OBJECTIVE ENGLISH: Web Support Material

ERROR IDENTIFICATION TEST

15 Minutes 20 Questions

DIRECTIONS
Some of the following sentences are correct. Others contain problems in grammar, usage, idiom, or diction
(word choice). There is not more than one error in any sentence.
If there is an error, it will be underlined and lettered. Find the one underlined part that must be
changed to make the sentence correct, and choose the corresponding letter on your answer sheet. Mark (e)
if the sentence contains no error.

1.

Him and I
each other
u sin g
I will take full responsibility for
on the camping trip,
the
a
b
c
"buddy system"
No error
to insure each others safety.
.
d
e
people
theater
were
only in the movie
on that stormy Monday night
the usher and
b
a
c
me No error
.
.
d
e

2.

The

3.

After

4.

5.

6.

7.

finding
mechanic
thoroughly,
the problem, the
cleaned the carburetor
hoping that a clean
a
b
c
e lim inate
No error
the automobiles stalling problems.
.
carburetor would
d
e
Us
as well as
citizens need to speak out on national
local issues, because a strong, efficient
a
b
will have
on the quality
No error
federal government
its effect
of our city.
.
c
d
e

We
which
nor
dump
heard news about a storm
does not seem dangerous
liable to
more than
b
a
c
d
No error
.
an inch of snow on the city.
e
a wig
far more
than
other men
He wore
that was
attractive
the
who had their own
a
b
c
d
No error
.
hair.
e
anger of
was obvious,
neither of them
the opposing candidates
but
insulted the other.
The
a
b
c
d
No error
.
e

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8.

9.

10.

11.

had lain
wouldn ' t have been
to provoke
there without snarling, the visitor
tempted
a
b
c
d
No error
.
him into biting.
e
one reads
will be surprised
improvement
If
the newspaper carefully everyday, you
at the
in
a
b
c
overall
No error
reading skills.
your
d
e

If the dog

had been
would have
hom e run
alert, I
caught a World Series
and taken it home as a
a
b
c
souvenir No error
.
.
d
e
he and his wife
this
which is
is a situation
there have been nothing but arguments;
Between
b
a
c
atypical
No error
of most modern marriages.
.
strikingly
d
e

If I

ten percent
being that
above cost,
you are the
a
b
Chief of Police
do
No error
and might
me a favor someday.
.
c
d
e

12.

Im willing to sell you this refrigerator at

13.

The

14.

The old song

15.

16.

17.

advance
outskirts were
the Pope
of the Mongol army into Italys
threatening that
met
a
b
c
Genghis Khan
No error
personally with
to ask him to retreat.
.
d
e
"Our Day Will Come"
same
which
we
expressed the
occupy
hopes and dreams
a
c
d
b
No error
teenagers today.
.
e
to
was
House
President Carters foreign policy
Majority Leader and the
the
a
c
b
Ways and Means Committee. No error
Chairman of the
.
.
d
e
In opposition

this here
decent and strong
society remains
a
b
who
a var icious No error
despite the presence of so many
are ignorant and
.
.
c
d
e

In his valedictory address, the scholar insisted that

these days
environmental law
choo sin g from
may practice corporate law,
or
a variety
a
b
c
other
No error
of
alternatives.
.
d
e
Attorneys

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18.

There is
better
go to the
only a box of cereal and three breadsticks in the cupboard, so we
b
a
stock up on food No error
market and
.
.
c
d
e
vault
him
today, because in yesterdays warm-up my
higher than
b
a
was better than his
No error
performance
on three occasions.
.
c
d
e

19.

Im sure that I can

20.

When I think about

the person
this kind
w hom
Id like to be in ten years, I wonder if
of people
a
b
c
will change No error
I now associate with
.
.
d
e

ANSWER

1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
11.
12.
13.
14.
15.
16.
17.
18.
19.
20.

(a)
(d)
(e)
(a)
(c)
(d)
(e)
(e)
(a)
(c)
(a)
(b)
(b)
(d)
(b)
(a)
(c)
(a)
(b)
(b)

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