Difficulty: Easy
Correct Answer: My father has given his assent for my long tour.
Explanation:
Introduction / Context:
This sentence improvement question checks vocabulary and correct word choice in English. The original sentence uses the word ascent, which refers to an upward movement or climb, rather than assent, which means agreement or approval. Exams often test such confusing pairs of words called homophones or near homophones. Being able to distinguish between ascent, assent, accent, and invented spellings like approof is essential for accuracy in formal writing and for scoring well in general English sections.
Given Data / Assumptions:
Concept / Approach:
The key concept is lexical choice. Ascent means climb or rise, such as the ascent of a mountain or the ascent of a staircase. Assent means approval or agreement, particularly in a formal context, such as parental assent or official assent to a proposal. Accent refers to pronunciation features, such as a regional accent. The word approof is a misspelling and not standard English. Considering the context, the sentence clearly refers to the father granting permission for a long tour, so we require the noun that conveys agreement or approval, namely assent.
Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Understand the meaning of the sentence. The speaker wants to say that the father has approved the plan for a long tour.Step 2: Identify the incorrect word in the original version: ascent.Step 3: Recall meanings of the confusing words. Ascent relates to climbing; assent refers to approval; accent is about pronunciation.Step 4: Examine Option A, which uses accent. This does not fit the context of giving approval.Step 5: Examine Option B, which uses approof. This is not a standard English word and appears as an incorrect form of approval.Step 6: Examine Option C, which uses assent. This matches the intended sense of agreement perfectly.Step 7: Examine Option D, No improvement. Since the original word ascent is wrong here, no improvement cannot be correct.Step 8: Conclude that Option C provides the correct and precise sentence.
Verification / Alternative check:
We can verify by substituting definitions. If we say My father has given his approval for my long tour, the sentence makes clear sense. The word assent is very close in meaning to approval and is traditionally used with give one is assent. On the other hand, My father has given his ascent for my long tour would literally mean he has given his climb for my tour, which is illogical. This semantic check confirms that assent is the right choice.
Why Other Options Are Wrong:
Common Pitfalls:
Learners often confuse ascent and assent because they sound alike. It is useful to remember that ascent contains the word sent, which you can associate with going up or being sent upwards, while assent starts with as and includes sent, which you can link to sending your approval. Another pitfall is ignoring spelling and context and focusing only on sound similarity. Exam questions frequently exploit such confusions, so it is important to read carefully and verify meaning rather than relying on intuition alone.
Final Answer:
The correctly improved sentence is My father has given his assent for my long tour.
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