Difficulty: Easy
Correct Answer: D
Explanation:
Introduction / Context:
This question checks both subject-verb agreement and accurate word choice in English. The sentence describes how consolation messages received after Mrs. Malhotra's demise reflect on her character. You must choose which labelled part (A, B, C or D) contains a grammatical or idiomatic error, or decide that the sentence has no error at all.
Given Data / Assumptions:
- (A) The consolation messages
- (B) received on the
- (C) demise of Mrs. Malhotra
- (D) speaks highly of her enormity.
- The intended meaning is that the messages praise her greatness or good qualities.
- The subject of the verb in part (D) is consolation messages, which is plural.
Concept / Approach:
Two problems appear in part (D). First, the verb must agree with the plural subject messages, so we need speak, not speaks. Second, the noun enormity is usually used for extreme wickedness or a very serious crime, not for positive greatness. To express her greatness, words like greatness, generosity or magnanimity are more suitable. Examinations typically at least expect you to catch the subject-verb disagreement in speaks and may also want you to notice the inappropriate meaning of enormity.
Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Identify the subject in part (A): The consolation messages. This is clearly plural.Step 2: Part (B) received on the correctly introduces a reduced relative clause: messages which were received on the.... This is grammatically sound.Step 3: Part (C) demise of Mrs. Malhotra is a standard expression referring to her death and is correct.Step 4: Part (D) speaks highly of her enormity contains speaks, a singular verb. With the plural subject messages, the verb should be speak.Step 5: Also note that enormity typically means extreme evil or serious moral outrage. In the context of consolation messages, the positive intention is to praise her greatness, so enormity is a poor word choice.Step 6: Thus, segment (D) is the erroneous part, and it should be corrected to speak highly of her greatness (or similar positive noun).
Verification / Alternative check:
Rewrite the corrected sentence: The consolation messages received on the demise of Mrs. Malhotra speak highly of her greatness. Now both subject-verb agreement and word choice are proper. If we left speaks in place, the mismatch with messages would remain. If we left enormity, the sentence would contradict the usual dictionary meaning, implying she was extremely wicked, which does not fit with the idea of respectful consolation messages. No other segment has grammatical issues, so part (D) is the only correct answer.
Why Other Options Are Wrong:
- (A) The consolation messages is a correct plural noun phrase.- (B) received on the is fine as a reduced relative clause.- (C) demise of Mrs. Malhotra is an acceptable formal phrase.- Only (D) shows both a verb agreement error and a semantic problem, so the error must be located there.
Common Pitfalls:
Learners may overlook subject-verb agreement when the subject and verb are separated by a long phrase, such as received on the demise of Mrs. Malhotra. Another pitfall is misunderstanding words like enormity, thinking they mean greatness because they look similar to enormous. In fact, enormity usually refers to something extremely bad. To avoid such mistakes, always identify the true subject of the verb and verify both grammar and meaning of advanced vocabulary items.
Final Answer:
The incorrect segment is D. The sentence should read speak highly of her greatness (or a similar positive noun) instead of speaks highly of her enormity.
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