Answer:
<em>Gerund or gerund phrase: </em><em>thinking</em>
<em>Noun function: </em><em>subject</em>
Explanation:
Gerund is a type of verbal which means it is a verb with a different function. In case of a gerund, it functions as a noun.
Basically recognizing gerund in a sentence is easy, it always ends in -ing.
Though it should not be confused with present participle which also ends in -ing. Present participle acts as an adjective and it is a part of verb forms (e.g. present simple continuous).
In this sentence <em>thinking</em> answers to the question<em> what</em> (what is hard work), so that`s why it is a subject.
I think the answer your looking for is:
They embrace rules and order.
Wordiness
The word "sometimes" eliminates the need for "every now and then," making the sentence wordy.
Bernard ignores the conversation because he knows his fate would be sealed even more if he spoke up.
Explanation:
In the conversation between Mond, John and Helmholtz he knows that Mond will have the upper hand and anything that Bernard might say about what he was willing to do against the new society by reading the texts and organizing people who fail even further.
So he stays silent and only talks up to beg Mond to reduce his sentence for his crime of doing it but his friends had until them pretty much spilled the beans and had engaged in a discussion about the things they were doing.
