<p>Q1: The Basque language, possibly one of Europe's oldest, whose origins are hotly debated.</p>
<p>Answer: The origins of the Basque language, possibly one of Europe's oldest, are hotly debated. </p>
<p>Since the sentence is talking about "origins" (plural), how can "one" of Europe's oldest be used? Or is this option the most correct answer even though it may not be correct according to strict grammar? </p>
<p>Q2: Many changes occurred while she was president of the college, and they increased its educational quality as well as effectiveness. </p>
<p>I picked no mistake but the answer is
Many changes occurred while she was president of the college; these changes increased both the educational quality and effectiveness of the college. </p>
<p>I know it is a pronoun problem but doesn't it seem redundant? To me, the "they" and the "its" in the original sentence clearly refer to "many changes" and "college" since "changes" is the only plural noun and "educational quality" doesn't refer to a person. </p>
<p>Thank you.</p>
<p>I have another question.
Q3: Foresters discovered that trees killed by acid rain had begun to die four years earlier, even though the trees had shown no signs of disease then. </p>
<p>I picked<br>
Foresters discovered that trees killed by acid rain had begun to die four years earlier without any signs of disease shown then.
Apparently my choice is wrong but why? Is it because of the verb “shown”? What should I do if I wan to use “without”?</p>
<p>Thank you.</p>
<p>First question: “one” refers to “the Basque language,” not “origins.”</p>
<p>Second question: This type of question does not ask you to identify errors; so picking “no mistake” is not an option, nor should it be the mentality with which you approach the question. Explicating the pronouns’ antecedents is simply clearer.</p>
<p>Third quesiton: It is not clear what the phrase “without any signs of disease shown then” is modifying. “without” is usually succeeded by a present or past participle (adjective verbal) and modifies a subject, as in (I use the past participle with a semantic implication similar to that in the past perfect tense):</p>
<p>“Without having shown any signs of disease, the trees…”</p>
<p>Thank you.
So should the word “without” only be used at the beginning of sentences?</p>