SEC challenge 2003

Way to go, Saigonbynite

Well, I've just asked around people in my office (most of them are native english speaker) whether they eat or drink soup and they said : "of course we eat it" except a girl (who's from hongkong) said it should be fine in hongkong when they drink some kind of soups like Miso soup ( a japanese soup ...it shouldn't be called by such that name though). Just a thought .

1)Inn: is an old-fashioned word used to describe a small hotel where alcohol and meals are sevred, now used in the country.
( you can sleep in an inn)
Pub: a bulding where people go to drink and to meet their friends.
2) because people is a collective noun, and the verb agrees with
people, not "the majority"

Bell is not a bell untill you ring it
Love is not love untill you feel pain of it.

If you guys want,I 'll show what we are discussing now.Many subjects about many aspects.
Chữ ký không hợp lệ!

Hi, can I join you? ('coz I find this topic quite interesting)
Question1: PUB and INN are different (thought the difference is slight - according to me.)
+ INN can be compared with HOTEL (similar meaning somehow ) but INN is often used for a small & old hotel which you usually see in countrysides. INN provides food, beverage, accommodation etc,. fit your needs.
+ PUB is informal British word. Therefore, it is used casually (in general situation) and people go to PUB for beverage (such as wine..) mainly (rarely for other purposes).
Question2:
+ "majority" can be used as a segular word when it expresses collective meaning and in uncountable cases, perhaps no need to use with "of people" , e.g:
"The majority was in doubt". ( you don't know how many people).
+ When "majority" is used as plural word, it means you know how many people/things...or at least you know any detailed number which shows overwhelming part / amount..e.g:
Rewrite this sentence using "the majority of..."
60% of people go abroad once a year.
---> The majority of people go abroad once a year.
I'm waiting the key to see whether I'm rite or not
Cheers.

ANSWER KEY FOR THE 2ND TEST :
Question 1 : Is there any difference between a PUB and an INN ?
Not in modern use. In the past inn was obliged to provide food and accommodation for travellers , whereas a public house only served drinks and was used mainly by locals. Nowadays, with more and more pubs serving food and perhaps having one or two rooms for the bed and breakfast trade, the difference has disappeared . Any pub can call itself an inn , and punning names such as Welcome Inn or Dewdrop Inn can be seen on small premises with no kitchen or rooms for an overnight stay.
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Question 2 : I often read " the majority of people are " , but if majority is a singular word , shouldn't it be " the majority of people is " ?
Although according to strict rules of grammar " the majority of people is " might appear to be correct , in fact it is a well-established practice, in Britain at least , to use " are" . While the " majority is singular , the " people" are plural, and it is the people who are being talked about . The singular verb would be correct if the majority itself were the main topic of the sentence:
The majority of the members are in favour of this policy.
The majority in favour of the Government is smaller than it was last year.
Several other expressions are treated in this way, including a lot of and a number of , as if they were quantifying words like more or most.
A number of people are waiting for the bus .
rather than:
A number of people is (?) waiting for the bus.
But note the use of a singular verb when " number" is the real subject of the sentence:
The number of people waiting for the bus is growing.

Dimi

There were 2 peple took part in the 2nd test : Pikami & Nebula_ciaovn. We especially appreciate your attendances and efforts. Both of you are good at English and confident . However,we can only choose one winner for every test. So...
CONGRATULATIONS NEBULA_CIAOVN !!!!
Although you did the 1st question incorrectly, you understand the main point. And in the 2nd question, you did perfectly.
( pls attend our offline meeting next month in order to receive your award. If you don't live in HCMC, you will have a e-card , and 5 stars).
Message to Saigonbynight : where are U living now?

Dimi