Question

Detect the error and supply the correction for the given newspaper report on a proposal by a Member of Advisory Board: After the meeting it was obvious that most stakeholders would not support _______} proposals.

• A. this
• B. that
• C. the
• D. these

Hint:

Match demonstratives with number: this/that (singular), these/those (plural).

Answer 1

The Correct Option is D

We need to select the correct determiner to complete the sentence grammatically.
Step 1:
Analyze the sentence structure. The sentence is: "After the meeting it was obvious that most stakeholders would not support _________ proposals." The word "proposals" is plural. Therefore, we need a determiner that agrees with a plural noun.
Step 2:
Evaluate each option. - (A) "this" — This is a singular demonstrative determiner. It is used with singular nouns (e.g., "this proposal"). It cannot be used with the plural noun "proposals." This is incorrect. - (B) "that" — This is also a singular demonstrative determiner. It is used with singular nouns (e.g., "that proposal"). It cannot be used with the plural noun "proposals." This is incorrect. - (C) "the" — This is a definite article. It can be used with both singular and plural nouns. While "the proposals" is grammatically correct, the context suggests that the report is referring to specific proposals that were likely discussed in the meeting. However, given that the other options are demonstratives, the question likely tests the difference between singular and plural demonstratives. "The" is possible but not the best fit when demonstratives are provided as options, as it lacks the demonstrative force needed to point back to the proposals mentioned earlier in the context. - (D) "these" — This is a plural demonstrative determiner. It is used with plural nouns (e.g., "these proposals"). It correctly agrees with the plural noun "proposals" and refers to the specific proposals that were likely discussed in the meeting. This is the most appropriate choice.
Step 3:
Conclusion. The correct determiner to use with the plural noun "proposals" is the plural demonstrative "these."
Final Answer:
(D) these