Grammar

Sentence Correction - 2

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Sentence Correction - 2

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10 Questions
15 Minutes
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Directions to Solve

Which of phrases given below each sentence should replace the phrase printed in bold and underline type to make the grammatically correct? If the sentence is correct as it is, mark 'E' as the answer.

Question 1
On Discovery channel last night they showed an informative program about new innovations in medical imaging, which you would have found interesting.

A
there was an informative program about innovations in medical imaging, a program you would have found interesting.
B
they showed an informative program about innovations in medical imaging, which you would have found interesting.
C
they showed an informative program about innovations in medical imaging, that you would have found interesting.
D
there was an informative program about new innovations in medical imaging, that you would have found interesting.
E
No correction required
Correct Answer: Option A

Option(A) is correct

They is incorrect when talking of the television channel. New is redundant. And which must have a clear antecedent. Only answer A corrects all these problems.

Question 2
The mole is a nocturnal insectivorous mammal regarded as pests by gardeners because of their burrowing activity spoiling lawns and gardens.

A
regarded as a pest by gardeners because its burrowing activity spoils lawns and gardens.
B
regarded to be pests by gardeners because of their burrowing activity's spoiling
C
regarded as a pest by gardeners because of burrowing activity spoiling
D
considered as a pest by gardeners because of its burrowing activity spoiling
E
No correction required
Correct Answer: Option A

Option(A) is correct

The mole is singular and hence we need its not their. After considered we do not need as.

Question 3
According to a recent study, financial problems, together with their serious ramifications, ranks as one of the high causes of marital stress in America.

A
rank as one of the most leading causes of marital strife in America
B
rank as one of the leading causes of marital stress in America
C
rank as one of the most high causes of marital stress in America
D
ranks as one of the leading causes of marital stress in America
E
No correction required
Correct Answer: Option B

Option(B) is correct

There are two main problems with the original sentence.

(1) The subject of this sentence (financial problems) is plural and does not agree with the verb (ranks), which is singular. Do not be thrown off by the appositive between the subject and verb that is designed to confuse you.

(2) The phrase rank as one of the high causes is not idiomatically correct. Instead, itemsrank as one of the leading causes.

A. The phrase rank as one of the most leading causes is awkward, unidiomatic, and redundant (the words most and leading convey the same idea)

B. This sentence correctly uses a plural verb with its plural subject; the concise and idiomatically correct phrase rank as one of the leading causes is used

C. The phrase rank as one of the most high causes is awkward, unidiomatic, and redundant (the words most and high convey the same idea)

D. The subject (which is plural) and verb (which is singular) do not agree

E. The subject (which is plural) and verb (which is singular) do not agree; ranks as one of the high causes is awkward and unidiomatic

Question 4
Despite being thousands of years old, the writing of Augustine of Hippo has inspired and captivated countless individuals, fundamentally because they convey the moving inner-journey of man searching for the divine in a lucid and compelling fashion.

A
for the reason that it conveys the moving inner-journey
B
due to the fact that it conveys the moving inner-journey
C
because of their conveying the moving inner-journey
D
because it conveys the moving inner-journey
E
No correction required
Correct Answer: Option D

Option(D) is correct

The subject of the sentence (the writing, which is singular) does not agree with the pronoun (they, which is plural and needs to be replaced by the singular it).

It is important to avoid wordy or unduly long phrases such as due to the fact that or for the reason that and instead use a shorter word like because.

A. the phrase for the reason that is wordy and can be replaced by the single word because

B. due to the fact that is wordy and can be replaced by because

C. the pronoun their, which is plural, does not agree with the subject the writing, which is singular; the phrase is awkward and long

D. the subject of the sentence (the writing) agrees with the pronoun (it); because is concise

E. The subject of the sentence (the writing, which is singular) does not agree with the pronoun (they, which is plural)

Question 5
During the worst years of the Great Depression, America faced tremendous challenges as unemployment topped 25%. Many historians credit the New Deal and the World War II industrial complex for propelling America out of the depression and into a then-unparalleled time of economic prosperity.

A
with propelling
B
with having propelled
C
as propelling
D
to propelling
E
No correction required
Correct Answer: Option A

Option(A) is correct

The current sentence uses the incorrect idiom to credit x ... for y. The correct idiom is to credit x ... with y

A. to credit x ... with y is the correct idiom; propelling instead of having propelled is also correct

B. having propelled is not the proper verb tense and should be replaced with propelling

C. to credit x ... as y is not the correct idiom

D. to credit x ... to y is not the correct idiom

E. to credit x ... for y is not the correct idiom

Question 6
The people of the ancient Assyrian Empire were renowned warriors, although they also crafted some of the best-preserved ancient art.

A
were renowned warriors, but also crafting
B
had been renowned warriors, although they also crafted
C
were renowned warriors, and also crafted
D
was renowned warriors, although they also crafted
E
No correction required
Correct Answer: Option E

Option(E) is correct

The subject (people, which is plural) must agree with the verb (were, which is plural).
The two verbs (were and crafted) should be in the same tense since both happened at the same time in the past.

A. The use of the participle crafting is improper and should be replaced by a verb

B. had been renowned is improperly constructed in the past perfect tense, implying that the Assyrian Empire stopped being known for renown warriors before its people crafted well-preserved art

C. The comma improperly splits the sentence, creating a comma splice

D. The subject (people, which is plural) does not agree with the verb (was, which is singular)

E. This correct sentence is written such that the subject and verb agree

Question 7
It is highly desirable that you furnish evidence of your expenses before you submit your final accounts.

A
You should have to supply evidence of your expenses
B
It is highly desirable that you should furnish evidence of your expenses
C
It is highly to be desired that you furnish evidences of your expenses
D
You must furnish evidence of your expenses
E
No correction required
Correct Answer: Option E

Option(E) is correct

No error.

Question 8
The administration discussed whether the number of students studying European languages was likely to decline when the senior lecturer retired.

A
whether the number of students studying European languages was liable
B
whether the number of students studying European languages were likely
C
if the students studying European languages were likely
D
if the number of European language students were likely
E
No correction required
Correct Answer: Option E

Option(A) is correct

"Whether" is correct because the question concerns a choice not a condition. With the expression "the number of" a singular verb is needed and hence "was" is correct. "Liable" is used in expressions such as "liable to prosecution" and not for expressions of possibility.

Question 9
Among the litany of threats that many Israelis face, the potential for a nuclear-armed Iran is perhaps the more scary as this scenario could engulf the region in a violent war. This would likely result in historically unseen amounts of destruction, even for a region whose history is marred by perennial violence.

A
possibly the great
B
perhaps the most
C
possibly, perhaps the most
D
possibly the greatest
E
No correction required
Correct Answer: Option B

Option(B) is correct

The superlative form most scary must be used instead of the comparative form more scary since the author is indicating that among all the threats, a specific threat is the most scary.

A. The superlative form is not used; the phrase possibly the great scary as this scenariois awkward and not idiomatic

B. The superlative form is correctly used

C. Although the superlative form is correctly used, this choice makes the sentence unduly long; the phrase possibly, perhaps is awkward and not idiomatically correct

D. While a superlative is used, the sentence is exceedingly awkward as the phrasepossibly the greatest scary is not idiomatic

E. more must be replaced by most as the superlative form (most) must be used since the author is not comparing threats but stating that a single threat is the scariest

Question 10
With the advent of YouTube, Facebook, and Flickr, many savvy political consultants undertook revolutionary micro-targeting and get-out-the-vote techniques that enabled political candidates with cash-strapped budgets to be able to reach numerous likely voters and succeed in raising large numbers of money from enthusiastic and committed supporters in a short period of time.

A
cash-strapped budgets to be able to reach numerous likely voters and succeed in raising large amounts of money
B
cash-strapped budgets to reach numerous likely voters and be successful in raising large amounts of money
C
cash-strapped budgets to reach numerous likely voters, succeeding in raising large amounts of money
D
cash-strapped budgets to reach numerous likely voters and succeed in raising large amounts of money
E
No correction required
Correct Answer: Option D

Option(D) is correct

(1) The sentence must be constructed such that corresponding consequences of an action are parallel. Specifically, the sentence should read enabled political candidates with cash-strapped budgets to x and y where x and y are parallel.

(2) The phrase to be able to z is redundant and should be replaced by to z

(3) The phrase numbers of money should be amounts of money since number is only used when the object in question can be counted and money cannot be counted (i.e., you do not say 1 money, 2 money, 3 money). Note: By comparison, dollars can be counted (i.e., you would say 1 dollar, 2 dollars, 3 dollars) and as a result, we would say: the number of dollars.

A. the phrase to be able to reach is redundant and should be replaced by to reach

B. the phrase to reach...and be successful is not parallel

C. this sentence is set up such that succeeding modifies reaching voters instead of being a separate action on its own

D. the phrase is parallel (i.e., to reach...[to] succeed); to be able to reach is replaced by the shorter to reach

E. the phrase to be able to reach is redundant and can be shortened as follows: to reach; large numbers of money is not grammatically correct since money itself cannot be counted and, as a result, amount should be used instead

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