2004-01语法Q33

33. Taste buds, small sensory organ located on the tongue and palate, recognize four primary tastes: sweet, sour, salty and bitter.

The given key is A.  But I choose D.  "sweet", "sour", "bitter" can all be noun, but "salty" is adj. only.  So, D is definitely wrong.  A, "organ" could be correct when referring to all the "taste buds" as a whole.

Any comments, NNs?

"four primary tastes:"
冒号之后是列表，一定要是表taste的名词才可以啊？！

那么看到 tastes 之后的并列～其它几个词的词性不好确定，但是bitter 应该毫无疑问的是adj.～

即便是用GMAT的思维，也是排除 salty 错误的可能，我想还是对 salty 的词性没有很好把握的缘故～

或者说，的确是学了GMAT过于谨慎，看到 tastes 觉得之后的“举例”必须词性匹配～

谢谢。

I have to disagree.  

"看到 tastes 觉得之后的“举例”必须词性匹配"

这不是GMAT特殊要求，而是一个基本的语法规则．

From M-W:

Main Entry: sweet
Function: noun
1 : something that is sweet to the taste: as a : a food (as a candy or preserve) having a high sugar content <fill up on sweets> b British : DESSERT c British : HARD CANDY
2 : a sweet taste sensation
3 : a pleasant or gratifying experience, possession, or state
4 : DARLING, SWEETHEART
5 a archaic : FRAGRANCE b plural, archaic : things having a sweet smell

Main Entry: sour
Function: noun
1 a : something sour b : the primary taste sensation produced by acid stimuli
2 : a cocktail consisting of a liquor (as whiskey), lemon or lime juice, sugar, and sometimes ice

Main Entry: bitter
Function: noun
1 : bitter quality
2 a plural : a usually alcoholic solution of bitter and often aromatic plant products used especially in preparing mixed drinks or as a mild tonic b British : a very dry heavily hopped ale

One entry found for salty.
Main Entry: salty
Pronunciation: 'sol-tE
Function: adjective
Inflected Form(s): salt·i·er; -est
1 : of, seasoned with, or containing salt
2 : smacking of the sea or nautical life
3 a : PIQUANT b : EARTHY, CRUDE <salty language>
- salt·i·ly /-t&-lE/ adverb
- salt·i·ness /-tE-n&s/ noun

http://www.m-w.com

Merriam-Webster,　大概是美国最权威的字典之一．

前面有(primary) tastes了..  之后并列的四个形容词后省略taste 是很正常的,  没必要重复,  大家都明白什么意思.

organ 单数可数名词不能单独存在,  要么加冠词, 要么加复数. 这里加冠词是不可能了,  就变复数喽,  更何况还和前面的buds 完美对应.

哇赛..  今天会撑死我的..

不过不用担心..  我挺的住~!!

以下是引用Taurus在2004-7-21 10:46:00的发言：

哇赛..  今天会撑死我的..

不过不用担心..  我挺的住~!!

这只猫乐坏啦~~~

Although I still disagree with your first point, I agree that you've made an excellent second point.  Thanks!