College of Admission Tests Multan

Verbs

Solve the question of and select the option from the choices A through D/E. Check your Answer and view the explanation.

Question: 5

The new law was passed by a two-thirds majority.
  • The new law was passing by a two-thirds majority.
  • A two-thirds majority passes the new law.
  • The new law is passed by a two-thirds majority.
  • A two-thirds majority passed the new law.
  • No Change

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Correct Answer: D

In passive voice, the object is acted upon ("The new law was passed"). In active voice, the subject performs an action ("A two-thirds majority passed"). Passive voice typically uses "to be" helping verbs (in this case, "was"). Thus, in order to rewrite the sentence in active voice, it is important to ensure that the subject performs an action and to eliminate "to be" helping verbs, but there is no need to eliminate the past tense. In fact, eliminating the past tense alters the timeline of the action, and is therefore wrong. "The new law passed by a two-thirds majority" changes the subject of the sentence from "a two-thirds majority" to "the new law," which should be the object of the action, so this sentence is not the BEST choice.