Multiple choice

Directions: In the question below there are four statements which express the same idea. Choose the alternative that is most clear and concise.

  1. A tray containing fresh doughnuts and coffee cups arranged in a row, awaited the students.

  2. A coffee cup row and a fresh doughnut tray awaited the students.

  3. Awaiting the students was a tray of fresh doughnuts and a row of coffee cups.

  4. A tray of fresh doughnuts and a row of coffee cups awaited the students.
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
D Correct answer
Explanation

Option D is clearest and most natural: it simply states what awaited the students in straightforward word order. A is awkward with 'containing fresh doughnuts and coffee cups arranged in a row' modifying tray. B confusingly suggests 'a coffee cup row' is a single object. C's inversion 'Awaiting the students was' is less direct than D's active construction.

Keep practicing — related questions