In the question below, a sentence is given with four words highlighted. These…
2025
In the question below, a sentence is given with four words highlighted. These four words may not be in their correct position. The sentence is then followed by options with the correct combination of words that should replace each other in order to make the sentence grammatically and contextually correct. Find the correct combination of the words that replace each other.
Astronomical (A) temperatures (B) are usually estimated from spectroscopic (C) measurements (D).
Answer: E. No interchange required — ConceptIn a word-swap (word-interchange) sentence, exactly two of the highlighted words may be sitting in each other's slots. The test is functional: read the…
- A.
A-B
- B.
B-C
- C.
A-C
- D.
B-D
- E.
No interchange required
Attempted by 16 students.
Show answer & explanation
Correct answer: E
Concept
In a word-swap (word-interchange) sentence, exactly two of the highlighted words may be sitting in each other's slots. The test is functional: read the sentence and ask whether every highlighted word already fits its grammatical role (right part of speech in the right place) and makes sense in context. If the sentence is already grammatical and meaningful as written, no pair needs to be exchanged.
Application
The highlighted words are A = Astronomical, B = temperatures, C = spectroscopic, D = measurements. Check each in place:
A Astronomical is an adjective modifying B temperatures — "astronomical temperatures" reads correctly (temperatures relating to astronomy / of astronomical bodies).
C spectroscopic is an adjective modifying D measurements — "spectroscopic measurements" reads correctly (measurements made using spectroscopy).
The full sentence — "Astronomical temperatures are usually estimated from spectroscopic measurements" — is true in fact: in astronomy, the temperature of a star is indeed inferred from its spectrum.
Every adjective already sits before the right noun and the meaning holds, so the sentence needs no exchange. The answer is No interchange required.
Cross-check
Confirm by testing each proposed swap and watching the meaning break:
Swapping A and B gives "Temperatures astronomical … " — the adjective lands after the noun, ungrammatical.
Swapping B and C gives "Astronomical spectroscopic are estimated from temperatures measurements" — two adjectives with no noun, and "temperatures measurements", broken.
Swapping A and C gives "Spectroscopic temperatures … from astronomical measurements" — both pairings lose their natural meaning.
Swapping B and D gives "Astronomical measurements … from spectroscopic temperatures" — "spectroscopic temperatures" is meaningless.
Each swap degrades the sentence, which confirms the original ordering is the correct one.