Articles Exercise 2: Understanding Articles

Directions: As you read through the passages, insert the correct articles (a, an, or the) into the blanks. Keep in mind that more than one answer may be correct for each blank depending on the meaning the reader wants to bring to the passages. Refer to the A, An, or the? handout that explains the issues or make an appointment with a tutor so that a thorough explanation can be provided. First Passage Erik Erikson was (1)______ psychoanalyst who studied (2) _______ development and growth of (3)_______ human being. He developed (4)_______ influential theory of psychosocial development which supports that cognitive and social development occur hand in hand. Erikson studied (5)_______ personalities and social skills developed through (6)_______ years of (7)_______ human beings life, beginning at birth and ending at death. According to his studies, Erikson found that (8)_______ individuals personality and social skills develop within (9)_______ context of society and in response to societys demands, expectations, values, and social institutions such as families, schools, and other community programs or organizations. Second Passage Erik Erikson contributed greatly to (1)_______ beliefs and knowledge we have today of human development. He supported (2)_______ idea that ones personality occurs through cognitive and social development, and that these two things occur hand in hand. Erikson led (3)_______ mysterious life, with many great accomplishments. He studied under some of the best theorists still noted today, such as Sigmund Freud. Through his education and experiences in research, Erikson developed (4)______ theory called psychosocial development. He believed that (5)_______ individuals personality unfolds in eight stages. Each stage involves (6)_______ task that is psychosocial in nature. Once the task is

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accomplished, one has successfully completed this stage and may continue to (7)______ next. However, if the stage is not successfully completed, future hindrances to normal development may occur. With Eriksons theory, teachers can apply his ideas to better understand and accept (8)______ classroom of many different students. Third Passage (1)_______ third stage of Eriksons theory is called (2)_______ Locomotor stage. (3)_______ events of this stage occur during early childhood, between (4)_______ ages of two and six years. (5)_______ most important event at this stage is independence. The child continues to be assertive and to take initiative. Playing and hero worshipping are important forms of initiative for children during this stage(Wong, 1998). Children in this stage are eager for responsibility. According to Erikson it is essential for adults to confirm that (6)______ childs initiative is accepted no matter how small it may be (as cited in Welchman, 1997). If the child is not given (7)______ chance to be responsible and do things on his or her own, (8)______ sense of guilt may develop. (9)______child will come to believe that what he or she wants to do is always wrong.

Answer Key:
Passage 1: 1. a if you mean one of many psychoanalysts or the if you mean the only psychoanalyst; 2. the; 3. a if you mean any non-specific human being or the if you mean the class of human beings 4. an if you mean one of several influential theories or the if you mean the only influential theory; 5. the if you mean specific personalities and social skills or no article is also acceptable ; 6. the; 7. a if you mean any non-specific human being or the if you mean the class of human beings; 8. an if you mean any persons personality or the if you mean a specific persons personality; 9. the Passage 2: 1. the; 2. the; 3. a; 4. a if you mean one of several theories or the if you mean the only psychosocial theory ; 5. an if you mean any individuals personality or the if you mean a specific individuals personality; 6. a 7. the; 8. a if you mean any classroom or the if you mean a specific classroom Passage 3: 1.the; 2.the; 3. the; 4. the; 5.the; 6. a if you mean any non-specific child or the if you mean the set of all children; 7. a if you mean more than one chance or the if you mean only one chance; 8. a; 9. a if you mean any non-specific child or the if you mean the set of all children

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