Module 2: Foundation Writing Course Sem 2 2018

Workshop

SESSION 2: ACTIVITIES AND SOLUTIONS

Activity 1: Which verb form would you use? Why?

1. The reading list include/includes journal articles and websites.

2. The students’ presentations start/starts at 3:00 o’clock.

3. He could have taken/took three units this semester.

4. The survey results were explained by use/using graphs and charts

Activity 2: Read the following sentences and decide whether they are examples of simple present, present continuous, present perfect or simple past?

1. Uncontrolled logging has destroyed many forests. Present perfect

2. Ishmael slowly realises all that is at stake in the search for the white whale. Simple present

3. The Second World War ended in September, 1945. Simple past

4. Comer (1995) noted that protesters who deprive themselves of food are seen as dysfunctional. Simple past / Simple present

5. Mary is collecting information about Nanotechnology to use in her report. Present continuous

Activity 3: Select the correct verb form in the following sentences.

1. The organisation’s CEO told the Australian the trial would prove especially useful for online

shopping, which has/have experienced double-digit growth over the past five years.

2. The prototype drone can carry 1.2 kg, and is/are being tested for short length flights of 15 – 20

 minutes.

3. The prototype boasts an HD camera and a parachute system which deploy/deploys and allow/allows the aircraft to land safely.

4. The trial will see parcel drivers take a drone with them to customers who has/have agreed to

 participate in the trial.

5. The drone will be used for the final step of the delivery, to take the parcel over a locked gate, for

 example, or where there is/are a long distance from the gate to the front porch.

Exercise adapted from: Swan, D. (2016). Australia Post launches new technology. The Australian. Retrieved from:

http://www.theaustralian.com.au/news/nation/australia-post-launches-new-drone-technology/newsstory/94fb1d20e88e54571462546a88b7cfad

Activity 4 Write the verbs in brackets in the active or passive voice using the present tense.

1. While children rasing are raised (to raise) very differently today than the methods of 500 years ago, the idea that he first few years of a child’s life being are(to be) fundamental to their development is just as relevant today.

2. It increasingly acknowledged(acknowledge) that the key to tackling many of the ills associated with modern life, from depression and mental health problems to obesity, be able is (to be) to focus resources on children from a very young age.

3. Early childhood literacy expert Professor Caroline Barratt – Pugh said says (to say) that the building blocks of literacy laying are laid (to lay) well before a student starts school.

4. Research suggested suggests (to suggest) that the development of literacy skills begins at birth and developing develop (to develop) through daily interactions between parents and children.

Exercise adapted from: Edith Cowan University. (2016, May). A better beginning. Edith Magazine, 17 – 19.

Quiz

Question 1

Identify the verb in this sentence.

As recently as the twentieth century, students learnt Greek and Latin at school.

 

Correct Answer:              

learnt

 

Question 2

Identify the verb in this sentence.

Electronic equipment is China’s principal export.

 

Correct Answer:              

is

 

Question 3

Choose the form of verb that agrees with the subject.

Practitioners of yoga assert/asserts that it improves blood circulation.

 

Correct Answer:              

assert

 

Question 4

Choose the form of verb that agrees with the subject.

A series of passwords protect/protects users’ online security.

 

Correct Answer:              

protects

 

Question 5

Which tense is the following sentence in?

The moon’s gravity affects the height of the tide.

 

Correct Answer:              

present simple

 

Question 6

Which tense is the following sentence in?

German forces invaded Poland in 1939.

 

Correct Answer:              

past simple

 

Question 7

True or false?

The following sentence is in the active voice.

A satisfaction rate of 86% was reported by students.

 

Correct Answer:              

False

 

Question 8

True or false? 

The following sentence is in the active voice.

The students revised their lecture notes in small groups.

 

Correct Answer:              

True

 

Question 9

Choose the most appropriate verb to replace the phrasal verb in the sentence.

Children tend to pick up languages quickly.

 

Correct Answer:              

learn

 

Question 10

Choose the most appropriate verb to replace the phrasal verb in the sentence.

The children’s mother picked out a cake.

 

Correct Answer:              

selected