Elements, particles and ingredients

[Strawberry girl]

Test No. incompl/inter-13 "At the Theatre", question 8

There are always special ......... in her tragedies that move you to tears.

(a) constituents
(b) elements
(c) particles
(d) ingredients

Test No. incompl/inter-13 "At the Theatre", answer 8

There are always special elements in her tragedies that move you to tears.

Correct answer: (b) elements

Your answer was: correct
_________________________

Hi,
Though I have chosen the right answer, I don't really understand why the other choices are wrong?Could you please explain the differences between them?
Thanks!

[Alan]

Hi Strawberry,

The word elements is the right word here because it is used in an artistic sense to describe the parts of a play.

Constituents are members of a constituency. In the UK a member of parliament represents an area -a constituency - and the people in that area are called constituents

Particles are usually very small parts as in particles of dust/powder etc.

Ingredients are the different parts used in the making of a cooked meal.

Alan
_________________
English as a Second Language
You can read my ESL story The way you write it