Verbal Ability > Sentence Correction

Question

 A prolific architect who worked from the turn of the century until the late 1950’s,   Julia Morgan designed nearly 800 buildings in California, perhaps most notably William Randolph Hearst’s monumental estate at San Simeon .

1. Julia Morgan designed nearly 800 buildings in California, perhaps most notably William Randolph Hearst’s monumental estate at San Simeon
2. perhaps the most notable of the nearly 800 buildings in California designed by Julia Morgan was William Randolph Hearst’s monumental estate at San Simeon
3. of the nearly 800 buildings in California designed by Julia Morgan, perhaps the most notable was William Randolph Hearst’s monumental estate at San Simeon
4. nearly 800 buildings in California were designed by Julia Morgan, of which William Randolph Hearst’s monumental estate at San Simeon is perhaps the most notable
5. William Randolph Hearst’s monumental estate at San Simeon is perhaps the most notable of the nearly 800 buildings in California designed by Julia Morgan

Solution

(1)is the best answer. The modifier is aimed at the person not her achievements or contributions nor at the buildings she designed. None of the options but A adhere to this condition .

 Question

A proposal has been made to trim the horns from rhinoceroses to discourage poachers; the question is   whether tourists will continue to visit game parks and see rhinoceroses after their horns are   trimmed.

1. whether tourists will continue to visit game parks and see rhinoceroses after their horns are
2. whether tourists will continue to visit game parks to see one once their horns are
3. whether tourists will continue to visit game parks to see rhinoceroses once the animals’ horns have been
4. if tourists will continue to visit game parks and see rhinoceroses once the animals’ horns are
5. if tourists will continue to visit game parks to see one after the animals’ horns have been

Solution

(3)  is the best answer. Options A and B use the pronoun their incorrectly as it does not have a clear precedent. On conditional statements whether is always preferred over if so 
D and E will not be preferred .

Question

A peculiar feature of the embryonic mammalian circulatory system is that in the area of the heart the cells adhere to one another, beating in unison and adopting   specialized orientations exclusive of one another.

1. beating in unison and adopting
2. they beat in unison while adopting
3. beat in unison, and adopt
4. beating in unison yet adopting
5. even though they beat in unison and adopt

Solution

Note that in the initial part of the sentence the author mentions the word peculiar. So, his intent is to show a deviation or a contrast. Option A correctly introduces the contrast but is not able to highlight it properly. Option B introduces non-parallel structures and option C is not able to produce the contrast. Option E brings together two separate aspects in one and thus eliminates the possibility of a contrast. Thus, the right ans. is (4)

Question

A President entering the final two years of a second term is   likely to be at a severe disadvantage and is often unable to   carry out a legislative program.

1. Likely to be at a severe disadvantage and is often unable to
2. Likely severely disadvantaged and often unable to
3. Liable to be severely disadvantaged and cannot often
4. Liable that he or she is at a severe disadvantage and cannot often
5. At a severe disadvantage, often likely to be unable that he or she can

Solution

The best ans. is (1) It is mandatory to use a to be verb with likely and more often than not the verb is to be itself. So option B is out. The word liable removes the element of uncertainty and makes the situation firm. This is not the original intention of the author. So option C and D are out. Option E suffers from awkwardness.