In each of the questions given below four words are given in bold. These four words may or may not be in their correct position. The sentence is then followed by options with the correct combination of words that should replace each other in order to make the sentence grammatically and contextually correct. Find the correct combination of the words that should interchange. If the sentence is correct as it is then, select option “No interchange required” as your choice.
The primitive mirror (A) society was built to virtual (B) the carefree state of lived (C) that people once nature (D) in.
Correct Answer :
A-B & C-D
Solution :
To find the correct combination of words to interchange, let us analyze the grammatical roles and meanings of the words in bold in their current positions:
Original Sentence: "The primitive mirror (A) society was built to virtual (B) the carefree state of lived (C) that people once nature (D) in."
Step-by-step Analysis:
1. Analyzing Positions A and B:
- In the original sentence, the phrase "built to virtual (B)" is grammatically incorrect because "to" requires a base verb to form an infinitive ("to" + verb). "Virtual" is an adjective.
- Meanwhile, "primitive mirror (A) society" uses "mirror" as an adjective/modifier. If we swap A (mirror) and B (virtual), we get "primitive virtual society" (where "virtual" acts as an adjective describing "society") and "built to mirror" (where "mirror" acts as a verb meaning to reflect or imitate). This makes the first part of the sentence grammatically correct and meaningful.
2. Analyzing Positions C and D:
- In the original sentence, the phrase "state of lived (C)" is grammatically incorrect because the preposition "of" should be followed by a noun or noun phrase, not the past tense verb "lived".
- Furthermore, "that people once nature (D) in" is incorrect because "nature" (a noun) is placed where a verb is needed after the subject "people" and adverb "once".
- If we swap C (lived) and D (nature), we get "state of nature" (a meaningful noun phrase representing the original, uncivilized condition of humankind) and "that people once lived in" (where the verb "lived" correctly fits the relative clause). This makes the second part of the sentence grammatically and contextually correct.
Corrected Sentence: "The primitive virtual (B) society was built to mirror (A) the carefree state of nature (D) that people once lived (C) in."
Therefore, the words in positions A and B, and C and D must be interchanged.
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