Which of phrases given below each sentence should replace the phrase to make the grammatically correct?
“Friends and comrades, the light has gone away from our lives and there is darkness everywhere”
Answer: A
It should read out of.
The light has gone out of our lives is Nehru's phrase on the death of Gandhi. Go out is what a light does, and out of gives the sense of departure; gone away from is not the idiom.
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They should have calmly thought of the advantages that would accrue to them.
Answer: D
No correction is required.
Should have thought is the correct perfect modal for a missed opportunity, and calmly sits properly between the auxiliary and the participle. Each alternative breaks the modal's form.
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By such time you finish that chapter, I will write a letter.
Answer: C
It should read by the time.
By the time is the fixed conjunction introducing a clause - by the time you finish. Such time and that time are demonstratives and cannot do the work of a conjunction here.
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I earnestly believe that you will visit our relatives during your forthcoming trip to Mumbai.
Answer: A
No correction is required.
Earnestly believe that is idiomatic and the tense sequence is sound - a present belief about a future visit. Each alternative introduces a tense or a verb that contradicts the second half of the sentence.
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If I would have realised the nature of the job earlier, I would not have accepted it.
Answer: C
It should read had I.
The if-clause of a third conditional never takes would - it is if I had realised, or with inversion had I realised. The main clause keeps would not have accepted.
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They failed in their attempt to repair the demolished portion of that building
Answer: C
No correction is required.
Fail in their attempt is correct, and attempt takes the infinitive to repair. The alternatives change the preposition or turn the infinitive into a noun without improving anything.
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They felt humiliated because they realised that they had cheated.
Answer: C
It should read had been cheated.
They were the victims, so the verb must be passive; as written the sentence says they did the cheating, which would not humiliate them. The cheating preceded the realisation, hence the past perfect.
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Tax evaders should heavily punished as they do it intentionally.
Answer: C
It should read should be heavily fined.
Should takes the bare infinitive, and the evaders are punished rather than punishing, so the passive be fined is required. Heavily is the adverb modifying fined.
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The easiest of the thing to do is to ask the address to the postman.
Answer: D
It should read of the things to do.
A superlative selects one from a group, so the group must be plural - the easiest of the things. The easiest of the thing offers no group to choose from.
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For some days the new professor lectured above the heads of his pupils.
Answer: B
It should read over the heads of.
To talk over someone's head is the idiom for pitching above their understanding, and with several pupils the plural heads is needed. Above the heads is not the fixed form.
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