Sentence Correction

Sentence Correction

Sentence correction questions present a statement in which words are underlined.The questions ask you to select from the answer options that best expression of the idea or relationship described in the underlined section. The first answer choice most of the time repeats the original phrasing, whereas the other four provide alternatives. In some cases, the original phrasing is the best choice. In other cases, the underlined section has obvious or subtle errors that require correction. These questions require you to be familiar with the stylistic conventions and grammatical rules of standard written English and to demonstrate your ability to improve incorrect or ineffective expressions.You should begin these questions by reading the sentence carefully. Note whether there are any obvious grammatical errors as you read the underlined section. Then read the five answer choices carefully. If there was a subtle error you did not recognize the first time you read the sentence, it may become apparent after you have read the answer choices. If the error is still unclear, see whether you can eliminate some of the answers as being incorrect. Remember that in some cases, the original selection may be the best answer.

Sometimes,  it may ask you to choose correct sentence from a five alternative sentences rather asking you to correct underline portion of the sentence. In this case, you have to read carefully all the alternatives and choose the correct one. If you find difficulty, try eliminating some incorrect options and read again and again.

The test taker should have the knowledge of the following grammatical areas to answer correctly.

1. Agreement
2. Diction
3. Grammatical Construction
1. Fragments
2. Run-on sentences
3. Constructions
4. Idiom
1. Prepositions
2. Correlatives
3. Forms of comparison
5. Logical Predication
1. Modifiers
6. Parallelism
7. Rhetorical Construction
8. Verb Form etc.

A few sample questions from Dhaka university Evening MBA test are given below:

(*Bold option is the correct answer)

1. Chile laborers are employed not so much for their skill but instead by the fact that these children are cheap in terms of their wage rates.
    A. but instead        B. rather than        C than        D. as        E. so much as

2.The earnings of the female workers are well below that of male workers in spite of educational differences that are diminishing between the sexes.
    A. well below that of male workers in spite of educational differences that are diminishing
    B. much below that of male worker's despite educational differences diminishing
    C. much below male workers in spite of diminishing educational differences
    D. well below those of male workers in spite of diminishing educational differences
    E. below male workers despite their educational differences that are diminishing

3. Seeming to be the only organization fighting for the rights of poor people in the country, Elina Khan, a lawyer of Bangladesh, joined Human Rights Society in 1988.
    A. Seeming to be     B. As      C. In that they seemed      D. Since it seemed   
    E. Because it seemed to be

4. Some snakes are harmless, that others, like this one, are extremely dangerous.
    A. that        B. which        C. but        D. on the other hand        E. that are

5. The fauna found in this area of the forest generally flee when approached by humans.
    A. approached        B. they are approached         D. they approach        D. approaching         E. are approached

6. More than any animal, the wolverine exemplifies the unbridled ferocity of "nature red in tooth and claw."
    A. More than any animal
    B. More than any other animal
    C. More than another animal
    D. Unlike any animal
    E. Compared to other animals

7. He interviewed several candidates who he thought had the experience and qualification.
    A. who he thought
    B. whom he thought
    C. of whom he thought
    D. he thought who
    E. which he thought

8. Economic conditions demand that we not only cut wages and prices but also reduce inflation raised tax rates.
    A. that we not only cut wages and prices but also
    B. not only cutting wages and prices but also to
    C. not only to cut wages and prices but also to
    D. not only a cut in wages and prices but also to
    E. not only to cut wages and prices but that we also

9. Today this is a totally different world than we have seen in the last decade.
    A. than we have seen
    B. from what we have seen
    C. from what we are seen
    D. than what we seen
    E. then we have seen

10. The rising of costs of data processing operations at many financial institutions has created a growing opportunity for independent companies to provide these services more efficiently and at lower cost.
    A. The rising of costs
    B. Rising costs
    C. The rising cost
    D. Because the rising cost
    E. Because of rising costs

11. According to a recent pool, owing and living in a freestanding house on its own land is still the goal of a majority of young adults, like that of earlier generations.

A. like that of earlier generations.
B. as that for earlier generations
C. just as earlier generations
D. as have earlier generations
E. as it was of earlier generations

12. Balding is much more common among white males than males of other races.
    A. than         B. than among        C. than is so of        D. compared to         E. in comparison with

13. Pablo Picasso credited African art with having had a strong influence on his work.
    A. with having had        B. for its having         C. to have had        D. for having        E. in that it had

14. According to some economists, the July decrease in unemployment so that it was the lowest in two years suggests that the gradual improvement in the job market is continuing.
    A. so that it was the lowest in two years
    B. so that it was the lowest two year rate
    C. to what would be the lowest in two years
    D. to a two-year level
    E. to the lowest level in two years

15. Most students like to read these kind of books during their spare time.
    A. these kind of books
    B. these kind of book
    C. this kind of book
    D. this kind of books
    E. those kind of books

16. Inflation in Bangladesh has not and, we hope, never will reach a rate of to percent a year
    A.  and, we hope, never will reach
    B. reached and, we hope, never will
    C. and hopefully never will reach
    D. reached and hopefully never will
    E. reached and we hope, never will reach

17. The word processor has revolutionized office procedure more than any machine of modern times.
    A. any machine                 B. any other machine
    C. has any machine            D. any other machine has
    E. has any other machine

18. Rony had already swam five laps when I jumped into the pool.
    A. had already swam five laps when I
    B. already swam five laps when I
    C. already swam five laps when I had
    D. had already swum five laps when I
    E. had already swam five laps when I had

19. The artist is capable of distinguishing good paintings and poor ones.
    A. and poor ones         B. and paintings that are poor
    C. from poor ones         C. and paintings which are poor
    E. and paintings which is poor

20. One of every five companies make initial public offering within three years.
    A. makes         B. make         C. should have to make         D. have to make         E. have made

21. The event caused a conflict among those who use pesticide and those who oppose the use of pesticide.
    A. among those who use pesticide and
    B. between those who use pesticide with
    C. among those who use pesticide with
    D. among those using pesticide and
    E. between those who use pesticide and

22. Since 1980, the number of landless people in the village has multiplied nearly two times.
    A. has multiplied nearly two times.
    B. is almost two times as great
    C. has multiplied by two
    D. has almost doubled
    E. is nearly twofold what it was

23. Many middle class families find that they cannot obtain good medical attention despite they need it very badly.
    A. despite they need it very badly
    B. despite they very badly need it
    C. despite of they need it very badly
    D. despite how much they need it
    E. therefore, they need it very badly

24. Fame as well as fortune were his goals in life.
    A. Fame as well as fortune were his goals
    B. Fame as well as fortune was his goals
    C. Fame and fortune were his goals
    D. Fame as well as fortune were his goal
    E. Fame also fortune were his goals

Find the correct sentences (Question 25 to 28):
25.
    A.The decision was hang over.
    B. The decision was hung over.
    C. The decision was hang down.
    D. The decision was hanged down.
    E. The decision was hang for.

26.
    A. Would you mind close the door?
    B. Would you mind closing the door?
    C. Would you mind to close the door
    D. Would you mind in closing the door?
    E. Would you mind to closing the door?

27.
    A. I Have much work in hand.
    B. I Have more work in my hand.
    C. I Have heavy work in me.
    D. I Have much work in the hand.
    D. I Have much load in hand.

28.
    A. Jasmin fall down and broke his leg.
    B. Jasmin fell down and broke his leg.
    C. Jasmin fallen down and broke his leg.
    D. Jasmin fellen down and broke his leg.
    E. Jasmin fellen down and broke his leg.


Find the correct portion of sentences for the underlined part (Question 29 through 32):
29. The CEO of Delta phone interviewed several candidates who she thought had the experience and qualifications the position required.
    A. whom she thought         B. who she thought         C. which she thought        
    D. she thought who            E. of whom she thought

30. After several days' tour, we become convinced that the climate of this deserted island was like Florida in winter.    A. the climate of this deserted island was like Florida in winter.
    B. the climate of this deserted island was like that of Florida in winter.
    C. the climate of this desert island was like Florida in winter.
    D. the climate of this deserted island in winter was like Florida.
    E. the climate of this desert island was as Florida in winter.

31. If any student has a question, they should raise their hand and ask.
    A. they should raise their hand and ask.
    B. he should raise his hand and ask.
    C. they should raise their hands and ask.
    D. he should raise his hands and ask.
    E. they should raise their hand and ask the question.

32. In  an effort to increase profits, the company moved itself from emphasizing its chemicals business to expand into high-growth pharmaceuticals and futuristic bio-technologies.
    A. itself from emphasizing its chemicals business to expand into
    B. itself from emphasizing its chemicals business then to expanding
    C. from an emphasis on its chemicals business and to expanding
    D. from an emphasis on its chemicals business and to expand
    E. from an emphasizing its chemicals business to expanding

Find the correct sentences (Question 33 to 36):
33.

A. He speaks English like English
B. He speaks the English like English
C. He speaks English like the English
D. He speaks the English as English
E. He speaks the English as the English

34.

A. He is the best orator whom I have seen
B. He is the best orator whom I had seen
C. He is best orator whom I have seen
D. He is the best orator that I have seen
E. He is the best orator that I had seen

35.

A. I thought him a poet
B. I thought him as a poet
C. I thought him to be a poet
D. I thought he is poet
E. I thought him as poet

36.

A. Would you albeit prefer some fresh squeezed lemon juice?
B. Would you albeit prefer some freshly squeezed lemon juice?
C. Would you rather prefer some fresh squeezed lemon juice?
D. Would you rather prefer some freshly squeezed lemon juice?
E. Would you rather preferred some freshly squeezed lemon juice?

Find the correct sentences (Question 37 to 40):
37.

a. We seat a desk to write a letter.
b. We seat on the desk to write a letter.
c. We seat by the desk to write a letter.
d. We sit at a desk to write a letter.
e. We seated at a desk to write a letter.

38.

A. They are anxious of his health.
B. They are anxious for his health.
C. They are anxious about his health.
D. They are anxious because his health.
E. They are anxious off his health.

39.

A. I have no authority about giving you the opinion.
B. I have no authority on giving you the opinion.
C. I have no authority in giving you the opinion.
D. I have no authority of giving you the opinion.
E. I have no authority for giving you the opinion.

40.

A. She came down the hill.
B. The down train has left the station.
C. They live in the down-town.
D. Try to down him.
E. Down went to Royal College.

Find the correct portion of the sentence for the underlined part (question 41 through 42):
41. A recent survey showed that in 1986 there were 20, 736 female executives, almost 9 percent of the nation’s clergy, twice as much as 1977.

A. twice as much as 1977
B. twice as many as 1977
C. double what it was in 1977
D. double the figure for 1977
E. a number double that of 1977’s

42. The average salary of government class 1 officials nearly quadrupled in the 90s from Tk. 1,650 to Tk. 6,200, yet the government class 1 officials ended the period with a decrease in what their salary may buy.
A. with a decrease in what their salary may buy.
B. with what was a decrease in what they were able to buy.
C. having decreased that which they could buy.
D. decreasing in purchasing power.
E. with a decrease in purchasing power.