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Was this year's DSE English paper too difficult?

 

有公眾人士投稿到本地英文報紙，認為本屆香港中學文憑試英文閱讀卷過分艱深。

Kevin 和 Crystal 會從這封信出發，看看英文投訴信可以怎麼寫！

 

I am writing to express my disappointment with the latest English paper in the Diploma of Secondary Education (DSE) examination. (Letter to the Editor, SCMP)

 

投訴信開首，不妨開宗明義，明言不滿何事：

 

I am writing to express my disappointment with + n.

I am writing to express my frustration with + n.

I am writing to express my discontent with + n.

I am writing to express my dissatisfaction with + n.

► I am writing to vent my anger about / frustration with…

 

本屆文憑試英文閱讀卷難在哪裡？投稿者續說：

 

The reading passages of the exam this year , which were sourced from The Washington Post, The New York Times and a New South Wales government document, have exposed the authority's lack of basic understanding about the socio-economic background and daily trials of most local DSE students.

 

trial

(noun 名詞)

 

► 試驗, 試用

例子：The new drug is undergoing clinical trials.   正在接受臨牀試驗的一種新藥

 

► by trial and error反覆試驗

例子：You’ll find out by trial and error which method is the best.  

 

► (COURT 法庭用語) 審判，審理

例子：a murder trial   一宗謀殺案的審判

例子：a fair trial  公正的審判。

 

► trials and tribulations 艱難困苦

 = difficulties and troubles

 

例子：After many trials and tribulations we succeeded.

 

投稿者曾把試卷交給以英語為母語人士參考，連他們也覺難：

 

The questions go beyond testing the basic English comprehension ability of the candidates, and they do so under extremely stressful exam conditions.

 

under {excellent/terrible etc...} conditions

例子：The people are living under appalling conditions.  

 

► be in {good/bad/perfect/awful etc.} condition

例子：The machine has been well maintained and is in excellent condition. 極佳狀態

 

► working/driving/living etc conditions

例子：Poor working conditions

 

► meet/satisfy a condition滿足條件

例子：He has got a conditional offer from the university. He has to satisfy some conditions.

 

文憑試的結果，對考生前途影響甚大：

 

DSE exam results are the benchmark for university admission and job application in Hong Kong.

 

benchmark 衡量標準，評判尺度

(noun 名詞)

 

= bench mark

= yardstick

 

例子：Is profit the only yardstick of success?   利潤是成功的唯一標準嗎？

 

 

Kevin 教室

 

It is high time…

 

It is high time the authority review its English reading paper.

 

GRAMMAR:

It is high time + clause (hidden modal verb)

例子：It is high time the authority (should) review its English reading paper.

 

It is high time + clause (PAST)

例子：It is high time the authority reviewed its English reading paper. (Unreal present)

 

It is high time + for sbd to do sth

例子：It is high time for the authority to review its English reading paper.

 

   
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