Directions: In each question, a part of the sentence is made bold. Below are given alternatives to the bold part at (A), (B), (C) and (D) which may improve the sentence. Choose the correct alternative. In case no replacement is needed, mark (E) as your answer.
India lent a helpful handshake to Nepal by giving them 2.1 billion Nepalese rupees for the reconstruction of houses flattened in the 2015 earthquake.
India lent a helping handshake
Incorrect AnswerIndia lent a helpful hand
Incorrect AnswerIndia lent a helping hand
Correct AnswerIndia lending a helping hand
Incorrect AnswerNo correction required
Incorrect AnswerExplanation:
The original sentence is erroneous.
Reason: The correct idiomatic expression is 'a helping hand' and not ‘a helpful handshake'.
Lend a helping hand (Idiom):
Meaning: To help or assist.
E.g.: Peter is always willing to lend a helping hand around the house.
Hence ‘a helping hand’ should be used in place of ‘a helpful handshake’ to make the sentence grammatically correct.
Among the given choices, only option C replaces the given bold part most appropriately.
The sentence after replacement becomes:
India lent a helping hand to Nepal by giving them 2.1 billion Nepalese rupees for the reconstruction of houses flattened in the 2015 earthquake.
Option C is hence the correct answer.
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By: Brijesh Kumar