Question

Choose the option that indicates the error in the sentence.

Katz claimed that reading classic novels is more illuminating than to read autobiographies written by their authors.

• A. Is
• B. Illuminating
• C. To read
• D. Written
• E. No error

Answer 1

The correct option is C To read

The comparison is between reading 'classic novels' and 'autobiographies'. The phrase 'to read autobiographies' should be parallel in its grammatical structure to the phrase 'reading classic novels', which it isn't hence there's an error and option E is incorrect. 'To read' is incorrect in the sentence as it's an infinitive i.e. to + verb, we need the gerund 'reading' (a verb form that ends in '-ing' and acts as a noun), Option C has the error, hence we choose this option. Katz's claim is meant to be in present tense, the sentence is in present tense, and 'is' is the correct verb that is used hence option A does not have an error and we don't choose this option. Option B is 'illuminating' which correctly describes how classic novels are more insightful. It has no error hence we don't choose option B. 'Written' is in past tense because the autobiographies which are being compared have already been written. There's no error in option D hence it's not the option to choose.