Internet Page Authoring for Independent Language Learning Workshop

Part 2 - Exercise

Choose an exercise where you can give an explanation of one very small area of English, and then test the students’ ability to apply that knowledge with either multiple choice or select-the-word type questions.

Type up the explanation, instructions, questions, and feedback for the answers as a Microsoft Word document, and bring it on floppy disk to the workshop.

There is an example below. The multiple choice options are linked to feedback further down the page. We will learn how to do this in the workshop. There is a lot of space between them so that the student only sees the feedback to the multiple choice option that they have clicked.

Click here to go back to the first page.


Exercise on Articles

The purpose of this exercise is for you to improve your ability to use articles (a, an, the) correctly. This exercise concentrates on the use of articles in front of the names of countries, states, provinces and cities.

Rules:

1) Countries
Do not use an article in front of the names of countries.
Examples: Hong Kong, China, America, Canada, Australia, Japan.

However, if the name of the country includes a political description of the country, use 'the', especially if the name includes 'Republic', or 'United'.
Examples: The Special Administrative Region of Hong Kong; The People's Republic of China; The United States of America.

Also, if the name is plural; e.g. 'the Philippines', or 'the Netherlands', use 'the' in front.

'Wales' is not a plural; the 's' at the end is part of the name.

2) States and Provinces
Do not use an article in front of the names of states and provinces.
Examples: Guangdong, California.

However, if the name is plural, use 'the', for example; 'the New Territories'.

'New South Wales' is not a plural; the 's' at the end is part of the name.

3) Cities
Do not use articles in front of the name of cities.
Examples: Kowloon City, Beijing, New York, London, Tokyo.

However, there is one exception - a city called 'The Hague' in the Netherlands.

 

Exercise

The purpose of this exercise is for you to check if you have successfully understood these rules, and if you can apply them correctly. If you are not sure, click 'Rule' after you see the answer.

Click on the correct answers:

1. the Vietnam | Vietnam

2. the North Korea | North Korea

3. the Maldives | Maldives

4. the Wales | Wales

5. the United Kingdom | United Kingdom

6. the Fujian Province | Fujian Province

7. the Northern Territories | Northern Territories

8. the New South Wales | New South Wales

9. the Taipei | Taipei

10. the New York | New York

 

Here is a postcard. Click on names of places that include an articles mistake:


Dear Andy,
   We are having a wonderful time here in Philippines. Sebu has a wonderful beach. We had a good flight, landed in the Manila, and caught a plane down here. Hope the weather is fine in Hong Kong. We're going swimming now.
   Love,
      Candy & Cindy

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Mr Andy Leung
21B Sai Yeung Choi Street
the Kowloon
the Hong Kong SAR
China

 

Back to the task page.

 

 

 

 

 


Answers:

Yes, this country does have an article. It's name contains a political description. Click here for the rule.

Back to the questions. Back to the postcard.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Yes, this country does have an article. It's name has a plural. Click here for the rule.

Back to the questions. Back to the postcard.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Yes, this country does not have an article. There is no political description in the name, and the name is not a plural. Click here for the rule.

Back to the questions. Back to the postcard.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Yes, states and provinces do not have an article. Click here for the rule.

Back to the questions. Back to the postcard.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Yes, the names of cities do not have an article. Click here for the rule.

Back to the questions. Back to the postcard.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

No, this country does not have an article. There is no political description in the name, and the name is not a plural. Please try again. Click here for the rule.

Back to the questions. Back to the postcard.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

No, this country has an article because it's name is plural. Click here for the rule.

Back to the questions. Back to the postcard.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

No, this country has an article because part of its name is political. Click here for the rule.

Back to the questions. Back to the postcard.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

No, 'North' is not a political description. Please try again. Click here for the rule.

Back to the questions. Back to the postcard.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

No, the 's' at the end of Wales is part of the word, not a plural. Therefore there is no 'the' in front of 'Wales'. Click here for the rule.

Back to the questions. Back to the postcard.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

No, states and provinces do not have an article. Click here for the rule.

Back to the questions. Back to the postcard.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

No, the names of cities do not have an article. Click here for the rule.

Back to the questions. Back to the postcard.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

No, China does not have an article, because it does not have a political description in this name, and it is not plural. Click here for the rule.

Back to the questions. Back to the postcard.