Identify the underlined segment that contains a grammatical error:
'Because the groundwater reserves [A: in the Azraq basin] have been depleted [B: rapid], the government [C: has implemented] strict quotas [D: on agricultural pumping].'
Answer and explanation
Correct answer: B. rapid
- Step 1: Analyze syntactic modification: The verb phrase is 'have been depleted'.
- Step 2: Apply rule of modification: A verb phrase must be modified by an adverb of manner, not an adjective.
- Step 3: Identify the error: '[B: rapid]' is an adjective; the correct adverb is 'rapidly'.
Answer
rapid.
Why not the others: 'in the Azraq basin' is a correct prepositional phrase of location; 'has implemented' shows correct singular agreement with 'the government'; 'on agricultural pumping' is standard prepositional usage.
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