Question

Identifying sentence errors: Tests your ability to recognize faults in usage, and recognize
effective sentences that follow the conventions of Standard Written English.
Directions: Choose which underlined portion has an error. If the sentence is correct, put no error.
1. The students have discovered that they can address issues more effectively through letterwriting campaigns and not through public demonstrations.
2. After hours of futile debate, the committee has decided to postpone further discussion of the
resolution until their next meeting.
3. At the music recital, Alexandra enjoyed listening to her friend Mohammed's insightful
interpretation, which she thought was more sophisticated than the other performers.
4. Originally a protest on conventional painting, the Pre-Raphaelite movement exerted great
influence on the art of its time.
5. The board reviewing the courses offered by the college found that the quality of academic
programs were generally good but somewhat uneven.
6. If he had begun earlier, he might have succeeded in finishing the extremely complex project
before the deadline.
7. Maude Adams, after her spectacular triumph as the original Peter Pan, went about heavy
veiled and was accessible to only a handful of intimate friends.
8. All states impose severe penalties on drivers who do not stop when he or she is involved in
accidents

Answer 1

Standard Written English

Question:

Identifying sentence errors: Tests your ability to recognize faults in usage, and recognize  effective sentences that follow the conventions of Standard Written English.

Directions: Choose which underlined portion has an error. If the sentence is correct, put no error.

Explanation

1. The students have discovered that they can address issues more effectively through letterwriting campaigns and not through public demonstrations.

   Errors - 'letterwriting' is written as letter-writing and instead of 'and not' than should be used.

   So, the correct sentence is

• The students have discovered that they can address issues more effectively through letter-writing campaigns than through public demonstrations.

2. After hours of futile debate, the committee has decided to postpone further discussion of the  resolution until their next meeting.

   Error - committee is singular form but in the sentence their is used for referring it.

   So, the correct sentence is

• After hours of futile debate, the committee has  decided to postpone further discussion of the resolution until its next meeting.

3. At the music recital, Alexandra enjoyed listening to her friend Mohammed's insightful  interpretation, which she thought was more sophisticated than the other performers.

   Error - 'the interpretations of' is missing after than in the sentence.

   So, the correct sentence is

• At the music recital, Alexandra enjoyed listening to  her friend Mohammed's insightful interpretation, which she thought was more  sophisticated than the interpretations of the other performers.

4. Originally a protest on conventional painting, the Pre-Raphaelite movement exerted great  influence on the art of its time.

   Error - use of 'on' after protest. Protest is done against something.

   So, the correct sentence is

• Originally a protest against conventional painting, the Pre-Raphaelite movement exerted  great influence on the art of its time.

5. The board reviewing the courses offered by the college found that the quality of academic  programs were generally good but somewhat uneven.

   Error - use of 'were' for quality, which is in singular form.

   So, the correct sentence is

• The board reviewing the  courses offered by the college found that the quality of academic programs was generally  good but somewhat uneven.  

6. If he had begun earlier, he might have succeeded in finishing the extremely complex project  before the deadline.

   No error in this sentence.

7. Maude Adams, after her spectacular triumph as the original Peter Pan, went about heavy  veiled and was accessible to only a handful of intimate friends.

   Error - heavy is adjective so it should be heavily (adverb).

    So, the correct sentence is

• Maude Adams, after her spectacular triumph as the  original Peter Pan, went about heavily veiled and was accessible to only a handful of  intimate friends.

8. All states impose severe penalties on drivers who do not stop when he or she is involved in  accidents.

   Errors - drivers is used in the sentence but the noun used for representing them is given as he or she.

    So, the correct sentence is

• All states impose severe  penalties on drivers who do not stop when they are involved in accidents.