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 greatest expense is the first - the preparation of the land: trees have to be felled, and bush cut down and spread over the land, so that the sun can quickly render it combustible.

  1. The greatest expense is the first - the preparation of the land : trees have to be felled, and bush cut down and spread over the land,

  2. The preparation of the land is the first and greatest expense; trees would have to be felled, and bush cut down and spread over the land,

  3. The preparing of the land is the first and greatest expense; trees have to be felled, and bush cut down and spread out over the land,

  4. The preparation of the land is the first and greatest expense; trees have to be felled, and bush cut down and spread over the land,
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
D Correct answer
Explanation

Explanation for (1): The subject is not the 'expense' but the 'preparation of land'.

Explanation for (2): The option uses the unparallel 'would have to be cut' instead of 'have to be cut'

Explanation for (3): The option changes the noun 'preparation' to the verb form 'preparing'.
Justification for (4): The subject is not the 'expense' but the 'preparation of land'. The option makes the sentence idiomatically correct. Explanation for (5): This option incorrectly uses the plural 'bushes' which is inconsistent with the singular 'render it'.

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