Directions (1-15): In each of the following sentences, a part of the sentence is underlined. Beneath each sentence, five different ways of phrasing the underlined part are indicated. Choose the best alternative from among the five.
Q1. The number of foreigners going to India for fertility treatments, specially surrogacy, has dramatically increased in recent years.
(a) especially surrogacy, have dramatically increased in past years.
(b) especially surrogacy, has dramatically increased in recent years.
(c) specially surrogacy, have dramatically increased in recent years.
(d) specially surrogacy, have shown dramatic improvement in recent years.
Q2. The LHC is a magnificent engineering project, who’s many “gee-whiz” feature have been widely reported.
(a) whose many “gee-whiz” feature have been widely reported.
(b) who’s “gee-whiz” features has been reported widely.
(c) Whose many “gee-whiz” features has been widely reported.
(d) who’s many “gee-whiz” features have been widely reported.
(e) who’s “gee-whiz” features had being reported widely.
Q3. Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez, outspoken as usual, compared the choice of Liu for the Nobel Prize with Obama.
(a) compared the choice of Liu for Nobel Prize with that of Obama.
(b) compared the choice of Liu with Obama for the Nobel Prize.
(c) compared the choice of Liu for the Noble Prize to that of Obama.
(d) compared the choice of Liu and Obama to the Nobel Prize.
(e) compared the choice of Liu with the Noble Prize to which of Obama.
Q4. The OECD expects average GDP growth among their mostly rich members to slow from 2.8% in 2010 and 2.3% in 2011. Before bouncing back to 2.8% in 2012.
(a) their most rich members to slow from 2.8% in 2010 and 2.3% in 2011,
(b) their mostly rich members to slow from 2.8% in 2010 and 2.3% in 2011,
(c) its most rich members to slow between 2.8% in 2010 to 2.3in 2011,
(d) its mostly rich members to slow from 2.8% in 2010 to 2.3% in 2011,
(e) it has most rich members to slow between 2.8% in 2010 to 2.3in 2011,
Q5. A sphere cannot be represented on a flat plane without distortion, which will mean that all map projections will distort in one way or another.
(a) which means all map projections distort in one way or another.
(b) that means all map projections will distort one way or another.
(c) which will mean that all map projections distorts one way or other.
(d) Which means all map projections will distort in one way or others.
(e) whose means all map projections will distort one way nor another.
Q6. The blame for rising obesity rates have been pinned on many things, including having more calorific diet, the spread of processed food, a lack of exercise and modern man’s generally more stressful lot.
(a) has been pinned on many things, including a more calorific diet,
(b) have been pinned to many things, including more calorific diets,
(c) have been pinned on many things, including a calorie rich diet,
(d) has been pinned on many things: having a more calorific diet,
(e) has being pinned on much things: having a more calorific diet,
Q7. The tendency to eat late, though it has never been tested properly, many nutritionists believe, as a factor in putting on weight.
(a) many nutritionists believe, to be a factor in putting on weight.
(b) many nutritionists believe factor in putting on weight.
(c) is believed by many nutritionists to be a factor in putting on weight.
(d) is believed by many nutritionists as a factor in putting on weight.
(e) much nutritionists believe, to be a factor in putting on weight.
Q8. Of the billion or so Windows machines, some 63% still uses old XP version launched in 2001, in America, the proportion of XP users are over 80%.
(a) some 63% still use the old XP version launched in 2001, in America the proportion of XP users are
(b) some 63% still uses the old XP version launched in 2001; in America, the proportion of XP users are
(c) some 63% still use the old XP version launched in 2001 in America, the proportion of XP users is
(d) some 63% still use the old XP version launched in 2001; in America, the proportion of XP users is
(e) some 63% still use the old XP version launch at 2001, in America the proportion of XP users are
Q9. Though subjected to verying influences, the distinctive features of China’s artistic activity possess a unity which is quite as complete as that of our Western art.
(a) possess a unity which is quite as complete as that of our Western art.
(b) possesses a unity which are quite as complete as our Western art.
(c) possesses a unity which is quite complete like our Western art.
(d) possess a unity which is quite complete like our Western art.
(e) possesses an unity who are quite as complete as our Western art.
Q10. To know by parts is science, knowing the whole as a whole is philosophy.
(a) Knowledge of parts is science,
(b) Knowing by parts is science,
(c) To know partially is science,
(d) To know by parts is science,
(e) Knows by parts are science,
Q11. In the fission reactions that nuclear power generation rely on today, heavy elements such as uranium breaks into smaller ones.
(a) relies on today, heavy elements such as uranium break into smaller ones.
(b) rely on today, heavy elements such as uranium break into smaller ones.
(c) relies on today, heavy elements such as uranium breaks into smaller ones.
(d) rely on today, heavy elements such as uranium breaks into smaller ones.
(e) rely on today, heavy elements such as uranium break on smaller ones.
Q12. The nature of our party system has changed in the past few decades, and the lesson of the past decade had been that the party that did not hold the white House had every incentive to refuse to co-operate with the president’s party.
(a) was that the party that does not hold the White House had every incentive
(b) is that the party that does not hold the White House had every incentive
(c) had been that the party that had not held the White House had every incentive
(d) had been that the party that did not hold the White House had every incentive
(e) were this the party that does none hold the White House had every incentive
Q13. Looking at the path of German GDP and the fact that total private sector hours didn’t fall by that much, it becomes clear that Germany’s unique recession and recovery was about more than just its choice in labour market policies.
(a) Looking at the path of German GDP and that total private sector hours didn’t fall much,
(b) Looking at the path of German GDP and the fact that total private sector hours didn’t fall much,
(c) When one looks at the path of German GDP and the fact that total private sector hours didn’t fall much,
(d) When one is looking at the path of German GDP and that total private sector hours didn’t fall much,
(e) Looking at the path of German GDP and that total private sector hours didn’t fell many,
Q14. The Beijing Language and Culture University Press, the largest publisher of Chinese-language textbooks, says South Korea and Japan are their biggest customers.
(a) say South Korea and Japan are their biggest customers.
(b) says South Korea and Japan are it’s biggest customers.
(c) says South Korea and Japan are their biggest customers.
(d) says South Korea and Japan its biggest customers.
(e) says South Korea and Japan is it’s biggest customers.
Q15. There are two pieces to Mr Keats’ argument; that English is open-source as other languages are not; and that that is why it has spread.
(a) Mr Keats’ argument, that English is open-source as other languages are not and that
(b) Mr Keats’ argument: that English is open-source as other languages are not, and that that
(c) Mr Keats’ argument—that English is open-source as other languages are not—and that
(d) Mr Keats’s argument; that English is open-source as other languages are not; and that that
(e) Mr Keats’ argument, this English are open-source as other languages are not and that
Solutions
S1. Ans.(b)
Sol. Specially vs. especially (specially means exclusively for, especially means for a particular purpose); ‘especially’ suit the context better because ‘infertility treatments’ are mentioned as the class of treatments the tourists go for. Options c and d are eliminated. ‘The number of foreigners…’ is the subjects of the sentence. “the number” is always singular, hence ‘has’ is the correct verb.
S2. Ans.(a)
Sol. Who’s vs. whose—whose is the possessive of who; ‘many features’ is plural, hence the verb has to be the plural ‘have.’
S3. Ans.(c)
Sol. Choice is compared, hence that of (choice of) is essential. Otherwise choice and Obama are directly compared making it an error. To identify either the similarities or the differences between two things, use “compare to.” To identify both the similarities and the differences (at the same time), use “compare with.” (‘Compared with’ places the things compared on equal level.) India is often compared with China. India is often compared to the US. In comparing with something, one finds or discusses both things that are alike and things that are different.
S4. Ans.(d)
Sol. The OECD is singular (that is why the verb is ‘expects’ rather than expect; the pronoun has to be consistent, hence its is necessary – their is incorrect; ‘mostly rich members’ is correct, ‘their most rich members’ is vague; ‘from’ needs to be followed by ‘to’, not ‘and.’ Option d corrects these errors.
S5. Ans.(a)
Sol. The shift to future tense is unnecessary from the present ‘cannot be represented’ as it is a fact. It is an error to change which to that, as which introduces a descriptive clause. ‘one way or another’ is the correct idiom.
S6. Ans.(d)
Sol. Since the subject is ‘the blame’—the verb has to be singular ‘has’; ‘pinned on’ is correct idiom. ‘A more calorific diet’ is parallel with ‘the spread of ...’ and a lack of …’. Hence option d is faulty parallelism.
S7. Ans.(c)
Sol. There are there are two clauses in this sentence: The tendency to eat late is believed (by nutritionists) to be a factor in putting on weight and (though) it has never been tested properly. The first clause can also be correctly constructed as “The tendency to eat late, many nutritionists believe, is a factor in putting on weight.” But, this is not among the option. “believed …. as a factor” is incorrect.
S8. Ans.(d)
Sol. Portions (percent, fractions etc.) the verb will agree with the noun what follows the of (50 of the people come from ……. 50% of the money comes from ……. etc.). In this sentence the noun is machines; hence, the verb ‘use’ is correct. When there is already a comma in any of the punctuation that replaces a conjunction has to be a semicolon. In the above sentence, there is no conjunction. Option C makes the sentence incorrect because the sentence is not saying “launched in 2001 in America.” “The proportion…” is the subject in the next clause; hence, the verb has to be singular ‘is’.
S9. Ans.(a)
Sol. There is no error in the original sentence nor does it need any improvement. ‘features’ needs a plural verb ‘possess’. To establish comparison ‘that of’ is necessary.
S10. Ans.(b)
Sol. Faulty parallelism in all the other options.
S11. Ans.(a)
Sol. Pure subject-verb agreement question. The subject ‘nuclear power generation’ requires the singular verb ‘relies’ and ‘heavy elements’ requires the plural verb ‘break'.
S12. Ans.(b)
Sol. Tense inconsistency. The lesson of the past decade has to be either ‘is’ or ‘was’, hence had been is eliminated. The option with was (A) continues the sentence into the present tense and is illogical. The consistent present tense in option B makes the whole idea a fact (simple present tense is used to state facts).
S13. Ans.(c)
Sol. Modifier error if ‘it’ is retained as the subject. ‘it’ cannot be ‘looking.’ Options A and B are, hence, eliminated. Option 4 unnecessarily uses the continuous tense, and has a parallelism error. When one looks at ….. the path and the fact are parallel. Hence option C is the only correct choice.
S14. Ans.(d)
Sol. The verb ‘says’ and the pronoun ‘its’ are consistent with the subject “The Beijing Language and Culture University Press”.
S15. Ans.(b)
Sol. A colon correctly introduces the list of ideas. Semicolon in its place is incorrect. Dashes (option C) are incorrect because the idea (between the dashes) is not parenthetical. The second ‘that’ is necessary to maintain parallelism. The possessive of Keats can be either Keats’ or Keats’s.
