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.

Irritated by the contumacy of the chancellor, the Diet had sent a command to him to recognize the authority of the emperor.

  1. had sent a command to him to recognize the authority of the emperor.

  2. has sent a command to him to recognize the authority of the emperor.

  3. sent a command to him to recognize the authority of the emperor.

  4. sent a command to recognize the authority of the emperor.

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

Explanation for (1): The sentence bears the error of tense. The correct usage, representing concurrent action, ought to be “irritated by … the Diet sent”.

Explanation for (2): For B to be correct, the sentence has to begin with “having been irritated by …”

Explanation for (3): This option corrects the error of tense. The correct usage, representing concurrent action, is “irritated by …the Diet sent”.
Explanation for (4): This option unnecessarily omits the object of the command. Explanation for (5): This option unnecessarily omits the object of the command.