Directions (1-5): In each of the questions given below a sentence is given in which some parts are given in bold which are grammatically correct. The other three parts of the sentence may or may not be grammatically correct. The sentence is then followed by three alternatives for the parts of the sentence which is not given in bold which may replace the incorrect portion. Choose the alternative(s) which will replace the incorrect part in the sentence to make it grammatically and contextually correct.
Q1. After he had read/ the two first chapters/ of the novel, / he felt like reading/ the book at one sitting.
[I] the first two chapters
[II] in the novel
[III] the book on one sitting
(a) only [I]
(b) only [II]
(c) only [III]
(d) both [I] and [III]
(e) No correction required
Q2. Would have they waited / even a week to start /advocating for change, / the reporters would/ have been gone home.
[I] Had they waited
[II] advocating over change
[III] have gone home
(a) only [I]
(b) only [II]
(c) only [III]
(d) both [I] and [III]
(e) No correction required
Q3. To consider our own history, / surely compassion is/ infinitely preferable than our/ first step being to fine and forcibly /remove Venezuelans seeking our help.
[I] Considering our own history
[II] infinitely preferable to our
[III] first step being too fine and forcibly
(a) only [I]
(b) only [II]
(c) Both [I] and [II]
(d) All [I], [II], [III]
(e) No correction required
Q4. You will meet not only / colleagues who you’ve never / met but also interact with / people regardless of where / in the hierarchy they stand.
[I] Not only will you meet
[II] met yet also interact with
[III] people regarding of where
(a) only [I] (b) only [II] (c) Both [I] and [II] (d) All [I], [II], [III] (e) No correction required
Q5. Reserve Bank of India, as the / authority on capital flows in the country, / is privy to information on the outward remittances / of both individuals / and Indian companies.
[I] authority on capital flowing in the country
[II] is privy for information on the outward remittances
[III] of both individual
(a) only [I] (b) only [II] (c) Both [I] and [III] (d) All [I], [II], [III] (e) No correction required
Solutions:
S1. Ans. (a)
Sol. The error is in the second part of the sentence as one of the important rules for a grammatically correct sentence structure says that when in a sentence Ordinal adjective such as first, second, third, last etc. and cardinal adjective such as one, two, three, four etc., are present together, then the cardinal adjective must follow the ordinal adjective. Eg. “The first five questions.”. However, the other parts of the sentence comprehend the grammatical syntax of the sentence and are correct and do not require any changes. Thus, option (a) becomes the most viable choice.
S2. Ans. (d)
Sol. To correct the first and third part of the sentence, replace “would have they wanted” with “Had they wanted” and “have been gone home” with “have gone home” respectively as to express an unfulfilled condition, desire, wish of past “Had+subject+V3, Subject + would/ could/ might/ should + have + V3” syntax is used. The conditional perfect is formed using would have together with the past participle of the main verb. It refers to an impossible condition in the past and its probable result in the past. Other part of the sentence is grammatically correct and doesn’t require any changes. Therefore, with the given rationale option (d) is the most viable choice.
S3. Ans. (d)
Sol. All the three parts comprise either grammatical or contextual error in them. In the first part replace “To consider our own history” with “Considering our own history” to eliminate the contextual error. ‘to consider’ means to think about (something or someone) carefully especially in order to make a choice or decision while ‘considering’ can be used as a preposition or conjunction which means taking into consideration. In the second part of the sentence replace “than” with “to” as for the words like ‘preferable, senior, junior, superior, inferior, posterior’ “to” is used. The word prefer itself means choosing one thing over another and as per grammatical usages, generally prefer is used when two nouns are referred Eg. I prefer tea to coffee. Moreover, in the third part of the sentence “to” should be replaced with “too” to make the sentence logical and meaningful. “to” as a preposition means approaching or reaching (a particular condition); while “too” is an adverb which means to a higher degree than is desirable, permissible, or possible; excessively. Hence, as all the three parts contain error in them option (d) becomes the most viable answer choice.
S4. Ans. (a)
Sol. To make the syntax of the sentence grammatically correct replace “You will meet not only” with “Not only will you meet”. “Not only” should be used before “meet” and not after. As “Not only…But also” is used to connect two subjects, objects or verbs. It means that the words following both parts of this correlative conjunction (i.e., not only and but also) should belong to the same parts of speech. For example, if a verb follows not only, then a verb should also follow but also. The other parts of the sentence do not contain any error in them, therefore, option (a) becomes the most suitable answer choice.
S5. Ans. (e)
Sol. The given sentence is both grammatically and contextually correct. The sentence is in simple present tense and the syntax followed is precise. Therefore, none of the parts requires any changes. Hence, option (e) becomes the most feasible answer choice.