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Error spotting (tense for lifetime impact): Identify the erroneous part (A/B/C) — choose D if there is no error — 'Few scientists changed / people's ideas as much as / Darwin with his Theory of Evolution. / No error.' Emphasize correct present perfect vs. simple past for influence continuing to the present.

Difficulty: Easy

Correct Answer: Few scientists changed

Explanation:


Given data

  • A: Few scientists changed
  • B: people's ideas as much as
  • C: Darwin with his Theory of Evolution.


Concept/Approach: Present perfect for ongoing relevance
When we speak of an individual's influence from the past up to now (continuing effect), we prefer the present perfect: 'have changed'. Simple past ('changed') suggests a finished time frame without current relevance.


Step-by-step correction
A: 'Few scientists changed' → 'Few scientists have changed'.Corrected: 'Few scientists have changed people's ideas as much as Darwin (did) with his Theory of Evolution.'


Verification/Alternative
You may also keep simple past in both clauses if the context fixes a past period: 'In the 19th century, few scientists changed … as much as Darwin did.'


Common pitfalls
Forgetting that 'few' means 'hardly any' (acceptable here), and mismatching tenses across comparison.


Final Answer
A — Use 'have changed' for continuing impact.

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