In the following sentence, some part may have an error. Identify the part that contains the error, or select ‘‘No Error’’ if the sentence is correct: This year, we were visited by the director of Austrian Culture Forum, (1) based on Delhi and together we all wanted (2) to initiate an art festival in South India. (3) No Error (4)

Difficulty: Easy

Correct Answer: 2

Explanation:


Introduction / Context:

Error spotting questions in English grammar test your ability to notice incorrect prepositions, phrases, and structures within otherwise normal sounding sentences. In this item, the sentence talks about a visit from the director of the Austrian Culture Forum and about starting an art festival in South India. You must decide which numbered part contains the grammatical error, or whether there is no error at all.


Given Data / Assumptions:

- Sentence: This year, we were visited by the director of Austrian Culture Forum, (1) based on Delhi and together we all wanted (2) to initiate an art festival in South India. (3) No Error (4)

- Part (1): This year, we were visited by the director of Austrian Culture Forum,

- Part (2): based on Delhi and together we all wanted

- Part (3): to initiate an art festival in South India.

- Part (4): No Error.

- We assume Austrian Culture Forum is an organisation whose office is located in Delhi.


Concept / Approach:

The key concept here is the correct use of prepositions with the verbs based and located. In standard English, a person or organisation is described as being based in a city, not based on a city. The preposition on usually indicates support, dependence, or contact with a surface, while in is used for locations such as cities and countries. Therefore, the phrase based on Delhi is incorrect and should be based in Delhi. The rest of the sentence, including the idea of initiating an art festival in South India, follows normal grammar and meaning.


Step-by-Step Solution:

Step 1: Read part (1). It introduces the time reference this year and tells us we were visited by the director of Austrian Culture Forum. This is grammatically acceptable. Step 2: Read part (2). The phrase based on Delhi appears immediately after the name of the organisation. This sounds incorrect because we normally say based in Delhi. Step 3: Still in part (2), the words and together we all wanted form a clear link to the next clause and are grammatically fine. Step 4: Read part (3). The phrase to initiate an art festival in South India correctly expresses purpose and destination. Step 5: Since parts (1) and (3) are acceptable and the only clear error is the preposition on in based on Delhi, mark part (2) as containing the error.


Verification / Alternative check:

Rewrite the sentence in corrected form: This year, we were visited by the director of Austrian Culture Forum, based in Delhi, and together we all wanted to initiate an art festival in South India. Now the preposition in properly shows location, and the sentence reads smoothly. No other part needs correction, so the choice No Error would be wrong in this case.


Why Other Options Are Wrong:

Part (1) is simply a time reference combined with a passive construction and does not contain any grammatical error. Part (3) clearly expresses the intention to start an art festival in South India and is well formed. Part (4), No Error, is incorrect as an answer because we have identified a definite preposition error in part (2). Therefore, only part (2) deserves to be marked.


Common Pitfalls:

Students often read quickly and focus on content words like director or festival, while overlooking smaller prepositions such as in and on. Another common mistake is to treat based on and based in as interchangeable, although they have different meanings. Based on means founded on an idea or source, while based in shows location. Developing the habit of checking prepositions in every part of a sentence will greatly improve accuracy in such questions.


Final Answer:

The error is in part 2, where based on Delhi should be corrected to based in Delhi.

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