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.

In a brief preamble, he touched upon the character of Maria, the reigning Duchess.

  1. he touched upon the character of Maria, the reigning Duchess.

  2. he touched on the character of Maria, reigning Duchess.

  3. he touched the character of Maria, the reigning Duchess.

  4. he touched at the character of Maria, the reigning Duchess.

  5. he touched at the character of Maria, who was the reigning Duchess.
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A Correct answer
Explanation

Justification for (1): The sentence is correct as given.

Explanation for (2): The option introduces the error of article by deleting 'the' before 'reigning Duchess'.

Explanation for (3): The option introduces the error of incorrect phrase: 'touched the' is incorrect phrase because there is no physical touch involved. The correct phrase is 'touched upon', which means 'to deal with a topic'
Explanation for (4): The option introduces error of incorrect phrase: 'touched at the'. The correct phrase is 'touched upon', which means 'to deal with a topic' Explanation for (5): The option introduces error of incorrect phrase: 'touched at the'. The phrase should be 'touched upon', which means 'to deal with a topic'. Besides, the option makes unnecessary use of 'who was'.

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