Multiple choice

Directions: This question presents a sentence, all or part of which is underlined. Beneath the sentence you will find five ways of phrasing the underlined part. The first of these repeats the original; the other four are different. If you think the original is best, choose the first answer; otherwise choose one of the others.

The terrorists threatened the forces to back of or else they will shoot the hostages.

  1. The terrorists threatened the forces to back of or else they will shoot the hostages.

  2. The terrorists threatened the forces to back off or else they would shoot the hostages.

  3. The terrorists threatened the forces to back it off or else they will shoot the hostages.

  4. The terrorists threatened the forces to back off or else they will shoot hostages.

  5. The terrorists threatened the forces to back off or else he will shoot the hostages.
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation

Option (2) is grammatically the most correct option. (1) and (3) are incorrect because 'back off' is the correct phrasal usage. (4) is incorrect because of missing article (the) to point out the noun (hostages). (5) is incorrect because of pronoun agreement violation. ('he' - a singular pronoun cannot refer to a plural antecedent - 'terrorists')

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