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Paragraph Improvement Practice Test 5 (Grammar)

Description: Paragraph Improvement Practice Test 5 (Grammar)
Number of Questions: 27
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Tags: Paragraph Improvement Practice Test 5 (Grammar) Parallelism Double Usage, Repetition and Redundancy Redundancy Punctuations Structural Errors Best Expression Sentence Improvement
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Which of the following is the best revision of the underlined portion of sentence no. (4) below? If he is addicted to the fine arts or to pure science instead of to trade and finance, let him be poor.

  1. If he is addicted to the fine arts or to pure science instead of to trade and finance

  2. If he is addicted to the fine arts or to the pure science instead of to trade and finance

  3. If he is addicted of the fine arts or of pure science instead of trade and finance

  4. If he is addicted to fine arts or to pure science rather than to trade and finance


Correct Option: D
Explanation:

(D) correctly replaces 'instead of' by 'rather than', and deletes the redundant 'the' before 'fine arts' to make the construction parallel.

Which of the following is the best way to combine sentences (2) (3) (4) and (6)?

  1. If a man is indolent let him be poor - if he is drunken, let him be poor -  if he is addicted to the fine arts or to pure science instead of to trade and finance, let him be poor - if he does not conform, let him be poor.

  2. If a man is indolent let him be poor, if he is drunken, let him be poor, if he is addicted to the fine arts or to pure science instead of to trade and finance, let him be poor, if he does not conform, let him be poor.

  3. If a man is indolent let him be poor; if he is drunken, let him be poor; if he is addicted to the fine arts or to pure science instead of to trade and finance, let him be poor; if he does not conform, let him be poor.

  4. If a man is indolent let him be poor, if he is drunken, let him be poor, if he is addicted to the fine arts or to pure science instead of to trade and finance, let him be poor and if he does not conform, let him be poor.


Correct Option: C
Explanation:

(C) The best way to combine the sentences, which are statements in series, is through use of semi-colons.

Which of the following sentences could be deleted without damaging the flow of the paragraph?

  1. Sentence (2)

  2. Sentence (3)

  3. Sentence (5)

  4. Sentence (8)


Correct Option: C
Explanation:

(C) This sentence does not even connect with the flow of the paragraph. So, if we remove it, the flow will not be disturbed.

Which of the following is the best revision of the underlined portion of sentence no. (1) below? is as nothing compared to the silly levity with which we tolerate poverty as

  1. Insert 'this' at the beginning

  2. Insert 'as' after 'nothing'

  3. Delete 'as' before 'nothing'

  4. Change 'compared to' after 'nothing' to 'as'


Correct Option: C
Explanation:

(C)  'As' before nothing is redundant.

Which of the following is the best revision of the underlined portion of sentence no. (12) below? inexorably brought within the ambit, and every hungry, half-naked child forcibly fed and clothed

  1. Change 'inexorably' to 'exorably'

  2. Delete comma after 'hungry'

  3. Delete 'forcibly'

  4. Change 'forcibly' to 'inexorably'


Correct Option: C
Explanation:

(C) 'Forcibly' does not go with the flow of the argument.

What is the best revision of the underlined portion of sentence no. (12) below? there is no reason why students should not become good useful citizens

  1. there is no reason that students should not become good useful citizens

  2. there is no reason because students should not become good useful citizens

  3. there is no reason why students should not become good, useful citizens

  4. there is no reason why students do not become good useful citizens


Correct Option: C
Explanation:

(C) corrects the error by inserting a comma between the two adjectives.

What is the best way to combine sentences no. (9) and (10)?

  1. But we need not be depressed as most of the students are yet in their teens.

  2. But we need not be depressed for the reason that most of the students are yet in their teens.

  3. But we need not be depressed simply because most of the students are yet in their teens.

  4. But we need not be depressed because most of the students are yet in their teens.


Correct Option: A
Explanation:

(A) is the best choice. Sentence (10) furnishes a supposedly known reason for the statement in (9).

Which of the following best replaces the word 'they' in sentence (7)?

  1. Politicians

  2. Academicians

  3. Students

  4. Teacher-politicians


Correct Option: C
Explanation:

(C) The preceding sentence talks only about the politicians and the students. Politicians mislead; students get misled.

Which of the following best replaces the word 'assailed' in sentence (2)?

  1. Attacked

  2. Assuaged

  3. Beset

  4. Gripped


Correct Option: C
Explanation:

(C) The word 'assailed' is inappropriate here. They feel upset because of the sense of frustration.

Which sentence would be the most appropriate to precede sentence (1)?

  1. A spirit of rebellion and challenge is now in the air.

  2. The nature of the students has undergone a sea-change.

  3. Education today is much changed.

  4. The student community is upset.


Correct Option: A
Explanation:

(A). Statements (B) (C) and (E) are unrelated; (D) is repetitive.

Which of the following is the best revision of the underlined portion of sentence no. (6) below? During the recent past, the sense of insecurity has been the single greatest cause, both of individual anxiety and frustration, and social instability and unrest.

  1. both of individual anxiety and frustration, and of social instability and unrest.

  2. of both individual anxiety and frustration, and social instability and unrest.

  3. both of individual anxiety and frustration; and social instability and unrest.

  4. of both individual anxiety and frustration, and of social instability and unrest.


Correct Option: A
Explanation:

(A) corrects the error of parallel structure: 'both of ��and of'.

Which of the following is the best revision of the underlined portion of sentence no. (7) below? A state must see to it that it gives to all its citizens minimum standards of security against ill health against unemployment against widowhood, against old age.

  1. against ill health; unemployment; widowhood; old age

  2. against ill health; against unemployment; against widowhood, and against old age

  3. against ill health, unemployment, widowhood, and against old age

  4. against ill health, against unemployment, against widowhood, against old age


Correct Option: D
Explanation:

(D) corrects the error by putting the comma splice after each phrase. Repetitive use of 'against' is for impact. The usage of conjunction before the last phrase is optional.

Which of the following is the best revision of the underlined portion of sentence no. (8) below? A man cannot be a good citizen nor do himself justice as an individual

  1. A man cannot be a good citizen nor he can do himself justice as an individual

  2. A man cannot be a good citizen nor can he do himself justice as an individual

  3. A man cannot be a good citizen or be a good justice as an individual

  4. Neither a man can be a good citizen nor do himself justice as an individual


Correct Option: B
Explanation:

(B) corrects the error of parallel structure: �cannot be�.. nor can�.

What is the best way to combine sentences no. (9) and (10)?

  1. By using conjunction 'and'

  2. By deleting �This is irrespective of whether they are�

  3. By changing �This is irrespective of whether they are in� to 'with'

  4. By deleting �This is�


Correct Option: D
Explanation:

(D) The two sentences will make coherent sense if only �This is� is deleted.

Which of the following is the best revision of the underlined portion of sentence no. (11) below? is bound to fall back upon the shoulders of

  1. Change 'upon' to 'on'

  2. Delete 'bound to fall'

  3. Delete 'back'

  4. Delete article 'the'


Correct Option: C
Explanation:

(C) �Fall back upon� is an idiomatic use that conveys an entirely different meaning not intended here. 'Fall upon' is the correct usage.

Which of the following would most strengthen the writer's argument?

  1. A description of steps already taken by the state.

  2. A description of steps needed to be taken by the state.

  3. A description of the scenario if adequate steps are not taken by the state.

  4. A description of historical past of other societies.


Correct Option: C
Explanation:

(C)  The last sentence of the passage is: A society that cannot take due care of such basic needs of each and every of its members is not fit to be called in the true sense of the term. The author's argument will be strengthened only if a gloomy scenario is presented unless adequate social security measures are taken by the state.

Which of the following is the best revision of the underlined portion of sentence no. (5) below? The mere and naked material of nature we eye with in difference, or trample on with disdain.

  1. Leave it as it is

  2. The mere and naked material of nature we eye with indifference.

  3. The mere and naked material of nature we eye with in deference.

  4. The mere and naked material of nature we eye with deference.


Correct Option: B
Explanation:

(B). The appropriate word here is 'indifference' and not 'in difference'.

What is the best way to deal with sentence (12)?

  1. Leave it as it is

  2. Place it before sentence 11

  3. Delete it altogether

  4. Change 'did' to 'does'


Correct Option: D
Explanation:

(D) The sentence should be in the present tense.

Which of the following could be inserted at the beginning of sentence (14) to clarify the relationship between sentences (13) and (14) below?

  1. Therefore

  2. And

  3. Although

  4. And then


Correct Option: C
Explanation:

(C) 'Although' the view will surely not be flattering, yet (or 'and yet' in case of a new sentence) the rustic has the civility.

Which of the following if placed after sentence (14) will be the most effective concluding sentence for the passage?

  1. So who do you think is the culprit?

  2. So who is gracious and mannerly ultimately?

  3. So the shoe is on the other foot

  4. So who will judge the 'civility'?


Correct Option: B
Explanation:

(B) The essay begins with the 'urban' viewpoint of the 'rustic'. It ends with what might be the countryman's viewpoint of the city folk. The urban viewpoint is shown in negative light, but the rural viewpoint is condescending. So who is truly civilized?

Which of the following is the best revision of the underlined portion of sentence no. (1) below? Research in education has of recent years turned its attention to

  1. Researchers in education has of recent years turned their attention to

  2. Researchers in education have of recent years turned their attention to

  3. Research in education has in recent years turned its attention to

  4. Research in education has of recent years turned attention to


Correct Option: C
Explanation:

(C) correctly changes 'of recent years' to 'in recent years'

Which of the following is the best revision of the underlined portion of sentence no. (2) below? and a student helped to recognize his difficulties and overcome it.

  1. and students helped to recognize their difficulties and overcome it.

  2. and the students helped to recognize their difficulties and overcome it.

  3. and a student helped to recognize his many a difficulty and overcome it.

  4. and a student helped to recognize his difficulties and overcome them.


Correct Option: D
Explanation:

(D). The noun of the objective case is plural 'difficulties'. The related pronoun should also be plural 'them'.

Which word/phrase, if inserted at the beginning of sentence (11), can help combine sentences (10) and (11)?

  1. And yet

  2. Although

  3. In spite of

  4. Despite that


Correct Option: B
Explanation:

(B) They are priced high although they are worth nothing.

In context, what is the best way to deal with sentence (3)?

  1. Move it between sentences (1) and (2)

  2. Move it between sentences (4) and (5)

  3. Delete it altogether

  4. Move it to the beginning of the second paragraph


Correct Option: B
Explanation:

(B) Sentence (3) is actually a logical continuation of sentence (4). Likewise, sentence (5) is a logical continuation of sentence (3).

Which of the following best replaces the word 'this' in sentence (6)?

  1. The student's performance

  2. The recommendation

  3. The interview

  4. The examination system


Correct Option: D
Explanation:

(D) 'Guides to passing examination' is the clue.

Which of the following, if placed after sentence (11), will be the most effective concluding sentence for the passage?

  1. The sooner we find a way to dispense with these, the better it is for the student community and the system at large.

  2. But isn't examination system the real culprit?

  3. Yet, we have to give the devil its due.

  4. They should all be replaced by text books.


Correct Option: A
Explanation:

(A) The author has already made the recommendation in sentence (8). The sooner we act on the suggestion, the better. He does not give study notes any credit. That rules out (C) and (E). He doesn't blame the examination system, nor is there any reference to text books.

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