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.

Three years have passed since the author of the present work ventured to lay them before the public, not without the unusual anxiety.

  1. since the author of the present work ventured to lay them before the public

  2. since the author of the present work ventured to lay it before the public

  3. since the author of the present work laid them before the public

  4. for the author of the present work to lay it before the public

  5. for the author of the present work to venture to lay it before the public
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation

Explanation for (1): Error of pronoun agreement. Antecedent 'work' is singular and the pronoun following it should also be singular (it) not plural (them).

Justification for (2): Error of pronoun agreement. Antecedent 'work' is singular and the pronoun following it should also be singular (it) not plural (them). The option rectifies the error.

Explanation for (3): The option does not rectify the error of pronoun antecedent and it also introduces another error of diction by deleting 'ventured'.
Explanation for (4): The option rectifies the error of pronoun antecedent but introduces another error of conjunction by using 'for' in place of 'since'. Explanation for (5): The option rectifies the error of pronoun antecedent but introduces other errors: incorrect use of conjunction 'for' in place of 'since' and incorrect use of 'to' before ventured.

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