... the school, there is a college in our town.

Appeared in: MNS 2015

Explanation

'Besides' because it functions as a preposition meaning 'in addition to' or 'apart from'.
The sentence structure implies that the existence of the college is additional information to the existence of the school.
Using 'Besides' correctly conveys the meaning: 'In addition to the school, there is also a college in our town.'.
This choice creates a grammatically correct and logically sound sentence.

Option B: 'Between' is used to describe the space separating two or more distinct objects or points. The sentence only mentions one reference point ('the school'), making 'between' an illogical choice.
Option C: 'Beside' means 'next to' or 'at the side of'. While a college can be physically beside a school, the word 'Besides' (with an 's') better fits the additive context implied by the sentence structure.
Option D: 'was beside' is a verb phrase (past tense of 'to be' + preposition). Placing it at the beginning of this sentence creates a grammatical fragment without a subject.

Clinical Relevance

Nursing practice connection: This is primarily an exam-oriented knowledge point with limited direct bedside application, so retain The question tests the understanding and correct usage of prepositions and adverbs, specifically the difference between 'beside' and 'besides' as background academic context rather than a clinical decision trigger.
This question assesses general English proficiency, which is a non-nursing but essential skill.
Clear and precise communication is critical in nursing for accurate patient documentation, effective handover reports, and clear patient education.
Misunderstanding or misusing words can lead to errors in communication, potentially affecting patient safety and quality of care.

How to Approach the Question

First, read the sentence and identify the missing part. The sentence starts with a blank followed by a comma, indicating an introductory phrase or clause.
Analyze the relationship between the two parts of the sentence: '... the school' and 'there is a college in our town'. The second part adds a new piece of information.
Evaluate each option based on its meaning and grammatical function.
Option A, 'Besides', means 'in addition to'. This fits the context of adding information.
Option C, 'Beside', means 'next to'. This describes location and is a possible but less likely meaning.
Recognize the common confusion between 'beside' and 'besides' and recall that the 's' at the end adds the meaning of 'in addition'.

Concept Tested & Keywords

Concept Tested: The question tests the understanding and correct usage of prepositions and adverbs, specifically the difference between 'beside' and 'besides'.
Stem keywords: school, college, in our town
Lead-in keywords: fill in the blank

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Practise the full MNS 2015

Attempt every question from this paper in a timed mock, then review the full solution for each one.