A part of the sentence is underlined. Choose the alternative that best improves the underlined part, or select "No improvement" if the sentence is already correct: "Sunita's sister had ribbons on her hair."

Introduction / Context:
This sentence improvement question checks your understanding of correct preposition use in English, especially with body parts and items of decoration. The original sentence "Sunita's sister had ribbons on her hair" sounds slightly unnatural. You must select the preposition that native speakers typically use in this common context, or confirm that no change is needed.

Given Data / Assumptions:

- Sentence: "Sunita's sister had ribbons on her hair." - Underlined preposition: "on". - Options: "in", "over", "through", "No improvement". - The intended meaning is that ribbons were used to decorate or tie her hair.

Concept / Approach:
In English, when talking about accessories that are worn as part of the hair style, the preposition "in" is preferred: ribbons in her hair, flowers in her hair, clips in her hair. The preposition "on" is more common with surfaces or wearable items placed on top of something, such as "a hat on her head". Therefore, the natural expression here is "ribbons in her hair", indicating that the ribbons are woven into or attached within the hair.

Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Think of common collocations: "bows in her hair", "clips in his hair", "flowers in her hair". Step 2: Apply this pattern to the given sentence: "Sunita's sister had ribbons in her hair." This sounds smooth and idiomatic. Step 3: Compare it with the original "ribbons on her hair". While not impossible, "on her hair" is less natural and is rarely used in standard modern English for this meaning. Step 4: Examine "over". "Ribbons over her hair" suggests ribbons covering the hair as a sheet, which does not describe normal decoration and feels awkward. Step 5: Examine "through". "Ribbons through her hair" could be understood in a poetic sense but is not the standard collocation tested in exams. Step 6: Therefore, the best improvement of the underlined part is "in", giving "ribbons in her hair".

Verification / Alternative check:
Test the improved sentence in a broader context: "On her birthday, Sunita's sister had ribbons in her hair and a smile on her face." Here, "in her hair" and "on her face" follow common usage patterns, making the sentence sound natural. If we keep "on her hair", the contrast with "on her face" becomes slightly confusing, because hair is not treated as a flat surface where objects simply rest.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:
"Over" would imply coverage or something hanging above, which does not match the idea of decorative ribbons placed among strands of hair. "Through" implies movement or penetration, not the final position of decoration. "No improvement" would keep the less natural "on her hair" and ignore the common idiomatic use of "in" with hair decorations. Hence, these options are not appropriate.

Common Pitfalls:
Prepositions are often influenced by direct translations from a learner's first language, leading to choices like "on the hair" or "on the head". To improve accuracy, memorise typical pairs such as "in her hair", "on his head" (for a hat), and "around her neck" (for a necklace). Regular reading and listening will make these combinations feel familiar, reducing the need to guess in exam conditions.

Final Answer:
in is the correct improvement, giving the sentence "Sunita's sister had ribbons in her hair."