In this English sentence improvement question on vocabulary, examine the sentence The Internet has totally changed the world like no other technology before it, in which the underlined verb may be too weak for the scale of impact being described. Choose the alternative that best conveys the idea that the Internet has brought about a very deep and far reaching transformation in the world, and select No improvement only if the original verb is fully satisfactory.

Difficulty: Easy

Correct Answer: revolutionised

Explanation:


Introduction / Context:
This question focuses on choosing the most appropriate verb to describe the enormous impact of the Internet on the modern world. The original sentence uses the general verb changed, which is correct but relatively mild. Examinations often ask candidates to replace such general words with more powerful and precise alternatives that better reflect the scale of the phenomenon. Here, the Internet is described as a technology unlike any other before it, so the chosen verb should indicate a very dramatic and wide ranging transformation.


Given Data / Assumptions:

  • The base sentence is The Internet has totally changed the world like no other technology before it.
  • The underlined verb is changed.
  • The options are revolutionised, reformed, radicalised, and No improvement.
  • The context is the global social, economic, and informational impact of the Internet.


Concept / Approach:
The word revolutionise means to bring about a complete or very great change in something, often in a way that alters its fundamental structure or functioning. It is commonly used for major technological and scientific developments that transform society. Reform, in contrast, suggests gradual improvement, particularly in laws, institutions, or social practices. Radicalise is used for making people adopt extreme political or religious views and is not suitable here. Therefore, the approach is to match the magnitude of the effect described in the sentence with a verb that expresses a sweeping transformation, which clearly points to revolutionised.


Step-by-Step Solution:
First, identify the key idea in the sentence, which is that the Internet has had a unique and powerful effect on the world. Second, consider the semantic strength of changed and decide whether it fully reflects the description like no other technology before it. Third, evaluate each alternative verb: revolutionised, reformed, and radicalised, in terms of meaning and typical usage. Fourth, recognise that revolutionised is the standard verb used for technologies that transform communication, business, and daily life on a global scale, as the Internet has done. Fifth, substitute revolutionised into the sentence to check naturalness: The Internet has totally revolutionised the world like no other technology before it, which is clear and powerful.


Verification / Alternative check:
To confirm, think of similar statements found in books or articles, such as The printing press revolutionised the spread of knowledge or Mobile phones have revolutionised communication. In each case, revolutionised expresses sweeping change. Reformed usually appears in contexts like reformed the legal system or reformed the tax structure, which involve improvement but not necessarily the same scale of transformation. Radicalised is clearly associated with political or ideological extremism and would be inappropriate in a neutral technology context. Therefore, revolutionised is the best choice.


Why Other Options Are Wrong:
Option B, reformed, implies improvement or modification of laws or institutions but does not capture the idea of a fundamental transformation of almost every aspect of global life.

Option C, radicalised, has a strong negative and political meaning, as it refers to making individuals or groups adopt extreme views, so it cannot describe the general positive technological impact of the Internet.

Option D, No improvement, ignores the opportunity to use a verb that is far more precise and expressive, and that matches common collocations in discussions about major technological advances.


Common Pitfalls:
Learners may sometimes stay with safe general verbs like change because they are widely used, but sentence improvement questions reward awareness of richer vocabulary. Another pitfall is misunderstanding radicalised and thinking it simply means made radical or powerful in a neutral way, whereas in normal usage it is strongly tied to extreme ideologies. Developing a good sense of collocations such as revolutionise an industry, revolutionise communication, and revolutionise the world helps in selecting the best word.


Final Answer:
The verb that most accurately and powerfully describes the deep and far reaching impact of the Internet on the modern world is revolutionised.

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