【明報專訊】If you steal someone's ideas or writings and pass them off as your own, you will probably have committed plagiarism (抄襲). Who's the troublemaker this time?

“ Dr Panda: Our new weapon is almost ready. ”

“ MoMo: Fantastic! ”

“ Eason: I've got the strongest weapon ever! ”

“ MoMo: You 're a copycat! ”

“ Dr Panda: You lack a high quality production. It doesn't work. ”

■English highway﹕Almost

Almost is an adverb. It can mean "nearly", "not completely".

(1) Almost usually comes before a main verb:

e.g. I almost fell.

(2) Almost usually comes after "be" when it is the main verb:

e.g. Dinner's almost ready.

(3) Almost comes after the first auxiliary verb:

e.g. He has almost finished. (ˇ)

He almost has finished. (╳)

■Quiz

Choose the correct answers.

1. The kids have eaten ______________.

a. almost all the cookies

b. all the almost cookies

2. She _____________ to win the first prize.

a. almost is certain　

b. is almost certain

3. My parents ____________ in my graduation ceremony.

a. almost crying　

b. almost cried

(Answers on next text)

■Glossary

commit (v) 犯

troublemaker (n) 鬧事者

copycat (n) 模仿者、抄襲者

lack (v) 缺乏

[Smarties' Power English 第247期]