Multiple choice

Direction: The following sentence tests correctness and effectiveness of expression. Part of the sentence or the entire sentence is underlined. Five ways of phrasing the underlined part are given. Choice 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 choice 1; if not, select one of the other choices.

The first greater misery is the falling of the seed in vain, and the second is my childlessness, the greatest sorrow of all.

  1. The first greater misery is the falling of the seed in vain, and the second is my childlessness

  2. The first greatest misery is the falling of the seed in vain, and the second is my childlessness

  3. The first greatest miseries is the falling of the seed in vain, and second is my childlessness

  4. Falling of the seed in vain is first greatest misery, and second is my childlessness

  5. The first great miseries is the falling of the seed in vain, and second greatest one is my childlessness
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation

(2): Superlative degree will be used as we are stating the first greatest misery out of all other miseries. The ordinals like first, second etc. are used with superlative degree only. (5) option is wrong due to the incorrect phrasing done.

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