Sentence Improvement Part-II

1. Selling, purchasing, and using an illegally copied product is a criminal offence. [SSC MTS 01/09/2023 (1st Shift)]

(a) an obsolete
(b) a pirated
(c) an outlawed
(d) a crooked

Correct Answer: (b) a pirated

Solution:illegally copied.

2. With all their little comforts destroyed, the survivors were thrown still farther back into barbarism. [SSC MTS 01/09/2023 (2nd Shift)]

(a) still further back for barbarism
(b) still further back into barbarism
(c) No improvement required
(d) still a little farther into barbarism

Correct Answer: (b) still further back into barbarism

Solution:'Farther' is used to indicate the physical distance while 'further' is used to indicate the figurative/metaphorical distance.

Hence, 'still further back into barbarism' is the most appropriate answer.

3. He said that I have finished my work. [SSC MTS 01/09/2023 (3rd Shift)3]

(a) he had finished his work
(b) he has finished his work
(c) I had finished my work
(d) he was finished his work

Correct Answer: (a) he had finished his work

Solution:

The given sentence is an example of indirect speech as the conjunction 'that' has been used after the verb 'said.
As per the rules of Indirect speech, the pronouns 'I' and 'My change into 'He' and 'His' and 'Present perfect (have + V₂) changes to past perfect (had + V₂).
Hence, 'he had finished his homework' is the most appropriate answer.

4. Many great people born in that small village. [SSC MTS 01/09/2023 (3rd Shift)]

(a) was born
(b) No substitution required
(c) is born
(d) were born

Correct Answer: (d) were born

Solution:We generally use the passive voice when the subject is unknown or unimportant.

According to the "Subject-Verb Agreement Rule", a plural subject always takes a plural verb.
Similarly, 'people' is a plural subject that will take 'were' as a plural verb.
Hence, 'were born' is the most appropriate answer.

5. It is true that learning English is essential for professionals to survived the national and international competitions. [SSC MTS 01/09/2023 (3rd Shift)]

(a) to be survive
(b) having to survive
(c) No improvement required
(d) for surviving

Correct Answer: (d) for surviving

Solution:'For' is used to indicate the purpose or reason of something.

Similarly, the given sentence states the purpose of learning English.
We generally use gerund (V) after a preposition(for).
Hence, 'for surviving (Ving)' is the most appropriate answer.

6. Peer pressure is bound to effect most of us both positively and negatively. [SSC MTS 04/09/2023 (1st Shift)]

(a) to invoke most of us
(b) to affect most of us
(c) to impede most of us
(d) to prompt most of us

Correct Answer: (b) to affect most of us

Solution:We generally use the first form of the verb(V.) after the preposition 'to'.

'Affect' is the verb form of the noun 'effect'.
Hence, 'to affect (V,) most of us' is the most appropriate answer.

7. The pandemic has challenged education systems to ensure learning continuity, substantially increasing the demands placed on teachers. [SSC MTS 04/09/2023 (1st Shift)]

(a) education systems to ensuring learning
(b) education systems for ensure learning
(c) education systems in ensure learning
(d) No substitution required

Correct Answer: (d) No substitution required

Solution:The given sentence is grammatically correct.

8. They would find someone drive the wagon back across the desert. [SSC MTS 04/09/2023 (2nd Shift)]

(a) in drive in the
(b) to drive
(c) to drive the
(d) in driving

Correct Answer: (c) to drive the

Solution:We generally use infinitive (To + V₁) to denote the purpose of something.

Similarly, the given sentence talks about the purpose of finding someone.
Hence, 'to drive(V.) the' is the most appropriate answer.

9. The airplane flowed over the mountains, offering the passengers a breath-taking view of the majestic peaks below. [SSC MTS 04/09/2023 (2nd Shift)]

(a) flew beyond
(b) flew over
(c) flowed above
(d) flowed beyond

Correct Answer: (b) flew over

Solution:'Flew' is the past form of 'fly' and 'flowed" means to move in a current or stream.

The given sentence states that the airplane flew over the mountains giving passengers a stunning view of the majestic peaks beneath them.
Hence, 'flew over' is the most appropriate answer.

10. Select the word segment which substitutes the bracketed word correctly and completes the sentence meaningfully. [SSC MTS 04/09/2023 (3rd Shift)]

Mathematics (are not) easy to learn.

(a) were not
(b) was not
(c) has not
(d) is not

Correct Answer: (d) is not

Solution:According to the "Subject-Verb Agreement Rule", a singular subject always takes a singular verb and a plural subject always takes a plural verb. In the given sentence, 'Mathematics' is a singular subject that will take 'is' as a singular verb. Hence, 'is not' is the most appropriate answer.