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Oh no! A possible error in a Sparknotes test! Unheard of!

20. Understanding how to navigate the fingerboard, mastering the complicated chord-charts, and being able to strum with a pick takes time; the guitar is not an easy instrument to play.

I put E (No error), but the book says that the answer is C ("takes time"). The reasoning is that there are 3 things that take time, so "takes" should be "take." But my reasoning is that it's the understanding that takes time, not the 3 other things. And if you break the sentence down, "take" doesn't make sense ("Understanding how to navigate the fingerboard take time.")

What's the real answer?

By Kewlkiwi102 (Kewlkiwi102) on Thursday, June 03, 2004 - 12:27 am: Edit

Nah they're right. Think about it this way, in a simpler sentence:
"Eating, reading, and sleeping take time."
Here, as in above, you would use take. Note how in this case "takes" would sound akward (to me at least...)


Anyone, feel free to correct me if Im wrong...
~Kiwi

By Madd87 (Madd87) on Thursday, June 03, 2004 - 12:33 am: Edit

Yeah, its:
Understanding how to navigate the fingerboard,
mastering the complicated chord-charts,
and being able to strum with a pick

three separate things. understanding only goes with how to navigate the fingerboard, not with the other 2.

By Aim78 (Aim78) on Thursday, June 03, 2004 - 12:50 am: Edit

I hate this test.