Question

No known language lacks an organized system of sounds, selected from the vast array human beings can make, that does not have rules for combining these sounds into meaningful words

• A. that does not have
• B. that do not have
• C. and has no
• D. or having no
• E. or

Hint:

When you see a sentence with multiple negative words like "no," "not," "lacks," "without," "unless," pause and simplify. Mentally cancel out pairs of negatives. "No...lacks..." becomes "All...have...". This helps clarify the true meaning and spot logical errors.

Answer 1

The Correct Option is C

Step 1: Understanding the Concept:
This question tests your ability to identify and correct sentences with double or triple negatives. Multiple negative words in a single clause can make a sentence confusing and often reverse its intended meaning.

Step 3: Detailed Explanation:
Let's break down the original sentence and its negatives:
"No..." (Negative 1) "... lacks" (Negative 2) "... that does not have" (Negative 3).
Let's simplify the first part: "No known language lacks..." means "Every known language has...".
So the sentence becomes: "Every known language has an organized system of sounds... that does not have rules...".
This is illogical. The intended meaning is that every language has BOTH a system of sounds AND rules for combining them. The triple negative has created a contradiction.
We need to replace "that does not have" with a phrase that corrects the logic. The goal is to say that no language is without both of these things.
Let's test the options:
The structure we need is: "No language (lacks X) AND (lacks Y)".
(A) that does not have - This is the original error.
(B) that do not have - This keeps the triple negative and introduces a subject-verb agreement error ("system... do not").
(C) and has no - Let's substitute this into the sentence:
"No known language lacks an organized system of sounds... and has no rules..."
This structure is "No X (lacks Y) and (has no Z)". This correctly means "Every X has Y and has Z". This translates to: "Every known language has an organized system of sounds AND has rules for combining them." This is logically correct and achieves the intended meaning.
(D) or having no - This creates an ungrammatical and awkward phrase.
(E) or - Using "or" would mean: "No known language lacks a system of sounds or lacks rules." This would imply that a language might lack one but not the other, which is not the intended meaning.

Step 4: Final Answer:
Option (C) correctly resolves the confusing triple negative, creating a sentence that is both grammatically and logically sound.