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.

During the Miss Universe contest, it was a difficult moment for judges to decide whether Miss India or Miss Greece is the most beautiful.

  1. to decide whether Miss India or Miss Greece is the most beautiful

  2. to decide as to whether Miss India or Miss Greece is the most beautiful

  3. to decide whether Miss India or Miss Greece is more beautiful

  4. to decide whether Miss India or Miss Greece was more beautiful

  5. to decide whether Miss India or Miss Greece were beautiful

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

Explanation for (1): The sentence bears error of comparison and tense. When comparison is drawn comparative degree is used but in this sentence superlative degree has been used. The first part of the sentence is in past tense, the latter should also be in past tense not in present tense.

Explanation for (2): This option does not rectify the error of comparison and introduces another error by inserting 'as to' before 'whether'.

Explanation for (3): The option rectifies the error of comparison but does not rectify the error of tense.
Justification for (4): The sentence bears error of comparison and tense. When comparison is drawn, comparative degree is used but in this sentence superlative degree has been used. Also, the first part of the sentence is in past tense, the latter should also be in past tense not in present tense. This option rectifies both the errors. Explanation for (5): The option does not rectify the error of comparison and also introduces error of subject verb agreement (use of were: when two singular subjects are joined by 'or', singular verb is required).