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Directions: In each of the questions, a sentence is divided into four parts in which one of the parts is given in bold and is grammatically and contextually correct. You have to identify which fragment, apart from the bold one, is correct in terms of grammar and usage.
1
Nine months after the Union Cabinet’s (A)/ in-principal nod for offloading the (B)/ government’s stake in Air India, the (C)/ ball has finally been set rolling to privatize the bleating airline. (D)
» Explain it
C
Fragment A, in bold, is already correct.

Fragment B: in-principal nod for offloading the

The error lies in using in-principal which means major instead of in-principle which means ‘as a general idea or plan, although the details are not yet established’.

Correct: in-principle nod for offloading the

Fragment D: ball has finally been set rolling to privatize the bleating airline

Here, the error is due to incorrect usage of the word bleating which refers to speaking in a weak way and does not make sense here. The correct word would be bleeding which here refers to loss making.

Correct: ball has finally been set rolling to privatize the bleeding airline

Fragment C is correct.

Hence, option C is correct.
 
2
Even till the election over, the Egyptian establishment (A)/ is conscious that the conditions that yielded (B)/ the mass protests for 2011 still persist, (C)/ particularly economic hardship and political repression. (D)

A
A
» Explain it
B
Fragment D, in bold, is already correct.

Fragment A: Even till the election over, the Egyptian establishment

The error lies in using till with even. On reading the statement, it is clear that the elections have already taken place in Egypt. Hence, the correct preposition would be with.

Correct: Even with the election over, the Egyptian establishment

Fragment C: the mass protests for 2011 still persist,

Here, the fragment tries to talk about the protests which occurred in 2011. The correct preposition to convey the same is of and not for.

Correct: the mass protests of 2011 still persist,

Fragment B is correct.

Hence, option B is correct.
 
3
Russia made headlines on all the wrong reasons when (A)/ a clutch of countries led by the U.S. expelled more than 100 (B)/ of its diplomats and intelligence officers over suspicion (C)/ that a Kremlin was behind a nerve agent attack on a Russian spy. (D)

A
A
» Explain it
B
Fragment C, in bold, is already correct.

Fragment A: Russia made headlines on all the wrong reasons when

The error lies in using on which makes it sound as if the headlines were written on reasons which is absurd. The correct preposition here would be for. This implies that Russia was in the news for inappropriate reasons.

Correct: Russia made headlines for all the wrong reasons when

Fragment D: that a Kremlin was behind a nerve agent attack on a Russian spy.

Here, Kremlin is a specific location and thus, use of article a is incorrect. Instead, the should be used here.

Correct: that the Kremlin was behind a nerve agent attack on a Russian spy.

Fragment B is correct.

Hence, option B is correct.
 
4
The ripple affect of the ball tampering (A)/ scandal have certainly not missed India, (B)/ where a large section demanded that (C)/ Smith and Warner be axed from the Indian Premier League. (D)

A
A
» Explain it
D
Fragment C, in bold, is already correct.

Fragment A: Russia The ripple affect of the ball tampering

The error lies in using affect meaning influence rather than effect which means consequence.

Correct: The ripple effect of the ball tampering

Fragment B: scandal have certainly not missed India,

Here, the error lies with respect to subject-verb agreement. The scandal being talked about is singular and hence has would be used here.

Correct: scandal has certainly not missed India,

Fragment D is correct.

Hence, option D is correct.
 
5
For the sake of young Pakistanis, who want to be citizens of a functioning (A)/ state, a reimagining of Pakistan is needed, going beyond the bitterness (B)/ of the 1947 Partition and the subsequent disasters (C)/ inflicted upon Pakistanis by their own rulers and leaders. (D)

A
A
» Explain it
E
All the fragments are correct.

Hence, option E is correct.