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 quickness for which the reply came showed that she had been on the point of speaking herself.

  1. The quickness for which the reply came showed that she had been on the point of speaking herself.

  2. The quickness with which the reply came showed that she had been on the point of speaking herself.

  3. The quickness in which the reply came showed that she had been on the point of speaking herself.

  4. The quickness at which the reply came showed that she was on the point of speaking herself.

  5. The quickness with which the reply came showed that she had been on the point of speaking to herself.
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B Correct answer
Explanation

Explanation for (1): The sentence uses the incorrect idiom 'quickness for' rather than 'quickness with' as required in the context of the sentence. 

Justification for (2): The sentence uses the incorrect idiom 'quickness for'. This option maintains correctness of idiom and verb. 

Explanation for (3): The option fails to correct the error of preposition. 
Explanation for (4): The option makes an unwarranted and incorrect tense change. It changes the past perfect 'had been' (for an act that preceded the other event in the past) to the simple past 'was'.  Explanation for (5): The option changes the meaning by adding 'to' before 'her'. This changes the meaning of the sentence.

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