Short Answer Comprehension Skills – Focus On Inverted Commas
Inverted Commas
(“...”) or ( ‘…’ ) Quotation marks or inverted commas (also called quotes and speech marks) are punctuation marks used in pairs to set off speech, a quotation, a phrase or a word.
The basic premise is that it is used to emphasize a point to be made indicating that it is the opposite of the intended meaning(hence the author could be presenting an irony OR be sarcastic in attempting to criticize the popular opinion presented)
Example:
Look at the facts. While women have made much progress in the workplace, there is still a long way to go before real equality is achieved. Globally, female directors of companies are few and far between. Women are still under-represented in the 'public' realm of politics.
Why does the writer put quotation marks around 'public'? (1m)
BASIC PREMISE: The politics realm is not public.
Ans: It is show that the writer disagrees that politics is open to allbecause females are not given fair political opportunities (1).
EXERCISES ON INVERTED COMMAS
1. AJC Prelim 2003
One reason these mighty pirates have such a free reign is that the Anglo-American intelligentsia – journalists, academics, writers, the ‘people with a voice’ – are quiet or complicit. Consider the coverage of Iraq today. While Iraqi concerns may be acknowledged, American news agenda dominate. Civilians are killed, illegally, day after day, in the bombing by British and American forces, but there is scant media reporting in the ‘global’ media. What really concerns them is how the conflicts affect businesses.
1. In putting the word ‘global’ (line 41) in inverted commas, the author has pointed out contradictory aspects of the media in the passage. Identify 2 of these contradictions. Use your own words as far as possible. [2]
2. ACJC Prelim 2003
A decade or two ago, one used to think an 'entertainment empire' was an incidental, if highly profitable, aspect of serious political power and control. Now big corporations wield more power than national governments, and it is in their interest to make the world safe for shopping by promoting a pseudo-democratic 'culture' where obedient workers obtain their rewards by consuming movies, TV, music, fashions, cigarettes and foods, and by making other 'lifestyle' expenditures. 'Rebellion' is part of the package of associated values offered with every purchase, in the form of the rock star's individual bravado rather than political or social protest.
Why does the author place the word 'rebellion' (line 26) in inverted commas? Use your own words as far as possible. [2]
______
3. HCJC Prelim 2003
Identity, then, has become a perilous notion. It is multiple and ever-changing. And the most fundamental change is this: all those other categories through which we in the West defined and measured ourselves – the ‘evil Orientals’, … the ‘evil Orientals’, the ‘fanatical Muslims’, the ‘inferior races of the colonies’, the immigrants, the refugees, the gypsies- are now an integral part of ourselves.
“… the ‘evil Orientals’, the ‘fanatical Muslims’, the ‘inferior races of the colonies’ …” (lines 27-28). Why has Sardar placed these labels in inverted commas? (1m)
4. AJC Prelims 2007
Local townships are like defenceless villages against companies wanting to impose'advances' like big supermarkets at the expense of the local ambience or a stream’s fishes. Australians, for instance, take it as a God-given right to fish our rivers, estuaries and seas as if there is infinite abundance for man to take. Fish and crabs are 'free'. 'We fish and we vote' says the slogan on gas-guzzling four-wheel drives draped with fishing rods.
Why does the writer use quotation marks for the word ‘advances’ (line 15)? [1m]
5. JJC Prelims 2007
Questions like these are disingenuous in a world in which terrorists proclaim themselves and perform for television. The name of their game is public recognition. After all, you can’t very well intimidate a government into releasing your freedom fighters unless you announce that it is your group that has seized its embassy. ‘Clear guilt’ is difficult to define, but when 40 million people see a group of masked men seize an airplane on the evening news, there is not much question about who the perpetrators are. There will be hard cases where the situation is murkier.
Explain the use of quotation marks for the words ‘clear guilt’. (1m)
6. MJC Prelims 2007
None of this is peculiar to America or other rich countries; the same thing is happening in the developing world in even starker form. Members of the talent elite try hard to give their children every possible advantage. One recent bestseller in China, “Harvard Girl”, tells the story of two parents who trained their daughter for Harvard from birth, barraging her with verbal stimuli, subjecting her to a strenuous regime of home study and making her swim long distances. An even “greater” example is RafflesJunior College in Singapore, one of the most successful schools at getting students into American Ivy League universities.
Why is the word “greater” (line 45) in inverted commas? [2]
7. SAJC Prelims 2007
Even though many would argue that Western culture is in no way superior to other cultures, this has not stopped the West from carrying out ‘civilising missions’ and in the process, used the word “civilisation” to justify brutality, colonialism, even slavery and genocide. Indeed, Western concepts, in the form of greater communication and exchanges between different cultures, have opened up a host of new opportunities. In so doing it has paved the way for greater human freedom. But in spite of these many positive developments, the end of the Cold War – now often treated almost with nostalgia by some – and the continuing process of globalisation have also given rise to many uncertainties.
Why does the author use quotation marks to explain ‘civilising missions’ (line 2)? [1]
8. VJC Prelims 2008
Attempts to understand chess within a stimulus-response framework are doomed to failure and the claims that people play chess for immediate pleasure, for excitement or for thrills are misguided. There are no studies of “chess addicts” in the literature, yet chess can absorb a person’s life as completely as heroin can consume the life of a drug addict.
Why does the author put quotation marks round “chess addicts” (line 14)? Use your own words as far as possible. [2]
9. ACJC Prelims 2008
The final reason more celebrities are interested in making the world a better place is that it is simply easier for anyone to become a policy activist today. An effective policy entrepreneur requires a few simple commodities: expertise, money and the ability to command the media’s attention. Celebrities already have the latter two; the Internet has enabled them to catch up on information-gathering. Several celebrities even have “philanthropic advisors” to facilitate their activism. This does not mean that celebrities will become authentic experts on a country or issue. They can, however, acquire enough knowledge to pen an op-ed or sound competent on a talk show. And when they look sexy doing it, all bets are off.
Explain the writer’s use of inverted commas in “philanthropic advisors” (line 19). (1m)
10. JJC Prelims 2008
There seems to be a rising tide of mental illnesses, a rising demand for ‘lifestyle’ medications and even several new ‘conditions’. Common ‘shyness’ is now a ‘social phobia’; screwing around is ‘sexual-addiction syndrome’; and bad-tempered people now have ‘emotionally unstable personality disorders’. So why not ‘malignant self-actualization’ syndrome (MSA) – defined as a disabling condition which elevates personal choice into the highest arbiter of everything? It’s not yet in the standard psychiatric disease classifications but maybe it should be.
Why does the author put quotation marks round ‘conditions’ (line 8)? (1m)
11. HCJC Prelims 2008
Indeed, some argue that many of us are suffering from what has been termed 'celebrity worship syndrome' (CWS), an obsessive-addictive disorder. One research team from the University of Leicester found that 36 per cent of British residents are afflicted with CWS. The worst affected inhabit a joyless world ruled by delusions and pipe dreams about a celebrity who has been distorted into an empty parody. Once possessed by their celebrity demons, they become solitary, neurotic and even self-destructive. Those with less intense CWS can still function, but their over-involvement with 'their' celebrity consumes a lot of time, energy and income.
Why does the writer put the word ‘their’ in inverted commas in line 29? [1m]
12. CJC Common Test 2010
At the time, it was important for women to realise that they did not have to be locked up in the kitchen. Today, the concerns are different. But it would be equally wrong for women now to take a step back and proudly proclaim that they want to exercise the right to be stay-at-home mothers without first realising that women have always had that 'right'. We never had to fight for it. It was handed to us on a silver platter from the beginning of time, with pink ribbons attached.
Why does the writer put quotation marks around 'right'? (2m)
Answers on Quotation marks
1. AJC Prelim 2003
In putting the word ‘global’ (line 41) in inverted commas, the author has pointed out contradictory aspects of the media in the passage. Identify two of these contradictions. Use your own words as far as possible [2]paraphrase
The news reported should be about the world, but in fact it is only news on the more powerful governments and corporations [1].
It should not be controlled by only a small number of media companies, but it is not [1].
It only reports what people want to know, and not news around the world. [1]
It only reports on the West, and not news around the world. [1]
[X not acceptable:
examples: there is only news on America, not on women in Pakistan
answers not incorporating ‘global’: there is only news on economic issues, not others]
[** contradiction must be shown]
2. ACJC Prelim 2003
Why does the author place the word 'rebellion' (line 26) in inverted commas? [2]
Lifted / Paraphrase- 'Rebellion' is part of a package of associated values offered with every purchase, in the form of a rock star's individual bravado rather than political orsocial protest.
- The use of inverted commas implies/suggests that the word is not used as it should be / author means to be ironic. (½m)
- 'Rebellion' today appears to be affected behaviour/put on for appearances/not genuine/fed to us. (1m)
- Whereas the conventional understanding of rebellion encompasses/encapsulates political or social action/objection/ opposition. (½m)
3. HCJC Prelim 2003
“… the ‘evil Orientals’, the ‘fanatical Muslims’, the ‘inferior races of the colonies’ …” (lines 27-28). Why has Sardar placed these labels in inverted commas? (1m)
The inverted commas suggest that Sardar is aware that these are derogatory stereotypes.
By using the inverted commas, he shows that he does not think that these labels hold true but that they reflect the prejudice of those who use them. (1)
4. AJC Prelims 2007
Why does the writer use quotation marks for the word ‘advances’ (line 15)? [1m]
LIFT / ParaphraseLocal townships are like defenceless villages against companies wanting to impose ‘advances’ like big supermarkets at the expense of the local ambience or streams.
(line 15-16) / The writer does not agree that the arrival of shopping malls is a sign of progress and development.
-Students should explain what “advances” mean.
5. JJC Prelims 2007
Explain the use of quotation marks for the words ‘clear guilt’. (1m)
Lifted / Inferred/ Paraphrased‘Clear guilt’ is difficult to define / The author questions the usage of the phrase/disagrees with the usage of the phrase
(DON’T ACCEPT: “NOT ACCURATELY USED”) / ½
Because he thinks that it is impossible to establish culpability. / ½
6. MJC Prelims 2007
Why is the word “greater” (line 45) in inverted commas? [2]
Contextual clues / ACCEPTED ANSWERS / MARKAn even “greater” example is RafflesJunior College in Singapore, one of the most successful schools at getting students into American Ivy League universities. / It shows sarcasm.
OR
It implies the (completely) opposite sense of “great” or “greater”.
OR
It is neither great nor greater. / 1
The schedule students in RafflesJunior College undergo may be worse / more rigorous / arduous / exhausting / demanding than the Harvard Girl.
OR
The extent / degree of the pressure / stress RafflesJunior College students go through can have unhealthy consequences.
OR
The regimen RafflesJunior College students go through (which results in their successful admission into Ivy league universities) may not be as laudable or exemplary as it seems.
OR
It contributes to greater inequality. / 1
7. SAJC Prelim 2007
Why does the author use quotation marks to explain ‘civilising missions’ (line 2)? [1]
Lifted / Paraphrased(Inferred)
Even though many would argue that Western culture is in no way superior to other cultures, this has not stopped the West from carrying out ‘civilising missions’ and in the process, used the word “civilisation” to justify brutality, colonialism, even slavery and genocide. (lines 1-3) / A civilising mission aims to propagate values of refinement, freedom, development and humanity in order to lead a society out of its primitive state/condition.
The quotation marks highlight the author’s cynicism (attitude) towards the hypocrisy of those on the missions who misuse these missions to rationalise their violent acts on other societies. [1 or 0; no ½ m]
8. VJC Prelims 2008
Why does the author put quotation marks round “chess addicts” (line 14)? Use your own words as far as possible.
Lifted / ParaphrasedThere are no studies of “chess addicts” in the literature, yet chess can absorba person's life as completely as ... (l.14-16) / The term does not exist/ is coined by author [1]
(inferred) Preoccupation with chess is not seen/perceived/defined/portrayed/ regarded [1/2] as compulsiveness/ dependency/loss of control [1/2].
9. ACJC Prelims 2008
Explain the writer’s use of inverted commas in “philanthropic advisors” (line 19). (1m)
Lift from the passage / ParaphraseSeveral celebrities even have “philanthropic advisors” to facilitate their activism. (line 19) / Inference
The writer is being sarcastic that/ wants to point out the irony that/ is not using the phrase in the conventional sense (1/2m)
celebrities even need advice on how to be philanthropic when true philanthropy should come from themselves/ celebrities are using philanthropic advisors not out of genuine charity but for personal gain. (1/2m)
10. JJC Prelims 2008
Why does the author put quotation marks round ‘conditions’ (line 8)? (1m)
Text / Inference / ParaphraseThere seems to be a rising tide of mental illnesses, a rising demand for ‘lifestyle’ medications and even several new ‘conditions’. / He makes use of inverted commas to show that he is disbelieving / skeptical / disagrees with / challenges the notion of (½m)
*do not accept “sarcasm” or “mocking”
the labeling of social problems as mental illnesses (½m)
*idea that “conditions” is a misnomer must be expressed (eg. 0 if student only says that the conditions do not exist)
11. HCJC Prelims 2008
Why does the writer put the word ‘their’ in inverted commas in line 29? [1m]
LIFTS (From Passage) / EXPLANATION…but their over-involvement with 'their' celebrity consumes a lot of time, energy and income. [L29-30] / The word ‘their’ is in inverted commas to show that those affected with less intense CWS are deluded into believing/are convinced that the star belongs to them/constitutes their personal property (which is obviously not the case).
12. CJC Common Test 2010
Why does the writer put quotation marks around 'right'? (2m)
Lifted / ParaphraseBut it would be equally wrong for women now to take a step back and proudly proclaim that they want to exercise the right to be stay-at-home mothers without first realising that women have always had that 'right'. (lines 38-39) / The writer uses inverted commas to show ironically (1) that while some may expect it to be a right,
-It is not a right because some feminists may feel that it is a restriction/handicap/imposition on women. (1)
OR
-it is not a right because it is a traditional role that women have always had (1)