Question

The following sentence tests correctness and effectiveness of expression. Part of the sentence or the entire sentence is underlined; beneath the sentence are five ways of phrasing the underlined material. Choice A repeats the original phrasing; the other four choices are different. If you think the original phrasing produces a better sentence than any of the alternative, select choice A; if not, select one of the other choices.

In making your selection, follow the requirements of standard written English; that is, pay attention to grammar, choice of words, sentence construction, and punctuation. Your selection should result in the most effective sentence-clear and precise, without awkwardness or ambiguity.

Psychologists advise that before making any major changes in your life, a person needs to focus on ones goals.

• A. your life, a person needs to focus on ones goals
• B. their life, a person needs to focus on their goals
• C. their lives, focus on the goals
• D. ones life, you should focus on your goals
• E. their lives, people should focus on their goals

Answer 1

The correct option is E their lives, people should focus on their goals

Here, the pronoun determiner 'your' and the pronoun "ones" do not correspond and thus the construct is ungrammatical. E is the only option that rectifies this error without adding any new ones.