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 government needs to focus on cutting unnecessary red tapism rather than to worry about a paltry reduction in card fees.

  1. rather than to worry about a paltry reduction in card fees

  2. rather to worry about a paltry reduction in card fees

  3. rather than to worry about a part reduction in card fees

  4. rather than worrying about a paltry reduction in card fees

  5. rather than to worry for a part reduction in card fees
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
D Correct answer
Explanation

Explanation for (1): The sentence has error of parallelism. The gerund form 'cutting' and the infinitive form 'to worry' cannot come together.

Explanation for (2): The option does not rectify the error of parallelism and introduces another error ('rather' is followed by 'than' not by 'to').

Explanation for (3): The option does not rectify the error of parallelism and also introduces another error by replacing 'partly reduction' by 'a part reduction'.
Justification for (4): The sentence has error of parallelism. The gerund form 'cutting' and the infinitive form 'to worry' cannot come together. This option rectifies the error of parallelism (cutting and worrying). Hence, it is the correct answer. Explanation for (5): This option does not rectify the error of parallelism and introduces other errors; changes 'paltry reduction' to 'a part reduction' and 'about' to 'for'.

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