In the following question, out of the four alternatives, select the alternative which will improve the bracketed part of the sentence. In case no improvement is needed, select no improvement. At the micro level, the dialectical process of development in India (has now heading) towards another direction.

Difficulty: Medium

Correct Answer: is now heading

Explanation:


Introduction / Context:
This question assesses grammar and tense usage in a sentence improvement format. The sentence discusses the dialectical process of development in India at the micro level and describes its present direction. The highlighted phrase has now heading is grammatically incorrect, and the task is to choose the best correction among the alternatives or to confirm that no change is needed. Such questions are common in examinations to test a learner understanding of auxiliary verbs and present continuous tense.


Given Data / Assumptions:

  • The subject of the verb is the dialectical process of development in India.
  • The adverb now indicates present time.
  • The sentence describes an ongoing movement towards another direction.
  • The bracketed part is has now heading.
  • The options include various combinations of auxiliaries and the phrase no improvement.


Concept / Approach:
The verb heading is the present participle form of head. To show an ongoing action in the present, English uses the present continuous form is heading or is now heading. The auxiliary has cannot be directly followed by heading without an additional been, as in has been heading. However, has now heading is incorrect because the required been is missing. Among the given choices, is now heading correctly expresses present continuous tense with an adverb of time, matching the intended meaning.


Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Identify the tense and aspect needed. The sentence speaks about a process that is currently in progress, so present continuous is appropriate. Step 2: Recall that present continuous is formed with is or are plus the ing form of the verb, optionally with an adverb like now. Step 3: Examine the original phrase has now heading and note that the structure has heading is incorrect unless it is has been heading. Step 4: Look at the options. Had now heading is past perfect and still incorrect in form; now heading lacks an auxiliary verb; is now heading is a correct present continuous form. Step 5: Choose is now heading as the form that is both grammatically correct and consistent with the sense of present movement in the sentence.


Verification / Alternative check:
You can verify by reading the revised sentence aloud: At the micro level, the dialectical process of development in India is now heading towards another direction. This reads smoothly and clearly indicates a current trend. If you try At the micro level, the dialectical process of development in India now heading towards another direction, it feels incomplete because the auxiliary verb is missing. Similarly, had now heading is tense inconsistent and ungrammatical. Therefore the option is now heading is clearly correct.


Why Other Options Are Wrong:
had now heading: This uses the past perfect auxiliary had incorrectly with heading. The correct past perfect continuous form would be had been heading, which is not offered. It also clashes with now. now heading: This phrase lacks the auxiliary verb is or are, so the verb phrase is incomplete and ungrammatical for a full sentence. no improvement: The original has now heading is wrong because has must be followed by a past participle or by been plus a present participle, neither of which occurs here.


Common Pitfalls:
One common mistake is to see the auxiliary has and assume the structure is correct without checking whether the main verb form suits it. Another pitfall is to forget that continuous tenses require be plus ing, not have plus ing. In sentence improvement questions, do not be influenced by the apparent complexity of a phrase; always reduce it to its core subject verb relationship and check tense, auxiliary, and verb form carefully.


Final Answer:
The correct improved form is At the micro level, the dialectical process of development in India is now heading towards another direction.

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