Question 1

Read the following passage about the human eye and answer the question. According to the passage, what is the average rate at which the human eye blinks?

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Introduction / Context: The passage on the human eye not only explains how vision works but also mentions an interesting fact about blinking. It describes how blinking helps wash the eye with the salty secretion from the tear glands. The question asks for the average rate of blinking mentioned in the passage. Given Data / Assumptions: The passage states that human eyes blink an average of once every six seconds. This blinking action spreads the salty secretion from the tear or lachrymal glands across the eye. The tear glands are located behind the upper eyelid at the outer corner of the eye. The liquid is later drained into the nose through the tear duct at the inner corner of the eye. The question focuses only on the numerical rate of blinking. Concept / Approach: This is a straightforward detail question that tests careful reading of a numerical fact. The candidate must remember or locate the exact statement containing the word “blink” and the associated time interval. There is no need for calculation, only recognition and correct selection from similar sounding options. Step-by-Step Solution: Step 1: Find the sentence that talks about blinking in the passage. Step 2: Note that it says “human eyes blink an average of once every six seconds.” Step 3: Focus on the exact phrase “once every six seconds.” Step 4: Compare this phrase with the answer choices that mention different rates. Step 5: Select option b, “Once every six seconds,” which repeats the passage exactly. Verification / Alternative check: We can check that the other options all change the rate in different ways. If a person blinked six times every second, that would be an extremely high and unrealistic rate. Six times every six seconds would average one blink per second. Once every second is also faster than the rate given in the passage. Therefore, the only choice consistent with both the passage and normal experience is blinking once every six seconds. Why Other Options Are Wrong: Option a: Six times every second is far too frequent and is not stated in the passage. Option c: Six times every six seconds changes the rate and does not match the exact wording. Option d: Once every second is more frequent than what the passage states and therefore incorrect. Common Pitfalls: Examinees sometimes misread numbers under time pressure, especially when several options look similar. Confusing “once every six seconds” with “six times every six seconds” is a common mistake. To avoid this, it is important to slow down briefly when reading numerical information and to match the option word for word with the statement in the passage. Final Answer: Once every six seconds is the correct answer, as the passage clearly states that this is the average blinking rate of human eyes.

Question 2

Read the following passage about the human eye and answer the question. According to the passage, where exactly are the lachrymal or tear glands situated?

Accepted Answer

Introduction / Context: The passage explains how blinking and tear production help keep the eye clean and moist. It mentions the lachrymal or tear glands, describes their size and shape, and then states their position relative to the eyelid and eye. The question asks for the precise location of these glands based on the passage. Given Data / Assumptions: The passage calls the tear glands lachrymal glands. Each tear gland is about the size and shape of an almond. These glands are situated behind the upper eyelid at the outer corner of the eye. The fluid produced by these glands passes over the eye. After passing over the eye, the liquid is drained into the nose through the tear duct at the inner corner of the eye. Concept / Approach: This is a location based comprehension question. The candidate must accurately recall the description of the position of the tear glands. It is important not to confuse the outer corner, where the glands are located, with the inner corner, where the tear duct drains the liquid into the nose. The best approach is to visualise the eye and then match this visual to the textual description. Step-by-Step Solution: Step 1: Revisit the sentence that begins “Each tear gland is about the size and shape of an almond.” Step 2: Read the very next line, which states that these glands are situated behind the upper eyelid at the outer corner of the eye. Step 3: Note that “behind the upper eyelid” and “outer corner of the eye” are both essential parts of the description. Step 4: Compare this wording with the options offered. Step 5: Choose option c, which accurately mentions “at the outer corner of the eye behind the upper eyelid.” Verification / Alternative check: We can further verify by comparing this information with the later sentence about drainage of tears. The passage explains that after washing the eye, the liquid is drained into the nose through the tear duct at the inner corner of the eye. So the glands and the draining duct are deliberately placed at opposite corners. This contrast helps confirm that the glands are at the outer corner, not the inner corner, and certainly not inside the eyeball itself. Why Other Options Are Wrong: Option a: Saying “inside the eye” is vague and does not match the detailed description in the passage. Option b: “In the black of the eye” wrongly suggests the pupil area and does not correspond to the stated location. Option d: “On the eyelid” ignores the important detail that the glands are behind the upper eyelid and at the outer corner. Common Pitfalls: Students often confuse the role of the tear duct with the position of the tear glands. Because the duct is at the inner corner, some candidates mistakenly put the glands there as well. Another pitfall is to ignore the phrase “behind the upper eyelid,” which gives depth information. Paying close attention to each phrase in description based questions is essential. Final Answer: At the outer corner of the eye behind the upper eyelid is the correct answer, because this is exactly how the passage describes the position of the lachrymal glands.

Question 3

In the following question, a sentence is divided into numbered parts. Identify the part that contains a grammatical error. Sentence: “Our digestive system produces an assimilable, nutrient rich liquid that builds and nourish our first body tissue, p…

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Introduction / Context: This question tests knowledge of subject verb agreement and parallel verb forms in a complex sentence. The sentence talks about what the digestive system produces and how that product affects body tissue. The examinee must decide which numbered part of the sentence contains an error, or whether the sentence is completely correct. Given Data / Assumptions: The complete sentence reads: “Our digestive system produces an assimilable, nutrient rich liquid that builds and nourish our first body tissue, plasma.” Part (1) would normally contain “Our digestive system produces an assimilable, nutrient rich liquid”. Part (2) would contain the clause “that builds and nourish our first body tissue”. Part (3) would contain the word “plasma” and punctuation. The subject of the relative clause “that builds and nourish” is “liquid,” which is singular. Concept / Approach: The key grammar concepts here are subject verb agreement and parallelism. When a singular subject is followed by two verbs joined by “and,” both verbs should match the singular subject in form. Since “liquid” is singular, both verbs after “that” must be singular in form. Therefore, both should end in “s” in the simple present tense. Any mismatch between the two verbs indicates an error. Step-by-Step Solution: Step 1: Identify the main subject of the clause after “that.” The phrase is “liquid that builds and nourish our first body tissue.” The word “liquid” is singular. Step 2: Examine the verbs joined by “and”: “builds” and “nourish.” Step 3: The first verb “builds” correctly matches the singular subject “liquid.” Step 4: The second verb “nourish” should also be in the singular form “nourishes” to agree with the same subject. Step 5: Because “nourish” is in the wrong form, the error lies in the part containing “builds and nourish,” which is part (2). Verification / Alternative check: We can rewrite the sentence correctly to check: “Our digestive system produces an assimilable, nutrient rich liquid that builds and nourishes our first body tissue, plasma.” In this corrected version, both verbs are singular and parallel. There is no structural or meaning issue in parts (1) and (3), so the only error is in part (2). The identification is therefore confirmed. Why Other Options Are Wrong: Part (1): The phrase “Our digestive system produces an assimilable, nutrient rich liquid” is grammatically correct and clear. Part (3): The phrase “our first body tissue, plasma” is a correct appositive construction that renames the tissue as plasma. “No error”: This option is wrong because we have clearly identified an error in subject verb agreement in part (2). Common Pitfalls: Many learners focus only on the first verb after the relative pronoun “that” and ignore the second verb. Another frequent mistake is to think that the plural looking verb “nourish” is acceptable because of the plural idea of “builds and nourish.” However, what matters is the number of the subject, not the number of verbs. When two actions are performed by a single subject, both verbs must agree with that one subject. Forgetting parallelism when two verbs share the same subject often leads to errors. Final Answer: Part (2) is the correct answer, because the verb “nourish” should be “nourishes” to agree with the singular subject “liquid” and to maintain proper parallelism.

Question 4

In the following question, a sentence is divided into numbered parts. Identify the part that contains a grammatical or word choice error. Sentence: “Acquired immunity is the result of an interaction with our new environment and proper digestion of a…

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Introduction / Context: This question checks vocabulary and idiomatic usage in a sentence about acquired immunity. The sentence is split into three parts, and the candidate must find which part contains a faulty expression or grammatical error, or decide that the sentence is fully correct. The main focus is the phrase “take off,” which appears at the end of the sentence. Given Data / Assumptions: The sentence reads: “Acquired immunity is the result of an interaction with our new environment and proper digestion of all that we take off.” Part (1): “Acquired immunity is the result of an” is grammatically correct. Part (2): “interaction with our new environment and” is a natural prepositional phrase. Part (3): “proper digestion of all that we take off” contains the phrasal verb “take off.” In the context of digestion and immunity, the intended meaning is that we digest everything we consume or take in. Concept / Approach: The key concept here is correct idiomatic usage. The phrasal verb “take off” usually means remove, depart, or achieve sudden success. It does not fit with the idea of digestion. In contrast, “take in” is the normal expression for consuming food or drink. Therefore, we must look for the part of the sentence where the idiom does not fit the intended meaning. Step-by-Step Solution: Step 1: Understand the intended meaning of the sentence. It aims to say that acquired immunity results from interaction with the environment and proper digestion of everything we consume. Step 2: Examine each part for grammatical correctness and proper usage. Step 3: Part (1) is fine: “Acquired immunity is the result of an” correctly introduces a noun phrase. Step 4: Part (2) also works: “interaction with our new environment and” flows naturally into the next noun phrase. Step 5: Part (3) uses “take off,” which is wrong in the context of digestion; the phrase should be “take in.” Therefore, part (3) is erroneous. Verification / Alternative check: A quick check is to replace “take off” with “take in” and read the sentence again: “Acquired immunity is the result of an interaction with our new environment and proper digestion of all that we take in.” This version is logically and grammatically correct. It matches normal English usage. Since the only change needed is in part (3), that part must contain the error. Why Other Options Are Wrong: Part (1): There is no error in tense, article usage, or word order. Part (2): The preposition “with” and the noun phrase “our new environment” are both appropriate. “No error”: This option cannot be right because the idiom “take off” clearly does not express the intended meaning of consuming food for digestion. Common Pitfalls: Examinees sometimes focus only on grammar and ignore word choice, so they may overlook the incorrect phrasal verb. Others may be unsure about the exact meaning of “take off” and therefore fail to recognise that it is inappropriate here. To avoid such mistakes, it is important to consider both grammatical correctness and logical meaning when evaluating sentence parts for errors. Final Answer: Part (3) is the correct answer because the expression “take off” should be “take in” to match the context of digestion and acquired immunity.

Question 5

In the following question, a sentence is divided into numbered parts. Identify the part that contains a grammatical error in subject verb agreement. Sentence: “Just as we nourishes the body, we need to nurture the soul to connect to the creative pow…

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Introduction / Context: This question examines subject verb agreement in a sentence about nourishing the body and nurturing the soul. The sentence is split into three parts, and the task is to identify which part contains the error. The focus is on the phrase “we nourishes,” which looks suspicious when matched with the plural subject “we.” Given Data / Assumptions: The full sentence is: “Just as we nourishes the body, we need to nurture the soul to connect to the creative power of the universe and to manifest joy in our lives.” Part (1) typically includes “Just as we nourishes the body.” Part (2) contains “we need to nurture the soul to connect to the creative power of the universe.” Part (3) contains “and to manifest joy in our lives.” The subject “we” is plural and takes a base form verb without “s” in the simple present tense. Concept / Approach: The main concept is that in English, the pronoun “we” takes the base form of the verb in the simple present tense. For example, “we eat,” “we learn,” and “we nourish” are correct. On the other hand, “we nourishes” is incorrect because the “s” marked form is used only with singular third person subjects such as “he,” “she,” or “it.” Recognising this rule allows us to pinpoint which part of the sentence is wrong. Step-by-Step Solution: Step 1: Focus on part (1), “Just as we nourishes the body.” Step 2: Identify the subject “we,” which is plural and first person. Step 3: The verb should be “nourish,” not “nourishes,” because plural “we” takes the base form. Step 4: Check parts (2) and (3) for additional issues. The phrases “we need to nurture the soul” and “to manifest joy in our lives” are grammatically sound. Step 5: Conclude that only part (1) contains an error, due to incorrect verb form. Verification / Alternative check: A corrected version of the sentence would read: “Just as we nourish the body, we need to nurture the soul to connect to the creative power of the universe and to manifest joy in our lives.” This version follows all subject verb agreement rules and delivers a clear meaning. Since this correction only affects part (1), our choice is validated. Why Other Options Are Wrong: Part (2): The phrase “we need to nurture the soul to connect to the creative power of the universe” uses correct infinitive construction and no agreement error. Part (3): The phrase “and to manifest joy in our lives” is parallel to “to connect” and is grammatically correct. “No error”: This cannot be right because “we nourishes” is clearly ungrammatical in standard English. Common Pitfalls: Students may overlook the small “s” at the end of “nourishes” because the rest of the sentence is stylistically smooth. Another common difficulty is focusing on the spiritual vocabulary and losing sight of grammar rules. To avoid such errors, it is important to isolate the subject and verb and test the combination against basic subject verb agreement rules. Final Answer: Part (1) is the correct answer, since “we nourishes” should be replaced with “we nourish” to obey standard subject verb agreement.

Question 6

In the following question, a sentence is divided into numbered parts. Identify the part that contains an error in prepositional usage. Sentence: “If we objectively ponder on the mystery behind miseries, we find that as long as we restrict ourselves …

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Introduction / Context: This question tests the correct use of prepositions and idiomatic expressions in a philosophical sentence about miseries and happiness. The sentence is split into parts, and the candidate must identify which part contains the error. The phrase “ponder on” in part (1) is the key area to examine carefully. Given Data / Assumptions: The sentence reads: “If we objectively ponder on the mystery behind miseries, we find that as long as we restrict ourselves to the means of happiness, we are left in the lurch.” Part (1) includes “If we objectively ponder on the mystery behind miseries.” Part (2) says “we find that as long as we restrict ourselves to the means of happiness.” Part (3) says “we are left in the lurch.” The verb “ponder” is normally used with “over” or with no preposition at all in formal English. Concept / Approach: The main concept is idiomatic correctness. In standard English, we usually say “ponder over a mystery” or simply “ponder a mystery.” The combination “ponder on a mystery” is considered non standard and is treated as an error in competitive examinations. Therefore, part (1) is the likely candidate for the error. The rest of the sentence uses accepted phrases such as “restrict ourselves to” and “left in the lurch.” Step-by-Step Solution: Step 1: Focus on part (1): “If we objectively ponder on the mystery behind miseries.” Step 2: Recall the common patterns: “ponder the mystery” or “ponder over the mystery” are correct forms. Step 3: Recognise that “ponder on” is not idiomatic in formal written English and is considered incorrect in exam standards. Step 4: Examine parts (2) and (3). Both are grammatically correct and idiomatically acceptable. Step 5: Conclude that the error lies in part (1) due to the wrong preposition after “ponder.” Verification / Alternative check: Rewrite the sentence in a corrected form: “If we objectively ponder over the mystery behind miseries, we find that as long as we restrict ourselves to the means of happiness, we are left in the lurch.” Alternatively, we can also write “If we objectively ponder the mystery behind miseries...” Both versions sound natural and are accepted in formal contexts. Since no changes are required in parts (2) and (3), the identification of part (1) as erroneous is confirmed. Why Other Options Are Wrong: Part (2): The phrases “restrict ourselves to the means of happiness” and “as long as” are correct expressions. Part (3): The idiom “left in the lurch” is a standard expression meaning “abandoned in difficulty,” so there is no error. “No error”: This option is wrong because the non standard use of “ponder on” must be corrected in exam style English. Common Pitfalls: Many learners are influenced by regional usage and may have heard “ponder on” in speech, so they accept it as correct. Others may focus mainly on verb tenses and neglect prepositions. Error spotting questions deliberately use such subtle points. To avoid mistakes, students must learn standard collocations and pay close attention to the small connecting words in a sentence. Final Answer: Part (1) is the correct answer, because “ponder on” should be replaced by “ponder over” or simply “ponder” for idiomatic correctness.

Question 7

In the following question, a sentence is divided into numbered parts. Identify the part that contains an error in verb form. Sentence: “Our sole prayer should be to be blessing with a spiritual awakening that is the real source of peace, bliss and c…

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Introduction / Context: This error spotting question focuses on the correct form of a passive infinitive in a sentence about spiritual awakening. The sentence is divided into three parts, and the candidate must find which part contains the grammatical error. The expression “to be blessing with” in part (1) is the main suspect and needs to be checked carefully. Given Data / Assumptions: The sentence reads: “Our sole prayer should be to be blessing with a spiritual awakening that is the real source of peace, bliss and contentment.” Part (1) includes “Our sole prayer should be to be blessing with.” Part (2) contains “a spiritual awakening that is the real.” Part (3) contains “source of peace, bliss and contentment.” The intended meaning is “to be blessed with a spiritual awakening.” Concept / Approach: The key concept is the proper use of passive voice with infinitives. The structure “to be blessed with” uses the past participle “blessed,” not the present participle “blessing.” The present participle would suggest an active continuous action and does not fit the meaning of receiving a spiritual gift. Therefore, we need to locate where the participle is wrong and identify that part as the source of the error. Step-by-Step Solution: Step 1: Read part (1): “Our sole prayer should be to be blessing with.” Step 2: Recognise that the correct phrase in standard English is “to be blessed with,” which expresses receiving a gift or favour. Step 3: Understand that “to be blessing with” is grammatically wrong and logically unclear. Step 4: Check parts (2) and (3) and confirm that “a spiritual awakening that is the real source of peace, bliss and contentment” is a correct noun phrase. Step 5: Conclude that the only error is in part (1), where “blessing” should be replaced with “blessed.” Verification / Alternative check: Rewrite the sentence correctly: “Our sole prayer should be to be blessed with a spiritual awakening that is the real source of peace, bliss and contentment.” This corrected version is grammatically correct and expresses the intended meaning clearly. Since no other modifications are necessary, the location of the error is confirmed as part (1). Why Other Options Are Wrong: Part (2): The clause “a spiritual awakening that is the real” naturally leads into “source,” and there is no grammatical mistake. Part (3): The phrase “source of peace, bliss and contentment” is completely correct. “No error”: This option is incorrect because the verbal form “to be blessing with” must be changed to “to be blessed with.” Common Pitfalls: Some candidates may be distracted by the abstract vocabulary and may not focus on the verb form. Others might think that “blessing” looks spiritual and therefore acceptable. However, examinations test the precise form required by standard grammar. Whenever a phrase expresses being favoured with something, the correct pattern is “to be blessed with.” Recognising standard collocations and passive structures is crucial for success in such questions. Final Answer: Part (1) is the correct answer, because the phrase should read “to be blessed with” instead of “to be blessing with.”

Question 8

In the following question, a sentence is divided into numbered parts. Identify the part that contains an error in word choice. Sentence: “My tool has always been humour because it is the most entertaining way to put any ideology cross, and it is fun…

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Introduction / Context: This question checks the use of a phrasal verb in a sentence about humour as a communication tool. The sentence is divided into parts, and one part contains an idiomatic error. The phrase “put any ideology cross” appears in part (2) and must be examined for correctness, especially when compared with the standard expression “put an idea across.” Given Data / Assumptions: The sentence reads: “My tool has always been humour because it is the most entertaining way to put any ideology cross, and it is fun, positive, and healing.” Part (1) includes “My tool has always been humour because.” Part (2) contains “it is the most entertaining way to put any ideology cross.” Part (3) contains “and it is fun, positive, and healing.” The speaker wants to say “to put any ideology across,” meaning to communicate or convey an ideology effectively. Concept / Approach: The concept tested is idiomatic accuracy of phrasal verbs. The correct expression is “put an idea across” or “put a message across,” meaning to communicate it clearly. The preposition “across” is essential. The use of “cross” without “a” or “across” is wrong in this context. Therefore, we must identify which part contains this incorrect phrase and mark it as erroneous. Step-by-Step Solution: Step 1: Inspect part (2): “it is the most entertaining way to put any ideology cross.” Step 2: Recognise that the phrasal verb should be “put any ideology across.” Step 3: Understand that “cross” by itself here is incorrect and does not convey the intended meaning. Step 4: Check part (1). The phrase “My tool has always been humour because” is grammatically correct. Step 5: Check part (3). The phrase “and it is fun, positive, and healing” is also correct and complete. Verification / Alternative check: Rewrite the sentence correctly: “My tool has always been humour because it is the most entertaining way to put any ideology across, and it is fun, positive, and healing.” In this version, the phrasal verb is accurate, and the sentence reads naturally. Since only part (2) needed adjustment, the error is reliably located there. Why Other Options Are Wrong: Part (1): There is no grammatical error in the structure “My tool has always been humour because.” Part (3): The adjectives “fun, positive, and healing” correctly describe humour and are joined with proper punctuation. “No error”: This option is not correct because the phrasal verb in part (2) must be repaired. Common Pitfalls: Some candidates may read very quickly and fail to notice the missing preposition “across,” especially because the rest of the sentence flows smoothly. Others may not be familiar with the phrasal verb “put across” and might mistakenly accept “put cross” as correct. To avoid such mistakes, it is important to learn standard phrasal verbs and to read the entire verb phrase carefully rather than focusing only on the main verb. Final Answer: Part (2) is the correct answer, because the phrase should be “to put any ideology across” instead of “to put any ideology cross.”

Question 9

In the following question, a sentence is divided into numbered parts. Identify the part that contains an error in subject verb agreement. Sentence: “When a student works on a mathematical problem, he comes to a stage beyond which he do not know how …

Accepted Answer

Introduction / Context: This error spotting question focuses on subject verb agreement within a sentence about a student solving a mathematical problem. The sentence is split into parts. The phrase “he do not know” in part (2) appears suspect and must be checked against the basic rule that third person singular subjects require “does not” instead of “do not.” Given Data / Assumptions: The full sentence is: “When a student works on a mathematical problem, he comes to a stage beyond which he do not know how to proceed, and where he is in doubt and perplexity.” Part (1) typically contains “When a student works on a mathematical problem, he comes to a stage beyond which.” Part (2) contains “he do not know how to proceed.” Part (3) contains “and where he is in doubt and perplexity.” The pronoun “he” is third person singular and normally takes “does not,” not “do not,” in the simple present tense. Concept / Approach: The main grammatical concept is that the auxiliary verb “do” must agree in number with the subject. For “he,” “she,” and “it,” the correct form is “does,” so the negative construction becomes “does not know.” The plural form “do not know” is used with “I,” “we,” “you,” and “they.” Recognising this subject verb mismatch allows us to pinpoint the error in the sentence. Step-by-Step Solution: Step 1: Identify the clause where agreement might be wrong: “he do not know how to proceed.” Step 2: Note that the subject is “he,” which is singular. Step 3: Recall that the correct auxiliary for “he” in negative present simple is “does not,” not “do not.” Step 4: Recognise that the clause should read “he does not know how to proceed.” Step 5: Verify that parts (1) and (3) are otherwise grammatical, making part (2) the only incorrect part. Verification / Alternative check: Rewrite the sentence correctly: “When a student works on a mathematical problem, he comes to a stage beyond which he does not know how to proceed, and where he is in doubt and perplexity.” This corrected version reads smoothly and obeys all subject verb agreement rules. Since only the auxiliary verb “do” needed to change to “does” in part (2), the location of the error is fully confirmed. Why Other Options Are Wrong: Part (1): The structure “When a student works on a mathematical problem, he comes to a stage beyond which” is grammatically sound. Part (3): The clause “and where he is in doubt and perplexity” uses the correct form “is” and is error free. “No error”: This option cannot be correct because the phrase “he do not know” clearly violates subject verb agreement. Common Pitfalls: Students sometimes overlook auxiliary verbs when scanning for errors, focusing only on main verbs. Others may be influenced by colloquial speech where “do not” is used loosely with various subjects. For examination purposes, it is essential to stick to standard grammar rules and systematically test subject verb combinations, including auxiliary verbs, in every part of the sentence. Final Answer: Part (2) is the correct answer, because “he do not know” should be “he does not know.”

Question 10

In the following question, a sentence is divided into numbered parts. Identify the part that contains an error in tense consistency. Sentence: “When one stops being optimistic, believes that he is worthless, and stops hoping for a better future, it …

Accepted Answer

Introduction / Context: This question tests the correct use of verb tenses in a complex sentence about optimism and failure. The sentence uses present tense forms in the first part and then unexpectedly shifts to past tense in the final clause. The candidate must determine which part contains the tense inconsistency that disrupts the logical time frame of the sentence. Given Data / Assumptions: The sentence is: “When one stops being optimistic, believes that he is worthless, and stops hoping for a better future, it is only then that the moment of actual failure happened.” Part (1) likely contains “When one stops being optimistic, believes that he is worthless.” Part (2) likely contains “and stops hoping for a better future, it is only then that.” Part (3) contains “the moment of actual failure happened.” The earlier verbs “stops,” “believes,” and “is” are in the simple present tense. Concept / Approach: The concept here is tense consistency within a sentence. If a sentence describes a general truth or a habitual situation, it should maintain present tense throughout. The use of “happened” at the end suggests a particular event in the past and clashes with the general present tense framework. The correct form should be “the moment of actual failure happens,” not “happened.” Step-by-Step Solution: Step 1: Identify the tenses used in the first part of the sentence: “stops,” “believes,” “is,” and “stops hoping” are all present tense forms. Step 2: Observe that the sentence expresses a general condition about when failure occurs in life, not one single past event. Step 3: Look at part (3): “the moment of actual failure happened.” The use of “happened” is past tense. Step 4: Note the mismatch: present tense condition leading to a past tense result is illogical in a statement of general truth. Step 5: Conclude that part (3) is wrong and should use the present tense “happens” instead of “happened.” Verification / Alternative check: Rewrite the sentence correctly: “When one stops being optimistic, believes that he is worthless, and stops hoping for a better future, it is only then that the moment of actual failure happens.” Now all verbs are in the present tense, and the sentence clearly expresses a timeless general statement about failure. Since the correction applies only to part (3), our choice is verified. Why Other Options Are Wrong: Part (1): The series of present tense verbs “stops being optimistic, believes that he is worthless” is consistent and grammatically correct. Part (2): The phrase “and stops hoping for a better future, it is only then that” also uses correct present tense forms. “No error”: This is not correct because the tense shift to “happened” is improper in a sentence that otherwise operates in the present tense. Common Pitfalls: Examinees sometimes accept tense shifts unconsciously if the meaning remains roughly understandable. Others may focus on the emotional content of the sentence and overlook the technical grammar. It is important to scan all verbs carefully and check whether the time reference is consistent, especially in sentences that express universal truths or habitual patterns of behaviour. Final Answer: Part (3) is the correct answer, since “the moment of actual failure happened” should be corrected to “the moment of actual failure happens” to maintain tense consistency.

Question 11

In the following question, a sentence is divided into numbered parts. Identify the part that contains an error in verb pattern. Sentence: “Looking forward to something in anticipation is what helps us moving forward in life.”

Accepted Answer

Introduction / Context: This question checks the correct verb pattern after the verb “helps” in a sentence about hope and progress in life. The sentence is divided into three parts. The key suspicious phrase is “helps us moving forward,” which appears in part (3) and must be tested against standard grammar rules for verbs following “help.” Given Data / Assumptions: The sentence reads: “Looking forward to something in anticipation is what helps us moving forward in life.” Part (1) contains “Looking forward to something.” Part (2) contains “in anticipation is what helps us.” Part (3) contains “moving forward in life.” The standard pattern after “help” is usually “help someone do something” or “help someone to do something,” not “help someone doing something” in this type of sentence. Concept / Approach: The concept here is the correct complement of the verb “help.” The usual and accepted pattern is “helps us move forward,” where “move” is in the base form. Using the present participle “moving” after “helps us” is non standard in this construction. Therefore, we must find which part includes this incorrect pattern and label it as the error. Step-by-Step Solution: Step 1: Focus on the part containing the phrase after “helps us.” Step 2: The sentence says “helps us moving forward in life,” which is in part (3). Step 3: Recall that the correct structure is “helps us move forward in life.” Step 4: Check parts (1) and (2). The ideas “Looking forward to something in anticipation” and “is what helps us” are both acceptable. Step 5: Conclude that the error lies in part (3), where “moving” should be replaced with “move.” Verification / Alternative check: Rewrite the full sentence in a corrected form: “Looking forward to something in anticipation is what helps us move forward in life.” In this version, the verb pattern is standard: subject plus “helps” plus object plus base form of the verb. There is no awkwardness or grammatical mismatch. Since only part (3) was changed, we have confirmed that this part contains the original error. Why Other Options Are Wrong: Part (1): The phrase “Looking forward to something” is a correct gerund phrase functioning as a subject. Part (2): The words “in anticipation is what helps us” form a correct predicate and linking structure. “No error”: This cannot be correct because “helps us moving forward” is not the standard grammatical form. Common Pitfalls: Many candidates accept -ing forms where they sound natural, even when grammar rules favour the base form. Because “moving forward in life” sounds fluent by itself, it is easy to overlook the need to pair “helps us” with the base form “move.” To avoid such mistakes, students should remember that after “help someone,” the simplest and safest pattern is to use the bare infinitive “do,” “learn,” “move,” and so on. Final Answer: Part (3) is the correct answer, as the correct phrase should be “helps us move forward in life,” not “helps us moving forward in life.”

Question 12

In the following question, a sentence is divided into numbered parts. Identify the part that contains an error in adverb form. Sentence: “When the self is not enlightened, it is fundamental identified with the notion of difference, unaware of its pr…

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Introduction / Context: This question examines the correct use of adjective and adverb forms in a sentence about the unenlightened self. The sentence is divided into parts, and one part contains a word form error. The phrase “fundamental identified” in part (2) appears to be grammatically wrong and must be checked carefully. Given Data / Assumptions: The sentence is: “When the self is not enlightened, it is fundamental identified with the notion of difference, unaware of its primordial unity.” Part (1) likely contains “When the self is not enlightened.” Part (2) contains “it is fundamental identified with the notion of difference.” Part (3) contains “unaware of its primordial unity.” The structure “is identified” takes an adverb when modified, so “fundamentally identified” is expected, not “fundamental identified.” Concept / Approach: The concept here is distinguishing between adjectives and adverbs. “Fundamental” is an adjective and normally describes nouns, whereas “fundamentally” is an adverb that modifies verbs or entire clauses. Since “identified” is a verb in the passive construction “is identified,” any word modifying it must be an adverb. Therefore, “fundamentally identified” is correct, and “fundamental identified” is incorrect. Step-by-Step Solution: Step 1: Focus on part (2): “it is fundamental identified with the notion of difference.” Step 2: Recognise that “identified” is a verb in the passive voice (“is identified”). Step 3: Understand that verbs are usually modified by adverbs, so we expect “fundamentally identified.” Step 4: Observe that “fundamental” is an adjective and therefore wrongly used in this context. Step 5: Confirm that parts (1) and (3) are structurally sound, shifting the blame to part (2). Verification / Alternative check: Rewrite the sentence correctly: “When the self is not enlightened, it is fundamentally identified with the notion of difference, unaware of its primordial unity.” Now the adverb “fundamentally” properly modifies the passive verb phrase “is identified,” and the sentence flows naturally. Since this correction concerns only part (2), the error is verified. Why Other Options Are Wrong: Part (1): The clause “When the self is not enlightened” is grammatically correct and sets the condition clearly. Part (3): The phrase “unaware of its primordial unity” correctly uses the adjective “unaware” to describe the self. “No error”: This option is wrong because the form “fundamental identified” is not standard English in this construction. Common Pitfalls: Some learners confuse when to use adjective or adverb forms, especially when the word endings are similar. Others may not pay attention to the difference between describing a noun and modifying a verb. A reliable strategy is to identify whether the word following “is” is a participle functioning as a verb or as a complement. In “is identified,” “identified” is clearly a verb form, so the modifier must be an adverb like “fundamentally.” Final Answer: Part (2) is the correct answer, because “fundamental identified” should be corrected to “fundamentally identified.”

Question 13

In the following question, a sentence is divided into numbered parts. Identify the part that contains an error in word choice. Sentence: “When we are able to stop, pause and think more about our actions, words and thoughts, we begin to see the cause…

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Introduction / Context: This error spotting question focuses on the difference between the nouns “effect” and “affect” in a sentence about becoming more aware of consequences. The sentence is divided into parts, and the candidate must find the part with the incorrect word form. The phrase “the cause and affect” in part (3) clearly needs closer examination. Given Data / Assumptions: The sentence reads: “When we are able to stop, pause and think more about our actions, words and thoughts, we begin to see the cause and affect more clearly.” Part (1) contains “When we are able to stop, pause and think more about our actions.” Part (2) contains “words and thoughts, we begin to see.” Part (3) contains “the cause and affect more clearly.” The normal expression is “cause and effect,” where both words are nouns. Concept / Approach: The key concept is the distinction between “effect” as a noun meaning result, and “affect” as a verb meaning to influence. In the phrase “cause and effect,” both terms function as nouns. Using “affect” after “cause and” is a misuse of the verb form where a noun is required. Therefore, we should identify the part that contains this wrong word choice and mark it as the error. Step-by-Step Solution: Step 1: Focus on part (3): “the cause and affect more clearly.” Step 2: Recall that the standard collocation is “cause and effect,” both nouns. Step 3: Recognise that “affect” is mainly used as a verb meaning “to influence,” not as a noun in this context. Step 4: Check parts (1) and (2), which contain correct and meaningful phrases. Step 5: Conclude that part (3) is erroneous and should use “effect” instead of “affect.” Verification / Alternative check: Rewrite the sentence in corrected form: “When we are able to stop, pause and think more about our actions, words and thoughts, we begin to see the cause and effect more clearly.” This version is grammatically correct and uses the familiar pairing “cause and effect.” Since only part (3) needed adjustment, the error has been accurately located. Why Other Options Are Wrong: Part (1): The phrase “When we are able to stop, pause and think more about our actions” is grammatically sound. Part (2): The words “words and thoughts, we begin to see” are correctly formed and logically connected. “No error”: This cannot be correct because “cause and affect” is not an acceptable noun pair in standard English. Common Pitfalls: Many learners confuse “affect” and “effect” because the pronunciation can be similar and the spelling differ by only one letter. Some remember that both appear in psychological contexts and assume they are interchangeable. A practical rule is to recall that “effect” with “e” is usually the noun meaning result, especially in set phrases like “cause and effect,” while “affect” with “a” is usually a verb. Keeping this distinction in mind helps avoid such errors in competitive exams. Final Answer: Part (3) is the correct answer, because “the cause and affect” should be “the cause and effect.”

Question 14

In the following question, a sentence is divided into numbered parts. Identify the part that contains an error, if any. Sentence: “We may only be here in the blink of an eye, but the way we live our lives will stay with the universe forever.”

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Introduction / Context: This question asks whether there is any grammatical or idiomatic error in a reflective sentence about the shortness of human life and the lasting impact of our actions. The sentence is divided into parts and the candidate must decide if any segment is wrong or if the entire sentence is correct as it stands. Given Data / Assumptions: The sentence reads: “We may only be here in the blink of an eye, but the way we live our lives will stay with the universe forever.” Part (1) contains “We may only be here in the blink of an eye.” Part (2) contains “but the way we live our lives.” Part (3) contains “will stay with the universe forever.” The expression “in the blink of an eye” is a common idiom meaning for a very short time. Concept / Approach: The main task is to verify grammar, tense, and idiomatic usage in each part of the sentence. The structure uses a contrastive conjunction “but” to join two clauses. The first clause speaks of the brevity of life in the present modal form “may be,” and the second clause states the lasting impact with the future form “will stay.” Both ideas are logically compatible and use standard English expressions. Step-by-Step Solution: Step 1: Examine part (1): “We may only be here in the blink of an eye.” The modal “may” correctly indicates possibility and the idiom “in the blink of an eye” is correctly used. Step 2: Examine part (2): “but the way we live our lives.” This part introduces the subject of the second clause and is grammatically correct. Step 3: Examine part (3): “will stay with the universe forever.” The future tense “will stay” is correctly used, and the preposition “with” is acceptable in a figurative sense. Step 4: Check the sentence as a whole to ensure that subject verb agreement and tense consistency are maintained. Step 5: Conclude that there is no grammatical error in any part of the sentence. Verification / Alternative check: We can paraphrase the sentence to verify meaning and grammar: “Our time on Earth may be very short, but the effect of how we live will remain in the universe forever.” The idea remains clear and the original wording correctly expresses this thought in idiomatic English. Since no part requires correction, the option “No error” must be selected. Why Other Options Are Wrong: Part (1): Uses a standard idiom and correct modal construction, so there is no error. Part (2): Contains a well formed noun phrase “the way we live our lives” and is grammatically sound. Part (3): Uses an appropriate future tense and a legitimate figurative prepositional phrase “with the universe forever.” Common Pitfalls: Some examinees may suspect an error simply because the sentence is philosophical or poetic. Others may overthink the phrase “with the universe” and assume that the preposition must be changed. However, competitive exam English accepts such figurative usage when the grammar is correct. The key point is to distinguish between unusual but correct style and actual grammatical errors. Final Answer: No error is the correct choice, because all three parts of the sentence are grammatically and idiomatically correct.

Question 15

In the following English grammar error detection question, identify the part of the sentence that contains an error, or choose "No error" if the sentence is correct: I have learned that what really counts in life, in the end, is not how many toys we…

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Introduction / Context: This error detection question tests your understanding of subject verb agreement and how relative clauses work inside a long, complex sentence. The sentence talks about what really matters in life and then narrows down to a phrase about a purpose that adds value to the world. The goal is to see whether you can track the true subject and match it with the correct verb form. Given Data / Assumptions: The sentence is divided into four numbered parts, with the fourth part representing "No error". The line containing "a purpose that add value to this world" is labelled part 3. The overall sentence structure and ideas should be kept as they are; only grammar and usage are being checked. The main focus is likely on agreement or tense consistency rather than vocabulary. Concept / Approach: Subject verb agreement means that a singular subject must take a singular verb and a plural subject must take a plural verb. In relative clauses starting with "that", the verb inside the clause must agree with the noun that "that" refers to. In the phrase "a purpose that add value", the noun "purpose" is singular. Therefore, the verb that follows the relative pronoun "that" must also be singular: "adds", not "add". Everything else in the sentence is grammatically acceptable and idiomatic. Step-by-Step Solution: Locate the relative clause: "that add value to this world".Identify the antecedent of "that". It refers back to "a purpose", which is singular.Apply subject verb agreement. A singular subject ("purpose") requires the singular verb "adds".Notice that the sentence currently uses the plural verb "add", which does not match the singular subject.Conclude that the error is in the part containing "a purpose that add value to this world", that is, part 3. Verification / Alternative check: If we correct the sentence to "a purpose that adds value to this world", the clause now reads smoothly. The rest of the sentence "I have learned that what really counts in life, in the end, is not how many toys we have collected or how much money we have accumulated, but how many of our talents we have liberated and used for a purpose that adds value to this world" is grammatically sound and stylistically natural. Why Other Options Are Wrong: Part 1 correctly uses the present perfect "have learned" and has proper commas. Part 2 is fine in terms of structure and agreement when it speaks of toys and money. Part 4 is simply the "No error" choice and cannot be selected if any real error exists in parts 1 to 3. Since the only clear error is the mismatch between "purpose" and "add", part 3 must be chosen. Common Pitfalls: Many learners are distracted by the length of the sentence and the emotional vocabulary about life, talents, and value. Because there are many plural nouns like "toys", "talents", and "we", students may overlook the singular noun "purpose" near the end and accept "add" without checking. A useful exam strategy is to examine each chunk separately and always check agreement in relative clauses that use "who", "which", or "that". Final Answer: The error is in part 3, where "a purpose that add value to this world" should read "a purpose that adds value to this world".

Question 16

In the following English grammar error detection question, identify the part of the sentence that contains an error, or choose "No error" if the sentence is correct: For man to change radically, fundamentally, there must be a mutation in a very brai…

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Introduction / Context: This question focuses on correct use of articles and determiners in English. The sentence discusses a radical change in a human being and refers to mutation in the brain cells. The test is whether you can spot the small but important error in the phrase "in a very brain cells of his mind". Correct article usage is a frequent topic in competitive English examinations. Given Data / Assumptions: The sentence is split into three numbered parts plus one "No error" choice. The troubling phrase is "a very brain cells of his mind" in part 2 and part 3. The noun "cells" is clearly plural. The phrase should sound natural in standard formal English. Concept / Approach: Articles "a" and "an" are used before singular countable nouns. The definite article "the" can be used before both singular and plural nouns when referring to something specific. The word "very" in this structure functions as an intensifier meaning "exact" or "particular", as in "the very place", "the very moment", "the very words". The idiomatic pattern is "the very" followed by a noun, not "a very". Therefore we need "the very brain cells" instead of "a very brain cells". The plural noun "cells" cannot be used with the singular article "a". Step-by-Step Solution: Identify the noun phrase that looks wrong: "a very brain cells of his mind".Notice that "cells" is plural, so it cannot take the article "a".Recall the idiomatic expression "the very" to mean "the exact" in formal English.Replace "a" with "the" to create "the very brain cells of his mind".Confirm that, after this change, the sentence is grammatically correct and makes logical sense. Verification / Alternative check: With the correction, the sentence becomes "For man to change radically, fundamentally, there must be a mutation in the very brain cells of his mind." This version is natural and precise. Part 1 and part 3 do not contain any further grammatical errors. The main issue was the wrong article used before "very brain cells". Why Other Options Are Wrong: Part 1 uses the infinitive correctly with "For man to change radically, fundamentally," and the commas are acceptable. Part 3 contains "brain cells of his mind", which is acceptable once the article before it is fixed. Part 4, "No error", cannot be correct because a clear article error has already been identified. Therefore, the error must lie in part 2, where "a very" appears. Common Pitfalls: Students sometimes skim quickly and miss small function words like articles, focusing only on content words such as "mutation" and "brain cells". Others may know the phrase "very" as an adverb of degree and think that any article is acceptable before it. Remember that "very" used in the sense of "exact" almost always appears with "the", not "a", and that plural nouns cannot be preceded by "a". Training your eye to notice these patterns will make error detection questions easier. Final Answer: The error is in part 2 because "a very brain cells" should be "the very brain cells".

Question 17

In the following English grammar error detection question, identify the part of the sentence that contains an error, or choose "No error" if the sentence is correct: Character build should be an integral part of every aspect of schooling and learnin…

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Introduction / Context: This question checks your familiarity with standard noun patterns in English, especially the correct form of expressions like "character building". The sentence describes how education should shape personality and moral strength. Your task is to identify the segment that is grammatically or idiomatically incorrect. Given Data / Assumptions: The key phrase in part 1 is "Character build should be an integral part". Parts 2 and 3 speak about schooling, learning, and long term solutions. The focus is not on deep vocabulary but on natural collocations commonly used in educational and moral contexts. "Character building" is a well known phrase in English. Concept / Approach: In English, when we talk about developing moral strength and personality, the correct expression is "character building", not "character build". Here, "building" is a gerund that functions as a noun, and the whole phrase "character building" means the process of developing character. The phrase "character build" usually does not appear in formal English in this sense. Therefore, part 1 contains a collocation error that needs to be corrected to "Character building should be an integral part". Step-by-Step Solution: Read the whole sentence and identify expressions that feel unnatural.Focus on the opening phrase "Character build should be an integral part".Recall that the standard phrase is "character building" when referring to moral development.Substitute "build" with "building" to obtain "Character building should be an integral part".Check the remaining parts: "of every aspect of schooling and learning as it equips an individual to find long term solutions to the challenges of life" are structurally sound. Verification / Alternative check: The corrected sentence reads: "Character building should be an integral part of every aspect of schooling and learning as it equips an individual to find long term solutions to the challenges of life." This is a natural, idiomatic sentence that you might find in educational philosophy texts and exam passages. No other part shows any clear grammatical error. Why Other Options Are Wrong: Part 2 correctly uses "of every aspect of schooling and learning as it". Part 3 uses "equips an individual to find long term solutions to the challenges of life", which is appropriate in meaning and grammar. Part 4, "No error", is incorrect because part 1 clearly contains a faulty phrase. Therefore, part 1 is the only segment that needs correction. Common Pitfalls: Many learners are aware of the word "build" and may overextend its use, assuming that it can always substitute for "building". However, English has many fixed phrases where only one grammatical form is acceptable, such as "character building", "decision making", or "problem solving". Memorising common collocations is very useful in error detection sections, because the examiners often test these fixed patterns rather than complex structures. Final Answer: The error is in part 1 because "Character build" should be "Character building".

Question 18

In the following English grammar error detection question, identify the part of the sentence that contains an error, or choose "No error" if the sentence is correct: Problem solving, decision making and conflict resolution are all important processe…

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Introduction / Context: This question tests correct preposition choice after the noun "processes" when we describe purposes, such as developing good moral character. The sentence lists several skills and states that they are important processes for a particular aim. The exam wants you to recognise the most natural and grammatically acceptable preposition in this environment. Given Data / Assumptions: Part 1 lists "Problem solving, decision making and conflict". Part 2 continues with "resolution are all important processes". Part 3 contains the phrase "to developing good moral character". Part 4 is the "No error" option. Concept / Approach: When we describe the purpose or intended result of a process, English commonly uses the preposition "for", as in "processes for developing skills" or "methods for improving health". The phrase "to developing" after "processes" sounds awkward and is not idiomatic. We might say "process of developing" or "processes for developing", but "processes to developing" is incorrect. Therefore the preposition in part 3 needs to be replaced with "for" to make the sentence natural and correct. Step-by-Step Solution: Read the sentence and identify the segment that looks unusual: "processes to developing".Recall common patterns: "process for developing" and "process of developing" are standard combinations.Recognise that "to" followed by a gerund here does not match usual prepositional usage.Replace "to" with "for", giving "processes for developing good moral character".Verify that the new phrase reads smoothly with the rest of the sentence. Verification / Alternative check: After correction, the sentence becomes "Problem solving, decision making and conflict resolution are all important processes for developing good moral character." This version is fully acceptable and clearly conveys that these activities help in the development of moral character. Parts 1 and 2 already formed a correct list followed by a plural verb "are", and there is no other grammatical issue once the preposition is fixed. Why Other Options Are Wrong: Part 1 has correct hyphen free gerunds such as "Problem solving" and "decision making" used as nouns. Part 2 correctly continues the list and links it with "are all important processes". Part 4, "No error", cannot be correct because the phrase "processes to developing" is clearly not standard. Thus, the error must be in part 3, where the preposition "to" appears. Common Pitfalls: Many test takers see "to" before a verb and think instantly of the infinitive, but here "developing" is already in gerund form. Combining "to" with a gerund after "processes" results in a structure that does not fit any common pattern. It is helpful to learn frequent combinations like "way of doing", "method for doing", "tool for solving", and "process of understanding". Recognising these patterns will help you quickly spot incorrect prepositions in similar questions. Final Answer: The error is in part 3 because "processes to developing" should be "processes for developing".

Question 19

In the following English grammar error detection question, identify the part of the sentence that contains an error, or choose "No error" if the sentence is correct: A person operating at the pre conventional level of moral reasoning considers any d…

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Introduction / Context: This error detection sentence is based on moral psychology and uses grammatical structures that illustrate parallelism in a series. The sentence describes how a person at the pre conventional level of moral reasoning evaluates decisions. The test checks whether you can maintain consistent verb forms in a list that begins after the preposition "of". Given Data / Assumptions: The key expression is "from the point of view of avoiding personal harm, losing or seek personal gain". All items in this list are governed by "of". The verbs or verbal forms should be parallel in structure. Part 3 contains the sequence "personal harm, losing or seek personal gain". Concept / Approach: Parallelism means that items in a list or series should share the same grammatical form. After the phrase "of", if we start with a gerund like "avoiding", the following elements should also be gerunds such as "losing" and "seeking". The current pattern "avoiding personal harm, losing or seek personal gain" breaks parallelism because "seek" appears in the base form while the first two items use gerund forms. In addition, "losing" without an object sounds incomplete. A more natural structure would be "avoiding personal harm or seeking personal gain" or "avoiding personal harm, losing benefits or seeking personal gain". For the exam, the focus is on the inconsistent use of "seek" in base form, so part 3 is considered erroneous. Step-by-Step Solution: Identify the list after "the point of view of": it begins with "avoiding personal harm".Notice that "avoiding" is a gerund, so later items should also be gerunds for parallel structure.Observe that "losing" is a gerund but lacks a clear object; more importantly, "seek personal gain" uses the base form "seek".Correct the pattern by changing "seek" to "seeking" and by adjusting the connectors, for example "avoiding personal harm or seeking personal gain".Therefore, the error is located in the segment that contains "losing or seek personal gain". Verification / Alternative check: One corrected version is: "A person operating at the pre conventional level of moral reasoning considers any decision or ethical dilemma from the point of view of avoiding personal harm or seeking personal gain." This sentence has a clear contrast and perfectly parallel gerund forms "avoiding" and "seeking". The rest of the sentence, including the description of the pre conventional level, is grammatically sound. Why Other Options Are Wrong: Part 1 correctly uses a present participle phrase "operating at the pre conventional level of moral reasoning" to describe the person. Part 2 clearly introduces "from the point of view of", which is idiomatic. Part 4, "No error", cannot be chosen because the broken parallelism and base form "seek" in part 3 must be corrected in precise exam grammar. Common Pitfalls: Many learners focus only on vocabulary like "pre conventional level" and "ethical dilemma" and overlook structural issues. Others see that "avoiding" and "losing" both end with "ing" and assume the entire list is fine, missing the switch to "seek". When you see a list of actions, make sure all items share the same grammatical pattern: all gerunds, all infinitives, or all base verbs. Checking this pattern quickly can help you score well in error detection sections. Final Answer: The incorrect portion is in part 3, because the series "avoiding personal harm, losing or seek personal gain" should maintain parallel verb forms, such as "avoiding personal harm or seeking personal gain".

Question 20

In the following English grammar error detection question, identify the part of the sentence that contains an error, or choose "No error" if the sentence is correct: Rapid developments in modern medicine has conquered many diseases and consequently …

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Introduction / Context: This sentence belongs to an error detection set that checks agreement between the subject and the verb. The topic is modern medicine and its impact on disease and death rates. Even though the meaning is clear, the grammar must strictly follow subject verb agreement rules that are central to many exams. Given Data / Assumptions: The expression "Rapid developments in modern medicine has conquered many diseases" occurs in part 1 and part 2. The main noun "developments" is plural. The verb immediately following the subject is "has". Parts 2 and 3 describe the consequence for death rates. Concept / Approach: Subject verb agreement requires that a plural subject take a plural verb and a singular subject take a singular verb. In the phrase "Rapid developments in modern medicine", the head noun "developments" is plural, even though it is followed by a prepositional phrase "in modern medicine". Therefore the verb must also be plural: "have conquered many diseases". Using the singular auxiliary "has" with this plural subject is a grammatical error that must be corrected. Step-by-Step Solution: Identify the true subject of the clause: it is "Rapid developments in modern medicine".Ignore the prepositional phrase "in modern medicine" when deciding number; the head noun "developments" controls agreement.Determine that "developments" is plural, so the auxiliary verb should be plural "have".Change "has conquered" to "have conquered" to match the plural subject.Check that the rest of the sentence, "and consequently the death rate has decreased", is correctly structured and uses "has" with the singular subject "death rate". Verification / Alternative check: The corrected sentence is "Rapid developments in modern medicine have conquered many diseases and consequently the death rate has decreased." This sentence is grammatically correct: the first clause has a plural subject and plural verb, and the second clause has a singular subject and singular verb. The ideas are logically linked by "and consequently", and there are no further errors in tense or structure. Why Other Options Are Wrong: Part 2 continues the same clause and merely contains the object "many diseases", which is correct. Part 3, "and consequently the death rate has decreased", correctly uses singular "has" with "the death rate". Part 4, "No error", cannot be correct because we have already identified a subject verb disagreement in part 1. Common Pitfalls: Students often get confused when a plural subject is followed by a singular sounding phrase like "in modern medicine", and they mistakenly allow that nearby singular noun "medicine" to influence verb choice. A good technique is to strip the sentence down to the core subject and verb: "Rapid developments have conquered many diseases." After checking agreement in this simple form, you can add the extra phrase back in without losing track of the number of the subject. Final Answer: The error is in part 1 because "Rapid developments in modern medicine has conquered" should be "Rapid developments in modern medicine have conquered".

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