English: Error Spotting for Upcoming Exams – Set 228

Directions(1-10): Read the sentence to find out whether there is an error in it. The error, if any, will be in one part of the sentence. The number corresponding to that part will be your answer. If the given sentence is correct as given, mark option E, i.e. "No error" as the answer. Ignore the errors of punctuation.

1. Government borrowings in (1)/ the first five months (2)/ of this fiscal year have breached (3)/ the limit they had set for the full year. (4)
   1
   2
   3
   4
   No error
   Option D
   The use of the third person plural pronoun ‘they’ is incorrect in the fourth part of the sentence. As the subject is ‘government’ which is a singular entity, we need to replace ‘they’ with ‘it’ to ride the sentence grammatically correct.
   
    



2. There were far more (1)/ profitable houses to burgle (2)/ within a stone's throw of her (3)/ own modestest establishment (4).
   1
   2
   3
   4
   No error
   Option D
   Part (4) uses the word "modestest" to show the superlative degree of "modest". The correct form of superlative form of "modest" is "most modest". Hence, the correct answer is D.
   
    



3. The smell of char flesh (1)/ and metal still lingered, and Lana covered her (2)/ mouth and nose with her hand (3)/ as she started forward again. (4)
   1
   2
   3
   4
   No error
   Option A
   The word "char" in the part 1 of the sentence is a noun which is incorrectly used to qualify another noun "flesh", but a noun can’t qualify another noun. An adjective is needed for that and the adjective form of "char" is "charred". Hence, option A is correct.
   
    



4. Scarcely had he returned to Germany (1)/ and the Lateran disavowed all (2)/ that the pope had done, (3)/ on the score that it had been extorted by force. (4)
   1
   2
   3
   4
   No error
   Option B
   Hardly, scarcely and barely are followed by “when” but here in the given sentence when is missing. So the word ‘and’ in part 2 should be replaced by when to make the sentence correct.
   
    



5. Reshma called it the (1)/ science of shopping, the ability (2)/ to resist the temptations (3)/ of attractively packaging (4).
   1
   2
   3
   4
   No Error
   Option D
   The error is in the fourth part of the sentence. The word ‘packaging’ is a gerund. A gerund is a verb form which functions as a noun, by adding ‘ing’ at the end. So to qualify a verb, we need an adjective. Thus, ‘attractively’ needs to be replaced with ‘attractive’ to make the sentence a correct one.
   
    



6. In the warm and beautiful summer, Margot (1)/ finds herself being drawn to her neighbour (2)/ and ruminate over the empty spaces in her marriage, (3)/ which she seeks to fill through infidelity. (4)
   1
   2
   3
   4
   No error
   Option C
   The first part of the sentence, i.e. part (1) & part (2) are in passive voice. So, the verb in its participle form (drawn). 'Being' suggest that the action was continuing. 'And' in part (3) means Margot was being drawn and ruminated at the same time. But the part (3) and (4) are in active voice, so we just use the continuous form of the verb (ruminating).
   
    



7. Some doctors give out false along with wrong (1)/ information and since pets are extremely sensitive (2)/ to any incorrect treatment, you should always (3)/ take references from people who already have pets. (4)
   1
   2
   3
   4
   No error
   Option A
   'Along with' provides additional information. This means both the information statements are correct and can be independently presented. But, the clause "Some doctors give out false" isn’t complete. The adjective 'false' doesn’t have a noun to describe. But, if we replace 'along with' with 'and', we would have 'information' as the noun which would be described by 'false' and 'wrong'.
   
    



8. The study found that musicians have the ability (1)/ to remember information pertaining to auditory (2)/signals better owing to their training which makes (3)/ their working memory better than that of others. (4)
   1
   2
   3
   4
   No error
   Option E
   
   
    



9. Himachal is known to attract trekkers and (1)/ nature enthusiastic from all over the world, (2)/ but a rise in footfall leaves a huge heap (3)/ of discarded plastic waste in the region. (4)
   1
   2
   3
   4
   No error
   Option B
   'Enthusiastic' is an adjective. There is no noun present after 'enthusiastic' to describe. But, if we use the noun 'enthusiasts' instead, we will get the subject 'nature enthusiasts', which fits the sentence description, as it talks about the tourists Himachal, attracts. Hence, the correct answer is B.
   Note: 'Discarded' is past participle form of the verb 'discard'. In the given sentence, it works as an adjective, modifying the noun 'waste'. The preposition 'of' is appropriately placed, as it precedes the noun 'waste', modified by the adjective 'discarded'.
   
    



10. Pierre, accompanied by the soldiers, (1)/ was advancing to the spot where (2)/ the general stood, but the (3)/ French soldiers stopped him. (4)
    1
    2
    3
    4
    No error
    Option E
    
    
     

 

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