Sentence Simplification Questions Flashcards

Original: "The theory gained acceptance only after decades of skepticism from the scientific community." Which sentence best simplifies it?

Answer: Scientists doubted the theory for decades before accepting it.

'Only after decades of skepticism' shows long doubt preceding eventual acceptance.

Original: "While solar power is clean, its reliance on sunlight makes it unreliable at night." Which sentence best simplifies it?

Answer: Solar power is clean but unreliable at night because it needs sunlight.

It preserves the clean benefit and the nighttime unreliability caused by needing sunlight.

Original: "The novel, praised for its vivid imagery, was nevertheless criticized for its weak plot." Which sentence best simplifies it?

Answer: The novel was admired for vivid imagery but criticized for a weak plot.

'Nevertheless' contrasts the praised imagery with the criticized plot.

What is the best strategy when two answer choices both seem partly correct?

Answer: Choose the one that keeps all key relationships without distortion

The correct answer keeps every essential relationship without changing meaning.

Original: "Once the storm passed, residents began the slow process of rebuilding." Which sentence best simplifies it?

Answer: After the storm ended, residents slowly started rebuilding.

'Once...passed' shows rebuilding began after the storm ended.

Original: "The new law, though well-intentioned, ultimately harmed the small businesses it aimed to protect." Which sentence best simplifies it?

Answer: The well-meaning law ended up harming the small businesses it meant to help.

It keeps the good intention and the ironic harm to the intended beneficiaries.

Why might a grammatically correct choice still be a wrong simplification?

Answer: It can omit or change an essential idea from the original

Correct grammar does not guarantee the essential meaning is preserved.