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 are 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.
Growing (A) children in involving (B) and nurturing a few plants at home can open (C) up the magical (D) world of nature and science to them
Answer: A. A-B — Concept: In a word-swap (interchange) sentence, exactly the highlighted words that sit in each other's natural slot must be exchanged so that every clause…
- A.
A-B
- B.
B-C
- C.
A-C and B-D
- D.
B-D
- E.
No interchange required
Attempted by 17 students.
Show answer & explanation
Correct answer: A
Concept: In a word-swap (interchange) sentence, exactly the highlighted words that sit in each other's natural slot must be exchanged so that every clause becomes both grammatical and meaningful. The test is: read the sentence after the proposed swap and check that each verb takes the right form and each noun/adjective lands where sense requires.
Application: The four marked words are A = Growing, B = involving, C = open, D = magical. Work through the sentence frame:
The opening needs a gerund that takes 'children' as its object: 'Involving children in ...' is the natural subject phrase, so 'Involving' belongs at slot A.
Inside the prepositional phrase 'in ___ and nurturing a few plants', the parallel partner of 'nurturing' must be 'growing' (growing and nurturing plants), so 'growing' belongs at slot B.
'can open up the ... world' is already correct at C, and 'the magical world' is already correct at D, so C and D stay put.
Result: Only A and B must trade places. The corrected sentence reads: 'Involving children in growing and nurturing a few plants at home can open up the magical world of nature and science to them.' Hence the required interchange is A-B.
Cross-check: Re-read with C or D moved and the sentence fails: 'can magical up' is ungrammatical, and while 'the open world' is grammatical it is the wrong collocation here, so no swap involving C or D works. Leaving the sentence unchanged also fails, since it keeps the wrong 'Growing children'.