Module 4: PROBLEM, PROCESS AND SOLUTION

EXERCISES FOR MODULE 4

Name: Jerico June C. Gazil Score/Rating:____________________

Exercise 1. Find a single adverb to replace the phrase in italics and then place the adverb in midposition.

Example: The routines for the show must be done with skill.
The routines for the show must be skillfully done.

1. The provisions of the law must be applied with care.

The provisions of the law must be applied carefully.

2. Part II of this paper describes in only a couple of paragraphs the laws of the U.S. that pertain to agricultural
biotechnology.
Part II of this paper describes coherently the laws of the U.S. that pertain to agricultural biotechnology.

3. Myopia, which is referred to as shortsightedness most of the time, is a common cause of visual disability
throughout the world.
Myopia, which is referred to as shortsightedness oftenly, is a common cause of visual disability throughout the
world.

4. This study revealed that American and Japanese thresholds for sweetness and saltiness did not differ a lot.
This study revealed that American and Japanese thresholds for sweetness and saltiness did not differ much.

5. As a rule, pulsed semiconductor lasers do not use the broad gain bandwidth to full advantage in the
generation of subpicosecond pulses.
Typically, pulsed semiconductor lasers do not use the broad gain bandwidth to full advantage in the generation
of subpicosecond pulses.

6. Environmental managers are faced with having to determine the extent of environmental contamination and
identifying habitats at risk all the time.
Environmental managers are faced with having to determine the extent of environmental contamination and
identifying habitats at risk constantly.

7. The water supply lines must be inspected now and then to prevent blockages.
The water supply lines must be inspected occasionally to prevent blockages.

8. Although many elaborations of this model have been developed over the years, to a considerable extent all of
them have followed the traditional specification in presupposing that an individual will choose to make a tax
report.
Although many elaborations of this model have been developed over the years, considerably all of them have
followed the traditional specification in presupposing that an individual will choose to make a tax report.

Name: Jerico June C. Gazil Score/Rating:____________________

Exercise 2. Insert the verb to be in the correct position.

1. The question remains whether it possible to develop a reliable earthquake warning system.
The question remains to be possible to develop a reliable earthquake warning system.

2. Current studies provide little information on how this policy being implemented in rural areas.
Current studies provide little information on how this policy to be implemented in rural areas.

3. We need to know what precautions being taken to prevent the spread of disease.
We need to know what precautions to be taken to prevent the spread of disease.

4. There is some question as to whether the current crisis can eventually overcome.
There is some question as to whether the current crisis to be overcome.

5. It has not been determined how these policies likely to affect small businesses.
It has not been determined how these policies likely to be affecting small businesses.

6. It might also be of interest to investigate to what extent persistence a major factor in graduate student
success.
It might also be of interest to be investigating to what extent persistence a major factor in graduate student
success.

7. Another issue raised by this study is whether and to what extent poverty and climate linked.
Another issue to be raised by this study is whether and to what extent poverty and climate linked.

8. The process uses the CPU power it needs, depending on what it doing and depending on what other
processes running.
The process uses the CPU power it needs to be depending on what it doing and depending on what other
processes running.

9. It is unclear what the optimal level of government debt.

It is to be unclear what the optimal level of government debt.

Name: Jerico June C. Gazil Score/Rating:____________________

Exercise 3. Expand the following sentences, making them more informative by replacing the noun phrase
with one or more verb phrases:
Example: Teaching can be improved by in-service training.
Teaching can be improved by asking teachers to attend a large range of short courses throughout much of
their careers.

1. Bacteria found in meat can be killed by radiation.

Bacteria found in meat can be killed by the emission or transmission of energy in the form of waves or
particles through space or through a material medium.

2. Possible harmful effects of drugs can be reduced by tests.

Possible harmful effects of drugs can be reduced by a technical analysis of a biological specimen, for example
urine, hair, blood, breath, sweat, and/or oral fluid/saliva—to determine the presence or absence of specified
parent drugs or their metabolites..

3. One class of rocks is formed by sedimentation.

One class of rocks is formed by the process of settling or being deposited as a sediment.

4. Information on political preferences can be obtained by polling.

Information on political preferences can be obtained by record the opinion or vote of.

5. Cultures are partly preserved by ceremony and ritual.

Cultures are partly preserved by a religious or solemn ceremony consisting of a series of actions performed
according to a prescribed order.

6. Sequences of events at archaeological sites can be established by stratification.

Sequences of events at archaeological sites can be established by the arrangement or classification of
something into different groups.

7. Changes in land use can be detected by remote sensing.

Changes in land use can be detected by the scanning of the earth by satellite or high-flying aircraft in order to
obtain information about it.

8. The spread of infectious diseases can be controlled by vaccinations.

The spread of infectious diseases can be controlled by treatment with a vaccine to produce immunity against
a disease; inoculation.

9. English proficiency of students can be improved by studying.

English proficiency of students can be improved by devote time and attention to acquiring knowledge on (an
academic subject), especially by means of books.

10. The deterioration of the quality of education can be prevented by instituting changes.
The deterioration of the quality of education can be prevented by the act or instance of making or becoming
different.

Name: Jerico June C. Gazil Score/Rating:____________________

Exercise 4. Improve the flow of ideas for the following process descriptions by adding a time adverbial,
linking passives, or using an –ed participle.

Example: The plants are selected. The plants are planted at a particular site based on the
type of metals present and other site conditions.
The plants are selected and planted at a particular site based on the type of
metals present and other site conditions.

1. Oil spill cleanup

The oil is skimmed from the surface using a boom. The oil is pumped into a tank for recycling.
The oil is skimmed and pumped from the surface using a boom into a tank for recycling.

2. Wine making

The grapes are harvested. The grapes are crushed to release the pulp and seeds. The grapes are fermented for
three weeks.
The grapes are harvested and crushed to release the pulp and seeds. The grapes are fermented for three weeks.

3. Tempering glass

The glass is cut to size. It is inspected to determine if it has any imperfections. The glass is heated to over
600◦C. The glass is cooled in a step known as quenching.
The glass is cut to size and inspected to determine if it has any imperfections. The glass is heated to over 600◦C.
The glass is cooled in a step known as quenching.

4. Coronary bypass surgery

A vessel is taken from the leg. The vessel is grafted to the aorta and the coronary artery beyond the narrowed
area. The vessel allows blood to flow to the heart muscle.
A vessel is taken from the leg and grafted to the aorta and the coronary artery beyond the narrowed area. The
vessel allows blood to flow to the heart muscle.

5. Geyser eruption

Water from rain or melted snow percolates into the ground through cracks. The water is heated by the
underlying rocks to temperatures well above the boiling point. The water does not boil. It becomes
superheated. It also becomes pressurized. The water bursts out of the ground in an explosive steam eruption.
Water from rain or melted snow percolates into the ground through cracks and heated by the underlying rocks
to temperatures well above the boiling point. The water does not boil. It becomes superheated. It also becomes
pressurized. The water bursts out of the ground in an explosive steam eruption.

Name: Jerico June C. Gazil Score/Rating:____________________

Exercise 5. Combine the ideas presented in each of the following statements, using an –ing clause of result.

Example: A current is sent through the material. As a result, the electrons are polarized.
A current is sent through the material, polarizing the electrons.

1. Sustainable development would require industry to reduce pollution output and resource use; as a result,
technical innovation will be stimulated.
Sustainable development would require industry to reduce pollution output and resource use stimulating
technical innovation.

2. The researcher supposedly manipulated the data. As a result, an apparent effect was created where none
existed.
The researcher supposedly manipulated the data, none existing an apparent effect was created.

3. The computer viruses infect, executable files; as a consequence, the host computer is damaged when the
executable is run.
The computer viruses infect, executable files, running the host computer is damaged when the executable.

4. The plants extract the nickel and zinc; hence, the soil is left uncontaminated.
The plants extract the nickel and zinc, leaving uncontaminated soil.

5. Rainfall levels plummeted. A slow, but steady, loss of grasses occurred. As a result, the region was
transformed into a desert.
Rainfall levels plummeted and a slow, but steady, loss of grasses occurred, transforming the region was into a
desert.

Name: Jerico June C. Gazil Score/Rating:____________________

Exercise 6. Critical Analysis of a Problem-Solution Text

A. Clip one article in your field of study and do the following:

• identify the parts of a problem-solution text
 • determine whether the active or passive voice is used
• determine whether it is written in present tense
• determine how the flow of information is maintained
• identify the time adverbials, midposition adverbs, sentence connectors indicating causes and effects,–
ing clauses of result, or indirect questions.

B. Writing Task

Write your own problem-solution text that includes both a process description and a definition, or write a
review of the current state of knowledge in your field, raising a question about the current state of knowledge
and offering a possible answer.

DENR employee shot dead by riding-in-tandem suspects in Antipolo

Police say two unidentified suspects fled the scene of the crime aboard a pink Yamaha
Mio with no plate number.
MANILA, Philippines – An employee of the Department of Environment and Natural
Resources was shot dead by unidentified suspects on Friday morning, June 8.
According to Antipolo City police, 54-year-old Dominador Lucas was on his way to his
office in Taytay, Rizal, when an unidentified suspect shot him to his face and body. He
died instantly.
After the shooting, two unidentified suspects fled toward Sumulong Highway aboard a
pink Yamaha Mio with no plate number. The motorcycle, the police said, was waiting at
Taktak Bridge.
Police said a Scene of the Crime Operatives team was requested for technical
investigation.
Rappler recently reported that across the Philippines, an average of 4 people are killed
each day by riding-in-tandem shooters.
The Philippine National Police began listing statistics in October 2017, when police were
taken out of the Duterte administration's campaign against illegal drugs.
A. Clip one article in your field of study and do the following:
One of the basic parts of problem-solution text is the situation. The situation in this article is the DENR
employee shot dead by riding-in-tandem suspects in Antipolo. Secondly, the problem which is identified to be
as suspects fled the scene of the crime aboard a pink Yamaha Mio with no plate number. This simply means
that the vehicle is unidentifiable except for its pink color. Lastly, is the solution for the problem which is the
request for the technical investigation. Both active and passive voice were used in the article the example for
active voice is the first sentence “Police say two unidentified suspects fled the scene of the crime aboard a pink
Yamaha Mio with no plate number”. Then, the example for passive voice is the lead itself “An employee of the
Department of Environment and Natural Resources was shot dead by unidentified suspects on Friday
morning, June 8.” The tense used in the article is past tense as shown in the verbs unidentified, was shot and
fled. The flow of information is sequential as shown in the flow of event from the scene of the crime. It is
maintained by using cohesive devices such as “After the shooting.” The sentences only contains adverbs of
place such as in “fled toward” fled is the main verb and toward function as the adverb of place. Mid position
adverbs is recently, connectors used are the word and and when. There are no connectors indicating cause and
effect. The cause and effect is presented into simple sentences.

B. Problem-solution text
The problem is the unidentified plate number of the pink Yamaha Mio. The solution is the technical
investigation. If I were to handle this case, I would request CCTV footages from each barangays to trace the
location of the suspects. This would be the primary lead since the vehicle has no plate number. The point
where the suspects have been and some people they encountered could become witnesses or specialist
informants.