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.

Anyway, we took good care with the next lot of measurements, made them more exact; that's why we stayed out there so long.

  1. good care with the next lot of measurements, made them more exact; that's why we stayed out there so long.

  2. good care with the next lot of measurements, making them more exact; that's why stayed out there so long.

  3. great care with the next lot of measurements, making them more exact; that's why we were out there so long.

  4. greater care with the next lot of measurements, made them more exact and that's why we stayed out there so long.

  5. good care with the next lot of measurements, made them more exact; that's why we had to be out there so long.
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D Correct answer
Explanation

Explanation for (1): 'Good' is in the positive form and not consistent with the comparison implied by 'next' lot. 

Explanation for (2): The option uses the gerund 'making', rather than the simple past 'made', which is consistent with 'took'. 

Explanation for (3): The option unnecessarily changes 'stayed' to 'were out'. It changes 'good' to 'great' but fails to use the required comparative degree of the adjective. 
Justification for (4): This option maintains parallelism in the verb tense. 'Took', 'made' and 'stayed' are all in the simple past. It also uses the adjective 'greater' to describe 'care'. A comparative degree is consistent with 'more' exact.  Explanation for (5): The option changes the meaning by using 'had to be' instead of 'stayed'.

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