Select the most appropriate option that can substitute the underlined segment in the given sentence.
Dolphins are named among the intelligent animals on earth.
Show answer & explanation
Correct answer: D
Explanation
The correct answer is option 4 i.e. most intelligent.
Error concept: Incorrect comparative/superlative usage.
What is wrong: The phrase “intelligent animals on earth” does not convey the intended superlative meaning. Options 3 and 4 are nonstandard forms, and option 2 is comparative, not superlative.
Grammatical concept: When expressing the highest degree of a quality among a group, the superlative form is required. For adjectives of two or more syllables, “most + adjective” is used.
Incorrectness of the concept in context: The original sentence aims to indicate that dolphins are at the top in intelligence among animals, which requires the superlative.
How to correct: Replace “intelligent animals” with “most intelligent animals” to correctly express the superlative.
Correct phrase/ correction: most intelligent
Final sentence: Dolphins are named among the most intelligent animals on earth.
Hence, the chosen option is correct.