matter

[Takashi]

I'd appreciate it if you could help me with the second sentence.

"Students in South Korea work very hard. Nationally, education is believed to be ( A. an essential matter   / B. essential matter ).

1. The noun "matter" can be countable and uncountable. I think that in the sentence above, "A. an essential matter" (used as a countable noun) is correct, but I am not quite certain. Could you tell me if "B. essential matter" (used as an uncountable noun" is also all right here?

2. Could you also tell me if "nationally" here means "all over South Korea"?

Thank you very much.

Takashi

[admin]

1. You are right. When "matter" is uncountable it is like a mass of stuff - the universe is made up of many different types of matter.
2. Yes.

[Takashi]

Thank you very much indeed, Mr Baker!
Everything is clear now.
I really appreciate it.

Takashi