Difficulty: Easy
Correct Answer: Historians believe that much of the story of Jesus can be reconstructed without the help of the Bible and with just the views of historians who lived during his time.
Explanation:
Introduction / Context:
This question focuses on correct use of articles and prepositions with the word Bible and on natural coordination of phrases in a complex sentence about historical reconstruction. You must identify which version observes standard grammar and sounds like well edited academic English.
Given Data / Assumptions:
All four options express the same basic idea that historians can reconstruct much of the story of Jesus using only the testimony of other historians from his era, without relying on the religious text. The variations lie in expressions such as help of the Bible, help from Bible, and omissions of articles. We assume that the intended register is formal, so incomplete or telegraphic phrases are not acceptable.
Concept / Approach:
In English, the Bible is treated as a specific unique text, so it normally takes the definite article the. The preposition of is preferred with help when we refer to a source of assistance, as in with the help of the teacher, although help from is also possible with a noun phrase that includes an article. However, dropping the article altogether before Bible makes the phrase sound ungrammatical in standard usage. Good coordination also requires balanced phrases on both sides of and, such as without the help of the Bible and with just the views.
Step-by-Step Solution:
First, read option A. It uses without the help of the Bible and with just the views, which is fully grammatical and balanced. This looks promising.Second, read option B. It says without the help from Bible, which omits the article before Bible and combines help from in an unusual way in this formal context.Third, read option C. It says without the help of Bible, again leaving out the required the before Bible and using by just the views, which is slightly clumsy.Fourth, read option D. It further shortens the phrases to without help of Bible and with just views, both of which sound incomplete and unidiomatic in careful writing.Finally, compare all four options. Only option A is fully grammatical, natural, and stylistically appropriate for academic discussion.
Verification / Alternative check:
We can verify our choice by trying to substitute similar phrases. For example, without the help of the teacher sounds normal, but without the help of teacher sounds bare. The same pattern applies to the Bible. Also, in academic prose, writers prefer longer, explicit phrases such as with just the views rather than compressed expressions like with just views, which sound conversational. Therefore, in both structure and tone, option A matches standard usage best.
Why Other Options Are Wrong:
Option B misuses help from with a bare noun Bible and thus sounds unnatural. Option C omits the definite article before Bible and combines help of with by just the views, which introduces awkwardness. Option D removes both articles, giving without help of Bible and with just views, which are not acceptable in formal writing. These errors in article use and collocation make the sentences inferior to option A.
Common Pitfalls:
Learners frequently overlook articles when reading quickly, especially before unique nouns like sun, earth, or Bible. In careful written English, however, these nouns often take the definite article. Another pitfall is to think that shorter always means better in editing. While concision is valuable, dropping essential small words can damage grammatical correctness and clarity. Always check whether each noun phrase has the necessary determiners, and whether paired phrases around a conjunction have matching structure.
Final Answer:
The correct sentence is Historians believe that much of the story of Jesus can be reconstructed without the help of the Bible and with just the views of historians who lived during his time.
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