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. When the First World War was over, no nation had either been isolated in war or peace.

  1. either been isolated in war or peace.

  2. been either isolated in war peace.

  3. been isolated neither in war nor peace.

  4. been isolated either in war or in peace.
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
D Correct answer
Explanation

Explanation for (1): Either……..or' should be placed near the words they are supposed to modify. In this sentence, they are supposed to modify 'in war' and 'in peace'.

Explanation for (2): The option compounds the error of parallel construction by deleting 'or' and changing place of 'either'.

Explanation for (3): Use of 'neither……nor' in place of 'either…….or' is incorrect because neither refers to no one of the two and either refers to one of the two. Thus the option is eliminated.
Justification for (4): 'Either……..or' should be placed near the words they are supposed to modify. In this sentence, they are supposed to modify 'in war' and 'in peace'. This option corrects the error. Explanation for (5): Use of 'neither……nor' in place of 'either…….or', changes the meaning of the sentence. Thus the option is eliminated.

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