English: Phrase Replacement/ Sentence Improvement Set 71

Directions(1-5): In the given question, a part of the sentence is given in brackets. Below the sentence, three alternatives to the bracketed part are given which may help improve the sentence. Choose the option that reflects the correct use of the phrase in the context of the sentence. In case the given sentence is correct, your answer is (E), i.e., 'No correction required'.

1. British billionaire and Moneysupermarket.com co-founder Simon Nixon (have invested on) fast-growing food delivery firm Deliveroo.
   i. has invested in
   ii. had invested in
   iii. has invested with the
   Only i
   Only ii
   Only iii
   Both i and ii
   No correction required
   Option D
   It should be either ‘has’ or ‘had,’ but can’t be ‘have’ with the singular subject "Simon Nixon". Thereby, the given statement is incorrect.
   The phrase ‘invested with something (of a person)’ is used to show that one has been given power/authority, especially as a part of his/her job. It is
   also used to show that a person/thing seems to have a particular quality. Thereby, option III can’t be used in this statement.
   The phrase ‘invested in something’ means money spent on something in order to make it better or more successful/useful.
   Therefore, option D is the apt answer.
   
    



2. A good position for a stop-loss would have been the most recent higher low that had taken place (before the breakout), which was at about $12.50.
   I. For the outbreak
   II. Before the outbreak
   III. For the breakout
   Both I and II
   Both II and III
   Both I and III
   Only I
   No correction required
   Option E
   ‘Stop-loss’(denoting or relating to an order to sell a security or commodity at a specified price in order to limit a loss) is generally associated with ‘breakout’(outbreak). The preposition ‘for’ does not fit in the context of the sentence. Therefore, no correction is required in the sentence.
   
    



3. (Despite persuading), she did all she could to encourage him to read, learn, and grow.
   I. Though being uneducated herself
   II. Even though she was uneducated
   III. Although uneducated
   Both I and II
   Both II and III
   Both I and III
   All I, II and III
   No correction required
   Option D
   ‘Persuade’ and ‘encourage’ are synonyms. So, the given statement makes no sense. The context of the sentence should be she did all she could do to encourage him to read, learn, and grow, even though she herself wasn't educated. The highlighted part should contain a phrase which is contrary to the non highlighted part. In this regard, option I and II are correct. It is possible to have a clause that contains no verb. Clauses of this kind are usually adverbial and are like compressed versions of conventional clauses with verbs. This means option III is also correct. We can use all the options to make the sentence grammatically correct and coherent.
   Therefore, option D is the apt answer.
   
    



4. In English literature, (without over pleonastic), Lawrence can be considered the personification of the search for the foundation of human nature.
   I. Without being over pleonastic
   II. Without being pleonastic overly
   III. Without being overly pleonastic
   Only I
   Only II
   Only III
   Both I and III
   No correction required
   Option C
   Pleonastic is an adjective which means the use of more words than are necessary to express an idea; redundancy. The given sentence seems incomplete. We always consider ‘being overly’ when we have an adjective after ‘being,’ not ‘being over.’ In other words, an adverb is always placed before an adjective. 'Over' as an adverb implies 'used to express action and result', which is incorrect. 'Overly' is an adverb implies 'excessively', which is coherent with the given context. So, option I can’t be used. Option II can’t be used due to incorrect positioning of the adverb. ‘Without being overly pleonastic’ makes the sentence grammatically correct and coherent.
   Therefore, option C is the apt answer.
   
    



5. I told my partner that I don’t want to work (with him because he is on a slow coach).
   I. with him because he is on a slow couch
   II. with him because he is a slowpoke
   III. with him because he is a slowcoach
   Only I
   Only II
   Only III
   Both II and III
   No correction required
   Option D
   
   
    
Directions(6-10): In the given question, a part of the sentence is given in brackets. Below the sentence, alternatives to the bracketed part are given which may help improve the sentence. Choose the correct alternative out of the given five options. In case the given sentence is correct, your answer will be option (E), i.e., "No correction required".


6. The Jog waterfalls created by the Sharavathi river in Sharavathi valley of Shimoga district in Karnataka (are one of the highest plunge waterfall) in India.
   is one of the highest plunge waterfalls
   are one of the highest plunge waterfalls
   is one of the highest plunge waterfall
   are one of highest plunge waterfalls
   No correction required
   Option A
   The subject of the sentence is ‘The Jog water falls’ which is a singular entity. Hence, the verb must also be singular in nature i.e. is. Also, the noun following the phrase "one of the" is always a plural noun. Therefore, it should be ‘waterfalls’ instead of ‘waterfall’.
   
    



7. In peacetime it is only necessary to billet troops in the villages of any district and ironically the number of fires in (that district immediate increase).
   the district immediate increases
   that district immediate increases
   that district immediately increase
   that district immediately increases
   No correction required
   Option D
   The usage of adjective (immediate) is erroneous. We need an adverb before ‘increase’ in the given sentence. It should be replaced with ‘immediately’ to form a grammatically correct sentence. Also, the expression ‘the number’ has a singular meaning and requires a singular verb, whereas the expression ‘a number’ has a plural meaning and takes a plural verb. Hence, ‘increases’ should be used instead of ‘increase’.
   
    



8. She'd learned the parts of a warship inside and out while learning the battle planning and looked for the configuration button (between her options popping in) on the screen.
   among her options popping out
   among her options popping in
   between her option popping out
   among her option popping in
   No correction required
   Option A
   The phrase ‘popping in’ means ‘to go inside a building, or a room’. However, the phrase meaning ‘to appear’ is required in the given sentence. ‘Popping out’ means ‘to appear very quickly or suddenly’.
   
    



9. Yesterday, the government (has reaffirmed) its commitment to the current peace process.
   Had been reaffirmed
   Have reaffirmed
   Had reaffirmed
   Reaffirmed
   No correction required
   Option D
   The phrase ‘has reaffirmed' is incorrect.
   One must not use adverbs of past time like yesterday, last year, last month, ago, short while ago etc. with present perfect tense.
   Therefore, it must be replaced with ‘reaffirmed' (simple past) to form a grammatically correct sentence.
   
    



10. She (visited several doctors) before she found out the root cause of the disease.
    Visit several doctors
    Had visited several doctors
    Had visit several doctors
    Visiting several doctors
    No correction required
    Option B
    The correct replacement is ‘had visited several doctors’.
    We use past perfect to talk about something that happened before another action in the past, which is usually expressed by the simple past.