Sentence Correction Home Exercise 03, DIRECTIONS for questions 1 to 5:

DIRECTIONS for questions 1 to 5: Each of the following questions consists of a sentence, with some parts of it underlined which could be erroneous. From among the choice given, you have to select an answer that is the possible replacement for the underlined part of the key, sentence.   While choosing the right answer, please pay particular attention to the syntax, idiom, usage and economy of words being used.

1.       Biologists believe that they have found one of the substances that tell individual genes both when to become active and when to remain quiescent in the earliest phases of an embryo’s development.

A.      Tell individual genes both when to become active and when to remain

B.      Tell individual genes both at which time they should become active should remain.

C.      Tells individual genes both when to become active or remain

D.       Tells individual genes both when to become active or when to remain

2.       Bluegrass musician Bill Monroe, whose repertory, views on musical collaboration, and vocal style were influential on generations of bluegrass artists, was also an inspiration to many musicians that included Elvis Presley and Jerry Garcia, whose music differed significantly from his own.

A.      Were influential on generations of bluegrass artists, was also an inspiration to many musicians, hat included Elvis Presley and Jerry Garcia, whose music differed significantly from

B.      Influenced generations of bluegrass artists, also inspired many musicians, including Elvis Presley and Jerry Garcia, whose music differed significantly from

C.      Was influential to generations of bluegrass artists  was also inspirational to many musicians, that included Elvis Presley and Jerry Garcia, whose music was different that included Elvis Presley and Jerry Garcia, whose music was different significantly in comparison to

D.      Was influential to generations of bluegrass artists, also inspired many musicians. Who included Elvis Presley and Jerry Garcia, the music of whom differed significantly when compared to

3.       An attempt to ratify the Equal Rights Amendment, begun almost two decades ago, has been unsuccessful despite efforts by many important groups, including the National Organization for Women.

A.       To ratify the Equal Rights Amendment , begun almost two decades ago,

B.      Begun almost two decades ago, for ratifying the Equal Rights Amendment

C.      Begun for ratifying the Equal Rights Amendment almost two decades ago.

D.      At ratifying g the Equal Rights Amendment, begun almost two decades ago.

4.       An inventory equal to 90 days sales is as much as even the strongest businesses carry, and then only as a way to anticipate higher prices or ensure against shortages.

A.      As much as even

B.      So much as even

C.      Even so much as

D.      Even as much that

5.       Archaeologists in Ireland believe that a recently discovered chalice, which dates from the eighth century, was probably buried to keep from being stolen by invaders.

A.      To keep from

B.      To keep it form

C.      To avoid

D.      In order that it would avoid

Answer:

1.       A    The sentence contains no error at all. Option B uses incorrect expression, both at which time, options C and D use both and or in conjunction rendering them. Hence [A].

2.       B     hence, [B]. Influential to is unidiomatic usage, thereby ruling out option C. So is true of option D, too.  Bill influence and inspired many musicians including Presley and Gracia, whose music was different from his own, is what the author wants to say.

3.       A    the sentence carries no error. Ratify would be used as an infinitive with ‘ to’ Home [A]

4.       A    The idiomatic form for this type of comparison is ‘as much as’.

        Thus, choice A is the best.

        The phrase ‘ so much as’ is used un-idiomatically in choices B and C; so much as is  considered idiomatic if it is preceded by a negative, as in “ she left not so much as a trace.”

5.       B     Option A misses out on the possessive pronoun, which is required in this case. Option D is too long for the requirement here. Option c also suffers from the fault of omitting the possessive pronoun. The subject ‘chalice’ needs to be complemented by the object ‘it ‘ . Hence. [B]