Articles (Explanatory notes)                                       1.     Explanation: 'The' used to refer to something specific The is used when the noun refers to a specific item or person, or to something or someone previously referred to. Here it refers to a specific problem with the server. For example, Did you get a (û ) CD you were looking for last week? the (ü ) A large number of computers were hit by the virus last week. The disruption was widespread because of the virus's ability to enter email systems. (ü ) It is a good news that house prices are rising again. (û ) It is good news that house prices are rising again. (ü )                     2.     Explanation:  'A, an' used with singular, countable nouns The indefinite articles a, an can only be used with singular, countable nouns. Not with uncountable nouns (such as 'information' in this example). For example, We found a (û ) news about this on the SCMP website. (uncountable noun) The University provides an(û ) information about its courses at opendays every year .(uncountable noun)                     3.     Explanation:  'The' used at the beginning of a noun group when the first noun is followed by 'of'. For example, The number of applicants for the job has increased since last year.  (ü ) One of the results of this analysis is that it fails to take into account the rate of inflation.  (ü )                     4.     Explanation:  'The' used with geographical regions The definite article is used before the names of most geographical regions, areas of water, etc. Note the following: the South China Sea; the mainland; the Far East; the New Territories The is generally not used before names of countries, but there are some exceptions to this. Try to remember the following in particular: the HKSAR (but Hong Kong); the United States; the United Kingdom (and the UK); the Philippines.                     5.     Explanation: 'A, an' used with singular, countable nouns The indefinite articles a, an can only be used with singular, countable nouns. Not with uncountable nouns (such as 'help' in this example). For example, We found a (û ) news about this on the SCMP website. (uncountable noun) The University provides an(û ) information about its courses at opendays every year .(uncountable noun)                     6.     Explanation: 'The' used with superlatives The should be used with superaltive adjective(the most powerfule, the the best, the easiest, etc.) Notice however the difference in meaning between: The most succesful companies are Japanese. and Most succesful companies are Japanese.                     7.     Explanation: 'A, an' used with singular, countable nouns The indefinite articles a, an can only be used with singular, countable nouns (in this example 'a new company')                     8.     Explanation: 'The' referring to a single, specific thing The should be used with a singular, countable noun to refer to a specific thing, especially when it is thought of as the only one or is unique (the government, the Pacific, the National rifle Association, etc.) For example, ^ government has increased income tax. The Everyone seems to be watching ^ stock market very closely. The                 9.     Explanation:  'The' used to talk about someone's body or family member The definite article can be used instead of a possessive determiner (e.g. 'your') to talk about someone's body or family member. This has an informal and familiar effect - in other words, to be used only with friends. For example, You look as if you had a late night. How's the head? ('your' is possible) How's the wife? ('your' is possible)                     10.     Explanation: 'The' used to refer to something specific Did you get a (û ) CD you were looking for last week? the (ü ) A large number of computers were hit by the virus last week. The disruption was widespread because of the virus's ability to enter email systems. (ü ) It is a good news that house prices are rising again. (û ) It is good news that house prices are rising again. (ü )