Multiple choice

Directions: In the following sentence, three substitutions are given for each italicised part. If one of them is better than the italicised part, that should be your answer. If none of the substitution improves the sentence, the answer should be (4).

Though we were sitting very close to the dais, his speech was impossible to be heard.

  1. his speech was impossible to hear

  2. his speech was impossible to have been heard

  3. it was impossible to hear his speech

  4. No improvement
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C Correct answer
Explanation

The passive construction 'impossible to be heard' is awkward and grammatically problematic. The active construction 'it was impossible to hear his speech' is much more natural and grammatically correct. This structure clearly places the impossibility on the act of hearing, which is what the sentence intends to convey.

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