Improve the highlighted part of the sentence. Choose ‘No improvement’ as an answer if the sentence is grammatically correct.
Scientists have predicted that the cultivation of rice will be affected severe.

Correct option is D

Explanation: The original sentence uses the phrase "affected severe", which is grammatically incorrect.

“Affected” is a verb in the past participle form, and it should be followed by an adverb (not an adjective) to describe how the action is being performed.

“Severe” is an adjective, whereas “severely” is an adverb, which is the correct form to modify the verb “affected.”

Therefore, the correct phrase is "affected severely", making the sentence grammatically and contextually appropriate.

Correct sentence: Scientists have predicted that the cultivation of rice will be affected severely.

Grammatical rule used:
Adverbs modify verbs, adjectives, or other adverbs. When describing how something happens (i.e., modifying a verb), we use an adverb — typically ending in -ly. Using an adjective like "severe" to modify a verb is incorrect.

Example:
He was punished harsh for his mistake.
He was punished harshly for his mistake.

Information Booster:
Not all adverbs end in -ly. Words like fast, hard, late, and straight are adverbs without -ly, and they can sometimes cause confusion. For instance, both "hard" and "hardly" are adverbs but with different meanings:

• He works hard (means with great effort)

• He hardly works (means rarely or almost not at all)