My sis has a question about the handout the teacher gave her.
( ) You are a genius! What you just said is nothing _______
a super idea.
(A) more than
(B) less than
(C) rather than
(D) but
We both think the option D is the right answer.
But unfortunately, it goes to option B.
How come? Why?
Is it different between written and spoken english ?
Cuz I just SAID "but" without thinking.
Please help us get this thing clear up, thanks : ).
2007-03-16 20:42:15 · 9 answers · asked by Karen 2 in Education & Reference ➔ Homework Help
It's 'Nothing less than" a super idea, because a genius produces nothing less than a super idea.
"Nothing but" refers to a negative connotation. E.g. "You are nothing but a hound dog" (Old popular song, probably way before your time). It means 'you're nothing special', whereas "you're nothing less than" - a genius means: you ARE special.
2007-03-16 21:40:05 · answer #1 · answered by flywho 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The imperative statement in the first sentence seems lessened in power by using the word "but" in the blank. Reading it aloud both ways, see if you don't agree. Using "less than" keeps up the excitement that begins in the first statement and the sentence could easily be punctuated with the same exclamation point as well. I guess there is a rule or something to verify why "B" is the correct answer, but I don't know what it is. That would be a great question for your sister to ask in class and impress the teacher with. By the way, it is terrific of you to go to such lengths to help your sister with her homework! Thanks for caring!
2007-03-17 03:56:00 · answer #2 · answered by froggsfriend 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
this could be because the beginning says "you are a genius..." so a genius should usually have an answer that is on the highest level or the best level.
so then if the question compares the idea of the genius and a 'super idea', the genius idea should be already more than the super idea.
this means the answer could not be a, c, or d.
2007-03-17 03:57:07 · answer #3 · answered by AveGirl 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
English is such a beautifuly ambiguous language.
"...nothing but..." would suggest it is exactly that. It is EXACTLY a super idea in this example. It is no more and no less.
"...nothing less than..." suggests it is not less but leaves room open for more. If, in this example, it is nothing less than a super idea it must be either super or more than super.
It gets really grey in terms of what defines "super" and "genius."
Super, in its roots, really just means "above."
In terms of IQ scales anything over 130 to 160 (depending on the test used) defines genius. Anything over 120 is above average.
There are so very many other ways to define both "super" and "genius" that one could fill volumes of texts.
The question and "correct" answer (B) match if one assumes "super" to mean that it is above some but not above all.
However, (D) would be appropriate if one is to understand that "super" or "above" is actually above all.
Even for the best of native English speakers this could be debated ad infinitum.
The assumptions are, however, more in terms of the "but" and "nothing less."
What your sister is being asked to show is that she understands how "nothing less" can be used to show there is a possibility of something more. "But" limits the statement to exactly the words being said with no expectations of more or allowances for less. "More than" would mean that there would be no expectations of more than and possibilities for less than.
"Rather than" would be the most wrong answer (if the test is scored thus). It would need opposing ideas to be used at all (ex: "What you just said is nothing rather than
a super idea." >>>[meaning but poorly stated] "What you said is genius rather than a super idea." >>>[or, again, meaning but poorly stated] "What you said is nothing but genius rather than a super idea." For "rather" to be used there would need to be two ideas contrasted on either side of the "rather").
It's actually a very good question to gauge how well a person understands the nuances of English. It can seem unfair but remember that academic testing is as much to prove how much you have learned from your studies as it is to help you understand the areas in which you need to improve.
We may just have gotten too used to tests as a means to show what we know and forgotten that the purpose in education is to learn rather than get A's and be the best.
2007-03-17 04:26:03 · answer #4 · answered by ophelliaz 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yes, B makes more sense. 'But' would be another choice, but 'less than' is more grammically correct. The difference between them is...well write down the sentence using both ways. Which one seems to flow easier through your mind. 'but' or 'less than' I don't know if thats the right way to look at it, but thats what helped me to figure it out.
2007-03-17 03:49:20 · answer #5 · answered by Hope 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
the word "but" is a conjunction (like "and") and it links to clauses together. Since we are making a comparison and a super idea is... well a super idea.. it would be "less than" b/c it's not less than a super idea b/c it IS a super idea
2007-03-17 05:07:28 · answer #6 · answered by jasmin4787 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
A super idea is already at the top, so it is nothing less ^_^
Also, you don't normally use "nothing" and "but" together, I guess.
--FZK
2007-03-17 03:48:39 · answer #7 · answered by Inquiry Complex 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
English (British) grammar is different from American grammar.
2007-03-17 04:00:02 · answer #8 · answered by g p 6 · 1⤊ 1⤋
I think it is 'but'.
2007-03-17 11:41:27 · answer #9 · answered by Jessica 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋