English: Error Spotting for Upcoming Exams – Set 223

Directions(1-5): Read the following sentence to find out whether there is any 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. Victims would not acquiesce with (1)/ any sham process aimed at (2)/ facilitating an amnesty for the (3)/ terrorists who have escaped justice. (4)
   1
   2
   3
   4
   No error
   Option A
   The error is in the first part of the sentence. In the first part preposition ‘with’ should be replaced by ‘in’. Note that we can use two prepositions with the word ‘acquiesce’ means to ‘accept something reluctantly but without protest’, which are ‘in’ and ‘to’. When used with ‘in’, it shows a passive agreement with something. And when used with ‘to’, it means ‘to submit voluntarily to a thing, situation or condition’. Note that using it ‘with’ is not advisable.

    

2. These two chemicals interact with (1)/ each other at certain (2)/ temperature to produce a substance (3)/ which could cause an explosion. (4)
   1
   2
   3
   4
   No error
   Option B
   The error is in the second part of the sentence. We must use indefinite article ‘a’ before the word ‘certain’. By using the article before certain we mean a fixed temperature.

    

3. Just between you (1)/ and I, Sherman thinks that (2)/ Warren is a bit (3)/ of a nightmare. (4)
   1
   2
   3
   4
   No Error
   Option B
   The error is in the second part of the sentence. In place of subjective pronoun “I”, objective pronoun “me” should be used. The reason is that a preposition such as “between” should be followed by an objective pronoun (such as me, him, her, and us) rather than a subjective pronoun (such as I, he, she, and we).

    

4. A nation not only reveals itself (1)/ by the men it produces (2)/ but also by the men it honours, (3)/ and the men it remembers. (4)
   1
   2
   3
   4
   No error
   Option A
   The error is in the first part of the sentence. The use of ‘not only’ with the verb ‘reveals’ is incorrect and should be used before ‘by the men it produces’. It is because here, the use of “not only…. but also’ is to combine the objects which are ‘by the men it produces and ‘by the men it honours, the men it remembers’. So, the problem here lies in the structure of the sentence.

    

5. I would also like to (1)/ avail me of this opportunity (2)/ to welcome the new member, (3)/ the Republic of South Africa to the Organisation. (4)
   1
   2
   3
   4
   No error
   Option B
   The error is in second the part of the sentence. Reflexive pronoun “myself” should replace “me” after avail. Some verbs like enjoy, avail etc. take themselves reflexive Pronouns. We use a reflexive pronoun as a direct object when the object is the same as the subject of the verb.

    

Directions(6-10): In each of the questions, a sentence is divided into five parts namely A, B, C, D and E in which one of the parts is given in bold and is grammatically and contextually correct. You have to identify which fragment, apart from the bold one, is correct in terms of grammar and usage.

6. The electronic voting machines (A)/ have been emerged unscathed (B)/ in the elections, (C)/ complete in their (D)/ paper trail mechanism (E).
   C
   B
   A
   D
   All are correct
   Option C
   The electronic voting machines have emerged unscathed from the elections, complete with their paper trail mechanism.
   Explanation:
   B- The verb needs to be in present perfect tense – have + emerged.
   C- The correct preposition to be used with ‘emerged’ is – ‘from’.
   Emerge – to appear/come out of something.
   D- The EVMs have emerged ‘along with’ their complete paper trail mechanism. Thus, ‘with’ is the correct preposition.
   

    

7. A fresh western disturbance, (A)/ a low-pressure system that will bring moisture (B)/ from the Eurasian water bodies, (C)/ will continue to effect the weather in this region,(D)/ the weather office says.(E)
   D
   C
   E
   B
   All are correct
   Option B
   A fresh western disturbance, a low-pressure system that brings moisture from the Eurasian water bodies, will continue to affect the weather in this region, the weather office said.
   Explanation:
   B- The sentence gives a generalised statement about something that happens usually in the same way, thus ‘simple present tense’ will be used.
   D- Replace ‘effect’ with ‘affect’. Effect – is a noun, meaning a change brought about in something. ‘Affect’- is a verb meaning ‘to change’ something.
   E- As the statement has already been issued therefore, ‘says’ will have to be replace by ‘said’.

    

8. There is a burgeon scholarly literature (A)/ on ways of uncovering fake reviews, (B)/ and all of the major websites (C)/ that post reviews have all-evolving algorithms (D)/ attempt to discern review fraud. (E)
   A
   C
   E
   D
   All are correct
   Option B
   There is a burgeoning scholarly literature on ways of uncovering fake reviews, and all of the major websites that post reviews have ever-evolving algorithms attempting to discern review fraud.
   Explanation:
   A- Replace ‘burgeon’ (a verb) with ‘burgeoning’ (an adjective).
   D – Replace ‘all-evolving’ (incorrect grammar usage) with ‘ever-evolving’.
   E- Replace ‘attempt’ with ‘attempting’. ‘Attempt’ breaks the verb –tense consistency of the sentence.

    

9. If it waffled (A)/ on combating anti-democratic tendencies (B)/ between minorities, (C)/it would empower majoritarianism (D)/ and underline democracy itself. (E)
   A
   C
   D
   E
   All are correct
   Option C
   If it waffles on combating anti-democratic tendencies among minorities, it would empower majoritarianism and undermine democracy itself.
   Explanation:
   A – Simple present tense – ‘waffles’ should be used in this context – depicting a possibility.
   C- While talking about more than two things or an indefinite number, we use ‘among’.
   E- ‘Underline’ is contextually incorrect in this statement. ‘Undermine’ is appropriate which means – to injure /weaken or destroy by insidious activity.

    

10. A race to figure (A)/ among the first half (B)/ to break in (C)/ is the rational choice in (D)/ the target group of new legislation. (E)
    C
    B
    D
    E
    All are correct
    Option B
    A race to figure among the first half to break away is the rational choice for the target group of new legislators.
    Explanation:
    C – ‘Break in’ means to enter forcibly / to interrupt. ‘Break away’ is the correct phrasal verb to be used here.
    D- Replace ‘in’ with ‘for’; as we need to specify that ‘for whom’ this particular choice is being talked about.
    E- Replace ‘legislation’ with ‘legislators’.
    Legislation – a law or set of laws; Legislator – someone who has the power and authority to create new laws.

     

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