For members of the seventeenth-century Ashanti nation in Africa, animal-hide shields with wooden frames were essential items of military equipment, a method to protect warriors against enemy arrows and spears.
例:OG10-39 For members of the seventeenth-century Ashanti nation in Africa, animal-hide shields with wooden frames were essential items of military equipment, a method to protect warriors against enemy arrows and spears.
A a method to protect
B as a method protecting
C protecting
D as a protection of
E to protect
OG10-39 的解释(注意 C 选项的解释):
Choice C is best because the participle protecting begins a phrase that explains what the shields did. Choices A and B awkwardly use the singular word method to refer to items of military equipment rather than to the use of such items. Also, a method of protecting would be more idiomatic than a method to protect in A or a method protecting in B. In B and D, as is incorrect; also, a protection in D has no noun for which it can logically substitute. Choice E is incomplete; used to protect would have been acceptable.
OG11-24 的解释(注意 C 和 E 选项的解释)
Logical predication + rhetorical construction
The underlined part of the sentence begins a phrase describing items of military equipment. It is awkward and inaccurate to describe items as a method. Replacing the underlined phrase with the participle protecting creates a modifying phrase that clearly explains the purpose of the items of military equipment.
A A method to protect is an awkward reference to items
B The singular a method should not refer to the plural items, as a method protecting is not idiomatic
C Correct. In this sentence, protecting properly introduces a modifying phrase revealing the purpose of
the items.
D Beginning the phrase with as is incorrect; using the noun form protection creates wordiness
E The infinitive to protect cannot act as an adjective modifying items; the participial form of the