English: Phrase Replacement/ Sentence Improvement Set 101

Directions(1-5): In the given question, a part of the sentence is brackets. Below the sentence alternatives to the bracketed part are given at (A), (B), (C), (D) and (E) which may help improve the sentence. Choose the correct alternative.

1. The Romanians may be restive under Soviet direction — but (they are tied from Moscow in ideological and military links).
   they are tied to Moscow by ideological and military links
   they are tied from Moscow by ideological and military links
   they are tied over Moscow by ideological and military links
   they are tied from Moscow by ideological in military links
   they are tied to Moscow by ideology in military links
   Option A
   The error in the original statement is the usage of ‘from’ before ‘Moscow’ and ‘in’ after it. They need to be replaced with ‘to’ and ‘by’, respectively to make the statement correct.

    

2. In a penetrating study, CBS-TV focuses on these people without hope, (whose bodies are care for by welfare aid), but whose spirit is often neglected by a disinterested society.
   whose bodies are cared for by welfare aid
   who do not have enough to eat
   whose hopelessness may be alleviated
   who may be physically satiated
   which bodies are cared for by welfare aid
   Option A
   The sentence refers to the people who are ‘physically looked after’ by the welfare aid. No other choice states the involvement of welfare aid. E is grammatically incorrect.

    

3. (Contemplating whether to exist) with an insatiable romantic temperament, he was the author and largely the subject of a number of memorable novels.
   Contemplating whether to exist
   Combining realistic details
   Miscegenating a brilliant mind
   Aware that he had been born
   Contemplating under exist
   Option B
   Only option B seems to be correct contextually. It refers to mixing of realistic points with a romantic temperament by the author.

    

4. How many times have I asked myself: when is the world going to start to make sense? (There is a monster out there), and it is rushing towards me over the uneven ground of consciousness.
   There is a monster out there
   It is as if the world is on my shoulders
   The answer is out there somewhere
   There is a sea of sensibility in me
   There is a monster out then
   Option C
   The given phrase obviously refers to the answer to the question that is bothering the author. Hence, option C will be the correct response.

    

5. In Martin Amis’ new novel, the narrator is trapped — and hurtling towards a terrible secret, its resolution and the dreadful revelations it brings, (ally to give an excruciating vision of guilt).
   Ally in giving an excruciate vision of quilt
   Ally to give a excruciating vision of guilt
   Ally to give an excruciating vision towards guilt
   Ally to give an excruciatement vision of guilt
   No correction required
   Option E
   The original phrase is best suited here, thus the correct response is option E.

    

Directions (6-10): Which of the following phrases (i), (ii), and (iii) given below each sentence should replace the phrase printed in bold letters to make the sentence grammatically correct? Choose the best option among the five given alternatives that reflect the correct use of phrase in the context of the grammatically correct sentence. If the sentence is correct as it is, mark (E) i.e., “No correction required” as the answer.

6. The local (police is working hand in glove with the FBI) to find the bank robbers.
   i) police is being working hand in glove with the FBI
   ii) police have been working hand in glove with the FBI
   iii) police are working hand in glove with the FBI
   Only i
   Only ii
   Only iii
   ii and iii
   No correction required
   Option D
   The answer is both ‘police have been working hand in glove with the FBI’ and ‘police are working hand in glove with the FBI’. ‘Hand in glove’ is a phrase which means
   ‘in close collusion or association’. Therefore option D is the correct answer

    

7. Rashmi hates everybody and everything( which remind her) of her mistakes
   i) which have reminded
   ii) who reminds her
   iii) that reminds her
   Only i
   Only ii
   Only iii
   ii and iii
   No correction required
   Option C
   The answer is ‘that reminds her’. When two antecedents are connected by ‘and’ if one of them is a person and the other an object then we use ‘that’ as a relative pronoun. Therefore option C is the correct answer.

    

8. She (asked me off passing on her good wishes) to all her friends and colleagues.
   i) asked me of passing away her good wishes
   ii) asked me to pass on her good wishes
   iii) ask me to pass out her good wishes
   Only i
   Only ii
   Only iii
   ii and iii
   No correction required
   Option C
   The answer is ‘asked me to pass on her good wishes’. ‘Pass on’ is a phrasal verb, which means to transmit.
   Therefore option C is the correct answer.

    

9. In spite of the rumours of an impending take over by the government, Mr. Bajaj (bought more than shares of) that company.
   i) bought much shares to
   ii) should be bought
   iii) bought many shares of
   Only i
   Only ii
   Only iii
   ii and iii
   No correction required
   Option C
   The correct answer is ‘bought many shares of’.
   Note that, the comparative degree of ‘much’ and ‘many’ is ‘more’. Hence, option C is the correct answer

    

10. Well, my (plan to go to the beach is gone for a burton now) that it’s supposed to rain all weekend.
    i) plan to go to the beach had went for a burton now
    ii) plan to go to the beach is gone for a burton now
    iii) plan of going to the beach is gone for a burton now
    Only i
    Only ii
    Only iii
    ii and iii
    No correction required
    Option D
    The answer is both ‘plan to go to the beach is gone for a burton now’ and ‘plan of going to the beach is gone for a burton now’. ‘Gone for a burton’ is a phrasal verb. It
    is used to mean lost or destroyed. Hence, option D is the correct answer.