Prep 1-26 慎重修改主句形容词、副词修饰关系原则已破？

balabaladou7

26. (25911-!-item-!-188;#058&002160)

The investigations of many psychologists and anthropologists support the generalization of

there being little that is a significant difference in the underlying mental processes manifested by

people from different cultures.

(A) of there being little that is a significant difference

(B) of there being little that is significantly different

(C) of little that is significantly different

(D) that there is little that is significantly different

(E) that there is little of significant differences 

关于此题，我有几点疑惑，且找不到佐证，请大家指教。

1） little 在这里的用法是n。之前看过有解释说是代词，查过langman，没有代词词性。

2） little 做adj/adv修饰n时+singular，那么作n时，其对应的n，修饰其的n，是否有此要求，有没有根据？

3） 这次大多数的问题还是出在D\E

有一点疑问，E根据little  无法对应 significant differences  （plural）而被排除。这点可以解释。

但，原句是significant difference.

correct answer, D, significantly different 是grammatically correctly的，但它和 significant difference表达的意思是不同的。

sig‧nif‧i‧cant S3 W1
             

1 having an important effect or influence, especially on what will happen in the future  

2 large enough to be noticeable or have noticeable effects [≠ insignificant]:

3 a significant look, smile etc has a special meaning that is not known to everyone:

 

    sig‧nif‧i‧cant‧ly S3 W2

    1 in an important way or to an important degree
             

    2 used to say that something is very important:

    

 

    
                                                                    

    sig‧nif‧i‧cant‧ly S3 W2

    1 in an important way or to an important degree
             

    2 used to say that something is very important:

    

 

    
                                                        

也就是说，significant difference 可以说它是意义重大的不同，也可以说是很大的不同，但改为significantly different ，就缩小范围到意义重大的不同了。

回到原句，我想原句要表达的意思是，来自不同文化的人们所产生的潜在心里过程--可以是有很大差别的，但没有本质的不同，以至于有重大的意义去区别。那么答案的改动就是合理的。

这样说来，之前我一直认为主句中adj+n, adv+v的基本模式是不能修改的，现在可以说这已经不能作为规则了。这样的解释，不知是否可靠？请指点一下。谢谢。

排版多次，无果，抱歉。

[此贴子已经被作者于2009-2-12 10:49:46编辑过]

alohabrian

既然楼主，真的有兴趣来听关于little的讲座，我就来说一下。请保证大脑清晰。

Well，让我做一次全面的解释吧。



First ,

关于“1） little 在这里的用法是n。之前看过有解释说是代词，查过langman，没有代词词性。”

我把朗文完全复制下来，Little有pronoun用法，没有noun的用法。


                    
                    

	little 2                                                 determiner, pronoun

little2
            S1
            W1

1
                only a small amount or hardly any of something:

There's little doubt in my mind that he's guilty.

        

I paid little attention to what the others were saying.

        

Little is known about the causes of the problem.

        

Changes in the law have done little to improve the situation.

                little of
            

Little of their wealth now remains.

        

There's
                        very little
                    money left.

        

Many of the students speak
                        little or no
                    English.

        

He knew
                        little or nothing (=almost nothing)
                    about fixing cars.

        

My lawyer advised me to say
                        as little as possible.

        

He did
                        precious little (=very little)
                    to help.

        

The laboratory tests are of
                        little real
                    value.

➔ see usage note
                        few

2

                                        a little

                a small amount:

Fortunately I had a little time to spare.

        

Susan speaks a little French.

        

A little over half the class can swim.

        

He walked on a little (=a short distance)
                    and then turned back.

                    a little more/less
            

Would you like a little more milk in your coffee?

                a little of
            

The city is regaining a little of its former splendour.

3

                                        as little as £5/3 months/10 feet etc

                used to emphasize how surprisingly small an amount is:

Prices for his paintings start from as little as £100.

        

The weather can change completely in as little as half an hour.

4

                                        what little

                also
                the little (that)
                used to emphasize how small an amount there is, how small an amount is possible etc:

We did what little we could to help.

        

I handed over what little money I had left.

5

                                        a little (of something) goes a long way

            spoken
                used to say that only a small amount of something is needed or has a great effect:

A little kindness goes a long way.

在答案D和E中，Little是pronoun的用法，但是当Little做pronoun的时候，只可以用来修饰uncountable noun或者abstract noun，也就是说little做代词只能修饰“零冠词+名词原型”的结构。本来（请查阅朗文在线）difference既可以做countable noun，也可以做uncountable noun，既然在E中出现了“differences”这种countable标志，那么它必然不是countable noun, 必然不能被little所指代。必须用few

Second

"2） little 做adj/adv修饰n时+singular，那么作n时，其对应的n，修饰其的n，是否有此要求，有没有根据？"

我想你的意思是，Little做代词的主谓主谓一致问题是吗？

Little这个词，难就难在它有四个词性。1.adj   2.pronoun 3. adverbial 4. determiner  而且用法非常复杂。 

一，Little在做adj的时候，只可以修饰countable noun，且没有否定含义，但是并不能表示quantity和amount的多少,而只能表示(1.size,age小; 2.distance，time短 3.微不足道的）
比如What many little groups. Little不是说，group数量少。而是说group规模小。
        What many little boys.  Little不是说数量少，而是说,boys 年纪小。
        confusing的在于这里，仔细看 Wait for a little while.：（注意是要理解成a+liitle,而不是a little连用) 这个用法解释起来很别扭，但这就是English Grammar: Little在这里不表示time有small amount， 而是表示time is short
        There is  a little distance (注意要理解成a+liitle,而不是a little连用) 同样，不表示amount of distance is small, 表示distance is short.

二 ，Little在做determiner的时候只可以+ uncountbale noun.   且这时表示amount, 且有否定含义。
E.G. I have little time=i have a very very small amount of time-注意和上面的区别。
         There is little distance=I have a very very very small amount of time.


如果现在你没有被我搞晕，请继续看。

三，当Little做pronoun的时候（以little of为标记），Little  of 只能用来指代uncountable noun。以这题为例：你可以说，little of difference 但不能说 little of a difference/differences,当然你也可以说a litte difference-注意：这里是a+little-（little做adj用来修饰difference表示微不足道）

四，当little作副词，比较简单。参考prep1-24

************ A little，A little对应Little用法的三和四。做adv时以a little出现;做pronoun时，以a little of 结构出现。

Third,

3） 这次大多数的问题还是出在D\E

有一点疑问，E根据little  无法对应 significant differences  （plural）而被排除。这点可以解释。

但，原句是significant difference.

correct answer, D, significantly different 是grammatically correctly的，但它和 significant difference表达的意思是不同的。

Gmat的做题目的原则是有hierarchy：我觉得是 Grammar>Idiom>Logical Meaning>Constuction 前两者属于correctness范畴，后两者属于effectiveness范畴。在这里最好的表达，应该是that there is little of significant difference，但是没有这个选项。那么当然要考虑语法上正确的选项。D尽管改变了句义，但是他的表达是符合语法的。其他不符合语法。之所以在以前的题目里，改变句义算错，那是因为有更加好的答案- 语法上正确，并不改变句义。

                                                                                                                                                                    

balabaladou7

thanks for your explanation.

1)2）关于little

langman中little确实没有n的词性，

但是根据： Random House Dictionary

little有n词性。见下

我想在这里n或是pronoun都问题不大，

其实我的问题是--

三，当Little做pronoun的时候（以little of为标记），Little  of 只能用来指代uncountable noun

请问这个是出处是哪里？

3）我觉得在GMAT中最高的做题原则不是Grammar，反而是meaning--逻辑意义。这点可能与你看法不同。

that there is little of significant difference

我认为不对--little of 不能完整表达generalization的意思

如果说简洁，可能that there is little significantly different in sth。。更好。

open to discuss..

附录：

lit⋅tle

   /ˈlɪtl/
                        Show Spelled Pronunciation
                        
                    [lit-l]
                        Show IPA Pronunciation
                        
                    
adjective, lit⋅tler or less or less⋅er, lit⋅tlest or least,
                adverb, less, least,
                noun

–adjective

1.	small in size; not big; not large; tiny: a little desk in the corner of the room.

2.	short in duration; not extensive; short; brief: a little while.

3.	small in number: a little group of scientists.

4.	small in amount or degree; not much: little hope.

5.	of a certain amount; appreciable (usually prec. by a): We're having a little difficulty.

6.	being such on a small scale: little farmers.

7.	younger or youngest: He's my little brother.

8.	not strong, forceful, or loud; weak: a little voice.

9.	small in consideration, importance, position, affluence, etc.: little discomforts; tax reductions to help the little fellow.

10.	mean, narrow, or illiberal: a little mind.

11.	endearingly small or considered as such: Bless your little heart!

12.	amusingly small or so considered: a funny little way of laughing.

13.	contemptibly small, petty, mean, etc., or so considered: filthy little political tricks.

–adverb

14.	not at all (used before a verb): He little knows what awaits him.

15.	in only a small amount or degree; not much; slightly: a little known work of art; little better than a previous effort.

16.	seldom; rarely; infrequently: We see each other very little.

–noun

17.	a small amount, quantity, or degree: They did little to make him comfortable. If you want some ice cream, there's a little in the refrigerator.

18.	a short distance: It's down the road a little.

19.	a short time: Stay here for a little.

—Idioms
                    

20.	in little, on a small scale; in miniature: a replica in little of Independence Hall.

21.	little by little, by small degrees; gradually: The water level rose little by little.

22.	make little of, a. belittle: to make little of one's troubles. b. to understand or interpret only slightly: Scholars made little of the newly discovered text.

23.	not a little, to a great extent; very much; considerably: It tired me not a little to stand for three hours.

24.	think little of, to treat casually; regard as trivial: They think little of driving 50 miles to see a movie.

---

Origin:
bef. 900; ME, OE lȳtel (lȳt few, small + -el dim. suffix), c. D luttel, OHG luzzil, ON lītill

Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2006.
Cite This Source
    

 

alohabrian

”3）我觉得在GMAT中最高的做题原则不是Grammar，反而是meaning--逻辑意义。这点可能与你看法不同。“

”that there is little of significant difference

我认为不对--little of 不能完整表达generalization的意思

如果说简洁，可能that there is little significantly different in sth。。更好。”

尽管两句话，修饰重心不一样，但在这句话里，我不认为表意上有差别，Please eleborate..呵呵。

balabaladou7

这个笔记上我觉得已经比较清楚。请参考17题解释：

GMAT一个常见的错误就是把一个完整的概念用一个名词来代替,造成对概念的解释不完整或引

起结构的复杂.
                这种错误常出现在宾语从句和that引导的同位语从句中:

that引导同位语:

Scientists find a result that rats will demonstrate some interesting behaviors. 

用名词来代替会变成: 

Scientist find a result of rats that will demonstrate some interesting behaviors. (解释不完全)

或Scientist find a result of rats as demonstrating some interesting behaviors.(结构笨拙,复杂)

宾语从句:

…revealed that creatures of the seabed were suffering because food supplies were dwindling…

用名词来代替:

…revealed creatures of the seabed that…(解释不完全)

…revealed creatures of the seabed’s suffering…(结构笨拙,复杂)

解决这两种问题的方法就是用 that 从句引导句子,简化结构,并能够进行完整的解释

本题考点说明：

考点:
                简洁有效（Rhetorical Construction）

1)  宾语从句强调整体,                                          谓语+宾语结构只强调宾语      参考17题

 

(A) of there being代替that同位语从句表达复杂,笨拙并且不符合习惯.

(B)
                错误同A选项

(C)  错误同A选项

(D)
                正确,
                用that同位语从句清楚地解释了generalization的内容

(E) significant differences在这里可以理解为有重要意义的区别,也可以理解为重要的区别,因此不

如significantly表达意思清楚

 

句子结构: The investigations of…and anthropologists support the generalization that there is…

 

补充说明:

significant 和 significantly 的区别:前者意思较广泛,有意义重大,重要等意思,而后者则意思明确,只

表示程度很深的意思

 

请参考。

alohabrian

"三，当Little做pronoun的时候（以little of为标记），Little  of 只能用来指代uncountable noun

请问这个是出处是哪里？"

只能说，我们用的字典不一样了。

Longman里面在解释little of的时候，只用到了amount,没有quantity。

而Random House里用到了quantity.

但是Little of 被用来修饰countable noun，我从未见过，希望你可以补充。

Little of items? Little of Chioces? 它的比较形式less than倒是可以。

balabaladou7

这正是我想请教的啊？？

alohabrian

我们只能就题目具体而论，这这道题目的第一句话里。把补充result的同位语从句变成了修饰rats的定语从句，当然是有区别的。原句意思是说试验中
   

所有老鼠都会demonstrate some interesting behaviors，而改变后，表达的意思是有可能还有其他的老鼠do not some interesting behavior。
   

            

但是如果仅仅是把同位语从句改成of结构，我不认为在表意上有区别。仅仅只是awkward 语法笔记上也说是结构笨拙,复杂
   

            

Scientists find a result that rats will demonstrate some interesting behaviors.  

            

用名词来代替会变成: 

Scientist find a result of rats that will demonstrate some interesting behaviors. (解释不完全)

或Scientist find a result of rats as demonstrating some interesting behaviors.(结构笨拙,复杂)

而且，这道题目其实和prep1-26的修饰结构有差别。
  这题目中被修改的结构“that.....”在result之后。
  我在Prep1-26中修改的结构在little之又后，要改也是little of 改成litte that。

我在说: There is Little of significant difference….和There is little that is significantly different….表意没有区别,。

你在说Generation that there is little significantly different和Generation of
  Little of significant difference的表意有区别。

其实是两码事。

另外Generation that和Generation of具体到这一题里，重心有差别，但我认为表意上也没差别。因为that并没有被误用。

科学家做了一个实验，结论是。。。。。

科学家做了一个结论是。。。的实验。
   （你当然还可以认为，这表示科学家还做了别的实验。事实上任何一个复杂的修饰句都可以被曲解。）

[此贴子已经被作者于2009-2-12 15:21:26编辑过]

balabaladou7

另外Generation that和Generation of具体到这一题里，重心有差别，但我认为表意上也没差别。因为that并没有被误用。

--我想GMAT不需要讨论“表意”上的差别，而是用哪种方式表达更有效。

我在说: There is Little of significant difference….和There is little that is significantly different….表意没有区别,。

--表意无区别吗？

没有大区别  significant difference

没有意义重大的区别 significantly different

1L已经说的很清楚了。

[此贴子已经被作者于2009-2-12 15:51:50编辑过]

balabaladou7

继续请教大家

2） little 做adj/adv修饰n时+singular，那么作n时，其对应的n，修饰其的n，是否有此要求，有没有根据？

3） 这次大多数的问题还是出在D\E

有一点疑问，E根据little  无法对应 significant differences  （plural）而被排除。这点可以解释。

但，原句是significant difference.

correct answer, D, significantly different 是grammatically correctly的，但它和 significant difference表达的意思是不同的。

                也就是说，significant difference 可以说它是意义重大的不同，也可以说是很大的不同，但改为significantly  

         different ，就缩小范围到意义重大的不同了。

         回到原句，我想原句要表达的意思是，来自不同文化的人们所产生的潜在心里过程--可以是有很大差别的，但没有本质

         的不同，以至于有重大的意义去区别。那么答案的改动就是合理的。

         这样说来，之前我一直认为主句中adj+n, adv+v的基本模式是不能修改的，现在可以说这已经不能作为规则了。这样的

         解释，不知是否可靠？请指点一下。谢谢。

[此贴子已经被作者于2009-2-12 15:56:22编辑过]