All Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension (VARC) Practice

All Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension (VARC) 33 / 557

Choose the option in which the usage of the word is incorrect or inappropriate: hold

A. The rigorous scientific methodology ensures that the findings will hold water even under intense scrutiny.
B. During the lengthy panel discussion, Professor Evans continued to hold forth on the nuances of quantum physics.
C. The new regulations aim to hold a strong sway over corporate governance practices.
D. Despite fierce international competition, the domestic industry managed to hold its own in terms of market share.

The incorrect or inappropriate usage of the word "hold" is in the third option: "The new regulations aim to hold a strong sway over corporate governance practices."
Why it's wrong:
The standard idiomatic expression is "hold sway," meaning to exert influence or control. When an adjective modifies "sway" in this idiom, it typically appears without an indefinite article (e.g., "hold strong sway" or "hold significant sway"). The use of "a strong sway" is unidiomatic.
Correct usage: "The new regulations aim to hold strong sway over corporate governance practices."

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