The Advanced Grammar Book - Jocelyn Steer, Karen Carlisi 1998

Chapter 15 The Future Is In Our Hands

• Comparative Structures

The Future Is In Our Hands (Bigger Is Not Better)

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

1. How do you think life will change in the first ten years of the twenty-first century?

2. What important technological advances have you seen in your lifetime? Have any of these had a negative impact on society or the environment?

3. What kind of dangers do we face on this planet as we progress into the future? What can you do personally to lessen these dangers?

4. Why is it important for people all over the world to think and act as a “world community”?

Objectives

In this chapter, you will learn

1. To understand the rules for the comparative and superlative forms of adjectives and adverbs -

2. To understand the sentence patterns used for

3. To use superlative constructions

4. To use equal comparative constructions

5. To use conditional comparative constructions

6. To use comparative words or expressions to express a progressive change of state

Preview

DIRECTIONS: The following article discusses the necessity of returning to a simple lifestyle in order to save the earth. Read the article, referring to the vocabulary list below when necessary.

Voluntary Simplicity

by Duane Elgin

1 Quietly and without fanfare, people from all walks of life in the United States have been experimenting with a lifestyle called voluntary simplicity. This approach, which stresses frugal consumption, spiritual growth, and environmental respect, encourages people to pursue lives that are outwardly simple and inwardly rich.

2 Why? Because the earth has finite nonrenewable resources, increasing environmental pollution, and an economic system that promotes an uneven distribution of goods. As economist E. F. Schumacher pointed out, “We must live simply that others may simply live.”

... Some strategies for practicing voluntary simplicity on a personal level include using products that are durable, energy efficient, and nonpolluting; recycling metal, glass, and paper products; using public transit, car pools, and smaller cars; eating lower on the food chain (fewer processed foods, more simple, healthy foods appropriate for sustaining life on a small planet); becoming more self-reliant; and pursuing work that contributes to the well­being of the world.

3 ... In short, we. must change our everyday habits of consumption. The material possessions that we strive for so arduously must lose the intensity of their appeal. Mainstream culture under the sway of voluntary simplicity would encourage people to live in smaller homes that combine functional simplicity and beauty. The person who was previously envied for having an expensive car and the latest in fashion might be criticized for tasteless ostentation, totally inappropriate in a world of great human need.

4 This does not mean that people should completely turn away from the material things of life. Rather, it means that people must increasingly sense that the totality of life is not well served by the endless accumulation of luxuries and nonessentials.

5 I believe that if we consciously simplify our lives, finding a satisfying balance between the material and spiritual aspects of existence will be much easier. It is a personal decision and a personal responsibility. Each one of us must act to restore the balance. But the cumulative result of our individual actions can transform bur nation and the world.

VOCABULARY

fanfare: a usually noisy and showy display

walks of life: professions, age groups, social status, educational background, etc.

frugal: thrifty, economical

finite: something defined by limits or an end

durable: long-lasting despite frequent use

car pools: two or more people sharing transportation to work or school

arduously: with much energy, strenuously

mainstream: belonging to the largest representative group of a culture or society

sway: persuasion, conviction

ostentation: a showy display of wealth

accumulation: collection, gathering, storing up

CULTURAL NOTE/DISCUSSION

Material possessions, especially cars, have traditionally been highly regarded in American culture. People work very hard all their lives to accumulate as many material possessions as possible. Therefore, the practice of voluntary simplicity would be very difficult to undertake for the average American. Does your culture have the same high regard for material possessions? Would the concept of voluntary simplicity be easily accepted in your culture? What are some specific ways it could be practiced in your country?

Focus ON GRAMMAR

The following questions are based on the preview text and are designed to help you find out what you already know about the structures in this chapter. Some of the questions may be hard and some of them may be easy. Answer as many of the questions as you can. Work with a partner if your teacher tells you to do so.

1. Find four adjectives in paragraph 2 that are used to express a comparison between most people’s lifestyle and that of voluntary simplicity. Write them below. How are these forms different? What rule can you make about the formation of comparative adjectives?

2. In the following sentence from paragraph 3, how would you change the first boldfaced phrase to correspond in form to the second one? What rule can you make about these forms?

The person who was previously envied for having an expensive car and the latest in fashion might be criticized for tasteless ostentation, totally inappropriate in a world of great human need.

3. Below there is a statement from the preview with the adverb underlined, followed by a second statement containing a blank. Write the comparative form of the underlined word in the blank of the sentence that follows.

“We must live simply so that others may simply live.”

We must live ... than before.

Grammatical Patterns Part One

I. Review of Comparative Forms

A. Comparative Forms of Adjectives

The chart below states the rules for the comparative and superlative forms of adjectives.

^aLess and the least can be substituted for more and the most.

15.1 Paired Activity: Comparative Forms of Adjectives

DIRECTIONS: As you discuss the following issues related to voluntary simplicity, take turns with your partner, using the adjective in parentheses to ask for a comparison of the two items provided. As you respond, explain your reasons for your choice.

Example

CUE: carpooling/taking the bus (energy-efficient)

STUDENT A: Which is more energy-efficient, carpooling or taking the bus?

STUDENT в: Carpooling is more energy-efficient.

1. paper/plastic (bad)

2. potato chips/banana (wholesome)

3. air conditioner/fan (extravagant)

4. airport/train station (quiet)

5. cans/bottles (good)

6. shower/bath (wasteful)

7. fast food/а home-cooked meal (nutritious)

8. recycling paper/throwing paper in the garbage (costly to the environment)

9. oil spills/toxic dumping (harmful to the oceans)

10. styrofoam coffee cups/ceramic coffee cups (convenient)

B. Comparative Forms of Adverbs

The chart below states the rules for comparative and superlative forms of adverbs.

15.2 Written Drill: A Better Future

DIRECTIONS: For each pair of sentences below, an adjective is provided. Fill in the blank for one of the sentences with the comparative form of that adjective. Fill in the blank of the other sentence with the comparative form of the adverb that corresponds to that adjective.

Example

SAFE: a. The air will be safer if the present pollution levels drop.

b. We will be living more safely if we reduce the present pollution levels.

1. PEACEFUL

a. We must work ... towards solutions of global problems.

b. The world will be ... if nations continue to work together.

2. SIMPLE

a. People should try to live ... lives.

b. We must live ... so that others may simply live.

3. CONVENIENT

a. Shopping will be ... with the help of computers.

b. We will be able to shop ... with the help of computers.

4. GOOD

a. With a mass transit system that is designed ..., we will be less dependent on cars.

b. With ... mass transit, we will be less dependent on cars.

5. QUIET

a. Long before all of the many conveniences of the present, life was much ...

b. People used to live ... before all of the many present-day conveniences.

15.3 Paired Activity: Getting to Know You

DIRECTIONS: Circle one of the numbers on the scale to rate yourself on each pair of questions. Then compare and discuss your characteristics with those of your partner’s. Use the comparative forms of adjectives and adverbs when you discuss your differences. Be prepared to report to the class if your teacher asks you.

Example

QUESTION: HOW competent are you in English? How well do you speak the language?

STUDENT A 0 1 2 3 4 5

STUDENT в 0 1 2 3 4 5

COMPARISON: She is more competent in English. She speaks the language better.

1. How friendly are you? Do you make friends easily?

0 1 2 3 4 5

2. How conscientious are you about the environment? Do you recycle carefully?

0 1 2 3 4 5

3. How ambitious are you? Do you work hard?

0 1 2 3 4 5

4. How funny are you? Can you make people laugh easily?

0 1 2 3 4 5

5. How adventurous are you? How far away from home have you traveled?

0 1 2 3 4 5

15.4 Written Drill: Less/Fewer

DIRECTIONS: Use less or fewer before the words below. Add -s to the word if it is a count noun. Sometimes you can use both. Discuss the difference in meaning in these cases. (See Chapter 1 for more information on Count/Noncount Nouns.)

1. ... money  6. ... time

2. ... mistake  7. ... interesting

3. ... resourceful   8. ... people

4. ... innovation 9. ... conservation

5. ... issue

15.5 Written Drill

DIRECTIONS: Fill in the blanks with less, fewer, better, or more.

1. It takes ... time to throw plastic in the garbage but it is ultimately ... costly.

2. If we want to save the rainforest we should fight for ... development.

3. I used to take two showers a day, but I’ve been encouraged to use ... water.

4. Jim likes electronic devices but he decided to have ... in his home.

5. Without energy we are ... productive.

6. Janet joined a political campaign. She’s much ... serious than I am about this issue.

7. If you plan now, you will be ... prepared for the future.

II. Comparative Patterns

A. The Basic Comparative Pattern

A comparative sentence has the following basic pattern:

The comparative pattern that you are most familiar with is formed on the basis of adjectives and adverbs. However, it is also possible to make a comparison on the basis of nouns and verbs, as is shown in the following examples:

15.6 Rapid Drill: Comparative Patterns

DIRECTIONS: Use the information below to make comparisons about Lisa and Maria and their concern about the environment. Use more than one pattern for each comparison.

Example

LISA:

has written over 100 letters to her congresswoman about environmental protection.

MARIA:

has never written a letter about environmental protection

Lisa has written more letters than Maria has.

Lisa is more concerned about environmental protection.

MARIA

1. She doesn’t care about the environment.

2. She throws newspapers in the garbage.

3. Her car emits a lot of harmful fumes.

4. She takes 20-minute showers.

5. She uses her car air conditioner when it’s hot.

6. She drives everywhere.

7. She drinks from styrofoam coffee cups.

8. She allows the water to run when she’s washing the dishes.

LISA

1. She has a strong sense of responsibility.

2. She recycles her newspapers diligently.

3. Her car has an efficient smog control system.

4. She is careful about the length of her showers.

5. She never uses her car air conditioner.

6. She tries hard to avoid driving her car.

7. She uses her own ceramic coffee cup.

8. She conserves water carefully.

15.7 Written Activity: A High-Tech World

DIRECTIONS: The sentences below describe some recent advances in technology that have changed our lives. For each one, write two comparative sentences of different types from the chart above. The sentences should state the effect of the technological advances. The second half of the comparative pattern can be omitted since it is understood that the past is being compared with the present.

Example

Portable phones have become common.

ADJECTIVE: We can be more mobile while we talk on the phone.

ADVERB: People can use the phone more frequently since they don’t have to interrupt their activity in order to talk.

NOUN: Talking on the telephone is a less time-consuming activity since we can work and talk at the same time.

VERB: Because of the availability of portable phones, people talk on the telephone more.

1. Camcorders are used by families to record special events and the growth of their children.

2. Fax machines have become a popular medium for the quick transmission of information.

3. Personal computers have become a common addition to the household.

4. E-mail allows friends to communicate on-line and provides access to a variety of information sources.

15.8 Written Drill: Fill in the Blanks

DIRECTIONS: Fill in the blanks so that the sentence expresses a logical comparison.

1. Cars in the future will be ... the cars we have today.

2. Solar energy costs ... electricity.

3. Recycling is ... dumping.

4. A large house uses ... than a small one.

5. Whole foods contain ... processed foods.

6. Living in the fast lane requires ... practicing voluntary simplicity.

7. A concerned citizen conserves water ... one who is apathetic.

B. Substitutions; Omissions, and Additions in the Comparative Pattern

In order to avoid unnecessary repetition when making a comparison, the phrase in the second part of the comparative pattern is often substituted or omitted. The chart below shows several substitutions, omissions, and additions that can be made.

15.9 Rapid Drill: Substitutions and Omissions

DIRECTIONS: In each of the following sentences, make a substitution or omission for the idea that is repeated in the second half of the comparative pattern.

Example

CUE: This water filter is better than the water filter you have.

RESPONSE: This water filter is better than the one you have.

1. The city council’s solution to the landfill problem is more sensible than the solution proposed by private businesses.

2. The contamination from this oil spill was much worse than the contamination that resulted from the previous spill.

3. The problems we’ve had with water shortage this summer are less severe than the problems that we had last summer.

4. My recycling efforts have been more productive than her recycling efforts.

5. The loss presented by closing unsafe nuclear power plants is far less than the loss that can result from keeping them open.

6. The problems in the new Metro construction are much more severe than the problems we had predicted.

7. The people working on the toxic waste cleanup this year are much more committed than the people who worked on it last year.

15.10 Oral Drill: Sentence Completion

DIRECTIONS: Complete the following sentences with a comparative pattern using substitutions and omissions.

Example

CUE: This school . . .

RESPONSE: This school is much bigger than the one I attended before.

1. Verb tenses in English . . .

2. Your watch . . .

3. The problems we face in the future ...

4. The education you get in a private school...

5. The salary that I make ...

6. This language learning experience ...

7. The present political system in my country . . .

8. The friends that I have now ...

9. Technology in the future ...

10. The teachers at this school...

15.11 Paired Activity: The Cordless Phone

DIRECTIONS: Take turns with your partner asking and answering questions about the three cordless phones described in the chart below. Use comparative patterns with substitutions and omissions.

Example

QUESTION: HOW does the Nova compare to the Sonika and the Echo in price?

ANSWER: The Nova is more expensive than the other two.

FUNCTION OF COMPARISON

So far, you have studied how to compare one characteristic in two different people, places, or things, for example, John’s life is simpler than Mary’s life. There are two other possible types of comparison:

• Compare two characteristics in two different people, places, or things as in 1 and 2:

1. A computer is more efficient than a fax machine is economical.

2. A computer records information more quickly than a fax machine sends it.

• Compare two characteristics in one person, place, or thing as in 3 and 4.

3. John is more ambitious than he is aggressive.

4. John thinks more quickly than he talks.

15.12 Paired Activity: Socially Responsible Investment

DIRECTIONS: The chart below contains information about a few companies where you could invest your money. The information in the chart is related to how socially responsible the company is on the basis of different criteria. The rating scale is 1-5, which means that if the company receives a 1, it is very socially responsible about that particular issue and if it receives a 5, it is probably going to be blacklisted. Use the different types of comparatives from the preceding chart to compare the degree of social responsibility of the three companies on a variety of issues. At the end of the discussion, decide which company you would invest your money with.

Examples

City Bank does more to protect the environment than Alcon Corporation does.

City Bank cares more about the environment than it does about health care.

RT Systems invests more money in affordable housing than City Bank does in environmental protection.

III. Superlative Constructions

In the chart below are some commonly used superlative constructions. Notice that a few of them use comparative structures to express a superlative meaning.

15.13 Written Activity

Write a persuasive advertisement trying to convince investors to choose one of the companies from the above chart.

15.14 Paired Activity: Superlative Constructions

DIRECTIONS: Using the cue provided, take turns with your partner to ask each other a question. You should answer the question using one of the superlative constructions from the preceding chart.

Example

telephone/telegraph/fax machine (efficient)

QUESTION: Which machine is the most efficient?

ANSWER: A fax machine is the most efficient of the three.

1. solar energy/nuclear energy (good)

2. world peace/one world language/world television system (probable)

3. communities on the moon/communities under water (exciting)

4. the air today/the air in the past (polluted)

5. nuclear war/global warming/earthquakes (threat)

6. a cure for cancer/a cure for AIDS/a solution for famine (probable)

7. parental discretion/violence code on T.V. (sensible)

8. voluntary simplicity/government regulation/citizen groups (effective)

9. electric car/gas-powered car (environmentally safe)

10. writing a letter to a congresswoman/voting in national election/joining a political action committee (powerful)

15.15 Paired Activity: The Best Ever

DIRECTIONS: Choose from the topics that follow, and then describe your experiences to your partner, using the superlative constructions from the chart on page 393.

1. Describe three or four friends of yours on the basis of the following characteristics: reliable, interesting, smart, lazy, etc.

2. Describe three movies of one type that you’ve seen.

3. Compare two cars you’ve driven.

4. Discuss jobs that you’ve had or schools that you’ve attended.

5. Describe beautiful sights you’ve seen, for example, Niagara Falls, The Great Pyramid, The Grand Canyon, etc.

6. Describe three trips you’ve taken.

7. Describe two gifts you’ve received.

8. Discuss accidents or illnesses that you’ve had.

15.16 Written Practice

Write an essay about one of the above topics using comparative and superlative constructions.

Grammatical Patterns Part Two

Preview

DIRECTIONS: Below is a newspaper article written at the end of the millenium, looking back on the past decades—the 80s and 90s—and forecasting what is to come in the next millenium. Read the article, checking below for any unfamiliar vocabulary.

1 As the millenium comes to a close, it is important to stop and reflect for a moment on the changes that the last decades have brought, and, at the same time, to look at the upcoming years to see what is in store for us. The more perceptive we are, especially about the technological advances and environmental changes that we have experienced in the past decades, the better prepared we will be to progress into the next millenium.

2 In the 1980s we saw more and more that man cannot continue to wreak havos on the natural world without producing long-lasting, irreversible damage. We discovered that the gases which industry and the automobile have continually emitted into the air are ultimately causing the temperature of the planet to rise by blocking the escape of heat into the atmosphere. This greenhouse effect is as frightening as the hole scientists found in the ozone layer. Also a result of synthetic chemicals, such a hole deprives us of the necessary protection from the dangerous ultraviolet light of the sun. There were other disasters similar to these two, which will hopefully force us to take stock of how handicapped a planet we are leaving our children. There was the deadly gas leak from a pesticide plant in Bhopal, India; a devastating oil spill from a ripped tanker in Alaska; and, of course, the radioactive cloud that swept Europe after an accident at the Chernobyl . nuclear power plant. Looking into the future, unless we act, our planet will become increasingly threatened, with greenhouse gases raising temperatures, turning temperate places into tropical ones, and drying up the corn belt.

3 Contrary to expectations, as a result of the technological and scientific advances at the end of the millenium, life has often seemed more confusing than simple. It has become possible for women to conceive babies for childless couples, but later they find themselves in custody battles because they can’t bear to give up the child. Embryos are frozen for safekeeping, but more custody battles arise when the parents of such embryos decide to divorce. However, life has become simpler and more exciting in many ways as more machines and gadgets such as portable phones, camcorders, fax machines, and computers help to cut down on time and energy spent in everyday activities, and make information more accessible.

4 Some futurists predict that in the year 2000, humans will live on Mars and will learn how to build and launch planets. We may also see a world television system, pizza delivery in space, and a natural form of sugar that doesn’t have any calories. Cars will be as safe for the environment as they are for passengers since they’ll be solar powered to prevent pollution and computer powered to prevent accidents.

VOCABULARY

in store: to be expected in the future

wreak havoc: cause a lot of destruction

emitted: sent out into the air, especially when referring to gas or odors

greenhouse effect: too much carbon dioxide rises and heats up the atmosphere causing global temperatures to rise

take stock of: make an assessment or conclusion about something

pesticide: chemicals usually used on crops of growing fruits and vegetables to prevent insects from eating them

conceive babies for childless couples: (surrogate mothers) Some women have received money to be artificially inseminated, carry, and deliver a baby for a couple who can’t have children

custody battles: a fight that parents undertake to have the legal right to a child

embryos: the form of human life up to the third month after conception

gadgets: small machines or devices that have a very specific purpose

accessible: available

futurists: people who predict the changes that will come in the future

launch planets: design a planet here on earth and send it into space

DISCUSSION

What are some of the predictions made in the article? Which do you agree with? What other predictions would you make about the future?

Focus ON GRAMMAR

DIRECTIONS: Look at the article in the preview to find examples of the following generalizations. Write the examples on the lines provided.

1. The author compares the greenhouse effect and the hole in the ozone layer. Find that sentence in paragraph 2. What structure is used? What is the relationship between the greenhouse effect and the hole in the ozone layer expressed by this comparative structure? Can you find a similar structure in paragraph 4?

2. In the first sentence of paragraph 2 what words does the author use to emphasize the step-by- step change? Can you find a word in the last sentence of paragraph 2 that is used for the same emphasis?

3. The second sentence in paragraph 1 uses a comparative pattern to express a conditional relationship. Rewrite the sentence, beginning with if.

If ...

4. Underline the words in the following sentence that are used to make a comparison. Can you think of any other words that could replace these v^ords? What is the opposite of these words? There were other disasters similar to these two, which will hopefully force us to take stock of how handicapped a planet we are leaving our children.

I. Using As ... As For Equal Comparative Constructions

When a comparison is based on two equal qualities or characteristics, the following patterns are used.

15.17 Oral Drill: As ... As

DIRECTIONS: Compare life in the future with life in the present, using as ... as and the cues below. Make either a positive or negative statement.

Example

people/work/hard

People will work as hard as they do now.

1. be/international conflict

2. computers/necessary

3. cars/damaging to the environment

4. people/travel

5. English language/popular

6. Americans/compete/aggressively

7. young people/like computer games

8. pollution/problem

9. e-mail/use

10. disease/in the world

11. international terrrorism/widespread

12. time-saving devices/on the market

15.18 Written Drill: The End is Coming

DIRECTIONS: Read the cartoon below and complete the following.

1. Replace sooner with the following words: fast, quick, slow.

2. Change the sentence in the cartoon to the negative.

15.19 Written Activity: The Earthling and the Extraterrestrial

DIRECTIONS: It is the year 2030. An extraterrestrial has been saved from a spaceship that landed on earth. Below are some sentences making comparisons about the extraterrestrial and an earthling. Paraphrase each pair of sentences by using the as ... as comparative pattern.

Example

The earthling is six feet tall. The extraterrestrial is seven feet tall.

The earthling is not as tall as the extraterrestrial.

1. The extraterrestrial’s planet has four seasons. Earth has four seasons.

2. The earthling is a little anxious to help the extraterrestrial return home. The earthling is very eager to learn about the extraterrestrial’s planet.

3. The earthling sleeps about eight hours every night. The extraterrestrial only sleeps four hours.

4. The extraterrestrial is hungry every three hours. The earthling is hungry every three hours.

5. The earthling has only one solution for the greenhouse effect on earth. The extraterrestrial has a few solutions for the greenhouse effect on earth.

6. There is a very advanced recycling system on the extraterrestrial’s planet. Earth has a primitive recycling system.

15.20 Paired Activity: Technological Advances?

DIRECTIONS: Interview your partner about the state of technology in two countries that s/he knows about. Then write ten statements using the as ... as pattern to express the equality or inequality of the two countries. After you have written the statements, discuss the advantages and disadvantages of the technological innovation. Here are some suggestions for topics.

Phone system  Electronic equipment

Computer use  Transportation

Household appliances Space exploration

Telecommunications Medical equipment

ExampIe

Portable phones aren't as popular in my country as they are in my partner’s country.

1. ...

2. ...

3. ...

4. ...

5. ...

6. ...

II. Conditional Comparative Constructions

The comparative pattern below is used to express a conditional relationship between the two things being compared. Notice how the meaning of the comparative sentence corresponds to that of the conditional sentence.

15.21 Written Drill: Conditional Comparative Constructions

DIRECTIONS: Read the following conditional sentences and change each to a comparative construction.

1. If we release more chloroflourocarbons into the atmosphere, the hole in the ozone layer will get bigger.

2. If we wait longer to actively recycle waste, our landfill problems will get worse.

3. If we are less careful about industrial waste, our waters will become more polluted.

4. If we make more intelligent decisions about our future, our future will be better.

5. If we think more responsibly, we will act more cautiously.

15.22 Oral Drill

DIRECTIONS: Your teacher will begin the drill by saying the first clause of a conditional comparative sentence, e.g., The more we drive... One student will complete the sentence, e.g., the more polluted the air gets. The next student will begin the new sentence with the last clause of the preceding sentence, e.g., The more polluted the air gets... The next student will complete the sentence, e.g., the faster the ozone layer disappears. When the drill winds down, begin with a new cue.

1. The more toxic waste we dump in the oceans ...

2. The more crowded our cities get. . .

3. The more natural resources we deplete . . .

4. The more junk food we create ...

5. The more populated the world becomes . . .

15.23 Paired Activity: Your Child's Future

DIRECTIONS: Take turns with your partner choosing from the statements below to discuss what you would like for the future of your children. When one student makes a statement, the partner should ask, “Why?” The student who made the statement should explain with a conditional comparative sentence.

Example

STUDENT A: I want my children to read a lot.

STUDENT в: Why?

STUDENT A: "Because the more they read, the more knowledgeable they’ll be.

1. I hope they (make a lot of friends, earn a lot of money, find a lot of opportunities, have a lot of experiences, speak many languages, see many countries).

2. I want them to (live peacefully, act cautiously, make decisions wisely).

3. I want them to be (ambitious, self-confident, creative, honest, healthy).

4. I don’t want them to (get bad grades in school, get into trouble, have bad luck, lie to me).

5. I don’t want them to be (lazy, dishonest, unsuccessful, sick).

15.24 Interview Activity: The Future of Your Country

DIRECTIONS: Interview two English-speaking people about the future of the country you are presently living in. Ask for three ways the country can be improved in the future. For each statement your respondents make, ask for a reason why that will make the country better. Record your responses below.

Example

STATEMENT: People in my country should be less wasteful. REASON: There will be a more even distribution of goods.

RESPONDENT # 1

1. STATEMENT: ...

REASON: ...

2. STATEMENT: ...

REASON: ...

3. STATEMENT: ...

REASON: ...

RESPONDENT #2

1. STATEMENT: ...

REASON: ...

2. STATEMENT: ...

REASON : ...

3. STATEMENT: ...

REASON: ...

15.25 Written Activity

DIRECTIONS: Paraphrase each statement and reason you were given with a conditional comparative sentence.

Example

(based on example above)

The less wasteful people are, the more even the distribution of goods will be.

1. ...

2. ...

3. ...

4. ...

5. ...         

6. ...

III. Expressing a Progressive Change of State

The following chart lists some words and expressions that are used to express a progressive change of state, which is very closely related to the comparative.

See Chapter Four for more information on progressive verb tenses.

15.26 Rapid Drill: Oral Paraphrase

DIRECTIONS: Paraphrase each statement below with one of the words or expressions from the preceding chart to express a progressive change of state.

1. The pollution is getting worse.

2. Prices are getting higher every day.

3. Our chances for saving our planet are quickly going down.

4. People are becoming more involved in positive action to save the environment.

5. The acid rain problem is becoming very dangerous.

6. There is a need for greater community involvement in the recycling program.

15.27 Written Drill: Progressive Change of State

DIRECTIONS: Below are some suggestions for implementing the concept of voluntary simplicity, the plan for simplifying our lives in the future. Paraphrase each suggestion by using a word or expression from the preceding chart to express a progressive change of state.

Example

There must be moderation of the overall level of consumption in developed nations.

There must be a decreasing amount of consumption in developed nations.

1. There should be more extensive use of electronic communication as a substitute for indiscriminate expensive physical travel.

2. We should see a mounting consumer revolution as people boycott companies whose policies are unethical with regard to the environment.

3. There should be massive investments in cleaning up the environment.

4. We should force a decline in agribusiness, with its heavy reliance on petrochemicals, coupled with a rebirth of family farming using organic modes of food production.

5. We should create a redefinition of the good life—an overall lowering of material expectations, with an increase in appreciation of the nonmaterial aspects of life.

6. We should encourage international cooperation to impose limitations on indiscriminate use and abuse of natural resources.

7. People should be educated in responsible investment to encourage support of businesses that demonstrate prudence and a sense of conscience in their practices.

IV. Other Words Used in Comparative Constructions

The following words and expressions are often used to express comparative relationships.

15.28 Written Drill: Fill in the Blanks

DIRECTIONS: The dialogue below takes place in a robot store in the year 2010. Fill in the blanks with an appropriate expression from the chart above.

SALESPERSON: May I help you?

CUSTOMER: Yes, I’m looking for a robot to do my housework, ... ... the one my friend has.

SALESPERSON: I see; well, could you give me a little more information? Each robot we carry is ... .

CUSTOMER: The one my friend has looks ... the one over there holding the broom and dustpan. Oh yes, and it has the same name, Robo-Clean. I’m sure they’re ... .

SALESPERSON: Well, I don’t know if you’ve seen any others, but ... ... Robo-Clean, this one over here, Mr. Domestic, does windows, and it whistles while it works.

CUSTOMER: Oh, really? How does Mr. Domestic ... Robo-Clean in thoroughness?

SALESPERSON: That’s a very good question! ... Mr. Domestic will get the dust out of every corner in your house, Robo-Clean will sweep the dust under the rug.

V. Special Problems With the Comparative

Focus on Writing

15.29 Error Analysis: Comparative Structures

DIRECTIONS: Find any error in the use of comparative constructions in the following sentences. Correct the errors clearly above the sentences.

1. Pollution control is more better now than it was ten years ago.

2. This machine is alike a machine I saw in a science fiction movie ten years ago.

3. This city has the worstest recycling program I’ve ever seen.

4. The simpler our lives become the planet will survive longer.

5. In the future, houses will be functional more than they are now.

6. People are becoming involved in saving the environment quicker than we had ever hoped.

7. The cars of the future will not look the same than the ones we drive today.

8. The day when we see smog-free cities is more far in the future than we think.

9. Nuclear energy poses a much bigger threat from solar energy does.

10. Hopefully, the acid rain problem won’t get more worse in the future.

11. The technological progress in this country is the same the other countries.

12. If we take action soon, the sooner we will resolve these problems.

13. Overpopulation is becoming an increasing worse problem.

14. Sankiyo is a company more conscientious than Tryon.

15.30 Essay

DIRECTIONS: Imagine what a house of the future will look like and write an essay comparing it to a house of today. Discuss the design of the house, kitchen appliances, entertainment equipment, methods of cleaning, etc. Take into consideration changes in the house that will protect the environment as well as make our lives simpler. Use the comparative expressions from the chart on page 404.

Example

Compared to the house of today, a future house will be designed to be energy efficient with many windows and skylights to let in the light and heat of the sun.

Analysis of an Authenic Text

A Onion for Peace and Survival

by Dawna Nolan

1 Earth. One small planet in a seemingly infinite universe. Ever since the first photos of our earth as it looks from space captured the imaginations of people around the world, the reality of living in a global village has seemed much more immediate.

2 And since the time when Canadian educator Marshal McLuhan first coined the term, the concept of all of humanity belonging to a global village has become more of a technological reality as well. Scientific advances from jet travel to nuclear weaponry to telecommunications have lessened the distances between peoples making us speedily aware of, and affected by, events in the far corners of the earth.

3 ... There are many organized groups working for peace, human rights, and the environment, who also provide the means for differences to be resolved and similarities shared. An innovative, valuable tool for them is a global computer network called PeaceNet This computer-based communication system helps groups such as Greenpeace, Global Link, the Christie Institute, and many others to communicate and cooperate more effectively and efficiently.

4 One of these groups, Beyond War, based in Palo Alto, California, is built on the premise that war is obsolete in the nuclear age. Its many educational projects are designed to raise public awareness of the value of conflict resolution. The annual Beyond War Awards is one such project, and this year’s theme is Building Our Common Future.

5 Grassroots groups have also been active in promoting global peace and survival. For example, the Boise Peace Quilt Project was begun in 1981 by two Idaho women who wished to make a concrete statement in support of world peace. They and 40 other people made a

quilt and sent it to the Soviet Union as a gesture of friendship. Since then, the endeavor has involved scores of men, women, and children and has produced more than a dozen quilts.

6 One of the quilts, the National Peace Quilt, is a vibrant red, white, and blue, and is made up of one square for each of the 50 states. The intent is to have every United States senator spend one night sleeping under this quilt. Said Senator Spark Matsunaga of Hawaii, “I swear I woke with the biggest smile my face has ever worn. I realized the power of the human spirit, represented by thousands of women and children from the 50 states who have united to create an inspirational symbol for the political leaders of this great nation to direct it towards unseen greatness, if not plain survival.”

VOCABULARY

coin(ed) the term: to make a word or expression familiar to people when it was previously unknown or unfamiliar

the premise: the understanding

conflict resolution: a systematic method of solving problems peacefully

grassroots groups: average people who work together to promote change

quilt: a large bed covering made up of small individual squares of material; each square can have a picture or symbol sewn into it

gesture: symbol

scores: a large number of

COMPREHENSION QUESTIONS

1. What do we mean by the concept of global village?

2. What is the benefit of the global computer network, PeaceNet?

GRAMMATICAL ANALYSIS

1. Senator Matsunuga said that he woke with the biggest smile his face has ever worn. What did he mean? What is another way he could have described the way he felt when he woke in the morning?

2. Paragraph 1 ends with the words “much more immediate.” How could you finish the comparative pattern? (... much more immediate than ...?)

3. Write three sentences using comparative structures to describe the effect that this quilt project must have had on the people involved.

Composition Topics

In this chapter you have mastered the use of a variety of comparative constructions. Use what you have learned to write a composition about one of the following topics.

1. Compare life in your country when you were growing up with life in the present. Focus especially on technological advances and environmental changes.

2. In the preceding text, Dawna Nolan mentions that the work of one group is based on the premise that war is obsolete. What is necessary in order to make war obsolete? How much we change our behavior individually and globally?

3. Write an essay with your own recommendations for what the average person can do to improve the future of our children.