Correct the Sentences with Answers
DIRECTIONS : Which of the phrases (a), (b), (c) and (d) given below should replace the phrase given in bold in the following sentence to make the sentence grammatically meaningful and correct ? If the sentence is correct as it is and ‘No correction is required’, mark (e) as the answer.
1. The government has given subsidies to the Navratnas but there is no telling whether the subsequent one will do.
(a) whether the subsequent government will do so.
(b) if the government to follow will accept the policy
(c) if the government to follow will adhere to the policy
(d) no telling whether the subsequent one will do so
Answer: (a) This is an easy one because the other choices don’t fit in properly even when we read them along with the sentence.
2. Rahul Bajaj has done a great job of taking the company to its present status, but it is time that he let go of the reins.
(a) let go of the reins
(b) stepped down
(c) let go off the reins
(d) delegated responsibility
Answer: (a) The given statement means that Rahul Bajaj, who did a nice job of making the company what it is now, should now go away or leave it. ‘Let go’ refers to stop holding onto something, and in this context it means to stop holding onto this job in the company or the responsibilities. Rein as a noun could refer to anything which is a means of control. So, the given statement is correct: option (a) is the answer.
Option (b) is not more appropriate than (a) because ‘stepping down’ can also mean reducing the level/ scope, so then it would mean that Rahul Bajaj should not leave the company completely, which is different to what is stated in the statement.
Option (c) is wrong, because the word ‘off ’ is different from ‘of ’. Option (d) is wrong, because delegating responsibility means giving the responsibility to someone else, but that would slightly change the statement, as it does not say that Rahul Bajaj should leave and give his responsibility to someone; this would be like adding information from our side, which is not allowed.
3. With the pick-up in the standard of education, expensive private schools have started blooming up in every corner of the country.
(a) started blooming in every corner of the country
(b) have started mushrooming all over the country
(c) have mushroomed all over the country
(d) have blossomed all over the country
Answer: (c) The given statement is trying to mean that as the standard of education has improved or picked up, expensive private school has grown and spread all over the country (all over the country, and every corner of the country, have the same meaning). ‘Blooming up’ is wrong because it means growing up and is used to express a positive connotation. Here, it is clear that the author wants to state things in a negative shade. Now, ‘have started blooming or have started growing or have started mushrooming’ are all redundant sentences as by just stating ‘have grown/spread/mushroomed’ it can still mean that the action started sometime in the past and is still going on i.e. present perfect simple. So options (a) and (b) can be ruled out.
Option (a) is wrong too, because then the tense would be simple past, which would mean that these private school grew or spread in the past, but this is not the case in present.
Option (d) is wrong, because ‘to blossom’ is to develop and reach a promising state, but the sentence has not defined how much these schools have grown and what this stage of growth can be classified as. (an example of the use of blossomed: their friendship blossomed into romance).
4. It is important that whatever else happens, these two factors should not be messed around with.
(a) It is important that
(b) It is a fact that
(c) It should be urgently understood that
(d) It should be understood that
Answer: (a) The given statement is correct.
Option (b) cannot be true, because saying something is ‘important’ and something is a ‘fact’ have two different meanings. A fact refers to something that can be argued upon, and there is a certain proof to affirm its validity, whereas ‘important’ means something that is crucial or vital or necessary, and that is completely correct in the context as the speaker is stressing that the ‘two factors’ are vital.
Options (c) and (d) are wrong, because understanding something is different from considering it important; understanding something means you ‘get it’, but ‘understanding the importance’ is a different thing. Option (c) is also incorrect, because there is nothing in the statement to suggest that the matter is ‘urgent’.
5. It must be note that under no circumstance should the company go in for diversification.
(a) It must be noticed that
(b) It must be noted that
(c) It must be pointed out that
(d) It should be noticed that
Answer: (b) Let us understand the statement first: the speaker is expressing that it is very important to ensure that the company does not go for diversification (increasing the number of products/services that a company produces) i.e. the company should not go in different directions or set different goals. When we say ‘it must be noted’ we are suggesting that the people consider or understand the importance, whereas ‘notice’ refers to observing. It is clear from the context explained above that ‘noted’ is the appropriate word. Hence, option (b) is correct and (a) is incorrect.
Option (c) is wrong too, because ‘it must be pointed out’ refers to showing or talking about something so that others will notice it, hence it will be clearly out of the context.
Option (d) is similar to (b), the only difference being of ‘should’ instead of the presence of ‘must’. The difference between must and should is only of the degree. When saying ‘you must’, you are saying that it is required and necessary, whereas in saying ‘you should’, you are merely suggesting something. Looking at the context, ‘must’ is the more appropriate word.
6. British Airspace has been focusing on building European links.
(a) concentrating on creating European links.
(b) pursuing ways of building European connectivity.
(c) stressing on building European links.
(d) focusing on forging European links.
Answer: (a) The given statement means that the British Airspace is ‘focusing’ on spreading its network, but probably having their flights in more European countries. Let’s first look at the words: concentrating, pursuing, stressing, and focusing. Focusing and concentrating are synonymous to each other and they refer to directing attention on someone or something. ‘To pursue’ is ‘to chase, follow or seek to attain or accomplish a goal over a long period of time’.
‘Stressing’ means ‘emphasizing something’. Hence, the appropriate word for the sentence would be concentrating or focusing. We have to pick between the options (a) and (d) now: forging can refer to creating something strong or enduring. We cannot say if the company is looking to form links for the long term, or the ones that would hopefully last, or it is just something they are trying out for sometimes. So, option (a) is correct.
7. The appetite of banks for funds was lost under the onslaught of the slowdown, corporate refused to borrow-even as bank deposit flourished.
(a) bank deposits flourished
(b) bank deposits swelled
(c) bank deposits were enhanced
(d) bank deposits flummoxed
Answer: (b) We have to basically pick the most appropriate word among: flourished, swelled, enhanced, and flummoxed. Let’s look at the meanings of these words: Flourish refers ‘to grow or develop rapidly or vigorously’; swell means ‘grow or expand’; enhanced can refer to ‘something has been made better or increased’; flummoxed means ‘bewildered or perplexed’.
The given statement means that the appetite of banks was lost and corporate were not taking funds, or not borrowing money from banks, hence the amount of funds with the banks increased. Option (b) is right because swell means increase in magnitude or number and that fits into the context.
Option (a) is wrong because flourished means to grow quickly or rapidly, but there is nothing to indicate in the statement to show that there was this ‘rapid pace’.
Option (c) can be rejected, because enhanced can also mean increase in quality too, so if we had to pick between swell or enhance, then swell is more appropriate for this statement.
Option (d) is wrong because flummoxed is a very different word, as explained already.
8. He did many mischiefs.
(a) made many a mischiefs
(b) made much mischief
(c) Committed many mischiefs
(d) No correction required
Answer: (c) Committed many mischiefs
9. The main point of his speech was well understood.
(a) that he spoke
(b) in the speech of his
(c) made when he spoke
(d) No correction required
Answer: No correction required
10. The indecisive man was readily persuaded to change his mind again.
(a) was persuaded ready
(b) was ready to persuade
(c) was ready persuaded
(d) No improvement
Answer: No correction required
11. The teacher asked the intruder who was he and why was he occupying his chair.
(a) who he was and why he was
(b) who he was and why was he
(c) who he had been and why he had been
(d) No correction required
Answer: (b) who he was and why was he
12. The custom of many centuries ago origin is slowly disappearing.
(a) which was originated ago many centuries
(b) originating for many centuries
(c) which orginated many centuries ago
(d) with many centuries of origin
Answer: (c) which orginated many centuries ago
13. He stayed back so that it can look as if he was unaware of the entire incident.
(a) may look
(b) would look
(c) will look
(d) No correction required
Answer: (b) would look
14. The local library has recommended that the books put up for the used book sale should be in good condition and should have no writing in them or be underlined.
(a) and should have no writing in them or be underlined
(b) and should not have writing in them or not be underlined
(c) and contain no writing or underlining
(d) without containing writing or underlining
Answer: (c) The modal ‘should’ need not be repeated since the conjunction ‘and’ is being used. The should in the sentence will be used for both the parts.
15. The news of her employment soon circulated around the small town.
(a) circulated round the small town
(b) circulated in the small town
(c) was circulating across the small town
(d) was circulating within the small town
Answer: (b) ‘in’ is the correct preposition to be used with the verb circulated.
16. It is the craziness for speeding that is maddening that is responsible for many motor accidents.
(a) the craziness for speeding that is mad
(b) the mad craze for speed
(c) the mad craze for speeding
(d) the craze for speeding that is maddening
Answer: (c) ‘craziness’ is no word, the right noun is craze. If that is maddening is chosen it will be followed by ‘that is responsible’ which will not be appropriate ‘mad craze’ is the correct use, and this craze is not for the noun ‘speed’ but the verb ‘speeding’, i.e., driving vehicles at high speed.
17. If they cooperate together by dividing up the work, they shall be over with the work faster.
(a) if they cooperate together by dividing the work
(b) if they cooperate by dividing up the work
(c) if they cooperate by dividing the work
(d) if they cooperate together by division of work
Answer: (c) Co-operate has an implicit meaning of together. It means ‘work together’, so together must be eliminated. Similarly ‘dividing’ means ‘breaking up’ so ‘up’ from ‘dividing’ must also be eliminated.
18. Knowing the area was prone to earthquakes, all the buildings were reinforced with additional steel and concrete.
(a) Having known that the area was prone to earthquakes
(b) Since they knew the area was prone to earthquakes
(c) Since the area was known to be prone to earthquakes
(d) Being prone earthquakes
Answer: (c) The second part of the sentence is an action taken as a result of an incident, so the first part of the sentence must give the incident and use the word ‘since’.
(b) is not the right option because it will make the first part active voice and second passive voice which must not happen. Similarity of voice should be maintained in the sentence.
19. He sailed for New York on Monday, arriving there on Saturday for the much-awaited inauguration of the new hospital.
(a) and arrived there on Saturday for the much-awaited inauguration of the new hospital.
(b) arriving there on Saturday for the inauguration of the much-awaited new hospital.
(c) arriving there for the inauguration of the much awaited new hospital on Saturday.
(d) and arrived here on Saturday for the long awaited inauguration of the new hospital.
Answer: (a) “arriving” is not in agreement with “sailed” in option (d) “here” is incorrect.
20. After trying to convince him for a long time, I realized that he was one of those people who never listens to reason.
(a) he was one of those people who never listen to reason.
(b) he was one of those people who never .listen to reasoning
(c) he is one of those people who never listen to reason.
(d) he is one of those people who never listens to reason.
Answer: (b) “reason” is not the correct word for this context. There is no need to put an ‘s’ in verb in case of third person plural number.