Question

    In the question below, three sentences are given, each

    divided into four parts, which may or may not contain grammatical errors. From the options, choose the one that provides the combination of the part(s) of each sentence that are incorrect. 1. Destructive floods are not (A)/ new to China, which has (B)/ been reckoning with its (C)/powerful rivers for thousands of years. (D) 2. Historically, political stability (A)/ has often depended (B)/ on governments’ ability (C)/ to taming them. (D) 3. The last time China was crippled (A)/ by catastrophic floods, (B)/ in 1998, more than 3,000 people died, (C)/ 15 million was left homeless, and economic losses reached $24 billion. (D)
    A 1-A, 1-D, 2-B Correct Answer Incorrect Answer
    B 1-B, 2-C, 3-A Correct Answer Incorrect Answer
    C 2-D, 3-D Correct Answer Incorrect Answer
    D 1-C, 2-D Correct Answer Incorrect Answer
    E 1-C, 3-C Correct Answer Incorrect Answer

    Solution

    1 is grammatically and contextually correct. In 2, there is an error in fragment D. We need to replace TAMING with TAME. We need a verb in its base form to fit in the infinitive construction of TO+VERB. In 3, there is an error in D. We need to replace WAS with WERE. The subject of the verb (15 million) is plural. Thus, we need the plural verb form to agree with the subject.

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