Question

Given below is a newspaper headline. Choose the option which explains the headline:
Hurricane Laila Hits Andhra Coast

• A. Andhra coast was hit by Hurricane Laila.
• B. Hurricane Laila coast hit by Andhra.
• C. Both the above mean the same.
• D. None of the above.

Answer 1

Answer: (A)

Andhra coast was hit by Hurricane Laila.

In newspaper headlines, the auxiliary verbs (helping verbs) are generally omitted, because headlines are designed to be short, in order to attract attention. Hence the English rules used will be slightly different than the normal spoken language.
In the given newspaper headline, the helping verb has been omitted.
Also, the tense is changed from simple past tense to simple present.
Option A explains the headline by introducing the helping verb 'was' and using the past tense form of the verb 'hit'. Hence A is the correct option.
Option B: This has changed the meaning of the headline. The name of the coast is not 'Hurricane Laila', it's Andhra. Hence B is incorrect.
Option C is incorrect because A and B do not mean the same. The latter has changed the meaning of the headline.
Option D is incorrect because the answer lies in A.
(Also, the headline is in active voice, the subject 'Hurricane' performs the action 'hits' against the object 'Andhra coast'. The explanation in A has changed in passive voice, without changing the meaning of the headline. In passive voice, the object A.C takes the place of the subject H.L, and receives the action 'hit by'.)