Directions
Select the phrase from the options below that should replace the underlined phrase in the sentence to make it grammatically correct. If the sentence is already correct, select 'No correction required' as your answer.
As a whole, the Malays are, however, remarkably healthy people, and deformity and hereditary diseases is rare between them.
- AOption (a)
Is rare among them
- BOption (b)
Was rare between them
- COption (c)
Was rare among them
- DOption (d)
Are rare among them
- EOption (e)
No correction required
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Correct answer
Are rare among them
Why this answer is correct
The correct answer is 'Are rare among them'.
Key Points
- In the underlined segment, the use of the singular verb 'is' and the preposition 'between' is incorrect.
- The plural subject ''deformity and hereditary diseases'' will take a plural verb.
- Therefore, the plural verb 'are' should be used in place of the singular verb 'is'.
- Also, we use the preposition 'between' when referring to one-to-one relationships.
- 'Between' is used when naming distinct, individual items (can be 2, 3, or more).
- We use 'among' to talk about things that are not separated because they are part of a group, crowd or mass of objects.
- The preposition 'among' is used when referring to indistinct or nonspecific relationships.
- 'Among' is used when the items are part of a group or are not specifically named (must be 3 or more).
Hence, the correct answer is option 4.
Correct Sentence: As a whole, the Malays are, however, remarkably healthy people, and deformity and hereditary diseases are rare among them.