Here is something to work on when the boss isn't looking or you are just bored. It's harder than it looks but will flush out cobwebs.
Background
I once felt that all the problems of the world were caused by miscommunication. I also thought that if the whole world spoke English the problems could be solved (pretty convenient huh?). I still think were are headed for a single language but it may be Mandarin. English could still win though, because it is easier for them to ignore tones then for us to learn to listen for them. For instance, I still can not detect the difference between the spoken words "pin" and "pen". English won't solve the problem anyway because English can be very ambiguous. A friend once told me there were 17 different ways to parse "Mary had a little lamb". He never told me what they were and I could never get more than about 10. This is where I need your help. The goal is to get to at least 17. I'll give you some I came up with as examples.
The easiest way that I can think of is to ask questions to which the answer always stays the same but the meaning (or information content) changes. If someone can come up with another method, that would be great.
1. Did she have many tattoos?
2. How much did she eat for dinner?
3. What was your favorite childhood song?
That's it! There are no wrong meanings but some ARE silly. Good luck.
... and then some
Any new births on your farm lately?
Did that pregnant sheep of yours pull through all right?
Doesn't Mary still keep livestock on her place?
So what, exactly, were the indecent liberties for which Mary was indicted?