Question

There are a few acts of nature, such as a total solar eclipse or a dormant volcano exploding, that are so rare and so dramatic as to seem like metaphors for the virtue of patience itself.

• A. a dormant volcano exploding, that are so rare and so dramatic as to seem like metaphors for the virtue of patience itself
• B. an explosion of a dormant volcano, that are so rare and dramatic enough that they seem like metaphors for the virtue of patience themselves
• C. the explosion of a dormant volcano, that are so rare and so dramatic that it seems like a metaphor for the virtue of patience itself
• D. the explosion of a dormant volcano, that are so rare and dramatic enough as to seem like a metaphor for the virtue of patience themselves
• E. a dormant volcano exploding, that are so rare and so dramatic that they seem to be a metaphor for the virtue of patience themselves

Answer 1

The correct option is A a dormant volcano exploding, that are so rare and so dramatic as to seem like metaphors for the virtue of patience itself

A) a dormant volcano exploding, that are so rare and so dramatic as to seem like metaphors for the virtue of patience itself – Correct. 'Itself" refers to virtue. Hence correct
B) an explosion of a dormant volcano, that are so rare and dramatic enough that they seem like metaphors for the virtue of patience themselves – Incorrect. Themselves is plural whereas virtue is singular
C) the explosion of a dormant volcano, that are so rare and so dramatic that it seems like a metaphor for the virtue of patience itself – Incorrect ‘it’ is ambiguous. should be plural to refer to acts of nature
D) the explosion of a dormant volcano, that are so rare and dramatic enough as to seem like a metaphor for the virtue of patience themselves – Incorrect. Themselves is plural whereas virtue is singular
E) a dormant volcano exploding, that are so rare and so dramatic that they seem to be a metaphor for the virtue of patience themselves – Incorrect. Themselves is plural whereas virtue is singular