Difficulty: Medium
Correct Answer: 2
Explanation:
Introduction / Context:
This question checks your understanding of verb forms and standard definitions in English. The sentence explains what a Creole language is and how it develops from other languages. Error spotting in such definitions tests both grammatical accuracy and familiarity with academic style. Your job is to identify which numbered part of the sentence contains an incorrect or incomplete verb form.
Given Data / Assumptions:
Concept / Approach:
In English, when we use a past participle as part of a reduced relative clause or adjectival phrase, we need the correct form of the verb. The phrase stable natural language developed from a mixture of different languages is grammatically sound, where developed is the past participle modifying language. However, the given sentence uses develop instead of developed, which breaks the structure. So we must target the part containing this incorrect verb form.
Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Read the entire sentence smoothly to hear where it sounds wrong.
Step 2: Confirm that A Creole language is a in part 1 correctly introduces the noun phrase.
Step 3: Focus on part 2, stable natural language develop from, and notice that develop should be in past participle form.
Step 4: Check part 3, a mixture of different languages, which is grammatically fine.
Step 5: Conclude that only part 2 contains an error because it should read developed from.
Verification / Alternative check:
Replace develop with developed and read the sentence: A Creole language is a stable natural language developed from a mixture of different languages. This sentence now matches standard definitions in linguistics and sounds correct. No other changes are needed. Since we have corrected only the word in part 2, it confirms that the error is located there. Parts 1 and 3 are intact and meaningful, and part 4 cannot be correct because we have identified a grammatical problem.
Why Other Options Are Wrong:
Part 1 simply introduces the subject and verb and does not contain any mistake in number or agreement.
Part 3 correctly uses a mixture of different languages as a prepositional phrase explaining the source of the Creole.
Part 4 states No error, which is incorrect because we have clearly identified a verb form problem in the sentence.
Common Pitfalls:
Many learners read quickly and do not notice missing ed endings in participle forms, especially in longer noun phrases. It is helpful to remember that when you see a noun immediately followed by another word that describes how it came into being, you often need a past participle such as formed, derived, created, or developed. Practising with similar definitions in textbooks can strengthen this skill.
Final Answer:
The error occurs in part 2 of the sentence.
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