Which sentence(s) would make sense?

[hirashin]

Hello, native English speakers,
I'm a Japanese teacher of English.
Would you help me?

Do all the sentences below would make sense?
1 (a) He hardly complains about anything. He's an optimist.
(b) He rarely complains about anything. He's an optimist.
(c) He seldom complains about anything. He's an optimist.

2 (a) They could hardly see anything through the thick fog.
(b) They could rarely see anything through the thick fog.
(c) They could seldom see anything through the thick fog.

3 (a) I could hardly hear his voice because of the noise.
(b) I could rarely hear his voice because of the noise.
(c) I could seldom hear his voice because of the noise.

4 (a) The acceptance of the theory of evolution started a new era in history.
(b) The completion of the theory of evolution started a new era in history.
(c) The development of the theory of evolution started a new era in history.

5 (a) Children don't always follow what their parents say.
(b) Children don't always obey what their parents say.
(c) Children don't always listen to what their parents say.
(d) Children don't always mind what their parents say.

6 (a) What brought you to Japan?
(b) What took you to Japan?

7 (a) The painter never takes a rest until he finishes painting.
(b) The painter never takes a break until he finishes painting.
(c) The painter never takes a recess until he finishes painting.

8 (a) My mother is making curry now.
(b) My mother is cooking curry now.
(c) My mother is preparing curry now.

9 (a) My doctor advised me not to stay up late.
(b) My doctor advised me that I should not stay up late.
(c) My doctor advised me that I not stay up late.

Put a word in each blank so that sentences (a) and (b) will have
(almost) the same meaning.
10 (a) Everyone has some faults.
(b) No one is _____ _____ faults.

Thanks in advance.

Hirashin

 

[Stuntie]

Whilst you can use all three in both sentances there is a major diference between hardly and rarely/seldom that makes the second sentances context dependant.

2 (a) They could hardly see anything through the thick fog.
(b) They could rarely see anything through the thick fog.
(c) They could seldom see anything through the thick fog.

Hardly means that it is difficult to do right now. I can hardly hear you right now. But does not say anything about the situation in general, just about this occurance.
Rarely/Seldom mean that it is difficult to do in general, but does not specifcally say what the situation is right now.

(a) means they have diffciculty seeing right now because of the fog. Because it is a foggy day right now. But it may be clear and bright normally.
(b/c) means they have difficulty seeing. Because we normally have lots of fog round here making it a general difficulty to see things. But it may not neccesarily be a difficulty right now.

The first one is ok for all three though.
1 (a) He hardly complains about anything. He's an optimist.
(b) He rarely complains about anything. He's an optimist.
(c) He seldom complains about anything. He's an optimist.

Complains is not time dependant here, or a series of events such as 'rarely sees'. Here you are talking about his general attitude, not a specific event. Hardly means the same as rarely here.
Complains is an intransitive verb without an object so the diference is probably linked to that.
(Sorry but as a Native speaker I can see the diferences, but may not know the exact reason in terms of English Grammar).

 

[Stuntie]

4 Listed in order to help illustrate the sense of the stages involved.
(c) The development of the theory of evolution started a new era in history. - specific sense of the Author doing the work to prove his theory.
(b) The completion of the theory of evolution started a new era in history. - specific sense of the author having finished his theory
(a) The acceptance of the theory of evolution started a new era in history. - specifc sense of others now believing in the theory

6 (b) What took you to Japan?
- fine for 'what vehicle transported you to Japan'. Can mean 'what reason did you come to Japan', but sounds odd. I would not recommend it for that meaning.

7 (c) The painter never takes a recess until he finishes painting.
Recess is a school break. You would not normally take a recess unless you were an arist doing a painting at an art school.

8 (a) My mother is making curry now. - general 'doing stuff'
(b) My mother is cooking curry now. - specific act of cooking.
(c) My mother is preparing curry now. - getting things ready for cooking, but not actually cooking.

Put a word in each blank so that sentences (a) and (b) will have
(almost) the same meaning.
Lots of options here, but trying to fit into two blanks is limiting.
10 (a) Everyone has some faults.
(b) No one is _ free _ from _ faults. - with two words
(b) No one is _ without _ faults. - with a single word.
(b) No one is faultless. - with a modified word.

'without' would be the best option in my opinion.

 

[hirashin]

Thank you for the help, Stuntie. I appreciate it.