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 the best, choose the first answer; otherwise choose any one of the others.

These dormant impressions are the chief factors mainly responsible for moulding our individual character, and they are the cause of the inequalities and diversities which we find around us.

  1. are the chief factors mainly responsible for moulding our individual character

  2. are the chief factors for moulding our individual character

  3. are the chief factors in moulding our individual character

  4. are the chief factors responsible mainly for moulding our individual character

  5. are the chiefly responsible factors in moulding our individual character

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

Explanation for (1): Chief and mainly both convey the same meaning. So, use of these two words together creates error of redundancy. Besides, the sentence also bears error of preposition 'for'.

Explanation for (2): The option rectifies the error of redundancy but does not rectify the error of preposition.

Explanation for (3): Chief and mainly both convey the same meaning. This option corrects the error of redundancy by deleting 'mainly' and of preposition by replacing 'for' with 'in'.
Explanation for (4): The option does not rectify the error of redundancy or preposition and also creates error of misplaced modifier by changing place of 'mainly'. Explanation for (5): The option rectifies the error of redundancy but unnecessarily changes the structure of the sentence.