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.

There are some who believe that the assets of sensitive technology should be locked up and kept away from the gaze of “the lesser breed”, as if knowledge were possibly contained today in nation–tight compartments.

  1. as if knowledge were possibly contained today in nation–tight compartments

  2. as if knowledge is possibly contained today in nation–tight compartments

  3. as if knowledge can possibly be contained today in nation–tight compartments

  4. as if knowledge should possibly be contained today in nation–tight compartments

  5. as if knowledge today possibly contains nation–tight compartments

Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C Correct answer
Explanation

The sentence incorrectly presents do-ability as a conditional. 'Can be' adequately presents this do-ability.