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.

It is not necessary that the past should be altered by the present as much as the present is directed by the past.

  1. It is not necessary that the past should be altered by the present as much as the present is directed by the past.

  2. It is not necessary that the past should be altered by the present as much as the present should be directed by the past.

  3. It is not necessary that the past is altered by the present as much as the present is directed by the past.

  4. It is not necessary that the past be altered by the present as much as the present is directed by the past.
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
D Correct answer
Explanation

The original sentence has an error of subjunctive and redundancy. “It is not necessary” dictates that the auxiliary 'should' be deleted. The option does just that.

Keep practicing — related questions