Monday 1 September 2008

Academic writing style


<http://www.uefap.com/writing/exercise/feature/nounex1.htm>
Rewrite the underlined parts of the following sentences using a noun-based phrase instead of the "wh" clause.


1. It is essential to discuss how much cultural and biological evolution can be explained by similar principles.
--> how much = the level of
--> the extent to which (answer)

2. Many factors must be considered in explaining how fast the population has grown in the developing countries.
--> the speech of growing population
--> rapid growth of population

3. Classes differ greatly in how membership is established and how fast membership changes.
--> the manner of the establishment of membership and in the rate of membership change.

4. There are advantages and declines in labour productivity and both are related to how much the population density is increasing.
--> increasing of the population density
--> increasing population density.

5. Anthony Eden, the Foreign Secretary, asked them how much the full internationalisation of civil aviation was possible.
--> for
--> to what extent

6. It follows that the key issue is how much there was a significant Soviet threat to those supplies.
--> that
--> the extent to which

7. But even in this he is a failure as he can't remember a word, nor does he know why he is going to be executed.
--> the reason for his impending execution

8. I cannot avoid the feeling why we were disenchanted was simply because of the kinds of problems we were given.
--> the reason of being disenchanted
--> that the reason for our disenchantment lay simply because

9. On the surface, why women and domestic architecture were associated were obvious.
--> the reason of associating women and domestic architecture
--> the reasons for the association between women and domestic architecture

10. Menzel (1973) has shown that non-speaking chimpanzees can convey where food is to one another.
--> the place of food
--> the location of food

11. It is easiest to list foods and drinks according to where they are stored.
--> stock
--> the location in which they are stored.

12. How much precaution is taken is regularly reviewed in the light of the patient's progress.
--> Taking precaution
--> The level of precaution

13. The week following admission appears to be when the risk is greatest.
--> at the greatest risk
--> the time of greatest risk

14. It is important to remember that whatever type of subsequent care is to occur, the period after discharge may be when things are particularly difficult.
--> at particular difficult time.
--> a time of particular difficulty

15. When the riots occurred, 36 per cent of the workforce in Handsworth was out of work.
--> As occurring the riots
--> At the time of the riots

16. These star charts were provided to enable the deceased to tell what time it is and what day it is.
--> the time and the date
--> time of night or the date in the calendar.

17. After leaving the town, Tom Owen could at first find nowhere for his family to rest at all.
--> a rested place for his family
--> no place of rest for his family

18. When I was fifteen or sixteen none of my peers were interested in such matters.
--> as
--> At the age of

19. How long the prisoner stays in prison is determined by someone who has not heard any representations by or on behalf of the prisoner on grounds which the prisoner does not know.
--> The period of staying in prison
--> The length of imprisonment

20. How big this group is varies in different centres.
--> The size of this group

Some sentences i don't know how to change it better: 3,7,20
After checking answers, i think my answer is very poor and such an exercise is very useful for practising writing accademic english. This exercise is quite difficult for me.:-(

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