u/FarJournalist939

Let's say someone asks you, "what part of Italy are you from?" If you live in northern Italy, you can say you're "from the North." If you live in southern Italy, you can say you're "from the South."

I live in central Italy, so can I say "I'm from the Center"? Does that sound natural in American English? What about phrases like "the northern part of the Center"? I'm asking because even though logically I think it would make sense, I'm not sure I've ever heard native speakers say that. So I'm wondering if it sounds weird.

Does that sentence sound natural in American English? Or is using "hair" for dogs weird?

Should it be "I love furry dogs"?

This sentence is from a book (The Paradise Problem by Christina Lauren).

What's tripping me up is the use of the word "votive." From what I know, a "votive" (often "votive candle") is a type of small candle that is usually put in a glass container. I looked it up and Google confirmed my definition.

However, here it appears to be referring to just the glass container? Is this a common use of the word, even though it's not listed in most dictionaries? Or is the author just trying to use a figure of speech?

Does that sound natural in American English? (talking about a car's wheels).

Is that how most native English speakers (from north America) would say it?

It sounds very awkward to my ear and I've always thought it was wrong. I'd say "I'm from the USA." However, a user on this sub claims that both are used.

Is that true? Is leaving out the article normal/acceptable in casual communication?

EDIT: Yeah of course "I'm American" or "I'm from the US" also work but I'm talking specifically about if you had to use the word (or, well, abbreviation) USA.

I took an online Cambridge C2 mock test and some of the answers I gave are considered incorrect, but they sound completely fine to me. I'd like to have a native speaker's opinion. Here are my answers:

>Modern urban planning has evolved significantly since the industrial revolution, adapting to population growth and technological advances. Cities now (1) prioritize sustainable designs to combat environmental degradation. One key aspect is the integration of green spaces, which (2) improve residents' well-being and biodiversity. However, challenges such as traffic congestion persist, (3) requiring innovative transport solutions. Architects are increasingly (4) relying on eco-friendly materials to reduce carbon emissions. Community involvement is also vital, ensuring that developments (5) address local needs. Despite these efforts, inequality in access to amenities remains a (6) critical issue. Looking ahead, smart cities leveraging AI could (7) revolutionize urban efficiency, but ethical considerations must not be (8) overlooked.

Specifically, according to the test, (2) should be "enhance," (3) should be "demanding," (6) should be "pressing," and (8) should be "neglected."

(I'm not claiming that my answers are better, I'm just asking whether they're also acceptable and sound completely natural to native speakers)