Multiple choice

Direction: 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. Choice A 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 choice A; if not, select one of the other choices.

Almost every English or American writer of distinction are indebted to Shakespeare and the English Bible.

  1. Almost every English or American writer of distinction are indebted to Shakespeare and the English Bible

  2. Almost everyone English or American writer of distinction is indebted to Shakespeare and the English Bible

  3. Indebted to the Shakespeare and the English Bible is almost every English or American writer

  4. The Shakespeare and the English Bible is indebted to almost every English or American writer with distinction

  5. Almost every English or American writer of distinction is indebted to Shakespeare and the English Bible.

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

(E): The problem lies in the Pronoun and Verb agreement. With the indefinite pronoun 'Every' we make use of singular verb. Option (B) uses wrong indefinite pronoun 'everyone'. Option (C), places the article 'the' before the name of a person; 'Shakespeare' which is wrong. While option (D) changes the original sense conveyed in the sentence.

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