Group A: Puddle, pool, lake
Group B: Stream, Creek, River
What group does this word best belongs to: Ocean, group A or group B
As a word, ‘ocean’ belongs to group ‘A’.
However, in the real world, the constituents of group ‘B’ flow into, and therefore are part of the ocean, while the elements of group ‘A’ are defined by their isolation from it.
Furthermore, the most important moral we can learn from this lesson is that people should spend more time splashing about in the ocean, swimming in pools, rowing on rivers, and generally having fun in the open air and upon the water.
[quote]“Oh, it’s all very well to talk,” said the Mole rather pettishly, he being new to a river and riverside life and its ways.
The Rat said nothing, but stooped and unfastened a rope and hauled on it; then lightly stepped into a little boat which the Mole had not observed. It was painted blue outside and white within, and was just the size for two animals; and the Mole’s whole heart went out to it at once, even though he did not yet fully understand its uses.
The Rat sculled smartly across and made fast. Then he held up his fore-paw as the Mole stepped gingerly down. “Lean on that!” he said. “Now then, step lively!” and the Mole to his surprise and rapture found himself actually seated in the stern of a real boat.
“This has been a wonderful day!” said he, as the Rat shoved off and took to the sculls again. “Do you know, I’ve never been in a boat before in all my life.”[/quote] http://www.gutenberg.org/files/27805/27805-h/27805-h.htm
I recall reading an article about one of those sign-language apes, who was given an IQ test designed for human toddlers (going by the ape’s age). One of the questions (which was intended to be read aloud to the child) was “Which one of these is something to eat?” followed by four pictures. According to the rules, the ape had to be marked wrong for choosing the flower over the ice cream cone.
Wow, I’d expect more answers…
Charlie Philips. Good answer but you only gave logical reasons on how the word “Ocean” can belong to group B.
You made this statement: “As a word, ‘ocean’ belongs to group ‘A’.”
How so…
Zla’od you’ve got the idea of what I’m trying to do. But I’m not comparing toddlers to apes. I’m comparing 2nd graders to 2 graders (or adults) Maybe that some of them are from the East and some of them are from the west or that some of them speak Chinese may have an effect. But I can assure you that they are all the same species.
I’m reading a lesson about classifying in my 2nd grade zhong wen text book and it doesn’t jive with what I remember when I was taught that long ago… OK…
I also thought ocean went with group B as the water was flowing into bigger bodies.
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[quote=“Taiwan_Student”]Group A: Puddle, pool, lake
Group B: Stream, Creek, River
What group does this word best belongs to: Ocean, group A or group B[/quote]
My first reaction was to put Ocean in Group A, because they’re all “reservoirs” of water, rather than flows of water. The water that’s in the puddle/pool/lake/ocean now is the same water (sort of) that’ll be in there later, whereas you can’t step into the same stream/creek/river twice.
But I assume this is the kind of question where there isn’t really a correct answer, but just different ways of approaching it. It took me a few seconds longer to figure out headhonchoII’s argument that Group B could be viewed as a time series: first it’s in a stream, then it’s in a creek, then it’s in a river, and then it’s an an ocean. I suspect if, rather than being labelled “Group”, they’d been labelled “Series”, I’d have gone with B.
Group B. All those have water entry and exit points. In group A they are none of them connected to other waterways
Thanks for the replies so far. I’m doing this survey on Facebook among my friends too…
Most people are selecting group b. Some selected group A at first then thought about the flowing aspect and went hmmm…
Like Lostinasia, my first reaction was A, a reservoir of water. I actually did not think about it as, as an anglophile for most of my life I was so used to the expression “across the pond”.
In the education system in Taiwan, I’ve found that kids here and perhaps some adults, can’t comprehend a situation where there is no right or wrong answer.
Now if someone can kindly give me an idiots guide to posting picture on Forumosa along with a host that would let me use a pseudonym to match my name here, I’ll post the the passage. It came from page 22 The Suplimental Book that parents buy for thier kids at the book store. Chinese 2nd Grade, BOOK B. It has cat’s on the cover. Barcode 2040104000041 by knshbooks.com.tw
They use this discussion of lake, river, puddle etc. as an intorduction to the use of measure words. Ocean does go with river… But… the Chinese phrasing is interesting.