ENG1515
Assignment 2
(Detailed Answers)
Due 17 June 2025
, ENG1515 Assignment 2
(Detailed Answers)
Due 17 June 2025
SECTION A: Content-Based Questions (Text A)
1.1 Modal Verb “can”
The modal verb "can" ("Missing the deadline can result in delays…") conveys possibility
rather than certainty. It signals that failure to meet the registration deadline may
potentially lead to negative outcomes such as delays or limited enrollment. This use
functions as a cautionary device—subtly emphasizing risk to prompt reader vigilance
without presenting it as inevitable.
1.2 Recontextualising "can"
Sentence: I recycled an old tin can to store my pencils.
Explanation: Here, "can" functions as a noun, denoting a physical container. Unlike its
modal use in Text A—where it signifies possibility—this noun usage refers concretely to
an object that serves as the sentence’s direct object: the tin can used for storage.
2. Homophone of "course"
Homophone: coarse
Sentence: The coarse sand on the beach felt rough under my feet, unlike the smooth
pebbles nearby.
Explanation: "Coarse" (meaning rough or unrefined) contrasts semantically with
"course" (as in educational pathway). This sentence demonstrates understanding by
employing "coarse" in a tactile context, clearly distinguishing it from the academic
meaning of "course" in Text A.
3. Speech Context: Speaker, Audience, Purpose, Setting
• Speaker: Likely a university administrator (e.g., registrar or academic advisor).
• Audience: New and returning students—especially first-years unacquainted with
registration protocols.
Assignment 2
(Detailed Answers)
Due 17 June 2025
, ENG1515 Assignment 2
(Detailed Answers)
Due 17 June 2025
SECTION A: Content-Based Questions (Text A)
1.1 Modal Verb “can”
The modal verb "can" ("Missing the deadline can result in delays…") conveys possibility
rather than certainty. It signals that failure to meet the registration deadline may
potentially lead to negative outcomes such as delays or limited enrollment. This use
functions as a cautionary device—subtly emphasizing risk to prompt reader vigilance
without presenting it as inevitable.
1.2 Recontextualising "can"
Sentence: I recycled an old tin can to store my pencils.
Explanation: Here, "can" functions as a noun, denoting a physical container. Unlike its
modal use in Text A—where it signifies possibility—this noun usage refers concretely to
an object that serves as the sentence’s direct object: the tin can used for storage.
2. Homophone of "course"
Homophone: coarse
Sentence: The coarse sand on the beach felt rough under my feet, unlike the smooth
pebbles nearby.
Explanation: "Coarse" (meaning rough or unrefined) contrasts semantically with
"course" (as in educational pathway). This sentence demonstrates understanding by
employing "coarse" in a tactile context, clearly distinguishing it from the academic
meaning of "course" in Text A.
3. Speech Context: Speaker, Audience, Purpose, Setting
• Speaker: Likely a university administrator (e.g., registrar or academic advisor).
• Audience: New and returning students—especially first-years unacquainted with
registration protocols.
