Smart Exam Techniques: How to Answer Quantifiers Questions: 'Context + Elimination Techniques' with Grade 12 Entrance and Smart Notes In 3 Languages

Smart Exam Techniques: How to Answer Quantifiers Questions: 'Context + Elimination Techniques'
By Million Abebe (Masters in English and B. Ed. Degree in Pedagogy)
General Overview
Dear students/anyone reading this, in this material, I am going to show you exam techniques: 'how to answer any question about quantifiers' using 'context + elimination techniques'!
  • "The primary principle of 'exam techniques' having subject matter knowledge!" 
    • So, before directly starting this, make sure that you have covered all the topics, in quantifiers, and understood each of them! 
    • For more, see the next smart overview; if you have not yet covered all the topics and understood each of them, the links are given at the end!





Specific Overview
This material (exam techniques for quantifiers questions: 'Context + Elimination Techniques') has the next 3 interrelated sub-sections: 
  • Brief Description of the Techniques
  • Application of the Techniques
  • Practice Questions: Entrance and others
1. Brief Description of the Techniques: 2 steps 
Any question related to quantifiers could be answered using 'Context + Elimination Techniques'! To use the techniques, follow the next 2 simple steps: understanding context and eliminating.
1.1. Understanding Context based on clues: 
Whenever you are asked quantifiers questions, the first thing that you should do is "understanding the given context" (the question and the choices) based on concrete clues/reasons!
  • Read the given sentence/sentences carefully and understand the question: 
    • Meaning: Look the meaning of the given ideas (negative/positive?)!
    • Nature of nouns: Look the given noun (is it countable/uncountable noun?) If it is countable, make sure whether it is singular or plural noun!
  • Note: Quantifiers are words or group of words that are used to describe quantities of things based on nature of nouns (countable/uncountable...) and meaning of the given ideas (negative/positive)!
1.2. Elimination: After understanding the given question, the second step is eliminating wrong choices based on clues/reasons (understanding)!
Note: 
  • After understanding the question and eliminating all wrong choices (based on clues), you will be left with correct answer upon which you could be 100% sure!
2. Application of the Techniques: 
Here, detail explanations are for Grade 12 Entrance Questions (English, Ethiopia) about quantifiers to show you how to apply 'Context + Elimination Techniques'! Read the explanations carefully and apply the techniques whenever you are asked questions about quantifiers!

Q. I am left with ____ patience; I will not tolerate you anymore. (G-12: Entrance: G-12: Entrance: 1998)
A. few  
B. less  
C. little    
D. much
Explanation-1 
Let's see how to answer the above question and other related questions using 'context + elimination techniques': understanding context and eliminating wrong choices!
Look the two given clauses; the question is about negative idea (clue: see the clause "I will not tolerate you anymore" and the given noun is uncountable (clue: "patience" is uncountable noun): 'small amount of patience'. Based on these 3 clues, choices A, B and D are wrong: 100% sure, they should be eliminated: C is correct answer! 
Choice A is wrong because 'few' is used for negative idea with countable noun, not with uncountable noun ("patience").
Choice B is wrong because 'less' is not quantifier: it is used for comparison (comparative degree). 
Choice D is wrong because 'much' is for negative/positive or question with uncountable noun but for large quantities not for small quantities.
Rules: 'A little' is used for positive ideas, small quantities with uncountable noun!
Ans. C
Q. Unlike last year, only_________ students needed extra help this year last year we helped almost everyone in the class. (G-12: Entrance: 2017)
A. many 
B. a few
C. most 
D. a little
Explanation-2 
Simply using the words "only" & ''students" as clues, the above question could be answered in one step. This question talks about negative idea ('clues: in quantifiers, 'only' is used for negative ideas with 'A few' and 'a little'.); the given noun ''students" is countable noun. Based on these, all the given choices must be eliminated except B: B is correct answer! Because the term "only" is used with 'a few' and 'a little' but the given noun ''students" is countable noun. For additional, see the rules below.
Ans. B
Rules:  'A few' and 'a little' are for positive ideas but when they are used with 'only', they are used for negative idea/to make the given idea negative! 
  • The term 'only' is used with 'a few' and 'a little' to make the given idea negative. 
  • 'A few' is used with countable noun for positive idea.
  • 'A little' is used with uncountable noun for negative idea. 
  • Form: only + a few/ a little
Q. Come on! Let's do ____ about it. It requires action. (G-12: Entrance: 1997)
A. nothing   
B. all things   
C. anything    
D. something 
Explanation-3 
The above question and related questions could be answered by applying 'context + elimination techniques': understanding context (the given question: negative or positive?...) and eliminating wrong choices!
Look this question; it is about particular positive idea. The speaker is asking the group to do a particular action but not specifically known action. Based on these (particular, positive idea), choices A, B and C are wrong: they must be eliminated: 100% sure, D is correct answer!
'Nothing' (A) and 'anything' (C) are used for negative ideas, not for positive ideas; 'all things' (B) could be used for positive idea but not for particular/single unknown thing/action.
Rules: 'Something' is used for positive idea that refer to particular thing/action/idea.
Ans. D
Q. _________ listening ___________ reading are important academic skills students need to develop. (G-12: Entrance: 2017)
A. Neither/nor 
B. Both/and
C. Either/nor 
D. Either/or
Explanation-4  
The above question talks about positive ideas: it is clear that 'listening' and 'reading' are important... both are important! Based on this, choices A, C and D are wrong: they should be eliminated: B is correct answer.
Choice A is wrong because 'neither/nor' is used for negative idea not for positive ideas.
Choice C is grammatically wrong because 'either' is used with 'or' not with 'nor' to show alternatives.  
Choice D is wrong because 'either/or' is used to show alternatives, to say one of the two, not to say both!
Ans. B
Brief Rules
  • 'Neither' is used for negative ideas without negative verbs/words to refer two things.
  • 'Neither' could be used only by itself or with 'nor' or other negative verbs like 'not'! 
  • 'Either' is used to show alternatives/options; in addition, it could be used for negative but it must be used with negative verbs/words.
  • 'Either' could be used only by itself or with 'or'. 
  • 'Both'/both ... and' could be used for positive ideas or for negative ideas. But to show negative ideas, there must be negative verbs/words.
    • 'Both'/both ... and' could be followed by plural verb.
    • Forms:
      • both + plural noun + plural verb
      • both + singular noun + and + singular noun + plural verb
Q. When the king comes to visit, they allow ___________ beggar on the streets of the city. They want to appear as if they don't have one. (G-12: Entrance: 2007)
A. no         
B. all      
C. none     
D. every
Explanation-5 
As repeatedly said, the first thing to be done to answer any question about quantifiers is understanding the context: making sure whether the given idea is positive or negative and the given noun is countable or uncountable. 
So, look the above question and make sure whether the given idea is positive or negative!
The above question is about negative; they (the leaders of the city) don't want to see beggars on the streets of the city because the king comes to visit the city. 
Using this as clue, eliminate choices B and D; 'all' and 'every' are normally used for positive ideas. 
You are left with choices A and C but both 'no' and 'none' could be used for negative ideas. 
As I said whenever you are given two and more than two quantifiers on different choices, look carefully the meaning or the given quantity. 
To choose or to eliminate on the above choices A and C, look how 'no' and 'none' are used. 
  • 'No' is adjective; it is used before noun or after linking verbs.
  • 'None' is pronoun; it is used as subject/object/before 'of + plural noun'.
Look the above question; the given blank space is followed by noun 'beggars'.
Ans. A 

=========//========
Practice Questions: Grade 12 Entrance Exam and Other New Questions 
Instructions: Some of the next questions are taken from Grade 12 Entrance Exam Questions (English, Ethiopia); some are new and very challenging questions!
Practice each of them by applying 'context + elimination techniques': understanding context and eliminating wrong choices based on clues!
1. Take as _____ sugar as possible with your tea; it is not good for your health. (G-12: Entrance: 1995)
A. little   
B. a few   
C. least     
D. much  
2. Waiter: Do you take sugar in your coffee?
Customer: ____. (G-12: Entrance: 1996)
A. Just a few  
B. I take coffee in my sugar   
C. I prefer it black   
D. Just a little 
3.  You can say ____ you like; I am not bothered. (G-12: Entrance: G-12: Entrance: 1997)
A. everything   
B. something   
C. anything   
D. nothing 
4. Come on! Let's do ____ about it. It requires action. (G-12: Entrance: 1997)
A. nothing   
B. all things   
C. anything    
D. something 
5. I am planning to do _____ business with a partner. (G-12: Entrance: 1997)
A. little   
B. much  
C. some  
D. a few
6. Nowadays, ___ you go,  you hear/see ___ is talking about coronavirus. You get _______ free from this. Every talk/issue dominated by coronavirus, including this worksheet. (NEW) 
A. nowhere/everyone/nowhere       
B. everywhere/everyone/nowhere  
C. everywhere/everyone/no one    
D. somewhere/everyone/nowhere 
7. Nowadays, ____you go,  you hear/see ____ is talking about politics. You get _____ who gives concern to politics. ___ talk/issue is dominated by coronavirus, including this worksheet.  (NEW)
A. everywhere/no one/no one/Each      
B. everywhere/no one/everybody/Every      
C. everywhere/no one/no one/Every     
D. nowhere/everyone/everyone/All 
8.  As the course is new, there are ________ books in the library. We are required to wait up to two days to get our turn. (NEW)
A. a few      
B. few     
C. little   
D. a little 
9. As the course is new, there are ________ books about/on it in the library. No one has enough concept about the course.  (NEW)
A. a few      
B. few     
C. little   
D. a little
10. _____ attempts have been made to get medicine for coronavirus but _____ has yet come up with a single one.  (NEW)
A. No/no one             
B. A lot of/anyone
C. A lot of/anything   
D.  Many/everyone 
==========//==========

Links: All Related Links in One Place 
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