Exploring Writing 2nd Edition by John Langan

Exercise 41

Follow the directions for Activity 11.
1. The house has been neglected by its owners.
__________ a. As soon as you look at the house from the outside, you can tell that repairs need to be made. The roof is badly in need of attention. But it is very obvious that other outside parts of the house also are badly in need of care.
__________ b. The roof is missing a number of shingles. The house's paint is peeling and spotted with mold. Two windows have been covered with plywood.
2. Students have practical uses for computers.
__________ a. Students stay in touch with friends by e-mail. They often shop over the Internet. They do all their research online.
__________ b. Students have an easier way now to communicate with their friends. They can also save time now: they have no need to go out and buy things but can do it at home. Also, getting information they need for papers no longer requires spending time in the library.
3. Rico knew very little about cooking when he got his first apartment.
__________ a. He had to live on whatever he had in the freezer for a while. He was not any good in the kitchen and had to learn very slowly. More often than not, he would learn how to cook something only by making mistakes first.
__________ a. He lived on frozen macaroni and cheese dinners for three weeks. His idea of cooking an egg was to put a whole egg in the microwave, where it exploded. Then he tried to make a grilled cheese sandwich by putting slices of cheese and bread in a toaster.
4. Speaking before a group is a problem for many people.
__________ a. They become uncomfortable even at the thought of speaking in public. They will go to almost any length to avoid speaking to a group. If they are forced to do it, they can feel so anxious that they actually develop physical symptoms.
__________ b. Stage fright, stammering, and blushing are frequent reactions. Some people will pretend to be ill to avoid speaking publicly. When asked to rank their worst fears, people often list public speaking as even worse than death.
5. Small children can have as much fun with ordinary household items as with costly toys.
__________ a. A large sheet thrown over a card table makes a great hideout or playhouse. Banging pot covers together makes a tremendous crash that kids love. Also, kids like to make long, winding fences out of wooden clothespins.
__________ b. Kids can make musical instruments out of practically anything. The result is a lot of noise and fun. They can easily create their own play areas as well by using a little imagination. There is simply no need to have to spend a lot of money on playthings.