Pose a Risk, Present a Challenge
Explore how pose, present, and create describe risks and challenges in short reports, from familiar phrases to subtle differences in meaning.
Preview
Questions with solutions-
1. Chagua jibu sahihi.
What does this notice warn about?
The wet steps pose a risk to visitors.
- Visitors could get hurt.
- Visitors have already been injured.
- Visitors will need extra time.
Does a risk describe possible harm or confirmed harm?
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- Visitors could get hurt.
A risk is a possibility of harm. The notice does not say that an accident has happened.
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2. Chagua jibu sahihi.
How does the report describe keeping the clinic open?
Keeping the clinic open during repairs presents a challenge.
- It has been ruled out completely.
- It will require effort and planning.
- It necessarily puts patients in danger.
A challenge is difficult, but is it necessarily impossible or dangerous?
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- It will require effort and planning.
A challenge calls for effort or skill. It does not automatically mean danger or failure.
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3. Jaza pengo.
The software update may ___ new challenges for the help desk.
- created
- creating
- create
Look at the verb immediately before the gap.
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The software update may create new challenges for the help desk.
After “may,” use the base form: “may create.” This describes a possible result of the update.
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4. Jaza pengo.
The loose railing poses a serious risk ___ anyone using the stairs.
- to
- of
- with
The words after the gap identify who might be harmed.
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The loose railing poses a serious risk to anyone using the stairs.
Use “a risk to” before the person or thing that could be harmed: “a risk to visitors” or “a risk to health.”
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5. Jaza pengo.
The tight deadline presents the design team ___ a challenge.
- from
- with
- about
The team is being given something difficult to deal with.
Show solution
The tight deadline presents the design team with a challenge.
The pattern is “present someone with something.” Here, the deadline gives the team a difficult task.
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6. Chagua jibu sahihi.
What does the use of “created” with both nouns show?
The changes created new opportunities as well as new challenges.
- It describes only harmful results.
- It means the results were announced, not brought about.
- It can describe new benefits as well as new difficulties.
Compare the positive and negative results in the sentence.
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- It can describe new benefits as well as new difficulties.
“Create” is not necessarily negative. Changes can create opportunities, jobs, difficulties, or risks.
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7. Chagua jibu sahihi.
How does changing “presents” to “poses” affect the basic meaning?
The revised schedule presents a challenge for the night shift.
The revised schedule poses a challenge for the night shift.- Both sentences describe a difficulty for the night shift.
- Only the second sentence says the difficulty has been solved.
- The second sentence changes the difficulty into a confirmed injury.
Both verbs can appear naturally before “a challenge.”
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- Both sentences describe a difficulty for the night shift.
“Present a challenge” and “pose a challenge” are both standard expressions. “Pose” is not limited to risks or threats.
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8. Chagua jibu sahihi.
Which sentence keeps the same meaning?
The safety report describes the risks posed by the damaged roof.
- The damaged roof is exposed to the risks described in the report.
- The damaged roof poses the risks described in the report.
Is the roof the source of danger or the thing in danger?
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- The damaged roof poses the risks described in the report.
“Posed by the damaged roof” identifies the roof as the source of danger, not the thing being threatened.
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9. Jaza pengo.
The engineer warned of a risk ___ collapse if the damaged support was not repaired.
- to
- with
- of
The word after the gap names the harmful event that might happen.
Show solution
The engineer warned of a risk of collapse if the damaged support was not repaired.
Use “a risk of” before a possible harmful event, such as collapse, injury, or flooding.
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10. Chagua jibu sahihi.
What distinction does the report make?
The leak created a maintenance problem but posed no risk to the drinking water.
- A problem can require work without making the water unsafe.
- Any maintenance problem proves that the water is unsafe.
- Nothing needed attention because the water was safe.
Notice the contrast introduced by “but.”
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- A problem can require work without making the water unsafe.
A problem and a risk are not the same thing. Something may need fixing without threatening health or safety.
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11. Chagua jibu sahihi.
What does this statement say about the proposed change?
The proposed change could pose a risk if staff receive no training.
- It has already harmed staff.
- The possible danger is linked to a lack of training.
- It is dangerous even if everyone receives training.
Both “could” and the phrase beginning with “if” limit the claim.
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- The possible danger is linked to a lack of training.
“Could” signals possibility, while “if” names the condition under which the danger might arise.
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12. Chagua jibu sahihi.
Which summary preserves the report's meaning?
Understaffing presents a challenge, but we have not established that the new schedule created it.
- The report confirms that the new schedule caused the difficulty.
- The report rules out the new schedule as a cause of the difficulty.
- A difficulty exists, but the report does not confirm that the new schedule caused it.
Not confirming a cause is different from proving that it was not the cause.
Show solution
- A difficulty exists, but the report does not confirm that the new schedule caused it.
“Not established” means not confirmed, not proved false. “Presents” describes the difficulty; “created” would identify its cause.