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 author fortunately remembered that readers have, but little sympathy with the motives of authors; and expect that their works should amuse or instruct them.

  1. and expect that their works should amuse or instruct them.

  2. but expect that their works should amuse or instruct them.

  3. and expect that their works could amuse or instruct them.

  4. but expect from them that their works should amuse or instruct them.

  5. and expect that their works ought to amuse or instruct them.
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation

One might feel that the second use of 'but' in the sentence is redundant. But 'but' has to be used twice here, the first time as an adverb 'but little sympathy', the second time as a conjunction of contrast. In this context, 'but' should be used in the place of 'and'. This option rectifies the error of conjunction.

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