Expression: That is too much

[udo vollrath]

Test No. errors/advan-8 "Admire his Achievement", question 6

It's a very rare case indeed if a serious earthquake takes place in that country.

(a) case
(b) if
(c) serious
(d) takes place

Test No. errors/advan-8 "Admire his Achievement", answer 6

It's a very rare occurrence indeed if a serious earthquake takes place in that country.

Correct entry: occurrence
The error was: (a) case

You have not found the error.
It's a very rare case indeed that a serious earthquake takes place in that country.
_________________________

It's a very rare occurrence indeed IF (????) a serious earthquake takes place in that country

I would have expected a THAT
udo vollrath

[Alan]

That is asking too much!
_________________
English as a Second Language
You can read my ESL story A funny thing happened...

[Nessie]

How about "case" here? why is it wrong?
_________________
... something we never have again, I know... I guess I really really know..

Sorry seems to be the hardest word...

[Nessie]

Could any body please answer my question?
Thank you in advance.
_________________
... something we never have again, I know... I guess I really really know..

Sorry seems to be the hardest word...

[Alan]

Hi,

The statement is about something happening (occurrence) and not an example (case).

Alan
_________________
English as a Foreign Language
You can read my EFL story Conditionals

[Nessie]

But "case" doesn't just mean "example", it also means "situation", and so I think it it quite all right to use "case" here with that meaning.
_________________
... something we never have again, I know... I guess I really really know..

Sorry seems to be the hardest word...

[Alan]

Hi Nessie,

Let's please not argue about this! The error tests are the most difficult to create because of the choice of the exact word in the tester's mind but I believe that 'occurrence' suggesting what has happened/what will happen is best suited here.

Alan
_________________
English as a Second Language
You can read my ESL story Here comes 2004...

[Yankee]

Hi Nessie

I agree with Alan that occurrence is better. I think it is more appropriate because the sentence refers to the possibility of an unexpected event (earthquake) happening/taking place.

Maybe looking at the definitions of occur and occurrence will help:
http://dictionary.cambridge.org/define.asp?key=54863&dict=CALD
.