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.

It appears that beside this general cause of divergence, the staid and unenthusiastic character of the wife rather chilled the ardor of the husband.

  1. It appears that beside this general cause of divergence

  2. It appears that besides the cause of general divergence,

  3. It appears that besides this general cause of divergence

  4. It appears beside this general cause for a divergence

  5. It appears besides this general cause of divergence that
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C Correct answer
Explanation

Explanation for (1): The sentence has error of preposition. 'Beside' means 'by the side of' and 'besides' means 'in addition to'. This sentence implies that in addition to the general cause of divergence, the staid and unenthusiastic character of the wife rather chilled the ardor of the husband. 'Besides', should be used in this context.

Explanation for (2): This option rectifies the error of preposition, but introduces another error of modifier (general). The sentence is about general cause of divergence, not about cause of general divergence.

Justification for (3): The sentence has error of preposition. 'Beside' means 'by the side of' and 'besides' means 'in addition to'. This option rectifies this error.
Explanation for (4): The option does not rectify prepositional error and introduces another error by using 'for' in place of 'of'. Explanation for (5): The option rectifies the error of preposition but introduces another error (erroneous use of 'that').

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