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.

A recently published history of comic books reveal that Batman was begun as an experiment but became an institution.

• A. recently published history of comic books reveal that Batman was begun as an experiment
• B. recently published history of comic books reveals that Batman
  began as an experiment
• C. recent published history of comic books revealed that Batman, who began as an experiment
• D. history of comic books, recently published, revealing Batman first began as an experiment
• E. history of comic books having been recently published, it reveals how Batman began as an experiment

Answer 1

Answer: (B)

recently published history of comic books reveals that Batman

began as an experiment
There are two errors in the given sentence: "reveal" is inappropriate within the context as the sentence requires the plural 'reveals', and the construct 'was begun' is ungrammatical and clashes with the tense pattern of the given sentence. Only B rectifies these errors without adding any new ones.