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.

He was rough and ready, this cousin, so he loved his town friend and made him heartily welcome.

  1. so he loved his town friend

  2. therefore, he loved his town friend

  3. but he loved his town friend

  4. except he loved his town friend

  5. but he loved his friend from town
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C Correct answer
Explanation

Explanation for (1): The characteristics exhibited in 'rough and ready' and 'love' are opposite and cannot be joined by 'so'.

Explanation for (2): This option introduces a cause and effect relationship between 'rough and ready' and 'loved his town friend'.  The relationship between these two phrases is actually one of contrast. 

Justification for (3): The 'but' correctly emphasizes the contrast between being 'rough and ready' and yet loving 'his town friend'. 
Explanation for (4): This option changes the meaning of the sentence. The preposition 'except' implies that the emotion of loving 'his town friend' subtracts from the quality of his being 'rough and ready'.  Explanation for (5): This option makes an unnecessary change by using the adjective phrase 'friend from town' rather than 'town friend'.

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