Difficulty: Easy
Correct Answer: A
Explanation:
Introduction / Context:
This error spotting question checks subject verb agreement and the correct use of singular and plural forms of abstract nouns. The sentence describes a situation where expectations are disappointed. The phrase all my hope uses a singular noun with a plural sense, which causes a mismatch with the rest of the sentence. To find the error, we must decide which element should be singular or plural.
Given Data / Assumptions:
Concept / Approach:
When we refer to multiple expectations or desires, English usually uses the plural hopes, as in all my hopes were shattered. The verb were correctly agrees with this plural subject. Therefore, the issue is that the noun in part A remains in the singular form hope while the meaning and verb form are plural. The correction should be All my hopes were duped, which brings the subject and verb into proper agreement. The rest of the sentence, and I was plunged in deep sorrow, is grammatically sound.
Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Focus on the phrase all my hope. The word all suggests plurality.Step 2: Recognise that the verb in part B is were, which is the plural past tense of be.Step 3: Since the verb is plural, the subject should also be plural for correct subject verb agreement.Step 4: The natural expression in English is all my hopes, not all my hope, when referring to many expectations.Step 5: Check parts B and C. Were duped and and I was plunged in deep sorrow are grammatically acceptable once the subject is corrected.Step 6: Conclude that part A contains the error, and hope must be corrected to hopes.
Verification / Alternative check:
Read the corrected sentence: All my hopes were duped and I was plunged in deep sorrow. This version clearly communicates that many expectations were disappointed, leading to sadness. If we tried to fix the sentence by changing were to was while keeping hope singular, we would get All my hope was duped, which sounds unnatural and does not match standard idiomatic English. The common phrase in literature and conversation is all my hopes were, confirming that the noun should be plural and the verb should remain plural.
Why Other Options Are Wrong:
Part B were duped is correct once the subject is changed to hopes. The phrase suggests that the hopes were tricked or frustrated. Part C and I was plunged in deep sorrow is also correct, as the singular subject I takes was. Part D No Error cannot be chosen, because the mismatch in part A has already been identified. There is no grammatical fault in parts B and C that needs correction.
Common Pitfalls:
Students may focus entirely on the verb were and incorrectly try to change it to was, forgetting that all my signals a plural idea. Others may overlook the idiomatic phrase all my hopes and accept the sentence as it is. A good way to avoid such mistakes is to mentally rephrase the sentence in your own words. If you find yourself naturally saying all my hopes were, that is a strong clue that the original single word hope is the real error.
Final Answer:
The error occurs in part A, which should read All my hopes instead of All my hope.
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