Select the most appropriate option that can substitute the underlined segment in the given sentence.
The company experienced a significant drop in sales; consequently, it had to lay off several employees.
Show answer & explanation
Correct answer: B
Explanation
The correct answer is option 2 i.e. accordingly.
Error concept: Need for a logical connector showing cause and effect.
What is wrong: Although “consequently” is correct in meaning, the question asks for a substitute with a similar sense. The best word that maintains the logical connection is “accordingly.”
Grammatical concept: Words like “consequently,” “therefore,” “thus,” “accordingly” are connectors (conjunctive adverbs) used to show result or consequence.
Incorrectness of the concept in context: If we replace “consequently” with words like “naturally,” “superficially,” or “genuinely,” the meaning changes completely. Only “accordingly” keeps the cause-effect relation intact.
How to correct: Replace “consequently” with “accordingly.”
Correct phrase / correction:
The company experienced a significant drop in sales; accordingly, it had to lay off several employees.
Final sentence:
The company experienced a significant drop in sales; accordingly, it had to lay off several employees.
Hence, the chosen option is correct.