Sentence Improvement (E)

Description: Sentence Improvement (E)
Number of Questions: 15
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Tags: Sentence Improvement (E) Prepositions and Prepositional Phrases Demonstrative Pronouns Idioms and Phrases Adverb Usage
Attempted 0/15 Correct 0 Score 0

Directions: This question presents a sentence, all or part of which is underlined. Beneath the sentence you will find five ways of phrasing the underlined part. The first of these repeats the original; the other four are different. If you think the original is best, choose the first answer; otherwise choose one of the others.

A good boss does not waste his valuable time finding faults in his subordinates.

  1. finding faults in his subordinates.

  2. to find faults of his subordinates.

  3. to find faults in his subordinates.

  4. finding faults of his subordinates.

  5. finding faults with his subordinates.


Correct Option: E
Explanation:

Corrects the error of idiomatic use 'find fault with' is an idiom meaning 'to look for

Directions: This question presents a sentence, all or part of which is underlined. Beneath the sentence you will find five ways of phrasing the underlined part. The first of these repeats the original; the other four are different. If you think the original is best, choose the first answer; otherwise choose one of the others.

Of course, socialism was not congruent to communism but was essentially a divorced flow of the latter.

  1. Of course, socialism was not congruent to communism

  2. Of course, socialism was not congruent with communism

  3. Of course, the socialism was not congruent to communism

  4. Of course, the socialism was not congruent of the communism

  5. Of course, socialism was not congruent about communism


Correct Option: B
Explanation:

This option rectifies the error of preposition by replacing 'to' by 'with'. Hence, it is the correct answer.

Directions: This question presents a sentence, all or part of which is underlined. Beneath the sentence you will find five ways of phrasing the underlined part. The first of these repeats the original; the other four are different. If you think the original is best, choose the first answer; otherwise choose one of the others.

We are committed to eradicate the cause of poverty at the end of the second decade of the new century.

  1. committed to eradicate the cause of poverty at the end of the second decade

  2. committed to eradicate the cause of poverty in the end of the second decade

  3. committed to eradicating the cause of poverty at the end of the second decade

  4. committed for eradicating cause of poverty at the end of second decade

  5. committed to eradicate the cause of poverty by the end of the second decade


Correct Option: E
Explanation:

The sentence has error of preposition. 'At' is used when we talk about a point of time, but when we talk about limit of time in future to complete the task we should use 'by'. This option corrects the error by using the correct preposition to refer to the time limit.

Directions: This question presents a sentence, all or part of which is underlined. Beneath the sentence you will find five ways of phrasing the underlined part. The first of these repeats the original; the other four are different. If you think the original is best, choose the first answer; otherwise choose one of the others.

In this he attempts to teach the distinction among quantity and accent in the Greek language, but more particularly to describe the position and physiological action of the organs of speech in producing the elementary sounds in the languages referred to.

  1. In this he attempts to teach the distinction among quantity and accent

  2. In this he attempts to teach the distinction between quantity and accent

  3. In this he attempts to teach the distinction between the quantity and the accent

  4. In this he attempts to teach the distinction amongst quantity and accent

  5. In this he attempts to teach the distinction about the quantity and the accent


Correct Option: B
Explanation:

The sentence bears prepositional error. When comparison is drawn, 'between' is used for two and 'among' is used for more than two. This option rectifies the prepositional error and replaces 'among' by 'between'.

Directions: This question presents a sentence, all or part of which is underlined. Beneath the sentence you will find five ways of phrasing the underlined part. The first of these repeats the original; the other four are different. If you think the original is best, choose the first answer; otherwise choose one of the others.

It appears that beside this general cause of divergence, the staid and unenthusiastic character of the wife rather chilled the ardor of the husband.

  1. It appears that beside this general cause of divergence

  2. It appears that besides the cause of general divergence,

  3. It appears that besides this general cause of divergence

  4. It appears beside this general cause for a divergence

  5. It appears besides this general cause of divergence that


Correct Option: C
Explanation:

The sentence has error of preposition. 'Beside' means 'by the side of' and 'besides' means 'in addition to'. This option rectifies this error.

Directions: This question presents a sentence, all or part of which is underlined. Beneath the sentence you will find five ways of phrasing the underlined part. The first of these repeats the original; the other four are different. If you think the original is best, choose the first answer; otherwise choose one of the others.

A tortoise desired to change its place of residence, so he asked an eagle that carried him to his new home, promising her a rich reward for her trouble.

  1. that carried him to

  2. to carry him to

  3. that fetched him to

  4. if it could carry him to

  5. for carrying him to


Correct Option: B
Explanation:

That' becomes the pronoun for 'eagle'.  This results in a sentence fragment. To be idiomatically correct, the sentence requires either a 'to' or a 'for' to complement the subject 'he asked'. This option maintains the correct intention and supplies the necessary verb to complete the sentence.

Directions: This question presents a sentence, all or part of which is underlined. Beneath the sentence you will find five ways of phrasing the underlined part. The first of these repeats the original; the other four are different. If you think the original is best, choose the first answer; otherwise choose one of the others.

Her supporters rallied for her defense when the government brought the bill seeking to bar any person of foreign origin from holding the high offices.

  1. Her supporters rallied for her defense

  2. Her supporters rallied in her defense

  3. Her supporters rallied up in her defense

  4. Her supporters rallied to her defense

  5. Her supporters rallied of her defense


Correct Option: D
Explanation:

The sentence bears the error of preposition. We say 'rallied to' support or defense.

Directions: This question presents a sentence, all or part of which is underlined. Beneath the sentence you will find five ways of phrasing the underlined part. The first of these repeats the original; the other four are different. If you think the original is best, choose the first answer; otherwise choose one of the others.

You had better to repeat them everyday in order to keep them in mind.

  1. You had better to repeat them everyday in order to keep them in mind.

  2. You had better repeat them everyday in order to keep them in mind.

  3. You had better to repeat them daily in order to keep them in mind.

  4. You had better to repeat them everyday to keep them in mind.

  5. You had better revise them everyday in order to keep them in mind.


Correct Option: B
Explanation:

Better is not followed by a preposition. This option deletes the incorrect usage of 'to'.

Directions: This question presents a sentence, all or part of which is underlined. Beneath the sentence you will find five ways of phrasing the underlined part. The first of these repeats the original; the other four are different. If you think the original is best, choose the first answer; otherwise choose one of the others.

The greater part is devoted at expounding the inconsistencies of the established practices, and here the author's style is effective enough.

  1. is devoted at expounding the inconsistencies of the established practices

  2. is devoted at the expounding of the inconsistencies of the established practices

  3. is devoted to expounding the inconsistencies of the established practices

  4. is devoted into expounding the inconsistencies of the established practices

  5. is devoted for to expound the inconsistencies of the established practices


Correct Option: C
Explanation:

The option rectifies prepositional error by replacing 'at' with 'to' as 'devoted to' is the correct prepositional usage.

Directions: This question presents a sentence, all or part of which is underlined. Beneath the sentence you will find five ways of phrasing the underlined part. The first of these repeats the original; the other four are different. If you think the original is best, choose the first answer; otherwise choose one of the others.

In a brief preamble, he touched upon the character of Maria, the reigning Duchess.

  1. he touched upon the character of Maria, the reigning Duchess

  2. he touched on the character of Maria, reigning Duchess

  3. he touched the character of Maria, the reigning Duchess

  4. he touched at the character of Maria, the reigning Duchess

  5. he touched at the character of Maria, who was the reigning Duchess


Correct Option: A
Explanation:

Option 1 is grammatically correct.

Directions: The sentence below is underlined or has an underlined part. The underlined part may have an error of grammar or syntax. There are five options that seek to correct the error (including an option that simply repeats the sentence). Select the option that best replaces the underlined part.

The recent formulated law has hardly done anything to emend the previous one except for changing its wording.

  1. The recent formulated law has hardly done anything

  2. The recent formulated law has done hardly anything

  3. The recently formulated law has done hardly anything

  4. The recently formulated law has hardly done anything

  5. The law recently formulated has hardly done anything


Correct Option: D
Explanation:

The sentence incorrectly uses adjective in place of adverb. Recent is an adjective, qualifying another adjective 'formulated. But adjectives are qualified by adverbs. Hence, we need adverbial form 'recently'. This option rectifies the adverbial error.

Directions: This question presents a sentence, all or part of which is underlined. Beneath the sentence you will find five ways of phrasing the underlined part. The first of these repeats the original; the other four are different. If you think the original is best, choose the first answer; otherwise choose one of the others.

The quickness for which the reply came showed that she had been on the point of speaking herself.

  1. The quickness for which the reply came showed that she had been on the point of speaking herself.

  2. The quickness with which the reply came showed that she had been on the point of speaking herself.

  3. The quickness in which the reply came showed that she had been on the point of speaking herself.

  4. The quickness at which the reply came showed that she was on the point of speaking herself.

  5. The quickness with which the reply came showed that she had been on the point of speaking to herself.


Correct Option: B
Explanation:

The sentence uses the incorrect idiom 'quickness for'. This option maintains correctness of idiom and verb.

Directions: This question presents a sentence, all or part of which is underlined. Beneath the sentence you will find five ways of phrasing the underlined part. The first of these repeats the original; the other four are different. If you think the original is best, choose the first answer; otherwise choose one of the others.

The differences in the two groups of the party had reached a flashpoint where one group had to part one's way.

  1. The differences in the two groups of the party had

  2. The differences within the two groups of the party had

  3. The differences between the two groups of the party had

  4. The differences between the two groups in the party had

  5. The differences of two groups in the party had


Correct Option: D
Explanation:

The sentence bears error of incorrect usage of prepositions. Difference is 'between' groups 'in' the party. This option rectifies both the errors.

Directions: This question presents a sentence, all or part of which is underlined. Beneath the sentence, you will find five ways of phrasing the underlined part. The first of these repeats the original; the other four are different. If you think the original is best, choose the first answer; otherwise choose one of the others.

For many players, keeping a coach during tournament seems satisfying their need for self performance.

  1. keeping a coach during tournament seems satisfying their need

  2. keeping a coach during tournament seems to satisfy their need

  3. keeping a coach during tournament seeming satisfies their need

  4. to keep a coach during tournament seems satisfying their need

  5. the keeping of a coach during tournament seems to satisfy their need


Correct Option: B
Explanation:

The correct phrase will be "seems to satisfy". This option corrects the error.

Directions: The sentence below is underlined or has an underlined part. The underlined part may have an error of grammar or syntax. There are five options that seek to correct the error (including an option that simply repeats the sentence). Select the option that best replaces the underlined part.

Of the many decisions facing the energy commission as it meets to decide on new directions for the 21st century, the question of the future of nuclear energy is for certain more perplexing.

  1. is for certain more perplexing

  2. is certain to be more perplexing

  3. is for sure the most perplexing

  4. is certainly the most perplexing

  5. is for certain the most perplexing


Correct Option: D
Explanation:

This option corrects the adverbial usage to ‘certainly’ and also rectifies ‘of the many decisions’, ‘more perplexing’ to the ‘most’ perplexing’. 

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