MCQ: Sentence Correction- 3 - SSC CGL MCQ

The given sentence is a optative sentence. The sentence which expresses a prayer, keen wish, curse etc. is called an optative sentence. This kind of sentence generally starts with ‘may’ or ‘wish’. Sometimes, ‘may’ remains hidden. In a wish sentence, ‘wish + past continuous’ is used to express that we want to do a different action in the present (or future). I wish I were lying on a beach now. (I’m sitting in the office). This sentence implies that he wished he had a better idea about what he was doing then. Among the options only II brings out meaningfully coherent and grammatically correct sentence.

Hence, option B is the correct answer. 

Here, plural verb 'are' is correctly used for the plural noun 'marks'. Also, as the sentence compares the performance of rural students with the urban students; so, comparative degree of adjective ‘lower’ must be used. Among the options, only III brings out meaningfully coherent and grammatically correct sentence.

Hence, option B is the correct answer.

The phrase "take the bull by the horns" is an idiomatic expression that means to deal decisively with a difficult or dangerous situation. The options A, B and D are all synonymous with the phrase and can be used interchangeably.
Option C, however, implies that the person required help from others, and therefore cannot replace the phrase  "take the bull by the horns."
Hence, the correct answer is option C. 

The sentence has an inverted word order, where the adverb "hardly" should be followed by the auxiliary verb "had", and the subject "he" should come after it. So, option C correctly reorders the sentence.
N.B.: Note that 'hardly', 'scarcely' and 'barely' are followed by 'when' while 'no sooner' is followed by 'than'.
Correct Sentence:
Hardly had he returned to London when an anonymous well-wisher called to say he was about to be raided by Customs & Excise.
Hence, the correct answer is option C. 

The correct verb form in this sentence is "lying", as it is the present participle of "lie". "Laying" is incorrect and should be replaced with "lying".
Correct Sentence:
An old Penguin English Library paperback copy of this book was lying around the house, so I opened its yellowing pages and started reading.
Hence, the correct answer is option B. 

The phrase "never gives up on anything" has a different meaning than "never backs down from anything." "Never gives up on anything" implies persistence and determination, while "never backs down from anything" implies courage and fearlessness in the face of opposition.

The other options are all synonymous with "never backs down from anything" and can be used interchangeably.

Hence, the correct answer is option B.

In this sentence, the past perfect tense "had already cooked" is used to indicate that the action of cooking happened before another action in the past (seeing the speaker).

Hence, the correct answer is option C.

"A feat" is not the most appropriate word in this context, as it suggests an impressive accomplishment rather than a difficult task. This makes the sentence contextually incorrect. "A task" more accurately conveys the intended meaning.

Fragments I and II can be eliminated as well because of the same reason stated above.

Hence, the correct answer is option C.

“A grain of salt” is an idiom that means ‘reservations or the understanding that some rumour or piece of information may not be completely true or accurate.’ Thus, it makes no sense in the sentence. ”A pinch” and “a sprinkle” are appropriate measures for adding salt. Thus, fragments I and III both are correct and can be used in the sentence to make it meaningful.

Fragment II is incorrect as ‘handful’ is not used with ‘salt’.

Hence, the correct answer is option B.

The idiom "hit the ground running" means to start something with great energy and enthusiasm, and to make rapid progress from the very beginning. In this sentence, it is used to describe the new team leader's approach to making changes. Options A, B and D depict the same.

Option C, "Take things slowly and cautiously," cannot replace the phrase "hit the ground running" without changing the meaning of the sentence.

Hence, the correct answer is option C.

The underline phrase "rhino horning" should be corrected to "rhino horns" as it refers to the physical part of the animal, not an action.
Correct Sentence:
The government has introduced new measures to protect endangered species, such as the illegal trading of ivory and rhino horns.
Hence, the correct answer is option D. 

The use of "recommended me" is incorrect. The correct way to express this idea is to use "that" as a conjunction to introduce a subordinate clause.

Correct Sentence:

My friend recommended that I join the gym near our office.

Hence, the correct answer is option A.

Note that, the word “criterion” is singular, and “criteria” is a plural noun. After the phrase “one of the”, the noun should be of the plural form so we cannot write here ‘criterias’ because it is not a word. So, the word should be “criteria”. Also, either “for determining” or “to determine” should be used here. Hence, the underline phrase is incorrect. Among the options, both I and III bring out meaningfully coherent and grammatically correct sentences.

Hence, option D is the correct answer.

The idiom "putting all of one’s eggs in one basket" means to risk all one has on the success or failure of one thing. In this sentence, it is used to describe how the company is risking everything by investing heavily in the new technology.  The same idea has been mentioned in option A.
 
Option B, "Spreading the risk" which means ‘to take a carefully considered decision that exposes a person to a degree of personal and financial risk that is counterbalanced by a reasonable possibility of benefit’ cannot replace the phrase "putting all of its eggs in one basket" without changing the meaning of the sentence.
 
'Hedge your bet' means to protect yourself against loss by supporting more than one possible result.

Hence, the correct answer is option A.

The phrase "blow off some steam" is an idiomatic expression that means to do or say something that helps one to get rid of strong feelings or energy. The options A, B and C are all synonymous with the phrase and can be used interchangeably.
Option D, “procrastinate” however means to delay or postpone action; put off doing something, and therefore cannot replace the phrase  "blow off some steam."
Hence, the correct answer is option D.