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Question:

Multiple choice question

Ambiguous means that something can have more than one meaning and can be understood in two different ways.

For example:

The teacher’s instructions were so ambiguous that we didn’t know what she wanted us to do.

Her answer was ambiguous: Some of us thought she wanted us to go with her and some of us thought that she wanted to go alone.

can understand in more than one way

unclear

has more than one meaning

easy to understand

Which answers are closest in meaning to ambiguous? Choose the 3 correct answers.

Response:

has more than one meaning

unclear

can understand in more than one way

easy to understand
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Question:

Multiple choice question

Ambiguous statements are often very funny because you can understand them in more than one way.

'I will meet you at 9:00 in the morning, not in the evening.'

'I shot the thief with a knife.'

'My dog will eat anything and he especially likes children.'

'I am looking for a babysitter to watch a baby who doesn't smoke.'

Which 3 answers below are ambiguous and can be understood in two ways? 

Response:

'I shot the thief with a knife.'

'My dog will eat anything and he especially likes children.'

'I am looking for a babysitter to watch a baby who doesn't smoke.'

'I will meet you at 9:00 in the morning, not in the evening.'
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Question:

Multiple choice question

If you heard a man scream two words, "don’t" and "stop", you might not know if he means, "don’t do that, I want you to stop" - or if he means, "don’t stop doing that".

Words may have more than one meaning and we use background information or context to understand exactly what the speaker means.

When the words appear in writing, punctuation can also help to solve this kind of ambiguity.

 

Don't stop!

Don't, stop!

Don't...stop!

Don't. Stop.

Which answers below use punctuation to solve the problem of ambiguity, and make it clear that the speaker wants you to stop?

Choose the 3 correct answers. 

Response:

Don't...stop!

Don't, stop!

Don't. Stop.

Don't stop!
Score 3 of 3

Question:

Multiple choice question

Sometimes writers do not notice that their sentences are ambiguous and can be understood in two different ways.

For example:

Ali is an Egyptian fish biologist.

This sentence can have 2 different meanings:

1. Ali is an Egyptian, he is a biologist who studies fish.

2. Ali is a biologist who studies Egyptian fish.

However, writers sometimes choose to make their statements ambiguous.

to avoid angry responses from readers

to emphasize what they really mean

to avoid hurting other people's feelings

to avoid getting into trouble

Why would a writer decide to use an ambiguous statement instead of saying something openly and clearly? Choose the 3 correct answers.

Response:

to emphasize what they really mean

to avoid angry responses from readers

to avoid getting into trouble

to avoid hurting other people's feelings