Example
Public attitudes toward business _______ are somewhat _______; most people
resent intrusive government rules, yet they expect government to prevent businesses
from defrauding or endangering them.
- ethics . . divided
- investment . . confused
- practices . . emotional
- regulation . . ambiguous
- leaders . . skeptical
Solved Example
Explaination
Considering the sentence as a whole, the second
part is intended to elucidate (clarify or explain) the first part. What provides the
clue for this connection? In this sentence, there are two keys: the semi-colon and
the syntax. The first part is much briefer than the second, and there are no
connecting words that signal anything but restatement. Think of the briefer
phrase as a dictionary entry, and the longer phrase as its definition.
The part of this sentence after the semicolon describes in some detail the public’s
attitude about government rules for business. As you can see, the attitude
described is self-contradictory in that the same person typically has conflicting
expectations when it comes to government rules for business. (Notice the signpost
word “yet,” which signals the contradiction.) Start with the second blank, looking
for a word that accurately captures the public attitude. Choices (A), (B), and (D)
work best; divided, confused, and ambiguous all convey the idea that the public
wants two things that don’t go together very well. For the first blank, you want a
word that describes what the second part of the sentence also describes.
Choice (D) appears to be the best fit; the sentence as a whole has to do with “business
regulation”; that is, the rules laid down by government for business. Two other
choices, (A) and (C), work all right for the first blank. But “ethics” is a bit too
specific, while “practices” is a bit too vague. (Besides, you already eliminated
choice (C) based on the second missing word.)The correct answer is (D).
Restatement Indication
As you just saw, the semicolon without a connector word might provide a wordless
warning of a restatement. Also look for these key words and phrases, which often
mark restatements:
in fact
in other words
in short
namely
that is
Three of these markers could easily be inserted into the sentence about business
regulation to strengthen the restatement signal. Try reading the sentence again using
each marker in turn, and you’ll find out which three work.
Back
Next
Next to display next topic in the chapter.
Video Lessons and 10 Fully Explained Grand Tests
Large number of solved practice MCQ with explanations. Video Lessons and 10 Fully explained Grand/Full Tests.