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.

Lying in the soul of meditation and concentration, our sages found divine knowledge.

  1. Lying in the soul of meditation and concentration, our sages found divine knowledge.

  2. Lying in the soul of meditation and concentration, divine knowledge was found by our sages.

  3. Our sages, lying in the soul of meditation and concentration found divine knowledge.

  4. Our sages found divine knowledge lying in the soul of meditation and concentration.

  5. Our sages lay both in the soul of meditation and concentration, and found divine knowledge.
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
D Correct answer
Explanation

Explanation for (1): Type of error: misplaced modifier

The sentence sounds as if our sages were lying in the soul of meditation and concentration.

Explanation for (2): There is an unnecessary shift from active to passive voice
Explanation for (3): It again appears that our sages (not divine knowledge) are lying in the soul of meditation and concentration.
Justification for (4): The modifying phrase 'lying in the soul of meditation and concentration' modifies our sages found divine knowledge and the sentence rightfully implies that divine knowledge (not the sages) is lying in the soul of meditation and concentration. Explanation for (5): 'Our sages both in the soul of meditation and concentration', makes no sense.

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