Sentence Improvement Part-XVI

1. When the PMC Bank failed many people's lives were ruining. [SSC CPO 09/12/2019 (Evening)]

(a) No substitution required
(b) were ruined
(c) was ruined
(d) has ruined

Correct Answer: (b) were ruined

Solution:As the bank failure was an incident that took place in the past, so the past simple form of the verb(ruined) will be used in the given sentence. Therefore, use "were ruined" instead of "were ruining".

2. The mother is slept while the child was playing. [SSC CPO 11/12/2019 (Morning)]

(a) is asleep
(b) was slept
(c) No substitution
(d) was asleep

Correct Answer: (d) was asleep

Solution:Instead of 'is slept', 'was asleep' must be used. When you use the past continuous with two actions in the same sentence, it expresses the idea that both actions were happening at the same time. The actions are parallel.

3. His employees were asking him for a raise for a long time now. [SSC CPO 12/12/2019 (Morning)]

(a) asked him for a rise
(b) No substitution
(c) are asking him of a raise
(d) have been asking him for a raise

Correct Answer: (d) have been asking him for a raise

Solution:Use of "for a long time now" indicates present perfect continuous tense (used for an activity starting in the past and still continuing). Therefore, we will use "have been asking him for a raise".
Rule: Sub + has/have + been + 1st form of verb + ing + obj

4. She has no other hobby but that of collecting coins. [SSC CPO 12/12/2019 (Morning)]

(a) not other hobbies but
(b) No substitution
(c) no another hobby but
(d) no other hobby than

Correct Answer: (d) no other hobby than

Solution:Instead of "no other hobby but" use "No other hobby than" You use 'no other than' when you are going to mention a course of action, decision, or description and emphasize that it is the only one possible in the situation. (Here, she has only one hobby of collecting coins).

5. Raman's discovery, made during the voyaging over the mediterranean sea, that water molecules could scatter light just like air molecules, was very radical these days. [SSC CPO 12/12/2019 (Evening)]

(a) during the voyage above
(b) No improvement
(c) while on voyage across
(d) during a voyage across

Correct Answer: (d) during a voyage across

Solution:'voyage across' should be used in place of 'voyaging over'. We use 'across' as a preposition and an adverb. 'Across' means on the other side of something, or from one side to the other of something which has sides or limits such as a city, road or river.

6. The World Health Organisation warned the Government that even many people were likely to die of epidemics than of the tsunami. [SSC CPO 12/12/2019 (Evening)]

(a) that so many people are likely
(b) No improvement
(c) that even most people are going to be likely
(d) that more people were likely

Correct Answer: (d) that more people were likely

Solution:Here, we are comparing the number of deaths occurring due to epidemics and tsunamis using 'than'. So, we will use a comparative degree(more). Hence, the use of "more people" instead of "even many people" is correct.

7. I tried to contact my dentist but her cell phone appeared to have been switched off. [SSC CPO 12/12/2019 (Evening)]

(a) No improvement
(b) appears to had been
(c) appeared to been
(d) appear to be

Correct Answer: (a) No improvement

Solution:The sentence is grammatically and contextually correct.

8. Be polite and courteous will greatly improve your chances of making friends at your new office. [SSC CPO 12/12/2019 (Evening)]

(b) for being polite and courteous
(a) By being polite and courteous
(c) No improvement
(d) Being polite and courteous

Correct Answer: (b) for being polite and courteous

Solution:Being polite and courteous- means having qualities of politeness and courteousness. Be polite and courteous - is used when advising someone to be polite and courteous.

9. The color of her cheeks is like a rose. [SSC CPO 13/12/2019 (Morning)]

(a) are like a rose
(b) are just as a rose
(c) is like that of a rose
(d) No substitution

Correct Answer: (c) is like that of a rose

Solution:is like that of a rose 'is like that of' should be used in place of 'is like a'. Here, the colour of cheeks is similar to the colour of rose and not the rose itself. During comparison using 'like' we compare noun with noun, verb with verb and adjective with adjective.

10. Pedestrians is to be careful when crossing busy roads. [SSC CPO 13/12/2019 (Evening)]

(a) need be caring when crossing
(b) must be careful when crossing
(c) would care if they are crossing
(d) No improvement

Correct Answer: (b) must be careful when crossing

Solution:Use 'must be careful' as must is used for compulsion/fixed determination and duty. 'Must' is used to express obligation, give orders and give advice. In the given sentence an advice is given so "must" should be used here. Hence, option b is correct.