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.

He asked his supporters to prepare them for shouldering greater responsibilities.

  1. to prepare them for shouldering greater responsibilities.

  2. preparing them for shouldering greater responsibilities.

  3. to prepare themselves for shouldering greater responsibilities.

  4. to prepare them in shouldering greater responsibilities.

  5. to prepare themselves in shouldering greater responsibilities.
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C Correct answer
Explanation

Explanation for (1): The sentence bears error of reflexive pronoun. When the action comes back to the subject, reflexive pronoun has to be used. In this sentence, the action comes back to the supporters and they have to prepare themselves not 'them'.

Explanation for (2): This option does not rectify the error of reflexive pronoun and it also introduces another error (changes 'to prepare' to 'preparing')

Justification for (3): The sentence bears error of reflexive pronoun. When the action comes back to the subject, reflexive pronoun has to be used. In this sentence, the action comes back to the supporters and they have to prepare themselves not 'them'. This option corrects the error of reflexive pronoun.
Explanation for (4): This option does not rectify the error of reflexive pronoun and it also introduces another error ('in shouldering' in place of 'for shouldering)'. Explanation for (5): This option rectifies the error of reflexive pronoun, but it introduces another error ('in shouldering' in place of 'for shouldering)'.

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