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Paragraph Improvement - 3

Description: This test is on Paragraph Improvement - 3
Number of Questions: 15
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Tags: Paragraph Improvement - 3 Writing Sentence Arrangement Paragraph Improvement (Sentence Arrangement)
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In context, what is the best way to deal with sentence 10?

Directions for the question:

The following passage is an early draft of an essay. Some parts of the passage need to be rewritten. Read the passage and select the best answer for the question that follows. Keep in mind that some questions are about particular sentences or parts of sentences and ask you to improve sentence structure or word choice. Other questions ask to consider organization and development. In choosing the answer, follow the requirements of standard written English.

[1] Until the middle of the nineteenth century art had been regarded as a luxury for the rich dilettante; people heard little of it, and thought less. [2]The utensils and furniture of the middle class were fashioned only with a view to utility; there was a popular belief that beautiful things were expensive. [3]Many people have an impression that the more ornate an article is, the more work has been lavished upon it, being never a more erroneous idea. [4]The diligent polish in order to secure nice plain surfaces, or the neat fitting of parts together, is infinitely more difficult than adding a florid casting to conceal clumsy workmanship. [5]Of course certain forms of elaboration involve great pains and labor; but the mere fact that a piece of work is decorated does not show that it has cost any more in time and execution than if it were plain,—frequently many hours have been saved by the device of covering up defects with cheap ornament.
[6]A craft may easily be practiced without art, and still serve its purpose; the alliance of the two is a means of giving pleasure as well as serving utility. [7]People suppose that because a design is artistic, its technical rendering is any the less important, this is a mistake. [8]Frequently curious articles are palmed off on us, and designated as "Arts and Crafts" ornaments, in which neither art nor craft plays its full share. [9]Art does not consist only in original, unusual, or unfamiliar designs; the best art is that which produces designs of grace and appropriateness, whether they are strikingly new or not. [10]One principle for which craftsmen should stand is a respect for their own tools: a frank recognition of the methods and implements employed in constructing any article.
[11]A medieval artist was usually a craftsman as well. [12]He was not content with furnishing designs alone, and then handing them over to men whose hands were trained to their execution, but he took his own designs and carried them out.

 

  1. Connect it to sentence 9 with a comma.

  2. Place it before sentence 9.

  3. Follow it with an example.

  4. Delete it.

  5. Move it to the beginning of the paragraph.


Correct Option: D
Explanation:

Neither the preceding sentence, nor the succeeding paragraph allude to 'tools'. The sentence, therefore, does not belong to the sequence. So the best way to deal with it is to delete it.

Which of the following is most likely to follow sentence 12?

Directions for the question:

The following passage is an early draft of an essay. Some parts of the passage need to be rewritten. Read the passage and select the best answer for the question that follows. Keep in mind that some questions are about particular sentences or parts of sentences and ask you to improve sentence structure or word choice. Other questions ask to consider organization and development. In choosing the answer, follow the requirements of standard written English.

[1] Until the middle of the nineteenth century art had been regarded as a luxury for the rich dilettante; people heard little of it, and thought less. [2]The utensils and furniture of the middle class were fashioned only with a view to utility; there was a popular belief that beautiful things were expensive. [3]Many people have an impression that the more ornate an article is, the more work has been lavished upon it, being never a more erroneous idea. [4]The diligent polish in order to secure nice plain surfaces, or the neat fitting of parts together, is infinitely more difficult than adding a florid casting to conceal clumsy workmanship. [5]Of course certain forms of elaboration involve great pains and labor; but the mere fact that a piece of work is decorated does not show that it has cost any more in time and execution than if it were plain,—frequently many hours have been saved by the device of covering up defects with cheap ornament.
[6]A craft may easily be practiced without art, and still serve its purpose; the alliance of the two is a means of giving pleasure as well as serving utility. [7]People suppose that because a design is artistic, its technical rendering is any the less important, this is a mistake. [8]Frequently curious articles are palmed off on us, and designated as "Arts and Crafts" ornaments, in which neither art nor craft plays its full share. [9]Art does not consist only in original, unusual, or unfamiliar designs; the best art is that which produces designs of grace and appropriateness, whether they are strikingly new or not. [10]One principle for which craftsmen should stand is a respect for their own tools: a frank recognition of the methods and implements employed in constructing any article.
[11]A medieval artist was usually a craftsman as well. [12]He was not content with furnishing designs alone, and then handing them over to men whose hands were trained to their execution, but he took his own designs and carried them out.

 

  1. The result was a harmony of intention and execution which is often lacking when two men of differing tastes produce one object.

  2. This made the difference between the medieval artist and the craftsman a little too hazy.

  3. The medieval craftsman was thus much superior to the modern day craftsman because the artist was also the craftsman.

  4. In those days art and manufactures were blended and identified; art gained by this affinity great practical facility, and manufacture much original beauty.

  5. The life of a craftsman is a constant daily fulfillment of the final ideal of the man who spends all his time and strength in acquiring wealth which in this case is the artist.


Correct Option: A
Explanation:

Sentence 12 states that the artist who conceived was also the craftsman who executed. The next logical sentence has to be the greater harmony achieved through this blending.

Which of the following could be added after “not”, in sentence 6 to clarify the relationship between sentences 5 and 6?

Directions for the question:

The following passage is an early draft of an essay. Some parts of the passage need to be rewritten. Read the passage and select the best answer for the question that follows. Keep in mind that some questions are about particular sentences or parts of sentences and ask you to improve sentence structure or word choice. Other questions ask to consider organization and development. In choosing the answer, follow the requirements of standard written English.

[1]The popular notion about marriage, that it springs from the same motives, and covers the same human needs is synonymous with love. [2]Like most popular notions this also rests not on actual facts, but on superstition.

[3]Marriage and love have nothing in common. [4]They are as far apart as the poles are; in fact, antagonistic to each other. [5]No doubt some marriages have been the result of love. [6]Not love could assert itself only in marriage; much rather it is because few people can completely outgrow a convention. [7]There are today large numbers of men and women to whom marriage is nothing but a farce, but who submit to marriage for the sake of public opinion. [8]At any rate, while it is true that some marriages are based on love, and while it is equally true that in some cases love continues in married life, I maintain that it does so regardless of marriage, and not because of it.
[9]Marriage is primarily an economic arrangement, an insurance pact. [10]It differs from the ordinary life insurance agreement only in that it is more binding, more exacting. [11]Its returns are insignificantly small compared with the investments. [12]If you take out an insurance policy, dollars and cents must be paid by you. [13] If woman's premium, however, is her husband, she pays for it with her name, her privacy, her self-respect, her very life. [14] Man too pays his toll, but as his sphere is wider, marriage does not limit him as much as woman.

  1. however, that

  2. because

  3. that

  4. since

  5. in the sense that


Correct Option: B
Explanation:

Sentence 6 provides the reason. “Not because…. it is because”.

In context, which of the following is the best way to phrase the underlined portion of sentence 6 (reproduced below)?

A craft may easily be practiced without art, and still serve its purpose; the alliance of the two is a means of giving pleasure as well as serving utility.

Directions for the question:

The following passage is an early draft of an essay. Some parts of the passage need to be rewritten. Read the passage and select the best answer for the question that follows. Keep in mind that some questions are about particular sentences or parts of sentences and ask you to improve sentence structure or word choice. Other questions ask to consider organization and development. In choosing the answer, follow the requirements of standard written English.

[1] Until the middle of the nineteenth century art had been regarded as a luxury for the rich dilettante; people heard little of it, and thought less. [2]The utensils and furniture of the middle class were fashioned only with a view to utility; there was a popular belief that beautiful things were expensive. [3]Many people have an impression that the more ornate an article is, the more work has been lavished upon it, being never a more erroneous idea. [4]The diligent polish in order to secure nice plain surfaces, or the neat fitting of parts together, is infinitely more difficult than adding a florid casting to conceal clumsy workmanship. [5]Of course certain forms of elaboration involve great pains and labor; but the mere fact that a piece of work is decorated does not show that it has cost any more in time and execution than if it were plain,—frequently many hours have been saved by the device of covering up defects with cheap ornament.
[6]A craft may easily be practiced without art, and still serve its purpose; the alliance of the two is a means of giving pleasure as well as serving utility. [7]People suppose that because a design is artistic, its technical rendering is any the less important, this is a mistake. [8]Frequently curious articles are palmed off on us, and designated as "Arts and Crafts" ornaments, in which neither art nor craft plays its full share. [9]Art does not consist only in original, unusual, or unfamiliar designs; the best art is that which produces designs of grace and appropriateness, whether they are strikingly new or not. [10]One principle for which craftsmen should stand is a respect for their own tools: a frank recognition of the methods and implements employed in constructing any article.
[11]A medieval artist was usually a craftsman as well. [12]He was not content with furnishing designs alone, and then handing them over to men whose hands were trained to their execution, but he took his own designs and carried them out.

 

  1. NO CHANGE

  2. the alliances of the two are a means of giving pleasure as well as serving utility.

  3. the alliances of the two always give pleasure as well as serves utility.

  4. the alliance of the two always means to give pleasure as well as serve utility.

  5. the alliance of the two is a means of giving pleasure as well as serve utility.


Correct Option: A
Explanation:

No other option makes any improvement over the sentence as given. So it's better to leave it unchanged.

Which sentence would be the most appropriate to follow sentence 14?

Directions for the question:

The following passage is an early draft of an essay. Some parts of the passage need to be rewritten. Read the passage and select the best answer for the question that follows. Keep in mind that some questions are about particular sentences or parts of sentences and ask you to improve sentence structure or word choice. Other questions ask to consider organization and development. In choosing the answer, follow the requirements of standard written English.

[1]The popular notion about marriage, that it springs from the same motives, and covers the same human needs is synonymous with love. [2]Like most popular notions this also rests not on actual facts, but on superstition.

[3]Marriage and love have nothing in common. [4]They are as far apart as the poles are; in fact, antagonistic to each other. [5]No doubt some marriages have been the result of love. [6]Not love could assert itself only in marriage; much rather it is because few people can completely outgrow a convention. [7]There are today large numbers of men and women to whom marriage is nothing but a farce, but who submit to marriage for the sake of public opinion. [8]At any rate, while it is true that some marriages are based on love, and while it is equally true that in some cases love continues in married life, I maintain that it does so regardless of marriage, and not because of it.
[9]Marriage is primarily an economic arrangement, an insurance pact. [10]It differs from the ordinary life insurance agreement only in that it is more binding, more exacting. [11]Its returns are insignificantly small compared with the investments. [12]If you take out an insurance policy, dollars and cents must be paid by you. [13] If woman's premium, however, is her husband, she pays for it with her name, her privacy, her self-respect, her very life. [14] Man too pays his toll, but as his sphere is wider, marriage does not limit him as much as woman.

  1. Marriage is thus like an insurance contract.

  2. Man is relatively free and can easily move out of marriage.

  3. In conclusion, only woman makes sacrifices in the relationship.

  4. He feels his chains more in an economic sense.

  5. So when you get married think of its pros and cons and then take a decision.


Correct Option: D
Explanation:

The essay begins with the assertion that marriage is not about love. The last paragraph begins with the statement that it is an economic arrangement. Man pays, but not with the surrender of his liberty as in the case of woman. His chains are “economic”.

In context, which of the following is the best way to phrase sentence 13 (reproduced below)?

If woman's premium, however, is her husband, she pays for it with her name, her privacy, her self-respect, her very life.

Directions for the question:

The following passage is an early draft of an essay. Some parts of the passage need to be rewritten. Read the passage and select the best answer for the question that follows. Keep in mind that some questions are about particular sentences or parts of sentences and ask you to improve sentence structure or word choice. Other questions ask to consider organization and development. In choosing the answer, follow the requirements of standard written English.

[1]The popular notion about marriage, that it springs from the same motives, and covers the same human needs is synonymous with love. [2]Like most popular notions this also rests not on actual facts, but on superstition.

[3]Marriage and love have nothing in common. [4]They are as far apart as the poles are; in fact, antagonistic to each other. [5]No doubt some marriages have been the result of love. [6]Not love could assert itself only in marriage; much rather it is because few people can completely outgrow a convention. [7]There are today large numbers of men and women to whom marriage is nothing but a farce, but who submit to marriage for the sake of public opinion. [8]At any rate, while it is true that some marriages are based on love, and while it is equally true that in some cases love continues in married life, I maintain that it does so regardless of marriage, and not because of it.
[9]Marriage is primarily an economic arrangement, an insurance pact. [10]It differs from the ordinary life insurance agreement only in that it is more binding, more exacting. [11]Its returns are insignificantly small compared with the investments. [12]If you take out an insurance policy, dollars and cents must be paid by you. [13] If woman's premium, however, is her husband, she pays for it with her name, her privacy, her self-respect, her very life. [14] Man too pays his toll, but as his sphere is wider, marriage does not limit him as much as woman.

  1. (As it is now)

  2. If, however, woman's premium is her husband, she pays for it with her name, her privacy, her self-respect, her very life.

  3. If woman's premium is her husband, she pays for it with her name, privacy, self-respect, her very life.

  4. If woman's premium is her husband, she has to pay for it with her name, her privacy, her self-respect, her very life.


Correct Option: B
Explanation:

There is no error in the sentence except for the placement of “however”. This stands corrected in (B).

In context which of the following is the best way to phrase the underlined portion of sentence 12 (reproduced below)?

If you take out an insurance policy dollars and cents must be paid by you.

Directions for the question:

The following passage is an early draft of an essay. Some parts of the passage need to be rewritten. Read the passage and select the best answer for the question that follows. Keep in mind that some questions are about particular sentences or parts of sentences and ask you to improve sentence structure or word choice. Other questions ask to consider organization and development. In choosing the answer, follow the requirements of standard written English.

[1]The popular notion about marriage, that it springs from the same motives, and covers the same human needs is synonymous with love. [2]Like most popular notions this also rests not on actual facts, but on superstition.

[3]Marriage and love have nothing in common. [4]They are as far apart as the poles are; in fact, antagonistic to each other. [5]No doubt some marriages have been the result of love. [6]Not love could assert itself only in marriage; much rather it is because few people can completely outgrow a convention. [7]There are today large numbers of men and women to whom marriage is nothing but a farce, but who submit to marriage for the sake of public opinion. [8]At any rate, while it is true that some marriages are based on love, and while it is equally true that in some cases love continues in married life, I maintain that it does so regardless of marriage, and not because of it.
[9]Marriage is primarily an economic arrangement, an insurance pact. [10]It differs from the ordinary life insurance agreement only in that it is more binding, more exacting. [11]Its returns are insignificantly small compared with the investments. [12]If you take out an insurance policy, dollars and cents must be paid by you. [13] If woman's premium, however, is her husband, she pays for it with her name, her privacy, her self-respect, her very life. [14] Man too pays his toll, but as his sphere is wider, marriage does not limit him as much as woman.

  1. (As it is now)

  2. the dollars and cents must be paid

  3. you must pay the dollars and cents.

  4. one will have to make the payment


Correct Option: C
Explanation:

There is error of parallelism in the sentence. The correct usage ought to be “If you take…. you must pay …” And the option corrects this error.

Which one of the following, if placed after sentence 12, would be the most effective concluding sentence for the essay?

Directions for the question:

The following passage is an early draft of an essay. Some parts of the passage need to be rewritten. Read the passage and select the best answer for the question that follows. Keep in mind that some questions are about particular sentences or parts of sentences and ask you to improve sentence structure or word choice. Other questions ask to consider organization and development. In choosing the answer, follow the requirements of standard written English.

(1) Even if Louis Braille died when he was only forty-three years old he succeeded in devising a system of reading and writing for the blind which is now taught all over the world. (2) Braille lost his sight accidentally as a child. (3) Nevertheless, he was able to complete his education at a school for the blind in Paris and become a teacher. (4) In his day, the few books that were available for blind people were printed in big, raised type. (5) The letters used were those of the ordinary alphabet. (6) The reading of such books required immense effort. (7) Not only that, writing was almost impossible for a blind person was still restricted to an alphabet which was extraordinarily difficult to reproduce on paper.

(8) Braille’s idea was to use raised dots instead of letter. (9) He evolved a system which made use of only six dots in all. (10) By various combinations of these dots it not only proved possible to represent each letter in the alphabet but punctuation marks, numbers and musical notations as well. (11) Reading and writing have thus been enormously simplified. (12) The sensitive fingers of a blind person can travel rapidly over the dots: and there is a small machine, something like a typewriter, which enables the blind to write quickly and clearly.

 

  1. Braille's marvelous invention was the best help one ever could render not only for the blind of one's own age but also for those of ages to come.

  2. However, Braille's dot system took a lot of time in getting established.

  3. Thanks to Braille, the blind could now 'read' and 'write' without any help.

  4. Braille's invention revolutionized the printing technology.

  5. Sentence 12 cannot be followed by any of these sentences.


Correct Option: A
Explanation:

Since the passage is about Braille's invention, this option is the best conclusion.

Which of the following is the best revision of the underlined portion of sentence (1) reproduced below?

Even if Louis Braille died when he was only forty-three years old he succeeded

Directions for the question:

The following passage is an early draft of an essay. Some parts of the passage need to be rewritten. Read the passage and select the best answer for the question that follows. Keep in mind that some questions are about particular sentences or parts of sentences and ask you to improve sentence structure or word choice. Other questions ask to consider organization and development. In choosing the answer, follow the requirements of standard written English.

(1) Even if Louis Braille died when he was only forty-three years old he succeeded in devising a system of reading and writing for the blind which is now taught all over the world. (2) Braille lost his sight accidentally as a child. (3) Nevertheless, he was able to complete his education at a school for the blind in Paris and become a teacher. (4) In his day, the few books that were available for blind people were printed in big, raised type. (5) The letters used were those of the ordinary alphabet. (6) The reading of such books required immense effort. (7) Not only that, writing was almost impossible for a blind person was still restricted to an alphabet which was extraordinarily difficult to reproduce on paper.

(8) Braille’s idea was to use raised dots instead of letter. (9) He evolved a system which made use of only six dots in all. (10) By various combinations of these dots it not only proved possible to represent each letter in the alphabet but punctuation marks, numbers and musical notations as well. (11) Reading and writing have thus been enormously simplified. (12) The sensitive fingers of a blind person can travel rapidly over the dots: and there is a small machine, something like a typewriter, which enables the blind to write quickly and clearly.

 

  1. Even if Louis Braille died when he was only forty-three years old he succeeded

  2. Even if Louis Braille had died when he was only forty-three years old he succeeded

  3. Even if Louis Braille died when he was only forty-three years old he had succeeded

  4. Even though Louis Braille died when he was only forty-three years old he succeeded

  5. Even though Louis Braille had died when he was only forty-three years old he succeeded


Correct Option: D
Explanation:

'If' is used to exhibit condition, but this is not a conditional sentence. The sentence implies that in spite of the fact that Braille died at the very early age, he….. The option rectifies the error of conjunction by changing 'even if' to 'even though'.

Which one of the following sentences, if deleted, will least disturb the flow of the passage?

Directions for the question:

The following passage is an early draft of an essay. Some parts of the passage need to be rewritten. Read the passage and select the best answer for the question that follows. Keep in mind that some questions are about particular sentences or parts of sentences and ask you to improve sentence structure or word choice. Other questions ask to consider organization and development. In choosing the answer, follow the requirements of standard written English.

(1) In a world growing ever more noisy, a fight of vital importance to us all is under way – against the tyranny of noise. (2) Noise frays the nerves, lessens efficiency and robs us of sleep. (3) The old and infirm cannot sleep, the student cannot read, the sage cannot meditate, and the professional cannot concentrate. (4) If the general noisy condition of everyday life continues, it is not inconceivable that we might become a race of shouting maniacs. (5) To primitive man, noise was nature’s warning of approaching danger and his response was automatic. (6) The roar of a lion sounds the alert and the human nervous system takes over preparing the man for fight or flight. (7) Today we respond exactly as the primitive man did. (8) An explosion occurs and we are startled. (9) A loud noise and the new-born baby reacts with wide-eyed fear, clutching. (10) Unnecessary noise subjects us to countless false alarms daily and keeps us almost continuously alert. 

(11) Many doctors believe that there is a direct link between this unconscious tension and the rise of such stress conditions as heart disease, hypertension and other disorders. (12) Noise causes the mind to ‘blink’ – split–second periods of blanking. (13) This effect, combined with the annoyance, can lessen efficiency, lower production and make people more error–prone.

 

  1. Sentence (3)

  2. Sentence (4)

  3. Sentence (6)

  4. Sentence (7)

  5. Sentence (9)


Correct Option: A
Explanation:

Sentence (3) offers illustrations of how 'noise frays the nerves, lessens efficiency and robs us of sleep'. If it is deleted, the flow of the paragraph will not be seriously disturbed.

Which of the following best simplifies sentence (4)?

Directions for the question:

The following passage is an early draft of an essay. Some parts of the passage need to be rewritten. Read the passage and select the best answer for the question that follows. Keep in mind that some questions are about particular sentences or parts of sentences and ask you to improve sentence structure or word choice. Other questions ask to consider organization and development. In choosing the answer, follow the requirements of standard written English.

(1) In a world growing ever more noisy, a fight of vital importance to us all is under way – against the tyranny of noise. (2) Noise frays the nerves, lessens efficiency and robs us of sleep. (3) The old and infirm cannot sleep, the student cannot read, the sage cannot meditate, and the professional cannot concentrate. (4) If the general noisy condition of everyday life continues, it is not inconceivable that we might become a race of shouting maniacs. (5) To primitive man, noise was nature’s warning of approaching danger and his response was automatic. (6) The roar of a lion sounds the alert and the human nervous system takes over preparing the man for fight or flight. (7) Today we respond exactly as the primitive man did. (8) An explosion occurs and we are startled. (9) A loud noise and the new-born baby reacts with wide-eyed fear, clutching. (10) Unnecessary noise subjects us to countless false alarms daily and keeps us almost continuously alert. 

(11) Many doctors believe that there is a direct link between this unconscious tension and the rise of such stress conditions as heart disease, hypertension and other disorders. (12) Noise causes the mind to ‘blink’ – split–second periods of blanking. (13) This effect, combined with the annoyance, can lessen efficiency, lower production and make people more error–prone.

 

  1. Delete 'of everyday life'

  2. Delete 'general'

  3. Delete 'If the general noisy condition of everyday life continues'

  4. Delete 'it is not inconceivable that'

  5. No change required


Correct Option: D
Explanation:

The phrase is rendered redundant by the use of 'might'. So by deleting it, the sentence becomes grammatically correct and simple.

Which of the following is the best revision of the underlined portion of sentence no. (6) below?

The roar of a lion sounds the alert and the human nervous system takes over

Directions for the question:

The following passage is an early draft of an essay. Some parts of the passage need to be rewritten. Read the passage and select the best answer for the question that follows. Keep in mind that some questions are about particular sentences or parts of sentences and ask you to improve sentence structure or word choice. Other questions ask to consider organization and development. In choosing the answer, follow the requirements of standard written English.

(1) In a world growing ever more noisy, a fight of vital importance to us all is under way – against the tyranny of noise. (2) Noise frays the nerves, lessens efficiency and robs us of sleep. (3) The old and infirm cannot sleep, the student cannot read, the sage cannot meditate, and the professional cannot concentrate. (4) If the general noisy condition of everyday life continues, it is not inconceivable that we might become a race of shouting maniacs. (5) To primitive man, noise was nature’s warning of approaching danger and his response was automatic. (6) The roar of a lion sounds the alert and the human nervous system takes over preparing the man for fight or flight. (7) Today we respond exactly as the primitive man did. (8) An explosion occurs and we are startled. (9) A loud noise and the new-born baby reacts with wide-eyed fear, clutching. (10) Unnecessary noise subjects us to countless false alarms daily and keeps us almost continuously alert. 

(11) Many doctors believe that there is a direct link between this unconscious tension and the rise of such stress conditions as heart disease, hypertension and other disorders. (12) Noise causes the mind to ‘blink’ – split–second periods of blanking. (13) This effect, combined with the annoyance, can lessen efficiency, lower production and make people more error–prone.

 

  1. The roar of a lion sounded the alert and the human nervous system took over

  2. The roar of a lion sounded the alert and the human nervous system took the alert

  3. A roar of the lion sounds the alert and the human nervous system takes over

  4. A roar of the lion sounds the alert and a human's nervous system takes over

  5. The roar of the lion sounded the alert and the nervous system of the human took over


Correct Option: A
Explanation:

The statement is continuation of the statement regarding primitive man. So it ought to be in the past tense. This option rectifies this error.

Which of the following is the best revision of the underlined portion of sentence (12) below?

Noise causes the mind to 'blink' - split-second periods of blanking

Directions for the question:

The following passage is an early draft of an essay. Some parts of the passage need to be rewritten. Read the passage and select the best answer for the question that follows. Keep in mind that some questions are about particular sentences or parts of sentences and ask you to improve sentence structure or word choice. Other questions ask to consider organization and development. In choosing the answer, follow the requirements of standard written English.

(1) In a world growing ever more noisy, a fight of vital importance to us all is under way – against the tyranny of noise. (2) Noise frays the nerves, lessens efficiency and robs us of sleep. (3) The old and infirm cannot sleep, the student cannot read, the sage cannot meditate, and the professional cannot concentrate. (4) If the general noisy condition of everyday life continues, it is not inconceivable that we might become a race of shouting maniacs. (5) To primitive man, noise was nature’s warning of approaching danger and his response was automatic. (6) The roar of a lion sounds the alert and the human nervous system takes over preparing the man for fight or flight. (7) Today we respond exactly as the primitive man did. (8) An explosion occurs and we are startled. (9) A loud noise and the new-born baby reacts with wide-eyed fear, clutching. (10) Unnecessary noise subjects us to countless false alarms daily and keeps us almost continuously alert. 

(11) Many doctors believe that there is a direct link between this unconscious tension and the rise of such stress conditions as heart disease, hypertension and other disorders. (12) Noise causes the mind to ‘blink’ – split–second periods of blanking. (13) This effect, combined with the annoyance, can lessen efficiency, lower production and make people more error–prone.

 

  1. Noise causes the mind to 'blink', which is a split-second period of blanking

  2. Noise causes the mind to 'blink', split-second period of blanking

  3. Noise causes the mind to 'blink' - split-second periods of blanking out

  4. Noises cause the mind to 'blink', which is a split-second period of blanking out

  5. Noises cause the mind to 'blink' - split-second periods of blanking


Correct Option: C
Explanation:

Correct Answer: Noise causes the mind to 'blink' - split-second periods of blanking out

Which of the following is the best revision of the underlined portion of sentence (7) reproduced below?

writing was almost impossible for a blind person was still restricted

Directions for the question:

The following passage is an early draft of an essay. Some parts of the passage need to be rewritten. Read the passage and select the best answer for the question that follows. Keep in mind that some questions are about particular sentences or parts of sentences and ask you to improve sentence structure or word choice. Other questions ask to consider organization and development. In choosing the answer, follow the requirements of standard written English.

(1) Even if Louis Braille died when he was only forty-three years old he succeeded in devising a system of reading and writing for the blind which is now taught all over the world. (2) Braille lost his sight accidentally as a child. (3) Nevertheless, he was able to complete his education at a school for the blind in Paris and become a teacher. (4) In his day, the few books that were available for blind people were printed in big, raised type. (5) The letters used were those of the ordinary alphabet. (6) The reading of such books required immense effort. (7) Not only that, writing was almost impossible for a blind person was still restricted to an alphabet which was extraordinarily difficult to reproduce on paper.

(8) Braille’s idea was to use raised dots instead of letter. (9) He evolved a system which made use of only six dots in all. (10) By various combinations of these dots it not only proved possible to represent each letter in the alphabet but punctuation marks, numbers and musical notations as well. (11) Reading and writing have thus been enormously simplified. (12) The sensitive fingers of a blind person can travel rapidly over the dots: and there is a small machine, something like a typewriter, which enables the blind to write quickly and clearly.

 

  1. writing was almost impossible for a blind person was still restricted

  2. writing was almost impossible for a blind person who was still restricted

  3. writing was almost impossible to a blind person still restricted

  4. writing was almost impossible to a blind person who was still restricted


Correct Option: B
Explanation:

The sentence requires relative pronoun 'who' to propagate proper meaning. The correct usage is “for a blind person who was…”

Which is the best version of sentence 1 (reproduced below)?

The popular notion about marriage, that it springs from the same motives, and covers the same human needs is synonymous with love.

Directions for the question:

The following passage is an early draft of an essay. Some parts of the passage need to be rewritten. Read the passage and select the best answer for the question that follows. Keep in mind that some questions are about particular sentences or parts of sentences and ask you to improve sentence structure or word choice. Other questions ask to consider organization and development. In choosing the answer, follow the requirements of standard written English.

[1]The popular notion about marriage, that it springs from the same motives, and covers the same human needs is synonymous with love. [2]Like most popular notions this also rests not on actual facts, but on superstition.

[3]Marriage and love have nothing in common. [4]They are as far apart as the poles are; in fact, antagonistic to each other. [5]No doubt some marriages have been the result of love. [6]Not love could assert itself only in marriage; much rather it is because few people can completely outgrow a convention. [7]There are today large numbers of men and women to whom marriage is nothing but a farce, but who submit to marriage for the sake of public opinion. [8]At any rate, while it is true that some marriages are based on love, and while it is equally true that in some cases love continues in married life, I maintain that it does so regardless of marriage, and not because of it.
[9]Marriage is primarily an economic arrangement, an insurance pact. [10]It differs from the ordinary life insurance agreement only in that it is more binding, more exacting. [11]Its returns are insignificantly small compared with the investments. [12]If you take out an insurance policy, dollars and cents must be paid by you. [13] If woman's premium, however, is her husband, she pays for it with her name, her privacy, her self-respect, her very life. [14] Man too pays his toll, but as his sphere is wider, marriage does not limit him as much as woman.

  1. NO CHANGE

  2. The popular notion about marriage and love is that they are synonymous, that they spring from the same motives, and cover the same human needs.

  3. The popular notion of love and marriage that they spring from the same motives, and cover the same human needs makes them synonymous.

  4. Love and marriage spring from the same motives, and cover the same human needs and this has become a popular notion.

  5. For marriage and love to become popular notions, they should both spring from the same motives, and cover the same human needs.


Correct Option: B
Explanation:

The original sentence incorrectly uses comma (,) before “that” and it ought to place “marriage” and “love” together. Option (B) corrects the latter error. The use of “that” in (B) is correct as it introduces a new clause. Thus, it is the correct answer.

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