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 all because 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 2728). 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
streams 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 cant 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 Raffles Junior 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 persons 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 medias 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 writers 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 selfactualization syndrome (MSA) defined as a disabling condition which elevates
personal choice into the highest arbiter of everything? Its 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 overinvolvement 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
The use of inverted commas implies/suggests that
package
of
associated
the word is not used as it should be / author means
values offered with every
to be ironic. (m)
purchase, in the form of a
'Rebellion' today appears to be affected
rock
star's
individual
behaviour/put
on
for
appearances/not
bravado rather than political
genuine/fed to us. (1m)
or social protest.

Whereas the conventional understanding of

rebellion encompasses/encapsulates political or
social action/objection/ opposition. (m)
3. HCJC Prelim 2003
the evil Orientals, the fanatical Muslims, the inferior races of the colonies (lines 2728). 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
Local 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)

Paraphrase
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
Clear guilt is difficult to define

Inferred/ Paraphrased
The author questions the usage of the phrase/ disagrees
with the usage of the phrase
(DONT ACCEPT: NOT ACCURATELY USED)
Because he thinks that it is impossible to establish
culpability.

6. MJC Prelims 2007

Why is the word greater (line 45) in inverted commas? [2]
Contextual
ACCEPTED ANSWERS
MARK
clues
An even
It shows sarcasm.
greater
OR
example is
It implies the (completely) opposite sense of great or
Raffles Junior
greater.
College in
OR
Singapore, one
It is neither great nor greater.
of the most
successful
The schedule students in Raffles Junior College undergo may be
schools at
worse / more rigorous / arduous / exhausting / demanding than
getting students the Harvard Girl.
into American
OR
Ivy League
The extent / degree of the pressure / stress Raffles Junior College
universities.
students go through can have unhealthy consequences.
OR
The regimen Raffles Junior 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.
7. SAJC Prelim 2007
Why does the author use quotation marks to explain civilising missions (line 2)? [1]
Lifted
(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)

Paraphrased
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 authors
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 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

Paraphrased

There are no studies of chess addicts in the

literature, yet chess can absorb a 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 writers use of inverted commas in philanthropic advisors (line 19). (1m)
Lift from the passage
Several celebrities even have
philanthropic advisors to facilitate their
activism. (line 19)

Paraphrase
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
There seems to be a rising tide of mental
illnesses, a rising demand for lifestyle
medications and even several new
conditions.

Inference / Paraphrase
He makes use of inverted commas to show
that he is disbelieving / skeptical /
disagrees with / challenges the notion of
(m)
*do not accept sarcasm or mocking
the labeling of social problems as mental
illnesses (m)
*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)
but their over-involvement with 'their'
celebrity consumes a lot of time, energy
and income. [L29-30]

EXPLANATION
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

Paraphrase

But it would be equally wrong for women The writer uses inverted commas to show
now to take a step back and proudly
ironically (1) that while some may expect it to
proclaim that they want to exercise the
be a right,
right to be stay-at-home mothers without
- It is not a right because some feminists
first realising that women have always
may feel that it is a
had that 'right'. (lines 38-39)
restriction/handicap/imposition on
women. (1)
OR
- it is not a right because it is a
traditional role that women have always
had (1)