Practice Questions: Spotting Errors - 1

Directions: The following sentences have been divided into three parts (A), (B) and (C). Read the sentences carefully to find out if there is any error in any part of the sentence. The error if any will be in any one part of the sentence. Mark that part as your answer. If the sentence is completely correct as it is, then choose option (D) 'No Error' as the answer. Ignore if there are any errors of punctuation.

Q1: The temperature of the city (A) / suddenly went up (B) / last night. (C) / No Error (D)
(a) The temperature of the city
(b) had gone up suddenly
(c) last night.
(d) No Error
Ans: (d)
Explanation: The sentence is correct as written. The noun phrase "The temperature of the city" and the verb phrase "suddenly went up" agree in tense and meaning, and "last night" correctly specifies the time. No part requires correction.

Q2: Since I had ordered a large number of (A) / handsets the dealer agreed to give me (B) / an additional discount of 10%. (C) / No error (D)
(a) Since I had ordered a large number of
(b) handsets the dealer agreed to give me
(c) an additional discount of 10%.
(d) No Error
Ans: (d)
Explanation: The verb "ordered" is transitive and correctly takes a direct object: "a large number of handsets." There is no need for the preposition "for" after "ordered." The sentence is grammatically correct and conveys the intended meaning, so no correction is required.

Q3: Sometimes people fight with the system (A) / unnecessarily without understanding that
(B) / the common goal of both the system and the people are actually the same. (C) / No Error (D)
(a) Sometimes people fight with the system
(b) unnecessarily without understanding that
(c) the common goal of both the system and the people are actually the same.
(d) No Error
Ans: (c)
Explanation: The subject in part (C) is "the common goal of both the system and the people," which is singular. Therefore the verb should be singular: "is" rather than "are." The correct phrasing is "the common goal of both the system and the people is actually the same." (Alternatively, to use a plural verb one would write "the common goals of both ... are".)

Q4: Despite of his best efforts (A) / he failed to retain the position (B) / due to unwanted political interference. (C) / No Error (D)
(a) Despite of his best efforts
(b) he failed to retain the position
(c) due to unwanted political interference.
(d) No Error
Ans: (a)
Explanation: The preposition "of" should not follow "despite." The correct expression is "Despite his best efforts." Thus the corrected sentence is "Despite his best efforts he failed to retain the position due to unwanted political interference."

Q5: There was a huge gathering (A) / present on the (B) / inaugural function. (C) / No Error (D)
(a) There was a huge gathering
(b) present on the
(c) inaugural function.
(d) No Error
Ans: (b)
Explanation: The correct preposition for events or places such as "the inaugural function" is "at" rather than "on." Therefore part (B) should read "present at the," giving "There was a huge gathering present at the inaugural function."

Q6: Neither his father (A) / nor his mother are agreeing (B) / for their marriage. (C) / No Error (D)
(a) Neither his father
(b) nor his mother are agreeing
(c) for their marriage.
(d) No Error
Ans: (b)
Explanation: With "Neither ... nor ..." the verb agrees with the nearer subject, here "mother," which is singular. Hence the verb should be "is" not "are": "Neither his father nor his mother is agreeing for their marriage."

Q7: According to a recent survey made by the World Bank (A) / growth rate on India's GDP will be near about (B) / 7.3% in 2018. (C) / No Error (D)
(a) According to a recent survey made by the World Bank
(b) growth rate on India's GDP will be near about
(c) 7.3% in 2018.
(d) No Error
Ans: (b)
Explanation: The preposition "of" is required to show possession with "GDP": "growth rate of India's GDP." Thus part (B) should read "growth rate of India's GDP will be near about." (Note: "near about" is informal; "about" or "nearly" would be preferred in formal usage.)

Q8: Since they were instructed to maintain cleanliness (A) / in the campus, they (B) / cleaned the campus at regularly intervals. (C) / No Error (D)
(a) Since they were instructed to maintain cleanliness
(b) in the campus, they
(c) cleaned the campus at regularly intervals.
(d) No Error
Ans: (c)
Explanation: "Regularly" is an adverb and cannot directly modify the noun "intervals." The adjective "regular" should be used: "at regular intervals." So the corrected part (C) is "cleaned the campus at regular intervals."

Q9: It seemed to me that the principal (A) / of the school looking at me (B) / in a rather suspicious manner. (C) / No Error (D)
(a) It seemed to me that the principal
(b) of the school looking at me
(c) in a rather suspicious manner.
(d) No Error
Ans: (b)
Explanation: Part (B) lacks the auxiliary verb required for the past continuous tense. It should read "of the school was looking at me." The corrected sentence is "It seemed to me that the principal of the school was looking at me in a rather suspicious manner."

Q10: The road from the highway to the hill (A) / was more difficult than (B) / we have feared. (C) / No Error (D)
(a) The road from the highway to the hill
(b) was more difficult than
(c) we have feared.
(d) No Error
Ans: (c)
Explanation: The sentence is set in the past ("was" in part B), so the clause in part (C) should use the past perfect "had feared" rather than "have feared." The correct sentence is "The road from the highway to the hill was more difficult than we had feared."