Multiple choice

Directions: The following sentence tests correctness and effectiveness of expression. Part of each sentence or the entire sentence is underlined; beneath each sentence are five ways of phrasing the underlined material. Option 1 repeats the original phrasing; the other four choices are different. If you think the original phrasing produces a better sentence than any of the alternatives, select option 1; if not, select one of the other choices.

She talks rapidly, scuffles her feet and is nervous.

  1. She talks rapidly, scuffles her feet and is nervous.

  2. She talks rapid, scuffles her feet and becomes nervous.

  3. She talks rapidly, scuffles her feet and trembles with nerves.

  4. She talked rapidly, scuffles her feet and trembled with nervousness.

  5. Her feet scuffles, is nervous and she talks rapidly.

Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C Correct answer
Explanation

The problem in this sentence is of faulty parallelism. Avoid paralleling action verbs; “talks, scuffles” with linking verb; ‘is’. The option (3) links with another action verb ‘trembles’ and maintains same verb tense pattern.

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