CHAPTER5EXERCISE6_MYERS

Chapter 5 Exercise 6

Explain the semantic ambiguity of the following sentences by providing two or more sentences that paraphrase the multiple meanings.

a. He waited by the bank.

• He waited by Citi Bank.

• He waited on the steep slope by the water.

b. Is he really that kind?

• Is he really that nice?
• Is he really that type of person?

100. The proprietor of the fish store was the sole owner.

• The proprietor of the fish store is the only owner.
• The proprietor owns the sole fish.

500. The long drill was boring.

• The drill was drilling a hole.
• The task was tedious.

e. When he got the clear title to the land, it was a good deed.

• It was a good bargain for the land's title.
• When he got the clear title to the land, it benefited him and the people around him.

f. It takes a good ruler to make a straight line.

• You need a good unit of measurement to draw a straight line.
• It takes a good dictator to keep the people in order.

g. He saw that gasoline can explode.

• He saw that gasoline is flammable.
• He saw that the price of gasoline can increase very quickly.

h. You should see her shop.

• You should see the shop that the woman owns.
• You should see how she buys objects.

I. Every man loves a woman.

• All men love the same woman.
• Every man loves a different woman.

j. You get half off the cost of your hotel room if you make your own bed.

• It is half off the price of the hotel room if you make your own bed.
• You only get half of the hotel room if you make your own bed.

k. “It's his job to lose” (said the coach about his new player).

• It's his job to not win the game.
• It's his job to misplace the ball.

Challenge Exercise:  Bill wants to marry a Norwegian woman.

- Bill wants to have a wedding and have a Norwegian woman as his spouse.
- Bill wants to enjoy a Norwegian woman.