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 the best, choose the first answer; otherwise choose any one of the others.

When scientists say that, on average, the global temperature had increased by a few degrees centigrade, they are talking about a very large increase and a tremendous amount of heat produced.

  1. the global temperature had increased by a few degrees centigrade, they are talking

  2. the global temperature has increased by a few degrees centigrade, they are talking

  3. the global temperatures have increased by a few degrees centigrade, they are talking

  4. the global temperature had increased by a few degrees centigrade, they were talking

  5. the global temperature has increased by a few degree centigrade, they talk
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation

Explanation for (2): ‘Had increased’ and ‘are talking’ are incompatible. The simple present ‘are talking’ renders the usage of ‘had’ incorrect, to be substituted by ‘has’.    

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