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You wore what you have
had her in the cab
Jun 28, 2020 15:19
3 yrs ago
34 viewers *
English term

cross/swim the channel from A to B

Non-PRO English Other Other School Exam Text
The text which follows has some gaps to be filled with words given below. This is a standard multi-choice task from a school programme.

Roald Dahl’s Adventures

When Roald was sixteen, he decided to go off on his own to holiday in France. He __________ the Channel from Dover to Calais with £24 in his pocket (a lot of money in 1933).

The choices were:
A swam
B crossed
C went
D left

I, like my student, went for B (crossed), and was wrong. The right answer was A (swam), at least the Key to Answers says so.
So the question is why 'he crossed the Channel from Dover Calais' isn't good (for school exam and may be for other purposes as well).
Responses
4 +7 cross
5 English to English

Responses

+7
9 mins
English term (edited): cross/swim the Channel
Selected

cross

He could have swum, but that would be a very unusual holiday, and the £24 would have to be in a waterproof bag.

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Note added at 16 mins (2020-06-28 15:36:09 GMT)
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Here's the test, if you're interested:
http://znanija.com/task/37733027

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Note added at 21 mins (2020-06-28 15:40:44 GMT)
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And just in case you think swimming the Channel is a piece of Roald Dahl surrealist humour, it's not:

The Magic Finger | Dahl Roald ,Bookzz
https://www.bookzz.ren › bookzz
Roald Dahl's ADVENTURES When Roald was sixteen, he decided to go off on his own to holiday in France. He crossed the Channel from Dover to Calais with ...
Peer comment(s):
agree Yvonne Gallagher : Swum makes no sense
13 mins
agree adel almergawy
17 mins
agree Teangacha (X) : I would ask the school examination board/State Examination Commission to explain and prove to you the accuracy of their own answer.
27 mins
agree Helena Chavarria : I think I'd say 'He swam across the Channel' but, as you say, he wouldn't do it with £24 in his pocket.
3 hrs
No, he didn't swim, but thanks for agreeing.
agree Marita Šupe
15 hrs
agree Lincoln Hui : If he did swim, that episode would definitely have made it into Boy.
17 hrs
agree David Moore (X) : I strongly support Teangacha's suggestion - the answer "swam"is obviously rubbish.
22 hrs
Something went wrong...
4 KudoZ points awarded for this answer. Comment: "Thank you very much. I'm relieved. I think somebody just put 'A' instead of 'B' in the answers by mistake, that's all. Homini est errare. "
4 hrs

English to English

Cross the Calais Channel from A to B
Something went wrong...
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