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. I speak of this school for reverence, for the good it has done, by the assertion of historic truth and of its legitimate authority over the minds of men.

  1. I speak of this school for reverence, for the good it has done

  2. I speak about this school of reverence for the good it has done

  3. With reverence, I speak of this school, for the good it has done

  4. I speak of this school with reverence, for the good it has done

Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
D Correct answer
Explanation

Explanation for (1): The sentence bears the error of preposition. The usage should be 'with reverence' and not 'for reverence'. We talk of something with reverence (respect).

Explanation for (2): This option replaces incorrect preposition 'for' by another incorrect preposition 'of'.

Explanation for (3): This option rectifies the error of preposition but introduces another error of modifier by changing place of 'with reverence'.
Justification for (4): The sentence bears the error of preposition. The usage should be 'with reverence' and not 'for reverence'. We talk of something with reverence (respect). This option rectifies the error. 'Speak ….with reverence' is the right expression. Explanation for (5): This option does not rectify the error of preposition and also introduces another error. It replaces incorrect preposition 'for' by another incorrect preposition 'of'. And uses plural pronoun 'they', in place of 'it', for the singular subject 'the school'.