Select the most appropriate option to substitute the underlined word segment in the given sentence.
A herd of cattle consists of related females, cubs, and a small number of adult males.
Show answer & explanation
Correct answer: A
Explanation
The correct answer is option 1 i.e. pride of lions
Error Concept: Incorrect use of collective noun for animals.
What is wrong: The phrase 'herd of cattle' is used for animals like cows, but the sentence mentions 'related females, cubs, and a small number of adult males,' which describes lions.
Grammar Concept: Collective nouns vary by animal group:
pride - lions
pack - wolves
school - fish
flock - birds
Using the wrong collective noun makes the sentence grammatically and contextually incorrect.
Incorrectness in Context: Cattle do not have cubs. The term 'cubs' clearly refers to lions.
Correction: Replace 'herd of cattle' with 'pride of lions.'
Corrected Phrase: pride of lions
Final Sentence: A pride of lions consists of related females, cubs, and a small number of adult males.
Hence, the chosen option is correct.