English: Error Spotting for Upcoming Exams – Set 218

Directions(1-5): 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 it is, mark the answer as ‘No error’. Ignore the errors of punctuation, if any.

1. The increased volumes of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases (1)/ released by the burning of fossil fuels, land clearing, agriculture, and other human activities, (2)/ are believed to be the primary sources of the global warming (3)/ that has occurred over the past 50 years. (4)
   1
   2
   3
   4
   No error
   Option D
   The error is in the fourth part of the sentence. The sentence refers to the activities that have been occurring over the past 50 years and are still continuing leading to global warming. Thus, the use of ‘has occurred’ is incorrect as the sentence is in present perfectcontinuous tense. The correct use would be ‘has been occurring’ which makes the sentence grammatically correct.

    

2. The band was made up (1)/ of a diverse group of (2)/ individual, belonging to (3)/ different countries and cultures. (4)
   1
   2
   3
   4
   No error
   Option C
   The error is in the third part of the sentence.
   We need to replace ‘individual’ with ‘individuals’. As a determiner, ‘diverse’ implies the context of ‘including many different types of people or things’. So, the plural noun ‘individuals’ need to be used.

    

3. Dole believes in making a current government (1)/ function by cooperating, compromising (2)/ and working out the inevitable (3)/ disagreements of a diverse society. (4)
   1
   2
   3
   4
   No error
   Option A
   The given sentence talks about a specific government. We know this because Dole is talking about the functioning of the government and is aware of the social situation too. This means that when Dole says ‘government’, he means a very specific government. So, it should be ‘the’ instead of ‘a’ in part1.

    

4. If you go through life with a perspective (1)/ that you have something to learn (2)/ from everyone you meet, (3)/ you’ll hoard a lot of informal mentors along the way. (4)
   1
   2
   3
   4
   No error
   Option D
   The error lies in the fourth part of the sentence. ‘Hoard’ is generally used when we talk about materialistic things like ‘hoard of gold’ and not while describing people. Thus, ‘hoard a lot of informal mentors’ is not incorrect. Instead, ‘gather’ or ‘collect’ can be used in this context.

    

5. India is the fastest growing economy in the world (1)/ and is expected to be one of the top three economic powers of the world (2)/ over the next 10-15 years, (3)/ backed by its strong democratic and partnerships. (4)
   1
   2
   3
   4
   No error
   Option D
   The error lies in the fourth part of the sentence. ‘Democratic’ adds no meaning here and the incorrect form of the word has been used here. Instead, using ‘democracy’ gives meaning to the sentence and renders it correct.

    

Directions(6-7): In the given question, a sentence is divided into five parts out of which the last part is correct. Out of the remaining four, there are errors in three parts. Choose the part which doesn’t have an error. If all the four parts are correct, mark E, ,i.e., “All are correct” as the answer.

6. A
   B
   C
   D
   All are correct
   Option C
   The error in A is the incorrect use of adjective ‘Indian’ and needs to be replaced with a noun ‘India’ to make the sentence grammatically and contextually correct. This is because IPPB is an abbreviation and will begin with a noun.
   The error in B is the incorrect use of the preposition ‘in’ and needs to be replaced with the preposition ‘at’. This is because launching is being taken ‘at’ some particular place, not ‘in’.
   The error in D is the incorrect use of the preposition ‘from’ and needs to be replaced with the preposition ‘to’. This is because services are offered ‘to’ someone, not ‘from’ someone.

    

7. Rumi’s use of Persian but Arabic in his poetry, (A)/ in addition to some Turkish and less Greek, have (B)/resulted into him being claimed variously for (C)/ Turkish literature and Persian literature, (D)/ a reflection of the strength of his influence in Iran and Turkey.
   A
   B
   C
   D
   All are correct
   Option D
   The error in A is the incorrect use of conjunction ‘but’ and needs to be replaced with ‘and’ to make the sentence correct. This is because ‘but’ is used to show contrast while the latter is not. Here, the poetry is both of Persian and Arabic. So, ‘and’ should be used for the same.
   The error in B is the incorrect use of the verb ‘have’ and needs to be replaced with the singular verb ‘has’. This is because the subject ‘Rumi’s use of’ is singular and thus, is followed by a singular verb.
   The error in C is the incorrect use of the preposition ‘into’ and needs to be replaced with ‘in’ to make the sentence correct. This is because ‘into’ is used to indicate motion while ‘resulted’ is followed by ‘in’.

    

Directions(8-10): In the given sentence, some parts are printed in bold while some are not. The parts printed in bold are correct and need no improvement. The parts which are not printed in bold may or may not be correct. Choose the part which is incorrect and needs improvement.

8. This wealth of plant life is confined to the littoral and the coastal valleys, but the central valleys and the plateaux have, if not a varied flora, a considerable wealth of timber trees in every way superior than the flora inland in the same latitudes.
   This wealth of plant life is confined
   the littoral and the coastal valleys, but the central valleys
   if not a varied flora, a considerable wealth of timber trees in every
   superior than the flora inland in the same latitudes
   No Error
   Option D
   The error lies in option D as the preposition ‘than’ is incorrect and must be replaced with ‘to’.
   This is because the adjectives ‘inferior’, ‘superior’, ‘senior’, ‘junior’, ‘prior’ etc. takes the preposition ‘to’ not ‘than’.
   Thus, option D is the correct answer.

    

9. Had Algeria and Morocco honoured their agreement back in 1989 to form an economic union, along with Tunisia’, ‘Libya’ and Mauritania, they will be among the Middle East’s largest economies.
   Algeria and Morocco honoured their agreement
   1989 to form an economic union, along with
   ‘Libya’ and Mauritania, they will be among
   Middle East’s largest economies
   No Error
   Option C
   The error lies in option C as the modal ‘will’ is incorrect and must be replaced with ‘would’. This is because the sentence starts with ‘had’ (past participle) to form the future perfect tense, and the conditional mood. Thus to support it, a conditional word will be used making ‘would’ correct as it indicates the consequences of an imagined event or situation.

    

10. India does not had a ministry of public health or even a full – edged division of public health in the health ministry.
    India does not had
    a ministry of
    a full – edged
    division of public
    health in
    Option A
    In A, the use of verb ‘had’ is incorrect and needs to be replaced with ‘have’ to make the sentence grammatically and contextually correct. This is because the auxiliary verb ‘does’ will take the base form of the main verb that follows it.

     

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