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Today, I start to read from paragraph 9 to paragraph 17 of Unit 4. There are still sorts of question (questions)for me to deal with.
When it comes to paragraph 9, the word “tests” in the third sentence appeals to me. In ordinary, “tests” always means to give an exam or an examination. But I could not get the sentence when I quote these two meanings. Then I skim through the sentence again and again in order to find out some new hints so as to help my understanding. It seems to me that this paragraph talks about students prefer to get scores without making great efforts. And what is related to tests and easily gain without working? It occurs to me that what is irresistible for students are the answers of tests. So I think tests here refer to test papers. Because professors turn to exams written in link and the answers always appear on the test papers.
Turning to paragraph 10, which consists of a unique sentence is attractive to me as well. There is a preposition “or” which connects the whole sentence. Why is there a comma in such sentence? I find there are two verbs in this sentence. One is “is”, the other is “do”. “Or” only shows(show) two similar examples in the same sentence. If there is a word of “or”, there is not existing a comma any longer. As to the sentence, when it converted into declarative sentences: cheating is human nature. Parents and teachers encourage it by their own attitude(attitudes). The English using(use) determines these two sentences need different verbs to compose. What is more, the sentence will become a little bit long if put these two question sentences together. As a result, the author lays a comma r to have a function of separating.
In paragraph 12, I feel confused when I stare at the phrase of “grammar school”. Does “grammar school” mean a school specially teaches grammar? I hold susceptible attitude on my surmise. I could infer that the words are said by a chairman of university. Furthermore, that university is carrying out an honor code. Based on the analysis of the whole sentence, I could make a conclusion that the chairman does not agree to the opinion that implementing honor system in grammar school. As far as I know, honor code is similar to reinforcing moral education which is helpful for limiting cheating behaviors. Lined up grammar school and high school, there must be something in common. What will happen if I put grammar school, high school and university together? College is higher in rank than high school; meanwhile, high school is higher in rank than grammar school which imparts a base education such as grammar. It occurs to me that students will enter into college after graduating from high school. It is same that students will go to high school after finishing grammar school. Therefore, I think “grammar school” is an elementary or primary school.
There is another question in this paragraph. In the last line, there is a sentence “…when he was younger”. Why is not there an article before the word “younger”? As we all know, there is an article (a, an, the) before every noun in English which is different from the using of Chinese. I think a few minutes, and then I suddenly get some ideas. “Younger” here is not a noun but an adjective. It is a comparative degree. Consequently, the sentence is restructured and become a new one. Did he cheat when he was younger than now? The important signal word of comparative degree “than” is deleted.
This is my understanding of section two of Unit 4.
