Pin Pointing Errors Exercise -5 for University Admission Test, Job Application Test, BCS Exam and Any Competitive Examination

TOPIC: PIN POINTING ERROR

Error Identification

222. 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. their Explanation: The pronoun "Whoever" is singular. Therefore, the possessive pronoun that refers to it must also be singular. The correct word is his or her.

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

224. 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. Despite of Explanation: The word "Despite" does not take the preposition "of". The correct usage is either Despite or In spite of.

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

226. 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. to loss Explanation: After the infinitive marker "to," the base form of the verb should be used. "Loss" is a noun; the correct verb is lose.

227. 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. was Explanation: After the verb "wish" used to express a desire for an unreal situation, the subjunctive mood is required. The correct verb form is were, not "was".

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

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

234. 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. is smelling Explanation: Verbs of perception, such as "smell," are stative verbs and are typically not used in the continuous tense. The correct form is smells.

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

236. 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. do conclusion Explanation: The correct collocation is to "draw a conclusion," not "do a conclusion." The correct verb is draw.

237. 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. analyses Explanation: To maintain parallel structure with "insights into," the phrase should be "analyses of". The structure requires two noun phrases connected by "and": (insights into) and (analyses of).

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

239. 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. in Explanation: The present perfect tense ("has been") is used with a point in time. The preposition "in" is used for a specific year, but "since" is required here to connect the past point in time (1954) to the present. The correct word is since.

240. 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. broken 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.

241. 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. is made Explanation: A simple sentence should have only one main clause (one subject and one finite verb). The clause needs a relative pronoun to connect it properly. The correct form is who is made.

242. 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. worries Explanation: The subject "Most parents" is plural, so the verb must also be in its plural form. The correct verb is worry.

243. 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. convenient in Explanation: The correct preposition to use with "convenient" in this context is for.

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

245. 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. different than Explanation: The adjective "different" is followed by the preposition from, not "than".

246. 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. they 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?.

247. 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. laying Explanation: "Laying" is a transitive verb that requires an object (e.g., laying a book). The intransitive verb for being in a horizontal position is "lying." The correct word is lying.

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

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

250. 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. common Explanation: To maintain parallel structure, both adjectives modifying "manner" should be in the superlative form. The correct phrasing is easiest and most common.

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

252. 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. on Explanation: The correct preposition for this mode of transport is by bicycle.

253. 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. among the more Explanation: When comparing more than two items, the superlative degree should be used. The correct phrase is among the most populous.

254. 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. to know Explanation: The verb "know" is typically followed by "how" before an infinitive. The correct phrasing is to know how to use.

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

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

257. 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. as Explanation: The comparison is between "hay" and "grass." The preposition like should be used here instead of the conjunction "as".

258. 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. as high that Explanation: The correct correlative structure is "so...that...". The correct phrase is so high that.

259. 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. increasing 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.

260. 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. Almost Explanation: "Almost" cannot modify the noun "poetry" directly. Correct options would be Most poetry, Almost all poetry, or Most of the poetry.

261. 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. so Explanation: The word "so" implies purpose. A better conjunction to express the result would be so that.

262. 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. twice more than Explanation: The correct structure for this type of comparison is twice as much as.

263. 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. registers Explanation: The verb "requires" triggers the present subjunctive mood, which uses the base form of the verb. The correct form is register.

264. I have been looking forward to meet you. [RU (সমাজকর্ম) 03-04] A. have been B. looking forward C. to D. meet Answer: D. meet Explanation: The phrasal verb "look forward to" is followed by a gerund (verb + -ing). The correct form is meeting.

265. Profits are divided between the stockholders and the corporation. [RU 03-04] A. Profits B. are divided C. between D. and Answer: C. between Explanation: "Between" is typically used for two items. When referring to a group of more than two, "among" is used. Since stockholders are a group, the correct preposition is among.

266. 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. one Explanation: There is a pronoun shift. The sentence starts with "you," so the pronoun later in the sentence should be consistent. The correct pronoun is you.

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

268. She ignored the suggestion that she gets more exercise. [RU (ব্যবস্থাপনা) 03-04] A. ignored B. the suggestion C. that D. gets Answer: D. gets Explanation: The noun "suggestion" triggers the present subjunctive mood, which requires the base form of the verb. The correct verb is get.

269. 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. as hardly as Explanation: "Hard" is both an adjective and an adverb. "Hardly" is also an adverb but means "almost not at all." The correct adverb here is hard.

270. 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. by Explanation: The phrase should be parallel. "Strong" and "thin" are adjectives modifying "rod."

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

272. 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. really Explanation: In formal writing, some consider "very delicious" to be redundant, as "delicious" is an absolute adjective. Simply "delicious meals" would be sufficient.

273. 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. had been Explanation: This is a first conditional sentence. The structure is: If + present simple, ... will/may/can + base form. The correct verb form is are.

274. 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. utilize Explanation: The preposition "of" must be followed by a noun or a gerund. The correct form is utilizing.

275. Insurance underwriter insure persons against many types of risks. [RU (সমাজকর্ম) 09-10] A. underwriter B. insure C. against D. types of Answer: A. underwriter Explanation: The verb "insure" is plural, so the subject must also be plural. The correct subject is underwriters.

276. 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. the scenery Explanation: For parallel structure with "not only...but also," the elements following each part should be grammatically similar. "Riding his bike" is a gerund phrase, so the second part should also be a gerund phrase, such as viewing the scenery.

277. 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. will buy Explanation: This is a first conditional sentence (If + present simple, ... will + base form). The correct form is If you buy... you will receive. "Would receive" is also incorrect in this context.

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

279. 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. have Explanation: "Neither of" takes a plural noun ("students") but a singular verb. The correct verb is has.

280. 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. will learn Explanation: The main verb "thought" is in the past tense. Therefore, the verb in the subordinate clause should also be in a past form. The correct verb is would learn.

281. 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. leaves Explanation: The main clause is in the past tense ("came up"). The subordinate clause should also be in the past tense. The correct verb is left.

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

283. 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. hasn't neither Explanation: The sentence already contains a negative ("hasn't"). Using "neither" creates a double negative. The correct word is either.

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

285. The homeworks that your teacher assigned is due on Tuesday. [RU (English) 09-10] A. homeworks B. assigned C. is D. on Answer: A. homeworks Explanation: "Homework" is an uncountable noun and does not have a plural form. The correct word is homework.

286. 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. would have come Explanation: This is a third conditional sentence. The correct structure for the "if" clause is past perfect (had + past participle). The correct form is If he had come.

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