Pin Pointing Errors Exercise -4 for University Admission Test, Job Application Test, BCS Exam and Any Competitive Examination

TOPIC: PIN POINTING ERROR

1. Whoever turned in the last test did not put their name on the paper. [CU (E) 11-12]

A. Whoever

B. turned in

C. did not put

D. their

Answer: D Explanation: The pronoun "Whoever" is singular. Therefore, the possessive pronoun referring to it must also be singular. The correct word is his or her.

2. Since infection can cause both fever as well as pain, it is a good idea to check his temperature. [CU (E) 11-12]

A. Since

B. both fever as well as pain

C. it is

D. his

Answer: B Explanation: The correct correlative conjunction is "both...and...". The phrase "as well as" cannot be paired with "both". The correct phrasing is both fever and pain.

3. Despite of the pills which are available many people still have trouble sleeping. [CU (B-1) 11-12, RU (E-odd) 13-14]

A. Despite of

B. which are

C. many people

D. trouble sleeping

Answer: A Explanation: The word "Despite" is a preposition and does not take "of". The correct usage is Despite or In spite of.

4. News of Charles Lindbergh's famous transatlantic flight in 1927 spread rapidly despite of the lack of an international communication system. [DU (A) 10-11]

A. News of

B. rapidly

C. despite of

D. communication system

Answer: C Explanation: The word "despite" should not be followed by "of". The correct phrase is despite the lack.

5. If you want to loss weight you had better eat less. [RU 09-10]

A. to loss

B. had better

C. eat

D. less

Answer: A Explanation: After the infinitive marker "to," the base form of the verb is required. "Loss" is a noun; the correct verb is lose.

6. My brother is in California on vacation but I wish he was here so that he could help me repair my car. [CU (B-8) 12-13]

A. is

B. vacation

C. was

D. could help

Answer: C Explanation: After the verb "wish" expressing a desire for a hypothetical situation, the subjunctive mood is required. The correct verb form is were.

7. We wish today was sunny so that we could spend the day in the country communing with nature. [BU (B) 13-14]

A. was

B. so that

C. could spend

D. communing with

Answer: A Explanation: The verb "wish" requires the subjunctive mood for hypothetical situations. Therefore, were should be used instead of "was".

8. The influence of the nation's literature, art and science have captured widespread attention. [CU (B-8) 12-13]

A. The influence

B. art and science

C. have captured

D. widespread attention

Answer: C Explanation: The subject of the sentence is "The influence," which is singular. Therefore, the verb must be singular. The correct form is has captured.

9. The food that Hafiz is cooking in the kitchen is smelling delicious. [BU (B) 13-14]

A. that

B. is cooking

C. is smelling

D. delicious

Answer: C Explanation: Verbs of perception, such as "smell," are stative verbs and are typically not used in the continuous tense when describing a state. The correct form is smells.

10. I am a forgetful person; I always have trouble to remember my password on the computer. [RU (English) 09-10]

A. forgetful

B. have trouble

C. to remember

D. on

Answer: C Explanation: The phrase "have trouble" is followed by a gerund (verb + -ing). The correct form is remembering.

11. The way of reasoning whereby people do conclusion by logical inference from given premises is called the deductive method. [CU (B-1) 11-12, IU (B) 14-15]

A. The way of

B. do conclusion

C. by logical inference

D. is called

Answer: B Explanation: The correct collocation is to "draw a conclusion" or "reach a conclusion," not "do a conclusion." The correct verb is draw.

12. Helen Vendler's essays present key insights into and vital analyses the works of the major British and American authors. [CU (B-1) 11-12]

A. present

B. into

C. analyses

D. the works of

Answer: C Explanation: To maintain parallel structure with "insights into," the phrase should be "analyses of". The correct structure involves two prepositional phrases: "insights into" and "analyses of".

13. Tons of boulders were leaved scattered by glaciers all over what was to become the New England landscape. [CU (B-1) 11-12]

A. Tons of

B. leaved

C. by glaciers

D. was to become

Answer: B Explanation: "Leaved" is an incorrect past participle for the verb "leave." The correct past participle is left.

14. Jekyll Island has been one of Georgia's state parks in 1954. [CU (B-1) 11-12, (C1) 14-15]

A. has been

B. one of

C. state parks

D. in

Answer: D Explanation: The present perfect tense ("has been") is used to indicate an action starting in the past and continuing to the present. To connect a specific past year (1954) to the present, the preposition since is required.

15. Wind and rain continually hit against the surface of the earth broken large rocks into smaller and smaller particles. [CU (B-1) 11-12]

A. hit against

B. of the earth

C. broken

D. smaller and smaller

Answer: C Explanation: The action of breaking is continuous and happens as a result of the wind and rain hitting the surface. The present participle breaking should be used to modify the action.

16. A scapegoat is a person is made to take the blame for others' misdoings. [RU (Law) 09-10, (E, 2) 17-18]

A. is a

B. is made

C. to take

D. misdoings

Answer: B Explanation: A simple sentence should have only one main clause. This clause requires a relative pronoun to properly connect the verb "is made" to the subject "person." The correct form is who is made.

17. Most parents worries if their children are out of late at night. [RU (Law) 09-10]

A. Most parents

B. worries

C. are out of

D. at night

Answer: B Explanation: The subject "Most parents" is plural, so the verb must also be plural. The correct verb is worry.

18. My flat is in the centre of the town, which is very convenient in the office. [RU (Law) 09-10]

A. in the centre

B. which is

C. very

D. convenient in

Answer: D Explanation: The correct preposition to use with "convenient" when referring to a location or purpose is for (convenient for the office).

19. Because he was a foreigner, he had to have special permeate to buy a house in this country. [RU (Law) 09-10]

A. Because

B. foreigner

C. permeate

D. to buy

Answer: C Explanation: The noun needed here is permit (an official document giving authorization). "Permeate" is a verb meaning to spread throughout.

20. The explanation that our instructor gave us was different than the one yours gave you. [RU (Law) 08-09]

A. that

B. gave us

C. different than

D. the one

Answer: C Explanation: In standard English, the adjective "different" is followed by the preposition from, not "than".

21. A liter is one of the metric measurements, aren't they? [JnU (C) 12-13, 16-17]

A. one of

B. measurements

C. aren't

D. they

Answer: D Explanation: The subject of the sentence is "A liter," which is singular. The tag question should refer back to this singular subject. The correct tag question is isn't it?.

22. The book that you see laying on the table belongs to the teacher. [RU 05-06, 08-09, CU (B) 09-10]

A. that you see

B. laying

C. belongs

D. to the teacher

Answer: B Explanation: "Laying" is a transitive verb that requires an object (to place something). The intransitive verb for resting in a horizontal position is "lying." The correct word is lying.

23. We are suppose to read all of chapter seven and answer the questions for tomorrow's class. [RU (Law) 08-09, DUST (C) 11-12]

A. suppose

B. all of

C. answer

D. for

Answer: A Explanation: The correct phrase is "be supposed to," which requires the past participle form. The correct word is supposed.

24. Sylvester Stallone's starring role in Rocky, which he wrote himself, made he a nationally recognized figure virtually overnight. [RU (Law) 08-09]

A. starring

B. which he wrote

C. he

D. nationally

Answer: C Explanation: The pronoun is the object of the verb "made," so the objective case must be used. The correct pronoun is him.

25. The easiest and common manner of determining whether gas was present was to use canaries which were highly sensitive to atmospheric impurities. [RU (Law) 08-09]

A. common

B. determining

C. was

D. highly sensitive

Answer: A Explanation: To maintain parallel structure with "easiest" (superlative), the adjective "common" should also be in the superlative form. The correct phrasing is most common.

26. Those of us who smoke should have their lungs X-rayed regularly. [RU (Law) 07-08]

A. Those of us

B. who smoke

C. their

D. regularly

Answer: C Explanation: The antecedent of the possessive pronoun is "us" (first person plural). Therefore, the correct possessive pronoun is our.

27. People in the United States have recently taken to traveling to work on bicycle to an increased amount. [RU (Law) 08-09]

A. taken to

B. on

C. to

D. to an increased amount

Answer: B Explanation: The correct preposition for this mode of transport is by bicycle.

28. Both Loss Angeles and Philadelphia are among the more populous cities in the United States. [RU (Law) 08-09]

A. Both

B. and

C. among the more

D. in

Answer: C Explanation: When comparing more than two items (cities in the US), the superlative degree should be used. The correct phrase is among the most populous.

29. It is extremely important for an engineer to know to use a computer. [Standard Bank-09, RU (Law) 07-08, (E-even) 13-14]

A. extremely

B. for an engineer

C. to know

D. to use

Answer: C Explanation: The verb "know" is typically followed by "how" before an infinitive when expressing ability or knowledge of a method. The correct phrasing is to know how to use.

30. In England as early as the twelfth century young boys enjoyed to play football.

A. as early as

B. twelfth century

C. enjoyed

D. to play

Answer: D Explanation: The verb "enjoy" is followed by a gerund (verb + -ing). The correct form is playing.

31. Hold the pen upright like I do. [CU (C3) 12-13, RU (E, জোড়) 16-17]

A. Hold

B. upright

C. like

D. I do

Answer: C Explanation: "Like" is a preposition and should be followed by a noun or pronoun. "As" is a conjunction used to introduce a clause. Since "I do" is a clause, the correct word is as.

32. If it receives enough rain at the proper time, hay will grow quickly as grass. [RU (Law) 07-08, CU (E-Law) 12-13, (C) 17-18]

A. receives

B. at the proper time

C. grow

D. as

Answer: D Explanation: The sentence makes a comparison between two nouns ("hay" and "grass"). In this structure, the preposition like is preferred over "as" to mean "similar to." Or, if retaining "as," it would need to be "as quickly as grass." Given the options, replacing "as" with "like" or correcting the structure is required. The standard error is using "as" alone where "like" or "as...as" is needed.

33. The prices of homes are as high that most young people cannot afford to buy them. [RU (Law) 07-08]

A. prices of

B. as high that

C. to afford

D. to buy them

Answer: B Explanation: The correct correlative structure to express cause and result is "so...that...". The correct phrase is so high that.

34. Fertilizers are used primarily to enrich soil and increasing yield. [CU (C) 06-07]

A. primarily

B. to enrich

C. and

D. increasing

Answer: D Explanation: To maintain parallel structure, the verbs connected by "and" should be in the same form. "To enrich" is an infinitive, so the second verb should also be an infinitive: to increase.

35. Almost poetry is more enjoyable when it is read aloud. [RU (Law) 07-08]

A. Almost

B. is more

C. when it is

D. read aloud

Answer: A Explanation: "Almost" is an adverb and cannot modify the noun "poetry" directly. The correct phrase would be Most poetry, Almost all poetry, or Most of the poetry.

36. A prism is used to refract white light so it spreads out in a continuous spectrum of colours. [RU (Law) 07-08]

A. is used

B. so

C. spreads out

D. continuous spectrum

Answer: B Explanation: The word "so" implies a result. To clearly express purpose or intent, the compound conjunction so that is better.

37. The new model costs twice more than last year's model. [RU (Law) 07-08]

A. costs

B. twice more than

C. last year's

D. model

Answer: B Explanation: The standard structure for multiplicative comparison is "twice as much as." The phrase twice as much as is correct.

38. Choose the incorrect word: Bangladesh law requires that every citizen registers himself/herself as a voter before voting in an election. [SUST 06-07]

A. requires

B. registers

C. as a voter

D. in

Answer: B Explanation: The verb "requires" triggers the present subjunctive mood in the that-clause, which uses the base form of the verb. The correct form is register.

39. I have been looking forward to meet you. [RU (সমাজকর্ম) 03-04]

A. have been

B. looking forward

C. to

D. meet

Answer: D Explanation: The phrasal verb "look forward to" ends in a preposition ("to"), which must be followed by a noun or gerund. The correct form is meeting.

40. Profits are divided between the stockholders and the corporation. [RU 03-04]

A. Profits

B. are divided

C. between

D. and

Answer: C Explanation: "Between" is used for two distinct entities. However, if "stockholders" refers to a group of many people, among is generally preferred. (Note: If the sentence implies a division between two entities—the group of stockholders as one entity and the corporation as another—"between" could be accepted, but standard tests often test "among" for groups).

41. Identify the error in the following sentence: Even with a calculator, you must have a basic understanding of mathematics if one expects to solve complex problems correctly. [SUST 07-08]

A. with

B. must have

C. one

D. to solve

Answer: C Explanation: There is a pronoun shift. The sentence begins with the second person "you," so the pronoun later in the sentence must be consistent. The correct pronoun is you.

42. Diligence and honesty, as well as being intelligent, are qualities which I look for when I interview applicants of admission test. [KU (SS) 11-12]

A. as well as

B. being intelligent

C. which

D. applicants of

Answer: B Explanation: To maintain parallel structure, items in a list must be in the same grammatical form. "Diligence" and "honesty" are nouns, so the third item should also be a noun: intelligence.

43. She ignored the suggestion that she gets more exercise. [RU (ব্যবস্থাপনা) 03-04]

A. ignored

B. the suggestion

C. that

D. gets

Answer: D Explanation: The noun "suggestion" triggers the present subjunctive mood, which requires the base form of the verb. The correct verb is get.

44. Although he tried as hardly as he could he did not win the race. [RU (ব্যবস্থাপনা) 03-04]

A. Although

B. as hardly as

C. did not

D. the race

Answer: B Explanation: "Hard" is both an adjective and an adverb. "Hardly" is an adverb meaning "scarcely." The correct adverb for "with great effort" is hard.

45. The central shaft is strong, thin rod, circular in section and made by hard wood or steel. [RU (শিল্পকলা) 04-05]

A. strong, thin rod

B. by

C. or

D. steel

Answer: B Explanation: The correct preposition for the material something is constructed from is "of" (made of).

46. Obviously, she did not understood much of what you said. [RU (আইন) 04-05]

A. Obviously

B. understood

C. much of

D. what

Answer: B Explanation: After the auxiliary verb "did not," the main verb must be in its base form. The correct verb is understand.

47. Kajol is particularly fond of cooking and he often cooks really delicious meals. [RU (আইন) 04-05]

A. particularly

B. fond of

C. often

D. really

Answer: D Explanation: In formal English tests, using intensifiers like "really" with absolute adjectives like "delicious" is often considered redundant or poor style.

48. Students may buy their books if they had been available and correctly priced. [RU (আইন) 04-05]

A. may

B. had been

C. correctly

D. priced

Answer: B Explanation: The sentence uses "may" (present/future possibility), implying a first conditional structure. The condition clause should be in the present tense. The correct verb is are.

49. Listening to recorded books while driving is a means of utilize time wisely. [RU 05-06]

A. Listening to

B. while driving

C. utilize

D. wisely

Answer: C Explanation: The preposition "of" must be followed by a noun or a gerund (verb + -ing). The correct form is utilizing.

50. Insurance underwriter insure persons against many types of risks. [RU (সমাজকর্ম) 09-10]

A. underwriter

B. insure

C. against

D. types of

Answer: A Explanation: The verb "insure" is plural, so the subject must also be plural. The correct subject is underwriters.

51. He enjoyed not only riding his bike but also the scenery. [RU 05-06]

A. enjoyed

B. not only

C. riding

D. the scenery

Answer: D Explanation: For parallel structure with "not only...but also," the grammatical elements following each part must match. "Riding his bike" is a gerund phrase. To match, the second part should be a gerund phrase like viewing the scenery or watching the scenery.

52. If you will buy one box at regular price, you would receive another one at no extra cost. [RU 05-06, CU 09-10, CU (E-Law) 12-13]

A. will buy

B. regular

C. would receive

D. at no

Answer: A Explanation: In a first conditional sentence (real possibility), the "if" clause uses the present simple tense. The correct form is If you buy.

53. Neither of the two candidates who had applied for admission to the industrial Engineering Department were eligible for scholarship. [RU 05-06]

A. had applied

B. admission to

C. were

D. eligible for

Answer: C Explanation: The subject of the sentence is "Neither," which is singular. Therefore, the verb must be singular. The correct verb is was.

54. Neither of the students have submitted term paper to the teacher yet. [RU Fin. 08-09]

A. Neither of

B. have

C. term paper

D. yet

Answer: B Explanation: "Neither of" takes a plural noun ("students") but acts as a singular subject. The correct verb is has.

55. John Dewey thought that children will learn better through participating in experiences rather than through listening to lectures. [RU 05-06]

A. will learn

B. better through

C. rather than

D. listening to

Answer: A Explanation: The main verb "thought" is in the past tense. Therefore, the verb in the dependent clause should also be in the past. The correct verb is would learn.

56. The man came up to our house on a bicycle which he leaves leaning on the gate-post. [RU (English) 09-10]

A. came up

B. on a bicycle

C. leaves

D. leaning on

Answer: C Explanation: The sentence establishes a past timeframe with "came up." The subsequent action should also be in the past tense. The correct verb is left.

57. The professor were traveling in Europe when he received notice of his promotion. [RU (হিসাববিজ্ঞান) 09-10]

A. were traveling

B. when

C. received

D. of his

Answer: A Explanation: The subject "The professor" is singular, so the verb must be singular. The correct verb is was traveling.

58. Salam has not completed the assignment yet, and Salma hasn't neither. [RU (English) 09-10]

A. has not

B. completed

C. and

D. hasn't neither

Answer: D Explanation: The sentence uses a double negative ("hasn't neither"). The correct adverb to use in a negative agreement structure is either (Salma hasn't either).

59. Drug abuse have become one of America's most serious problems. [RU মার্কেটিং 09-10]

A. have become

B. one of

C. most serious

D. problems

Answer: A Explanation: The subject "Drug abuse" is a singular concept. Therefore, the verb must be singular. The correct form is has become.

60. The homeworks that your teacher assigned is due on Tuesday. [RU (English) 09-10]

A. homeworks

B. assigned

C. is

D. on

Answer: A Explanation: "Homework" is an uncountable noun and does not have a plural form. The correct word is homework.

61. If he would have come when I asked him, he could have avoided the accident. [RU (English) 09-10]

A. would have come

B. asked him

C. could have

D. the accident

Answer: A Explanation: This is a third conditional sentence. The "if" clause requires the past perfect tense. The correct form is If he had come.

62. Choosing between you and she is very difficult, both of you are fully qualified. [RU (মার্কেটিং) 09-10, IU G 18-19]

A. Choosing between

B. she

C. is

D. fully qualified

Answer: B Explanation: "Between" is a preposition and must be followed by a pronoun in the objective case. The correct pronoun is her.

63. Never before has so many people in the United States been interested in soccer. [CU (E- Law) 12-13]

A. Never before

B. has

C. so many people

D. been interested in

Answer: B Explanation: The subject is "so many people," which is plural. Therefore, the inverted auxiliary verb must be plural. The correct verb is have.

64. It is an accepted custom for one to say “excuse me” when he sneezed. [CU (E) 11-12, RU(E-even) 13-14]

A. accepted custom

B. for one

C. to say

D. sneezed

Answer: D Explanation: The sentence describes a general habit or custom, which requires the simple present tense. The correct verb is sneezes.

65. When a patient’s blood pressure is much higher than it should be, a doctor usually insists that he will not smoke. [CU (E- Law) 12-13]

A. much higher than

B. insists that

C. he

D. will not smoke

Answer: D Explanation: The verb "insist" triggers the subjunctive mood in the that-clause. The subjunctive uses the base form of the verb. The correct form is not smoke (insists that he not smoke).

66. According to the graduate catalogue, student housing is more cheaper than housing off campus. [CU (E- Law) 12-13]

A. student housing

B. is

C. more cheaper

D. than housing

Answer: C Explanation: Using "more" with a comparative adjective that already ends in "-er" (cheaper) is a double comparative error. The correct phrase is simply cheaper.

67. If you set in that position for too long, you may get a cramp in your leg. [JU G 18-19]

A. set

B. in that position

C. for too long

D. may get

Answer: A Explanation: "Set" means to place something. The intransitive verb meaning to be in a seated position is "sit." The correct verb is sit.

68. As verbalization is the most common form of language, humans make use of many others systems and techniques to express their thoughts and feelings. [CU D 18-19]

A. As verbalization is

B. others

C. to express

D. their thoughts

Answer: B Explanation: "Others" is a pronoun. When modifying a noun ("systems"), the adjective form other must be used. The correct phrase is many other systems.

69. Last night, the director finally wins the award, after being nominated more than five times. [RU (D-even) 17-18]

A. Last night

B. wins

C. after being nominated

D. more than

Answer: B Explanation: The phrase "Last night" places the action in the past. Therefore, the simple past tense is required. The correct verb is won.

70. The prime minister refuses to accept either of the six new proposals made by the ministry. [CU(C) 11-12, JnU (C) 11-12]

A. refuses to accept

B. either

C. new proposals

D. made by

Answer: B Explanation: "Either" is used to select between two options. For more than two options (six proposals), any or one must be used.

71. The amphibians are of few economic importance to humans. [CU (C) 11-12, (C1) 16-17]

A. are of

B. few

C. economic importance

D. to humans

Answer: B Explanation: "Importance" is an uncountable noun. "Few" is used with countable nouns. The correct quantifier for uncountable nouns is little or no.

72. Psychology today is interesting, informative, and it is easy to read. [CU (E) 11-12, RU (E-even) 13-14]

A. is

B. interesting, informative

C. and

D. it is easy

Answer: D Explanation: To maintain parallel structure, the list of items must follow the same grammatical pattern (adjectives). The clause "it is easy" breaks this pattern. The correct word is simply easy.