Final answer:
The question seeks the best replacement for a sentence where the adverb placement is key. Option A, 'The technicians quickly debugged the malfunctioning system,' is correct because it places the adverb 'quickly' before the verb 'debugged,' clearly indicating the speed of the action.
Step-by-step explanation:
Best Replacement for the Boldfaced Sentence
The question asks which sentence best replaces the boldfaced sentence: "The technicians debugged the system that was malfunctioning quickly." This sentence can be revised to provide greater clarity regarding the adverb 'quickly.' The correct placement of 'quickly' should modify how the debugging was done, not how the system was malfunctioning. Here are the options analyzed:
- A. The technicians quickly debugged the malfunctioning system. This sentence appropriately places 'quickly' before the verb 'debugged,' making it clear that the debugging was done swiftly. This is the best option.
- B. The technicians debugged quickly the system that was malfunctioning. This sentence awkwardly places 'quickly' between 'debugged' and 'the system,' which disrupts the flow and clarity of the sentence. This is incorrect.
- C. The technicians debugged the system that was quickly malfunctioning. This option incorrectly suggests that the system was malfunctioning quickly, rather than the debugging being done quickly. This is incorrect.
- D. The technicians quickly went to work debugging the malfunctioning system. While this option clearly shows that the technicians began to work quickly, it is longer and less direct than option A for replacing the original sentence.
According to the principles of clear and concise writing, option A is the correct choice as it ensures that the sentence is efficiently structured, with the adverb 'quickly' correctly modifying the verb 'debugged.'