OG 161

caterpillar

161. A wildlife expert predicts that the reintroduction of the caribou into northern Minnesota would fail if the density of the timber wolf population in that region is more numerous than one wolf for every 39 square miles.

(A) would fail if the density of the timber wolf population in that region is more numerous than

(B) would fail provided the density of the timber wolf population in that region is more than

(C) should fail if the timber wolf density in that region was greater than

(D) will fail if the density of the timber wolf population in that region is greater than（D）

(E) will fail if the timber wolf density in that region were more numerous than

D, the best choice, uses a correct sequence of present and future indicative verb forms—predicts, will fail, and is—in the three related clauses. Density, an abstract “mass” noun, is logically construed with greater than. In A and B, would fail disagrees with the other verbs in tense and mood. Choice A misconstrues density with more numerous than, and B uses the pretentious and illogical word provided for if in a conditional clause after a negative idea (would fail). C’s should fail and was are confusing and inconsistent with predicts. C and E use the absurd phrase timber wolf density. (The wolves are not dense; their population is dense.) E also uses an inconsistent subjunctive form, were, and misconstrues density with more numerous than.

OG的解释说：

B uses the pretentious and illogical word provided for if in a conditional clause after a negative idea (would fail)

不明白provide是怎么个用法？跟if 有什么区别？

bunnier

a good question! bunnier just learned something from it:

- "if" is more general than "provided"

- "provided" is usually used in a positive statement.
conj. On the condition; if:
在…的条件下；如果：
will pay the bonus provided the job is completed on time.
如果工作及时完成的话将发奖金

唐三彩

本来以为(很多阅读题里就出现过)provided和if 是一个意思，看了OG地解释才知道，provided只能用于posotive的结果，呵呵。。。。

caterpillar

按bunnier的例子反过来：如果工作不及时完成的话将不发奖金  是不是这么表达就错了？will not pay the bonus provided the job is not completed on time.

bunnier

check out gemj's research... 请教 provided/if 区别.

总结：虽然有些词典也认为[provided]其有IF的含义，但大多数还是认可且只认可作only if解。而only if的意思是“只有”，表达的是必要条件（上面所有的例子我们当作必要条件来理解都不会出现荒谬的意思）。相反IF表达的是充分条件。这两个词的区别是不是主要在这里？

[此贴子已经被作者于2004-6-29 10:24:29编辑过]

tulipmontreal

PROVIDED used to say that something will only be possible if something else happens or is done

SAMPLE:  He can come with us, provided he pays for his own meals.

caterpillar

provided=only if，这个解释应该很讲得通，而且我隐约记得原来在读什么逻辑题的时候遇到过这样的用法。非常感谢bunnier和tulip.

vivian_huang

 161.
            A wildlife expert predicts that the reintroduction of the caribou into northern Minnesota
            would [vivian1] fail if the density of the timber wolf population in that region is more numerous than one wolf for every 39 square miles.(难)

(A) would fail if the density of the timber wolf population in that region is more numerous than（would时态上与predicts不一致）

(B) would fail
                provided the density of the timber wolf population in that region is more than（would时态上与predicts不一致）

(C) should fail if the timber wolf density in that region was greater than（should时态上与predicts不一致，且改变原文意思）

(D) will fail if the density of the timber wolf population in that region is greater than（D）

       (E) will fail if the timber wolf density（ETS常用陷阱timber狼密度，密度只能对应population） in that region were more  numerous than （主谓不一致）
    

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 [vivian1]划线部分含有比较级，明示将考核比较；

比较级其中一种考核方式是，比较级与可数/不可数名词的搭配问题；比较的对象是否对等；两个比较的成分语法上是否对称；

l       Provided 引导条件从句不应用于否定环境；其含义更倾向于only if…;

l       ETS很喜欢设置的陷阱是，诸如，视力-〉盲了；狼密度了；术语是什么什么；[常用陷阱]

 

GRASPDREAM

Ding~~~~

renehan

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