Hyphens to avoid ambiguity

Question 1

What does the hyphen tell us this sentence means? We saw a man-eating shark.

• A. a man who is eating shark meat
• B. a shark that eats people

Question 2

What does the hyphen tell us this sentence means? There were twenty-odd people at the party.

• A. about twenty people
• B. twenty strange people

Question 3

What does the hyphen tell us this sentence means? The fast-moving river was dangerous.

• A. the river moved quickly
• B. the river was fast and also moving house

Question 4

What does the hyphen tell us this sentence means? We saw a man-eating shark.

• A. a man who is eating shark meat
• B. a shark that eats people

Question 5

What does the hyphen tell us this sentence means? I need to re-cover the sofa.

• A. get better after being ill
• B. put a new cover on it

Question 6

What does the hyphen tell us this sentence means? She is a little-used book collector.

• A. she collects books that are not used much
• B. she is a small person who collects used books

Question 7

What does the hyphen tell us this sentence means? I need to re-cover the sofa.

• A. put a new cover on it
• B. get better after being ill

Question 8

What does the hyphen tell us this sentence means? I need to re-cover the sofa.

• A. get better after being ill
• B. put a new cover on it

Question 9

What does the hyphen tell us this sentence means? The fast-moving river was dangerous.

• A. the river moved quickly
• B. the river was fast and also moving house

Question 10

What does the hyphen tell us this sentence means? She is a little-used book collector.

• A. she is a small person who collects used books
• B. she collects books that are not used much

Question 11

What does the hyphen tell us this sentence means? I need to re-cover the sofa.

• A. put a new cover on it
• B. get better after being ill

Question 12

What does the hyphen tell us this sentence means? We saw a man-eating shark.

• A. a shark that eats people
• B. a man who is eating shark meat

Question 13

What does the hyphen tell us this sentence means? She is a little-used book collector.

• A. she is a small person who collects used books
• B. she collects books that are not used much

Question 14

What does the hyphen tell us this sentence means? There were twenty-odd people at the party.

• A. about twenty people
• B. twenty strange people

Question 15

What does the hyphen tell us this sentence means? She is a little-used book collector.

• A. she is a small person who collects used books
• B. she collects books that are not used much

Question 16

What does the hyphen tell us this sentence means? She is a little-used book collector.

• A. she collects books that are not used much
• B. she is a small person who collects used books