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.

Low interest environment and a sustained performance in the service sector should contribute to, if possible, a reasonable future growth.

  1. Low interest environment and a sustained performance in the service sector should contribute to, if possible, a reasonable future growth.

  2. Low interest environment and a sustained performance in the service sector should, if possible, contribute to a reasonable future growth.

  3. It could be possible, low interest environment and a sustained performance in the service sector should contribute to a reasonable future growth.

  4. Low interest environment and a sustained performance in the service sector, if possible, should contribute to a reasonable future growth.

  5. Reasonable future growth is possible if low interest environment and a sustained performance in the service sector contributes to it.
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
D Correct answer
Explanation

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

In the given sentence, the modifying phrase 'if possible' splits the infinitive 'to and 'a reasonable future growth'.

Explanation for (2): The modifying phrase 'if possible' is placed between 'should' and 'contribute', which is incorrect.
Explanation for (3): The option is unnecessarily wordy.
Justification for (4): The option corrects the error of misplaced modifier. The modifying phrase 'if possible' modifies low interest environment and a sustained performance in the service sector. The sentence implies that the low interest environment and a sustained performance, if it could be possible, should contribute to a reasonable future growth. Explanation for (5): The option changes the meaning of the sentence and hence it should be ruled out.

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