous country in the world
    Unit 4 Making the world a better place







    Interview with Fangerous and Rita
    You are now going to watch an interview with Fangerous and Rita, two Hong Kong Polytechnic University students who both applied for and took part in a voluntary project in mainland China.
  155. gap
    an open or empty space in or between things
    Activity 4 Gap fill
    Watch the interview again and complete these sentences:

    Fan: Last year we participated in the programme called the ________________ ______________ ________________ ______________ (4words).
  156. benefit
    something that aids or promotes well-being
    James: Have you benefited from this experience?
  157. agreed
    united by being of the same opinion
    There were over 80% of students agreed with the comments.
    iii.
  158. someone
    a human being
    This sentence structure is known as an existential construction, i.e. to indicate the existence of someone or something.
  159. beginning
    the act of starting something
    Rita: At the beginning, when we took this programme we were part of the committee of the English Club…
    Rita : Well we had 40 participants from Poly U and it lasted for five days.. the teaching time was three days.
  160. why
    the cause or intention underlying an action or situation, especially in the phrase `the whys and wherefores'
    Why/Why not?
    iii) Why do you think so many people do volunteer?
  161. below
    in or to a place that is lower
    Activity 6 The passive voice
    Look at the article below on the subject of altruism.
  162. applied
    concerned with concrete problems or data
    Unit 4 Making the world a better place







    Interview with Fangerous and Rita
    You are now going to watch an interview with Fangerous and Rita, two Hong Kong Polytechnic University students who both applied for and took part in a voluntary project in mainland China.
  163. lack
    the state of needing something that is absent or unavailable
    A fragment is an incomplete sentence in that it either lacks a subject or a verb, or it fails to present a complete thought.
  164. enjoy
    derive or receive pleasure from
    • In her spare time, Mary enjoys hiking, swimming and cycling.
  165. rural
    living in or characteristic of farming or country life
    It is a programme that aims to teach English to rural kids in mainland China.
  166. university
    an institution of higher learning that grants degrees
    Unit 4 Making the world a better place







    Interview with Fangerous and Rita
    You are now going to watch an interview with Fangerous and Rita, two Hong Kong Polytechnic University students who both applied for and took part in a voluntary project in mainland China.
  167. mistake
    a wrong action attributable to bad judgment or inattention
    Students usually make this mistake when they write in a rush without proofreading.
  168. studying
    reading carefully with intent to remember
    There are many students studying in the library during examination period.
  169. select
    pick out or choose from a number of alternatives
    Activity 3 Listening for important information

    Answer the following questions:


    i) Where was the school where the volunteers taught?


    ii) How were Rita and Fangerous (and the other volunteers) selected for the programme?



    iii) What did the volunteers do when they realised that the teaching material was not appropriate for the English level of the students?


    iv) What did Rita and Fangerous learn from this experience?


    v) What do they think of Altruism?
  170. run
    move fast by using one's feet
    Activity 7 Common Errors
    Sentence fragments, run-ons and other faulty sentences

    After learning different types of sentences and how you can use them to make your writing more interesting, this unit will focus on common errors made by local students when building sentences.
  171. pattern
    a repeated design, structure, or arrangement
    Now look for the errors in this passage about overseas aid agencies in Africa:

    Faulty parallel structure
    Parallel structure means using the same pattern of words to show that two or more ideas have the same level of importance.
  172. use
    put into service
    Fan: I can use what I’m learning to help them.
  173. focus
    the concentration of attention or energy on something
    Activity 7 Common Errors
    Sentence fragments, run-ons and other faulty sentences

    After learning different types of sentences and how you can use them to make your writing more interesting, this unit will focus on common errors made by local students when building sentences.
  174. appropriate
    suitable for a particular person, place, or situation
    Activity 3 Listening for important information

    Answer the following questions:


    i) Where was the school where the volunteers taught?


    ii) How were Rita and Fangerous (and the other volunteers) selected for the programme?



    iii) What did the volunteers do when they realised that the teaching material was not appropriate for the English level of the students?


    iv) What did Rita and Fangerous learn from this experience?


    v) What do they think of Altruism?
  175. blog
    an online journal where people post about their experiences
    Unit Review Your profile
    Go back to the profile you have been writing on your blog.
  176. think
    judge or regard; look upon; judge
    Why/Why not?
    iii) Why do you think so many people do volunteer?
  177. Service
    Canadian writer who wrote about life in the Yukon Territory
    Now spot the errors in this passage about PolyU’s Community Service







    Activity 8 Speaking practice

    Imagine that your organization has $100,000 to give away.
  178. subsequent
    following in time or order
    The subsequent paragraphs (lines 8-46) also have examples of this voice but there are several errors.
  179. phone
    electro-acoustic transducer for converting electric signals into sounds; it is held over or inserted into the ear
    She has beautiful eyes or Oscar had a new mobile phone.
  180. personality
    the complex of attributes that characterize an individual
    A fuse sentence consists of two sentences joined (or fused) without any punctuation between them, for example:
    • Human personalities vary greatly it is difficult to categorise them.
  181. join
    cause to become joined or linked
    Fan: ________________ ______________ ________________ ______________ ________________ ______________ ______________ ______________ (8 words) the reasons for me to join this programme are both for me and for the children.
  182. question
    a sentence of inquiry that asks for a reply
    Activity 2 Getting the main ideas
    Read the following questions.
  183. Peter
    disciple of Jesus and leader of the Apostles
    • Peter was considered a poor student because he waited until the last minute to study for the exam, completed his lab problems in a careless manner, and lacked motivation.
  184. submit
    yield to the control of another
    Proof-read your profile for errors and then submit the final version to your teacher.
  185. online
    connected to a computer network or accessible by computer
    • Although many students admit that they spend too much time online.
  186. common
    having no special distinction or quality
    Activity 7 Common Errors
    Sentence fragments, run-ons and other faulty sentences

    After learning different types of sentences and how you can use them to make your writing more interesting, this unit will focus on common errors made by local students when building sentences.
  187. problem
    a question raised for consideration or solution
    • Peter was considered a poor student because he waited until the last minute to study for the exam, completed his lab problems in a careless manner, and lacked motivation.
  188. period
    an amount of time
    There are many students study in the library during examination period.
  189. as follows
    what is listed next
    The sentence should be rewritten as follows:
    i.
  190. material
    the substance that goes into the makeup of a physical object
    Activity 3 Listening for important information

    Answer the following questions:


    i) Where was the school where the volunteers taught?


    ii) How were Rita and Fangerous (and the other volunteers) selected for the programme?



    iii) What did the volunteers do when they realised that the teaching material was not appropriate for the English level of the students?


    iv) What did Rita and Fangerous learn from this experience?


    v) What do they think of Altruism?
  191. in this
    (formal) in or into that thing or place
    Now look for the errors in this passage about Bill Gates’ charitable donations:







    Dependent clause fragments
    A dependent clause has a subject and a verb but cannot stand along.
  192. phrase
    an expression consisting of one or more words
    This can happen at the word, phrase, or clause level.
  193. depend
    be determined by something else
    It depends on another clause to make a sentence complete.
  194. practice
    a customary way of operation or behavior
    Activity 5 Speaking practice
    • If you wanted to participate on this programme, what questions would you want to ask Rita and Fangerous?
  195. true
    consistent with fact or reality; not false
    Watch the video and then decide whether the statements are true or false and circle ‘T’ or ‘F’.
  196. existence
    the state or fact of being
    This sentence structure is known as an existential construction, i.e. to indicate the existence of someone or something.
  197. significant
    rich in implication
    List a few significant things you have learnt from this unit in the box below.
  198. mistaken
    wrong in opinion or judgment
    Run-on sentences

    A run-on sentence occurs when two sentences are mistaken as one.
  199. describe
    give a statement representing something
    In (i), the verb have is a possessive verb, i.e. it describes that someone or something owns a particular thing, e.g.
  200. charity
    an institution set up to provide help to the needy
    Now spot the errors in this passage about donating to charity.
  201. rush
    act or move at high speed
    Students usually make this mistake when they write in a rush without proofreading.
  202. selected
    chosen in preference to another
    Activity 3 Listening for important information

    Answer the following questions:


    i) Where was the school where the volunteers taught?


    ii) How were Rita and Fangerous (and the other volunteers) selected for the programme?



    iii) What did the volunteers do when they realised that the teaching material was not appropriate for the English level of the students?


    iv) What did Rita and Fangerous learn from this experience?


    v) What do they think of Altruism?
  203. prepare
    make ready or suitable or equip in advance
    Fan: We prepared the teaching materials … and teaching aids by ourselves… but the kids’ ________________ ______________ ________________ ______________ ________________ ______________ (6 words).
  204. local
    of or belonging to or characteristic of a particular area
    Activity 7 Common Errors
    Sentence fragments, run-ons and other faulty sentences

    After learning different types of sentences and how you can use them to make your writing more interesting, this unit will focus on common errors made by local students when building sentences.
  205. detail
    a small part considered separately from the whole
    • He must write the report quickly, accurately, and in a detailed manner.
  206. can
    airtight sealed metal container for food or drink, etc.
    Fan: I can use what I’m learning to help them.
  207. wanted
    desired or wished for or sought
    Why/Why not?


    iv) In the interview both participants said that they wanted to do more volunteer work.
  208. video
    broadcasting visual images of stationary or moving objects
    Watch the video and then decide whether the statements are true or false and circle ‘T’ or ‘F’.
  209. remove
    take something away as by lifting, pushing, or taking off
    Sentences (ii) and (iii), though perfectly acceptable in Chinese, are ungrammatical in English because we cannot simply attach there is/are to the beginning of a main clause To correct these sentences, we should remove the expressions there were/are as below:
    ii a.
  210. words
    language that is spoken or written
    Fan: We prepared the teaching materials … and teaching aids by ourselves… but the kids’ ________________ ______________ ________________ ______________ ________________ ______________ (6 words).
  211. mood
    a characteristic state of feeling
    Below are some examples of fragments:

    • Can finish by 8 o’clock (missing subject)
    • Joe’s new dress very pretty (missing verb)
    • Especially when she is in a bad mood (not a complete thought)

    Fragments are common in spoken English.
  212. minute
    a unit of time equal to 60 seconds or 1/60th of an hour
    • Peter was considered a poor student because he waited until the last minute to study for the exam, completed his lab problems in a careless manner, and lacked motivation.
  213. hall
    an interior passage or corridor onto which rooms open
    • Students living at hall often sleep less, they usually get only 4-5 hours sleep a day.
  214. usually
    under normal conditions
    Students usually make this mistake when they write in a rush without proofreading.
  215. spot
    a point located with respect to surface features of some region
    Now spot the errors in this passage about donating to charity.
  216. decide
    reach, make, or come to a conclusion about something
    Watch the video and then decide whether the statements are true or false and circle ‘T’ or ‘F’.
  217. aim
    point or cause to go towards
    It is a programme that aims to teach English to rural kids in mainland China.
  218. speaking
    capable of or involving speech or speaking
    Activity 5 Speaking practice
    • If you wanted to participate on this programme, what questions would you want to ask Rita and Fangerous?
  219. policy
    a plan of action adopted by an individual or social group
    There had some policy changes in the government.
    ii.
  220. want
    the state of needing something that is absent or unavailable
    Why/Why not?


    iv) In the interview both participants said that they wanted to do more volunteer work.
  221. finish
    come or bring to an end
    Below are some examples of fragments:

    • Can finish by 8 o’clock (missing subject)
    • Joe’s new dress very pretty (missing verb)
    • Especially when she is in a bad mood (not a complete thought)

    Fragments are common in spoken English.
  222. agency
    the state of being in action or exerting power
    Now look for the errors in this passage about overseas aid agencies in Africa:

    Faulty parallel structure
    Parallel structure means using the same pattern of words to show that two or more ideas have the same level of importance.
  223. class
    a collection of things sharing a common attribute
    • The student thought that he would show his product in class, that there would be time to go through his PowerPoint presentation, and that his classmates would ask him questions.
  224. go back
    return in thought or speech to something
    Unit Review Your profile
    Go back to the profile you have been writing on your blog.
  225. version
    something a little different from others of the same type
    Proof-read your profile for errors and then submit the final version to your teacher.
  226. ask
    make a request or demand for something to somebody
    Activity 5 Speaking practice
    • If you wanted to participate on this programme, what questions would you want to ask Rita and Fangerous?
  227. are
    a unit of surface area equal to 100 square meters
    Unit 4 Making the world a better place







    Interview with Fangerous and Rita
    You are now going to watch an interview with Fangerous and Rita, two Hong Kong Polytechnic University students who both applied for and took part in a voluntary project in mainland China.
  228. difficult
    requiring great physical or mental effort to accomplish
    So it’s difficult to call it true altruism.
  229. considered
    carefully weighed
    • Peter was considered a poor student because he waited until the last minute to study for the exam, completed his lab problems in a careless manner, and lacked motivation.
  230. page
    one side of one leaf of a book or other document
    Review of learning
    Read the learning outcomes stated on the first page of this unit again.
  231. properly
    in the right manner
    • Many university students do not know how to use Microsoft word properly.
  232. manner
    how something is done or how it happens
    • Peter was considered a poor student because he waited until the last minute to study for the exam, completed his lab problems in a careless manner, and lacked motivation.
  233. listening
    the act of hearing attentively
    Activity 3 Listening for important information

    Answer the following questions:


    i) Where was the school where the volunteers taught?


    ii) How were Rita and Fangerous (and the other volunteers) selected for the programme?



    iii) What did the volunteers do when they realised that the teaching material was not appropriate for the English level of the students?


    iv) What did Rita and Fangerous learn from this experience?


    v) What do they think of Altruism?
  234. for example
    as an example
    A fuse sentence consists of two sentences joined (or fused) without any punctuation between them, for example:
    • Human personalities vary greatly it is difficult to categorise them.
  235. wait
    stay in one place and anticipate or expect something
    • Peter was considered a poor student because he waited until the last minute to study for the exam, completed his lab problems in a careless manner, and lacked motivation.
  236. there
    in or at that place
    The subsequent paragraphs (lines 8-46) also have examples of this voice but there are several errors.
  237. teacher
    a person whose occupation is instructing
    Proof-read your profile for errors and then submit the final version to your teacher.
  238. quickly
    with little or no delay
    • He must write the report quickly, accurately, and thoroughly.
  239. James
    disciple of Jesus
    James: Have you benefited from this experience?
  240. report
    to give an account or representation of in words
    • He must write the report quickly, accurately, and thoroughly.
  241. experience
    the content of observation or participation in an event
    Activity 3 Listening for important information

    Answer the following questions:


    i) Where was the school where the volunteers taught?


    ii) How were Rita and Fangerous (and the other volunteers) selected for the programme?



    iii) What did the volunteers do when they realised that the teaching material was not appropriate for the English level of the students?


    iv) What did Rita and Fangerous learn from this experience?


    v) What do they think of Altruism?
  242. speak
    use language
    Activity 5 Speaking practice
    • If you wanted to participate on this programme, what questions would you want to ask Rita and Fangerous?
  243. Mary
    the mother of Jesus
    • In her spare time, Mary enjoys hiking, swimming and cycling.
  244. line
    a length between two points
    The first paragraph (lines 1-7) contains several examples of the passive voice used correctly.
  245. sleep
    a natural and periodic state of rest
    • Students living at hall often sleep less, they usually get only 4-5 hours sleep a day.
  246. stated
    declared as fact; explicitly stated
    Review of learning
    Read the learning outcomes stated on the first page of this unit again.
  247. organization
    a methodical and orderly manner or approach
    Now spot the errors in this passage about PolyU’s Community Service







    Activity 8 Speaking practice

    Imagine that your organization has $100,000 to give away.
  248. make
    perform or carry out
    Unit 4 Making the world a better place







    Interview with Fangerous and Rita
    You are now going to watch an interview with Fangerous and Rita, two Hong Kong Polytechnic University students who both applied for and took part in a voluntary project in mainland China.
  249. reason
    a logical motive for a belief or action
    Fan: ________________ ______________ ________________ ______________ ________________ ______________ ______________ ______________ (8 words) the reasons for me to join this programme are both for me and for the children.
  250. fill
    make full, also in a metaphorical sense
    Activity 4 Gap fill
    Watch the interview again and complete these sentences:

    Fan: Last year we participated in the programme called the ________________ ______________ ________________ ______________ (4words).
  251. show
    make visible or noticeable
    Now look for the errors in this passage about overseas aid agencies in Africa:

    Faulty parallel structure
    Parallel structure means using the same pattern of words to show that two or more ideas have the same level of importance.
  252. proof
    any evidence that helps to establish the truth of something
    Proof-read your profile for errors and then submit the final version to your teacher.
  253. thoroughly
    in an exhaustive manner
    • He must write the report quickly, accurately, and thoroughly.
  254. admit
    declare to be true or accept the reality of
    • Although many students admit that they spend too much time online.
  255. fail
    be unable
    A fragment is an incomplete sentence in that it either lacks a subject or a verb, or it fails to present a complete thought.
  256. read
    look at and say out loud something written or printed
    Activity 2 Getting the main ideas
    Read the following questions.
  257. build
    make by combining materials and parts
    Activity 7 Common Errors
    Sentence fragments, run-ons and other faulty sentences

    After learning different types of sentences and how you can use them to make your writing more interesting, this unit will focus on common errors made by local students when building sentences.
  258. circle
    a plane curve with every point equidistant from the center
    Watch the video and then decide whether the statements are true or false and circle ‘T’ or ‘F’.
  259. spend
    pass time in a specific way
    • Although many students admit that they spend too much time online.
  260. especially
    to a distinctly greater extent or degree than is common
    Below are some examples of fragments:

    • Can finish by 8 o’clock (missing subject)
    • Joe’s new dress very pretty (missing verb)
    • Especially when she is in a bad mood (not a complete thought)

    Fragments are common in spoken English.
  261. apart
    separated or at a distance in place or position or time
    Other faulty sentences
    Apart from sentence fragments and run-on sentences, the following are other common faulty sentences written by local students.
  262. active
    characterized by energetic movement
    In the last paragraph (lines 47-53) can you make the passive structures active?
  263. express
    communicate beliefs or opinions
    Sentence fragments

    A sentence must contain a subject and a verb, and it must express a complete thought.
  264. mention
    make reference to
    Dependent clause may begin with subordinating conjunctions or relative pronouns as mentioned in Unit 2.
  265. habit
    an established custom
    They have little motivation to change such habit.
  266. maybe
    by chance
    Rita: At the beginning when people applied for this programme, people said they wanted to help, ______________ ________________ ______________ ________________ ______________ ________________ ______________ ______________ ______________ ______________ ________________ (11 words), maybe for their own feelings, their own happiness.
  267. Africa
    the second largest continent
    Now look for the errors in this passage about overseas aid agencies in Africa:

    Faulty parallel structure
    Parallel structure means using the same pattern of words to show that two or more ideas have the same level of importance.
  268. project
    a planned undertaking
    Unit 4 Making the world a better place







    Interview with Fangerous and Rita
    You are now going to watch an interview with Fangerous and Rita, two Hong Kong Polytechnic University students who both applied for and took part in a voluntary project in mainland China.
  269. believe
    accept as true; take to be true
    Do they believe that true altruism is possible?
  270. help
    give assistance; be of service
    Why do you think they still want to help others?
  271. imagine
    expect, believe, or suppose
    Now spot the errors in this passage about PolyU’s Community Service







    Activity 8 Speaking practice

    Imagine that your organization has $100,000 to give away.
  272. thought
    the content of cognition
    Sentence fragments

    A sentence must contain a subject and a verb, and it must express a complete thought.
  273. two
    the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one
    Unit 4 Making the world a better place







    Interview with Fangerous and Rita
    You are now going to watch an interview with Fangerous and Rita, two Hong Kong Polytechnic University students who both applied for and took part in a voluntary project in mainland China.
  274. voice
    the sound made when a person speaks
    Activity 6 The passive voice
    Look at the article below on the subject of altruism.
  275. pair
    a set of two similar things considered as a unit
    Discuss the following in pairs or threes.
  276. many
    a large number of the persons or things being discussed
    Why/Why not?
    iii) Why do you think so many people do volunteer?
  277. false
    not in accordance with the fact or reality or actuality
    Watch the video and then decide whether the statements are true or false and circle ‘T’ or ‘F’.
  278. used
    previously owned by another
    The first paragraph (lines 1-7) contains several examples of the passive voice used correctly.
  279. using
    an act that exploits or victimizes someone
    Now look for the errors in this passage about overseas aid agencies in Africa:

    Faulty parallel structure
    Parallel structure means using the same pattern of words to show that two or more ideas have the same level of importance.
  280. happen
    come to pass
    This can happen at the word, phrase, or clause level.
  281. list
    a database containing an ordered array of items
    List a few significant things you have learnt from this unit in the box below.
  282. Chinese
    of or pertaining to China or its peoples or cultures
    Sentences (ii) and (iii), though perfectly acceptable in Chinese, are ungrammatical in English because we cannot simply attach there is/are to the beginning of a main clause To correct these sentences, we should remove the expressions there were/are as below:
    ii a.
  283. etc.
    continuing in the same way
    There are Many students study in the library during examination period.
    subject predicate

    To change a main clause into an existential construction , we should either (i) change the main clause after the subject into a relative clause (who, which etc.), or (ii) change the verb into a present participle (-ing).
  284. will
    the capability of conscious choice and decision
    Activity 1 Preview
    Before you watch, consider the following:
    i) What exactly is voluntary work?
    ii) Would you consider doing some of this type of work?
  285. feelings
    emotional or moral sensitivity
    Rita: At the beginning when people applied for this programme, people said they wanted to help, ______________ ________________ ______________ ________________ ______________ ________________ ______________ ______________ ______________ ______________ ________________ (11 words), maybe for their own feelings, their own happiness.
  286. community
    a group of people living in a particular local area
    Now spot the errors in this passage about PolyU’s Community Service







    Activity 8 Speaking practice

    Imagine that your organization has $100,000 to give away.
  287. joined
    connected by a link, as railway cars or trailer trucks
    A fuse sentence consists of two sentences joined (or fused) without any punctuation between them, for example:
    • Human personalities vary greatly it is difficult to categorise them.
  288. idea
    the content of cognition
    Activity 2 Getting the main ideas
    Read the following questions.
  289. club
    a formal association of people with similar interests
    Rita: At the beginning, when we took this programme we were part of the committee of the English Club…
    Rita : Well we had 40 participants from Poly U and it lasted for five days.. the teaching time was three days.
  290. and how
    an expression of emphatic agreement
    Activity 7 Common Errors
    Sentence fragments, run-ons and other faulty sentences

    After learning different types of sentences and how you can use them to make your writing more interesting, this unit will focus on common errors made by local students when building sentences.
  291. statement
    the act of affirming or asserting something
    Watch the video and then decide whether the statements are true or false and circle ‘T’ or ‘F’.
  292. interest
    a sense of concern with and curiosity about something
    We teach them to increase their interest in English.
  293. listen
    hear with intention
    Activity 3 Listening for important information

    Answer the following questions:


    i) Where was the school where the volunteers taught?


    ii) How were Rita and Fangerous (and the other volunteers) selected for the programme?



    iii) What did the volunteers do when they realised that the teaching material was not appropriate for the English level of the students?


    iv) What did Rita and Fangerous learn from this experience?


    v) What do they think of Altruism?
  294. greatly
    to an extraordinary extent or degree
    A fuse sentence consists of two sentences joined (or fused) without any punctuation between them, for example:
    • Human personalities vary greatly it is difficult to categorise them.
  295. 100
    ten 10s
    Now spot the errors in this passage about PolyU’s Community Service







    Activity 8 Speaking practice

    Imagine that your organization has $100,000 to give away.
  296. increase
    a process of becoming larger or longer or more numerous
    We teach them to increase their interest in English.
  297. spoken
    uttered through the medium of speech or characterized by speech; sometimes used in combination
    Below are some examples of fragments:

    • Can finish by 8 o’clock (missing subject)
    • Joe’s new dress very pretty (missing verb)
    • Especially when she is in a bad mood (not a complete thought)

    Fragments are common in spoken English.
  298. box
    a (usually rectangular) container; may have a lid
    List a few significant things you have learnt from this unit in the box below.
  299. importance
    the quality of being significant or worthy of note
    Now look for the errors in this passage about overseas aid agencies in Africa:

    Faulty parallel structure
    Parallel structure means using the same pattern of words to show that two or more ideas have the same level of importance.
  300. call
    utter a sudden loud cry
    Activity 4 Gap fill
    Watch the interview again and complete these sentences:

    Fan: Last year we participated in the programme called the ________________ ______________ ________________ ______________ (4words).
  301. meaning
    the message that is intended or expressed or signified
    Faulty parallel structure occurs when two or more parts of a sentence are parallel in meaning, but not parallel in form.
  302. article
    one of a class of artifacts
    Activity 6 The passive voice
    Look at the article below on the subject of altruism.
  303. mean
    denote or connote
    Now look for the errors in this passage about overseas aid agencies in Africa:

    Faulty parallel structure
    Parallel structure means using the same pattern of words to show that two or more ideas have the same level of importance.
  304. happiness
    state of well-being characterized by contentment and joy
    Rita: At the beginning when people applied for this programme, people said they wanted to help, ______________ ________________ ______________ ________________ ______________ ________________ ______________ ______________ ______________ ______________ ________________ (11 words), maybe for their own feelings, their own happiness.
  305. interesting
    catching or holding your attention
    Activity 7 Common Errors
    Sentence fragments, run-ons and other faulty sentences

    After learning different types of sentences and how you can use them to make your writing more interesting, this unit will focus on common errors made by local students when building sentences.
  306. too much
    more than necessary
    • Although many students admit that they spend too much time online.
  307. committee
    a special group delegated to consider some matter
    Rita: At the beginning, when we took this programme we were part of the committee of the English Club…
    Rita : Well we had 40 participants from Poly U and it lasted for five days.. the teaching time was three days.
  308. needed
    necessary for relief or supply
    • How can you be sure that the money will go where it is
    needed most?
  309. different
    unlike in nature, quality, form, or degree
    Rita: I am a little different than Fangerous ________________ ______________ ________________ ______________ ________________ ______________ ______________ (7 words).
  310. perfectly
    in a perfect or faultless way
    Sentences (ii) and (iii), though perfectly acceptable in Chinese, are ungrammatical in English because we cannot simply attach there is/are to the beginning of a main clause To correct these sentences, we should remove the expressions there were/are as below:
    ii a.
  311. possible
    capable of happening or existing
    Do they believe that true altruism is possible?
  312. dress
    put on clothes
    Below are some examples of fragments:

    • Can finish by 8 o’clock (missing subject)
    • Joe’s new dress very pretty (missing verb)
    • Especially when she is in a bad mood (not a complete thought)

    Fragments are common in spoken English.
  313. final
    an exam administered at the end of an academic term
    Proof-read your profile for errors and then submit the final version to your teacher.
  314. aid
    the activity of contributing to the fulfillment of a need
    Now look for the errors in this passage about overseas aid agencies in Africa:

    Faulty parallel structure
    Parallel structure means using the same pattern of words to show that two or more ideas have the same level of importance.
  315. exactly
    indicating preciseness
    Activity 1 Preview
    Before you watch, consider the following:
    i) What exactly is voluntary work?
    ii) Would you consider doing some of this type of work?
  316. last
    coming after all others in time or space or degree or being the only one remaining
    Activity 4 Gap fill
    Watch the interview again and complete these sentences:

    Fan: Last year we participated in the programme called the ________________ ______________ ________________ ______________ (4words).
  317. have
    possess, either in a concrete or an abstract sense
    Rita: At the beginning, when we took this programme we were part of the committee of the English Club…
    Rita : Well we had 40 participants from Poly U and it lasted for five days.. the teaching time was three days.
  318. either
    also, likewise, as well
    A fragment is an incomplete sentence in that it either lacks a subject or a verb, or it fails to present a complete thought.
  319. prepared
    made ready or fit or suitable beforehand
    Fan: We prepared the teaching materials … and teaching aids by ourselves… but the kids’ ________________ ______________ ________________ ______________ ________________ ______________ (6 words).
  320. look
    perceive with attention; direct one's gaze towards
    Activity 6 The passive voice
    Look at the article below on the subject of altruism.
  321. look at
    look at carefully; study mentally
    Activity 6 The passive voice
    Look at the article below on the subject of altruism.
  322. several
    of an indefinite number more than 2 or 3 but not many
    The first paragraph (lines 1-7) contains several examples of the passive voice used correctly.
  323. both
    equally or alike
    Unit 4 Making the world a better place







    Interview with Fangerous and Rita
    You are now going to watch an interview with Fangerous and Rita, two Hong Kong Polytechnic University students who both applied for and took part in a voluntary project in mainland China.
  324. expression
    the communication of your beliefs or opinions
    Sentences (ii) and (iii), though perfectly acceptable in Chinese, are ungrammatical in English because we cannot simply attach there is/are to the beginning of a main clause To correct these sentences, we should remove the expressions there were/are as below:
    ii a.
  325. above
    in or to a place that is higher
    The sentences above are all ungrammatical.
  326. day
    time for Earth to make a complete rotation on its axis
    Rita: At the beginning, when we took this programme we were part of the committee of the English Club…
    Rita : Well we had 40 participants from Poly U and it lasted for five days.. the teaching time was three days.
  327. think of
    devise or invent
    Activity 3 Listening for important information

    Answer the following questions:


    i) Where was the school where the volunteers taught?


    ii) How were Rita and Fangerous (and the other volunteers) selected for the programme?



    iii) What did the volunteers do when they realised that the teaching material was not appropriate for the English level of the students?


    iv) What did Rita and Fangerous learn from this experience?


    v) What do they think of Altruism?
  328. part
    one of the portions into which something is regarded as divided and which together constitute a whole
    Unit 4 Making the world a better place







    Interview with Fangerous and Rita
    You are now going to watch an interview with Fangerous and Rita, two Hong Kong Polytechnic University students who both applied for and took part in a voluntary project in mainland China.
  329. simply
    in a simple manner; without extravagance or embellishment
    Sentences (ii) and (iii), though perfectly acceptable in Chinese, are ungrammatical in English because we cannot simply attach there is/are to the beginning of a main clause To correct these sentences, we should remove the expressions there were/are as below:
    ii a.
  330. building
    the act of constructing something
    Activity 7 Common Errors
    Sentence fragments, run-ons and other faulty sentences

    After learning different types of sentences and how you can use them to make your writing more interesting, this unit will focus on common errors made by local students when building sentences.
  331. particular
    unique or specific to a person or thing or category
    In (i), the verb have is a possessive verb, i.e. it describes that someone or something owns a particular thing, e.g.
  332. time
    the continuum of experience in which events pass to the past
    Rita: At the beginning, when we took this programme we were part of the committee of the English Club…
    Rita : Well we had 40 participants from Poly U and it lasted for five days.. the teaching time was three days.
  333. case
    an occurrence of something
    In this case, the subject there cannot own anything and the sentence does not make sense.
  334. often
    many times at short intervals
    • Students living at hall often sleep less, they usually get only 4-5 hours sleep a day.
  335. information
    knowledge acquired through study or experience
    Activity 3 Listening for important information

    Answer the following questions:


    i) Where was the school where the volunteers taught?


    ii) How were Rita and Fangerous (and the other volunteers) selected for the programme?



    iii) What did the volunteers do when they realised that the teaching material was not appropriate for the English level of the students?


    iv) What did Rita and Fangerous learn from this experience?


    v) What do they think of Altruism?
  336. about
    (of quantities) imprecise but fairly close to correct
    James: This is about Altruism.
  337. present
    happening or existing now
    A fragment is an incomplete sentence in that it either lacks a subject or a verb, or it fails to present a complete thought.
  338. own
    belonging to or on behalf of a specified person
    Rita: At the beginning when people applied for this programme, people said they wanted to help, ______________ ________________ ______________ ________________ ______________ ________________ ______________ ______________ ______________ ______________ ________________ (11 words), maybe for their own feelings, their own happiness.
  339. money
    the most common medium of exchange
    • What will you donate the money to?
  340. poor
    having little money or few possessions
    • Peter was considered a poor student because he waited until the last minute to study for the exam, completed his lab problems in a careless manner, and lacked motivation.
  341. parts
    the local environment
    Faulty parallel structure occurs when two or more parts of a sentence are parallel in meaning, but not parallel in form.
  342. work
    activity directed toward making or doing something
    Activity 1 Preview
    Before you watch, consider the following:
    i) What exactly is voluntary work?
    ii) Would you consider doing some of this type of work?
  343. bill
    an itemized statement of money owed for goods or services
    Now look for the errors in this passage about Bill Gates’ charitable donations:







    Dependent clause fragments
    A dependent clause has a subject and a verb but cannot stand along.
  344. low
    less than normal in degree or intensity or amount
    • Peter was considered a poor student because he waited until the last minute to study for the exam, completed his lab problems in a careless manner, and his motivation was low.
  345. must
    a necessary or essential thing
    Sentence fragments

    A sentence must contain a subject and a verb, and it must express a complete thought.
  346. government
    the system or form by which a community is ruled
    There had some policy changes in the government.
    ii.
  347. other
    not the same one or ones already mentioned or implied
    Activity 3 Listening for important information

    Answer the following questions:


    i) Where was the school where the volunteers taught?


    ii) How were Rita and Fangerous (and the other volunteers) selected for the programme?



    iii) What did the volunteers do when they realised that the teaching material was not appropriate for the English level of the students?


    iv) What did Rita and Fangerous learn from this experience?


    v) What do they think of Altruism?
  348. getting
    the act of acquiring something
    Activity 2 Getting the main ideas
    Read the following questions.
  349. go to
    be present at (meetings, church services, university), etc.
    Unit 4 Making the world a better place







    Interview with Fangerous and Rita
    You are now going to watch an interview with Fangerous and Rita, two Hong Kong Polytechnic University students who both applied for and took part in a voluntary project in mainland China.
  350. and then
    subsequently or soon afterward
    Watch the video and then decide whether the statements are true or false and circle ‘T’ or ‘F’.
  351. now
    at the present moment
    Unit 4 Making the world a better place







    Interview with Fangerous and Rita
    You are now going to watch an interview with Fangerous and Rita, two Hong Kong Polytechnic University students who both applied for and took part in a voluntary project in mainland China.
  352. days
    the time during which someone's life continues
    Rita: At the beginning, when we took this programme we were part of the committee of the English Club…
    Rita : Well we had 40 participants from Poly U and it lasted for five days.. the teaching time was three days.
  353. written
    set down in writing in any of various ways
    Other faulty sentences
    Apart from sentence fragments and run-on sentences, the following are other common faulty sentences written by local students.
  354. instead
    in place of, or as an alternative to
    The existential verb be, which indicates the existence of something, should be used instead.
  355. important
    significant in effect or meaning
    Activity 3 Listening for important information

    Answer the following questions:


    i) Where was the school where the volunteers taught?


    ii) How were Rita and Fangerous (and the other volunteers) selected for the programme?



    iii) What did the volunteers do when they realised that the teaching material was not appropriate for the English level of the students?


    iv) What did Rita and Fangerous learn from this experience?


    v) What do they think of Altruism?
Created on Tue Mar 06 23:02:24 EST 2012

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