Should be based purely

[terminator]

Test No. incompl/advan-60 "Working Well", question 5

The decision was finally taken that appointments should be based purely and simply on ..........

(a) marvel
(b) mandate
(c) merit
(d) mastery

Test No. incompl/advan-60 "Working Well", answer 5

The decision was finally taken that appointments should be based purely and simply on merit.

Correct answer: (c) merit

Hi everybody, I don' t understand: "should be based purely".
Many thanks for your help
Terminator

[Torsten]

Hi Terminator,

The sentence reads: 'The decision was finally taken that appointments should be based purely and simply on merit.'

This means that only people who have the appropriate skills and abilities should be promoted.

Maybe, Alan will give you another explanation with more examples.
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Test Of English for International Communication
TOEIC Preparation & TOEIC Vocabulary

[Alan]

Hi Terminator,

Just to add to what Torsten has already written - purely and simply means 'exclusively', 'only', 'just that' and 'nothing else but'.

Let me give you an example. The reason why he stayed in the job he didn't really like was PURELY AND SIMPLY because he needed the money. In other words that was the ONLY reason why he stayed.

Another example using 'based'. Her decision to leave her job was BASED PURELY AND SIMPLY on the low pay. In other words the reason at the base/bottom of her decision was only the low pay.

Hope this will help

Alan
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English as a Second Language
You can read my ESL story A spring in your step

[terminator]

Hi Alan and Torsten, many thanks. It helped me.
Terminator