Multiple choice

Directions: The following question presents a sentence, part of which or all 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.

Art historians are using a process known as infrared scanning in analyzing the Mona Lisa to determine if it has been altered since completion and if Leonardo da Vinci first sketched the figure in black, as done by many artists of the time.

  1. if it has been altered since completion and if Leonardo da Vinci first sketched the figure in black, as done

  2. if it had been altered since completion and if Leonardo da Vinci first sketched the figure in black, a practice employed

  3. whether it has been altered since completion and whether Leonardo da Vinci first sketched the figure in black, a practice employed

  4. whether it was altered since completion and whether Leonardo da Vinci first sketched the figure in black, as was done

  5. whether it had been altered since completion and whether Leonardo da Vinci first sketched the figure in black, a practice done
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C Correct answer
Explanation

The correct answer uses "whether" instead of "if" for indirect questions involving alternatives, which is more appropriate in formal writing. Additionally, "a practice employed" is more concise and grammatically correct than "as done by." The phrase "a practice employed" clearly modifies the preceding clause about sketching in black. Option C maintains parallel structure and uses appropriate terminology.

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