Error Spotting – Choose the segment (A–D) that contains a grammatical error; select “No error” only if the entire sentence is correct. Sentence: A) What is needed today is B) a new breed of managers C) with a new set of concepts D) and a flexible way about thinking.
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AWhat is needed today is
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Ba new breed of managers
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Cwith a new set of concepts
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Dand a flexible way about thinking.
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ENo error.
Answer
Correct Answer: and a flexible way about thinking.
Explanation
Introduction / Context:This question checks idiomatic prepositional pairing with “way”. In English, the fixed expression is “way of doing/thinking”, not “way about thinking”.
Given Data / Assumptions:
- Predicate nominative structure: “What is needed today is …”.
- Coordinate NP culminates in “a flexible way about thinking”.
- Target idiom: “way of thinking”.
Concept / Approach:“Way” meaning “manner/method” takes the preposition “of” before a gerund or verbal noun: “way of working/thinking”. Using “about” is unidiomatic in this frame.
Step-by-Step Solution:1) Identify the collocation head “way”.2) Replace “about” with “of”.3) Correct sentence: “What is needed today is a new breed of managers with a new set of concepts and a flexible way of thinking.”4) Therefore, D is the erroneous segment.
Verification / Alternative check:Check comparable idioms: “method of”, “manner of”, “style of” — all pair with “of” plus gerund/noun, reinforcing the pattern.
Why Other Options Are Wrong:
- A–C: Grammatically and semantically fine; the problem is solely the preposition in D.
Common Pitfalls:Using “about” after “way” due to semantic association with “thinking about”; however, the idiom governs the choice here.
Final Answer:Option D