Find the part of the sentence that contains an error:
It was the misalignment between projected and actual data (1)/ that cast doubt not only on the calculation (2)/ but also on the assumptions that (3)/ underlined the funding strategy. (4)
Show answer & explanation
Correct answer: D
Explanation
The correct answer is option 4 i.e. (4).
Error concept: Error related to word usage/homonyms.
What is wrong: The word "underlined" is incorrectly used in this context.
Grammatical concept: There is a common confusion between "underline" (to draw a line under something or to emphasize) and "underlie" (to be the cause or basis of something). When discussing assumptions that form the foundation of a strategy, the correct verb is underlie.
Incorrectness of the concept in context: In this sentence, the assumptions act as the foundation or base for the funding strategy. Therefore, the past tense of underlie, which is underlay, should be used instead of "underlined."
Correction: Thus, "underlined" should be replaced with "underlay" to correctly indicate that the assumptions formed the basis of the strategy.
Correct phrase: underlay the funding strategy.
Final sentence: It was the misalignment between projected and actual data that cast doubt not only on the calculation but also on the assumptions that underlay the funding strategy.
Hence, the chosen option is correct.