(123doc) Tai Lieu On Thi Semantic Further Exercises
(123doc) Tai Lieu On Thi Semantic Further Exercises
I. Sense Relations : What is the relationship between the words in the following pair
   (Note : Theory : pp57-81 ; provide more exercises of this type)
1. " I regret missing the last lecture.”  The speaker missed the lest lecture.
2. “ I regret losing my temper at work this morning.”  The speaker lost his/her temper at work this morning.
3. " They were rich.'  The speaker assumes that the hearer already knows who they were.
4 .”John was quite unpopular.”  The speaker assumes that the hearer already knows who John is.
5. “If pigs could fly, pork wings wouldn’t taste any better than chicken wings.”  pigs cannot fly
7. “ We haven't heard anything from Barbara.”  The speaker assumes that the hearer already knows who Barbara is.
8. “The exam is not so difficult.”  The speaker assumes that the hearer already knows what the exam is.
9. “I’ve been dreaming of having a house of my own.” The speaker has not had/owned/possessed any house (yet).
10.”The explosion was so loud that it could be heard from miles away.”
     There was an explosion somewhere. OR
     The speaker assumes that the hearer already knows what tfie explosion is.
11. “ When did you quit smoking?”  You/The hearer did quit/quit smoking.
12. “ The examination in Semantics is so easy this time.”  There have been a number of examinations in Semantics
      so far.
13.”I am not able to go to Hanoi this weekend.”  The speaker is supposed to go to Hanoi this weekend.
14. “Did you return tfie book to the library?”  You/The hearer had borrowed a book from the library.
15. “Even Bill could come.”  The speaker assumes that the hearer already knows who Bill is.
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16. “She is not happy about the chemistry course (that/which) she’s taking.”
        She is taking me a chemistry course.
17. “ The CD (that/which) you gave me is quite interesting.”         you gave me a CD. OR
                                                                     The hearer gave the speaker a CD.
18. “ I am so sorry, I am in a hurry and I can't answer your question right now.”
      You’ve asked me a question.    OR        The hearer's asked the speaker a, question.
19. “When did you give up teaching?”  You/The hearer gave up teaching.
20. “ Imagine you are a teacher.”  The hearer is not a teacher (yet).
21. “It is going to rain for a long time.” (a prediction)  It is raining now. OR  It has been raining.
22. “ She was not aware that it would hurt her so much. ”  it did hurt / hurt her very much.
23. “It took us two days to come back from Hanoi by train.? ”  We once went to Hanoi.
24. “Could you drive me to the airport?”  The speaker assumes that the hearer already knows what tEs airport is and
                                                where it is located.
25. “He pretended to be pleased with the gift. ”  The speaker assumes that the hearer already knows what the gift is.
                                                  He was not pleased with the gift.
26. “But for your encouragement, we would have given up. ”  /You encouraged us.
27. “We couldn't have managed without your help. ”  you help us. OR  The hearer helped me speaker.
28. “We couldn't have managed without your help. ”  you help us. OR  The hearer helped the speaker.
29. “You shouldn 't have seen sueh a horror film. ”  you/The hearer did see/saw a horror film.
'30. “You could have talked to the dean. ”  you/The hearer did not talk to the dean.
32. “Have you stopped hugging your sheepdog?”  The Hearer has at some past time hugged his/her sheepdog.
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         The hearer relied on him.
6. “ It’s odd how tricky the final exam is. ”
         The speaker assumes that the hearer already knows what the final exam is.
         The final exam is tricky.
7. “ When will she graduate from high school?"
         The speaker assumes that the hearer already knows who she is.
         She will graduate from high school.
8. “ We congratulated them on the successful completion of the project. ”
         The speaker assumes that the hearer already knows who they are and what the project is.
         They successfully completed the project.
9. “Isn’t it believable that they have permitted this trial to go ahead?”
        The speaker assumes that the hearer already knows who they are and what the trial is.
        The trial was permitted to go ahead.
10. “ Who discovered Pluto in 1930? ”
        There exists a planet called "Pluto" in the solar system.
        Pluto was discoverd in 1930.
11. “ I wish I hadn’t turned down his proposal. ”
        He put forward/submitted a proposal.
        The speaker turned down his proposal.
12. “He didn’t realize he had been taken in. ”
         The speaker assumes that the hearer already knows who he is.
         He was taken in. *
13. “ Their son is not naughty. ”
         The speaker assumes that the hearer already knows who they are.
         They have a son.
14. “ They are happy with the results of the exam. ”
         The speaker assumes that the hearer already knows who they are.
         They have taken an exam an exam. *
         The exam's results have been announced.
15. “ She pretended she was not at home when the bell rang. ”
          The speaker assumes that the hearer already knows w^o she is.
          The bell rarig.
          She was at home [when the bell rang].
16. “ If they had not awaited until the last minute, they would have passed the exam. ”
          The speaker assumes that the hearer already knows who they are.
          They waited until the last minute.
17. “You mustn’t get up until your temperature has gone down. ”
          you have a temperature.
          Your temperature hasn’t gone down yet.
         Or
          The hearer has a temperature.
         His/Her temperature has not gone down yet.
18. “I wonder why Palm ignored us in the street just now. ”
        The speaker assumes that the hearer already knows who Palm is.
        Palm ignored us in the street just now.
19. “ Disa doesn't want any more popcorn. ”
         The speaker assumes that the hearer already knows who Disa is.
          Disa has eaten some popcorn.
20. “ They didn't realize that they were going m the wrong way]. ”
          The speaker assumes that the hearer already knows who they are.
          They were going in the wrong way.
21. “ We know that they had no chance to succeed though they were trying a lot. ”
          The speaker assumes that the hearer already knows who they are.
         They were trying a lot
         They had no chance to succeed.
22. “ What was the thief doing when you saw him. ”
         The speaker assumes that the hearer already knows who the thief is. (the hearer know the fact that there was a thief)
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          You/The hearer saw the thief.
23. “ What was she talking about when you arrived there? ”
          The speaker assumes that the hearer already knows       who she is.
          You/The hearer arrived there.
24. “ When he phoned in, I was out for lunch. ”
          The speaker assumes that the hearer already knows       who he is.
          He phoned in.
25. “ It is a pity that she failed his(her?) driving test. ”
          The speaker assumes that the hearer already knows       who she is.
          She failed his( her?) driving test.
26. “ Please take me to the circus again. ”
          The speaker assumes that the hearer already knows       what the circus is and where it is located.
          ( which circuit the speaker is taking about? )
        The speaker was at the circus before. ( saw a circus performance before ?)
       Or
        The speaker has been to the circus before/at least once.
        The hearer has taken the speaker to the circus before/at least once.
27. “ I got an excellent mark for my essay last time. ”
         I / The speaker wrote an essay.
        Or
         I / The speaker had written an essay.
28. “ If only you had taken his offer. ”
         He has made the hearer a good offer on something.
         You/The speaker didn't take his offer.    (  the hearer knows the person who made the offer ?)
29. “ If only she were not so talkative. ”
         The speaker assumes that the hearer already knows who she is.
         She is so talkative.
30. “ I can't guess when the rain stops? ”
         Rain is falling.
        Or
         It is raining.
31. “ I am sony I cannot find your book right now. ”
         You have abook.
         You have lent it to me.
    Or
         The hearer has a book.
         The hearer has lent it to the speaker.
32. “ I am going to have a new grammar book. ”
         1 have a grammar book already.
         1 haven't bought any new one yet
33. “ On the occasion of my friend's birthday, I intend to buy her a new vase. ”
         I have a friend.
         She has a vase already.
         Soon (Adv) comes (Verb) her birthday (Subject).
34. “ I want to send a small present to my friend on the occasion of her graduation. ”
         I have a. friend.
         She has just graduated from school.
35. “ Can you stop playing with your cat? ”
         you have a cat.
         You are playing with it/him/her.
36. “ She was not aware that her son had an accident? ”
         She had a son
         He/Her son had an accident.
37. “ I wiah I had not booked the ticket. ”
         The speaker assumes that the hearer already knows who the ticket are. ( what ticket is spoken about?)
         The speaker booked the ticket.
38. “ Tom might find the chocolate cake in the kitchen. ”
         The speaker assumes that the hearer already knows who Tom is.
         There is a chocolate cake in the kitchen.
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39. “ You will be amazed when you see the view. ”
         There is beautiful view somewhere.
         You will see the view soon.
40. “ I am going to have/take a final examination in Semantics. ”
         There will be a, final examination in Semantics soon.
         The speaker hasnt taken the,final examination in Semantics yet.
41. “ We are going to be teachers of English. ”
         We / persons in question have not been teachers of English yet.
         The speaker assumes that the hearer already knows who the other members of this group are.
42. “ My sister is going to graduate from university. ”
        I have a sister.
        She hasn't graduated from university yet
43. “ I missed my class on Monday because I overslept. ”
        I had a class on Monday.
        I overslept.
44. “ Mary regrets/regretted that she broke your window. ”
        Both the speaker and the hearer already knows who Mary is.
        Mary broke your ( the hearer’s ?) window.
45. “ Tom didn't regret missing the deadline for the assignment.”
       The speaker assumes that the hearer already knows who Tom is and what the assignment is.
       There exists a deadline for the assignment.
       Tom missed the deadline.
46. “ Where did you look for the keys?”
        The speaker assumes that the hearer already knows what the keys are. ( what keys are being spoken about?)
        The hearer looked for the keys.
47. “ The bus (that) you just missed was the wrong bus anyway. ”
        The hearer missed a bus.
       The bus was not the one the hearer needed to take. *
48. “ What ( When?) did you stop beating, your wife? ”
        You are married.
        You once beat /used to beat your wife.
49. “ Fred continued/didn’t continue speaking.”
        The speaker assumes that the hearer already knows who Fred is.
        Fred was speaking previously.
50. “ I cleaned /didn’t clean the room.”
        The speaker assumes that me hearer already knows what the room is.
        The room was dirty.
51. “ He killed/didn’t kill the bird. ”
        The speaker assumes that the hearer already knows what the bird is.
        The bird was adve.
52. “ What was John worried about? ”
        The speaker assumes that the hearer already knows who John is.
        John was worried.
53. “ Bill drank another glass of beer.”
        The speaker assumes that the hearer already knows who Bill is.
        Bill had drunk at least one beer.
54. “ I think (that) I will pass the exam.”
        There will be an exam soon.
        I am/The speaker is going to take it. *
55. " I hope to have a good result for the exam. ”
          There will be an exam soon, and the speaker is going to take it.
          There was an exam soon, and the speaker has taken it.
56. “ I’ve got / have a good mark for the exam in American Literature. ”
          There was an exam in American Literature.
          The speaker has taken it.
57. “ Could you lend me the novel when you finish it? ”
          The speaker assumes that the hearer already knows what the novel is.
          You have not finished the novel yet. ( you will finish it ?)
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IV. Write down one conversational implicature that can be drawn from the second speaker's
    response in each of the following dialogues.
    (Note : Theory : pp. 128-132 )
Dialogue 1: A: “How do you like the new librarian at the information desk?”
            B: “You mean Ron? He's been here as long as I have!”
               B's utterance may implicate that Ron is not as new as you thought.
Dialogue 11: A: “ Do you use your local swimming pool very much? ”
            'B. “ The salt water hurts my eyes”
               B's utterance may implicate that B does not use the local swimming pool much.
Dialogue 12: A: “ Who was that man I just saw you with? ”
             B: “ That was just someone.”
               B's utterance may implicate that B cannot reveal the man's identity.
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Dialogue 13: A: “ Do you expect a lot of rain this month? ”
             B: “ It hardly ever rains 'in March. ”
                B's utterance may implicate that B does not expect any rain this month.
V. SPEECH ACT- KINDS For the following utterance, give two situations, interpret the utterance in
   the light of the situations you have provided, and then classify it according to the speech act it
   performs.
   (Note : Theory : pp. 146-152 )
       SITUATION 2:
   Wife: “ I don't think I stay in. It's cold in here. ”
   Husband: “ All right. Let's go out for some exercise. ”
    The wife directly gives the reason why/explains why she doesn't like to stay ia. This is A REPRESENTATIVE .
        SITUATION 2:
   Roy: “Why don't you study French? ”
   Roy's friend: “ Because I don't have time for it right now..”
   Roy directly asks for the reason why his friend refuses to take a course in French.This is A ROGATIVE .
       SITUATION 2:
   A: “ What do you think of this hat? ”
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   B; “ What a nice hat you're wearing.! ” (= Get rid of such an awful hat!')
       ( Since nice may be an expression of irony which means quite opposite.)
   B indirectly asks A to get rid of such an awful hat. This is A DIRECTIVE.
        SITUATION 2:
   A: “ Look before you leap. ”
   B: “ Thanks for your advice. ”
   A directly gives a piece of advice. This is A DIRECTIVE.
       SITUATION 2:
   John: “ Hurry up or else we'll miss the train. Do you know what time it is?”
   Linda: “ Wait a minute!9
   John is really upset because Linda is too slow. This is AN EXPRESSIVE.
        SITUATION 2:
   Alfred: “ Don't you know that smoking is strictly prohibited here? ” (='Do not smoke in here.')
   Kevin: “ Sorry.”
   Alfred indirectly orders Kevin no+ +o smoke in that place. This is A DIRECTIVE.
      SITUATION 2:
 Janet: “ Our oral presentation is not as well-prepared as it should be.'
 Mary: “ We're running out of time.'
  Mary indirectly suggests that Janet should accept what they've done for the presentation. This is A DIRECTIVE.
        SITUATION 2:
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   A: “ The ice cream is in the fridge.” (= 'Have some ice cream, please.')
   B: “ No, thanks. I'm full.'
   A indirectly invites B to have some ice cream. This is A DIRECTIVE.
        SITUATION 2:
   Alice: “ When will I receive my reimbursement? ”
   Victor: “ Authors always pay their debts. ” (= They pay you back later.)
   Victor indirectly promises to pay Alice back later. This is A COMMISSIVE.
       SITUATION 2:
  Ted: “ I’m working as fast as I can. ”
  Ted's wife: 'I know you are. ”
  Ted directly states the fact that he has been trying his best. This is A REPRESENTATIVE.
(Note : Theory : pp ;)
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1. Identify the presupposition in the following utterance:
  “ Billy really made a big mistake this time.”
  ANSWER: The utterance presupposes that both the speaker and the hearer know who Billy is.
2. Write down one implicature that can be drawn from the following utterance:
  “ Billy really made a big mistake this time. ”
  ANSWER: The utterance may implicate that Billy's previous mistakes were not big.
3. For the following utterance, give two situations, interpret the utterance in the light of the situations you have
  provided, and then classify it according to the speech act it performs.
  “ Billy really made a big mistake this time. ”
  ANSWER:
  Situation 1:
   Father [in an angry voice]: “ Billy really made a big mistake this time. ”
   Mother [begging Billy's father]: “ Give him another chance, will you? ”
   The father directly expresses his annoyance. This is AN EXPRESSIVE.
  Situation 2:
   Father: “ What was Billy's mistake like? ”
   Mother: “ Billy really made a big mistake this time. ”
   Billy's mother directly provides his father with a piece of information. This is A REPRESENTATIVE.
VII. Figures of speech : Interpret the meaning the following sentences and state what kind of figure
      of speech (also called figurative language) used in each of them.
    (Note : Theory : pp. 36-48 )
7. I need a change. I'm tired of seeing the same faces every day.
  "Faces", which is [+part], stands for "people", which is [+whole]. This is a synecdoche.
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9. All the best brains in Europe could not solve the problem.
  " Best brains", which is, [+part], stands for "Brilliant intellectuals(= intelligent, well-educated persons )", which is [+whole].
  This is a synecdoche. (Note : brain–thinking/thought = metonymy [he is the brain of the group?]; brain -intelligent person =
  synecdoche )
10. It's getting on my nerves30. (= irritate somebody, especially by doing something all the time )
   "My nerves", which is [+part], stands for "me", which is [+whole]. This is a synecdoche.
    The sentence means "It's annoying/irritating me (all the time)".
13. A dead leaf fell in my lap. That was Jack Frost's card.
  "Frost" is [-human] while "Jack" is [+human]. "Jack Frost", which is a way describing "frost" as a person used. especially
  when talking to children, is an expression of personification. The sentence means "the dead leaf [which fell in my lap}
  announced the appearance of frost".
15. Her father's illness casts cloud over her wedding day.
   "Cast a cloud over her wedding day" is a metaphor which means "make the people who attends wedding day feel less
   happy."
18. Ask yourself whether the connections of ideas in your essay are logically watertight.
   The sentence is a euphemism which means "the connections of ideas in your essay are not logically watertight".
  (watertight?)
19. In the over-mastering loneliness of that moment, his whole life seemed to him nothing but vanity.
   - "The over-mastering loneliness" is a metaphor which means "the state/feeling of being lonely and isolated [that
  reaches beyond a person's stamina] and [that is difficult to control]."
   - "his whole life" is implicitly compared to "vanity" This is another metaphor. The sentence means "he experienced such a
  terrible feeling that he felt that he had been leading a useless/worthless life”.
20. The Englishman believes that if he does not make trade everything, it will make him nothing.
  "Make trade everything” and "make him nothing are two overstatements.
  The sentence means "the Englishman has to make the most of his chances/opportunities in trade or else he will
  undoubtedly fail in life."
23. Length of days is in her right hand, and in her left hand are riches and honor.
  This sentence consists of two metaphors: "length of days" implies "time or process of struggle in life" while "riches and
  honor" implies "success and reputation".
  The whole sentence may be paraphrased as follows: "Her success is appreciated through her process of
  working" or "The more she invests her great effort in work, the more she gets success"
25. On some bright tomorrow they will come to the end of their endurance.
  "They will come to the end of their endurance" is a metaphor which means "they cannot endure something
   anymore" or "they will have no more endurance".
27. In an entire economy on the hoof. Ice Age animals supplied man with food, garments and tools.
   "The hoof, which is [+part], substitutes for "cattle/animals with horns and cloven hoofs", which is [+whole].
    This is a synecdoche. The whole sentence means "cattle once provided man with everything needed for his living".
38. As we are sailing into this millennium, we should know there are still many difficulties.
   - "A millennium" literally means "a period of 1,000 years".
   - "This millennium" in this context is implicitly compared to "a rough sea or a stormy ocean" into which we are
      sailing. This is a metaphor. The sentence means "we cannot avoid facing many difficulties in this millennium".
39.1 want to take part in the contest but I don't have the nerve.
  "The nerve", which is [+concrete], stands for "courage" or "boldness", which is [+abstract]. This is a metonymy.
   The sentence means "I want to take part in the contest but I don't dare to".
40.1 shall light a candle of understanding in thy heart, which shall not be put of.
  "Understanding" is implicitly compared to "the light of a candle", which shall never be put off once it has been lighted.
   This is a metaphor. The sentence means "I shall provide you with the understanding/knowledge that will last forever and
  lead you through your life".
42. Behind me, the hiss and whisper of the traffic turned homeward at the end of the day.
  "Traffic" is [-animate] and/or [-human] while "the hiss and -whisper" is [+animate] and/or [+human1. This is an expression
  of personification. The sentence means "I came home from work, going through heavy traffic during the rush hour".
45. They had been eating standing up, wolfing the cold food from dirty tin plates.
  "Wolfing" is a metaphor which means "eating quickly in big pieces without proper chewing".
47. It is thanks to you that we arrived late — your short cuts weren't short cuts at all.
  "It is thanks to you that we arrived late" is an expression of irony which blames our late arrival on you. The sentence
  means "it is you who is responsible for our !ate arrival".
48. If you have a head for figures, you can understand and do arithmetic easily.
  "A head", which is [+ concrete], stands for "a gift/a natural talent or ability, which is [+ abstract], This is a metonymy.
  The sentence means "you can do arithmetic easily if you are gifted in /clever at dealing with figures".
51. A school is a hopper into which children are heaved while they are still young.
  ''A school" is implicitly compared to "a hopper". This is a metaphor.
   The sentence means "children have been strictly trained since their early childhood".
53. In the high heavens rode a veiled moon; magnified by the mist of an early spring.
   "The moon' is given two human acts: "being decorated by ( with?) a veil' and "riding in/on a vehicle". This is an
   expression of personification. The sentence means "high in the sky was the moon, which was magnified by the
    surrounding mist of an early spring".
57. Your wit is only exceeded by your charm and good looks.
   A semantic paraphrase of this sentence is "your charm and good looks exceed your wit” The sentence is an
   expression of irony which means "you are beautiful but not intelligent".
64.1 felt as if I were walking with destiny, and that all my past life had been nothing but a preparation for a trial.
  - "Destiny", which literally means "fate", is regarded as a human being to walk with.
     This is an expression of personification.
   -    "Destiny" is also used metaphorically as "something beyond human power or control" or "a bundle of difficulties and
      challenges".
     The sentence means I felt that all my past effort had prepared me for any trouble in life, therefore, I was ready and
     self-confident enough to face such a trial, which was part of my life.
65. Your contribution will seem like a drop in the bucket of this great bundle of red tape.
   "A drop", which literally means "a small quantity", implies "not helpful enough". This is a metaphor.
   - "Your contribution" is explicitly compared to "a drop in the bucket of this year bundle of red tape". This is a simile.
   - "Red tape", which is [+sign], stands for "bureaucracy" or "a complicated official system which is annoying or confusing
     because it has a lot of rules, processes, etc., which is [+ something abstract]. This is a metonymy. The sentence means
     "your contribution is meaningless for the bureaucracy accompanied with US large number of oppressively complex and
     time-consuming procedures".
66. While he was courageously battling his way through the sea of life, fate stepped in and tripped him up.
   - In "the sea of life" human life" is implicitly compared to "a sea both being characteristic of their vastness and
     unexpectedness. This is a metaphor.
    - "Fate" is given a human act: "stepped in and tripped him up". This is an expression of personification. The
     sentence means "while he was struggling hard against the challenges and/or difficulties in his immense life, he
     faced his bad luck / misfortune and failed'.
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