Question

In the question below are given two sentences numbered I and II. In these sentences, two homonyms are given in the italics type, which may be either misspelled or inappropriate in the context of the sentence. Read both the sentences carefully and decide on their correctness on the basis of the italicized words.
Living organisms tend to have an inbuilt system to adopt themselves to the changing environment.
He is an adapt criminal.
A. Only sentence I is correct.
B. Only sentence II is correct
C. Both the sentences I and II are correct
D. I as well as II are incorrect, but both could be made correct by interchanging the italicized words.
E. Neither I nor II is correct, and the sentence could not be made correct by interchanging the italicized words.

Answer 1

Hint: Homonyms are the words which have the same spelling or same pronunciation but different meaning and origin. (For example: Band – it is considered a musical group and also known as a ring).

Complete answer:
In this question we have to identify whether the sentences I and II are correct sentences or not. Or the italicized words i.e. adopt and adapt can be used in place of each other to make the sentence correct.
Option A) Only sentence I is correct – is an incorrect option because the meaning of adopt is ‘to acquire or to choose to legally take up and bring it up as one’s own’. Thus, adopt is not correct in I sentence and the correct word in the sentence is ‘adapt’. Thus, the italicized word ‘adopt’ is inappropriate in the context of the sentence.
Option B) Only sentence II is correct - The meaning of adapt means ‘making something suitable for a new use or purpose’ and the use of adapt is wrong and here in the II sentence instead of using adapt ADEPT should be used. So, the II sentence should be ‘He is an ADEPT criminal’. Hence, incorrect answer.
Option C) Both the sentences I and II are correct – This is an incorrect answer because both the sentences I and II are inappropriate in the context of the sentence.
Option D) I as well as II are incorrect, but both could be made correct by interchanging the italicized words – No, both the italicized words are wrongly used in the sentence so they cannot be interchanged to make the sentence appropriate. Thus, this is an incorrect answer.
Option E) Neither I nor II is correct, and the sentence could not be made correct by interchanging the italicized words - As per the explanation of the sentences (option A and B) both the italicized words cannot be interchanged because both the words are inappropriate in the context of the sentence and they cannot be correct by interchanging the words as well. Thus, this is the correct answer.

Hence, the correct answer is option E.

Note:
The given italicized words adopt and adapt can be used in various ways and the examples are: She had to adopt a positive attitude (adopt is used when acquiring something as one’s own). She needed to adapt her strategies when dealing with him (we use adapt when someone is trying to adjust to different conditions or environment).