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.

You can't have the best of both worlds: the material pursuit as well as the spiritual.

  1. the material pursuit as well as the spiritual.

  2. the material pursuit and the spiritual.

  3. the material pursuit along with the spiritual.

  4. the material pursuits and the spiritual.

  5. the material pursuits as well as the spirituals.
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

Justification for (1): 'Both' is always followed by 'and'. But this is true only if the conjunction is in the same clause. Here the underlined clause is distinct from the other. Hence, nothing wrong with the usage.

Explanation for (2): Both' is always followed by 'and'. But this is true only if the conjunction is in the same clause. Here the underlined clause is distinct from the other. There is nothing inherently wrong with this option but why should the change be made when it was not needed? Also, usage of 'and' results in loss of impact of two divergent pursuits.

Explanation for (3): Here the impact of having 'the best of both' is lost.
Explanation for (4): There is no need to change pursuit to plural. Explanation for (5): There is no need to change pursuit to plural.

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