Multiple choice

Directions: This question presents a sentence, all or part 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.

Very occasionally a neutrino will collide with a neutron in a chloride nucleus, turning the latter into a proton and simultaneously turning the chlorine atom to radioactive argon.

  1. turning the latter into a proton and simultaneously turning the chlorine atom to radioactive argon

  2. turning the latter to a proton and simultaneously turning the chlorine atom to radioactive argon

  3. turning the later into a proton and simultaneously turning the chlorine atom to radioactive argon

  4. turning the latter into a proton and simultaneously turning the chlorine atom into radioactive argon

  5. turning the later into a proton and simultaneously turning the chlorine atom into a radioactive argon
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
D Correct answer
Explanation

Explanation for (1): 'Turning' is followed by 'into'.

Explanation for (2): Turning' is followed by 'into'. This option compounds the error of preposition.

Explanation for (3): Turning' is followed by 'into'. This option compounds the error of preposition by adding the error of adjective ('later' in place of 'latter').
Justification for (4): 'Turning' is followed by 'into'.  The error stands corrected in option (4). Explanation for (5): Turning' is followed by 'into'. This option corrects the error of preposition but adds the error of adjective ('later' in place of 'latter').

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