Question

    In the sentence, certain words are in bold and

    numbered from A to E, which are the possible pairs to be interchanged. Choose the pair(s) of words which need to be interchanged to make the sentence grammatically correct and meaningful. It is true that salmon and other fish have been  (A) banished  from rivers and  (B) depredations  in which they once  (C) abounded , but this was not  (D) owing  to the great  (E) creeks  of fishermen, as has generally been supposed.
    A A-B Correct Answer Incorrect Answer
    B B-E Correct Answer Incorrect Answer
    C C-D Correct Answer Incorrect Answer
    D D-E Correct Answer Incorrect Answer
    E None of these Correct Answer Incorrect Answer

    Solution

    (A) banished → fine (means driven out). (B) depredations → wrong here; "depredations" means attacks or plundering, but we’re referring to locations. (C) abounded → correct usage. (D) owing → “this was not owing to...” = correct idiomatic usage. (E) creeks → awkward. “Creeks” are small rivers, doesn’t fit “great creeks of fishermen.” It’s likely (E) should be depredations, which fits "great depredations". Revised sentence:
    It is true that salmon and other fish have been banished from rivers and creeks in which they once abounded, but this was not owing to the great depredations of fishermen, as has generally been supposed.

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