In this English grammar question, you must improve the bracketed part of the sentence by choosing the correct noun phrase. Sentence: "Please pass me that (scissors)."

Introduction / Context:

This question tests your knowledge of countable and uncountable noun forms in English, specifically how to correctly refer to objects that usually appear in pairs, such as scissors, trousers, and spectacles. The sentence given is "Please pass me that (scissors)." You are asked to improve only the bracketed part, which means you must select the grammatically correct and natural expression in everyday English.

Given Data / Assumptions:

- The base sentence is: "Please pass me that (scissors)."

- The word "scissors" is typically used in the plural form in English.

- The task is to choose the best replacement for the bracketed word from the options.

- Only the bracketed part should change; the rest of the sentence remains the same.

Concept / Approach:

Some nouns that refer to tools or clothing are plural in form and are treated as plural nouns, even though they refer to a single object. Examples include "scissors", "trousers", "jeans", and "spectacles". When we want to refer to one unit of such an object, we often use the phrase "a pair of" followed by the plural noun, for example "a pair of trousers" or "a pair of scissors". Therefore, for polite requests like "Please pass me that ...", the correct and natural phrase is "that pair of scissors". The question focuses on choosing a grammatically accurate expression that fits this standard pattern.

Step-by-Step Solution:

Verification / Alternative check:

We can quickly test the sentence with each option. "Please pass me that scissor" sounds odd because "scissor" is not generally used as a singular countable noun in standard English. "Please pass me that pair of scissor" is incorrect because "scissor" should remain in its plural form after "pair of". "No improvement" would leave "scissors" without "pair of", which is unnatural in this structure since "that scissors" is not normally used. In contrast, "Please pass me that pair of scissors" is both natural and grammatically correct. This confirms that "pair of scissors" is the best replacement.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:

Option "scissor" is wrong because "scissor" is not typically used as a singular noun in this context. Option "pair of scissor" is incorrect because it mixes a singular noun with "pair of", which requires a plural form. "No improvement" is incorrect because the given phrase in brackets is incomplete and unnatural in the context. Therefore, none of these alternatives express standard English usage.

Common Pitfalls:

Students often assume that every object must have a simple singular form, so they try to use "a scissor" or "one scissor". This leads to errors because certain nouns in English only appear in plural form, even when they refer to a single item. Another common mistake is forgetting that after "a pair of", the following noun remains plural. Being aware of plural-only nouns and the correct use of "a pair of" helps avoid these errors.

Final Answer:

The correct improvement of the bracketed part is "pair of scissors", giving the full sentence "Please pass me that pair of scissors."