Question

In the following sentence, some part of the sentence or the entire sentence is underlined. Beneath the sentence, you will find four ways of phrasing the underlined part. Choose the most appropriate option given in each of the sentences given below that is the best version than the underlined part of the sentence:
Many of them chiselled from solid rock centuries ago the mountainous regions are dotted with hundreds of monasteries. (CLAT, 2017)

• A. Chiselled from solid rock centuries ago, the mountainous regions are dotted with many hundreds of monasteries.
• B. The mountainous regions are dotted with hundreds of monasteries, many of them chiselled from solid rock centuries ago.
• C. The mountainous regions are dotted with hundreds of monasteries, many of which are chiselled from solid rock centuries ago.
• D. Hundreds of monasteries, many of them chiselled from solid rock centuries ago, are dotting the mountainous regions.

Answer 1

The correct option is C The mountainous regions are dotted with hundreds of monasteries, many of which are chiselled from solid rock centuries ago.

The underlined sentence is not worded well. Option C solves the errors. It is complete in meaning and form, and the words are in place. This sentence is easier to understand, and is hence the best version. So option C is correct.

Option A: 'Many hundreds of monasteries' forms a different meaning.

Option B: 'Many of which' (option C) is a better version than 'many of them' (option B). 'Which' refers to things, like monasteries, whereas 'them' usually refers to people.

Option D: 'Are dotting the mountainous regions' refers to a continuous action in the present. But the words 'are dotted with hundreds of monasteries' refers to a general truth. Hence the former is not preferred.

So, options A, B and D are wrong.