In this sentence improvement question, decide which option best improves the sentence "Working hard students always achieve good results" so that it is grammatically correct and clearly describes students who put in a lot of effort.

Difficulty: Medium

Correct Answer: Industrious

Explanation:


Introduction / Context:
This question examines your understanding of adjectives and sentence structure in English. The sentence given is "Working hard students always achieve good results". The wording is awkward and suggests that the examiner wants you to choose a more appropriate adjective that correctly describes students who work hard. You must choose the best word that, when substituted, gives a natural and grammatically sound sentence.


Given Data / Assumptions:

  • The subject is "students".
  • The intended description is "students who work hard".
  • The sentence aims to say that such students achieve good results.
  • Options suggest various adjectives: "Energetic", "Industrious", "Talented", or no change.


Concept / Approach:
Sentence improvement items test your ability to select the most appropriate word in context. Here the phrase "Working hard students" is ungrammatical because the participle phrase "working hard" has been placed directly before the noun without clear structure. English often uses adjectives like "hardworking" or "industrious" to describe such students. In exam vocabulary, "industrious" is the formal word used to mean "hardworking and diligent". So you must pick the adjective that matches this idea best.


Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Understand the intended meaning: students who work hard generally achieve good results.Step 2: Recognise that "Working hard students" is awkward and could confuse the reader.Step 3: Check each option to see which adjective directly and accurately means "hardworking".Step 4: Observe that "Industrious" is widely used in exam English to mean diligent and hardworking.Step 5: Substitute "industrious" and read the sentence as "Industrious students always achieve good results", which is clear and grammatically correct.


Verification / Alternative check:
After substitution, the new sentence is "Industrious students always achieve good results". This clearly expresses the idea that students who are diligent and hardworking perform well. If you try "Energetic students always achieve good results", the meaning changes to students who are physically active or lively, which is not the same as hardworking. "Talented students" focuses on natural ability, not effort. Therefore "Industrious" is the only option that directly matches the intended sense of "working hard".


Why Other Options Are Wrong:
Option A, "Energetic", suggests that students are full of energy but does not necessarily mean that they work steadily and carefully. Many energetic people may still lack discipline. Option C, "Talented", points to natural aptitude or giftedness rather than effort. Option D, "No improvement", keeps the ungrammatical phrase "Working hard students", which is not acceptable formal English. Only "Industrious" properly conveys the idea of hardworking students.


Common Pitfalls:
Students sometimes pick words that sound positive without matching the exact meaning demanded by the sentence. It is important to distinguish between energy, talent, and diligence. Another pitfall is ignoring the structural problem and marking "No improvement". When a sentence sounds awkward, examine whether a standard adjective exists that can replace the clumsy phrase and convey the idea more directly, as "industrious" does here.


Final Answer:
The correct answer is Industrious, since the improved sentence "Industrious students always achieve good results" is grammatically correct and clearly communicates that hardworking students tend to succeed.

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