Question

Choose the option that best replaces the underlined word:

The teacher scolded the children more than their parents scolded them.

• A. scolding
• B. had scolded
• C. scold
• D. NO CHANGE

Answer 1

Answer: (C), (D)

The correct options are
C scold
D NO CHANGE

The given sentence can express two tenses.
Option D: The underlined one 'scolded' refers to an action that happened in the past. It means that 'the teacher scolded the children more than their parents scolded them, that day.'
if this word is not replaced, the sentence is still correct. Hence option D is correct.
When there are two clauses in a sentence "The teacher scolded the children" and "their parents scolded them", each tense can have a different clause, as long as they are complete in meaning.
Option C: The word 'scolded' can be replaced with 'scold'. Then, the sentence means that 'the teacher scolded the children, at some point in the past, more than their parents usually scold them.'
Hence option C is also correct.
Option A: 'Scolding' refers to a continuous tense. Also, it's a present participle, and requires a helping verb (was, is, were) to form a suitable tense.
The sentence thus formed is incomplete, and sounds ambiguous. Hence option A is incorrect.
Option B: 'Had scolded' refers to an action that completed before another action commenced (past perfect). But in the given sentence, there is no indication given for which action commenced after the other.
Hence this word does not replace the underlined one appropriately.