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.

The rules that should govern them are laid; the absence of children and their excessive numbers are both mentioned.

  1. The rules that should govern them are laid

  2. The rules that govern them should be laid down

  3. The rules which should govern them are laid

  4. The rules which should govern them were laid

  5. The rules that should govern them are laid down
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
E Correct answer
Explanation

Explanation for (1): The sentence bears error of phrasal usage. 'Rules are laid 'down'.

Explanation for (2): This option rectifies the error of phrasal usage but introduces another error by changing place of 'should', which changes the meaning of the sentence. This option says 'rules should be laid down', whereas the original sentence says 'rules that should govern them'. Hence, this option is eliminated.

Explanation for (3): This option introduces another error of relative pronoun by replacing 'that' by 'which'. 'That' is restrictive; it is used when we are talking about something specific. The sentence is about particular rules, so that should be used in place of which.
Explanation for (4): This sentence introduces another error of relative pronoun by replacing 'that' by 'which'. 'That' is restrictive; it is used when we are talking about something specific. The sentence is about particular rules, so 'that' should be used in place of 'which'. Justification for (5): Rules are laid 'down'. This option rectifies the error by inserting 'down' after laid.

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