In the following question, improve the given sentence if necessary: "Decide one way or the other; you can’t be sitting on the fence forever." Choose the best alternative or select 'No improvement'.

Difficulty: Easy

Correct Answer: No improvement

Explanation:


Introduction / Context:
This item tests your familiarity with the idiomatic expression "to sit on the fence", which means to avoid taking sides or making a decision. The sentence given is: "Decide one way or the other; you can’t be sitting on the fence forever." You must decide whether any part requires change, or if the sentence is already clear and idiomatically correct.


Given Data / Assumptions:
- Given sentence: Decide one way or the other; you can’t be sitting on the fence forever.
- Options:
- be seated on the fence.
- be sitting and fencing.
- be dancing on the fence.
- No improvement.
- The intention is to urge someone to stop being indecisive and finally choose a side or a course of action.


Concept / Approach:
"To sit on the fence" is a standard idiom meaning to remain neutral or undecided in a dispute or choice. The progressive form "be sitting on the fence" is acceptable and commonly used in spoken English to emphasise an ongoing state of indecision. There is nothing grammatically or idiomatically wrong with the original sentence, so "No improvement" is the correct answer.


Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Understand the idiom. "On the fence" refers metaphorically to being in the middle, not choosing one side or the other.Step 2: The structure "you can’t be sitting on the fence forever" uses the progressive aspect "be sitting" to suggest a continuous state of indecision, which suits the meaning.Step 3: Option A, "be seated on the fence", shifts to a more literal physical description and loses the idiomatic flair; it also sounds formal and awkward.Step 4: Option B, "be sitting and fencing", introduces a new verb "fencing" which changes the meaning completely, suggesting swordplay rather than indecision.Step 5: Option C, "be dancing on the fence", is purely humorous or bizarre and again loses the standard idiomatic meaning.Step 6: Therefore, none of the alternatives improve the sentence; "No improvement" best preserves the correct idiom and tone.


Verification / Alternative check:
Read the original sentence aloud: "Decide one way or the other; you can’t be sitting on the fence forever." This is exactly the sort of sentence used in real-life conversations when urging someone to make a decision. The first clause commands a decision, and the second clause uses a well-known idiom to explain why remaining neutral is not acceptable. There are no grammatical errors and no awkward word choices.


Why Other Options Are Wrong:
- "be seated on the fence": sounds literal and stiff; the idiomatic force of the expression is weakened.
- "be sitting and fencing": introduces a second action that is unrelated to indecision and makes the sentence seem comical rather than meaningful.
- "be dancing on the fence": similarly changes the image entirely and has no recognised idiomatic meaning.


Common Pitfalls:
Some candidates assume that every sentence in a grammar section must contain an error and therefore avoid choosing "No improvement". However, exam patterns often include a few sentences that are already correct to ensure that you carefully evaluate each option instead of blindly searching for mistakes. It is important to recognise standard idioms and trust them when they are properly used. If the sentence is grammatically sound and idiomatically natural, "No improvement" is the right choice.


Final Answer:
The sentence is already correct and idiomatic, so the appropriate choice is No improvement.

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