Difficulty: Medium
Correct Answer: Part (2) to move away from a already obsolete
Explanation:
Introduction / Context:
This question tests your understanding of basic English grammar, especially the correct use of articles before words that begin with vowel sounds, and how adverbs like already combine with adjectives such as obsolete. Competitive examinations often frame such error spotting questions by dividing a sentence into numbered parts. You are expected to read the entire sentence, understand the intended meaning, and then decide which specific segment is grammatically incorrect, or whether the sentence as a whole is error free. Here the sentence talks about the government strengthening the capacity of states to move away from an approach that is outdated, and the key issue lies in how the article is used before the word already.
Given Data / Assumptions:
Concept / Approach:
The main grammatical concept here is the correct use of the indefinite articles a and an. The article a is used before consonant sounds, while the article an is used before vowel sounds. The word already begins with a vowel sound, so if an article is immediately followed by already, the correct form is an already, not a already. Additionally, there is no issue with subject verb agreement or tense in the rest of the sentence, and the phrase one size fits all approach is idiomatic and acceptable. Therefore the focus should be on the mismatch between the article a and the following vowel sound in already.
Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Read the complete sentence to understand the overall meaning and context about the government and the approach that is considered obsolete.
Step 2: Examine part (1) Our government has decided to strengthen the states capacity. The verb phrase has decided is correct in the present perfect, and the noun phrase the states capacity is acceptable in this context.
Step 3: Examine part (2) to move away from a already obsolete. Here the sequence a already obsolete immediately draws attention because the article is followed by a word that begins with a vowel sound.
Step 4: Apply the rule that a is used before consonant sounds and an is used before vowel sounds. Since already begins with a vowel sound, the correct phrase must be an already obsolete approach.
Step 5: Examine part (3) one size fits all approach, which is a well known expression meaning a uniform approach applied to everyone. This part is grammatically and idiomatically fine.
Step 6: Since only part (2) contains a clear grammatical error, the correct option is Part (2) to move away from a already obsolete.
Verification / Alternative check:
To verify, rewrite the sentence in fully corrected form: Our government has decided to strengthen the states capacity to move away from an already obsolete one size fits all approach. When you read this corrected version, the flow is smooth and the article an fits naturally before already. No other part of the sentence sounds incorrect or awkward. This confirms that the error is limited to the use of a instead of an in part (2), and that the other segments are grammatically sound.
Why Other Options Are Wrong:
Part (1) contains a correct present perfect construction and a clear noun phrase, so there is no error there.
Part (3) contains the idiomatic phrase one size fits all approach, which is widely accepted in modern English.
Part (4) No error is incorrect because we have clearly identified a rule based grammatical mistake in part (2).
Common Pitfalls:
Many learners focus only on nouns after articles and forget that adverbs can come between the article and the adjective or noun, while the sound based rule for a and an still applies at the point where the article is immediately followed by a word. Another common mistake is to scan quickly and be distracted by more complex looking phrases like one size fits all approach, which are actually correct, instead of noticing simple but important errors like article usage. In exam settings, candidates may also mistakenly consider stylistic preferences as errors instead of checking clear grammar rules, so it is vital to prioritise well known rules like the distinction between a and an.
Final Answer:
The sentence is incorrect only in the second part, because it should read an already obsolete rather than a already obsolete. Therefore the correct choice is Part (2) to move away from a already obsolete.
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